Section 25 Wishes You and Yours a Very Hateful Hate Week!

[WARNING: Youtube video is deliberately NSFW]:

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned my Bammer friends at some point in the past on this blog. Yeah, I have some. It's true. Get raised in Birmingham like me and it's going to happen in spite of your best efforts. Despite their crimson shortcomings, they've proven to be great friends and some of the finest people I know.

Jay Coulter mentioned on Track 'Em last night the unique aspect of this rivalry; the passion and the proximity. Jay pointed out the fact that unlike many rivalries in college football, this is one of the few competitive in-state rivalries. Unlike Michigan-Ohio St. or Texas-Oklahoma, "we work together, live next to each other, and even marry into one another's families." Jay's conclusion here is that this proximity produces an impassioned, but ultimately friendly relationship between Auburn and Alabama fans.

With all due respect to Mr. Coulter (and much is due), that's dead wrong.

Sure, pair any given Auburn fan with any given Alabama fan, and odds are they'll have lots in common and get along just fine. But AUBURN and ALABAMA? They're as far apart as the east is from the west, and the moment those two people put on their college-football-fan hats, those two will be at each other's throats faster than you can say "neutral site". And in this state, we wear our college-football-fan hats an awful lot.

Auburn and Alabama are black and white. They're dogs and cats. It's democracy vs. communism. The two Universities may be similar today, but there's a fundamental difference that permeates through the two fan bases. Don't tell the Alabama fan that the old "cow college vs. 'The Univuhsity'" aspect is gone from this rivalry. And don't tell the Auburn fan that the old undeserved Bammer arrogance isn't there. Certainly don't tell me that--I've seen it and felt it stronger over the past year than possibly at any time in my life. There's genuine animosity there that is palpable, especially this week, and it's founded in much more than football.

This rivalry is about the establishment against the usurper. This rivalry is about the media darling against the stubborn, eternal underdog. This rivalry is about the might and the weight of the Alabama machine against the spirit and the will of the Auburn people. Look no further than this season's two teams to see the fundamental differences in the two sides.

One side went out and found the most popular name to coach and threw the most money at him to entice him to come. One side searched for a diamond in the rough, an unlikely winner hired more for his attitude than his public appeal, or even his track record. One staff is populated by yes men shrinking in the shadow of their great leader. One staff is filled with innovators; men whose collective presence dwarfs that of the one ultimately responsible for their success. One team was anointed champions in August, and later deemed "the only one loss team that could still win it all." One team fought and scratched and clawed its way up the polls, doing whatever it took to win for 11 weeks and throughout colossal distraction, only to be counted out by the so-called experts now.

Both sides will acknowledge these things. And both sides will say their side is in the right. Not that "that's our opinion but you're entitled to your own" but that their side is right. Auburn will tell Alabama that their hubris to think they are strong enough to buy greatness will be their downfall, and that they are foolish to dismiss the unbreakable spirit of the Auburn people, which no amount of money or "trudishun" can quell. Alabama will tell Auburn that they are jealous that they can't be the Univuhsity, that they threw the money at Saban because they are the school of the Bear and that they've earned the right for the best that money can buy, and that the spirit of the Auburn family is simply a false intangible that will ultimately fall to the strength of the Alabama machine.

And that is why we hate them. It's the arrogance, the entitlement. The fact that they simultaneously take pride in their dictum that they have an in state opponent that they work 365 days a year to defeat, all the while claiming Auburn fans have an unhealthy obsession with the great Bamuh. It's the car flags. The damn car flags. The ones that scream I'm better than you because of my football team. My football team from a college I probably didn't even attend.

On Saturday, I will probably meet with my Alabama friends. I will most likely share a beer with them. I will talk with them and laugh with them. But when the conversation turns to football, whether we won or lost, they will be the enemy. I will detest their arrogance. I will hate.

So, to all of the individuals out there who proclaim themselves to be Alabama fans, I say good luck. May the best man win....

But to the "Bama Nation" I have only one thing to say:

Happy Hate Week everyone.

War Damn Eagle

EVERYBODY PANIC!!!

It's like the Titanic except it's full of "rumors and innuendo!"

Did this Look Fairley Familiar to Anyone Else?

Wrap up!

The Joker Part II:

With all due respect to Mr. Phillips in Lexington, there is only one coach in this league batsh!t crazy enough to be called The Joker.

[Scene: Cam Newton turns on the TV in his apartment. He is visibly distraught. This is not what he wanted when he came to the SEC. He wanted justice and order. Not anarchy and chaos. The date on the local news channel says October 9, 2010. The newscaster warned the viewers of what they were about to see.]

Rece Davis: Viewers please be aware, the image is disturbing.

[The TV cuts to shaky footage of a warehouse. Sitting tied to a chair is a man. He's dressed like the Caped Crusader, but it isn't him. His orange and blue is cheaper. The man's only run in(s) with the genuine article exposed him for what he truly was--an impostor. But he didn't deserve this. From behind the camera, the demented voice speaks.]

Joker: What's your name?

Hostage: Ur.... Urban Meyer.

Joker: Are you the real Batman?

Urban: N..N..no...

Joker: No? Then why do you dress up like him?

Urban: Because he's a symbol that we don't have to be afraid of scum like you.... Besides, I'm not dressed just like him. I'm wearing a lighter, royal blue, and plus look at the jorts.....

Joker: Yeah, but you do have to be afraid of me, Urban, you really do. So you think Cam Newton's made the SEC a better place? Look at my hat..... LOOK AT MY HAT!

[The camera turns around to show it's holder. The Joker is a sickening figure. A clown, but the most terrifying kind. The kind from Louisiana.]

Joker: You see this is how crazy Cam Newton's made the SEC. You want order in the SEC. Cam Newton must take off his helmet, and turn himself in. Oh, and every day he doesn't, I'll call a fake field goal. Starting tonight. I'm a man of my word. HEHEHAHA!!

STAY TUNED FOR PART II ON FRIDAY: SAME BATSH!T CRAZY TIME, SAME BATSH!T CRAZY CHANNEL!

The Joker Part I: Agent of Chaos

With all due respect to Mr. Phillips in Lexington, there is only one coach in this league batsh!t crazy enough to be called The Joker.

