This is from The Sports Network (TSN). Writer Jeff Frank is picking Arkansas over LSU on Saturday:

The most underrated team in college football

By Jeff Frank, Contributing Editor

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Go through the AP Top 25 and you will not be able to locate a certain SEC club that has a chance to finish in a second- place tie in its division. This particular team is also surprisingly absent from the top 38, if you count the “others receiving votes” portion of the poll.

The Arkansas Razorbacks are the only team in the country to not only stay within single digits of Florida but to have a fourth-quarter lead against the undisputed number one team in the country. The Hogs could have very easily won that contest in Gainesville, or at the very least sent it to overtime, if Alex Tejada hadn’t missed a pair of makeable field goals in the second half.

Bobby Petrino’s club, perhaps emotionally drained from its fantastic effort that Saturday, failed to capitalize the following week at Ole Miss, a game the Rebels owned from start to finish. However, since that contest, the Razorbacks are 4-0, outscoring their opponents 194-84, and quarterback Ryan Mallet has been on fire, completing 78-of-107 passes for 1,295 yards with 13 touchdowns over that span.

Arkansas is having an extremely similar season to the one that transpired in Oxford last year. The Ole Miss Rebels not only gave Florida a tussle in ‘08, they beat the Gators, and just like this year’s Razorbacks, lost two straight games in October.

Ole Miss then reeled off five more wins to end the regular season at 8-4. If the Hogs can defeat LSU this Saturday, they’ll be 8-4 as well.

Speaking of LSU, the Tigers were abused at home last November by Ole Miss, 31-13, rushing for just 37 yards. It’s doubtful they’ll be held to that low a number against a weaker Arkansas defense, but they’re now down to their fourth- string tailback with the latest injury to Keiland Williams. The senior is out for the year after getting hurt in last week’s incredible game against the Rebels, a loss that could carry over into this week’s game.

Arkansas will certainly not be scared of LSU. The Hogs have fared very well against the Tigers lately, winning the previous two meetings.

Last year, the Razorbacks prevailed, 31-30, holding Jordan Jefferson to just nine completions in his first career start. They also shut down the Tigers’ running game, limiting Charles Scott and Keiland Williams to a combined 74 yards.

Two years ago in Baton Rouge, Arkansas won in triple overtime over the eventual national champions, and back in ‘05, lost by only two as 16.5-point underdogs.

After finishing with only five victories a year ago, the Razorbacks have a chance to win eight games in Petrino’s second season and they’ll do just that with the upset win over LSU.

Take Arkansas plus the points.

(NOTE: Arkansas-LSU graphic from the Fayetteville Flyer. Check out their Arkansas-LSU game article here).

Just got back from a great mid-day, 15 mile bike ride hitting the Big Dam Bridge, Pfeiffer Loop, North Little Rock River Trail and Burns Park Mountain Bike Trails on a beautiful day. This is just a warm up to the late afternoon/evening eating festivities. A great ride on a cool day.

I also wanted to say that I am very thankful to live in such an awesome place where there are so many outdoor activities available. Arkansas is truly blessed with great rivers, mountains and wetlands. Also, thanks to family and friends who enjoy or tolerate our outdoor passions. Now have some food and hit a trail. Happy Thanksgiving from the folks at Arkansas Outside!

Spanning the entire east/west wing of the bed and breakfast, Doc’s master Suite features a private living room with original tile flooring, as well as a unique glass tile bath. A ship’s silhouette, etched in the glass compliments a black marble Jacuzzi tub and separate body jet shower. The king size bed is truly fit for a king with four large posters with intricate carving and a wrought iron canopy.  Dr. William E. Smith was a Pearl Harbor survivor in Hawaii and was a central gunner on the B29 bombers. Out of thirteen planes in the squadron, his plane, the ” Thunderbolt”, was the only one to return after 58 missions.  Memorabilia of the B29, his air force jacket and memories of his 25 successful years in dentistry highlight the suite in our Hot Springs, Arkansas Bed and Breakfast.

Please visit our website!

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Was it too much to hope for that the GOP might actually have learned a lesson from the disastrous turn of events in New York’s 23rd Congressional District earlier this month?  After the NRCC blew nearly a million dollars on a RINO candidate who, in the end, dropped out and endorsed her Democratic rival, you’d think leaders of the Republican Party would realize victory isn’t assured in 2010 because a candidate has an “R” beside his name.  And maybe they have.

Relax folks. No crisis here.

The rest of you deadbeats may be goofing off in the holiday spirit, but over at the Women Action Group (sic), Debbie Paley is cracking the whip and keeping the troops in formation till closing time. There will be no turkey and dressing until the TRUE conservative superiority of Jim Holt (of whom I have a sneaking personal affection, in a non-Adam Lambert healthy male sort of way) is contrasted to bleeding heart Gil Baker.

The “red” portion of the text Debbie mentions copied here as “black.” I am not censoring, and would no think of altering, such an explicit and enlightening statement of what constitutes TRUE Arkansas conservative values. I leave it up to you to consider what the outcome would be, what kind of place would Arkansas be, if the TRUE conservative viewpoint had been enacted into law.

I know there is going to be a great deal of disagreement among the conservatives;  and some of you people will, no doubt, be offended by this email.  But I will seek to agree to disagree if you will do the same. Does This Candidate Vote Your Values (Running for US Senate Against Blanche Lincoln) (Be sure to read the red font section at the end)

(1) Voted for the bill that resulted in $360 million tax to increase our sales tax to 6%.  Act 59 (SB42), 2003 Session

(2) Voted for the facilities bill that allowed the State to take over all school facilities in Arkansas (Facilities Committee recommended 4.5 BILLION for next five years.) Schools can no longer build or remodel without permission of the state and according to state regulations. Act 90 (HB1009 by Pickett Second Extraordinary Session of 2003.

(3) Voted for the Omnibus bill that implemented a government controlled curriculum in every school in Arkansas that has resulted in numerous additional state department employees to oversee and control the implementation of that curriculum in the local schools. By 2006, 61 schools had been put on probation for some minor infraction that which allows the State Department to consolidate the school, take over the administration and suspend or even oust local school board members.  Act 1467 (HB2697) 2003 Session

(4) Voted to give $107 million dollars to Arkansas Department of Education for 32 new employees, etc. They supposedly consolidated the schools to save money by hiring fewer superintendents.   $22 million paid the salary for every superintendent in the state in 2003, but this $107 million gift to ADE would pay for 1,070 superintendents at $100,000 for a year. SB91 (Act  98), 2nd  extraordinary session, 2003.

(5) Voted for the bill that sent $456 million to facilities in 2007 from the surplus fund  (this is like hidden tax-taking money from surplus that could be used for other things people will be taxed on later.). SB833, 2007  House Bill 2501 and Senate Bill 833. $104 million was appropriated for facilities in 2005 and the state’s share of facilities was $277 million in 2006.

(6) Voted for every consolidation bill that went through the Senate, for closing schools with enrollment of 500 (which didn’t pass); with enrollment of 350 (which did pass and closed 45 campuses by 2006);  for closing isolated districts (which put many  kids on the bus for 3 1/2 hours a day after voting for a bill the year before that got through on the basis they would not close isolated districts.  He also voted for countywide school districts (supposedly administrative only but the wording in the bill clearly gives authority for countywide school districts)  Only 14 senators voted for this bill. SB67 of Second Extraordinary Session of 2003.

(7) Supported and voted for all the following bills:  The most powerful liberal Democrat Senator Argue (Senate Education Chair for several years)  gloated over the amount of money raised for in 2005, writing  the following in a guest article in the Democrat Gazette May 15, 2005. “In the current school year we’ve added $380 million to the school system. Next year we’ll add $170 million, and then in the 2006/07 school year, we will add another $98 million. In addition to these new operating funds, we’ve appropriated $104 million to begin our new school facilities program. This totals $752 million of new spending in our school system in the current and next two school years. Total K-12 spending is now 53 percent of total state general and dedicated revenues, an all time high.” Note that  “K-12 Note that  “K-12 funding now accounts for 40 percent of the Colorado general fund budget.” http://www.ncsl.org/programs/fiscal/tels2005.htm For the state of education in Arkansas, since these bills passed, see red bulleted points in article at this link: http://www.wpaag.org/Test%20Score%20Scam%202009.htm

(8) Was quoted in newspaper article as saying on November 2009:  “_____________, State co-chairman of the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, said he has no criticism about the growth in state government’s employee ranks.” This quote was made in the newspaper article that reported, “In Beebe’s second full fiscal year as governor, 1,254 employees were added to the payroll, the second consecutive 1,000-plus increase under the Democratic incumbent and the fifth 1,000-plus increase in the past 11 years. (“State still hires, despite cuts” AR Dem Gaz by Wickline)  

(9) Never sponsored an illegal alien bill in all the years he has been in the House or Senate or given any real support to the movement against illegal aliens when he was Republican Chair.    He was on the committee that tabled Senator Holt’s bill in  to keep illegal aliens from getting benefits.  He did vote against Joyce Elliott’s bill to give instate tuition and scholarships to illegal aliens.

(10) Was the sole co-sponsor of liberal Betty Pickett’s HB2749 (ACT 1813) alcohol bill that has allowed the ABC Board to grant numerous private club licenses in dry counties in Arkansas. The bill passed the Senate by only one vote.  

(11) Is so out of  touch with real conservatives that he relied on favorable quotes from John Brummett and the Arkansas Democrat Gazette in his fund raising letter, and a quote by John Brummett is the only quote from anyone he uses on his website in the article “About Gilbert Baker.”  Everyone  knows that John Brummett is one of the most liberal journalists in Arkansas.  The  Democrat Gazette has in the past endorsed Senator Lincoln, Vic Snyder, and wrote puff pieces on two of the most liberal Democrats in Arkansas, Senator Jim Argue and Senator Joyce Elliott, as well as a puff piece on the first self avowed lesbian in the legislature, Kathy Webb.  In addition, this paper has blasted almost every true conservative legislator in recent years.

