Come on over to Bitten By Books and chat with Laura Bickle today and if you comment you could be entered in a drawing of a Kindle 3G. Click http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=29955
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Also pop on over and check out Kelly Gay's release party as well. It looks to be full of fun and comment to win two awesome prizes. Click http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=29943
Here are the three indisputable facts about the Boise State Broncos:
1) They have one of the best records in college football over the last four years. 2) They have beaten BCS competition. 3) They play in the WAC—for now.
That last fact is the one that raises the ire of most every college football fan who detests the endless hype Boise State has received—since stunning the Sooners in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl. That infamous "Statue of Liberty" play, executed perfectly by former Broncos signal-caller, Jared Zabranski, both announced Boise's arrival to the rest of the college football world and began the conversation that continues to intrigue us all today—"is Boise really that good"?
The fact that the question continues to exist and pose heated debates among fans and experts alike, nearly five years later, has made it difficult for Chris Petersen's program to receive the two things they are certain they deserve the most—respect and a shot at the BCS Championship.
You see, in 2006, it was okay that Boise won a lot of games and dethroned the big bad Sooners—it was a Cinderella story and every dog is entitled to its day. But, now that they've stuck around long past midnight, long enough to make a fuss about not having a shot at a national title, all anyone wants them to do is go away.
They are supposed to go back to being the "little school" in the "soft conference". The message from the peanut gallery it loud and clear: We don't want you here at the big boy table.
The oft heard refrain has become: "If they played (insert your automatic-qualifying BCS school here) schedule, then they wouldn't go undefeated every year".
However, we all forget that college football left the door open for teams like Boise State, and their "soft" schedules when they decided, in 2004, to omit 'strength of schedule' as a factor in determining the BCS standings—it's merely a consideration now.
With that fact in mind, Boise State has only done what they were supposed to do—play the schedule they have in front of them, and beat every team on it. The WAC may not be a powerhouse conference but that's hardly Boise's problem—is it? Even more, is the schedule they play soft because the opposition is so bad or because Boise is so good?
Think about it, objectively for a moment, why hasn't any other team in the WAC been as consistently good as Boise State has? Fresno State and Nevada have both had opportunities to come out on top—why haven't they?
Admittedly, the latter is a debatable point because there are so many factors to consider—recruiting, coaching, out-of-conference (OOC) schedule, etc. However, when you consider the fact that Boise has beaten Oklahoma, Oregon (twice), TCU, and Utah in the last four-years while Fresno and Nevada have fallen short when given their shot to shine, you have to give a little credit to the Broncos.
Boise has, consistently, shown up when given the opportunity. So, again, what's the problem? Why the outcry of "they're not worthy"...an outcry that this author has, at times, screamed quite loudly as well?
For one, the fans of college football still consider the difficulty of the schedule when assessing Boise as a contender. They simply do not respect the fact that the Broncos play cupcakes all season—no way around that fact.
Secondly, the arrogance of the fan who has a team in one of the BCS "power" conferences immediately cries foul at the fact that their school's road is so tough while the Broncos, seemingly, skate through theirs—remember that refrain mentioned above?
Whether or not 'strength of schedule' is a factor, perception is still reality for the everyday college football fan. They don't give a hoot about Boise getting respect because, in their minds, they haven't earned it yet.
That said, even if Boise defeats a legitimate power, the natural inclination will be to belittle Boise and make excuses for the other team—several examples follow.
Against Oklahoma in 2006, the excuse was Stoops' teams always choke when the opposing team has time to prepare. People referred to the Sooners as "Choklahoma" and pointed to the loss as yet another example of an overvalued team getting their jocks handed to them—Boise didn't win, the Sooners were just overrated.
When Boise beat Oregon last season, it was, "Yeah, but if they played Oregon later in the year, that game would have been different"...uh-huh, well, they played them in August—what can they do about that?
Again, Boise didn't win, the Ducks just weren't ready to play yet.
Their win against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl prompted more excuses: "So what? TCU didn't get stomped or anything. The game was won by the Broncos because TCU's offense stunk"—Boise didn't win, TCU lost.
Excuses, excuses.
So, here we sit, eight-months later, still talking about how good the Boise State Broncos aren't, how they do not deserve to be ranked in the Top 5, and how Virginia Tech will prove all of this on September 6th when the two teams meet—poor Frank Beamer.
This game was just supposed to be the one that replaced their home-and-home series with Syracuse. However, what it has transformed into is a lose-lose for the Hokies.
If Frank Beamer's team wins the game, the Boise naysayers will rejoice and say, "see, we told you". If they lose, the Boise State "we deserve a shot" train continues—with nothing to stand in its way.
In either case, the Hokies are shouldering a monumental burden because the media and the fans have made this game into an epic event—for both teams.