[Scene: Everyone has been evacuated. Only one patient remains in his room. The most high profile patient is also the most grotesque. The hideously disfigured man had refused treatment, his body left scarred and charred from the flames and off-season attrition. The nurse checked the charts, mysteriously unconcerned about the chaos that moments before had enveloped the building. The nurse turns to look at the patient. It is the Joker. He takes off his mask and sits beside the patient.]

Joker: Hi.

[The patient struggles to get at him, but his restraints keep him at bay]

Joker: You know, I don't want there to be any hard feelings between us. When that pass interference flag was thrown, I was sitting on the sideline. I didn't make that call.

Derek Dooley: Your deal with the devil. Your plan.

Joker: Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it! You know, I just do things. Steve Spurrier has plans, Urban Meyer has plans, Auburn's got plans, you know. They're schemers. Schemers trying to control their little worlds. I'm not. I try to show the schemers how pathetic their attempts to control things really are. So when I say that that 4th and 14 was nothing personal, you know that I'm telling the truth.

[The Joker loosens Dooley's restraints]

Joker: You see, it's the schemers that put you where you are. You were a schemer, you had plans to coach an SEC team, and uh, look where that got you.

[As the Joker unfastens the restraints, Dooley lunges at him, but the Joker overpowers Dooley, weakened by the aftermath of Lane Kiffin]

Joker: I just did what I do best. I took your little plan and turned it on itself. Look what I did to this conference with a retarded offense and a goofy hat. You know what I noticed? Nobody panics when things go according to plan, even when the plan is horrifying. If tomorrow I told the press that, like, South Carolina will start Steven Garcia at quarterback, or Auburn will give up 43 points on defense to an SEC opponent, nobody panics. Because it's all part of the plan. But when I say that we're going for one, little old touchdown pass down one with eight second remaining, then everyone loses their minds!

[The Joker pulls out a gun, places it in Dooleys hand, points it to his own head; calls for a substitution]

Joker: Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order...

[Players run on and off the field like a Chinese fire drill]

Joker: ...and everything becomes chaos. I'm an agent of chaos. Oh and you know the thing about chaos... it's fair.

[Dooley stares at the Joker for a moment, pulls out a coin, then calls for his own substitution]

Dooley: Heads you live, tails you die.

Joker: Now we're talking!

[Dooley flips the coin in the air]

STAY TUNED FOR PART II ON FRIDAY: SAME BATSH!T CRAZY TIME, SAME BATSH!T CRAZY CHANNEL!

Is this the most exciting, nerve wracking season Auburn's ever had?

Did the little piggie cry wee wee wee all the way home?

Somewhat related anecdote. I sat with the family for the game on Saturday and the following exchange happened some time early in the 4th quarter as the game was approaching EA Sports levels of scoring and back and forth momentum swings:

ME: I guess I should have known I was in for this kind of craziness when I signed up to be an Auburn fan.

MOM: Signed up? Honey, you were drafted.

Point well taken, Mom. Point well taken.

Section 25 Unleashes the Good Juju

All the talk this week has been "look out for the Arkansas curse!" Everyone has mentioned the 2001, 2002, and 2006 seasons where the Arkansas loss kept the Tigers from going to Atlanta, and a few people have even pulled out the 1995 loss. In all of these games, Auburn was a heavy favorite, and in all of these games, Auburn laid an egg. The fear is that the curse has always been the rule and never the exception, and here we are in 2010, staring down the inevitable letdown that always comes against the Hogs.

But we here in Section 25 are sick to death of all the doom and gloom and nay saying. We're sick of people saying that a favored Auburn team is incapable of beating an Arkansas team. To those people, we would like to present the following for your consideration:

That was the first drive of the game. Auburn scored on its next four. It was never really close after that.

Obviously this team of Piggies isn't the same one that went 5-6 in 2004, and we're obviously not some big favorite in this game. The point is, the "Hog Hex" is beatable. This game isn't going to come down to whatever happened four, eight, nine, or fifteen years ago. This is going to come down to whoever is more prepared for this game, and who executes their gameplan. The so-called hex was debunked in 2004, and it has to be debunked again sometime; why not tomorrow?

Auburn/ SEC Mid-Season Thoughts

Say WHAAAT?

• The Good News: There isn't a team on the planet outside of the NFL that Auburn couldn't beat.
• The Bad News: There isn't a team in the SEC outside of Vanderbilt that couldn't beat Auburn.
• The Good News: It's up to Auburn which of the above things happens. Pre-season, there was a lot of talk comparing this team to the 2004 team. Incredibly talented offense, stubborn defense, and essentially abusing every team they played. With half of this season gone, I have to disagree, but don't worry Auburn fans, my conclusion is just as good. This team reminds me more of the 1993 Auburn team to this point in the season. Sufficiently talented, but inconsistent. The difference between the 1993 team and the 2004 team (other than probation) was that the 2004 team won by overpowering teams on offense and playing shut down D. The 1993 team won by..... well however they could. Close wins against Ole Miss and Vandy, but big wins against highly ranked Florida and defending champs Alabama. This Auburn team wins, and that mindset is what's going to keep the bad news above from happening. The toughest part of our schedule is ahead of us and anything could happen in these next six games, but this team has given us no reason to believe it can't be something special.
• Oh No! There Goes Tokyo! It is becoming more and more clear that Cam Newton is in fact a prehistoric creature who rose from the sea to wreak havoc on the SEC. Cam for Heisman is no longer a pipe dream, it's a very real possibility. If he continues to play the way he has since the second half of the Clemson game, Auburn always has a chance to win. There really is no answer for Cam when he's on his game. Cam dares you to drop back into coverage. Don't think for a moment this won't happen. He also dares you to put eight men in the box.

Don't think for a moment that this won't happen.

