The AP poll shows Penn State ranked no. 3, and Florida no. 4, and Alabama as no. 1. If there are no major surprises before the end of the season, Florida may well meet Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Championship game. So it's conceivable that Penn State and Florida may be competitors for the top spot, Lady Di!

The updated BCS rankings are supposed to be out this evening, so I'm looking for them now.

Well, it's still showing the Oct. 26 standings, so I'll have to wait and see, but the BCS had GA ranked higher than FL. That was a mistake. So much for some of the computer rankings!

But in the SEC, we're used to teams knocking each other off. On a given Saturday, any team can win.

Texas got defeated yesterday! So, in the AP polls, Texas Tech moves up from 6th to 2nd because they beat Texas? That doesn't make sense? What about the ones who were in between 6th and 1st?

Well, they just announced the top 20 spots on the BCS rankings, on Fox Sports. Alabama has the top spot, and Texas Tech moved up from 7th to 2nd, on the strength of its beating Texas. Penn State stayed at number 3. Texas is now number 4. And Forida is number 5. So it's still a battle ahead.

Carl, here we go again????

Should Texas Tech have jumped that high in the rankings? What are your thoughts about Texas Tech/Oklahoma State game?
In my heart I feel that we will go undefeated.

No, I personally think they shouldn't have gone that high, but they usually are impressed with a team that beats the number 1 team. Of course, I'd like to see Oklahoma State defeat Texas Tech, opening it up for Penn State and Florida to move up.

We'll be meeting Alabama, I'm sure, and if we can knock them off, we should be in good position. It's possible Penn State and FL could wind up number 1 and 2, or vice versa.

FL was back to back to back - NCAA Basketball champs, NCAA Football champs, and then repeat NCAA Basketball champs.

We'd like another shot at the football championship. That reminds me, I'd better see what's happening with the basketball program.

I'm quite sure that Penn State fans (me, me me) would also like to see a football championship. LOL
I'm going up to State College for the Indiana game, but hubby is NOT taking me to the MIchigan State game. Damn, might be Joes last regular season game. I SHOULD BE THERE!!
My boys are talking about going to Florida in Jan. I know, a little premature. It's going to be very difficult to even get tickets for that game (assuming it happens)

Tell them to get tickets for Marge and me, and you and your hubby, too!

Your talk of the game that hubby is NOT taking you to reminds me of when I started going to some Gator football games with the hubby (and a friend of his) of Marge's best karaoke buddy.

It was back around 1995 or 1996, when single game tickets were more easily obtainable. Anyway, one one of our trips, I mentioned that it might be fun to take our wives to a game, because I knew Marge would love both the game and the pageantry.

You'd have thought I had spoken blasphemy! Take the women? Ha!

So I went online myself and bought some tickets for Marge and me. And we had a blast. Shopping. Went to the college pubs and shared the excitement. Sat in the nosebleed sections - just like at some concerts. And Gators know how to cheer.

Should have seen Marge at my family's home in South Georgia, this past Saturday (watching the FL - GA game which is played every year in Jacksonville, rather than at either Athens, GA, or Gainesville, FL). She and I were the only ones in Gator colors. And she's teaching my 7 year old niece the Gator cheers!

By the time we left, little Taylor went from saying "Boo, hiss, Gators" when we arrived, to "Go Gators!" when we left.

I've been going to Penn State games since 1968. When I was pregnant with my eldest, I spent the entire game drinking hot chocolate, it was pouring and freezing. But, I wouldn't stay away.
We started taking out kids when they were toddlers. Halloween meant football and cheerleaders costumes. For them, there were no other college but Penn State. Except for the time my daughter decided she wanted to go to Pitt. OY, a knife in our hearts. LOL
We are the proud parents of 3 Penn State graduates who years later, remain loyal to the university and football.
Going to Penn State for the weekend means, walking along the campus, reminiscing, ice cream at the Creamery, tailgating with the Basketball team. THE GAME, the bars and the excitement after a win. (or a loss). Seeing the students. :-) ahhhhhh

I understand. I was a student at the University of Georgia - before a Navy tour and after a Navy tour. I've been in the stadiums alone, with dates, and after the Navy, with my wife.

But, since I "started over" in April, 1985, and met Marge 12/8/94, I can't point to a "lifetime" with one family and at one place.