(12) Although he is conservative on social issues, he has never championed them in the legislature or filed significant bills in that direction. (13) Is the Arkansas senator given the highest rating in  (meaning he voted more liberal) by a liberal organization in Arkansas of any Republican in the Senate and received a higher score than 41 Representatives including several Democrats by this liberal group.  Information taken from this link,  page 42 & 43 Citizens First Congress  – a Liberal Group http://citizensfirst.org/resources/2009%20Vote%20Guide.pdf

Senator Gilbert Baker Voted FOR All The Bills Above And is the one Described Where No Bill is Mentioned Senator Jim Holt Voted AGAINST All The Bills Above (Except the facilities in 2007 after he had left the Senate) “Barring a remarkable turn of events in the fourth quarter, this Republican primary is over.  Mr. Baker is your nominee,” Blake Rutherford reported on his blog after reporting the 3rd quarter fund raising for the candidates. Baker has  raised ten times the amount of money of any other candidate.  I, myself,  predicted as much last Spring.    That remarkable turn of events could be another person entering the race. Senator Jim Holt, a proven experienced true conservative has said he would let us know in November if he was running.  If just a little over 3% of the people had voted for Holt rather than Lincoln in 2004, he could have won.  Lincoln was not the least vulnerable in 2004 and spent about $5.8 million on her campaign – 35 times the amount of money Holt spent. Many people think Gilbert Baker can’t win against Lincoln.  The independents, Tea Party people,  Secure Arkansas, and many others are still upset with the Republican establishment, and they are not going to support Senator Gilbert Baker with his voting record. McCain could not win against Obama as bad a candidate as Obama was, and many people don’t think Gilbert Baker can win against Lincoln. Many think an independent will enter the race if Gilbert Baker stays the front runner or wins the primary.  It would be much better for Senator Holt to run as a Republican who has a record and a reputation of actually voting the way the Republican base wants him to vote rather than splitting the conservative and Republican vote by an independent.  And Holt has the perfect voting record to please Tea Parties, Secure Arkansas, Independents and TRUE conservatives. I don’t think any of the others that are running can beat Gilbert Baker in the primary.  They don’t have name recognition or enough money to do it.  I think Senator Holt has an excellent chance of beating him.  Senator Holt has far more name recognition in the state than even Senator  Baker does.  And none of the others that I know of  have a voting record so none of us know how they will vote or if they will compromise under pressure.  Senator Holt has several  years of legislative experience and votes to prove he can take the heat. He has also had experience running a statewide campaign as well campaigns for the House and the Senate.

Since you’ve been doing nothing but sitting on your rear end for most of this short work week, why should the talented professionals of Lynch at Large bust their behinds? A quick update for midday.

If you missed this morning’s Wake Up Call with me and Bill Vickery, you can now watch the KARK TV video clip. http://tinyurl.com/ydzz77s

Riceland Foods Inc. reported record sales of $1.3 billion for its fiscal year ended July 31, 8 percent higher than the previous record set a year earlier. Arkansas Business story.

News from Rogers. Police and paramedics responded to an apartment complex at 2200 N. 12th St., at 4:24 a.m. Wednesday to a report of a man with a gunshot wound to the head.

Roby Brock has a comprehensive report on SWEPCO’s rate increase. Remember, the Turk (coal-fired plant Hempstead County) has been wirhdrawn.

The Arkansas Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a base rate increase for Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO).

The Democrat-Gazette reports a reduction at the Washington Post. (Subscription)

Sen. Mark Pryor has finished reading the Senate’s health care bill but is not ready to take a position on it.

Gov. Beebe has appointed Danyelle Walker of Little Rock to replace Justice Jim Gunter in the hearings that will consider an appeal of the Public Service Commission decision allowing a coal-fired power plant to be built in Hempstead County.

More than 1,300 children and adults with disabilities are on a waiting list for in-home services because the state can’t aftord to pay its part of the required federal match. Lawmakers have been told the state needs $15 million to be able to provide help in the most cost effective way — in-home and community based setting,

Bridgette Frazier had left her job as legal counsel for the lottery in a dispute over which employees are entitled to merit pay increases.

The Legislature is likely to set lottery-funded scholarships at $5,000 per year to attend a four-year school and $2,500 per year to attend a two-year school, according to House Speaker Robbie Wills.

Extending broadband Internet access to all Americans is “the great infrastructure challenge of our time,” FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said at the Clinton School of Public Service..

Windstream Corp. announced an agreement to acquire Iowa Telecommunications Services Inc. in a deal valued at $1.1 billion.

Oklahoma’s federal lawsuit against Arkansas poultry companies will continue to focus on phosphorus in the Illinois River watershed and give little attention to bacteria issues.

Tyson Foods reports a $455 million loss in the fourth quarter, compared with net income of $48 million in the same quarter of 2008.

A mobile home in Pulaski County caught fire Tuesday morning after what authorities believe to be an explosion caused by a gas leak. Two people escaped safely after the blast.

A West Helena man has been charged with reckless homicide in connection with a fatal punch in a Memphis parking lot in July. According to a police affidavit, Jason  Harcourt exchanged words with Carl Brown after Brown asked him for money.

Jefferson County Sheriff Gerald Robinson has filed a complaint of domestic abuse after his girlfriend, Shelly Bridges, allegedly hit him several times on the head with a telephone. Authorities report a bruise and blood coming out of the left eye.

An alleged prank that involved breaking into a house on the west side of Pine Bluff to eat a sandwich, ended in the arrest of a man on burglary and theft charges. Germaine Toney, reportedly told police the other young man didn’t want to eat a bologna sandwich, but took some jewelry instead.

This item in the Christian Science Monitor raises some questions about how business is done in D. C. Of course, trading votes for favors is traditional. It’s called “log rolling.” Anyway, I guess we ignorant Arkies can only hope that Cousin Blanche got her fair shre for the folks back home.

Healthcare’s dealbreakers: Mary Landrieu likes her $300 million

Sen. Mary Landrieu says she won $300 million in aid for Louisiana for voting ‘yes’ in a key healthcare reform vote Saturday. But she has misgivings about the public option, which means the deals might not be done yet.

By Gail Russell Chaddock |  Staff writer/ November 24, 2009 edition

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Washington

On Saturday, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) of Louisiana was pressed by reporters on whether she had cast a vote with Democratic leadership on healthcare in exchange for $100 million in federal aid to her state.

She seized the opportunity to correct the record.

“It’s not $100 million, it’s $300 million, and I’m proud of it and will keep fighting for it,” she told reporters after a floor speech announcing her support of a vote to begin debate on healthcare reform.

The exchange was vintage Landrieu. Once viewed as the most vulnerable red state Democrat, sure to be toppled at the next election, she
has been sent back to the Senate twice, by the same electorate that gave Republicans presidential candidates wins by double-digits margins in Louisiana.

Thinking that this might be something we use at the beginning of future videos.

It was taken at Attila the Hun Mountain Bike Race at Cedar Glades near Hot Springs. What do you think?

These days I am busy studying theology, so this blog is often a casualty of my overwhelmed condition. There are several outstanding sources of good information and commentary and I am pleased to add a link for Blue Arkansas.

Here is a small portion of an outstanding interview with former insurance executive Wendell Potter, who now spends his days telling the truth about the greedy blood suckers.

In your testimony before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, you stated that over 25 million Americans have become underinsured because the insurance they have from their jobs forces them to pay more out of pocket for healthcare expenses, and because many Americans have been deceived into buying what you call “fake insurance.” Could you elaborate a little more on what you mean by “fake insurance” and how companies have misled people into buying such policies?

What I mean by that is that over the last several years the industry has been selling policies with limited benefits to increase profit. A lot of these policies don’t even cover hospitalization and people buy them thinking they’re covered if they have to go into the hospital for medical care. They’re persuaded by pamphlets and fancy advertising and sales people, and on the surface these policies appear affordable and the only way these people can get health insurance. But in the end the benefits turn out to be meager and these people unfortuneatly find out that they’ve been misled.

Rivalry Week

Throw The Stats Out The Window

This is the college football week where more money is lost by those who don’t know what they are doing and more money is made by those who do know.  Certain rivalry games are just that—real rivalries.  Others are nothing but an annual beating on a little sister.

There is another bigger factor to this week’s games.  It’s the bowl factor.  Several teams are still looking for one final win to become bowl eligible.  A 5-6 team hosting an 8-3 team must be looked at quite differently than a 2-9 team hosting a 4-7 team.  The desire to get to 6-6 far outweighs the desire to avoid a 10-loss season.

Let’s look at the bowl eligible teams by conference as well as the teams needing to win this week to gain bowl eligibility.

Clemson and Georgia Tech have already clinched their divisions and will meet for the ACC Championship.  Tech edges the Tigers in Atlanta in September, but Clemson gave the game away.

Duke needs to beat Wake Forest this week to earn their first bowl in 15 years.  David Cutcliffe is one of the most underrated coaches in the country, and he should receive some national recognition in the Coach of the Year balloting.

The ACC has nine automatic bowl bids, and only seven bowl eligible teams as of now.  The GMAC Bowl will need to find an at-large team to fill the vacant position, and if Duke loses this week, the Eagle Bank Bowl will look to the MAC to fill that vacant slot.

Regardless of what happens in the Backyard Brawl in Morgantown this weekend, the winner of next week’s Cincinnati-Pittsburgh game will be Big East Champions and automatic BCS Bowl representative.  Cincinnati could still conceivably earn an at-large BCS Bowl bid at 11-1, but that chance is slimmer than slim.

Connecticut can gain bowl eligibility with a win at home against Syracuse this weekend, and they would get another chance next week against South Florida if they faltered against the Orangemen.  If the Huskies get that win, then the Big East will have six bowl eligible teams for six guaranteed spots.  Notre Dame could still possibly steal the Sun Bowl/Gator Bowl spot that goes to a Big East team if the Irish beat Stanford, but it would be a disgrace for them to steal a post at 7-5.  We believe Stanford will take care of business and keep Notre Dame out of the bowl picture altogether this year.

The Big 10 season is basically over.  Illinois has a couple of non-conference games remaining, and the only important factor in that is they play Cincinnati this weekend.  Wisconsin goes to Hawaii in two weeks, and the Outback Bowl bid could be riding on them winning the game.

It is almost a foregone conclusion that a second Big 10 team, either Iowa or Penn State, will receive an at-large BCS Bowl bid.  So, there will be seven teams available for eight bowls.  The Pizza Bowl (formerly Motor City Bowl) will have to look elsewhere and may be forced to invite two MAC teams.

Nebraska and Texas will face off in the Big 12 Championship Game, and the Cornhuskers may have a shot at pulling off a huge upset.  We give the ‘Huskers about a 15% chance of frustrating the Longhorn offense and win ugly.  If so, then another team from the Lone Star State will benefit.

After beginning the season at 5-0, Kansas finds itself in a must-win situation against Missouri at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.  They must earn The Brass Drum to earn a bowl bid.

The most important game though will be the Oklahoma and Oklahoma State game in Norman.  If the Cowboys beat the Sooners, they will more than likely earn an at-large BCS Bowl Bid at the expense of Boise State.  The Sooners must win to guarantee themselves a winning season.  The PiRate Ratings have had a devil of a time with OU this year.  Even at 6-5, their power rating keeps them in the top 10.  It’s hit or miss with them, as they showed how strong they are when they took Texas to the final gun.

If Kansas wins over Missouri, there will be 10 bowl eligible teams for eight guaranteed bowl spots (nine if Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma).  Look for Iowa State to be the odd team out of the mix.

Welcome to the conference where everything changes weekly.  With SMU losing to Marshall, the door opened once again for Houston to ascend to the CUSA Championship Game.  A win over Rice is all that’s needed, but all of a sudden the Owls have found their way.  It could be an interesting game—at least for a half.

The East Division championship will be decided this weekend when Southern Miss visits East Carolina.