• Defense: Eh. Need some improvement gentlemen. I'm going to throw out a theory about our pass defense and y'all feel free to rip it to pieces down in the comments section. Of course the coverage leaves something to be desired. But am I the only one who can read our blitzes like a book? Like a children's book? And I know if I can read it, then people who coach and play football for a living/scholarship can read it. Sure enough, whenever we show blitz, I call it, the quarterback audibles, we blitz the same hole we showed blitz, and the o-line picks it up. It just doesn't seem to be working quite right. But you know, that's just, like, my opinion, man.
• Bama: Hooray for Brahsome Garcia and all, but this really doesn't change a darn thing for us. We still can't afford to lose one game if we want to make it to Atlanta. Still though, hooray.
• The Mad Hatter: His existence terrifies me. The man clearly sold his soul to the devil, then double-crossed the devil and instead sold his soul for a lifetime supply of G.I. Joe sized hats. That, people, takes balls. But not as much as he's shown over the last two weeks. The clock management disaster turned miracle had Tennessee fans dancing in the streets (and even making a scene in front of Hamilton's in Auburn) before having their world crushed a minute later. I'm certainly no Tennessee fan but that was sad to watch, if only because we as Auburn fans have been there before. Then there was the botched fake field goal turned successful fake field goal by inches. If Arkansas is the one team most likely to beat us straight up before Alabama, then LSU is the team I'm most scared will fall ass-backward into beating us.
• Speaking of Tennessee and Florida: The SEC East is just a different kind of down this year. The West has three teams in the top 10 and four in the top 12. That's just scary. I always felt that Auburn is traditionally an East team, but this is one of the first times I really wished we were there.

That's all I've got for now, but stay tuned around here, there's going to be plenty of excitement for the next few weeks!

War Damn Eagle!

It's Science

via spencer

It's Not Crazy, It's Auburn

ESPN Gameday will be in the Loveliest Village this week for the Clemson game. This could be the week that propels Auburn to big things this year, so make sure to come. And bring signs!

Road Report: MississipPi State

Section 25 took the last train to Starkville and got into Davis-Wade Cattle Ranch Stadium a half-hour before kickoff. Here are a few assorted notes and observations from our trip you might find interesting:

• Really State? Thursday night? Really? You think this is going to help your exposure? Really? And you guys don't think that ESPN will pass up advertising this game to advertise "Monster Saturday"? Really? And you don't think that playing at the same time as the NFL's opening night is going to effect that exposure? Really? Really? OK fine then.
• Directly between Auburn and Starkvegas stands West Vance. Due to time constraints, and that pesky class thing, the Section 25 bus had no choice but to risk the O of that town sticking to the car and drive right through to make it to the game on time. On the way through, one of my colleagues noticed a certain crimson flag flying proudly on a hillside..... upside down. He then summed up our feelings about it: "Don't ever change, Bama."
• If you think the parking situation is bad in Auburn, try Starkville. Ok, granted we got there late. But the abundance of large grassy areas where no one was parking on gameday was frustrating to no end.
• I've heard horror stories of the old bathrooms at Ga. Tech's Bobby-Dodd, but I had no idea how bad the Davis-Wade bathrooms are. Tiny, no air conditioning, and nothing but a wall where toilets should be. So, next time you go to a game at MSU, pee beforehand.
• The Bully fans are usually nothing to complain about, and are usually cordial enough, but am I the only one that got a really different vibe from this group Thursday? Cussed out and flipped off several times, a friend had some guy come up and take his drink out of his hand and pour it out in front of him, and some student who looked more like a 9th grader tried to pick a fight with me in the bathroom. When they actually think they can win, State fans kind of suck. After the game though, every State fan I saw was kind and cordial again, and talked about the game with us. Weird stuff. I think Dan Mullen put drugs in the water or something. Chizik must have notified authorities during the game to put things back to normal.
• Ok, completely not a road trip thing, but this movie is on TV right now, and I'm pretty sure I just found Josh Bynes' (evil?) twin. Not sure if he's evil or not, since they both specialize in ripping people's heads off.
  
• Speaking of defensively related things, Happy learned how to play defense! Guess who Section 25's new hero is?

• On the matter of the cowbells: "Ring Responsibly" and "Respect the Bell"? Yeah, not working. If the SEC follows through on the rules, MSU just earned themselves a $5000 fine. Chances of that happening? Slim. Chances of it mattering to MSU fans if the fine was handed down? None. Do you really want to put a stop to illegal noisemakers? Give the refs the control. Throw that little yellow handkerchief and that will put a stop to it REALLY quick. If you can't make enough noise to disrupt the other teams offense without resorting to cheap tricks, then that's just a little sad. Also, if MSU is not fined, expect Section 25 to sneak in air horns to the MSU game next year. They will only be used during appropriate times [snickers, blows horn every snap MSU's offense takes].
• Think 82 from West Vance to Montgomery was bad? Try doing it at 1:00 in the morning and not imagining all the horror story situations that could happen to you down that road.

Auburn folks seem to be divided into two camps about the outcome of this game. As for me, I've been saying since January what State's arch-rival almost said: "It's A Trap!" Our goal last night wasn't so much to win as just not to lose, and the strategy reflected that. The Gus Bus cruised along well below top speed in order to make sure Godzilla kept his head under that slightly illegal sounding crowd noise, and the defense stepped up and made enough plays to get us out of there with a W. Expect to see a different Auburn team next weekend when Cousin Clemson comes to town.

2-0 works for me! Keep it coming guys!

WAR DAMN EAGLE!

Happy New Year.

Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays VOL X: I Wish it was Christmas Today

Because this is the off season and there's nothing better to do, because there are approximately 4(!) days until football season (that's just a guesstimate, give or take a few), and because it's Tuesday and you need a pick-me-up, I'm presenting the year's final installment of "Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays". Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays is an off-topic post that will feature a band playing a song by a different band each week. Some you may have heard and, hopefully, some will be completely new to you.

For the tenth and final installment of this year's Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays, and in the spirit of the most wonderful time of the year being a mere 4 days away, I present Julian Casablancas's version of Saturday Night Live's "I Wish it was Christmas Today".

I don't care what the students say, football time is near

I don't care what my professors say, football is full of cheer

All I know is the Orange and Blue, are making their way to play for me and you

I wish there was football today

I wish there was football today

I wish there was football today oh oh

I wish there was football today

I wish there was football today oh oh

All I know is that Gene Chizik

Don't care about what ESPN thinks about us

I wish there was, I wish there was, I wish there was, I wish there was

I don't care what the coaches say, Auburn is #1

I don't care what the media says, Auburn won't be outdone

I don't care about anything, but hearing that band play and all the fans sing

I wish there was football today, on that good ol' village on The Plains

I wish there was football today

I wish there was football today oh oh

I wish there was football today

I wish there was football today oh oh

Coach Chiz is bringing a lot of wins

So be sure to be here when the season begins.