But I admire your history, and we share the excitement of the tradition and competitive spirit.

We also spread the excitement (and uniform jerseys, hats, and the like) with our grandkids and nephews and nieces.

You mention the Creamery! Marge loves the Cold Stone Creamery!

The Creamery is just a place you have to go to for ice cream. Is it the best ice cream, I don't think so. I also don't think that the ice cream at Cold Stone is the best either. But, in combination with everything else, it's pretty darn delicious. So, are you a chocolate or vanilla kinda guy? Me, French Vanilla.

I'm a vanilla guy. French vanilla is good. Nice and creamy.

And I like it in floats - like with root beer (in my old A&W mugs).

Or by itself, or on warm (hot) apple pie. Or with hot chocolate fudge and cashews (or other nuts).

Go Florida and Penn State.

Talking about vanilla reminds me of when my daughter, biff, was showing Marge and me different Gay bars in San Francisco. She describe one bar as "vanilla." Marge laughed, and said that if she were Gay, she thought that vanilla would be her description.

When I was in high school in Atlanta, I used to go to Grant Field (the GA Tech stadium) on game days and sell cups of 7-up. Rather than go all over, I'd stand near the drinkers. Less work, and I could watch more of the football games. Making money was good, but mainly I wanted to see the game!

And then I wound up going to the U. of GA!

The football question we have here in Ann Arbor is "Will the Wolverines be able to win another game this year?", sadly the general consensus in no. But then again we are also the home of the Detroit Lions so losing is not a novelty

Well, I remember Barry Sanders! I'm still not sure which was better for the Bucs - changing the orange to red and pewter, or that Barry Sanders was no longer their nemesis!

I can remember when all I could cheer for with the Bucs was that they got a first down!

I've been lucky with the teams I've pulled for in the college ranks - but even there, you go through the dry spells.

Here's hoping you can see something to cheer you this year. And there's always the next year.

I gather by this story, that your coach is new? So call it a rebuilding year. I gather, also, the writer doesn't think there's much of a chance against Penn State?

Big Ten Notebook - Growing Pains in Ann Arbor

Penn State, Michigan, best game so far this season :-)

I showed my ignorance, didn't I? The article led me to believe that Michigan hadn't yet played Penn State. So this time, I checked the schedule. Only games left for Michigan are Minnesota, Northwestern (home), and Ohio State.

FL has been known to pull for an Ohio State loss.

The question now is will the Lions really go 0 - 16? It seems likely looking at their schedule.

Well, then, you say, "High draft pick!"

Michigan is at Minnesota tomorrow (11 A.M., CST, ESPN).

Penn State is at Iowa tomorrow (3:30 P.M., EST, ABC Regional, ESPN).

UGA Dawgs are at KY (12:30 P.M., EST, Raycom).

FL Gators are in Nashville to play Vanderbilt (8:00 P.M., EST, ESPN2).

GO Gators!

Penn State - a shocker. Sorry, Lady Di.

Score is tied in the AL vs LSU game, with about 6 minutes to go. Not sure whether I want LSU to beat them, or wait until the SEC championship game for FL to beat them.

Now I need Texas Tech to get knocked off soon.

And the Gators can't afford to get complacent with Vanderbilt tonight, or the Citadel next week. And then FSU is always an emotional game where we each want to knock off the other.

Oh Carl, when you play poorly, you lose. Plain and simple. I knew that's how the game was going to end. I'm a sore loser, I turned the tv off. Toilet bowl? LOL

Well, I'm ready to watch the Gators play now. Marge and our grandson and I all have our Gator colors on. Alabama won, but people should be able to compare what we did with LSU (we trounced them).

And we'll meet Alabama in the SEC championship game.

Carl, you must be very happy with the Florida outcome.
We were at Penn State this weekend. It was wet and cold, but a terrific game!!! Heck, it was a win. Michigan State is going to be a tough game. Mike is going to that game. Freezing cold weather is predicted. Me, I'll be in my warm den watching the game eating junk food and drinking wine. You know, Zinfindel.

Yes, we were very happy. We played the 21-0 run over again (3 touchdowns in less than a minute and a half) later.

And Georgia won, also.

And our Bucs won today, also (but they just barely win).

Speaking of wine, I could have something. Gotta load the dishwasher, though.