UAB can gain bowl eligibility with a win over  Central Florida, but it may be a moot point.  There are only five guaranteed bowl spots with a sixth if Army fails to earn the Eagle Bank Bowl bid.  Six CUSA teams are already bowl eligible, and the Blazers cannot compete with Marshall or SMU in fanbase.

All three independents are still in the bowl mix, but as of now, only Navy is guaranteed a spot.  Notre Dame must beat Stanford to get to 7-5 and earn priority over every other possible at-large team.  At 6-6, they more than likely will find themselves out of the picture as there will be enough seven-win teams to fill the at-large spots.

Army must beat Navy to earn the Eagle Bank Bowl bid.  Navy has won seven in a row in this series, so it should be one of the best in this series in many years.

Central Michigan has already clinched the West Division, and the Chippewas will play the winner of this week’s Ohio U-Temple game in the MAC Championship Game. 

Two teams will be playing for that important seventh win this week.  Bowling Green hosts Toledo, and Kent State hosts Buffalo.

The MAC gets three guaranteed bowl bids and will get a fourth if Duke fails to beat Wake Forest and earn an Eagle Bank Bowl bid.   That’s where the Bowling Green and Kent State games come into play.  Both could earn bowl bids with wins, and one could even play in the Pizza Bowl against another MAC team.

TCU will manhandle New Mexico this week and then hope that either Texas A&M or Nebraska can upset Texas, Florida State can upset Florida, or Auburn can upset Alabama.  The Horned Frogs need two of the big three teams ahead of them to lose.  The loser of the SEC Championship Game means that either Texas must lose this week or next or the winner of the SEC Championship Game must lose this week.  If one of these events happen, then TCU will be playing for the national championship in January.  It’s hard to believe that this program was once as weak as Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and Washington State are today.

The one team still trying to gain bowl eligibility is Wyoming.  The Cowboys must beat Colorado State in Ft. Collins this week, and these two teams truly put the “war” in “Border War.”  It’s not a given that Wyoming can top the 3-8 Rams.

For the first time ever, the winner of the “Civil War” game between Oregon and Oregon State will earn the Rose Bowl bid.  The Ducks and Beavers are one of the best rivalry games in college football, and I’d love to have a 50-yard line seat next week in Eugene.

The Pac-10 receives six automatic bowl bids, but there are seven bowl eligible teams.  It looks like UCLA will miss out this year unless they can upset USC.  Arizona must beat either Arizona State or USC to get to seven wins.  If both the Bruins and Wildcats win seven games, then expect to see the Pac-10 receiving an extra bid to a western bowl.

This is a monster conference!  With Alabama and Florida headed to Atlanta to play what will be the “Game Of The Decade” (assuming both win this week), it is a given that the loser will still play in a BCS Bowl.  It isn’t completely out of the realm that if the SEC Championship game goes to overtime or is decided in regulation by a point, and if Texas loses to either Texas A&M or Nebraska, that Alabama and Florida could meet in a rematch for all the marbles.

With 10 bowl eligible teams, the SEC will place all 10 in bowls.  There will be a lot of last minute shuffling because there isn’t much difference between team number three and team number 10.

This league is almost assured of earning a second bowl bid this year.  Troy will play in the New Orleans Bowl, but Middle Tennessee will get an at-large bid somewhere.  Both Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe can get to seven wins, but it will take big upsets for both to do so.  ULL plays Troy, while ULM plays MTSU.

Here’s where things should get interesting.  Boise State is a win over Nevada away from being 12-0 and the proverbial odd team out.  If Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma, the Cowboys will steal the last BCS Bowl bid at the Broncos’ expense.  Then, watch for the United States Government to put their messy fingers into the college football pigpen. 

Before we get into this mess, Boise State has to beat Nevada.  The Wolf Pack is not a pushover, and it could easily take 50 or more points to win this game.

Of course, if the Sooners win over OSU, then it looks favorable for BSU getting into the field.  Then, they would be competing against a one or two-loss Big East team and maybe a two-loss Georgia Tech team.

If Boise State moves up, then the WAC is safe with four bowls for four bowl eligible teams.

Hawaii could still sneak into the mix, but they would have to beat Navy and Wisconsin.  We don’t see that happening.

Bowl Speculations

We at Hatter & Beanz have thought of something interesting and, even though our idea may not be so unique it’s something for those who may be less fortunate or those that may have been hit hard by the economic downfall.  

So readers, as we give thanks for our families, our friends and the roofs over our heads we have built for you a list of soup kitchens and shelters and services in each of the 50 states. (Oh by the way, we personally checked each reference).

So here’s how this is going down, we’re going to sort this by state, and right now our goal is to list one or two organizations by per state for this year. At Christmas, we’ll add one or two more, per state.

Alabama

1 – Rose Of Sharon Soup Kitchen – 2412 Memorial PKWY NW – Huntsville, AL 35810 Ph: (256) 536-2970

2 – Anniston Soup Bowl – 1516 Moore Avenue – Anniston, AL  36201 – Ph: (256) 236-6794

Alaska

1 – Downtown Soup Kitchen – 434 East 4^th AVE – Anchorage, AK 99501 – Ph: (907) 277-4302

2 – Food Pantry of Palmer – 7805 East Palmer Wasilla HWY – Palmer, AK 99645 – Ph:  (907) 745-3635

Arizona

1 – Vista Colina Family Shelter – 1050 W. Mountain View Rd. – Phoenix, AZ 8501 -  Ph: (602) 944- 0960

2 – Gospel Rescue Mission – 1130 West Miracle Mile – Tucson, AZ 85705 – Ph: (520) 740-1501

Arkansas

1 – Food Bank of North Central Arkansas – 14215 Highway 5 South – Norfork, AR 72658 – Ph: (870) 499-7565

2 – Johnny’s Food Bank – 312 Church Street – Lake Village, AR 71653 – (870) 265 -2601

California

1 – TLC Soup Kitchen – 3904 High Street – Sacramento, CA 95838 – Ph: (916) 759-1806

2 – Hospitality Kitchen – 821 East 6^th Street – Los Angeles, CA 90013

Colorado

1 – Denver Rescue Mission – 1130 Park Ave West- Denver, CO 80205 – Ph: (303) 297-1815

2 – Soup Kitchen Inc. – 1675 Larimer Street – Denver, CO 80205 – Ph: (303) 629-6383

Connecticut

1 – Torrington Soup Kitchen – Trinity Church, 220 Prospect Street – Torrington, CT 06790 – Ph: (860) 482-0130

2 – Covenant Soup Kitchen – 220 Valley Street – Willimantic, CT 06226 – Ph: (860) 423-1643

Delaware

1 – Food Bank of Delaware – 1041 Mattlind Way – Milford, DE 19963 – Ph: (302) 424-3301

2 – Acorn, Inc. – 1607 Todds Lane – Wilmington, DE 190802 – Ph: (302) 762-4226

Florida

1 – Homestead Soup Kitchen – 105 Southwest 3^rd Ave – Homestead, FL 33090 – Ph: (305) 245-7448

2 – Bread of the Mighty – 325 Northeast 10^th Ave – Gainesville, FL 32601 – Ph: (352) 395-6570

Georgia

1 – Albany Rescue Mission – 604 North Monroe Street – Albany, GA 31701 – Ph: (229) 435-7615

2 – Feed America – 102 East 14^th Ave – Cordele, GA 31015 – Ph: (229) 273-0227

Hawaii

1 – Office of Social Ministry – 100 Kinoole Street – Hilo, HI 96720 Ph: (808) 935-3794

Idaho

1 – The Soup Kitchen – 301 South BLVD – Idaho Falls, ID 83401 Ph: (208) 557-5750

2 – St. Maries Food Bank – 416 Main Ave – Saint Mares, ID 83861 Ph: (208) 245-9090

Illinois

1 – Midwest Food Bank – 1703 So. Veterans PKWY – Bloomington, IL 61701 Ph: (309) 663-5350

2 – Cornucopia Food Pantry – 402 Market Street – Rockford, IL 61107 – Ph: (815) 962-1380

Indiana

1 – Backstreet Mission – 215 So Westplex Ave. – Bloomington, IN 47404 – Ph: (812) 333-6360

2 – Wells County Food Bank – 1254 So. Main Street – Bluffton, IN 46714- Ph: (260) 827-0053

Iowa

1 – Community of Concern – 203 North US Highway 71 – Carroll, IA 51401 – Ph: (712) 792-5150

2 – Mapleton Food Bank – 315 Main Street – Mapleton, IA 51034 – Ph: (712) 881-1128

Kansas

1 – Genesis – 350 So. Range Ave. – Colby, KS 67701 – Ph: (785) 460-7930

2 – Christian Food Bank – 111 West 4^th Street – Pratt, KS 67124 – Ph: (620) 672-5150

Kentucky

1 – God’s Pantry Food Bank – 1685 Jaggie Fox Way – Lexington, KY 40511 – Ph: (859)255-6592

2 – New Hope Food Bank – 880 J.T. Riggs Road – New Hope, KY 40052 – Ph: (502) 549-6015

Louisiana

1 – Food for Families – 245 Illinois Street – Delhi, LA 71232 – Ph: (318) 878-3869

2 – God’s Food Box – 711 Mahlon Street – Deridder, LA 70634 – Ph: (337) 463-4449

Maine

1 – Good Shepherd Food Bank – 3121 Hotel Road – Auburn, ME 04210 – Ph: (207) 782-3554

2 – Winthrop Food Pantry – 15 High Street – Winthrop, ME 04364

Maryland

1 – Movable Feast – 2620 Wilkins Ave – Baltimore, MD 21223 – Ph: (410) 327-3420

2 – Abundant Life Church – 110 Front Street – Pocomoke City, MD 21851 – Ph: (410) 957-4206

Massachusetts

1 – Beverly Bootstraps – 371 Cabot Street – Beverly, MA 01915 – Ph: (978) 927-1651

2 – Merrimack Valley Food Bank – 735 Broadway – Lowell, MA 01854 – Ph: (978) 454-7272

Michigan

1 – American Saucery – 10750 Capital St – Oak Park, MI 48237 – Ph: (248) 544-9485

2 – Manna Food Project – 8791McBride Park – Harbor Springs, MI – Ph: (231) 347-8852

Minnesota

1 – Fare for All – 8501 54^th Ave North – Minneapolis, MN 55428 – Ph: (763) 450-3860

2 – Pastor Paul’s Mission – 100 Oliver Ave North – Minneapolis, MN 55411 – Ph: (612) 521-4665

Mississippi

1 – Hartland Hands – 385 Stateline Road East – Southaven, MS 38671 – Ph: (662) 280-5365

2 – PBM Ministries – 639 Second South Street – Woodville, MS 39669 – Ph: (601) 888-3880

Missouri

1 – Arnold Food Pantry – 23 Village Plaza – Arnold, MO 63010 – Ph: (636) 467-5959

2 – Holy Spirit – 3128 Parkwood Lane – Maryland Heights, MO 63043 – Ph: (314) 739-9796

