End of 2010 Review – Television

I’ll give you my ten fave shows of the year, but first a look back at one classic show that came to an end in 

2010: Lost.

I actually came across the show by accident.  My sister asked for the first season on DVD for Christmas of 2005.  She said it was a really good show and she was liked JJ Abrams since she was an Alias fan.  I was living in Norman at the time and when I went back to my parents’ house in Lawton, I realized I left the DVD set in Norman.  So I had to buy another copy in Lawton and gave it to my sister.  Now I had never watched the show at all.  Through most of college I didn’t have cable TV either so I had heard of it but never really got the opportunity to see it.

So when I got back to Norman I had a decision to make: return the DVD set or see what all the fuss was about.  I decided to pop it open and watch, and from the get-go I knew I made the right decision.  Lost gave me what I wanted.  Cinematic epicness.  Mythical intrigue.  Conspiracy.  Comedic value.  And most of all a collection of rich characters that were so real and relatable.  I fell in love with the characters and I think that will live on longer than anything else in the series.

Many people found the ending controversial and without resolution of the many questions the show’s mythology posed.  I found the ending fitting.  As in life, not everything has an answer.  And in the end you aren’t going to remember whether or not you found out why the Others were living on the island or how Penny’s dad got all that money or many of the other petty little questions.  You are going to remember the people that surrounded you and that impacted your life.

So thanks Lost.  Thanks for 6 years (well for me 5 since I caught on to it about halfway through the 2^nd season) of television greatness.  We will miss you.

Now here are my ten picks as a MeatLife Fave (Scripted) TV Shows:

The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
In its 4^th season, it is still as funny as it began.  Nerd-comedy at its finest.

Blue Bloods (CBS)
If you like cop dramas, this show would interest you.  If you like family dramas, this would interest you.  Solid procedural in its first season that has a lot of potential.

Castle (ABC)
This is a great cop dramedy.  The show mixes buddy cop drama with sexual tension filled sitcom and has grown better with age in its 3^rd season.

Community (NBC)
This community college sitcom in its 2^nd season gives a great change of pace.  I enjoy the random, off the wall humor.

FlashForward (ABC)
I feel this show ended prematurely, but I can see why it was cancelled.  For the epic scale and cinema-like feel each episode, the production budget probably needed more than 5 million viewers an episode by the end of the series to support it.

Fringe (FOX)
Another great JJ Abrams initiated project in the middle of its third season.  Combines a decent procedural with a great larger story much in the same light as the X-Files once did.

How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 

Still funny and has really separated itself from the similar Friends.  Although you would think after six seasons we would have caught a glimpse of the mother by now.

Lost (ABC)
What else can I say?

Modern Family (ABC)
A fairly new take on the family sitcom.  Uses the en vogue documentary style filming popularized by The Office.  Very funny and will live well beyond its current 2^nd season.

Outsourced (NBC)
A TV adaptation of a feature film of the same name.  In its first season I think it’s actually funnier and more entertaining than the film.

One last thing, NBC seems to be a sinking network even with some of the quality comedies it is still producing.  One glaring thing was the late night drama, moving Jay Leno to primetime and then back to late night and essentially booting Conan O’Brien off of the Tonight Show shortly after he took it over.  Whoever thought Jay Leno would have a successful show at 9 PM (CST) 5 days a week really didn’t know what they were doing.  I’m glad Conan has a show now (even if it’s on TBS).  And although Jay was villianized in the situation, it wasn’t his fault his network is being mismanaged, so I have no hard feelings for Leno even though I am fond of Team CoCo.

May there be more entertaining quality scripted television in the coming year.  We’ll see what 2011 will bring soon enough!

themeatlife.blogspot.com

End of 2010 Review - Music

the Meat Life will take a look back on the year that was in Music, TV, Movies, Tech, and Sports.  We will start with Music.

For the most part since I’ve had kids I’ve been a bit behind on music.  Or at least I think I am.  Maybe I’m not as up with the times as I used to be, but looking at my playlists on my iTunes it looks like I’m doing pretty well for myself.