I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it!

WAR EAGLE!

And Now, a Moment of Unbridled Optimism and Sunshine Pumpery

Ok, so, imagine this... only for 60 minutes instead of 55.

I'm sitting here watching a rerun of the Iron Bowl on TV. And all I can think is, "We're not gonna do that this year," "Cam's gonna complete that pass this year," "Somebody's going to have to guard the QB on that option read this year," "That double coverage on Darvin is gonna leave Carr or Reed or Zachary or Burns or Lutz or Kitchens or Benton wide open this year," "Our depth means this defense isn't going to be sucking wind in the 4th quarter this year," "That confused looking veteran Bama D is going to be full of first year starters this year".

Optimism level.... up, and steadily climbing. September 4 can't get here soon enough.

New Site Layout!

Huzzah! Summer boredom has yielded us a glorious change in format. This calls for a celebratory chest bump!

D-LINE CHEST BUMP!

If this is just too busy for you let me know, there's plenty of summer boredom left to change it up to something new.

Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays VOL IX: Have You Ever Seen the Rain/ Damn it Feels Good to be a Gangsta

Because this is the off season and there's nothing better to do, because there are approximately 2,357,861 days until football season (that's just a guesstimate, give or take a few), and because it's Tuesday and you need a pick-me-up, I'm presenting "Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays". Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays is an off-topic post that will feature a band playing a song by a different band each week. Some you may have heard and, hopefully, some will be completely new to you.

No, neither of these versions are covers. But it's almost August and I've reached the breaking point. I must have some Auburn football. Every day I drive by Jordan-Hare and start shaking. Seriously, I think I'm getting the football DT's. I'm sitting here watching College Football Live have Pac-10 (12? 16? I'm so confused!) quarterback day and it just doesn't scratch the itch. **Side-rant-- the "What If" series that Reece Davis keeps nutting over every day? Pathetic. I know you guys are having a hard time filling 30 minutes in the dead of summer, but I can't stand this crap. And how are you coming to these conclusions? If Miami doesn't get called for pass interference against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl Nick Saban stays at LSU until 2007? What??-- End Side-rant**

And so, because of this need to ease my withdrawals, today's double-shot is not trademark infringing in the way of being covers, but instead that I kind of found them both on The War Eagle Reader. Sorry guys. If it makes you feel any better, I'll include the link to the original articles.

First off, here's Rain Game redux featuring, who else: Creedence Clearwater Revival and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"

Next, here's a tribute to the real O.G.s, CGC and Auburn, performed by the Geto Boys. WARNING: the audio in "Damn it Feels Good to be a Gangsta" is very much NSFW. ADDITIONAL WARNING: if you couldn't guess that a song of that title performed by any group calling themselves the Geto Boys is NSFW, you may be lacking in common sense.

Is it football season yet?

Tune in next week when Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays will feature........ another band playing a song by a different band!

Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays VOL VIII: (I Know) I'm Losing You

Because this is the off season and there's nothing better to do, because there are approximately 2,357,861 days until football season (that's just a guesstimate, give or take a few), and because it's Tuesday and you need a pick-me-up, I'm presenting "Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays". Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays is an off-topic post that will feature a band playing a song by a different band each week. Some you may have heard and, hopefully, some will be completely new to you.

This week's Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesday is a double-shot. You're welcome.

The Temptations' "(I Know) I'm Losing You" climbed to #8 on the pop charts in 1966. This piece of vaguely psychedelic Motown was not lost on other hard rock groups of the time. In 1970 and 1971, two hard rock groups covered the song and both versions are worth checking out. The 1971 version was performed by The Faces, headed up by one of the architects of British hard rock in the 1960's; scratchy voiced, hard rockin' Rod Stewart. Not to be confused with disco Rod Stewart, cheesy 90s, collaborating with Bryan Adams and Sting Rod Steward, or big band rip off Rod Stewart. So yeah, the short lived and only good Rod Stewart. What happened? I blame Goodnight.

The 1970 version is off the same album as our VOL II Trademark-Infringing Tune. The entire Ecology album is great. I highly recommend checking that out, preferably on vinyl. Here's the epic 10 minute long Rare Earth version. [Ed.-- I couldn't find the album version on the Youtubes. Here's an equally epic live version. It cuts out for a few seconds at the 8:33 mark, but you'll get the picture.]

Tune in next week when Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays will feature........ another band playing a song by a different band!

Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays VOL VII: Hey Ya

Because this is the off season and there's nothing better to do, because there are approximately 2,357,861 days until football season (that's just a guesstimate, give or take a few), and because it's Tuesday and you need a pick-me-up, I'm presenting "Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays". Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays is an off-topic post that will feature a band playing a song by a different band each week. Some you may have heard and, hopefully, some will be completely new to you.

No time for commentary today. Class and what not.

Tune in next week when Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays will feature........ another band playing a song by a different band!

Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays VOL VI: Satellite of Love

Because this is the off season and there's nothing better to do, because there are approximately 2,357,861 days until football season (that's just a guesstimate, give or take a few), and because it's Tuesday and you need a pick-me-up, I'm presenting "Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays". Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays is an off-topic post that will feature a band playing a song by a different band each week. Some you may have heard and, hopefully, some will be completely new to you.

If you haven't seen the movie Adventureland, I would highly recommend it. Solid acting, cool story, very witty, and they have some hilarious music-based comedy (which I obviously enjoy) including a the world's worst house band and a great running gag involving "Rock me Amadeus".

Included on the extremely well put together soundtrack, which is one of the movie's strongest points much like Dazed and Confused, is a song that I had not yet heard until seeing the movie, Lou Reed's Satellite of Love (Shed a Light on Love?). Although I'm generally speaking, I'm not much of a Lou Reed fan, Satellite of Love is a great song and really shines at that point in the movie.

