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Thursday Night Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 05:52:08 PM EST
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Go Gators! Just to kick off our nightly college football discussion. Just kidding.

This is an Open Thread.

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    Thursday Night Open Thread | 57 comments (57 topical)

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    It ain't football, but Bud Selig (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:04:15 PM EST
    says no postseason game or tiebreaker will be ended under the reg. season rules (see last WS game this year).  New rule:  keep playing until game is finished, even if delays incurred, etc.  Players union lawyer says:  we'll see.

    I'm with Bud on this one... (none / 0) (#51)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 09:14:40 AM EST
    the ending of this year's WS was unbefitting the fall classic.  I remember watching this game as a boy, so we know players can hack playing into the wee wee hours.

    Parent
    The way it went down this year is (none / 0) (#55)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 11:36:00 AM EST
    what the new rule will ordain.  Otherwise the game might have ended before Tampa Bay tied it up.

    Parent
    I see... (none / 0) (#56)
    by kdog on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 12:22:52 PM EST
    I thought you meant they would have had to stay at the park till the rain stopped and played nine, even if it meant finishing with the sun coming up.

    So I ain't with Bud...I've got my own proposal:)

    Parent

    My husband says he ill (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:08:53 PM EST
    seems stomach fluish but he had his flu nasal vaccination.  He keeps moping into the kitchen, touches my back for a second, then sticks his hands in his pockets and lumbers out while mumbling.  I think he's gathering the magic dust off of my wings.

    Tell him, in case he is wondering, (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:11:59 PM EST
    NYT science section this week proclaims very slight chance of getting flu from nasal flu vaccine.  

    Parent
    Last thing (none / 0) (#9)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:20:32 PM EST
    he wants to hear.

    Parent
    That's the universal male sign for (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:14:04 PM EST
    "please pamper me."

    I am surprised you need the translation.

    Parent

    Thanks BTD (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:16:12 PM EST
    I didn't know what it meant but I'm going to give it try and see how it works :)  Most women get ill like mean old dogs, just leave us alone.

    Parent
    She's trying to ignore it. Only gonna (5.00 / 3) (#8)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:16:38 PM EST
    get worse.

    Parent
    Tea (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by andgarden on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:58:59 PM EST
    I came down with something last week at an inopportune time, and I lived on tea for days.

    It's that time of year. . .

    Parent

    The Tide will roll on December 6 (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Trickster on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:09:59 PM EST
    And I've got a 4-quart package of Dreamland sauce (from world-famous Dreamland Cafe) that says so, and I'll even kick in some instructions on how to use it.  That's a $28 value commercially and a near-infinite value to someone who has never tasted real barbeque, Tuscaloosa-style.

    Can you get a couple gallons to (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:12:47 PM EST
    Ann Arbor b/4 Sat.?

    Parent
    Wasting Dreamland sauce is the work (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 08:44:50 AM EST
    of DA DEBIL!

    Best thing about Tuscaloosa? Dreamland. Worst? Hmmm...having to go to T-town for barbecue.

    (War Eagle by the way. Next weekend will be a battle. )

    Parent

    oculus, I think they should have a loser (none / 0) (#25)
    by Teresa on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 07:47:13 PM EST
    bowl for your team and mine. Two of the biggest winning programs ever with really bad records.

    Parent
    My UT friend (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by indy in sc on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 07:53:11 PM EST
    conceded our bet early this year.  Who do you think will get the coaching job?

    Parent
    Brian Kelly from Cincinnati. That may not (none / 0) (#37)
    by Teresa on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 10:18:12 PM EST
    be their first choice, but the academic side of the UT is really hurting and it would make them extremely angry to pay Saban-style bucks. I know the athletic department more than pays its way and even donates large $'s to the academic side, but I think there is a lot of pressure to not go hog wild with the money.

    I think they are hoping to get a second Massachusetts Bruce Pearl.

    Parent

    Is Skip Holtz in the running? (none / 0) (#47)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 08:45:32 AM EST


    Parent
    I don't think so. With the search firm thing (none / 0) (#57)
    by Teresa on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 09:39:31 PM EST
    it's really hard to know what to believe. It's very top secret. :)

    Parent
    Good idea. Where, and what (none / 0) (#40)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 12:08:26 AM EST
    shall we name it?  

    Parent
    I'm still laughing at Florida's (none / 0) (#10)
    by Pepe on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:31:59 PM EST
    inability to score a legit offensive touchdown last week in the first half against a 'real' defense.

