Merry Christmas and some Bowl Mania Phats style

First off this is my last post before Christmas, so i'd like to take this time to wish you all a Merry Christmas, and Happy Holiday season.  My favorite thing about blogging is getting to know all of you, whether you blog everyday or no longer blog I can say I still talk to almost all of you on my blog list still.  Merry Christmas from Phats!   Hope Santa brings you everything you asked for.

Now time for a little Bowl Mania.  I had this post already to go and be posted in time for the Boise game but I am not sure what happened??  I will say my pick was in time for the game.  Here's how this works, everyone that was a guest picker will be picking with me, they will pick their team's bowl game or if their team didn't make it they were assigned another bowl.  Also every picker will pick the Purdue game and the National Championship game.   Best of luck to all your teams, the Boilers need it we are BIG underdogs in our game, onto the picks!

Pro Games
Pittsburgh Steelers(Rocket) vs Cincinnati Bengals
Rocket- Steelers 24 Bengals 17

Phats- Steelers 28 Bengals 10

College Games
Maaco Las Vegas Bowl
Boise State Broncos(Duck) vs Washington Huskies
Duck- I'm still not happy about Boise losing to Jake Locker and Washington back in 2007. That was another transition year like this year was for the Broncos, with the forgettable Taylor Tharp at QB throwing three picks that day in Seattle. I'm picking Boise to win, and since they're in Vegas I'll close out the pick with this: "Always bet on blue..." Yeah I know it doesn't make sense but I'm going with it anyway.  BOISE STATE

Phats- I like Boise State in a runaway game that will actually be closer
Boise State 41 washington 24

Meinke Car Care Bowl 
Texas Tech Red Raiders(Jef, Fuzz) vs Minnesota Golden Gophers
Jef- Tech wins, we finally got rid of Tuberville so it should be a good game. Hoping Kingsbury is hired from the Aggies to lead us into the future.   TEXAS TECH

Phats- Hmm I am not convinced the Big 12 plays any defense at all, that being said just making a bowl was a great accomplishment for the Gophers.   Tech wins but close one
Texas Tech 38 Minnesota 28

Pinstripe Bowl
West Virginia Mountaineers(Angel Jr) vs Syracuse Orange
Phats- Big East sucks, WVU plays no defense I think this will be a shootout
West Virginia 49 stracuse 35

Alamo Bowl
Texas Longhorns(Cheryl, Gary) vs Oregon State Beavers
Shife(Picking because his team didn't make a bowl)
Shife-  I got Beaver Fever, go Oregon State. 

Phats- No clue on this one, but I am going with the Beavers as well 
Oregon State 51 Texas 31 

Sun Bowl
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets(Emily) vs USC Trojans
Phats- When the B1G had a tie in with the Sun it seemed liked Purdue was always playing there it's a nice bowl.  Not sure why or how Ga Tech made a bowl but this will be a blow out sorry Emily, ACC sucks
USC 52 georgia tech 7

Chick Fil A Bowl
LSU Tigers vs Clemson Tigers(Topolk, Emily)
Phats- Hmm I bet the  Tigers win ba dum bum!  I adopted Clemson all season but I gotta say this match up is not a good one, the ACC is horrible, and LSU is good.  This has the makings of a blow out and could get ugly, or it could be a thriller.  Lets hope thriller and I am taking the upset sticking with my team!
Clemson 28 LSU 24

Capital One Bowl
Georgia Bulldogs vs Nebraska Cornhuskers(Travis)
Phats- This is a BAD match up for the Huskers and after the B1G title game I am not sure how Nebraska can match up with UGA, I worry this will be a blowout 
Georgia 49 Nebraska 7

Go Daddy Bowl
Kent State Golden Flashes(DG) vs Arkansas State Red Wolves
DG- KSU over Arkansas State

Phats- Boiler fans have a special interest in this one our future coach, Hazell will be coaching his former team the Flashes, that is enough for me KSU with an emotional win.  I have to say I am a huge defender of the bowl system but I hate games like this being played after new year's
Kent State 35 arkansas state 21

National Championship 
Alabama Crimson Tide(Gary, Cheryl) vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Rocket- I dislike ND Bama 31-17