Marge and I watched the 60 Minutes interviews with the Obamas tonight. It was good, I thought, that President Elect Obama weighed in as for a play-off system of 8 teams.

So Penn State can clinch at least a Rose Bowl birth with a win over Michigan State?

In the BCS rankings, Florida is ranked 4th, and Penn State 8th! But we'll move up.

Well, since the Florida Gators play the Citadel tomorrow, it will only be on pay per view (and we'll listen via the radio), and it shouldn't affect the BCS standings at all (that is, unless we play too sloppily, or ... don't want to jinx us by even saying it). But the following week, we play our arch-rivals, FSU. Then, we'll meet Alabama in the SEC Championship.

That will shake up things a bit, I'm thinking.

Getting into basketball season, also. We watched the Gators win a "tune-up" game last night.

The Gators (basketball version) won two (back to back) NCAA championships, and then last year, with practically a new team (since so many of the previous team graduated and/or went pro) they went to the Finals of the NIT. So we're hoping for good things this year.

Big game for Penn State today. I'm nervous. My men are at the game today and it is COLD. I've got my glass and bottle of
California Chenin Blanc next to me, along with some nice appetizers, salsa, tostitos and dip. Let the game begin.
Good Luck Carl, I'm sure the BCS standings won't be affected.

Enjoy

Carl, still worried?????? How could they let them score 13 points?

And now 19 points! I guess they just got bored. In the first few minutes one of the offensive linemen got injured (they think a sprained knee), so we don't need that. Up next is FSU - our archrival, and then the SEC championship against Alabama. Then the bowl game - hopefully for the national title against Penn State! I'd say that is probably wishful thinking, though.

We napped through the second half. And now I'm about to go outside for kindling wood and fireplace wood for a hearth fire tonight.

National title?????? Oh my. I have no doubt that FSU will get past Florida. That's a no-brainer. But........

I haven't had enough wine because I think you can read this post. LOL

I'm gonna believe that was a typo, my friend. No doubt you mean that Florida will beat FSU. And we'll beat Alabama. The only question will be what ranking the BCS gives them. I've got a feeling that no matter what Florida and Penn State do, neither will make it to # 1 or # 2. But maybe in the final voting?

Blame is on the wine. You knew what I meant.

Marge brought me a glass, also. A sirah. Not bad. We prefer blushes, but this is a bit sweet, and I like it.

Yes, I did.

Adios Florida State, they're Alabamy bound.

Wow, football was certainly exciting last night. I have no life during college football season except for the occasional trip to Macys. LOL Hubby and I can't resist coupons. Looks like USC for us.

Go Penn State! And Go Gators!

If we beat Alabama in the SEC championship, I think we'll be playing in the BCS bowl for number 1. The alternative isn't nearly as nice.

Well, hubby was trying to explain the different conferences to me. MY HEAD HURTS!!!!. It is so confusing. I wish you could hear my daughter and hubby trying to explain all of this to me. BIG SKY CONFERENCE???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WAC,MAC CONFERENCE? They have to be making all of this up as they go along. What's frightening is my daughter, who knows all of this. Her future husband will be quite a lucky guy.
Alabama, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma. HELP!!!!

So is your hubby. And I'm pretty lucky also. Sports isn't all of life, but it can be exciting if you're into that.

We're about to take a break from holiday decorating - to watch our Bucs play (NFL football).

Enjoy. It is a miserably, cold, rainy day here. I'm thinking about hot chocolate and whipped cream. Eagles are off today.

Rainy day where the Bucs are playing, also. Rainy and cool here,too. And I have congestion.

Well, while I'm waiting for the South Eastern Conference championship football game this coming Saturday at 4 p.m. (ET), Marge and I have been watching a little "Billy-ball." For those not in the know, it is the men's basketball at the University of Florida. Billy-ball refers to the coaching of Billy Donovan.

Until the Rose Bowl, we're watching Penn State basketball.
Carl, you know I have my fingers crossed for you. I'll be thinking of you as I watch the game. Oh how I love college football! I just can't get past Iowa.

I know what you mean. The one game the Gators lost, to Ole Miss, was also by one point. Interestingly, since then Ole Miss has also knocked off some other teams. They don't have such a good won-loss record, but they've been spoilers.