In truth, however, this is just a game between two teams in the Top 10. Nothing is guaranteed–despite what anyone tries to tell you. Boise State could win this game, run the table, and still not get their shot. Or they could win and be upset later—it doesn't matter—that's why they play the games.
As for Frank Beamer, no coach in college football wants to be in his shoes right now. Win or lose, the rest of his teams' season will be judged according to what they do in this game. The kicker is, his team has question marks coming into this match-up too, they have some holes to fill too—there is a reason the Broncos are favored to win.
One thing is for sure, if the Broncos win this game, in convincing fashion, the rest of the season will be a calling card to the BCS...sponsored by 'No More Excuses'.
The Georgia Bulldogs will face off against the Ragin' Cajuns in less than 72-hours—do you know all you need to know about their Sun Belt opponent?
By now, you might know everything you wish to know but, just for good measure, here's ten more little nuggets about this program out of the Bayou:
1. They run a multiple 4-3 defense.
In the spring of 2004, the Cajuns switched their defensive scheme from a multiple eight-man front (a scheme that is aggressive up-front but can typically give up a lot of big plays in the secondary) to a multiple 4-3. This scheme allows the front-seven to play aggressively, while keeping the play of the secondary more conservative—hopefully guarding against the big play.
2. They return 16 starters (7 offensive and 9 defensive).
The Cajuns are set on offense. They bring back the bulk of their players, but will have to replace three starters on the offensive line. However, QB Chris Masson is not worried about the lines experience, saying, "In our scheme, line play is just about communicating and our guys do a great job of that". That said, last season's unit was one of the best in the nation at protecting their quarterback (allowing only 13 sacks on the year).
3. They haven't won more than six games in a season since 1993.
Louisiana has been bowl eligible four times in the last five seasons, but haven't been able to secure a bowl bid. They are aiming for seven-wins this season—hoping that will be enough to seal the deal. They will need to do so, including an upset of one of their four non-conference opponents. They did it to Kansas State in 2009, can they do it this year too?
Their three other other out-of-conference opponents in 2010 are Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, and Ohio.
4. "Don't Call Us Lafayette —We Are Not Lafayette College in Easton, Pa!"
According to the Louisiana Football Prospectus, the Cajuns don't take too kindly to being referred to as "Lafayette". They wish to be identified athletically as Louisiana, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, Ragin' Cajuns, or just the Cajuns.
5. Their motto on defense is "TNT".
Louisiana likes tackles and turnovers (TNT) from their defense—what team doesn't, right? However, the linebacker unit has made it their mission to make the most of that motto. Last season the defense made a respectable improvement from the year prior—allowing seven less points per contest. Still, they gave up more than 30.0 ppg as a whole, so there is still room for improvement.
6. Georgia is paying the Cajuns $875,000 to play them at Sanford.
The Bulldogs and Ole Miss are the two SEC teams that the Cajuns will play in 2010—Ole Miss will pay $700,000. Said UL athletic director, David Walker, "It's good for our kids to be in those stadiums that have so much tradition and a large fanbase...playing SEC teams is a challenge for them, but it's also fun."
This is the first meeting between the two programs—ever.
7. The Cajuns aren't a very good kick return team.
Last season, UL ranked almost dead last in kick returns (118th in the nation) posting a paltry 18.0 yards per return and zero touchdowns. While they do boast one of the more experienced kicking units in the country, they do not have a lot of overall team speed and have yet to tab a big time return man on special teams.
8. They have trouble scoring.
Louisiana scored an average of 22.2 points per game (ppg) in 2009—that was with an experienced offensive line. They have higher hopes for this season with more talent emerging at running back but there is still a great deal of uncertainty as to how effective it will be.
9. They were one of the least penalized teams in the nation in 2009.
Last season, the Cajuns committed 66 penalties for 590-yards. They were ranked No. 1 in the conference—39th in the nation. Despite the aggressive style of the multiple 4-3 that they run, they still play a very disciplined brand of football on the field. They are not a careless bunch. By stark contrast, Georgia committed 105 penalties for 878-yards—good enough for 113th in the country—hopefully that trend ends this season.
Green is listed as a TE, but he has sub-4.5 speed and, at 6'6", 230 lbs, he poses a problem for any DB trying to keep up with him in man-to-man coverage. Last season, he routinely made life difficult for LSU's Chad Jones (6'2", 221 lb safety), and might be a primary target for Masson in this opening match-up. He's definitely s pro-level prospect and you can expect to see the Georgia secondary giving him plenty attention.
Dorie also gave us a variation: Oatmeal Spice Shortbreads
I dropped the decorating ball with this batch. My kitchen sizzle was starting to fizzle. I love our baking groups but I also have my own list of "must bake" goodies and rarely do I get to do both. This last week I baked to my hearts content (literally) and learned to cut recipes in half along with freezing extras. Works great!
