Christmas Eve

Its a quiet eve before we have dinner and open presents.   It is still light outside so you can expect that the day has gone slow - that's a good thing.

The tree is nicely lit and the outside lights are about to be turned on - the inflatable penguin is coming to life.

No one is saying it out loud, but we do miss David this first Christmas.  He's with us in spirit.

Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas coming soon

"The year has gone fast" we always say - this one is no exception.  Sarah is home from school with Travis so that means that we are all together again.  Pretty nice.  Today we all had lunch at Koko's - still full.

I'm thankful for the many blessings of the season.  The work is gearing down and that is OK since it has been a productive year.  I'm glad that I've got some good people working with me.  And of course Anna has gone on to bigger better things in Law School.  That was a highlight as well.

Check my movie blog at Southlandview.blogspot.com for update this season.  I counted over 35 movies reviewed this year and hope to keep it up.  Most of those were seen in the theaters including some classics:  Rocky Horror, Lawrence of Arabia, Back to the Future.  And some good ones that I saw myself:  Some Like It Hot, Searching for Sugar Man.

Here's to a great time the last days of 2013.  You'll find me right here.

A Distant Memory: Auburn beats Alabama 34-28

Back in the 2010's, in the Era when the college football game was an unpaid farm system to the NFL, the college game was a direct version of the worst of the NFL, with prevent defenses, safe screen passes in the flats, with the occasional "Take A Shot", as well as clock management ad naseum.   No one knew this NFL/college pattern than the washed up NFL coach/successful college coach, Alabama's Nick Saban.

In 2013, Alabama was going for its 3rd BCS Title.  Never mind what BCS stands for.  What you call the In N Out NCAA Playoff Champion.  That's right, the 32 game bracket winner.

It was the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Bama was undefeated.  That meant something then.  They had to win.  It was all tied 28-28.  Alabama got the ball back with about a minute left on the clock, and it was just a matter of marching down the field.  That's what Nick Saban does.  The score was tied, so nothing really had to happen in regulation.

First of all, in an effort to preserve the time, Bama ran out of bounds as the clock timed out.   Was there still time left?  Saban lobbied hard for adding time.  The refs agreed, and there was 0:01 left.  What could possibly happen in one second?

The Bama kicker, Cade Foster, has missed, not one, not 2 but 3 field goals. And he was presumably a blue chipper kicker.  A Texan even, from perennial Texas state champs Southlake Carroll.  But all confidence was gone.

With only a second  left, Bama lined up for a field goal to win.  Their hope, the back up kicker, Adam Griffith.  And a 57 yarder.  Give it a try kid, what's the worst that could happen?

Miss it?  Of course he missed it.  Not much hope for that.  But wait... who's that back in the end zone?  Didn't see him there.  Why its Chris Davis.  Cornerback turned returner.

Davis fielded the ball at the 109 yard line.  He took off, ran left, got some blocks, turned the corner and was gone.  No one would have a chance to catch him.  As Kirk Herbstreit said, "There's only fat guys on the field".   With no time left, there was still time to score a TD - 6 points.  Game Over.

It all came down to bad coaching.  Don't blame the backup kicker, don't blame the fat guys, don't blame the refs.   Blame Nick Saban.   The coaches then were paid to take the heat, they were paid $5 million a year while the players got to go to college classes and live in the athletic dorm as long as they were keeping the money maching going.   Completely the opposite of now since the  recruits are getting paid by the NFL under four year contracts.

That's a game from the Era that we remember.  That was just before Nick Saban bailed and went back to the NFL where after another forgettable turn with the Oakland Raiders, he accepted the next highest bid to go to Auburn where he continues as Athletic Director.  After all, he's the best friend a Tiger could have.

my dad is sitting on the couch going " ha ha nick saban you suck ha ha"
— sarah turley (@sarahjoanne520) December 1, 2013