A story in the Gainesville Sun ["Clash of Titans"] refers to the matchup of AP ranked No. 1 Alabama vs No. 2 Florida Gators as Frazier vs Ali. "...Ugly vs pretty."

Alabama is characterized as like "Smoking Joe," wanting to pound away at the line, while "...the Gators' slick, high-speed, Tim Tebow led offense resembles Ali's flashier style...."

Go Gators!

CONGRATS!!!!

Ok, so Mike and I are switching back and forth between your game and USC/UCLA and Mike says "I don't think your friend Carl" is doing this". I broke out laughing. So, were you switching back and forth or did you stick to your game?

YOU'RE NUMBER 1 !!!!!!!

I wasn't even thinking about any other game! Go Gators!!!!

Yayyyyy! No. 1 in the AP poll, anyway, I'd say. We probably won't make it past 2 in the BCS, though. But we'd better be in that top game!

I liked what Joe Paterno had to say about the BSC or BCS. He's not too impressed with it.

The FL Gators, ranked number 2 in the BCS standings, plays Oklahoma, ranked number 1, for the national championship. Just what we wanted. Go Gators!

BSC???? LOL, NO, Joe is not impressed with it.
WTG Carl!!! Go Gators!!! Go PSU!!! Isn't college football exciting? I can't wait.

Yes. Marge and I were talking last night (again). No, make that (still). With football over after the Super Bowl, and Dancing with the Stars over, "all" that's left now is college basketball, March Madness, American Idol, Spring football, Arena football, and eventually - college football again.

Marge and I are going to a Christmas "gala" for the hospital where she is a L&D nurse, this coming Friday night. Usually she's working when these things happen, but since she's now "semi-retired," we can go this year.

And the next night Marge noticed that at Silver Springs, Florida, where we have season tickets for 2008, in addition to having the Festival of Lights, there will be a concert of the Temptations on Saturday night.

So Marge is looking forward to this next weekend. Actually, she's in her glory throughout this month.

And when she's happy, Carl's happy.

Well, the bowl games are on tv in the U.S. this week and next. So far, Florida teams are doing quite well. The one that Marge and I are awaiting is where the Florida Gators and last year's Heisman-winning quarterback will defeat Oklahoma and this year's Heisman-winning quarterback and show who the better quarterback and team is! Also establish that Florida Gators are National Champions.

I'm also pulling for Lady Di's Penn State team to win in the Rose Bowl, although I notice they are not picked to do so. But that's okay. The "experts" are picking Oklahoma to win, also.

It'll just make our wins all the better!

Well, I guess Lady Di is not going to join me in this "tailgate party" leading up to our teams' Bowl games.

So I'll sign off and just watch some football.

Well, today is the big day. The Bowl Championship Series ranks college teams through a number of factors, and has a series of bowls leading up to the one tonight which matches the Number 1 team against the Number 2 team in the NCAA division 1 college teams. Oklahoma, coached by the University of Florida ex-Defensive Coordinator, Stoops, is ranked Number 1.

The University of Florida "Gators" are ranked Number 2. Marge and I pull for them.

Last night the Sun Channel ran the January, 2007 (2006 season) game between Number 1 Ohio State and Number 2 Florida. There, also, their quarterback was the Heisman quarterback, and everyone praised Ohio State's defense and offense, and they were expected to beat Florida by like 50 something to 20 something. Instead our quarterbacks were good, the defense was good, and Florida won 41 to 14!

Tonight, most are again picking the Number 1 team, Oklahoma, and their quarterback in the current year Heisman winner. Our quarterback, Tebow, won the Heisman last year. And I think that our quarterback will come out ahead tonight and that the Gators will win the game and the National Championship.

Go, Gators!

GO GATORS!!!!!

Thanks, Lady Di. I pulled for Penn State, also, but not hard enough, I guess. Tell you what, if Gators win, I'll buy you a margarita (or your choice of drink - reasonably priced, of course).

For those who pull for Oklahoma, we'll serve Gatorade.

Deal, Florida has great Mojitos.

3 fresh mint sprigs
2 tsp sugar
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 1/2 oz light rum
club soda

In a tall thin glass, crush part of the mint with a fork to coat the inside. Add the sugar and lime juice and stir thoroughly. Top with ice. Add rum and mix. Top off with *chilled* club soda (or seltzer). Add a lime slice and the remaining mint, and serve

Yo ho ho!