Dorie's recipe called for bittersweet chocolate. Brainstorm: Use my hidden stash of espresso chocolate along with bittersweet. (I know I am forgetting something.)
All the chocolate was chopped up into little chunks; mixed both shortbread recipes, rolled dough in gallon size Ziploc bags and refrigerated overnight. Took out my handy little kitchen ruler, the basic wood one we had in elementary school, and measured the dough into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Baked ALL the cookies.
There are oodles of cookies! Waited for the espresso shortbread cookies to cool then took a nibble. Immediately remembered what I was forgetting. I do not enjoy the flavor of coffee. I have coffee one morning, Sunday morning, every week and that cup is loaded with Nestle Hazelnut coffee creamer and 1 1/2 t. sugar. I sip 1/2 of the cup and talk a mile-a-minute for the next 2 hours. Weird ritual, I know, but hubby makes coffee on Sunday morning and I feel bad not having a cup. I have tried suggesting he become a tea sipper but he says all my tea cups are just too little for his fingers . . . funny ha but not funny ha-ha.
The shortbread cookies turned out cute but I guess shortbread cookies are not my thing (my first shortbread cookies). I would like to use some of the cookies in a few cheesecake crusts. I have oodles in quart size freezer bags plus Larry loves the espresso ones with his coffee. Personally, after 1 cookie and my 1/2 cup of coffee, I was dropping everything in sight. Making breakfast, I started cracking an egg open, the egg slipped out of my hand and cracked open between the stove and the counter. Interesting.
Donna, thank you for hosting TWD this week. I liked the oatmeal spice shortbread cookies and I know the cookies will be a part of some fun projects in the near future. To get the recipe, go to Donna's siteand buy Dorie's cookbook.
I thought I would also share a banana cake recipe. Not to be confused with banana bread. The recipe originally came from Allrecipes.com but I altered it a smidgen. One of the changes was adding 1 teaspoon of baking powder. Makes for a light and fluffy banana cake.
Banana Cake with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1/2 cup unsalted butter
* 2 eggs
* 4 ripe bananas, mashed
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 cup chopped pecans
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FROSTING INGREDIENTS:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese 3/4 cup white sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9 x 13 inch cake pan.
2. Cream together the butter or margarine and the sugar.
3. Add eggs, bananas, flour, soda, salt, nuts, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly and pour batter into the prepared pan.
4. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.) for 30 minutes. Cool and frost cake.
FROSTING DIRECTIONS:
In a small bowl beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form; set aside.
In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Beat until smooth, then fold in whipped cream. Frost cake.
My "for real" first week with the Heavenly Cake Baker. I adore Rose Levy Beranbaum and her cakes amaze me in what looks like simple perfection. I love baking and I feel the push to always want to be better. I strive for those feelings of elation over finishing my project and/or admiring a new decorating skill, taking the first slice and realizing how moist the layers are or how silky, creamy the frosting lays, taking the first bite (or as in my case, running to get hubby to take the first bite) and realizing this is what I spent precious time assembling: Heaven!
An important point to add is I always take the second bite. Part of the cooking/baking addiction is watching expressions. Larry's facial expression when he first tastes any dish is usually spot on with what he says afterwards. He is my sounding board for input; although there have been moments when his honesty has almost gotten him hurt =). Almost. Especially when I am tired and all I want to hear is thank you for feeding me.
Love, love, love this cake. I was dreading making the recipe because I knew extra time would have to taken for the caramel ganache and boy was I right. My first batch of sugar syrup ended up burnt. The syrup is suppose to be taken off the stove just under temperature because the syrup continues cooking until the heavy cream is added. Thank goodness for air vents above the stove. Burnt sugar smells terrible!
My second batch of syrup had me gun-shy. I took the syrup off a little too early, about 10 degrees under and was worried the ganache would not thicken up. In fact, Rose stated the caramel may harden before pouring into the processor to melt the chocolate. Mine was liquid. I was thinking "this is not a good sign".
After 3 hours, I had thick soup. Refrigeration was in order. I refrigerated the ganache in 30 minute intervals until I had the right consistency. The flavor and texture of the caramel ganache was silky smooth with a chocolate caramel flavor holding depth without being overpowering. Another words, all I could say while tasting was uhmmmmmm. So Good! Then the first bite of cake. Crazy moist with a flavor that seemed to match the frosting. A wonderful crumb without being overpowering in flavor. Sophisticated and simple. Delicious!
Moving on but a week back.
Last week's recipe: Marionberry Shortcakes with Whipped Creme Fraiche
The little cakes were adorable using Rose's Shortcake recipe and my miniature bundt pan molds. The marionberry syrup is created by sugaring down the marionberries while in a strainer over a bowl. The collected juice is combined with a little sugar and a splash of raspberry liqueur. The color variation from painting the miniature bundt cakes with the syrup is beautiful. A pile of marionberries (mine were previously frozen; marionberries are past season here) were carefully placed on top along with a Large dollop of whipped creme fraiche.