    Anyone can look good against No D teams. Big difference though when you actually have someone on the other side of the ball.

    Parent

    Hmmm. . . . (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by Trickster on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:58:58 PM EST
    As much as I'd like to join you, I have trouble arguing that Florida was "exposed" by a 50-point victory over a ranked team coming in off a string of SEC wins.

    Parent
    Sheesh (none / 0) (#13)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:41:37 PM EST
    Could you be more ignorant?

    Team Stats
         SC    FL
    First Downs    11    20
    Third Down Efficiency    1-15    6-13
    Fourth Down Efficiency    1-1    1-1
    Plays-Net Yards    62-173    63-519
    Rushes-Yds    25-53    41-346
    Passing Yds    120    173
    Kick Return Yds    126    44
    Punt Return Yds    0    60
    Passes    19-37-3    13-22-0
    Punts    10-400    6-243
    Fumbles-Lost    2-1    3-2
    Penalties-Yds    9-54    5-45
    Time of Poss.    29:50    30:10

     

    Parent

    Your coach (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by rdandrea on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 08:16:40 PM EST
    ran up the score against an inferior team, and you want a victory lap?

    Please.

    Parent

    The starters did not play in the 4th quarter (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 08:50:35 AM EST


    Parent
    Which demonstrates Florida is deep, (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 09:15:36 AM EST
    and the 2nd and 3rd string want to play 1st string.

    and no, I'm not a Florida fan. Just recognizing a talented, deep team.

    This depth will pay off in the SEC Championship game. Alabama is thin. Not terribly thin, but thinner that the Gators.

    Parent

    Well, in the SEC, a win is a win... (none / 0) (#48)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 08:46:34 AM EST
    3-2 or 100-0.

    Parent
    Like I said (none / 0) (#27)
    by Pepe on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 07:58:23 PM EST
    they did not score a legitimate touchdown in the first half. Didn't you watch the game?

    As for your stats anyone who knows football knows the S. Carolina defense quit in the second half after their inept offense kept giving the game away and it was already lost. It was easy for even a novice to see their D was not playing the same. Of course the novice would have to know how to watch the game.

    Friggin stat people! All stats, no understanding of what was going on on the field.

    Parent

    A 46 yard touchdown pass is not legitimate? (none / 0) (#45)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 07:11:37 AM EST


    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#54)
    by Pepe on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 10:22:18 AM EST
    And you know why...

    or maybe because you are such a Homer you don't so I'll explain.

    The S. Carolina defense didn't allow Florida anywhere near the end zone the entire first half largely because they covered the receivers like a blanket. On the one play Florida did score the receiver was covered like glue and the only reason he had a play on the he ball is because as it showed on the original play; as the replay cameras showed; and as the TV announcers said several times during the play itself and during the slow mo replay the receiver pushed off and committed pass interference - which the refs did not call because he was shielded by the receiver from seeing the infraction. But he did push-off big time. He cheated.

    Is that clear enough for you?

    So OK, when your team scores by 'getting away with a foul' by the guy scoring you take the score. But did he really beat the coverage? No. As such, with the push-off incurred was it really a legitimate score? No. At least it is not to an OBJECTIVE fan. But to a Homer who turns a blind eye and wants to live in a fantasy world - well they forget all about the push-off; the miserable first half; the terrible S. Carolina offense giving the game away; and the S. Carolina defense literally quiting in the second half.

    So I get it. You are not a football fan. You are a Gator fan prone to do what all Gator fans do which is embellish, exaggerate, deny, and live with complete myopia as to the realities of what the game really showed. I'll keep all that in mind in the future. ;)

    Parent

    Random thought for the evening (5.00 / 4) (#15)
    by andgarden on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:57:24 PM EST
    I'm really getting the sense that the stars are aligning in Washington to get some really progressive legislation though. Waxman knocking off Dingell is just the latest sign.

    Waxman is another good sign (5.00 / 4) (#20)
    by Democratic Cat on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 07:14:50 PM EST
    I agree. I've had my hopes dashed before, but I'm trying not to be jaded. And, honestly, after the last eight years, it wouldn't take much to make me happy.

    Parent
    Really? (none / 0) (#41)
    by BrassTacks on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 12:35:34 AM EST
    I'm not feeling the progressive love from Obama.  Not that there's anything with a Clinton administration part deux.  

