Blogger Championship Series: Just the Facts

Enemy in our midst … (2.50 / 2)

KUT Capitol reporter Ben Philpott is an Alabama alum. Everyone be sure to give him lots of crap about it if you run into him. Especially if we win.

Too weird to be a Texan, too Texan to live anywhere else.

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by: ernesttubb @ Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 02:23:00 AM UTC

Don't start eating those ribs yet ... (0.00 / 0)

Those "facts" look a little cherry-picked to me.  

Texas isn't playing TCU or Cincinnati or even my alma mater, Georgia Tech, they're playing ALABAMA and it's probably more instructive to look at statistics for the teams who will actually be on the field tomorrow night.

Does anyone else think it's particularly appropriate this wager is for meat in light of the rather unflattering book, Meat on the Hoof (circa 1972) about Darrell Royal's football program at UT?  

Blogging for change at Left In Alabama.

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by: mooncat @ Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 03:02:53 AM UTC

I'm hoping (3.00 / 2)

that one of my almae matres manages to look like it is supposed to be playing in January. Iowa was pretty inept at times last night, but the Trade School was very busy inventing new ways to embarrass its alums.

I have a feeling that Colt will complete at least two passes (to his own players) though.

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by: George @ Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 03:42:37 AM UTC

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Well, if you are an alum of the Trade School (3.00 / 1)

You already know that they can win or lose any given game on any given day for no discernible reason.  Sometimes, it's sweet - Tech vs. Alabama, 1981.  Sometimes, it's ugly - Tech vs. Furman, 1984.
I got out in 1982.  When did you get out?

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by: herding old cats @ Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 04:57:39 AM UTC

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North Avenue Trade School? (3.00 / 1)

AE'81 here.  When did you get out?

Blogging for change at Left In Alabama.

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by: mooncat @ Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 04:59:04 AM UTC

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Grad School 94-96 (3.00 / 1)

Escaped just before the Olympics.

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by: George @ Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 12:27:35 PM UTC

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Mooncat (3.00 / 1)

Are you really an ex-rocket scientist living in Alabama? I like your Darrell Royal mention. Blasts from the sordid football past brought to us by a progressive blogger from Alabama. Very, very cool. ;)

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by: Elsbeth @ Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 04:34:01 AM UTC

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It's true, rocket science and all. (3.00 / 1)

I read Meat on the Hoof in the mid-1970's (paperback) and it just confirmed what I already suspected: Darrell Royal was evil incarnate.  Nothing personal (you should hear what I thought about Bear Bryant!) but I grew up north of the Red River and of course we all know that if God ever floats down the Red River in a rowboat he's bound to get off on the north side.  God's country, you know.

I ended up doing rocket science in Alabama because there were jobs here, not so much in Oklahoma.  And I spent a couple of summers working in Ft. Worth and, let's just say the climate discouraged me from settling there.

Blogging for change at Left In Alabama.

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by: mooncat @ Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 04:57:04 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

In other words (3.00 / 1)

rankings mean nothing. We all know the ranking system and BCS system is flawed. Texas and Alabama are both in the title game because of a computer and/or because some sports writer/coach said so. You can't deny that. That is not to say Texas and Alabama shouldn't be playing for a national title, but that was only determined because a scientific formula allowed them to do so. Only in Division I college football can a team be automatically HANDED a shot at the national title.

I personally won't complain about TCU or Cincy not being there because they probably would have been steamrolled by Texas or Alabama in the process anyway, but at least the process should have been there for them to have the chance. And it isn't.

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by: John McClelland @ Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 15:33:21 PM UTC

Favorites? (3.00 / 1)

How are you defining favorites? Are you going by rankings alone? While Alabama is the favorite over Texas, Stanford was definitely not the favorite in its game against OU nor was Cincinnati against Florida. Same goes for Okie state against Ole Miss and Arizona against Nebraska.

Personally, I'm very nervous about this game after the way we played in the Big XII championship game. Especially, if you compare that with the way Alabama played in the SEC championship game. not to mention, this year's team is not nearly as good as the one we had in 2005.

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by: Sal D @ Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 18:40:05 PM UTC

Defense is better (3.00 / 1)

In 2005 we had a defense that we OK but not great. This year we have a great defense, especially against the run. The only team that ran well on us was A&M, and that was playing on a short week -- I'll take a tired runner over a tired tackler any time.

With the long rest, the timing of the passing game will be off in the first half, which hurts Texas more than Alabama.  I'm guessing that Alabama will lead by a touchdown or so at halftime, but will be stuffed in the second half, when Texas' offense finally starts clicking and pulls out the win.

Hook 'em!  

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by: LSadun @ Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 20:36:49 PM UTC

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Hey, Texans, Game is about to start (0.00 / 0)

My name is Piggieheart and I am a Florida boy currently living in Bama and blogging away on Left in Alabama.  Most of the Progressives on this blog are vegetarians, so I expect to get most of the sausage.  Thanks guys.

Colt is pretty impressive by Big Twelve standards, but y'all are gonna wish you had a growed up stallion back there before this is over.
Alabama 31- Texas 17, and pass the dadgum sausage.

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by: piggieheart @ Fri Jan 08, 2010 at 01:07:15 AM UTC

Ooh, looks like I overestimated Texas... (3.00 / 1)

and maybe underestimated 'Bama. I love y'all's blog, and appreciate the good-natured competition.  Now, let's get together and throw the goppers out of BOTH states.

And the injury to your great quarterback is a sad thing, regardless of team affiliation.  Maybe he'll be back in the second half.

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by: piggieheart @ Fri Jan 08, 2010 at 03:23:53 AM UTC

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