Montana

1 – Give Away House – 1058 2^nd Street North – Harve, MT 59501 – Ph: (406) 265-7741

2 – Sagebrush Food Pantry – 669 Park Ave – Shelby, MT 59474 – Ph: (406) 424-8287

Nebraska

1 – Arapahoe Area Food Pantry – 210 7^th Street – Arapahoe, NE 68922 – Ph: (308) 962-7296

2 – Western Nebraska Food Bank – 825 Hickory Street – Sidney, NE 69162 – Ph: (308) 254-1095

Nevada

1 – Food For Thought – 3579 US Highway 50 – East Carson City, NV 89029 – Ph: (775) 883-1011

2 – Colorado River Food Bank – 1575 South Casino Drive – Laughlin, NV 89410 – Ph: (775) 782-3711

New Hampshire

1 – Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter – 42 Chestnut Street – Nashua, NH 03061 – Ph: (603) 889-7770

2 – Sonshine Soup Kitchen – 4 Crustal Ave #4 – Derry, NH 03038 – Ph: (603) 437-2833

New Jersey

1 – Extra Helping – 31 Evans Terminal – Hillside, NJ 07205 – Ph: (908) 355-3663

2 – Interfaith Food Pantry – 540 West Hanover Ave – Morristown, NJ 07960 – Ph: (973) 538-8049

New Mexico

1 – The Food Depot – 1222 Silver Road – Santa Fe, NM 87507 – Ph: (505) 471-1633

2 – Los Alamos Community Food Bank – 77 Loma Vista St – Los Alomos, NM 87544

New York

1 – Masbia Soup Kitchen – 4114 14^th Ave – Brooklyn, NY 11219 – Ph: (718) 972-4446

2 – Project Hospitality – 100 Park Ave. – Staten Island, NY 10302 – Ph: (718) 448-1544

North Carolina

1 – Good Shepherd Ministries – 811 Martin Street – Wilmington, NC 28401 – Ph: (910) 763-4424

2 – Hallelujah Soup Kitchen – 1904 South Wilmington Street – Raleigh, NC 27603 – Ph: (919) 899-6498

North Dakota

1 – Amen Food Pantry – 1100 3^rd Ave West – Dickinson, ND 58601 – Ph: (701) 483-4344

2 – Carrington’s Daily Bread – 875 Main Street – Carrington, ND 58421 – Ph: (701) 652-2333

Ohio

1 – Zion Soup Kitchen – 2716 West 14^th Street – Cleveland, OH 44113 – Ph: (216) 861-2371

2 – From Darkness to Light – 1925 Stanford Road – Twinsburg, OH 44087 – Ph: (216) 744-7408

Oklahoma

1 – Salvation Army – 1306 SW Ave E – Lawton, OK 73501 – Ph: (580) 355-1802

2 – Ardmore Soup Kitchen – 2207 Ridgeway Street – Ardmore, OK 73401 – Ph: (580) 226-2870

Oregon

1 – Lebanon Soup Kitchen – 170 East Grant Street – Lebanon, OR 97355 – Ph: (541) 451-7667

2 – St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen – 820 Ellsworth Street SW – Albany, OR 97321 – Ph: (541) 926-8562

Pennsylvania

1 – Jubilee Kitchen – 2005 Wyandotte Street – Pittsburgh, PA 15219 – Ph: (412) 261-5417

2 – East Liberty Soup Kitchen – 1091 Pittsburgh Road – Valencia, PA 16059 – Ph: (724) 898-3503

Rhode Island

1 – Fall River Soup Kitchen – 783 Slade Street – Fall River, MA 02724 – Ph: (508) 324-1323

South Carolina

1 – Project Host Soup Kitchen – 525 So. Academy Street – Greenville, SC 29601 – Ph: (864) 235-3403

2 – The Soup Kitchen – 573 Meeting Street – Charleston, SC 29403 – Ph: (843) 723-2726

Tennessee

1 – Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen – 215 Foster Street – Clarksville, TN 37043 – Ph: (931) 645-9020

2 – Manna Day Ministry – 1186 Ft. Campbell Blvd. – Clarksville, TN 37042 – Ph: (931) 648-1324

Texas

1 – Star of Hope Homeless Shelter – 419 Dowling Street – Houston, TX 77003 – Ph: (713) 748-0700

2 – New Hope Housing, Inc. – 320 Hamilton Street – Houston, TX 77002 – Ph: (713) 223-1995

Utah

1 – Manila Food Pantry – 93 North 1 West – Manila, UT 84046 – Ph: (435) 784-3993

Virginia

1 –Central Virginia Food Bank – 1415 Rhoadmiller Street – Richmond, VA 23220 – Ph: (804) 521-2500

Washington

1 – University Street Ministries – 4740 University Way NE – Seattle, WA 98105 – Ph: (206) 522-4366

West Virginia

1 – Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling – 1610 Eoff Street – Wheeling, WV 26003 – Ph: (304) 233-2992

Wisconsin

1 – McCarthy-Hall Kitchen – 1100 Douglas Ave – Racine, WI 53402 – Ph: (262) 634-9336

Wyoming

1 – Community Soup Kitchen – 633 Bridger Ave – Rock Springs, WY 82901 – Ph: (307) 382-7383

Have A Happy & Safe Thanksgiving Holiday !!!!

-Hatter & Beanz

In Jacksonville, Arkansas, the city council has approved $18 million in bonding authority for a series of projects to rehabilitate its aging sewer system.

Headlines
A break in a 36-inch water main in Arlington, Virginia has caused traffic delays and flooded some basements.

At a recent public meeting, the Allegheny County (Penn.) Regional Sanitary Sewer Authority estimated that it will cost “several billion” dollars to fix the region’s aging sewer systems.

Stimulus Spotlight
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the selection of $117.3 million in water and environmental project loans and grants that are being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for rural water projects.  The funding will support 31 water and wastewater projects in 17 states.

In Illinois, after months of waiting, the city of Spring Valley will receive nearly $5 million in stimulus funding for the three water and sewer projects. The funding is a no-interest loan which includes forgiveness for 25 percent of the loan. The city will have 20 years to repay the balance.

Sewer Rate News
Athens Borough, Pennsylvania
Columbus, Ohio
Lima, Ohio
Mapleton, Utah

AR State-2006

Our bodies are temples of His grace and it is my job to ensure that I keep my temple clean and strong.

This weekend I have decided to get back into a muscle-building mode and put back on some meat.

AR State--2006

In July of 2006, I was a lightweight competitive bodybuilder. Then, my husband and I found out that we were expecting a sweet addition to out already large brood. Long story, short, the next two years paid a great toll on my body as I battled health issues during the pregnancy and beyond.

My workouts were hit-and-miss at best and completely non-existent at their worst. However, through that period of my life, I knew that if I listened to my body and resisted the urge to push it beyond its abilities at that time, that my body would recover more quickly and more thoroughly, and when it was healed my mind would be waiting with great anticipation.

AR State-2006

The waiting paid off and I was able to get back to training in the summer of 2008. When I got back into the swing of things, though, I was hit with the hard reality that I had to start from scratch. Let me just say that did not make me happy. I was well, I was healed, I was 20 pounds lighter than before, and I was down-right weak.

Because I knew what had to be done to get back into a healthy fitness habit, I just put my head down and got to work.

AR State-2006

I’m not telling you that it was fun, though. I’m not one to blow smoke. It was hard and I was out of practice at pushing myself. There were days when I just couldn’t seem to get motivated enough to get my workouts done. Other days I would allow just about anything to distract me from taking care of my temple.

But let me tell you this: the more workouts I made time for, the easier was to fit future workouts into my schedule. So many can attest to this truth. We can find time to so just about anything we want to do, but unless we find joy in working out it’s not going to be high on our priority lists.

AR State-2006

What kind of exercises do you enjoy doing? I love to weight train. I just realized over the weekend that I still get a thrill from running. I enjoy yoga, but rarely get to class and don’t enjoy it alone in my home (which is odd for me because I tend to be a loner when I exercise). I love to ride bikes like Lance and punch a heavy bag like Rocky, but those are not to-to favorites when I’m energized and ready to work. For me, it’s all about clanking weight plates and dumbbells around, dripping in sweat and forming the tell-tale signs of a weight trainer on the calloused palms of my hands (even through gloves). My go-to workouts revolve around the weight room floor.

So, here I am now…three years later. Through functional training and working to get into cardiovascular as well as strength shape, this is how far I’ve come. I’m not including any of the “in between” pics of how big I got with my third pregnancy, or how tiny I shrunk down to during the subsequent illness, but sufficed to say, I am happy that my body is responding to some weight gain. I feel more like “me.”

I believe that everything happens for a reason, and it’s how we respond to tragedy, loss, illness, and even bounty that shape us and teach us. Friends, let me tell you, I’ve learned a lot! And I am thankful for every lesson. Now, I think it’s time to hit the gym!!!

Today, I’m working upper body. Last night’s 10×10 squats were killer fun. Tonight, because we have a holiday looming and workouts will surely be hit-or-miss while travelling, I’m going to do an extended, seriously brutal workout…a series of 10×10’s. BEWARE!

10×10 Incline dumbbell press

10×10 Chin-ups (modify if you need to)

10×10 Incline bicep curls

10×10 Overhead Tricep Extensions

Here’s where I stand today, November 2009:

I know…I know…this is as dark as my skin gets…just call me Casper the friendly Gym Girl!!!

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

For the two in attendance, and the millions of you reading across the internet……Lets get ready for RIVALRIES!!!!!!!

The First game i bring to you is the Border War. Anyone who deals with a rivalry knows that its just a straight out fight, and what better to fight over then an Indian War Drum & the Lamar Hunt Trophy. Missouri and Kansas have been fighting this war since 1891. Dan George summed up the rivalry by stating “It’s more than the schools — it’s a state thing going back to the Civil War, when William Quantrill’s Confederate guerillas burned Lawrence and murdered nearly 200 people. Neither Missouri nor Kansas folks have forgotten it.” The series between to the two stands officially tied (going by NCAA, cant stand it when conferences make their own rules and try to change rules mid season to get things swinging their way) 54-54-9 even though there is some controversy over a player being disqualified due to a school booster using funds to persuade him to come to that school (Kansas was the school he played for). This just added more fuel to the fire of this rivalry, which, even though by request of the athletic directors of the schools not to be called this, is the Border War.

 Next on the list we have the  Iron Bowl. For those of you not around the south, the Iron Bowl is THE rivalry of rivalries. When people think of Alabama playing against Auburn, they equate it to things such as the North fighting against the South… The Axis versus the Allies… some even go as far as to compare it as the battle of good and evil. It gets intense around here and some people tend to get hurt while waiting for the weekend or in this horrid case because of CBS wanting to grab some ratings, Friday to come around for the game to be played to give the fans the bragging rights they have truly earned. The series originated in 1893 with the two schools playing against each other in Birmingham, Alabama (that’s where the iron came from) The Crimson Tide currently lead the rivalry 39-33-1. This year’s game will be played at Auburns site where Alabama has lost its last six visits.