There have been some decent tunes this year, and I’ve got 50 of them that I think you guys shouldn’t miss out on.  From established artists like Kanye West and Paramore to internet sensation Antoine Dodson, I’ve got the list.  So after you take a look at this, fire up your iTunes and download the ones you don’t have.  And for those available, YouTube links for the music video or at least the song playing as a vid.  Enjoy!

Adam Lambert – “Whataya Want From Me”
Alicia Keys – “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart”
Anberlin – “Impossible”
Antoine and Kelly Dodson and the Gregory Brothers – “Bed Intruder Song”
B.O.B. – “Airplanes (featuring Hayley Williams)”
Broken Bells – “The Ghost Inside”
Bruno Mars – “Just The Way You Are”
California Swag District – “Teach Me How To Dougie”
Cee Lo Green – “Fuck You”
Chris Brown – “I Love U (featuring Ester Dean)”
A Day to Remember – “Have Faith In Me”
DJ Khaled – “All I Do Is Win (featuring T-Pain, Ludacris, Rick Ross, and Snoop Dogg)”
Dorrough – “Get Big (featuring Nitti)”
Drake – “Find Your Love”
Edward Maya – “Stereo Love (featuring Vika Jigulina) ”
Eminem – “Love The Way You Lie (featuring Rihanna)”
Enrique Iglesias – “I Like It (featuring Pitbull)”
Far East Movement – “Like a G6 (featuring Dev and the Cataracs)”
Foo Fighters –“ Wheels”
Jamie Foxx – “Winner (featuring Justin Timberlake and T.I.)”
Janelle Monae – “Tightrope (featuring Big Boi)”
Jimmy Eat World – “Coffee and Cigarettes”
Justin Bieber – “Baby (featuring Ludacris)”
Kanye West – “Power”
Katy Perry – “California Gurls (featuring Snoop Dogg)”
Kings of Leon – “Radioactive”
Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”
Lady Gaga – "Alejandro"
Lifehouse – “Halfway Gone”
The Limousines – “Internet Killed the Video Star”
Linkin Park – “The Catalyst”
Michael Buble – “Haven’t Met You Yet”
Miguel – “All I Want Is You (featuring J. Cole)”
Ne-Yo – “Beautiful Monster”
Neon Trees – “Animal”
Paramore – “The Only Exception”
Passion Pit – “Sleepyhead (Starsmith Remix featuring Ellie Goulding)”
Rob Thomas – “Someday”
Sean Kingston – “Letting Go (Dutty Love featuring Nicki Minaj)”
Selena Gomez & the Scene – “Naturally”
Snoop Dogg – “I Wanna Rock (G-Mix featuring Jay-Z)”
Stone Temple Pilots – “Between The Lines”
T.I. – “Got Your Back (featuring Keri Hilson)”
Taio Cruz – “Break Your Heart (featuring Ludacris)”
Three Days Grace – “The Good Life”
Train – “Hey, Soul Sister”
Usher – “DJ Got Us Falling In Love (featuring Pitbull)”
We The Kings – “We’ll Be A Dream (Demi Lovato)”
Young Money – “BedRock (featuring Lloyd, Lil Wayne, Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga)”
30 Seconds To Mars – “Kings And Queens”

Next entry?  End of 2010 Review – Television

themeatlife.blogspot.com

Oklahoma vs Nebraska: The Lost Rivalry

Three weeks ago we saw a rather ceremonial end to an iconic rivalry.  When you think of all the top rivalries in college football, what comes to mind?  There are several that come to mind immediately.  Ohio State-Michigan.  Georgia-Florida.  Florida State-Miami.  Oklahoma-Texas.  Army-Navy.  Auburn-Alabama.  Rarely has a rivalry decided who will compete for a national title.  One rivalry that carried college football and had those title implications in the 1970s and 1980s was Oklahoma-Nebraska.

Back then, when you thought rivalry you would think the Battle of the Big Reds.  Before the prominence of ESPN, there was the Game of the Century and the origin of Sooner Magic.  There was an Orange Bowl rematch game and throwing oranges on the field.  What other rivalry would not only have the Game of the Century but the sequel as well.  If you would like a look at some of those special moments, Sooner Sports has a great section dedicated to the old rivalry.

