Movers & Shakers

If you have watched any sports related show since August or listened to people chat at a tailgate this season, I guarantee you have heard the words "conference realignment."  Those two words have become like nails on a chalkboard to me.  I am one of those traditional people that wants everything to stay the same.  College football should not be about TV packages, media markets, and money to be made.

Let the boys play!

It all started last year with Colorado and Utah made the move to the PAC-12 and Nebraska heading to the Big Ten.  With Colorado and Nebraska both leaving the Big 12, it has effectively become the "Big Ten" and makes the old Big Ten the new "Big 12."  Is everyone thoroughly confused?  Thought so.

What was the point of all this moving around?  These conferences wanted to reach the "magic" number of twelve schools to implement a conference championship game.  Just like the ACC and the SEC have a championship game {and the Big 12 had} the first weekend of December, the Pac-12 and Big Ten will have a championship game this year.  These championship games serve as springboards into the coveted BCS bowl games.  In the case of the SEC, it is the de facto national championship game. {another post for another day}

But wait!  Why are we still shifting around?  Twelve member conferences were perfect.  Apparently, not.

As of two weeks ago, Pittsburgh and Syracuse are joining the ACC therefore leaving the Big East with only seven football schools.  The ACC remains an even conference {seven teams per conference division}.  Made official today, Texas A&M is the 13th member of the SEC.

WELCOME ONE AND ALL!!

All this leaves lots of questions to be answered.  Who is going to be the 14th team to the SEC?  Are the Big East and Big 12 going to crumble and force schools scramble for a conference?  Will the SEC and ACC stop at 14?  Who knows and it just makes my head hurt.

Lastly, does anyone know what the states of Oklahoma and South Carolina have in common?  Both of their major state universities are ranked in the Top 15 and 4-0 on the season.

xoxo,

Ashton

Thursday Night Showdown

How serious do we take our football in the South?

Oh you know, cancel classes the day of the game kinda serious.

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Remember when we posted the differences between Northern and Southern football?  One of the lines says something to the effect that teachers will cancel class the day after a Thursday night game in the South due to the fact that many students would be hungover and not show up anyway.  Yet, in the North, students would not go to the game on Thursday, because they had class on Friday.  After a full day of tailgating, I wonder how many teachers went ahead and canceled class for Friday and if they didn't I wonder who is going to be in attendance.

Not going to lie when I was in college, I would check the football schedule for the following fall when I registered for classes in the spring.  If there was a Thursday game on the schedule, I would not register for any classes on T/Th that did not get out before 1:00.  Yeah, maybe, there was some great classes I didn't get to take. #sorryfortailgating #priorities

Tonight, Mississippi State and LSU face off in Starkville, MS.  Mississippi State is known for shaking cowbells in the stadium and the deafening sound they cause.  They have been restricted by the NCAA to only certain times of the game.  I believe tonight those Bulldogs are not going to care and will take the penalty from the NCAA.

Nevertheless, LSU will be bringing a rowdy bunch up from Baton Rouge.  I don't know how this game is going to go, but I am predicting an LSU victory.  They are just nasty on defensive.  Les Miles is the Mad Hatter and just makes things happen.  He also eats grass.  Weird.

xoxo,

Ashton

Week 1

The college football season officially gets under way tonight at 6:00pm with Murray State v. Louisville.  Two SEC teams, Kentucky and Mississippi State, take to the field.

Most of the remaining teams across the SEC and ACC will kickoff on Saturday.  Miami and Maryland square off in a rare Monday night game for the first inter-conference tilt.  Usually, Mondays are reserved for the big boys of the NFL, but their season does not start until September 8th.

Each week, we will highlight "the" games of the week.  They might have conference title implications or national title implications, or they might just be plain 'ole southern rivalries.

Game 1

(4) LSU v. (3) Oregon

This game has major national title implications. The victor of this game will solidify themselves as a legitimate candidate to play in the BCS Championship game in New Orleans on January 9th.  The loser, well, would have to run the table in their respective conferences to make it to the game.  Oregon is coming in with a chip on their shoulders after having lost to Auburn in the National Championship game last year.  They want to prove something against the mighty SEC.  LSU, in recent weeks, has dealt with off field problems with their quarterback, Jordan Jefferson, and receiver, Russell Shepard, who have been suspended indefinitely due to their involvement in a bar fight.  Despite the uncertainty on offense, I believe Les Miles and the LSU Tigers will come out on top.

Game 2
(19) Georgia v. (5) Boise State
Georgia and Boise State match up in the Chick-fil-a Kickoff Game.  It will hardly be a neutral site with Athens only roughly 70 miles from Atlanta.  Georgia has two games back-to-back against Top 15 opponents.  The outcome of these two games will gauge the rest of the season for the Dawgs and the future of head coach Mark Richt.  Boise State will try to remain a contender against the BCS conferences in hopes to get to the coveted BCS championship game.  I believe this game is a toss up.  I, not being the biggest UGA fan, would like to see Boise State win.  However, I don't want Georgia to be coming off a loss when my Gamecocks head to Athens in Week 2.  Nevertheless, I have to cheer on the SEC when they are playing.  So here it is on...rare occasion folks....
Goooo Georgia Bulldogs! Sic 'em!


xoxo,
Ashton

SEC Weekly Feature - Columbia, SC - Forever to Thee

University of South Carolina

Stadium: Williams-Brice Stadium

Colors: Garnet & Black

Nickname/Mascot: Gamecocks, Cocky, & Sir Big Spur

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Head Coach: Steve Spurrier, aka Head Ball Coach

Biggest Rival: Clemson University

Notable Alumni: George Rogers, Sterline Sharpe, Hootie & the Blowfish, Darla Moore, Ainsley Earnhardt (Fox News), Leeza Gibbons, and Amos Lee.