    As the progressive says, there are some great progressives who Obama could be appointing but isn't.

    Parent

    Farmington (5.00 / 3) (#21)
    by liminal on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 07:16:37 PM EST
    Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the explosion of the Consol No. 9 Mine at Farmington, WV, which  killed 78 miners and was - in large part - the catalyst for new national mine safety legislation.    NPR had an excellent story on the disaster last night.  They also have a copy of a memo recently unearthed by a WVU researcher who is working on a book about Farmington.  Basically, one of the electricians who worked in the mine after it was unsealed two years after the explosion to retrieve the bodies of the miners reported that the alarm system on the big exhaust fan had been bridged by jumper cables, rendering the alarm (which sounded when the fan broke down) inoperable.  That particular fan stopped working shortly before the explosions started.  Had the alarm been operative, the miners would have had at least some warning and more could have evacuated the mine ahead of the explosions.  

    What's striking is that the government investigators simply filed the memo away.  There was no report of the electrician's findings at the time, and no discussion of it in the "informational report" issued by MSHA in March 1990.  And of course, now the only comment from MSHA officials is that Farmington is part of history.  

    5 undefeated top tier teams left (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by wurman on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 07:18:49 PM EST
    #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide with a bye waiting for Auburn to arrive in Tuscaloosa.

    #2 ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders against the Oklahoma too-Sooners

    #8 ranked Utah Utes battle Brigham Young Cougars in what may be a FANtastic football game

    #9 ranked Boise State Broncos may ride roughshod over the Nevada Wolfpack

    #14 ranked Ball State Cardinals eked it from Central Michigan Chippewas on Wednesday

    Miami is (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by indy in sc on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 07:34:21 PM EST
    struggling on offense (no surprise)...I really hope they pull it out and beat GT!

    You guys see this: (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by rooge04 on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 09:23:15 PM EST
    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081121/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_cabinet

    I think it's happening very soon.

    HRC as SOS (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by Brookhaven on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 09:47:28 PM EST
    Yahoo News reports that the top contender for National Security Adviser is General James Jones.  

    Yahoo News

    I did a bit of research on Jones and found this 2007 WSJ article:

    General Jones

    From the WSJ article linked above:

    New York's Sen. Clinton has told some advisers that if she is elected she could imagine putting Gen. Jones in her cabinet, possibly as defense secretary, these advisers say. Her campaign says such talk "is way premature," but in a statement, Sen. Clinton says she has enjoyed her "many conversations about military and diplomatic issues" with Gen. Jones. "I am confident he has much to contribute to our nation in the years to come," she said.

    Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, another top Democratic contender, consults regularly with Gen. Jones on foreign-policy issues and "thinks the world of him," according to one Obama aide.

    This looks like a near-perfect storm right here.  I thought one of the most important issues for HRC before she accepted the offer of SOS would be who Obama appointed as NSA.  If this report holds true and General Jones is indeed the nominee for the job, (and HRC was given autonomy), I think we New Yorkers just lost a great Senator as did the country re/domestic policy.  

    But, I am all for HRC becoming SOS because imo she would be brilliant and everyone is a winner.

    I think if Oklahoma beats T Tech (none / 0) (#12)
    by Saul on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:39:21 PM EST
    then Texas could be on the way to no 1

    Let's keep our fingers crossed. Hook 'em! (none / 0) (#19)
    by Angel on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 07:13:06 PM EST


    Parent
    Speaking of the Gators (none / 0) (#14)
    by kaleidescope on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:53:05 PM EST
    It's kind of weird that two of the main writers for this blog root for two of the schools most known for partying.  At this point, at least according to the press, the Gators have kicked the Badgers' asses, at least as to partying.

    My brother went to U of F in the 60's (none / 0) (#18)
    by BarnBabe on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 07:02:37 PM EST
    He loves to watch the movie Animal House and says it is as close to when he went to University of Florida as any movie could get. We once went there on a weekend to visit and the family pulled up in front of the frat house. There was a ladder going to a window. At the time, and I was so enamored of my big brother, he would tell of food fights in the cafeteria and his times in the ROTC. Hmmm. Wonder if all colleges were that way and made for a great movie. All I know is that the stories came first.

    Parent
    I went to Syracuse U. (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by NYShooter on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 07:45:59 PM EST
    .. on an athletic scholarship in the early-mid 60's. It was right after the era of Jim Brown and Ernie Davis, during the era of Floyd Little (first AA Heisman trophy winner) and Jim (Bo) Nance, who went on as all Pro, NE Pats.