But then something killed the rivalry.  Most point to the creation of the Big 12.  When creating the divisions, the separated the two schools.  And when setting the schedules, they decided to end the yearly matchup so they would be on two years and off two years.  This answer is too easy, though.  You have to look at the bigger picture.  What really killed this rivalry was mediocrity.

The Sooners were horrible in the 1990s.  Since Barry Switzer left the program in 1988, the Sooners only won one of those matchups before the creation of the Big 12 and none of the matchups before Bob Stoops arrived.  In 2000 and 2001, both teams were good and could have given us a preview of what was to come.  That was for naught…Nebraska fired Frank Solich in 2003 after a 9-3 season which lead to some horrid Bill Callahan coached teams.  Although Callahan did have the Huskers reach the Big 12 Championship game against Oklahoma, these two programs were clearly still on different tracks.

The rivalry showed promise last year with a defensive classic as Nebraska forced OU QB Landry Jones to throw 5 INTs in a 10-3 win for the Cornhuskers.  But it was too little too late.  The 1990s and 2000s killed this rivalry.  So this last matchup in the Big 12 Championship a few weeks ago was a window of what could have been under a Bo Pelini –Stoops matchup.  It was a great way to end the series.  The Huskers built a 17-0 lead in the first half.  Oklahoma then miraculously mounted a comeback, tying the game right before the half before a Nebraska field goal to end the half at 20-17.  The Sooner defense shut down Nebraska the entire second half and a pair of field goals gave the Sooners the win.

courtesy of Michael Mitra

So here’s goodbye to the lost rivalry.  I would say that we would miss it but we’ve been without it for most of the last twenty years.  May we have a reunion during the 50 year anniversary of the Game of the Century.  I hope the powers that be get that 2020-2021 series going.

So from a Sooner fan, goodbye Nebraska.

the Meat Life End of 2010 Review to come.

themeatlife.blogspot.com

MeatTracks of the Decade: the 2000s --- Revisited

Last year I made a list of my favorite tracks of the last ten years.  I didn’t get a chance to complete the list, so what better time than now to complete the list.  I’ll be doing my year in review for other stuff anyway pretty much all December.

A little analysis…if you look at the list the majority of the songs are heavily favoring the beginning part of the decade.  That’s probably because I listened and kept up with music more closely in college than I do now.  Music is always up to the preference of the listener.  If you are like me, you like catchy music from varying genres to keep you entertained.  That and it sort of chronicles the day, the way you look at things at that particular time.  Soundtrack to life.

So here are my 100 tracks you must have downloaded from 2000 to 2009.

-Incubus - “Stellar” (2000)
-Eminem - “Stan (featuring Dido)” (2000)

-Linkin Park - “My December” (2000)

-Nelly - “Country Grammar” (2000)

-Eminem - “The Way I Am” (2000)

-Outkast - “B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)” (2000)
-U2 - “Beautiful Day” (2000)

-Vertical Horizon - “Everything You Want” (2000)

-Alien Ant Farm - “Smooth Criminal” (2001)
-Eve 6 - “Here’s To The Night” (2001)

-Fabolous - "Young'n (Holla Back)" (2001)
-Jagged Edge - "Where the Party At? (featuring Nelly)" (2001)
-P.O.D. - “Alive” (2001)

-The Strokes - “Last Nite” (2001)

-Usher - “U Got It Bad” (2001)
-Weezer - “Hash Pipe” (2001)

-Blink 182 - “Stay Together For the Kids” (2002)
-Clipse - "Grindin'" (2002)
-Coldplay - “The Scientist” (2002)

-Eminem - “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” (2002)

-Eminem - “8 Mile” (2002)

-50 Cent - “In Da Club” (2002)

-Jimmy Eat World - “A Praise Chorus” (2002)

-Jimmy Eat World - “Sweetness” (2002)

-Justin Timberlake - “Cry Me a River” (2002)

-Linkin Park - “Pushing Me Away (Remix)” (2002)

-Nelly - “Air Force Ones (featuring Kyjuan, Ali, & Murphy Lee)” (2002)
-Thursday - “Standing on the Edge of Summer” (2002)
-Weezer - “Keep Fishin’” (2002)