For those of you who, like me, aren't typically into the more depressed sounds of Lou Reed and Velvet Underground, a more joyful version of Satellite of Love performed by a usually happier U2 is a great way to test the waters and see if it's for you.

If you enjoyed that, check out some of the other songs on the Adventureland soundtrack or, better yet, go buy the movie.

Tune in next week when Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays will feature........ another band playing a song by a different band!

Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays VOL V: Poker Face

Because this is the off season and there's nothing better to do, because there are approximately 2,357,861 days until football season (that's just a guesstimate, give or take a few), and because it's Tuesday and you need a pick-me-up, I'm presenting "Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays". Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays is an off-topic post that will feature a band playing a song by a different band each week. Some you may have heard and, hopefully, some will be completely new to you.

DISCLAIMER: If you can't find music humorous, DO NOT READ THIS POST. It is the most ridiculous post I've made since ever.

I decided a few weeks ago that I sometimes have what I call an ironic sense of music. I have several Barenaked Ladies albums. In high school I had a mix CD with both a Meat Loaf song and a William Shatner song (which I discovered on Conan). One of the most listened to songs on my iPod is Kitty by Presidents of the United States of America. Why? Because it's all a little funny. Seriously, listen to Shatner sing Common People and try not to laugh*. No really, I'll wait...... You couldn't do it could you? If there's a song that is humorous, either intentionally or unintentionally, I'll probably listen to it.

With the most recent batch of crazy people (read: Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, etc...) to unleash ridiculous music on the poor unsuspecting masses, there's been plenty of opportunities for those with ironic senses of music to get their fill of stupid, goofy, over the top songs. OK, so I hate Lady Gaga and Ke$ha, and frankly every time I hear either of them on the radio I can't change the channel fast enough. Really it doesn't fall into the category of ironically appealing because it's too much bad and not enough funny. There's a strict**, objective**, scientific** formula to create ironically good music, which requires the right amount of bad and funny, and these songs fail to meet the standards of that formula.

BUT there's hope yet for these songs. For one of the best things to happen in the past five years for ironic music lovers the world over (in my uninformed opinion) has covered Poker Face. Yes, the British Pop sensation Mika, who brought you such genius musical masterpieces as Big Girl (You are Beautiful) and Lollipop, has taken a crack at it:

No joke, every time he starts with the "oh, oh oh oh" part I crack up. If you didn't I'm sorry I wasted your time with this dumb post.

Tune in next week when Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays will feature........ another band playing a song by a different band!

*For that matter, try watching the original Pulp music video and not laughing.

**Not at all.

OT: HA! That's YOUR sport you suck at.

For those of you still in the baseball mindset from last week, this is scored: E1.

Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays VOL IV: Give a Little Bit

Because this is the off season and there's nothing better to do, because there are approximately 2,357,861 days until football season (that's just a guesstimate, give or take a few), and because it's Tuesday and you need a pick-me-up, I'm presenting "Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays". Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays is an off-topic post that will feature a band playing a song by a different band each week. Some you may have heard and, hopefully, some will be completely new to you.

Sorry to everyone for the lack of a Tune last week. The beach was calling, and it doesn't have reliable internet access.

But this week, I got to thinking about the very last concert in Beard-Eaves. The venue that has hosted Elvis, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and others, and I was a little disappointed to find out that the last show was.... Sister Hazel, the Goo-Goo Dolls, and some other thing*. Not that I don't like the former two, but those names don't exactly carry the clout that those other names do. The concert was very enjoyable--certainly more so than the last few UPC has put on, but that's a rant for another time. I was definitely a fan of the Goo-Goo Dolls and Sister Hazel growing up. Not a big fan mind you, but it was good stuff, and if their show wasn't ideal, it was a capable send-off of the Beav.

And so, in honor of that last concert and Beard Eaves, here's a great Goo-Goo Dolls cover of Supertramp's Give a Little Bit.

Tune in next week when Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays will feature........ another band playing a song by a different band!

*I think Summer Rockets or something like that. Whatever they were they nearly got booed off the stage. Granted, the lead singer did a one-man-band thing with all the instruments on a loop that was pretty cool. But that didn't make up for the other 40 minutes of suck.

CREEDE SIMPSON

Tell me about it, Rod:


Game 7. Tomorrow night, 6:00. BE THERE.

WAR EAGLE!

AUBURN BASEBALL'S TOO POWERFUL TO LET THIS SEASON END!

HOME RUN! BUILDING KICK! EXPLOSIOOOOOOON!

Auburn baseball starts it's regional tomorrow! Auburn's hit 117 home runs this season! That's more powerful than anyone else in the NCAA! Yeah it is. Who said that? Was that Hal Baird? No. It was Joooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhn Pawlowski.

Auburn baseball is so powerful, it doesn't need Trent Mummey or Brian Fletcher! But then it got too cold, so now they're bringing them back for regionals! MUMMEY-FLETCHER POWEEERRR!

Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba ba-BASEBALL!

Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays VOL III: Smells Like Teen Spirit

Because this is the off season and there's nothing better to do, because there are approximately 2,357,861 days until football season (that's just a guesstimate, give or take a few), and because it's Tuesday and you need a pick-me-up, I'm presenting "Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays". Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays is an off-topic post that will feature a band playing a song by a different band each week. Some you may have heard and, hopefully, some will be completely new to you.

Not much time to elaborate on today's Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesday, the real world calls. Suffice to say that today's selection takes the defining song for rock in the '90s in a completely different direction. Here's Patti Smith with Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit.




Tune in next week when Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays will feature........ another band playing a song by a different band!

One Win Away from the West

Kevin Patterson went TATER with 2 outs facing a 2 run deficit in the 8th inning to give Auburn the 5-3 W in Oxford tonight. That puts Auburn one win away from clinching the #1 spot from the West in the tournament at Hoover next week. First pitch tomorrow, 6:30. Be there or be.... on the radio or checking the message boards or something. Because that's what I'm doing.

Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays VOL II: Eleanor Rigby

Because this is the off season and there's nothing better to do, because there are approximately 2,357,861 days until football season (that's just a guesstimate, give or take a few), and because it's Tuesday and you need a pick-me-up, I'm presenting "Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays". Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays is an off-topic post that will feature a band playing a song by a different band each week. Some you may have heard and, hopefully, some will be completely new to you.