Duck- I really really really hope I'm wrong with this, but I'm going to pick Alabama to win this one. It looks like it should be a hard-fought game between two teams with no obvious weaknesses. Since I currently live in Alabama I won't even have to watch it to know how it turns out. I can just leave a window open and tell how the game goes by my neighbors' reactions  BAMA

Jef- I hate both of these teams but I think the tide rolls on this one and wins  ALABAMA 

Shife- I know if pick the Fighting Irish, my friend Phats will be disappointed so let's go 'Bama. Roll Tide

DG- ND over Bama (Sorry Cheryl & Gary) 

Phats- God I hate Notre Dame, they are so overrated and you know what they are not that good.  Lets take a closer look a missed Delay Of Game isn't called against the Boilers, 2 horrible calls against Stanford, should have lost to god awful Pitt, but yet they are undefeated however they will get drilled in this game,
ALABAMA 62 notre dame 10

Heart of Dallas Bowl
Purdue Boilermakers vs Oklahoma State Cowboys
Rocket- Purdue 27-24

Duck- Sorry Phats, I've gotta go with the Cowboys in this one, and I don't anticipate it being all that close. :(  

Jef- Heart of Dallas Bowl? WTH???? Hate to say this Phats, but OSU is a better opponent than you estimate. And they are close so the Orange will be out. OSU wins

Shife-    Purdue is going to Cowboy Up, and then Boiler The F*&k Up!!! Purdue all the way

DG- Purdue over Ok State

Phats- I remember Tiller's first year we went to the Alamo Bowl HUGE underdogs against team that talked all sorts of trash about us, guess who that team was?  Oklahoma State!  I am not sure the same result but we have the talent to compete we just never had the coach to coach it.  We will see what happens Jan 1st but I am taking the Boilers, led by Mr Heart Marve!   BOILER UP!
PURDUE 35 ok state 28

Hail Hail to old Purdue all Hail to our old gold and black
Hail Hail to old Purdue our friendship may she never lack
Ever Grateful, ever true thus we raise our song a new FIRE UP!
Of the days we've spent with you, all Hail our own Purdue
GO BOILERS!

BTFU!!!

 

 

Struggling with this one

By now you've all heard of the horrific school shooting in Connecticut, I got to tell you I am struggling with this one.  Of course all school shootings are horrific, and when one happens it makes me stop and rethink some things but this one has just really bothered  me.  Obviously, with my profession working for a school, and my mom who is also a teacher, and my nephews who are so young and innocent in school it makes me constantly think about our safety just trying to do our job.  I mean you make the wrong kid or parent mad who knows they could have a screw loose and bam.   But I think the real reason I have struggled with this one is the ages of the kids these were kindergartners, KINDERGARTNERS.  These kids had their whole lives ahead of them, they had like President Obama said birthdays, graduations, weddings, etc and now they are gone little angels sent up to heaven.  Lets not forget the adults normal everyday teachers who became heroes one who was killed while shielding the kids from the gunman, one teacher took her class to the restroom and locked the door just amazes me what courage and bravery people show when faced with the scariest of circumstances.  I keep reading the war of words between people on various social media outlets on gun laws, and here's what I have to say that debate can wait, I know some of you are thinking no it can't, but a tragedy just happened so instead of arguing over gun laws, making it harder to get a gun, or whether teachers should be allowed to carry guns, why not send a prayer up for the families who lost children, or teachers in this horrific accident, or even for the survivors the mental image these kids and adults were forced to see will never be taken from their memory. 

That's all I got, please hug your loved ones, your children, and don't take anything for granted life is precious
Phats

New Coach, Bowl Game, and Hopefully help from some of you

Hey kids,
Well, exciting news Purdue has their new football coach, welcome aboard Coach Hazell!!

It was an interesting few days that started with us trying to woo Coach Jones at Cincinnati.  That saga was crazy, because apparently Colorado entered the picture as well and where did he end up Tennessee!  There was various rumors that Purdue cut ties to Jones, and not vice versa but who knows all I know is we have our coach!  It's kind of interesting it's a lot like the Tiller hire in 97, Coach Tiller wasn't our first choice, but got hired said all the right things and promptly took us to a bowl game.  Lets hope Coach Hazell does the same, and I have to tell you I love this hire.  He is a great speaker(has me excited) said all the right things can't wait to see what he does.  In the meantime the Boilers will prepare for their bowl game baby which yours truly is going to.

