Fueling The Hype Machine

As we draw closer to the "Biggest Game Ever", version 2.0 I might add, it’s time for the obligatory meet and greet of the players from both LSU & BAMA to play nice in front of the media. No need for unwarranted bulletin board material this close to game day. Wonder what questions were asked and how many of them were recycled from the last time. Just have to watch what the small army from the Big Raggedy sends back since I couldn’t make for any of the festivities. There’s always next time even though that maybe four years from now.

Remember The Fifth

Remember, remember the 5th of November. Yeah I know Hugo Weaving in the mask uttered the famous words from the movie but once the college football schedule for 2011 was released it meant only one thing in this part of the country...

LSU v. Alabama

It was hyped as the “BIGGEST GAME EVER!” since the last “BIGGEST GAME EVER!” Just think of all of the build up leading to this. The rivalry, the pageantry, the inside track to play for the National Championship in New Orleans, and the headaches that was going to go with it. Now we all know when big things like this happen there is going to be extended coverage to go with. This is one of those times I didn’t envy the Sports Crew to make the trip to The “Bear’s” hometown. I was content on doing the shift and watching the battle for SEC supremacy unfold from the comforts of home. Luck wasn’t with me on this one.

Instead, I got the assignment of manning the live camera from a local spot with well over a few hundred college kids who couldn’t afford to make the trip to Tuscaloosa, I mean they had to go somewhere. Did you see what they were charging for tickets to go this game? Wonder how many people took out loans to cover this one?

As the defensive struggle ensued, with all eyes (last count 22 million pairs of them) glued to the large screen the phone rings. I could barley hear the voice on the other end. All I heard was, “camera ….steady….you.” Guess they are coming to this shot and man were they ever. As soon as the light went on, the game winning field goal went through the uprights, and the madness started. Napkins were tossed into the sky, drinks flew through the air, and the college kids started screaming like banshees in a raging inferno. I was more impressed that the light didn’t get knocked over with the mass of humanity dancing the night away from one of the biggest wins in school history. However the live shot was even more interesting. Although I almost broke some dumb kid’s arm off for giving a “One Finger Salute”. Thank goodness no blood shed came about, just one big ass headache. That will teach me to pack the Aleve in the sling pouch next time. After all there are a few more of these on the horizon and they’ll probably be playing “Party Rock Anthem” at all of them, did you know?

Valley of The White Hat

Another Saturday in the Red Stick. It’s game day. Football and tailgating filled the southern sky with anticipation and hopes bigger goals in the future. It’s normally not a must win to those clad in Purple and Gold but after some lackluster efforts and questionable clock management one year ago the calls for blood were screaming across the airwaves. Naturally this becomes something of news interest. Which means yours truly is going to have to pay Death Valley a rare visit. There is just one problem. The last three times I have been in the vicinity of Tiger Stadium the outcomes were less than desirable. The UGA’s came in and blasted them, the Gators Tebow'd them, and the first time the previous coach, now wearing Crimson, came for a visit and walked away with a win. Leaving the Tiger faithful crying like a brides jilted on their wedding day. Heck I won’t even mention that obsessive Georgia fan’s liking to Mike the Tiger, God knows what twisted things were going through her mind that day. This was going to be different. This was going to be a good day for the Senator and all of the loyal followers. This would be the day that the White Hat will lead the troops on the gridiron then put together a dominate effort against the hated rivals from Oxford and exorcise the curse placed upon them by the Reverend Houston Nutt.
Then I realized that is not going to happen. This is the Mad Hatter. He has a modus operandi of keeping fans on the edge of their seat. He’s been doing this since 2005 should we expect anything else. I mean what’s the big deal it’s just another day at the office for the White Hat. While people claim that he is crazy one thing is usually on point…HE KEEPS ON WINNING! Quite frankly it baffles the mind of fact, logic, and what in the world is going on here. Granted they aren’t pretty wins but they aren't stacking the loss column either. Anyway I digress.

As I roam the sideline with XRAY TED, my objective is clear. Get a few plays, find some fans talking about the game, then get a live shot on the newscast afterwards. Simple right? Did I mention the Mad Hatter is coaching the team? Did I mention Ole Miss always give LSU problems? Did I mention that the every possible second is used in all these games? Did I mention that failure isn’t an option? Why am I always put under this pressure with these games? Next you'll tell me that I'm the chosen one. Maybe, but so was Anakin Skywalker and you saw how well that turned out. Whoa, calm down Senator your digressing again. (deep breath) Alright, what was I talking about, oh yeah.