I was worried the berries were going to lack fresh flavor but we were pleasantly surprised. The syrup, marionberries, shortcake and creme fraiche pull the dessert together into a pretty little package with a nice flavor and texture combination. We enjoyed the dessert but not extremely excited. Fresh berries would make this Heaven.
I accidentally dropped a few dots of marionberry juice on my kitchen rug and the color is here to stay. Marionberry makes a great dye. The dessert was a wonderful place to start in Heavenly Cake Baker. I tried getting this posted on time but 4 days later I actually was able to bake and assemble so my solution is to combine the two desserts in one post.
If you are looking to widen your horizons in the cake baking world, Heavenly Cake Baker is the place for you. If you are looking for teaching aides and a larger layer of understanding for putting together ultimate flavors, texture, crumb density, silky smoothness and consistency; this is definitely the place for you. If you are worried about a lot of dirty dishes over the idea of baking perfection, you may just want to peruse our Beranbaum desserts as we bake our way throughheavenly cakes.
Will this post ever end? Almost. I thought I would also share an easy dinner recipe using a rotisserie chicken. The recipe is called Creole Chicken Soup and my family enjoys this for dinner and leftovers for lunch the next day. I enjoy the recipe because about 30 minutes is needed from start-to-finish.
Creole Chicken Soup Ingredients: 2 T. vegetable oil 1 c. chopped onion 1 c. red bell pepper (or yellow or orange) 1 c. frozen whole kernel corn 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes 2 cups of chipped cooked chicken (using a grocery rotisserie chicken) 1 1/2 t. Creole seasoning 1 (32-ounce) carton Swanson low-sodium chicken broth Sour cream and chopped fresh cilantro for garnishing
Directions: In a heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, corn, and garlic, and saute until tender. Stir in tomatoes and chicken. Sprinkle with seasoning, and saute 2 minutes. Add chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Top with sour cream and cilantro.
Photo credits: Simon Filip I really love the amazing tunes coming from the indie group, The Honey Trees... and their name is just the best! ;) Becky, the lead vocalist, has such a unique and lovely voice. A mix of melancholy, dreamy and all things pretty. You must definitely check out The Honey Trees if you are not aware of them already. They are coming out with a new album very shortly and other surprises! Remember "extra special"? Well, look where it landed... Isn't she just a darling? More on this very soon! I cannot wait for their new album! photo courtesy of Becky Filip
Last week, we took a look at both the Cajun's quarterback, Chris Masson, and the multiple 4-3 defense that the team runs. This week, we will continue breaking down the Cajun's unit by looking at their offensive and special team's units.
While it is fair to say that this is a lot of analysis for a team that the Georgia Bulldogs should handily beat, it's always nice to know the opponent a little better—right?
So, lets get to it.
The Cajuns run a multiple 4-3 offensive scheme. It's a scheme that has, in year's past, lent itself more towards the run than the pass—depending on a strong offensive line and explosive running back talent to move the chains.
However, in theory, it's a scheme that is much more effective if it is executed in a balanced manner—keeping opposing defenses honest and off-kilter.
Last season, the tide seemed to change for the Cajuns as they finally found a strong-armed, nimble-footed, quarterback in Chris Masson. His versatility as a runner and a passer, seemed to be tailor-made for the multiple 4-3, but the Cajuns were unable to find any consistency in their running game—the one area they were so strong in the three seasons prior.
This season, the hope is that the newly signed, Robert Walker (or someone else) will become the guy who can both run and catch out of the backfield. If Louisiana can find that guy, whoever he might be, then their talented corps of wide receivers, which includes Marlin Moore and Richie Falgout, along with standout TE, Ladarius Green, can finally find some room to roam free in the secondary.
Last season, Masson improved the Cajun's passing game by nearly 40.0 passing yards per game, but the lack of a significant rushing attack (going from more than 263.0 yards per game in 2008 to just under 137.0 yards a game in 2009) made the team more one-dimensional than they would have liked and led to less scoring opportunities for them as teams were able to control the line of scrimmage and consistently jam their receivers.
Despite the return of the bulk of the Cajun's offensive talent for 2010, there is still very little indication that they have truly found a player who will be capable of carrying the rushing load this season. Robert Walker is an option, but he is a true freshman and, therefore, untested.
What does this mean for the newly installed 3-4 at Georgia?
For one, if the Cajuns are still a bit conservative on the line of scrimmage, then Georgia's front-seven should have very little trouble containing the run and controlling the tempo of the game. By doing so, they put pressure on the passing game and, hopefully, can force Masson into a throwing error or two—leading to big play opportunities in the secondary.
