Working hard these last couple of weeks has taken its toll on my blogging time, but I still found time to vote early. After two hours in a line that wrapped around the block, IT WAS WORTH IT. I must say though I haven't rang a cowbell in days now and I am jones'n a bit. Go Rays!
A few words on this weekend's debacle at the top of the polls. Alabama is NOT the #1 team in the country. They don't play like it and they haven't won as impressively as Texas Tech nor Penn State. Let's talk about Texas Tech. Any doubts about the defense was put to rest Saturday night and this team is playing on a whole new level this year. They didn't surprise Texas and this was no fluke game.
Texas was out played, out matched, and out coached plain and simple. What the game did prove is that the Big 12 is the strongest conference in the country and the top four teams in the South would be undefeated in any other conference.
I wish I could say the same about the North, but alas Mizzou is the only great team in the North. I still believe they would make mincemeat out of Alabama. With that said, Florida is playing the best out of the SEC schools despite Georgia revealing once again how overrated they really are this year.
Sure, any day a team can say those words. For the Rays, today they can say for the first time ever in team history, "We're going to the playoffs!"
Though I didn't make it to as many games as I would've liked, I am proud to say I was there opening day and dozen or so other nights I left with the Trop lit up in my rearview mirror.
Here in Tampa Bay, fans and local media were whispering about this season as the BCS was coming to a close. Despite the excitement of Bowl season, more than a few minutes of airtime on local radio was spent on talk of a pennant race.
The guys really looked good and you could tell the team was showing patience in developing the players and grooming them to fit the plan laid out by management. Then the success was followed by ownership assuming the fans and City of St. Petersburg owed them for their making the right moves to create a winner.
Fans and city residents disagreed. Others, including myself, dreaded the thought of unending rain delays and scorching South Florida heat. #### the ####.
"It's always a perfect 72 degrees inside Tropicana Field," was one of the old selling points in the Devil Rays marketing geared at enticing people to come to the worst stadium in the majors to watch one of the worst teams in the majors.
But we went when we wanted to take our kids to a game or to see the Red Sox or the Yankees. Jeter was going yard at least once, if not more.
You have to take the kids to see that.
Nevermind the expletives that followed from Dad.
I hate Jeter, for the record. Not as a person because I don't know him, but as a player that always made the D-Rays look like kids in the Sandlot.
Sure I want to see him homer, but not with two on and no outs.
This year I got to harrass Royals fans that showed up wearing Jayhawks gear. My kids entertained everyone sitting behind us with their dance moves at Kool and The Gang.
I got to see MC Hammer talk for an hour and play three or so songs. By the way, he did the #### song he did for the Addams Family sequel.
I got to see Longoria hit a grand slam.
I got to see the Rays battle and SWEEP the Red Sox here at the Trop.
We set up the grill, turned up the radio, cracked oped some Miller Lime and tailgated on one of the patches of grass with a tree in the parking lot.
We bought cheap seat tickets and snuck down to the good seats.
We sat by Monty Kiffen, Bucs defensive coordinator and high fived one of the Gruden brothers during a Rays homerun.
We had a blast watching the Rays this year.
Last night as I tucked my daughters into bed, my girls wanted a bedtime story. We talked about the time we saw the Seahawks play the Cowboys up at Qwest Field. Chloe said her team was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and she couldn't wait to see them play here (They spent the night with grandma and grandpa when mommy and daddy headed to Ray Jay.) Kayla said her team was the Rays.
"I love going to the Rays game Daddy," she said with a huge grin.
So, earlier this week I mentioned taking my time and making my picks Wednesday evening. Well, of course it is Friday and I have had absolutely NO time. I watched Monday's, Wednesday's and Thursday's games with the Rays tuned in on the picture in picture. Yep, I even had to multitask my sports viewing.
I might as well have skipped the Rays last night, but oh well.
This week I am pretty much NOT that interested in the matchups, they look extremely boring. I don't care if Auburn plays LSU, the game isn't going to be any good. This cat fight has all the makings of a snoozer, but of course I'll keep track anyway. I will be pretty busy anyway as I join folks from work as we team up with the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup here in the Tampa Bay area. If you're nearby and want more info visit 97xonline.com, just click on events.
I'll be out at the Fort Desoto clean up, wearing my NBT 7 shirt and dragging my three girls behind me if you want to say hi.