Now I bring you “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate”. Words that could only be used to describe the Georgia vs. Georgia Tech game. The rivalry between these two schools also began in 1893.  The heated rivalry goes all the way back to truthfully 1891 when UGA began to mock Tech for its choice of school colors. The fire only burned stronger as time passed by with UGA once again offending the Yellow Jackets in 1919 by having a parade celebrating UGA’s return to football while making fun of Georgia Tech students for continuing to play football during war time. With only 70 miles between the schools (UGA in Athens, and GA Tech in Atlanta) the schools are in constant competition against each other not only for recruits, but for state funding and for recognition from their home state as well. The winning school of the years football game receives the Governor’s Cup Finally, I just really like the name given to this rivalry.

Next up on the Rivalry list we have the Texas Longhorns, and the Texas A & M Aggies. These being the two oldest public schools in the state of Texas, their rivalry is a natural one. Texas and A & M have been competing against each other since 1894, but their rivalry has been adjusted to spread bragging rights based on all sports rather then just football. in 2004 a points system was introduced. Points are awarded for all sports in which both schools maintain an intercollegiate team. Each sport is worth one point, which is awarded to the winner of the head-to-head matchup between the two teams. If the head-to-head matchup ends in a tie, each team receives ½ point. In baseball, the team that wins the regular season three-game series is awarded one point. In sports where the teams meet twice during the season — currently softball, volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball — each contest is worth ½ point. If the universities do not compete in head-to-head regular season competition, the university that places higher at the Big 12 Conference Championship will earn the point. Should the universities tie in Big 12 Conference Championship competition the point will be split between the two schools. In the sport of track and field, multi-school meets do not count as head-to-head competition. There are a total of 19 possible points, with 10 points needed to win. In the event of a 9½ to 9½ tie, the winner of the previous year will retain the title for the following year. Texas currently leads the points run 3-2 with a possible tie of the series pending on the rivalry game this weekend. (if A & M manages to tie the points, according to the rules of point, they will retain the title since they were the previous years winner.)

And for the next big game, we have Virginia Tech at Virginia playing for the Commonwealth Cup. This match up rolls back to 1895 when the schools started playing each other. From what I’ve gathered, aside from just a game between people from really close places to each other, there’s not much to this. With the Va Tech Shooting, the rivalry became even less intense. Many fans on both sides of the rivalry have reported a lessening of hostilities between the two universities while maintaining the same intensity of the rivalry in the wake of the Virginia Tech Massacre. According to The Washington Post “students in both camps are more apt to think of themselves as simply Virginians.” UVa students were amongst the first university students to lend support to the comrades at Virginia Tech in the wake of the shootings. Likewise, the connections between the two university’s populations are often very close. Prior to the 2007 football contest in Charlottesville both college’s bands participated in a joint performance. However, the intensity of the rivalry was still as spirited as ever, with both sides cheering passionately for their own team as a berth to the ACC Championship game was on the line. “…there was the sense among Tech students that fans of U-Va. – an institution founded by none other than Thomas Jefferson – looked down their noses at the mountain-ensconced Hokies of Blacksburg. Hokies were “hicks”; Cavaliers were “snobs.” But after the shootings in April, something changed. U-Va. students and faculty members wrote condolence letters, held a candlelight vigil and even painted the campus’s fabled Beta Bridge with a pro-Hokies phrase.” — Jonathan Mummolo, The Washington Post U-Va.’s student newspaper reported that students in Charlottesville were even sporting Hokie sweatshirts on occasion in observance of the tragedy. The University’s Z Society went so far as unveiling a 65′ x 120′ Virginia Pride flag featuring both UVA and VT logos on it during the annual football game, and it was noted that the two fan bases had never been so close as they were after the shootings. “Since the tragedy, it hasn’t been so odd to see a Wahoo wearing a Virginia Tech sweatshirt. Since April, transfer students haven’t felt so awkward saying they used to attend school in Blacksburg. Truly, Hokies and Wahoos have never been so together.” — Eric Kolenich, The Cavalier Daily.

Next up on the list is Pittsburgh playing at West Virginia in The Backyard Brawl. This rivalry rolls back to 1895 when the first game was played. The rivalry basically exists because, you guessed it, the schools are basically in each other’s back yard. Pittsburgh currently leads the series 61-37-3. The 1921 edition of The Backyard Brawl was the first football game to be broadcast over the radio airwaves. Other then the 2007 Pitt team knocking the then number two ranked West Virginia out of the BCS National Championship game, there hasnt really been much to fuel this rivalry then, they’re competing for the same stuff as GA-GA tech.

Another heated rivalry taking place this weekend is the Holy War. The fierce rivalry between the Utah Utes and the Brigham Young Cougars. The big thing that fuels this fire is…..dum dum dum… religion.  Utah is the Mormon capital of the world, so to no surprise, BYU is a Mormon owned school. Utah, being a state owned school, is non-secular. BYU fans accuse Utah fans of being drunks, although many of Utah’s fans are also Mormons, and alcohol is against the Mormon code. Many non Mormon Utes fans love to mess with BYU fans by drinking lots of coffee, swearing and generally going against the Mormon code. The series started in 1895 ( or 1922 according to BYU) Utah leads the series 53-33-4 (or 50-30-4 depending on when it started).  The two schools are approximately 50 miles apart, so its not uncommon for them to constantly compete over recruits, fans and funding. The rivalry began to change in 1993, during Ron McBride’s fourth season as head coach, the Utes won their first game in Provo in twenty-two seasons and their first since LaVell Edwards became BYU head coach. Utah’s kicker, Chris Yergensen, had already missed two out of three field goals on the day. This time, however, Yergensen did not miss and kicked the game-winning 55-yard field goal (the longest of his career) as time expired.After the win, Utah fans and players attempted to tear down the north end zone goalpost at what was then Cougar Stadium. Cougar players returned to the field to protect the goalpost from being torn down. About the incident, Lenny Gomes, a BYU nose guard, said, “Typical Utah bullshit. All those guys think that’s all there is to life. But when I’m making $50–60,000 a year, they’ll be pumping my gas. They’re low-class losers.” The remark is still remembered in rivalry history today.The 1994 season was McBride’s best, as he led the Utes to a 10–2 record and a top-10 finish in national rankings. The Utes and Cougars also staged one of the best matchups in the rivalry’s history, meeting for the first time as top-25 ranked teams. The Utes won the game 34–31, which was coincidentally the same score of their meeting a year before. Utah ran its rivalry winning streak up to three games a year later, with a 34–17 win at BYU. The Utes and Cougars would trade wins and losses the next couple of years, before the 2000 season. During the 1999 edition of the Holy War, Utah recorded its fourth consecutive win in Provo. Early in the fourth quarter, Utah scored a touchdown when quarterback T.D. Crowshaw completed a four-yard-pass to Donny Utu to put Utah up 20–10. In celebration, Utah cheerleader Billy Priddis ran along the visitor’s sideline with a large “U” flag. An unidentified BYU fan ran onto the sideline and tackled Priddis from behind. Priddis turned around and started punching the fan. He landed seven or eight punches before security separated them. About the incident, Priddis said, “”There’s 65,000 fans here, does he think I’m not going to retaliate?” Utah had another undefeated season in 2008 and defeated BYU 48–24. By doing so, they captured another invitation to a BCS game, where they were matched up with the highly favored Alabama. Utah beat Alabama 31–17 for their second BCS victory in five years. BYU’s team slogan in 2008 was “Quest for Perfection,” and T-shirts bearing that slogan were made widely available. However, BYU’s quest for a perfect season ended at TCU, and Utah, who did finish with a perfect record, created red shirts bearing the Utah logo and the slogan “The Quest Perfected.”

This next rivalry is near and dear to my heart as I have an ex-girlfriend who is a big Clemson fan. Naturally I pull for South Carolina (Shout out to my boy Darian Stewart #24) every year since then in the Battle of the Palmetto State. Stick with me people because the next might get long and boring, but it is needed to completely understand where it all came from. Unlike most major college rivalries, the Carolina-Clemson rivalry did not start innocently. In fact, the seeds of bitterness were planted even before Clemson became a college. The two institutions were founded 88 years apart: South Carolina College in 1801 and Clemson Agricultural College in 1889.South Carolina College was founded in 1801 to unite and promote harmony between the Lowcountry and the Upcountry. It closed during the Civil War when its students aided the Southern cause, but the closure gave the politicians an opportunity to reorganize it to their liking. The Radical Republicans in charge of state government during Reconstruction opened the school to blacks and appropriated generous funds to the University, much of which was embezzled. These actions caused the white citizens of the state to withdraw their support for the University and view it as a symbol of the worst aspects of Reconstruction. The Democrats returned to power in 1877 following their decisive electoral victory over the Radical Republicans and promptly proceeded to close the University. Sentiment in the state favored opening an agriculture college so the University was reorganized as the South Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. In 1882, the college was renamed to its antebellum name, South Carolina College, which infuriated the farmers because they felt that the politicians had frustrated the will of the people by deemphasizing agriculture education, even though the school still retained the department of agriculture. Benjamin Tillman emerged in the 1880s as a leader of the agrarian movement in South Carolina and demanded that the South Carolina College take agricultural education more seriously by expanding the agriculture department. In 1885, Tillman was convinced of the superiority of a separate agricultural college by Stephen D. Lee, then the President of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi, and subsequently Tillman would accept nothing less than a separate agriculture college in South Carolina. He offered the following reasons why he felt that it was necessary to have a separate agriculture college outside the confines of Columbia:

Mississippi A&M featured practical training without unnecessary studying of the liberal arts.

Mississippi A&M provided poor students work-scholarships so that they could attend the college.

There were too few students who studied agriculture at the College to justify an agriculture college there.

The College was a place “for the sons of lawyers and of the well-to-do” who sneered at the agriculture students as if they were hayseeds.

The students at the College lived a life of luxury as compared with the sweat and toil endured by students at Mississippi A&M.

There was not enough farm land near the College to allow for proper agriculture study.

The Conservatives, who held the reins of power in South Carolina from 1877 to 1890, replied to each point made by Tillman:

The most advanced agriculture educational research was being conducted at the University of California and at Cornell University, both of which combined agriculture colleges with liberal arts colleges. Additionally, a separate agriculture college would be more expensive and result in an inferior product.

The work scholarships attracted the lowest quality of students who only cared about obtaining a college degree, not about an education in agriculture or mechanical studies. Furthermore, there was little advantage of attending a college only to pitch manure and grub stumps.