The Beatles need no introduction. Eleanor Rigby was originally released on their 1966 album Revolver and simultaneously as a single, and climbed to number 1 on the charts in Britain and number 11 here in the US; a modest effort in the Beatles hey-day.

Two years later, a band out of Detroit became one of the first all white bands from Motown to be hit-makers. Rare Earth is most famous for their song "I Just Want to Celebrate" and their most famous cover was a cover of the Temptations' "Get Ready". But in 1970, they released their fourth album, Ecology, which included this weeks Trademark-Infringing Tune, Eleanor Rigby. Put McCartney's great songwriting in the hands of an early '70s hard rock band with a Motown edge and you get an incredibly unique sound. Enjoy.



Tune in next week when Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays will feature........ another band playing a song by a different band!

Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays VOL I: No Quarter

Because this is the off season and there's nothing better to do, because there are approximately 2,357,861 days until football season (that's just a guesstimate, give or take a few), and because it's Tuesday and you need a pick-me-up, I'm going to introduce a new reoccurring post entitled "Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays". Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays is an off-topic post that will feature a band playing a song by a different band each week. Some you may have heard and, hopefully, some will be completely new to you.

One of my favorite bands of all time is the mighty Led Zeppelin. Zeppelin's thunderous style, virtuoso blues guitar, and soaring powerful vocals have been imitated by many, but none have recaptured that sound. Most of the time when a Zeppelin fan such as myself hears "...a cover of Led Zeppelin's..." there's a part of you that thinks, "fat chance this will work out." But, every now and again, there's a band that finds the ability to do it, if only for one song.

On today's episode of Trademark-Infringing Tuesdays, Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond pulls off one of those rare moments. Her background in opera makes her the perfect choice for the epic No Quarter. This live, bootlegged version doesn't have the sound quality necessary to hear the instrumentals properly, but the most important thing here is the haunting and powerful vocals Worden cranks out, reminiscent of that powerful Zeppelin sound. So without further jibber-jabber, here's Shara Worden and My Brightest Diamond's cover of Led Zeppelin's No Quarter.




If you liked this, I'd definitely recommend the album that got me into Worden's music, Hazards of Love by The Decemberists, a rock opera which features her as "the queen". (The plot is kind of out there, but then again, so are all rock operas. Think about The Who's Tommy. A pinball-playing, cult-leading, deaf, dumb, and blind kid?)

Tune in next week when Trademark-Infringing Tune Tuesdays will feature........ another band playing a song by a different band!

Auburn Media: Learning their lesson one crappy alt rock song at a time

If you're like me and hate most of the stupid intro video songs Auburn has chosen over the past few years and are ready for something that doesn't suck, you're in luck. This year's intro song will be chosen by the fans. The voting takes place here. There are plenty of options that don't suck on that list, and I am very confident the Auburn people will pick the right one. However, I would like to enter Section 25's official write-in candidate:





If you think Auburn football to the tune of Wolfmother would kick as much @$$ as it obviously would, write in Joker and the Thief by Wolfmother, and spread the word.

YES WE CAN pick a great song.

Baseball Update

13-2 That just happened.

NCAA to pass "Auburn Rule" Part II

The NCAA released a statement today regarding recruiting practices.* This new rule will affect Auburn in particular, and has been passed as an addendum to the so-called "Auburn Rule" that passed earlier this week. This is the new rule as reported by the NCAA:

No school shall knowingly allow any coaches to attend a high school during any
recruiting period wearing a backwards hat, or carrying a towel. In
addition, no coach will appear at any school under the influence of heavy drugs such as caffiene consumed in the form of large amounts of coffee.

In its press release, NCAA President Mark Emmert had this to say regarding the new rule: "The blatant disregard for proper hatwear that some universities has shown is unacceptable. The NCAA stands for certain things, and wearing a hat backwards is simply not representitive of those things. Also, everyone needs to know the proper use of towels, and waving them around is not one of them. The NCAA has hired a new spokesperson to promote proper towel usage: As far as the new drug rule is concerned, the NCAA has always taken a strong stance against drug use, and coffee is a very dangerous epidemic that threatens the integrity of our sport."

When reached for comment, Trooper Taylor, who is believed to be the basis for the first section of the new rule had this to say, "I was just trying to get my Ford Prefect on. I didn't think I was hurting anyone."

Gus Malzahn, offensive coordinator and noted supporter of NORCL (National Organization for the Reform of Coffee Laws) was unavailable for comment, but sources within Auburn's Athletic Department said that, upon hearing the new rule, he was heard to say, "SCREWTHISIVEALREADYWASTEDSEVENSECONDSONTHISCRAPTHATICOULDHAVESPENDGETTINGOURTEMPOFASTERWHERESMYPLAYBOOKIMGOINGTOMAKEANEWPLAYWHERETHEWATERBOYLINESUPATQUARTERBACKANDTHECENTERLINESUPASARUNNINGBACKANDI'MGOINGTOCALLITF*&%#YOUNCAA."

*Hooray for parody!

Chizik of Auburnia

Friday, April 16th, 2010:
T.E. (Tiger: Eugene) Chizik and Sharif Malzahn stand upon a precipice. Their small and unlikely band of warriors gathers behind them. Several weeks journey away, stands their quarry and the goal of their journey, Aqaba-scaloosa. With it's guns turned to the sea, they do not anticipate attack from the landward side. T.E. Chizik has concocted the perfect battleplan, but standing between them is a great desert. Some have said this desert can never be crossed. But Chizik of Auburnia is undeterred. All eyes look to him as they stand on the brink of glory.


Sharif Malzahn: There is the A-Day. And that is the summer. From here until we reach the other side, no football news but what we carry with us. For the fans, no football news at all. If the fans die, we die. And in four months they will start to die.

T.E. Chizik: There's no time to waste, then, is there?



(9:00)

The desert of summer is upon us. We turn back for no one. Good luck to you. And may God help us. God help us all.

Bloggers Note: F--- the summer.

Auburn Related Quote of the Day

Courtesy of my favorite non-Auburn blog, EDSBS.