-The White Stripes - “Fell In Love With a Girl” (2002)

-Finch - “What It Is to Burn” (2003)

-Mae - “Summertime” (2003)

-Linkin Park - “Somewhere I Belong” (2003)

-The Postal Service - “Such Great Heights” (2003)

-R. Kelly - “Ignition (Remix)” (2003)
-Snoop Dogg - “Beautiful (featuring Pharrell) (2003)

-Yeah Yeah Yeahs - “Maps” (2003)

-Alicia Keys - “If I Ain’t Got You” (2004)

-Blink 182 - “Miss You” (2004)

-Finley Quaye and William Orbit - “Dice” (2004)

-Franz Ferdinand - “Take Me Out” (2004)

-Fat Joe - “Lean Back (Remix featuring Lil Jon,  Eminem, & Mase) (2004)

-Green Day - “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (2004)

-Jay-Z - “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” (2004)

-Jay-Z & Linkin Park - “Numb/Encore” (2004)

-Jimmy Eat World - “23” (2004)

-Linkin Park - “Breaking the Habit” (2004)

-Modest Mouse - “Float On” (2004)

-My Chemical Romance - “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” (2004)

-Snoop Dogg - “Drop It Like It’s Hot (featuring Pharrell)” (2004)

-Taking Back Sunday - “New American Classic” (2004)

-Thrice - “Stare at the Sun” (2004)

-Acceptance - “So Contagious” (2005)
-The All-American Rejects - “Dance Inside” (2005)

-The All-American Rejects - “Move Along” (2005)
-The Dandy Warhols - “We Used to Be Friends” (2005)
-Fall Out Boy - “Sugar, We’re Going Down” (2005)

-The Foo Fighters - “Best of You” (2005)

-The Game - “Hate It or Love It (featuring 50 Cent)” (2005)

-Gwen Stefani - “Cool” (2005)

-Kanye West - “Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix featuring Jay-Z)” (2005)

-Kanye West - “Gold Digger (featuring Jamie Foxx)” (2005)

-The Killer - “Smile Like You Mean It” (2005)

-Mariah Carey - “We Belong Together” (2005)

-Stars - “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” (2005)
-Youngbloodz - "Presidential (featuring Lil Jon)" (2005)

-Augustana - “Boston” (2006)

-Fort Minor - “Where’d You Go?” (2006)

-Justin Timberlake - "My Love (featuring T.I.)" (2006)
-The Killers - “When You Were Young” (2006)

-Lupe Fiasco - “Kick, Push” (2006)

-Missy Elliott - “We Run This” (2006)

-Nelly Furtado - “Say It Right” (2006)

-Ne-Yo - “Sexy Love” (2006)
-OK Go - “Here It Goes Again” (2006)

-Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - “Face Down” (2006)
-Taking Back Sunday - “MakeDamnSure” (2006)

-30 Seconds To Mars - “From Yesterday” (2006)

-T.I. - "What You Know" (2006)

-Anberlin - “Godspeed” (2007)

-Chris Brown - “Kiss Kiss (featuring T-Pain)” (2007)

-Good Charlotte - “Dance Floor Anthem (I Don’t Want To Be In Love)” (2007)

-Kanye West - “Stronger” (2007)

-One Republic - “Apologize” (2007)
-Paramore - “Misery Business” (2007)

-Rihanna - “Umbrella (Remix featuring Jay-Z and Chris Brown)” (2007)

-Shop Boyz - "Party Like a Rockstar" (2007)
-The Starting Line - “Island” (2007)

-Three Days Grace - “Never Too Late” (2007)

-David Banner - “Get Like Me (featuring Chris Brown and Yung Joc” (2008)

-Kanye West - “Homecoming (featuring Chris Martin)” (2008)

-Lady Gaga - "Just Dance" (2008)
-Lil Wayne - “Got Money (featuring T-Pain)” (2008)
-Rick Ross - "The Boss (featuring T-Pain)" (2008)

-All Time Low - “Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)” (2009)
-Black Eyed Peas - “I Gotta Feeling” (2009)
-Drake - “Best I Ever Had” (2009)
-Jamie Foxx - “Blame It (featuring T-Pain)” (2009)
-Muse – Uprising (2009)
-Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (2009)

If you don’t have any of these tracks yet, download them now!