Where to Tailgate

The most coveted spot to tailgate in Columbia is the Cockaboose Railroad.  Cockabooses are actual converted train cabooses.  They are located less than 50 yards from the stadium.  Essentially, they are stationary RVs.

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In recent years, full condos have sprung up around the stadium.  Places like, Carolina Walk and The Gates, have grown in popularity.  They are ideal for those that get in town on Thursday and stay until Monday.  Many recent grads tailgate at the Memorial Lot.  You are bound to run into that random person you and freshman English with.  The Fairgrounds and Farmer's Market is where you will find the die-hard families and people who have been parking in the same spot for years.

The tailgating atmosphere in Columbia is not like most schools where the stadium is located on campus.  It is spread out, but it does not stop everyone from hopping from friends' tailgate to friends' tailgate.  There are several places up and down Bluff Road that fans pay for season passes to park and included in that pass is weekly entertainment and food.  Having our stadium off campus allows for such tailgating opportunities.

What's on the Table

South Carolina fans have three places they love to get food for tailgate.  They are Bernie's, Lizard's Thicket, and Maurice's BBQ.  Bojangle's is conveniently located right across from the stadium.  Platter's of chicken and ribs will line tables.  It is not uncommon for tailgate goers to throw together a big pot of lowcountry boil.  A southern tailgate is not complete without bourbon and there is always plenty flowing.

Where to Watch

The best place to watch the game when you don't have a ticket would be any bar in 5points.  Located a few blocks from campus, this area is a hot-spot for co-eds.  Within its five points, a bar for every style of co-ed can be found.  Students will be huddled in the booths around buckets of beer cheering on their Gamecocks just as fervently as if they were in attendance.  If you are looking for a more adult atmosphere, I suggest the Vista area where Carolina Ale House and Wild Wings are located.

After the Game

Salty Nut and Jake's will be packed with students and grads celebrate a Gamecock victory.  Be prepared to "Sandstorm" and to hear "2001" several times before the evening is over.  Tin Roof is the newest bar in the Vista to celebrate after a win.

Traditions

The Mighty Sound of the Southeast leads the crowd in cheers.  Throughout the day, fans will randomly yell "GAME" expecting someone to return with "COCKS."  Recently, the Gamecock faithful have adopted the techno song "Sandstorm" as their unofficial hype tune.  The entrance to "2001" has been voted one of the most exciting entrances in college football.  The favorite cheer among the fans is
"U-S-C...Goooooooo Cocks!"  During the last line of the alma mater, all students and alumni give a toast to the school.  Everyone raises their hand and form a u-shape, as though hold a cup.  It was one of my favorite traditions as a student and still is as an alumna.

We might not be a school rich in football {victory} history, but we still love to cheer on our Gamecocks with reckless abandon.  Even when we went 1-21 in 1998 & 1999, WBS was still selling out.  We were just further perfecting the art of tailgating.  The 2000s proved to be our most successful decade on the gridiron.  We are setting up for a pretty amazing ride this season, and I can't wait.

I will be attending the opener in Charlotte against the ECU Pirates.  I am ready to paint the town GARNET!!


xoxo,
Ashton

T'was A Month Before Football

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Even though we are closer than a month to football {Thank goodness!}, we would like to share a lovely poem with y'all to express our sentiments towards football and the excitement it brings.  We apologize now for it only covering the SEC.

T'was A Month Before Football

T'was a month before football, and all through the South

Rabid fans everywhere were running their mouth.

The recruits were all arriving to show off their wares,

In hopes that playing time soon would be theirs.

The fans were nestled all snug in their beds, 

While visions of championships danced in their heads.

And Momma in her Orange, and I in my blue,

were patiently waiting for the season to ensue.

When out on the field there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet see what was the matter.
Away to my front door I flew on a rail,
Only to see a Bulldog brandishing his 'bell.

I went to the internet to find out the reason,
it seems they're hoping for a championship season.
I decided to look at the other teams' prospects,
and there I found all of the usual suspects.

While Bama fans keep claiming judgment day is near
The Auburn fans keep saying there is nothing to fear.
The Gator fans are joyfully embracing their new leader,
And Georgia fans are hoping their season don't teeter.

LSU is hoping they don't need any luck,
To get by a team of high-scoring Ducks.
While Rebel fans are just now leaving their casinos,
Hog fans are dreaming of crowning Petrino.

On Rocky Top, Bray seems to be the magical word
While Gamecocks hope to keep their opponents spurred.
Poor Vandy and Kentucky, as in seasons past,
Are just hoping their teams aren't playing for last.

And then, in an instant, I heard on the news
Everyone was picking the champion to lose.
I looked at their roster, scratching my head,
I couldn't believe what they had just said.

While across the state at that other school,
These same pundits were saying the Tide would rule.
While one school is dissed because of their losses,
The school that is picked first lost way more hosses.

That's life in this conference, I readily admit,
And what you did last year doesn't matter a bit.
Championships in this conference are hard to come by,
But repeating as champion is an even farther cry.

So now we sit and wait for the veterans to report,
And hope they are ready to hold down the fort.
Many who waited their turn on the sidelines,
Will now be hoping to become the next headline!

While injuries and suspensions can wreck someone's season,
Let's hope they stay healthy and for good reason,
For most of us this is nothing more than a game,
But for them it's their livelihood if they come up lame.

Here's hoping for a good finish to the season this year,
And may twelve SEC teams celebrate holiday cheer.
We all have our dreams of postseason glory,
But let team play and sportsmanship be the main story!

To win the crown, there's one thing to remember.
You've first got to get to that game in December.
Winning championships is what it's about,
Here's wishing every Saturday was a Saturday Down South.

poem courtesy of Saturday Down South