On the other hand, if Louisiana has indeed found the formula for running the multiple 4-3 (utilizing both an effective rushing and passing attack), it will be a much harder offense to defend against—despite the attacking style of the 3-4—because then the Cajuns can offer as many looks on offense as Georgia can on defense.
The element of surprise comes into play and that could lead Georgia into making costly errors in coverage and in line play. Brad McGuire could be a name worth remembering.
He was used by the Cajuns last season in some of their wildcat formations and, though he was beat out for the QB job by Masson at the start of 2009, he still has some value as a passer—particularly on short routes.
One thing is certain, Louisiana knows how to score if they can get into the redzone. In 35 tries last season, they scored 31 times (27 of which were via touchdown)—they move the ball well inside the 20. So, it would be nice to see Georgia keep them out of the redzone.
It will be interesting to see how committed to the run the Cajuns are in the early going, if it's successful, they will build from there. If not, it could be a very long day for Rickey Bustle's team.
(Found on Michelle's blog and pg. 30 & 31 of The Sweet Melissa Baking Book)
What a fun recipe. I found miniature cast iron skillets at Fred Meyer's store for 20% off (7.99 each) and could not pass them up. I halved the recipe, ending up with exactly 4 single servings.
The plums available at my local produce stand are HUGE. I bought 4 red plums but only used 1 1/2. The fruit is perfectly ripe, juicy and has the best flavor.
I was able to fit all 4 skillets on one large burner which I thought was pretty cute. I should have cut the plums narrower because the tops of the fruit stuck out of the batter. I also used sweetened creme fraiche for topping and the final consensus was thumbs-up. Delicious!
While baking the plum clafoutis, I decided today was the day to try baking sweet potato French fries. I am NOT a sweet potato or yam fan. Several weeks ago, I tried my first sweet potato French fry, thinking bad thoughts, and was pleasantly surprised. I loved them! In fact, I was a total piggy and ate more then Larry. I know, he was shocked too. Last week, I bought 4 sweet potatoes, set to bake my own, and wasn't quite sure how to approach them. I assumed just like any other potato.
Sweet potatoes are drier and olive oil really does not coat the fries very well; meaning the diced garlic and sea salt did not stick overly well. I coated the fries fresh out of the oven with ground black pepper and basil. They were killer good! Guess who ate over half of them?
Sweet Potato Fries with Minced Garlic and Seasonings Plus Garlic Mayonnaise Dip Directions: 3 sweet potatoes, cut into French fries about 1-inch thick 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon dried basil 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 3/4 cup mayonnaise 2 clove garlic, minced 1 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
Directions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place the sweet potato "fries" on a silicon mat or foil-lined baking sheet and toss with the olive oil and minced garlic. Bake until golden, about 30 to 35 minutes.
Meanwhile combine the basil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl to season fries fresh out of the oven. In another small bowl combine the dip: mayonnaise, garlic, and lemon juice, and stir to combine.
When the sweet potato fries come out of the oven, sprinkle with the basil salt. Serve with the garlic mayonnaise along side.
Here is my other pride and joy: Cinnamon Apple Cookie Swirls. This is truly a Fall cookie. You simmer diced apples with cinnamon red hot candies and a little sugar for 2 to 2 1/2 hours; stirring every so often. You could also throw this in the crock pot for a couple of hours. The idea is to cook all the liquid out, ending with a thick apple filling.
Cinnamon Apple Cookie Swirls
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup shortening
3 eggs
4 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 apples, chopped fine
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup cinnamon candies
Directions:
Mix apples, sugar, and cinnamon candies in a pot over medium low heat. You want to simmer until the apple filling is very thick. This process will take about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Check and stir periodically. When thickened, set aside to cool.
When filling is cool, mixture together the cookie dough. Start by creaming the shortening in the mixer. Add sugars gradually and blend until smooth. Add egg, flour,baking soda, salt and vanilla. Roll out to 1/4-1/2 inch thick.
Spread apple filling on dough. Roll up dough with filling like jelly roll. Chill for several hours.
Slice 1/4-inch thick slices. Place on greased baking sheet or silicon mat on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes. Let cool on sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.
Don't look now, but the Boomer Sooner Bandwagon has reemerged!
Last season, the Sooner train took a long pit stop in the land of "what the heck just happened?!" They not only lost their starting quarterback, Sam Bradford, to injury but they also lost their playmaking tight end as well—Jermaine Gresham.
2009 was looking like a bonafide disaster but, when you consider how bad it could have been, the Sooners actually did pretty well for themselves—considering. They ended the season 8-5 and gave Sooner fans hope that 2010 could be a whole lot better.
2010 is looking bright for Bob Stoops so far and at least one national expert feels they are already the No. 1 team in the nation—Phil Steele. Now, that may seem a lofty leap to make for a team that still has some holes to fill, but I am sure the Sooner fans will be happy just to see them back near the top of the heap in the country.