The constant attacks by Tillman on the College caused many to doubt whether state support for the institution would continue. As a result, the enrollment numbers were not impressive, although the numbers of students taking agriculture and mechanical classes increased from 34 in 1887 to 83 in 1889. Over half of the students at the College were the sons of farmers, though most did not study agriculture as Tillman wished. John McLaren McBryde, President of the College, correctly predicted that most students of an agriculture college would not go back to work the farm after graduation. While some students at the College were the sons of the well-to-do, the majority were poor.Tillman was bolstered in 1886 when Thomas Green Clemson agreed to will his Fort Hill estate for the establishment of an agriculture college. Yet, Tillman did not want to wait until Clemson died to start a separate agriculture college so he pushed the General Assembly to use the Morrill funds and Hatch funds for that purpose. Instead, the legislature gave those funds to the South Carolina College in 1887 which would use them along with a greater state appropriation to reorganize itself as the second University of South Carolina and to also greatly expand the agriculture department. After this victory for South Carolina, in January 1888 Tillman wrote a letter to the News and Courier that he was retiring from public life.It was less than ninety days when Tillman reemerged on the scene upon the death of Thomas Green Clemson in April 1888. Tillman advocated that the state accept the gift by Clemson, but the Conservatives in power opposed the move and an all out war for power in the state commenced. The opening salvo was fired by Gideon Lee, the father of Clemson’s granddaughter and John C. Calhoun’s great granddaughter Floride Isabella Lee, who wrote a letter on her behalf to the News and Courier in May that she was being denied as Calhoun’s rightful heir. Furthermore, he stated that Clemson was egotistical and “only wanted to erect a monument to his own name.”In November, Lee filed a lawsuit in Federal Court to contest the will which ultimately ruled against him in May of 1889.The election of 1888 afforded Tillman an opportunity to convince the politicians to accept the Clemson bequest or face the possibility of being voted out of office. He demanded that the Democratic party nominate its candidates by the primary system, which was denied, but they did accept his request that the candidates for statewide office canvass the state. Tillman proved excellent on the stump, by far superior than his Conservative opponents, and as the Democratic convention neared there was a clear groundswell of support for the acceptance of Clemson’s estate. He was so effective because of his “ability to awaken popular passion and prejudice” when the populace by and large mistook “prejudice for truth, passion for reason, and invective for documentation.” Tillman pitted “the poor against the rich, tenant against landowner, hireling against employer, country against town, all of South Carolina against Charleston and Columbia, upcountry against lowcountry, white against black, do-somethings against do-nothings, and outs against those in power” so that “he could rile them up and then appear as their champion.” In addition, the Conservative leadership was aging and its appeal to the past glories of South Carolina during the antebellum period meant little to the emerging younger generation.Tillman explained his justification for an independently controlled agriculture college by pointing to the mismanagement and political interference of the University of South Carolina as had occurred during Reconstruction. The agriculture college, as specified in Clemson’s will, was to be privately controlled and thus would be able to prevent any “possible invasion by the negroes”. With declining cotton prices, Tillman preyed upon the farmer’s desperation by stating that the salaries of the college professors were exorbitant and it must be a sign of corruption. Consequently, the legislature was compelled to pass the bill to accept Clemson’s bequest in December of 1888, albeit with the tie-breaking vote in the state Senate from Lieutenant Governor William L. Mauldin. Thus was reborn the antagonistic feelings of regional bitterness and class division that would plague the state for decades. Having achieved his agriculture college, Tillman was not content to sit idly by because what he really desired was power and political office. After winning the 1890 election and becoming Governor, Tillman renewed the attacks on the Conservatives and those who had thwarted his agriculture college. He saved the coup de grâce for Senator Wade Hampton III, a South Carolina College graduate and Confederate General during the Civil War, who “invoked Confederate service and honor as a barrier to Tillmanism.” Tillman directed the legislature to defeat Hampton’s renomination for another term in December of 1890, thereby finishing what Sherman had left undone in 1865.While campaigning for Governor in 1890, Tillman leveled his harshest criticism towards the University of South Carolina and threatened to close it along with The Citadel, which he called a “dude factory.” Despite the rhetoric, Tillman only succeeded in reorganizing the University of South Carolina into a liberal arts college while in office. It would eventually be rechartered for the last time in 1906 as the University of South Carolina. However, Clemson Agricultural College held sway over the state legislature for decades and was generally the more popular college during the first half of the 20th century in South Carolina. The rivalry started in 1896. after 106 meetings, Clemson leads, 65-37-4.

Next up, the Colorado State – Wyoming Border War. Nothing is really special about this rival aside from rivalry based on location. Colorado State leads the series 55-40-4. In 1968, the ROTC detachments of the respective schools initiated the Bronze Boot, a traveling trophy awarded to the winner of the “Border War” each year. The boot was worn in the Vietnam War by Cpt. Jeff Romero, Sr., a Colorado State graduate and Army ROTC instructor at CSU between 1967 and 1969. Each year leading up to the Wyoming-Colorado State game, the game ball is carried in a running shuttle relay by the ROTC detachment of the visiting team down US 287 to the Wyoming-Colorado state border, where the home team’s ROTC detachment receives it and runs the game ball to the stadium hosting the game. The trophy is guarded by the ROTC unit of the past year’s winning school during the game. Colorado State University leads the trophy series at 21-20.

Off now to the Duel in the Desert and the Territorial Cup. The “Territorial Cup” also known as the “Duel in the Desert” is the rivalry between ASU and UA and is among the nation’s oldest and most heated rivalries, including the oldest trophy in college football. The winner of the game is then given possession of the Territorial Cup until the game is played the next year. In the modern era of the game, it is played on the day after Thanksgiving (and in recent years on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to accommodate network television coverage). The rivalry dates back to before Arizona was admitted as a state, and was a U.S. Territory. In the early history of Arizona, a resentment between the cities of Phoenix and Tucson emerged. The University of Arizona was founded in 1885 as the state’s first university. The same year, Tempe Normal School was founded as a small teacher’s college in the farming community of Tempe, just east of Phoenix. Over the years, Tempe Normal School evolved into Arizona State Teacher’s College, then Arizona State College at Tempe, and eventually Arizona State University. Although both athletic programs have been consistently in the top 20 in the Director’s Cup standings for the past decade, the two schools have featured a difference in athletic strengths. The rivalry started in 1899. University of Arizona currently leads the cup series 45-36-1.

The Bedlam Series is, like most other intrastate rivalries, a rivalry that goes beyond one or two sports. Both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have rivalries with other schools, though most of those rivalries are limited to one or two sports at the most. When the Bedlam Series gained Ford and the Bank of Oklahoma as corporate sponsors, the series became much more formalized. A points system was adopted in order to award a winner of the all athletic competitions combined between the two schools. A crystal bell trophy is awarded to individual Bedlam game winners (such as football), in addition to a trophy for the overall series champion for that year. The “Bedlam Bell” is modeled after the bell clapper in Old Central, the oldest building on Oklahoma State’s campus. For a time, the actual bell clapper was a traveling trophy for the two schools, until the popularity of this tradition waned. Oklahoma currently leads the series 79-15-8 which started in 1904.

Moving on, we have the Washington-Washington State rivalry. This one seems so boring that I’m just going to use the Apple Cup Wikipedia entry to fill this slot in. The Apple Cup is the annual college football rivalry game between the two largest universities in the U.S. state of Washington; the University of Washington (UW) Huskies and the Washington State University (WSU) Cougars. It is traditionally the final game of the regular season and takes place on the Saturday preceding Thanksgiving at Husky Stadium in Seattle during odd years, and WSU’s Martin Stadium in Pullman during even years. From 1950-80 (except for 1954), WSU hosted the game at Spokane’s Joe Albi Stadium. The WSU Cougars won three of these fifteen games in Spokane (1958, 1968, 1972), and have won six of the fourteen played at Martin Stadium (1982, 1988, 1992, 1994, 2004, 2008).Before 1962, the teams played for the “Governor’s Trophy.” The game was renamed the “Apple Cup” in 1962 because of Washington’s famous apple crop. The Apple Cup trophy has been awarded to the winning team ever since. With the recent lengthening of the regular season schedule to 12 games, there was a movement change the date of the Apple Cup from the weekend before Thanksgiving to the weekend following. This would have allowed a bye week sometime during the season. In the 2006 season, both teams played 12 straight weeks without a break, leaving the two teams noticeably fatigued. For the first time, the 2007 edition of the Apple Cup was played two days after Thanksgiving. The Apple Cup has been sponsored by Boeing since 2007.The first rivalry game was held in 1900 and resulted in a tie between UW and WSU. From 1900 to 2008, there have been 101 games between the schools. The Huskies hold a 64-31-6 advantage. UW’s longest winning streak has been eight games, achieved twice: (1959-66 and 1974-81). WSU has never won more than two consecutive Apple Cups, but the Cougars have won back-to-back games on eight separate occasions: (1929-30, 1953-54, 1957-58, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1982-83, 2004-05 and 2007-08). Although Washington currently leads the overall series, the Cougars have taken four of the past five meetings including a double-overtime win in the 2008 meeting. Washington leads the series 64-31-6.

With the Mississippi State vs. Mississippi Egg Bowl I was expecting more of a feud to have started the rivalry then anything else. So, with the same boring info I bring you more Wiki info. Early in the series, Mississippi State dominated, and had only lost five times in the first twenty-three contests. When Ole Miss beat MSU, then known as Mississippi A&M College, 7-6, the Ole Miss fans rushed the field, some trying to tear the goalposts down. A&M fans did not take well to the Ole Miss fans celebrations, and fights broke out. Some A&M fans defended the goal posts with wooden chairs, and several injuries were reported. To prevent such events in the future, students of the two schools created the “Golden Egg”, a large trophy which has been awarded to the winning team each year since 1927. The trophy is a large football-shaped brass piece mounted to a wooden base and traditionally symbolizes supremacy in college football in the state of Mississippi for the year. The footballs used in American football in the 1920s were considerably more ovoid and blunter than those in use today and similar to the balls still used in rugby; the trophy thus, to modern eyes, more resembles an egg than a football. The awarding of the “Golden Egg” was instituted in 1927 by joint agreement between the two schools’ student bodies. Ole Miss leads the rivalry that started in 1901 60–39–6.

Next up we got the Toledo – Bowling Green Battle of I-75. This one is a little more interesting then the last ones (enough that I’m not just going to give you stuff from the Wiki then be done with it.) These two schools are only about 20 miles apart from each other, making the pressure to get recruits and fans from the local area much harder then some others. The winner of the battle is awarded the Peace Pipe Trophy (yep that’s right, a Native American peace pipe). The rivalry between UT and BGSU goes back to 1919. The games were (and to an extent still are) marked by a passionate fan following and a hatred for the respective opponent. In 1935, fans rioted following a 63-0 blowout win by UT and as a result, BGSU removed the Rockets from their athletic schedule until 1947. That year, the smoking of a six-foot peace pipe was instated as a gesture of goodwill between the two teams at half-time of their annual basketball match. The peace pipe would be kept by the winning university until the teams played again the following season. The tradition came to an abrupt and unpleasant end in 1969 when the pipe was stolen from the UT offices. It was never recovered and the thief never caught. In 1980, the Peace Pipe trophy was reinstated when a scale-down replica was fashioned and placed on top of a trophy created by former UT football player Frank Kralik. Kralik donated the trophy to the university to be given to the winner of each year’s football game, which like many other college football rivalries is usually the last game of the regular season for both teams. Nowadays, ESPN annually broadcasts the Peace Pipe game, allowing it to reach a wide audience outside of northwest Ohio. Though the two schools play in different divisions in the Mid-American Conference, they have yet to meet in the MAC Championship Game. Toledo leads the series since the reinstatement of the trophy, 15-14.

