Headed to the land of Lubbock this weekend. One of the more unique settings in college football. Builds character.
A nice show prep for what's to come in Morgantown, minus the moonshine. It's a party school. I appreciate that. It's just a different vibe. Very Texas (the state, not the University of ...), I respect it. Whatever.
A short story. Drove to LBK with some pledge brothers (fraternity story, so obviously good -- sup GDI's?) for the 2005 game. Stayed at place called, 'Stadium Motel'. It was across the street from the stadium. Legit pull your car up to your doorstep, might catch a disease motel. They probably did hourly rent-a-room. I bet the likes of Wes Welker, Danny Ammendola had used it a time or two. Atleast that's what I told myself. Might have even tried meth by just breathing. Interesting experience in itself. It was quaint.
Taurean Henderson scores on the final play of the game and we decide to get the hell out of dodge. Get about 25 miles southwest of Wichita Falls and a deer runs out in front of us. Bambi had no chance. Totaled car. An incredible series of mishaps. Think I've told the story in its entirety on the podcast.
Went back in 2009. And all I can share publicly is that I'm happy to be alive. Praise be to the higher powers. I did wear red corduroy pants to the game. Probably died three or four times (not literally, Plaino). Survival of the fittest. Marathon. Back to this weekend's tilt.
When did Lubbock become Death Valley? Good teams --consistently-- leave Lubbock with a victory. Yeah but Michael Crabtree ... that was 10 years ago.
The head coach for the Red Raiders during that game is currently suing the school. You could say things have changed over the last decade. If you eliminate wins over Kansas from the equation, Tech is 4-15 at home vs. the Big 12 under Kingsbury. They're 1-8 vs. top 25 teams. That ain't good. Not even close to good, to be completely honest.
So what gives? Sure it gets rowdy. Sure you have to sometimes dodge batteries hurled your way. But is it too brutally honest to say Lubbock isn't this death trap it's made out to be?
Good teams go to Lubbock and win. And by win I mean cover (should have bought it early +10.5)***
*** Editor's note: Oklahoma going for it's 19th consecutive road victory does concern me a bit. That's probably me being a pessimist, but streaks do come to an end at some point. And Tech does play well under the lights in what is considered a 'Blackout' ... that, oddly, seems all too familiar.
*******************************
It's hard to not mention my last trip to Lubbock. See above. Simply put it was one of the happiest nights of my sports life. The Cubs won the pennant. That was awesome. Oh, there was also a game for the ages unfolding in front of me. Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes were incredible.
Baker was doing stuff like this.
Mahomes was doing stuff like that.
As good as Mayfield and Mahomes were that night, I'd contest Joe Mixon was the best player on the field. 31 (!) carries for 263 is absolutely bonkers. And who could forget the one-hande stab. That's all-time SCOOPHD shots. I'll include it in my Hall of Fame reel -- probably.
2015:
*******************************
Let's go rapid fire to close this thing out.
Whitey Bulger was murdered in prison. That seems like a fascinating ending to what was already a fascinating story.
Mob on mob prison crime? Count me in for that Dateline exclusive. I hope they send Keith Morrison. I'll also watch the Netflix special -- twice.
This is a little startling. As far as child killers go ... Casey Anthony is a total babe. If -- and this is a huge 'if'-- you can get over the fact she -- probably, despite being found not guilty-- killed her child more power to you.
"She's found a really special guy who can overlook her past. He is giving her a clean slate. She's now in her 30s. She's a different person than she was when she was an emotionally stunted 21-year-old. He sees what she could be."
Okay this seems like some kind of PR release. Honestly, it's a little shocking. You can't get this gal pregnant. Or can you? That's not for me to decide. That's for you the reader to think about. That's one =way of t likely be described as 'Florida man'.
Yo. That's a lot to stomach (no pun, intended). Let's look at the Pros and Cons of getting in a relationship with someone who (likely, probably) killed her child and got away with it.
Pros: I can't find any
Seems simple enough.