For a more in-depth preview, see the video below:
...Well, at least the locals have some perspective, right?
However, you can't blame Steele for thinking the way he does as the Sooners do have plenty of talent returning in a conference that is more than winnable for them this year. The only teams that can feasibly challenge them for the Big 12 this season are Texas and Nebraska. Texas has question marks after the departure of both Jordan Shipley and Colt McCoy and Nebraska won't play Oklahoma this year.
The folks at ESPN seem to think Gilbert will be good for Texas but give the slight edge to Oklahoma in the QB department because of their receiving personnel and the experience Landry Jones acquired last season as the full-time starter:
One thing is for certain, the "Red River Rivalry", scheduled for October 2nd, should be a lot more interesting this season and, for the first time in a long while, I can't say for sure that the Longhorns are going to come out on top.
Yesterday, we looked at the quarterback match-up between Aaron Murray and Chris Masson. If you missed it, you can find it here. Today we will take a snapshot of the Cajuns' defensive scheme and how it operates.
The Cajuns run a multiple 4-3 defense. It's a very physical, in-your-face, scheme that depends greatly on the intelligence and athletic ability of its linebackers. It was installed in the spring of 2004 and is currently being coached by the Cajuns defensive coordinator, Kevin Fouquier.
In this scheme, there is a big emphasis on the linebackers ability to react first and read second. If that sounds funny, it's not, anticipation is an important element to executing this scheme effectively. It's important to be quick afoot and have the ability to adjust to each play as it progresses, rather than reacting after the snap.
That said, it can be a good way to force turnovers because, if your players can adapt quickly to the snap of the ball, then they have a genuine opportunity to blow plays up, force fumbles, and foster interceptions.
The reason for this is because the plays are moving so quickly and, seemingly, with such chaos, until the quarterback can be forced into panic mode. If he's not prepared for it, he will often forget to advance to the second or third progression in an offensive play. Often, this will lead to an ill-advised pass to a well-covered receiver.
Furthermore, from a running backs standpoint, it can be frustrating to see the lanes seal up so quickly. So, unless a running back is able to make his cuts and create new lanes of his own, when one closes up, he could be met by a big wall of defenders—sometimes forcing a fumble in the process.
On the other hand, there are disadvantages to running this scheme as well.
For one, it allows a lot of ground yards if the linebackers cannot recover quickly from a poor read. Add to that, if the front four fails to do a good job sealing off lanes and closing gaps, it's possible to see a decent runner rattle off four-to-six yards before they are apprehended.
Furthermore, the secondary plays very conservatively in the scheme the Cajuns run, so there is little man-to-man coverage. They are constantly guarding against the big play but are vulnerable to plays underneath that can lead to easy scores or big chunks of yardage by speedy receivers.
The Cajuns have a stellar group of linebackers, a seasoned secondary, and a decent front four. They know the system and finally started making small strides in executing it last season, but there is still work to do. The key for Georgia will be to use the strength of their offensive line to keep the running lanes open.
If quarterback, Aaron Murray, can control the tempo, keep the linebackers guessing, and make smart adjustments, Georgia should be able to perform successfully against the Cajuns.
(This article will be updated frequently throughout the day. Scroll to the bottom for any updates on this situation. The initial article, posted after the news of the arrest broke, follows)
According to College Football Talk, Georgia Bulldog running back, Washaun Ealey, was arrested and jailed on a hit-and-run charge last night. He was placed into the custody of Athens-Clarke County law enforcement and is being held in jail on a $3,000 bond.
Ealey was charged with hitting a parked car in a university parking deck and then leaving the scene—Ealey's license was later found to be suspended and the vehicle he was operating did not belong to him.
University police chief, Jimmy Williamson stated that the gold Chevrolet Impala that Ealey was driving was registered to his roommate.
Ealey remains in jail at this time and the natural question for the Georgia Bulldogs is, what now?
This charge is sure to warrant some time off the field and, depending on how Athens law enforcement chooses to handle Ealey's blatant disregard for following procedure, there could be a need to make an example of this behavior.
Ealey was the team's leading rusher last season and there were high expectations that he would be a major part of the running game this year. Georgia no longer has Dontavius Jackson—he transferred in order to gain more playing time.
That means the depth chart for Georgia includes only Caleb King, Carlton Thomas, and Ken Malcome—King being the only player with on-field success.
That said, there was some indication that Caleb King was going to be the No. 1 tailback at the end of summer practice. Mark Richt stated that both running backs were doing well, but he was more impressed with King's pass-blocking ability. Ealey was lagging behind a bit in that area and, as is well known, the Bulldogs want to be sure that Aaron Murray has all the protection he needs this season.
Either way, this is not good news for Mark Richt as his team was finally gaining some positive momentum heading into the first week of the season and seemed to finally have recovered from the mishaps and disappointments that surrounded the team earlier in the summer.