    The Southern Schools had nothing on us regarding the "Animal House" tag. My first night there, "orientation" consisted of the cheerleaders entertaining the new athletes with a strip tease that would make Ron Jeremy blush. It was the University's way of telling us, "You ain't in your momma's house no mo."

    I especially enjoyed going through the cafeteria line with non-athlete friends; they had a cube steak square plopped on their plate, I had 3-4 t-bones plopped on mine. Of course, athletes could do anything they wanted, so I always ordered enough steaks on my pile for my engineering buddies.

    Having friends was definitely not one of my problems.

    Being a family blog here, that's as far as I can go in reminiscing.  


    Parent

    Your brother (none / 0) (#38)
    by Amiss on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 11:33:23 PM EST
    is an honest man :)

    Parent
    A little too honest, heh (none / 0) (#49)
    by BarnBabe on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 08:49:43 AM EST
    So when it came time for me to go to college, it was not the U of F. I had to go to closer to home schools. BTW, I had a pretty good time too. Just no food fights. Ha!

    Parent
    I forgot.. are the Gators a big 10 team? (none / 0) (#28)
    by ThatOneVoter on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 08:02:01 PM EST


    Minnesota Update (none / 0) (#31)
    by CoralGables on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 09:23:34 PM EST

    With about 46 percent of the 2.9 million ballots counted by Thursday evening, the gap between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and challenger Al Franken continued to close. Coleman was leading by just 136 votes, a drop from  his unofficial lead of 215 that was confirmed Tuesday by the state Canvassing Board.
    I just saw that report too and (none / 0) (#33)
    by cpa1 on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 10:01:46 PM EST
    Yesterday, I read that the Franken districts will come earlier in the count, so this might not be such great news with more than half the votes still left to count.  He's only made up 85 of the 215 votes.  This one is going down to the wire.  Then there are the all the rejected absentees ballots that won't be looked at until December.

    Parent
    Politico is also reporting (none / 0) (#34)
    by WS on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 10:06:26 PM EST
    Hillary to be named Secretary to State

    A kinder, gentler Josh? (none / 0) (#39)
    by ding7777 on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 12:02:18 AM EST
    (Hillary's a super-duper Senator and much needed in the Senate)

    Maybe Josh realized that his continued crticism of Hillary is in effect a  criticism of Obama's executive ability?

    Parent

    I suppose it would be asking too much (none / 0) (#53)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 09:36:36 AM EST
    to have had Josh get up this morn and look in the mirror and realize that he had disengaged his common sense and had engaged his sexist idiot.

    Parent
    I hope that isn't true (none / 0) (#42)
    by BrassTacks on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 12:39:30 AM EST
    Hillary would be a fool to accept the job.  If things go well, Obama will take credit.  If they don't go well, he will blame her.  Plus, I can't imagine why Hillary would want Obama for a boss when she can do her own thing in the Senate.

    Parent
    I hope she takes it if offered. (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by JThomas on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 02:43:46 AM EST
    Maybe Hillary is a patriot that will just want to serve her country in whatever way the President asks? I think she is. I think all those military families that she met over the last two years will stay in her thoughts. How we are counting on Obama and her to craft wise policies to avoid sending our sons and daughters into unnecessary wars. But I could be wrong,I guess.

    Parent
    What makes you think that Hillary will set (none / 0) (#58)
    by BrassTacks on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 10:23:12 PM EST
    Her own agend at State?  I can't imagine Obama letting her (or anyone else) control his agenda for changing the world.

    Parent
    And (none / 0) (#44)
    by NYShooter on Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 05:08:49 AM EST
    they couldn't wait to get on the tube to trash her.

    I don't know who the Politico female rep was, but apparently, EVERYTHING is the Clinton's fault.

    Parent

    TPM: Mukasey collapses during speech (none / 0) (#35)
    by magster on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 10:10:44 PM EST
    doesn't sound good -- slurring speech before collapse.

    Mukasey collapses (none / 0) (#36)
    by caseyOR on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 10:13:41 PM EST
    Just read an AP story that AG Michael Mukasey collapsed while giving a speech to the Federalist Society. According to the report, Mukasey started to slur his words, then convulsed and collapsed. He was unconscious and rushed to the hospital.

    Thursday Night Open Thread | 57 comments (57 topical)

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