So with some luck, 1:14 on the game clock, and a game winning TD, things fell into place. Manage to get some fans that are now riding a wave of euphoria with hopes of Championship Run, a decent bowl game in January, and a live shot on for the news. Two out of three isn’t bad.
As for me, I’m just glad that losing skid is finally put to rest. Last one of out of Death Valley, please turn off the lights. Won’t need the place again until 2011, did you know?

Under The White Hat

Life as a college head football coach is a unique to say the least. Everyday there is something that will require your attention. Steps you must take in order to keep your program at its peak while avoiding the butane burner that is put under your seat for less than desirable results. But besides game plans, personnel moves, stradegy sessions, and public appearances what is going on under the white hat right before the biggest game of the year to date.

Did I remember to turn off the sprinklers before leaving for work this morning?

Will my starting QB finally live up to his true potential?

Will that photographer get any closer to me?

I wonder how the food is in this town. After all we aren’t in Louisiana anymore.

Will that weekend sports guy ask me a legitimate question at the next media luncheon?

I have Defense and Special Teams, will the Offense show up this week and shock the world?

I mean seriously, how much closer is that guy going to get to me? And does he know that his armband is on his ankle?

How did the last guy manage to deal with all of this madness?

Did anyone see that Rangers / Giants matchup in the World Series this year?

No matter what logic goes on under the White Hat, he knows how to keep the fans on the edge of the seats.

Duel In Death Valley

Any normal rainy Saturday would yield a sense of calmness. It would yield a sense of peace. It would yield some quiet time and stay indoors. This was NOT a normal Saturday. This was game day on the campus of the Purple and Gold. However, this one had a different feeling to it thanks to a sequence of events five weeks in the making. It all started with LSU stringing a bunch of wins together while constantly having to be bombarded with talk of how lucky you have been or how you do not deserve to be ranked in the top ten let alone the top five in the country. Then there are the Florida Gators. The defending National Champions, a team ranked number one in the country, and a group pondering whether their starting quarterback will play. All of this leads to one thing, we have a special to produce.

Therefore, as luck would have it, The Nubian Princess and I were to descend to the cauldron of RV’s, big screen TV’s, tons of raw meat, and a river of adult beverages. Yes we had to spice up, no pun intended, a tailgating story. A friendly get together of complete strangers with a common love of cooking and a symmetrical hatred of their rivals from the Sunshine State. Therefore, as we made our way through the endless line of mobile homes it is no surprise that we find the usual screaming fans dying to be on television wanting to deliver some smack to their upcoming opponents. It’s amazing how much influence a fancy cam & fuzzy mic can have on people. I'm even more amazed that most can speak coherently.

Much as I love a good party, I knew my limits and had to get out there. Besides this story wasn’t going to edit itself. After filling our segment, it was time to kick back & watch the final product then post some pics to the Flickr page. Too bad the home team couldn’t live up to their end of the deal.

Oh well, there is always next time.

Slim Pickings

As I drove to the Raggedy there was only one thought that would pop up in my mind, what in the world are we going to do today? The weekend is always slim pickings since the who’s who of sound bites were trying to enjoy what little freedom they had with Monday fast approaching. I recall that Saturday was bad so Sunday was going to be worse when it came to finding something to put on television. If you don’t believe me just ask the Nubian Princess. Although we got some free snow balls when it was all said and done.

Once I meet up with C-Line she could only conjure up two ideas. One would involve a proposed mass transit system that was scrapped because of some unwanted scrutiny. The other would be a trip to the Purple and Gold faithful as they get ready to embark on another semester of broadening their minds and exploring the opportunities to better prepare themselves for the real world. Since we didn’t get a call back for the first idea, we headed to LSU to follow the kids getting ready for the first day of school. Almost got away without doing any first day of schools stories, oh well it was going to happen sooner or later.

So as we roll past the clock tower, we were still pondering about what angle to take with this? What will get people interested in parents getting ready to send their pride and joy away for four years? The economy is still trying to gain strength. Colleges across the state have to tighten their belts some have increased tuition to make their budget, while students have to be more frugal during these times. Then an idea came to us faster than a pop quiz in chemistry, what is the one thing that the kids have to get?

Textbooks.

They have to get the books for the classes they are taking. Granted some of the prized literature may by online but most are in hardback, if you’re lucky you may find a paperback.

We catch a break. Grab some kids having to cough up some extra cash and get the books with hefty price tag attached to them. Now we had to hope the Turdpolisher left some “Turd El Wax” in the edit bay. We scrapped the sides of the jar for this one but it turned out to be a good piece.

The weekend tour is in the bag, now I have to wonder what Monday will bring the Raggedy’s way.