More info as it becomes available, but, just as a side note, my mama always told me to never let anyone drive my car unless I knew for sure that they 1) had a license, and 2) were able to tell me where they were going when they left—there was no open policy where car-borrowing was concerned.
Of course I know that not everyone subscribes to that ideal, but, it does make you wonder if Ealey's roommate knew that he was without a license before he allowed him to drive his car and, if he did, the natural question would have to be...why?
Ealey, 21, was booked into the jail at 5:22 a.m. and released at 11:18 a.m. on bonds totaling $3,480.
In addition to $1,500 bond on each of today’s two misdemeanor charges, Ealey was required to post another $480 bond because of an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in July in Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court on speeding and vehicle registration charges. A bonding company posted Ealey’s bonds (it was Ealey's failure to appear for said earlier violation, that triggered the suspension of his drivers license).
(UPDATED 4:55 PM):
...jail records show the first charge against Ealey as hit-and-run of a parked vehicle, Williamson said the charge technically will be violation of the “duty-upon-strike” law. The law, Williamson said, is that “you have a responsibility when you hit another car to report it, same as if you hit a fence you have a responsibility to report it. . . . You can’t drive off.” Williamson said officers determined that alcohol was not involved in the incident. No one was injured. (Tim Tucker, AJ-C)
Why don't you start with telling us a little about yourself? What genre do you write in and why?
Thanks Dawn for this opportunity.
I write fiction based on partly true events. My novels deal with infamous criminals, espionage, extrasensory perception--with suspense, always. Basically, with anything that will make a reader interested in the story and enjoy it. I don't specialize in any particular sub-genre, I try to write about life in general. Also, my stories cover local and international events.
What comes first for you when you sit down to write a book? Plot or Characters?
I would say—Plot. There is always an event, something special that sparks up my imagination. I never have a full plot in my mind in the beginning. It’s always partial and so I develop the story as I write it. Often in many, many steps, branching out to sub-events that I feel would make the story more interesting. My characters emerge from the initial plot idea, and multiply as I go on writing.
Do you "cast" your characters using pictures or actors to help inspire you when you're writing?
I don’t. My characters are fictitious men and women. I did use a true former CIA agent I met once at a library as my protagonist in Crossroads. All other characters were products of my imagination and don’t resemble anyone living or dead.
How long does it take you to finish a book from start to finish?
It depends upon the strength of the initial plot idea. Also, I don’t write continuously. I’d say about six months.
Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.
The inspiration for The Raven Affair came from the news. I read about the L.A. court proceedings, the prosecution of an infamous man who committed atrocities during the last world war, and who was hiding for decades in California. It seemed like a good story based on a true crime. I did research about him and other events in the book. But the depiction of the man himself, and all of the action, although based on historical facts, is purely fictional.
How much does reader reaction mean to you as an author? Do you read your own reviews?
The readers’ reaction is obviously most important to me. And, of course, I do read all readers comments very carefully.
I also try to get opinions from the reputable, professional reviewers. For example, I obtained a review for Crossroads from Midwest Book Review and similar.
What are you working on now? Anything you want to tell us about?
I submitted my third novel, Dawn for the fearless, to my publisher in April. I started working on my fourth novel, Tunnel, too. I have about thirty thousand words done. A totally different kind of a suspense story, I still don’t know that much about it. We’ll see what happens.
What books are currently on your nightstand/bedside? Anything coming you are dying to read?
I have a couple, I like all suspense and sci-fi books and movies, and so I started to read Andre Norton’s Masks of the outcasts. And a suspense by Michael Beres,’ Final Stroke.
I am not that much into reading these days, I read a lot in the past though I never was a true avid.
If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why?
Reading and taste in books are very personal matters. I would say that The Raven Affair and Crossroads are equally good, they were both rated five stars by a number of reviewers. But, for those who like complex action, suspense, I’d recommend The Raven Affair.Read about the Vatican banker and his end. Read about a criminal and Interpol agents hunting him. Be in London one moment and the next one in Paris, L.A., Venice. If you’re a religious person, meet two very likable priests. Plenty of action, good characters, hit-men, revenge.
On other hand, for those who like paranormal, espionage, I’d say Crossroads would be a good bet. Read about spy agencies fighting for the most extraordinary man. Read what they were experimenting with. Read about a French woman spy, about her brutal death, about merciless spy master who controlled the Russian KGB, about his death. Be in New York City, Crossroads one moment, the next one in Paris, Moscow. Meet various characters; see how the French reason, the Russians, etc.
If you could have been the servant to any famous person in history, who would that be and why?
Dawn, to be honest, that’s a tough one for me. I abhor all forms of servitude and bondage. A better question would be who do I admire that much. There are many people in literature who I admire. Mark Twain, for sure. A fantastic writer, talent. Dostoyevsky, Hemingway, to name a few.
