Countdown to El Paso

Yes, it's only Tuesday, but the focus of this entry will be looking forward to Saturday's matchup between the University of Tulsa and UTEP. It's a big game for my alma mater as they continue to show that all the football program needed was a good coach and me to leave campus (combined record during my stay 9-37).

Saturday's game looks to be a battle where defenses may not need to appear in the grand tradition of the previous conference affiliations. UTEP fields a high-powered balanced offense behind the passing of Jordan Palmer and a running game led by Tyler Ebell. In the 2 games I have seen UTEP this year, they have put up 44 and 38 points respectively. The former was a home game against Houston and the 38 was last week's effort here at Rice. Scoring should not be a problem. Keeping opponents from scoring seems to be the struggle. The Houston game was 44-41 in OT and the game against Rice (the second worst team in America) was 38-31 and in doubt until the final minute.

Tulsa likewise has been prone to high scoring games. The offense is led by the combination of Paul Smith at quarterback and tight end Garrett Mills. The passing offense tends to provide 60-70 percent of the offense but the trio of running backs in Uril Parrish, Brandon Diles, and Tarrion Adams shouldn't be overlooked.

Tulsa's defense has been good against the pass this year, but has struggled against the run. That may be a result of the competition faced; however, I would expect the trend to continue. UTEP will inevitably focus its defense on containing Mills, a task which many teams including Oklahoma have been unable to accomplish. UTEP's somewhat porous defense leads me to believe that they will fail in this regard as well.

The teams are evenly matched so the matchup will likely come down to the X-factor players on both rosters. UTEP features WR/KR Johnnie Lee Higgins who will be used often as a deep threat and on fly sweeps and reverses. His kick returns will be key for the field position battle. Same story for Tulsa. Senior WR/KR Ashlan Davis has shown the ability to take any kickoff the distance (having returned 6 for TD's in his career, an NCAA record I believe). Ashlan has also improved as a receiver stepping up as a more notable option to complement Mills.

Because of my bias, I can't publish a pick. I hope Tulsa wins because of the implications of this game on bowl eligibility and the Conference USA race.

Kickoff 8:05CST Saturday night at the Sun Bowl in El Paso.

What started as a good weekend keeps getting worse as I get into this week

Yes, this is my typical weekend in review post and as usual I'm lazy so it's Tuesday already.

Musical Enjoyment
As my friend, and noted musical expert, Mike mentioned and subsequently reviewed, Saturday was spent at Buzzfest XVI. Mike pretty much covered everything, but I would like to make a personal plea to the band 10 Years. Don't ever play a set that does not include "Seasons to Cycles" or "Through the Iris" again. Those two and the radio hit "Wasteland" are the reasons I don't regret spending the $6 on the album. Kudos to the Buzz crew for being surprising well organized given the abrupt change of venue 2 days prior to the show. Everything else is pretty much covered by Mike's post.

World Series Games 1 and 2
As much as I was hoping for the Astros to get off to a quick start, It was not to be as they are now in an 0-2 hole. Game 1 didn't surprise me given the fact that Roger Clemens left after 2 innings and was replaced by the always frightening, for Astro fans, Wandy Rodriguez. Game 2, however, I thought the Astros had on 2 occasions. Up 4-2 in the 7th, the usually reliable tandem of Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls forgot how to pitch and teamed up to give up 4 runs on a Konerko grand slam. Then after a 9th inning rally to tie the game at 6, ex-Driller, Scott Podsednik decided to play hero off of Brad Lidge. Today's lyric of the day covers how I feel about these two games now. It's on to Roy Oswalt and game 3 ...

Football
The Texans still suck, but Dom Capers somehow is still employed. The Rice Owls have continued flying below the radar in the quest for "antiperfection" continued with a 41-9 loss to the Naval Academy. The Tulsa Golden Hurricane bowl eligibility watch is at one game following a 20-13 win against SMU. All things are good along the schedule for the Hurricane. Next stop a date in El Paso with UTEP which will have significant implications on the C-USA West race.

The BCS has decided that the Texas Longhorns are #1. Oh great the team I dislike most in all of football is now leading the pack. OU survived a scare against Baylor, yes I said Baylor. but everything is still progressing.

Thanks for reading
/rant

Song Lyric of the Day
"I'm not gonna let this phase me
'Cause I've learned the beauty of letting go"
Socialburn -- "Cold Night"

And from the dark room I scream...