"Ronnie Brown ran like he was paving a sidewalk and needed some concrete in the
form of your crushed bones. And he needed all of that urgently."

A Letter from Coach Barbee to the Students

What has two thumbs and is excited about the 2010-2011 Auburn Basketball season? This guy!

Dear Auburn Students,

As your new head basketball coach, I am thrilled about the opportunity to represent you and this great university at such an exciting time for Auburn basketball. When I accepted this job, I knew there would be challenges, but what struck me the most was the tremendous potential of this program with everything Auburn has to offer. The university, the community and the fan base are all top notch, and the new state-of-the-art Auburn Arena demonstrates a commitment to this program that will help us take Auburn basketball to new heights.

As your head coach, I promise to stay true to the Auburn Creed as I believe in work, hard work. With that said, my staff and I will not be outworked as we bring the Auburn Family what they deserve. I will give my all in every aspect of the job, from recruiting and coaching to promoting the program. I will do everything in my power to produce a winning program and change the culture of Auburn basketball.

I challenge you, the Auburn students, to create a real excitement around Auburn basketball. You are a part of the team, and I need you there at every game to make Auburn Arena the best home court advantage in the SEC.

You are critical to our success, and there has not been a more significant period to turn this program around than now. The administration shares my feelings, as the design of Auburn Arena prioritizes the experience of the students.

The Auburn Arena caters to students in every way and is designed to create an intimidating home court advantage. Very few students throughout the entire nation will enjoy the same amenities that this new arena will present to you. You will have your own private entrance to the arena, concourse area, restrooms and concession stand. As students, you will have the best seats in the building. The student section will surround three sides of the court on the floor level. You will have an effect on the game like never before, and our atmosphere will be contingent on you. With your help, I truly believe we can have a great basketball atmosphere.

I know we can accomplish all of our goals together. I cannot express how excited I am to be your new coach. I look forward to the next few months as we build enthusiasm for next season and beyond.

War Eagle!

Tony Barbee

Head Men's Basketball Coach

Happy Spring Practice!

Yeah. Yeah, that looks nice.

A Open Letter and Formal Reprimand to Auburn Football

To Whom it May Concern,

I have just now gotten back from my Spring Break and checked my internets to find out what is going on in the world of Auburn Football. To my immense pleasure and surprise, I found the new AUBURN FOOTBALL WEBSITE. My joy was quickly overshadowed by the weight of this NEW WEBSITE. Never in my life have I seen an administration be so reckless with the content of a WEBSITE. The amount of Auburn football contained in this one WEBSITE has to be well over the legal limit of awesomeness allowed to be contained in one place. If you haven't yet had the chance to VISIT THE SITE, I urge extreme caution. I may even go as far as to say one should never VISIT THE SITE. The human heart can only take so much.

Between player and coach videos, as well as more information than any reasonable person could want to know about Auburn football, there is simply no way that THIS MUCH AUBURN FOOTBALL could possibly be necessary. There is even a place on this NEW SITE dedicated to the top 20 plays in Auburn Football History, all with video accompanied by the official Auburn Network play call by Jim Fyffe or Rod Bramblett. At one point during the video of the LSU interception game of 1994 I actually blacked out! This AUBURNWAREAGLE.COM is a socially irresponsible act on par with the tobacco industry, or, dare I say it, the Vermont Cheese Industry! I demand the immediate termination of all those responsible for THIS egregious act of such a deplorable nature.

Sincerely,
A Concerned Auburn Fan

PS: Sarcasm is fun

Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You

I'm gonna throw some stats at you:

2 Winning seasons in 6 years

1 Winning season in Conference play

1 NIT Bid

0 NCAA appearances

4 Starting Seniors

15 Wins with those seniors

0 Posts since January 9

None of those numbers are acceptable. For the one I am responsible for, I am sorry.

Brad Nessler said during the bammy-Kentucky game that he believed that to fire Lebo before giving him a chance in the new Arena was unfair. I say unfair went out the window a couple of seasons ago. The man just didn't get the job done. For more reasons why this was a good idea, check out Jerry's take on the matter, or check any one of the Auburn Bloggage links to the right; they'll probably all have something more informed than me to say very soon.

The bottom line, and I think I speak for most Auburn fans, is that we're sick of the boredom that surrounds this basketball program. We're sick of the fact that by this time of the basketball season, the most exciting time, Auburn is a non factor. I'm sick of hearing talk nationally about how we don't care about basketball, and then seeing results on the court that back up this theory. Auburn basketball is far and away my second favorite sport, just behind Auburn football. I take a lot of pride in the better teams we have had throughout the years and the product Jeff Lebo gave us was not something to be proud of. I appreciate the fact that Lebo coached with class, and after the last days of Ellis, that's something we desperately needed. But now is the time to start winning again, and with chance after chance, Lebo has proven he can't do that at Auburn. New arena, new coach, new excitement for Auburn basketball.... I just hope the new coach is the right one.

PS: I'm going to try and get a makeup post out there soon to make up for all the time I lost.

Tuberville to Texas Tech

I have obtained exclusive video of Red Raider fans celebrating the news of the hire in their usual disturbing and suggestive way.

Notes From my Tampa Experience or How I Learned to Stop Fretting and Love the Outback Bowl

This New Years holiday was a little stressful for me. I had a great gameplan and I knew all the things that I was going to do and see during the week in Tampa. Unfortunately, my weekend did not go off without a hitch. Over the trip, I compiled a few mental notes, and I now present them as a memoir of my journey; of what I saw, observed, and learned. And I'm bored and have nothing better to do. You're welcome, internet.

1. St. Petersburg is NOT the Opelika to Tampa's Auburn.
For me, football has always been a family affair. That's why I grew up loving Auburn, because my parents did what any good parent would do, and brainwashed me through years of family (extended family) trips to Auburn football games. So of course this year was no different when it came time to make the bowl trip. I would stay with my family (because they so generously payed for my ticket, lodging, food, and travel) but I would be able to go out with my friends on New Years Eve. After all, I'll be able to walk to the hotel, because we'll probably be staying nearby the parade and main tourism area. So, me and my family packed up and headed down to... St. Petersburg? Well that shouldn't be too bad. "It's just across the bridge" said my Granddad, who booked the hotel at St. Petersburg Beach. I'll be able to take a cab back to the hotel... 45 minutes later, and I figure my cab fare to be about 50 bucks. Goodbye New Years Eve out in Tampa, hello New Years Eve in a smelly beach motel.