With the next teams and their rivalry, I hold little interest in. The fact that they are 12 miles apart and both in the same city, I find entertaining, aside from that, more Wiki read. The UCLA–USC rivalry is the college rivalry between two universities located in Los Angeles, California: the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.The athletic competition rivalry between the two schools is among the more notable in NCAA Division I sports because both schools are located within the same city. The campuses are only 12 miles apart. The sheer proximity of both alumni and students, and the likelihood of encountering each other and interacting on a daily basis make this one of the most intense college rivalries in the United States. USC is one of the top teams in the country in college football, and recognizes 11 of its teams as National Champions. UCLA has only one team recognized as a National Champion.Quite often, the winner of the football game has won or shared the Pacific Ten Conference title in football. A berth in the Rose Bowl game has been on the line many times as well for both schools. Since the formation of the Pacific Coast Conference in 1916, USC has won or shared 37 conference titles and UCLA has won or shared 17 titles.Washington is third in overall conference titles with 15.Since the 1959 season, when the Pacific 10 Conference was formed as the Athletic Association of Western Universities, through the 2007 season, the schools have won or shared 33 of the 48 conference titles. USC has won 17 championships outright, shared eight and gone to the Rose Bowl or BCS bowl 21 times. UCLA has won six championships outright, shared five and gone to the Rose Bowl eight times. The schools have shared the championship between them three times. Both teams have spoiled conference and national championship runs for the other. USC was already an established national football power under Howard Jones and had begun a major rivalry with Notre Dame when UCLA joined the Pacific Coast Conference in 1929. Los Angeles Times Sportswriter Braven Dyer predicted on the day of the first football meeting on September 28, 1929, “In years to come, this game will probably be one of the football spectacles of the West” USC dominated the early games (so much so, that after the first two games, the series was suspended for five years and they did not play each other from 1931-1935) until UCLA established itself. By the late 1930s, star players such as Kenny Washington, Jackie Robinson, and Bob Waterfield enabled UCLA to be competitive. With the hiring of Hall of Fame Coach Henry “Red” Sanders, UCLA became the more dominant program in the 1950s, culminating in their 1954 National Championship. A famous quote was attributed to Sanders regarding the rivalry, “Beating ‘SC is not a matter of life or death, it’s more important than that.” But Sanders died suddenly of a heart attack, and shortly thereafter, John McKay took over a struggling USC program and returned it to national prominence. For most seasons from the mid 1960s to the end of the 1970s, the two schools were the top powers on the west coast. In the 15 Rose Bowls played from 1966 to 1980, USC or UCLA played in 12 of them. Even with the rise of Don James’ Washington Huskies in the 1980s and early 90s, UCLA or USC still went to the Rose Bowl seven times between 1981 and 1995. In the 1990s and until the hiring of Pete Carroll by USC, UCLA was the dominant team, winning 8 straight from USC from 1991-1998, before USC then won 7 in a row from 1999-2005. The 13-9 win in 2006 at the Rose Bowl allowed the Bruins to keep the record for consecutive wins in the rivalry.

Florida vs. Florida State is the next rivalry on the list. Not much going on here aside from state pushed interstate rivalry. here’s the history: The University of Florida has been fielding an officially sanctioned football team since 1906. Though Florida State University (then known as “Florida State College”) played football for several years around 1900, it became a women’s college in 1905 and remained so until 1947, when the football team was re-established. Almost immediately, pressure began building for the Gators to play the new team in-state. Some believe that it took an act of the Florida state legislature to force the contest to take place. This is not exactly true – a bill demanding a UF vs. FSU football series was proposed in 1955 but was voted down. However, the schools bowed to pressure from state leaders and agreed to schedule a yearly series starting in 1958.One of the conditions that the University of Florida put on the agreement was that the contest must always be held in their home stadium, Florida Field in Gainesville. Since 1964, however, the game site has alternated yearly between the Gators’ field and the Seminoles’ home turf of Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. Since 1958 Florida currently leads the series 32-19-2.

Rice and Houston are the next match up in their competition to take home the Bayou Bucket. The Houston–Rice rivalry (also referred to as the UH–Rice rivalry, Rice–Houston rivalry, or the Rice–UH rivalry) is a cross-town college rivalry between the University of Houston and Rice University. The universities are located approximately five miles from each other in Houston’s “Inner loop” area. It is one of the few NCAA Division I cross-town rivalries, especially between institutions that field Division I Football Bowl Subdivision teams. The rivalry has existed in a more official capacity since Houston joined the now-defunct Southwest Conference in 1971, in which Rice was a charter member. Since the breakup of that conference in 1995, the rivalry has continued. In 2005, Rice joined Conference USA, of which Houston was a member, and has again made the rivalry more relevant for conference titles as well. Football is the largest focus of the rivalry and is the sport in which the competition between the two institutions has run the longest. Both teams are part of the NCAA’s Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and have both been part of the Conference USA athletic conference since 2005. The competition includes an annual regular-season football game between the schools. It has existed since 1971, when Houston joined the now-defunct Southwest Conference, of which Rice was also a member. The winner of the game wins the Bayou Bucket. Houston leads this series 24–9. Although the last Southwest Conference football game was part of the series, the teams did not compete against each other in football from 1996 to 1998 as the universities realigned themselves with other conferences. Although the first official meeting between the teams in football didn’t take place until 1971, a scrimmage took place between the inaugural 1946 Houston Cougars team and the Rice Owls. The Owls, having played football since 1914 and being a part of the Southwest Conference, were a much more experienced and accomplished team than the Cougars. In a front of a crowd of thousands, the Owls easily defeated the Cougars. Made famous from football games between the two rivals, University of Houston students often wear red shirts with the words “Ruck Fice” to UH-Rice games. 5 miles apart from each other.. does that not say, “hey I wanna mess with you and take your recruits fans and basis of how you exist” to you?

Notre Dame and Stanford are next on the list. This rivalry is young and not really considered a major rivalry so there’s not much to it. The Irish have a minor rivalry with the Stanford Cardinal (for the Legends Trophy, a combination of Irish crystal with California redwood). The two teams first met in the 1925 Rose Bowl, then played each other in 1942 and again in 1963-64. The modern series began in 1988 and has been played annually except in 1995-96. Notre Dame leads the series 17-6. When the game is played in Palo Alto, it is usually the last game on Stanford’s schedule (as has been the case since 1999), one week after the Cardinal plays archrival Cal in The Big Game.

I finish up with Arkansas and LSU in the Battle for the Golden Boot, an aged old tradition since 1996. I myself was unaware that this was even a rivalry, but I guess everyone needs a rival. Here’s the background on the two teams playing each other. The Arkansas–LSU rivalry, now known as The Battle for the Golden Boot, is the annual college football sports rivalry game between the teams of the University of Arkansas, the Razorbacks, and Louisiana State University, the Tigers. Although the first game between the two teams occurred in 1901, the rivalry between the teams intensified after Arkansas’ entrance into the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1992, and later in 1996 with the first awarding of the “Golden Boot” and the official titling of the game “The Battle for the Golden Boot”. The game is now generally played on the day after Thanksgiving. The two teams have played 53 times since 1901, and as of the 2008 contest, 17 consecutive times after Arkansas’ induction into the SEC. During that time, LSU has won 33 games of the series while Arkansas has won 19, including the latest meeting in 2008, between the two teams. Arkansas and LSU have twice ended the game in a tie, in 1906 and the 1947 Cotton Bowl Classic. Arkansas and LSU began playing each other in 1901, when LSU claimed a 15-0 victory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Between 1906-1936 (with the exception of 1918) and 1953-1956, the two teams played each other during regular seasons on a yearly basis. In addition, the two teams have played each other at the end of the regular season in the Cotton Bowl Classic twice, on January 1 of 1947 and 1966, the former being the second tie in the series while the latter ended in a 14-7 LSU victory. In 1992, LSU and Arkansas resumed their annual rivalry when Arkansas joined the Southeastern Conference after leaving the Southwest Conference. The teams played each other four times in the conference before the introduction of the Golden Boot trophy in 1996. Beginning in 1996, the victor in the rivalry between Arkansas and LSU received the Golden Boot, a trophy that weighs approximately 175 pounds and is generally considered the heaviest “trophy” awarded in all of college football. The trophy itself stands a little over 4 feet tall, is molded out of 24-karat gold, and resembles the outline of the states of Arkansas and Louisiana connected, thus making a boot shape. Since 1996, the game has been set on the day after Thanksgiving, and has been played on alternating years in Little Rock, Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium, which is the secondary home stadium for the Razorbacks, and in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at Tiger Stadium. The series has generally represented an important battle in the SEC Western Division, with either Arkansas or LSU representing the division in the SEC Football Championship Game in many seasons. LSU won the inaugural “trophy meeting” in 1996, 17–7, and for the next six years, the trophy changed hands every meeting, beginning with LSU in 1997. After Arkansas’ “Miracle on Markham” victory in 2002, LSU won the rivalry and the Golden Boot four consecutive times from 2003 to 2006. The trophy returned to Arkansas’ possession on November 23, 2007 when the Razorbacks beat then top-ranked and eventual BCS National Championship game winner LSU 50-48 in three overtimes in Baton Rouge; the victory was the first for former Razorback coach Houston Nutt in five tries in Tiger Stadium. Arkansas successfully defended the Golden Boot again in 2008 with a spectacular come-from-behind victory in the last minute of game play.

It’s almost Thanksgiving. I leave in the morning for Big Flat. I have done laundry but am I packed? Can you beleive it, I’m NOT! This is a woman who is always packed at least a week in advance of heading for her favorite place on the planet.

I’ve completed writing Hunting Mickey and am struggling to get it polished so that I can send it to my editor as soon as I get back from my trip.

Between computer sessions, I’ve done a few loads of wash and have had the kidlet schlep the clothes baskets upstairs for me but thats as far as I’ve gotten. DH is packed, DD has been working and trying to pack when she can…

We’re taking our guns and our ATVs for the trip. Target shooting, riding, it’s going to be a blast so long as the weather holds. DD is going to ride down with my mom. We’re taking the dog and he freaks out if he isn’t with me…plus I won’t have to beg for a smoke stop in my own truck! (LOL)

I guess I should crank up some David Bowie, grab the suitcases and get cracking!

I’ll be back sometime Sunday night and back in my office Monday morning.