It’s cold and dark inside here
But I don’t care because
I know that I can see
Regardless of what I do
I remain less than the picture
And can’t measure up to you

There are broken thoughts inside me
Shattered thoughts you helped create
It may not have been your intention
But alas, it is your fate
Trust me I know my place
And I know you mean well
But every time you act
Drives me further into Hell

And from my dark room I scream…

Let me go. Please let me fall
It’s not worth you concern
Let me descend into the fire
Let me relax and burn


Break the lights
So no one sees
This hideous disfigured me
I’m sorry for the rest of you
That chose to follow him.
Turn back now and let
Our feud come to an end.

You could say it in person
Pretend everything is fine
But plot a string of daggers
To shred me with a single line
There’s wisdom in your thought
And truth within your plea
With that I have no issue
With your method I disagree

And from my dark room I scream…

Please don’t return my call
As shards of broken mirrors fall
Distance yourself as best you can
I know I’m far from the intended plan
As it is I’m trying
I’m flailing. Holding on
Throw the rope down to me
Before I’m forever gone.


You’re right. It’s time to change
My life is incomplete
I know you only want to help
To pull me from the briny deep
So send the medication
But the coins I do not need
If I actually succeed with this
It has to be for me.

And in the brightened hall I cry…

Let go and please don’t chase me
For I must find my way
Messages will find you
When I reach the sunlit day

LPM

Liquid Paper Memories

Echoes and blurred images
Repetition of a name
As we tread along the twisted road
From which our stories came
As we glance back upon the road
The memories are not the same
Construction cones are strewn about
Patching up the thoughts of pain

Nothing's ever black and white
Memories are only gray
Sculpted to the best face

On another stormy day
Perception is reality
Different for each man
So we try to script our memories
To support our best laid plans

We cut, reshape, and edit
The story of our lives
Liquid Paper memories
The only ones that thrive

Stories cover all the shades
We only hear the darker grays
The puppets highlight plight and pain
To raise the timid flock’s disdain
As the outrage builds, more judges fall
“Their houses for a shopping mall”
And still the puppets bright as day
Shout “Progress is on its way”
Like we do with our own pasts
Truth and fiction blend
As the copy’s streaked with white-out
From beginning to the end

Shielding from the good news
The bad news still intact
Provoke the apathetic sheep
To stand up and react
When caught at this dirty game
And threatened with the end
Liquid Paper memories
Denial’s the only friend
Truth is just as fictional
As the best stories ever told
For any truth is bolstered
By the lies that it may hold

So even as we go through
The stories of the world
Liquid Paper memories
The only ones unfurled

Overrated

Admittedly, I'm interested in this year's baseball playoffs because the Astros are involved in doing well. This post however, is about the disturbing myopia of certain ESPN personalities who have developed "Chicken Little syndrome" just because the hated Yankees and the only slightly more tolerable Red Sox are making tee times. Yes I know the network is based in New England and therefore a little east coast homerism is to be anticipated, but you would think the remaining four teams were competing for the Class A Midwest League title and not the World Series. Admittedly the TV ratings may be down for White Sox-Angels as compared with last year but combining both leagues you still have 3 of the 4 largest TV markets in the country involved. Don't just completely dismiss the remainder of the playoffs.

This rant was started in reaction to the comments of ESPN Radio's Doug Gottlieb who in no uncertain terms said that "baseball owed its entire increase in interest to the rebuilding of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry." No Doug, the rebuilding of the rivalry is more a product of you and your colleagues plastering it on the airwaves every 5 minutes from March to October. Sorry you apparently can't enjoy the success of lower profile teams like the Angels, White Sox, Cardinals, and to a lesser extent the Astros (who get an amazing amount of ESPN coverage solely based on former Yankees Clemens and Pettitte. Of those two had not played in New York in past seasons, ESPN would treat the Astros as a second class team) because of I guess a stipulation in the ESPN contract. Enjoy your game of "6 degrees of George Steinbrenner" while the rest of us relax, have a beverage, and watch the games.

Song Lyric of the Day
"I wish I could go to sleep and wake up with amnesia
And try and f0rget the things that I've done
I wish I could keep all the promises that I've made you
But life I guess it goes on"
Blue October -- "Amnesia"

All is forgiven

As this is my weekly rant in which I vent about my music and weekend, I won't sugarcoat anything. My weekend started hideously. I've established I'm an Oklahoman living in Texas; therefore, the Red River Shootout is always a make or break game for me. Sadly, much like my spine it was pretty much broken. Seeing Adrian hobbled and Texas receivers running free was almost enough to force me into the office on my typical off day. Saturday was salvaged from a sports perspective by a rare occurrence in Hattiesburg Mississippi. My alma mater the Tulsa Golden Hurricane won a turnover plagued battle with Southern Miss going away 34-17. Tulsa's now 3-3 and the bowl prediction does not look that far off. The remaining schedule includes home games with SMU and East Carolina, a road game here at Rice (as they try to keep up with their fellow owls at Temple for worst team in football honors), and challenges against Tulane and a very good UTEP team.