ROFL... I don't know what's going on here (lol) but I do think that it's time Carl got some sort of parrot ------ if he's going to go all pirate on us, he needs a parrot/parakeet!

I think it has something to do with rum. After 9 trips to Jamaica, I have approx 20 bottles of rum in my basement.

Yes, Carl does need a parrot on his shoulder.Ay Matey. Or is that
Oy Matey. LOL

Why, yes, I think rum is on board in this conversation, or should I say "on deck" -- hahahahaha --oy, matey -- it's smooth sailing for bad puns....... I'm just waiting for you or Carl to burst into Jimmy Buffett songs! ... I will have to try your Mojito recipe this summer. But, er, um, back to football...?

Oh, I've sung a lot of Buffet songs! In karaoke, "God's Own Drunk" is one of my best received "songs."

Now, I know Marge and I need to travel to Philadelphia - with that much rum in your basement, Diane.

Marge took over the computer for a while to look at the Florida Gators fight songs. I could hear her singing along. Already, you should hear her when she does the Gator cheers!

We really enjoyed the times we went to Gainesville to the games in the Swamp! Before the game, the first time we went into one of the college pubs and sat at the bar and rubbed elbows with the college kids and the bar security. The next time, we went into the college book store so Marge could shop - naturally.

I wish we had known then what we know now about parking. Where we parked called for walking too far, so we were already tired before having to walk up to the nosebleed seats. Now having lived in Gainesville for a while, we know you can park at a Mall and get transportation to the stadium.

In our previous conversations, we've talked about how it was when we were students, and it was game day. In the news tonight, they were interviewing students who would be watching the game (in Gainesville) on the big screen at the O-dome on campus. The tv interviewer said nobody she had questioned had missed any classes today, but she says that does not mean they will be in class tomorrow.

Go Gators! I loved it that Tebow got an unsportsmanship penalty near the end of the game for being in the face of a Sooner after the play was over, doing the Gator "chop!"

24-14, Florida Gators over Oklahoma Sooners. We win the 3rd National Championship and the 2nd in 3 years.

Well fought game, though.

A nail biter through 3 and a half quarters. But no question for me, Tebow was the better Heisman. The Heisman committee made a mistake. Tebow deserved the honor of being a repeat Heisman.

Lady Di, my step son - Marge's son, Patrick, is in Philadelphia tonight, and I guess for the weekend. Pretty heavy work schedule, though. Anyway he was watching and called so we could gloat a bit.

Go Gators! Owe you a drink, Lady Di. And thanks for everyone here for helping send some good energy.

There were a couple of bad penalties on the Gators, but what the heck, it's all in good game playing. Is Tebow a junior? Will he be going pro NOW? He was by far the much better quarterback.
He's a tough kid. Did I mention how good looking he is???
Oklahoma had opportunities, but couldn't act on them. OH well.
I imagine the classrooms will be small today, and I don't blame the kids. Again Carl and Marge...CONGRATS ON A WELL PLAYED GAME AND THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
The ohe thing we love about going to State College is the long walk from town to the stadium. It's the most walking I do all year. We discovered a local church who allows people to use their parking lot. It's nice parking there because the parking cost goes to the church and they need it.
What type of work does Patrick do in PHilly?
About that drink. One day.:-) We'll have a Lisa Shea party with everyone in Florida.

Yes, Tebow is a junior. They asked him last night if he would be back next season, and he said he would have to think about it. Many of us think he will. Apparently he does plan to go pro at some point.

His frosh year, the two quarterbacks (Leak & Tebow) won the National Championship; His soph year, he won the Heisman Award; and now in his Junior year, he wins the National Championship again (and IMO should have won the Heisman, also). So will he want to come back, or will he consider that it's time to move on?

Time will tell.

In Gainesville, on the road that goes through one side of the campus, where the restaurants and bars are, and closest to the stadium, parking is practically non-existent. The way that we'd come in, back in the old days, the roads were uphill to the stadium area. We were a little younger, but it was already hard on Marge to walk that far and uphill.

The church parking that you mention - that goes on a lot around the stadium where the Rays play in St. Petersburg.

Patrick works for a company that outsources for medical screening and verification. As in lots of businesses, he is covering more territory for less money. I think he is responsible for the entire Atlantic coast now.

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