Shoutout to Grant Calcaterra for being a good sport.
A nice show prep for what's to come in Morgantown, minus the moonshine. It's a party school. I appreciate that. It's just a different vibe. Very Texas (the state, not the University of ...), I respect it. Whatever.
A short story. Drove to LBK with some pledge brothers (fraternity story, so obviously good -- sup GDI's?) for the 2005 game. Stayed at place called, 'Stadium Motel'. It was across the street from the stadium. Legit pull your car up to your doorstep, might catch a disease motel. They probably did hourly rent-a-room. I bet the likes of Wes Welker, Danny Ammendola had used it a time or two. Atleast that's what I told myself. Might have even tried meth by just breathing. Interesting experience in itself. It was quaint.
Taurean Henderson scores on the final play of the game and we decide to get the hell out of dodge. Get about 25 miles southwest of Wichita Falls and a deer runs out in front of us. Bambi had no chance. Totaled car. An incredible series of mishaps. Think I've told the story in its entirety on the podcast.
Went back in 2009. And all I can share publicly is that I'm happy to be alive. Praise be to the higher powers. I did wear red corduroy pants to the game. Probably died three or four times (not literally, Plaino). Survival of the fittest. Marathon. Back to this weekend's tilt.
When did Lubbock become Death Valley? Good teams --consistently-- leave Lubbock with a victory. Yeah but Michael Crabtree ... that was 10 years ago.
The head coach for the Red Raiders during that game is currently suing the school. You could say things have changed over the last decade. If you eliminate wins over Kansas from the equation, Tech is 4-15 at home vs. the Big 12 under Kingsbury. They're 1-8 vs. top 25 teams. That ain't good. Not even close to good, to be completely honest.
So what gives? Sure it gets rowdy. Sure you have to sometimes dodge batteries hurled your way. But is it too brutally honest to say Lubbock isn't this death trap it's made out to be?
Good teams go to Lubbock and win. And by win I mean cover (should have bought it early +10.5)***
*** Editor's note: Oklahoma going for it's 19th consecutive road victory does concern me a bit. That's probably me being a pessimist, but streaks do come to an end at some point. And Tech does play well under the lights in what is considered a 'Blackout' ... that, oddly, seems all too familiar.
*******************************
It's hard to not mention my last trip to Lubbock. See above. Simply put it was one of the happiest nights of my sports life. The Cubs won the pennant. That was awesome. Oh, there was also a game for the ages unfolding in front of me. Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes were incredible.
Baker was doing stuff like this.
Mahomes was doing stuff like that.
As good as Mayfield and Mahomes were that night, I'd contest Joe Mixon was the best player on the field. 31 (!) carries for 263 is absolutely bonkers. And who could forget the one-hande stab. That's all-time SCOOPHD shots. I'll include it in my Hall of Fame reel -- probably.
2015:
*******************************
Let's go rapid fire to close this thing out.
Whitey Bulger was murdered in prison. That seems like a fascinating ending to what was already a fascinating story.
Mob on mob prison crime? Count me in for that Dateline exclusive. I hope they send Keith Morrison. I'll also watch the Netflix special -- twice.
This is a little startling. As far as child killers go ... Casey Anthony is a total babe. If -- and this is a huge 'if'-- you can get over the fact she -- probably, despite being found not guilty-- killed her child more power to you.
"She's found a really special guy who can overlook her past. He is giving her a clean slate. She's now in her 30s. She's a different person than she was when she was an emotionally stunted 21-year-old. He sees what she could be."
Okay this seems like some kind of PR release. Honestly, it's a little shocking. You can't get this gal pregnant. Or can you? That's not for me to decide. That's for you the reader to think about. That's one =way of t likely be described as 'Florida man'.
Yo. That's a lot to stomach (no pun, intended). Let's look at the Pros and Cons of getting in a relationship with someone who (likely, probably) killed her child and got away with it.
Pros: I can't find any
Seems simple enough.
Shoutout to Grant Calcaterra for being a good sport.