Well, with last nights amazing college football game I will say that no, West Virginia isn't that bad. Yes, Colorado has turned the corner. Yes, I am very glad that the Buffs have to head to Columbia in October.
September has it all. Big Time Matchups. Non-conference, early season games that will make or break a National Title run.
On paper, 2008 has some of the best scheduled non-conference games in years!
Enthralled by the political Super Bowl coverage this week, the kickoff snuck up on me despite my excitement for the start of the 2008 College Football Season. Voting yesterday in the Florida Primary didn't help. The Rays and my obsession with seeing games at the Trop this season has also taken sooo much of my attention. And work.
Geez, let's talk football already.
Perhaps the most surprising (to me anyway) non-conference schedule goes to Baylor University of the Big 12. Baylor starts the season Aug. 30 against ACC foe Wake Forest. A couple of weeks later, Pac 10 team Washington State comes to town on Sept 13.
Although it probably didn't look all that intimidating when originally scheduled, the Bears then venture to the Northeast to meet Big East upstart UConn. I am convinced that Baylor may go through 2008 without winning a single game.
Of course, since no one outside those programs will be watching those games we'll move on to the matchup we thought we would see this bowl season...
VS.
Sept. 13 Ohio State at Southern California
This has all the makings o####reat game, but so we thought with the USC/Nebraska matchup at the beginning of the 2007 season. I'm holding out hope that this one will live up to the expectations... ehhh USC 44 OSU 17
VS.
Aug. 30 Hawaii at Florida
This might have been a better game LAST year. Brennan will be long gone, as will any hope of Hawaii running the table next year. Still, kudos to Hawaii for stepping up to the SEC. Florida has scheduled the most impressive non-conference games of all SEC title hopefuls with Miami and Florida State also on tap. Florida 55 Hawaii 13
VS.
Aug. 30 Missouri vs. Illinois
These recruiting rivals have long fought over St. Louis prospects, now Mizzou will have an added incentive to beat the Illini yet again... Both have BCS expectations swirling around campus. Mizzou would also like to punish one of two BCS bowl teams beaten by Mizzou last year... this is one of very few true tests this year for Mizzou. If the Tigers are to make a run, it all starts this weekend. You know who I am picking.
Sept. 6 Auburn at West Virginia
Finally, West Virginia steps up and plays someone outside their comfort zone. The Mountaineers play SEC schizo Auburn. Which Auburn team will show up? Kudos to West Virginia for scheduling both SEC and Big 12 schools in the same year. Auburn 24 WVU 10
Sept. 13 Texas vs. Arkansas
There is something about this game that always brings out the best in both teams. Although they are in different conferences these teams remain rivals, plus this is one of many games that will test the perennial overrated Longhorns in 2008. UT 34 Arkansas 31
Sept. 13 Nebraska vs. VA Tech
This could be the game that signals the return of the Blackshirts... ok, ok, stop laughing. VA Tech 31 Nebraska 7
Sept. 20 Arizona State vs. Georgia
This is one of the most intriguing non-conference matups of the year. Is Arizona State poised to make a legitimate run next year at the Pac 10? Is Georgia ready to beat Florida AND LSU in the same year and win the SEC? Which team is ready to make a run for the BCS title? This is going to be good... or is it... Does ASU really have a chance? Georgia 28 ASU 27
Sept. 13 Kansas at South Florida
This could be the best game of the weekend. I repeat, this could be the best game of the weekend. The same weekend that features OSU/USC, Texas/Arkansas, and Miami/Texas A&M. Intriguing, with conference title hopes for each team already being thrown around in Tampa and Lawrence. As much as I HATE the Jayhawks, something tells me I may be glad to live in Tampa Bay and get to see this one in person. USF 33 KU 31
I have been blogging here for so long, I forgot my old password and had to set up a new blog this year. BOO!
Anyway, my old space was at community.fox sports.com/bl ogs/brianblac k in case you think you've heard the trash talk before... It's the same this year as it was last year... Mizzou is #1!!!!!!! Go Cowboys! Go Rays!
www.myspace.c om/revbrianbl ack
Perhaps the most surprising (to me anyway) non-conference schedule goes to Baylor University of the Big 12. Baylor starts the season Aug. 30 against ACC foe Wake Forest. A couple of weeks later, Pac 10 team Washington State comes to town
on Sept 13.
VS. 
VS. 
VS. 