…Perfect timing! The song that just popped up is Pressure by David Bowie and Queen…

Hopefully I’ll have some more good news when I get back! (Maybe a release date for Cry Wolf…more reviews on Noella’s Gift…a new idea or three for writing in 2010…maybe another contract….hehehehe)

See y’all in a week!
Hugz
Donica

     I visited Heber Springs several times in June and July, several of my favorite photo spots are here-Greers Ferry lake, Little Red River, and Collins Creek, to name a few.  Greers Ferry Lake is a deep,clear,  cold-water impoundment  that feeds the Little Red River below the dam; the lake is fringed with several cliffs and bluffs that make for some nice views.

TSTC Publishing’s new marketing manager is Sheila Boggess. Sheila earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri School Of Journalism.

Previously, Sheila worked as news editor for The Standard-Times in San Angelo, Texas, for nine years and went on to be managing editor of a daily newspaper in northern Arkansas for seven years. She also has led newsrooms in Illinois and Indiana.

In addition to newspapers, Sheila spent three years in public relations for a health care system in her hometown of West Plains, Mo. She brings her acquired knowledge to TSTC. “In every position, I learned one has to market your image and your products. That’s what I look forward to doing here at TSTC.”

Sheila began doing contract work for TSTC Publishing after meeting Publisher Mark Long. After hearing about the open marketing position, she decided to interview. “I was excited that a technical school like TSTC would have the forethought to put the best of their professors’ work into written form.”

She is ready to tackle any marketing challenge TSTC throws her way. “Getting the word out is one of my primary goals in my new position. I also want to take full advantage of the latest in social media … I was excited to attend a social media seminar right here on the TSTC campus my first week at work.”

Sheila and her husband, Bob, live in Prairie Hill, east of Waco. Sheila is also a proud new grandmother to baby Ellanor, born Aug. 5. “I grab time with her as a much as I can!” she said.

Kristin

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I am a figure known all around the world, to many different people, as many different things. You can simply call me God. Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking I’m here to offer you worldly advice or the secret of life or something like that. Well, that’s not it. Seriously, don’t fret about me; I just wanna tell you a story.

It is currently April 23, 2006, 2:47 p.m. We are located in the city of Abbott, Arkansas.

The air in the jail cell is drafty yet warm. It presses on Peter’s skin, forming tiny beads of sweat on his partially bald head. Peter stands at 5′9″, weighs 233 pounds, and has small, watery blue eyes. He is currently squatting on his flat mattress, in his bright orange jumpsuit, reading his Bible. Ironic; he’s never been religious before. That’s no matter, though, no matter. In precisely three hours, and now, nine minutes, he will be killed. He will be killed at exactly 6:00 p.m. and there isn’t anything I’m gonna do to stop it.

Peter had a very classic childhood. He was a shiny boy, born in 1959. His mother wasn’t a feminist, she lived her life the way her mother did. His father was an upstanding citizen, respected by many. Like said, all fairly normal. On his seventh birthday, he was dressed in a yellow and brown striped shirt, he wore a small, paper crown that his mother had bought for him, and he was surrounded by his three brothers and one sister. His sister’s name was Patricia. She was probably one of the most compassionate people he had ever known. Peter’s older brother’s left early for school every day in order to not walk with him and his little brother, Timmy. Patricia always waited, even though she was the oldest. Even if it meant being late, she always waited.

His dad was working late; and with one simple phone call, they sat down and ate meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans, and were now watching him blow out the candles. He wished for basic things. A new bike or perhaps that really expensive baseball glove he had picked out at the store. His mother fussed over the candles, and the wax that dripped on the cake. She cut perfectly symmetrical pieces, giving him the first one. He absolutely loved being served first. It was the perfect cake on one of the most perfect days he had lived. His baseball glove was wrapped in a dull green paper with trains on it, and a baseball from his brothers and sister was wrapped in matching paper. They had all made him cards, and his parents had bought him a card. All of this thought had made him smile.

After he went to bed, and had maybe been asleep for twenty minutes, his father crept in. He sat at his son’s feet, and lightly shook young Peter awake. When Peter came to, he smiled at him.

“There’s my boy. You’re growing up so fast. You’ll be a man soon, yah know?” He said quietly. Peter knew he had given the same talk to his two older brothers, but it meant so much more when it was directed at him. It made him feel special. “I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I wish I coulda been there tonight. You like you’re present alright?” His father’s voice sounded kind, not authoritative like it usually did.

“Yes, sir, it was perfect.” His father smiled at him slightly, patted him on the head, and exited as quietly as possible. Peter drifted off, the excitement of everything slowly waning.

He continued to turn the aging pages of his Bible. This makes me smile, to see his dedication. His eyes are strained. Peter has been reading for quite some time now, determined to finish before he dies. I can see it. He is afraid, though I am certain he has accepted the inevitable. Time has been granted to him, allowing him to come to dread his impending death. He has waited on death row for six long years. Years of routine and dread. What a way to come to an end.

When he was nineteen, Peter got a job at a diner down the street from the University of Arkansas , where he was studying to be an accountant. Though he was extremely bright, financial aid was lacking, so one afternoon he walked into this rustic, cozy diner with the intention of getting a job with his best friend, Jordan. Mrs. Eberle, the owner, made snide comments at him as he filled out his application. Jordan watched as he mopped the floor.

“I can’t be paying you much, especially if you just plan on standing around,” She snapped at him. Peter smiled and took the remark with a grain of salt. He was at the point of desperation.

“That’s okay, Mrs. Eberle, you pay me what you can afford. I promise I’ll work as hard as I can.” She rolled her eyes at his; and Jordan, a tall, lanky, fellow, chuckled to himself.

“I don’t like a kiss ass either. You start tomorrow, three o’ clock sharp! Black work pants, a white t-shirt, and hats are allowed. I’ll provide you with an apron.” She sidled away; and Jordan shot him thumbs up. Mrs. Eberle was rather large, grey haired, and wore over sized glasses. It was ridiculous, how she looked. However, he beamed with pride at the prospect of making his own living for now.

Peter closed his Bible. He laid back on his bed, his mind swirling with thoughts that none of you, I’m sure, could imagine at this point in time. The fear of not finishing taunted him a little bit. It is the one thing he had left to do, the one thing he felt like he might not finish, and here he was lying down, avoiding it all together. Peter all the time felt nauseous with guilt as he read. He wishes desperately to be with normal society, but he feels as though he deserves to be where he is. His eyes closed, and he drifts slightly into a different world than this.

Even though he had been offered overtime that night, he didn’t take it. Emily, his wife of exactly three years today was waiting at home with his favorite meal- meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. His life was going well, but now it felt complete. They were young and head over heels for one another. He entered their small apartment with a tiny bouquet of carnations. He wished he could afford better for his love, but he couldn’t. Right now they were struggling as is, but he was determined to make this night somewhat special.

She wore a red, knee length skirt, white knit top, and an apron. Her brown hair was pulled tightly into a bun. Emily had been working hard all day to get the meal exactly right. Peter swept right in, with a rather flat stomach and full head of hair, and kissed her hard on the mouth. His happiness had reached an all time high, and he never realized how surreal a home life could be.

Emily giggled and put the carnations in a vase, absolutely thrilled with their beauty. As they sat down to dinner, he talked excitedly about his job. She listened with great attention, and never let it falter. After dinner, they sat on their couch. For the time being, they couldn’t afford a TV, but they sat in silence, enjoying each others company.

The warmth in the apartment was different that the warmth in the cell. Now it is sweltering. It is now 4:34 p.m. Soon, he will be served his chosen meal, then taken into another part of the building, and be killed. He jumps up and starts reading his Bible furiously. He is determined to finish.

None of his family would come to Christmas that year. He watched as Emily and Allie, his now nine year old daughter, put up the decorations. He just got in from shoveling the driveway of their small townhouse. Everything was finally coming together; they had the kind of life that Peter had always wanted to build for them. His daughter bounced around, hanging up her favorite ornaments first. She was a small girl, with brown curly hair. She was perfect in his eyes, everything a father could want in a daughter. Peter had been working extra over time these past few weeks to buy his daughter and wife everything they could want. He bought the really expensive porcelain doll that Allie had wanted, and the pearl necklace that Emily would never even admit she wanted.

“Daddy! Daddy! Put me on your shoulders so I can put the star on top. I wanna do it!” She exclaimed, while pulling on his arm. He chuckled softly. He lifted her up; she was so heavy now. Heavier than he remembered. Emily beamed at her family.

I can see now that Peter has given up. He has reached a passage that has made him stop, and can’t go on. Good thing too. It is five minutes until five, and time for him to eat.

The guard opens the door to his cell and hands him a plate with his dinner on it. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans, which is exactly what he had asked for. Peter eats slowly, savoring the flavor that dances on his tastes buds. It’s the perfect meal for a horrible ending. He tries not to think about what is going to happen after he is finished. His iced tea is entirely too sweet, not how Emily makes it, but he makes do. Peter is grateful for this last piece of pity he has received before they kill him.

Peter hasn’t had a chance to live a full life, and it’s a shame he doesn’t. Great things will happen after he leaves your world. Do not think me angry or anything. This is not my punishment for him, it’s yours. I do not find him a failure for what has happened. Or a disappointment, I understand that things can happen. Even bad things.

You can see now he was a normal human being trying to live his life the best, and only way, he could. A normal human being, maybe just like you, or your dad, is marched down the hallway. The only one who has come to bid him goodbye is Patricia. She says she loves him, and she’ll miss him. He doesn’t answer, though. He can see the hate in her eyes. Peter doesn’t want to cry. It’s too late for that.

He sits in the chair calmly. The doctor injects a lethal fluid into his arm, and he closes his eyes as his life runs away from him. The memories, pain, and happiness; all of it flees his body. His sister cries harder, and then leaves before the process is complete.

Peter’s body is soon limp and lifeless. He is dead now, and some of the cruel people in the world think society is better off with him gone. Take heed, however. Do not be so quick to cast your judgments on others. A man is dead now, and the people he loves mourn, despite their own judgments about him.

Some can be so horrible and mighty to pass out consequences to others. And who do you think you are exactly?

Like I said, it’s just a simple story. Just a life lost, among the millions I’ve created, and the millions you’ve destroyed. Not a big deal…right?

1. Catholic Church tries to extort the U.S. government…again – It seems like it was only a week or two ago that the Catholic Church gave Washington the ultimatum that they could either oppose gay marriage or lose one of their faith-based charities (because the Catholic Church cares so much for the poor for reasons other than as pawns in their political games). But now they’re barred Representative Patrick Kennedy from receiving a communion wafer because of his stance on abortion. Sounds like it may be time to reignite Crackergate.

2. Yet another former $cientology speaks out – This just isn’t CoS’ year (nor was last). They can’t seem to catch a break. Last week, Australian senator Nick Xenophon publicly challenged their tax exempt status and called them a criminal organization. And now Aaron Saxton, a former “enforcer of the Church of Scientology’s policies in the Sea Org, has done an interview. If you still don’t think $cientology needs to be destroyed after reading this interview, then you’re insane.

3. Arkansas Society of Freethinkers’ holiday display denied second year in a row – And they weren’t even given a reason.