As it was I did not experience much of the TU-USM game, as I was enjoying the CD release party for iSOLA's Loud Alarms Saturday night. Although, I can't be completely objective enough to review it, I strongly recommend that anyone interested in melodic indie rock sounding music pick up Loud Alarms from here. You won't be disappointed.

Sunday brought "the game" and the least productive 5 hours and 50 minutes ever spent in front of the TV. Fox's pitch for post-season baseball is "you can't script October" but that game read like a combination of every baseball screenplay not involving cornfields in Iowa. Atlanta rolled out to a 6-1 lead before Bobby Cox removed an effective Tim Hudson in the 8th when the first 2 reached for "reliable closer" and notably former Cub Kyle Farnsworth. Farnsworth achieved gas can hall of shame status by giving up a grand slam to Lance Berkman and then with 2 outs in the 9th giving up the game-tying shot to Brad Ausmus. Everyone knows the ending but the name of Chris Burke will be revered in Houston to come.

A final gem to my weekend turnaround occurred last night (I know Monday's not technically the weekend but for my purposes it will be). The Yankees were removed from the playoffs by the OC Angels. Sorry Fox. No Yankees or Red Sox this year. You'll actually have to talk about teams with payrolls under 120 million.

With the weekend turnaround complete, it's time to look ahead with the return of the counters.

Blue October at Meridian: 4 days
Tulsa Bowl Eligibility counter: 3 wins
Dom Capers watch: 13 days (McNair gave him a "vote of confidence". It can't be long.)

Today's song lyric and post title are from Default as their new album drops today.

"Don't stop the rain from coming down
Let it wash the pain where it can't be found"

Default -- "All is Forgiven"

Disconnected (Out of Touch)

Split titles, a mockery of a great sport, and an embarrassment of my favorite team, what do these three items have in common? They were all created by college football's "Beyond Comedy System" (BCS). The system is so warped and twisted that two of its original 3 components have bowed out entirely. But who needs sportswriters and coaches anyway. What do they know? What would be the logical solution? A playoff? (cue Jim Mora Sr. following Peyton Manning's 6 INT game) Playoff?!? Since University Presidents enjoy receiving checks from allegedly self-respecting businessmen in tangerine (or worse) blazers, the bowl system is here to stay. Even if it were up to the NCAA, they're too busy backtracking from declaring nicknames and mascot "hostile and offensive" to actually take a step forward. (Side note: I'm still waiting for my alma mater's mascot to be declared offensive to Katrina evacuees which may very well happen since Tulane's on the schedule.)

The present solution is to have Harris interactive polling put together a group of football "experts" to watch the games and vote. This poll along with the computers would then decide which two teams earned spots in the Rose Bowl. Like most ideas, it sounds good in theory; however, this weeks first rendition showed a number of alarming practical flaw.

The top 25 look alright, but if you peruse the others receiving votes category, the alarm bells becomes. Yes, the Idaho Vandals, one of the WAC's star recruits to replace the likes of SMU and Rice (I leave Tulsa and Utep out because they've been to a bowl game this decade), received 5 points. Idaho is 0-4 and would not be favored against several high school teams from Oklahoma, Texas, or Florida. Even worse, the five votes were not from one intoxicated pollster voting the Vandals 21st but from 5 independent voters placing them 25th. The Illinois Fighting Illini who were rolled 61-14 by a good Michigan St. team received 14 points. What's next? The Owls will get points (Temple or Rice I think I've made my point.)

Since a playoff won't happen immediately, I still contend that the fans should legitimately have a vote. We after all watch the games and can reasonably assess what we've seen. There may be some bias with individual voters but most rational fans will be able to vote for teams they may not root for because they are legitimately better.

While I have my hopes set on a playoff, here are the 5 things I want to see before I die:

1. Cures for Cancer
2. Political Harmony
3. Meaningful Government Spending Cuts
4. A College Football Playoff
5. Tulsa actually winning a title in a revenue producing sport

Thanks to Trapt for this morning's song title.