2. White socks+White shoes= Awesome.
It took until midway through the first quarter of play for me to realize what it was that made Auburn's uniforms look so freaking awesome on Friday. It was definitely the sock/shoe combo. Of course, we all know that Auburn usually plays with black shoes and socks, but at the Outback bowl, they used the throwback white on white. Everyone in the stands loved it, and we all vote for more of the same next year.

3. Florida St. play-by-play>Florida play-by-play.
One of the drawbacks of being able to go to the game and still be able to make it back for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra show in Birmingham on Saturday (which incidentally rocked my face off--completely off) was that I had to listen to all of the New Years Day bowl games on the radio. Lucky for me, both Florida and Florida St. were playing on Friday, so we could pick up the local radio stations on the way home. As we traveled up I-75, I noticed one thing from the afternoon to the night; the 'Noles' play-by-play announcer was significantly better than the Gators'. Florida State's Gene Deckerhoff presented the game in a way that was classy, informative, accurate, and colorful. On the other hand, "Oh my!" has to be the most contrived, obnoxious catch phrases I've ever heard in my life, and I know of some really awful catch-phrases. It's as if he heard Jim Fyffe yell "TOUCHDOWN AUBURN!"* and then sat down for several hours trying to come up with something as catchy, couldn't, finally gave up, and settled for "oh my". Whoopee. The Florida broadcast seemed amateurish (almost as much as this blog). I think I speak for a lot of people when I say, "That's enough Mick Hubert."

4. Ben Tate may lead a secret life as an Auburn basketball player.
The Auburn internets have been abuzz about the Ben Tate slam dunk after the touchdown, which theoretically cost Auburn 6 points at the other end. Most of the talk has been poo-pooing of Ben Tate for the "boneheaded" decision. I say, who cares? Sure, I don't want that to become an Auburn thing. Save that for "the U". But I refuse, as many people seem to want to do, to think of Ben Tate's last game at Auburn as "the one where that moron nearly cost us the game". I'm going to think of it as yet another 100 yard, 2 TD game to add to a career that stands out, even here at Running Back U. Sure I'd probably be singing a different tune if it had ended up costing us the game, but it didn't. I'm not concerned that it will become an issue, Chizik doesn't put up with that stuff. It was a one time thing, and ultimately didn't matter, except maybe to provide an exciting ending. Frankly, I'm more upset about him not covering up the ball a couple of drives later. And don't forget that he put us in position with 20 yards in overtime to make the field goal an easy pitching wedge for Wes. Honestly, I was more concerned about the form on the dunk. Weak sauce if you ask me. He probably does play for our roundball team. (sorry guys, had to make a little jab)


5. Caution: Floor may be slippery when wet.
For all the talk about the dunk, the best touchdown celebration of the day has been overlooked. After Todd's pass to Carr, Todd goes up for the flying air body bump (that's football jargon), but Carr busts his butt on the wet turf and slid under him. I, for one, think this is awesome, and should become the official Chizik era touchdown celebration, in lieu of the "lineman lifting running back" favorite of Tubby's tenure.

6. "Is it also pronounced 'Frodrick'?"
The best hangout in Tampa was Ybor City, site of the parade and pep rally and general festivities and such. However, I still have no idea how to pronounce the word. Was it Ibor or Ebor? Or maybe Wybor? Anyone?

7. The Florida Aquarium is a No Bone Zone.
You heard right. There are signs in the Florida Aquarium denoting the "No Bone Zone". I'll find pictures. So keep it PG when you go to Tampa, kids.

8. "They're real Cubans? They're human beings from Cuba?!"


I may have been the only person in the world that didn't realize how much Tampa was known for its cigars. There must have been 5 cigar shops for every non-cigar shop in Ybor (Ibor?) City. And they all rolled their own. It really is like a cigar aficionado's Mecca. Also, I'm fairly certain that there were, in fact, real Cubans making them. There were a few telltale signs. One roller was wearing a Cuban soccer jacket. One was talking excitedly about the prospect of Castro's totalitarian state falling to pieces after his death. And one was singing "Babalu" and was married to a loud redhead.**

9. It's not over 'till the fat lady sings. Twice. And then leaves the stage to go find a cheeseburger.
Just when you think it's OK to celebrate, a Big XII officiating crew comes in and bursts your bubble.*** That game was the craziest emotional roller coaster I've ever been on. Twice we blew 14 point leads, and twice the defense grabbed that last ledge before they fell completely off the cliff. By the end I was so ready for the game to be over, and it just wouldn't end. The air got completely let out of the Auburn section several times during the course of that wild game. The bad news is that I don't think I will be able for a long time to celebrate immediately after a game-ending play like that until I see the refs leaving the field.

10. A win is a win is a win. And a bowl win is damn sure a win.
It's been pretty well documented that with all the things coming before the final whistle, the celebration had a weird feeling, to say the least. I, for one, was just happy the game was over. Looking back, however, I see much more cause to celebrate. Because the bottom line is, they don't draw pictures on the scoreboard, and all the ugly things from that game have already gone away. My trip, although odd and often frustrating, couldn't have gone any better than leaving Tampa with the W and all the momentum we take into the off season. So bring on September!

*Still gives me chills just typing it. Miss ya, Jim.

**Oh come on. You know you love a good Lucy joke. It's such a hot show these days.

***I've had a lot to say about the officiating, but I want to make it clear that I do not blame the officials for the crazy nature of the game. They made the right calls for the most part, or as much as any other game. The penalty margin was only one of the bad breaks Auburn's defense caught, along with injuries, silly turnovers, our offenses inability during certain stretches of the game to stay on the field, Northwestern's receivers making every circus catch on every ball thrown their way and other such craziness. So I definitely don't blame the refs, but it just so happened that during the first two false start celebrations, they were the ones who had the duty of informing us it was wrong. It just stands out more in my memory. TIFWIW.