What do you see for the future of publishing and e-books?
I believe that literature is vital for human progress. There’s a real problem with people who don’t read, and I see that schools do encourage kids to read. So, if people do continue to read, only the book format and book production might change. I see that some people do like e-books, Kindle. Many people prefer paperbacks. I think that hard cover books might be on their way out. Personally, I’d prefer a paperback in my hands to an e-book reader device.
These days the automated machines make paperbacks on demand, so bookstores might get seriously affected.
Which of your characters do you love/hate/fear/pity the most and why?
I like Raven, my protagonist in The Raven Affair, a bit too violent though. Very materialistic too. He’ll shoot you for fifty K anytime, so you don’t have to worry about dying too soon. I don’t spend that kind of money on the Internet Interviewers. But, seriously, I like all my characters, even when I hate them.
Do you get along with your muse? What do you do to placate her/it/him when she/he/it refuses to inspire you?
Not always, it’s a love, hate relation. She’s just like most perfectly normal females. Very rarely truly serious, always the extremes. It’s either something too sad or very funny on her mind. And she fools around a lot and prefers women. I think. She still manages to produce many male characters but likes to kill them off as soon as she makes up. She likes to kill females too. I tell her she has a serious mental problem but she argues that King’s Muse is much, much worse, a real mad woman, yet much better taken care of. To that I respond: ‘Well, change the boss.’ This placates her some because, secretly, she believes King’s even crazier than his Muse.
And, she knows to take quite often very extended vacations. A matter I have to discuss with her as soon as I can get her back from her resort in Las Vegas. The girl likes to gamble, another vice I have to put with.
It’s impossible to placate her, too whimsical for that. I just forget the work I am involved in and wait. I am at her mercy, you might say.
If there was a soundtrack to your latest novel, what genre/songs would be included?
It would have to be very varied. Which of your characters would you most likely fall for if they were real?
Lynnie, from The Raven Affair, is quite a gal, I’d say. The Russian spy woman, Dr. Tatiana, is too, though that one is too much of a murderess for my simple tastes in women.
Besides the bedroom, what's the sexiest part of your home in your opinion and why?
I am celibate, you know. Didn’t you know? My previous wife made sure of that.
Where can readers find you on the ‘net for more information on you, your books and other fun stuff?
The easiest place to find me/my creations, etc., is at www.snedelton.com, but I am all over the Internet, like Facebook.com, Goodreads.com, Myspace.com. Just look me up on the Internet, Steven Nedelton, I’m there.
Sneak peek into The Raven Affair:
They named him Dino Benito in the St. Basil’s document after his uncle on his mother side and after Il Duce, a relative on his father’s side—a very distant relative, but nevertheless one that made the familia proud. Since his childhood, he progressed from Dino tesorino to Dino diavoletto, to Diavolo, to a long number on his black striped uniform, to Dino the Strangler, and finally to Dino de’ Medici, although that last appellation was vastly exaggerated and known only by a very small, select group. For he was only the delivery page of that miraculous concoction that sent saintly John Paul I into his heavenly slumber, as gently as a Lord’s lamb…Lord save his soul. Unfortunately, John Paul I was too much of an inquisitive ‘lamb’ for his own good, for the ‘interested parties’ must have thought that that particular coup of theirs was the wisest move they’d ever conceived of. When the ‘interested parties’ contracted him for the job, Dino wasn’t all that surprised. He had the right experience, was of the right age, and was definitely no longer the small time gangster many had thought him in the early days of his career. And it was sheer irony since the victim himself had chosen Dino as his trusted and only guardian, not to mention the millions he’d wasted on him for that ‘trustworthiness’.
On the other hand, his American partnership just happened…overnight, so to speak. Dino had been called and informed that there was a need for another ‘expert’, and that he would be arriving on the chosen night. Dino didn’t really care all that much for the blond, blue-eyed American who was too good looking for his taste in business partners. Who needed a whoremaster to quiet an old fat banker? But then, Dino had learned that there was also a third man in the operation, known as the ‘mason’, an expert at climbing walls, who would be waiting for Dino and the American at their
destination.
What had astonished him most was the choice of the execution place, some five miles from the safe house, when the flat was a far more convenient spot. But orders were orders and questioning them was a waste of time.
The night was cloudy, dark like ink, and the rain drizzled on Chelsea. As Big Ben struck the eleventh hour, Dino and the American arrived at the eighth floor apartment of the safe house and knocked on the door. Three sharp raps followed by another two, as agreed upon earlier.
“Who is it? Is it you Angelo?” a deep voice queried in Italian from inside. The old man knew Dino as Angelo.
“Uno momento, uno momento, Angelo. You‘re supposed to call before you disturb me,” the deep voice retorted, and the two men could hear a quick, heavy shuffle.
Hosted by: Michelle of Flourchild