So, we accepted a Bowl bid to the Jan 1st Heart of Dallas Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.  I know everyone is saying we will get killed but not so fast I remember the last time we played them it was the Alamo Bowl and guess what they talked all kinds of trash, the line wasn't in our favor and we ripped em a new one.  Never count out the Boilers, we have the talent we just never had that right coach to guide it.

Finally, getting ready here to contact all you guest pickers and see if you'll play my Bowl Pick Em!  It will be like last year you will pick 3 games, your teams(if in a bowl) Purdue's game, and of course the National Title game.  Kind of a fun way to wrap up the guest picking season, and I am hoping to add a few new people, would like Phoenix to pick too :) So check for an email from me here shortly.  And THANKS again for guest picking you guys are seriously the best, especially considering some of you don't even blog anymore.

Have a great weekend
Phats 

How about an update

First off congrats to the Purdue football team who accepted an invite to play in the Heart of Dallas bowl Jan 1st vs Oklahoma State.  Not to take anything for granted here but that this Purdue team is bowling is probably a sign too many bowls out there.  I am excited to head to Dallas for this one though since it's played at(in) the Cotton Bowl, and it brings back good memories of when Joe Tiller in his first year took Purdue to the Alamo Bowl and beat Oklahoma State.  We will definitely be underdogs but who knows we're playing well it might be a good game without hopeless on the sidelines.   What bowl game is your team playing in?   How about NIU getting a bid to the BCS?  Fair?    People might say they don't deserve it but that to me will just fuel their fire, and look at it this way they are up against the weakest power conference in football in the ACC(I don't count the Big Least)  I will hopefully do a bowl pick em again all you guest pickers out there I will be contacting you to see if you're available to pick again, and I want to add a few new ones. 

Well, I was really worried I might have to avoid twitter for awhile after last week but alas my Boilers put it together and beat Clemson!   I was worried the shit I would take from Topolk, and Emily :) all in good fun of course, but something surprising happened Purdue won in dominating fashion.   I was just as surprised as everyone else.  While the challenged ended in a 6-6 tie I looked at it as an ACC win because the B1G was suppose to be so dominant yet they tied us.  The frustrating part about this Boiler team is after that nice win we return home and lay an egg against Xavier BLAH.  Let me just say this too I would never condone fighting or violence, but I see how it happened in that X/Cincy game last year.  X's coach, and their players were talking shit to our student section.  They were constantly turning around talking to the Paint Crew what is up with that?!  I seriously hope we don't play them again.  Last Purdue update big, no huge congrats to Coach Shondell and the Boiler volleyball team for traveling to Florida State and beating the Seminoles on their homecourt in rd 2 of the NCAA tournament.  Why was it so huge first off broke a 27 match home court win streak, but more importantly now the Boilers return home to Mackey for the sweet 16  I am definitely heading there Friday to check out some great volleyball action.  Boiler Up!

Who is watching Amazing Race?  Down to the final 4 and looks like next week is the finale.  I want team Chippendale to win, yes it feels weird to say that, but they seem like nice guys and have run a great race.  I think it's between them and Trey and Lexie.  As much as people don't like the twinnies they have grown on me, and they might be the best all female competitors ever man they are tough.  This has been a good season, and it's odd because it took awhile to get a favorite team.  I still want to go on this show but after seeing some challenges I am wavering a bit.  I am thinking Big Brother is more my pace, scheme, lie, and be lazy, and challenges that can't actually kill you, just embarrass :)  

Everyone ready for Christmas??   I have started shopping I am pretty stoked with that I made a plan to start sooner and I have.   I got my nephews done, and working on others now.  I love Christmas it's just such a magical holiday.  I will say though that some of those damn trees, their boxes falsely advertise!   This box said pre lit easy to put up, uhh after about 5 hours I was drenched with sweat and probably said every cuss word out there.  I was seriously ready to chuck it out the window and go by another one that was easier haha.

Last, but definitely not least.  A HUGE shoutout of CONGRATS to one of my best friends, and someone I have pretty much known my entire life.  Miss Bekah of the blog Bekah Bits and someone I know in real life, got hitched today!!  I am incredibly happy for her and Ryan, and I am really looking forward to getting together for our first game night with her being an official married woman!   She has been incredibly friend to me for 30 some years and words can't express how happy I am for her.  Congrats Bekah and Ryan!  Best wishes

Phats