In the month of December we will look back at the year that was 2010 in sports, movies, music, TV, and tech.  Till then, I hope you all had an awesome Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.

themeatlife.blogspot.com

The Meat Life College Football Two-Thirds Review

Alright, so I’ve been slacking on this blog lately.  Life happens, and since I don’t get paid for this well I can afford to slack a bit.  That and reviewing my must see games every week was getting a little old.  I was going to do a half way point review of the season, but this way with two months gone and a month to go in the regular season we get a great look at all the teams and all the goings on.  So for my Two-Thirds Review, we will go over nine areas of college football goings on this year.

2/3s: Best Team – Oregon Ducks
No huddle, hurry-up, spread offenses are all the rage of college football.  The Ducks or as some call them “Nike U,” are described (probably in hyperbole) as running the “blur offense.”  Taking the best of no huddle, combine with a spread option look and some fairly good passing and you have Oregon’s offense.  According to SoonerStats.com, Oregon is 277 points away from tying the Sooners’ points record from 2008 (716).  If they continue to hit their average points per game of about 56, they’ll beat that record.  Their defense has been suspect, but they turn it on as they are second in the nation in turnover margin.

2/3s: Biggest Surprise Team – 7-2 Baylor Bears leading the Big 12 South
We could have also put the Syracuse Orange or maybe even the Michigan State Spartans, but Baylor has never been this good.  They haven’t been to a bowl game in 15 years.  They have never at any point lead the ultra-competitive South Division of the Big 12.  Their QB Robert Griffin III is the best talent the school has had in the last couple of decades and is complimented by a talented RB Jay Finley and a decent receiving corp.  Now Bears fans can ask not only what bowl game they’ll go to but if they can win the Big 12 South.

2/3s: Biggest Disappointment – 4-4 Texas Longhorns
No one has fallen more than Texas.  From a top 5 preseason pick to fifth in the Big 12 South standings, Texas fell harder than Humpty Dumpty.  The only time they looked remotely like the program they have been this past decade was their road win against Nebraska.  That game they actually looked and played like they cared.  With the exception of the Red River Rivalry and that Nebraska game, the Longhorns have largely looked uninterested in playing until they are down big.  And even more disappointing…three of the four losses have been at home.  Mack Brown has had more home losses this year than Bob Stoops has had his entire tenure at OU (only 2 losses at home for OU in the Stoops era).

2/3s: Best Player – Cameron Newton, QB, Junior, Auburn Tigers
If I did this at the halfway point, it would have been Michigan’s Denard Robinson.  But Robinson and the Wolverines have run out of gas.  Just imagine if he never left Florida how efficient he would run Urban Meyer’s offense.  Cam is third in passing efficiency and fourth in rushing.  Newton even caught a 20-yard TD pass last game against Ole Miss.  Is there anything this guy can’t do?  Well, in three weeks when they play Alabama we’ll find out.

2/3s: Best of the Rest
These are the best players/units out of the other positions on the field.

RB LaMichael James, Sophomore, Oregon
WR Justin Blackmon, Sophomore, Oklahoma State
Offensive Line Oregon Ducks
Total Defense TCU Horned Frogs
Interception Machine Domonic Cook, Senior, Buffalo
Return Game Patrick Peterson, Junior, LSU

2/3s: Biggest Surprise Player – Taylor Martinez, QB, Freshman, Nebraska Cornhuskers
Before the season he wasn’t even being mentioned in the discussion of who was going to start at quarterback for the Huskers.  Martinez goes from unknown to leading the team in passing, rushing, and TDs scored.  The quick mobile QB seems to have had a big run of more than 20 yards every game (except for the game against Texas for some reason).  Kind of reminds you of the old wishbone days the way he runs in TDs.

2/3s: Best Game – Red River Rivalry: Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns
Okay, okay…yes a bit of homerism here.  But it was probably the most entertained I’ve been all year.  OU builds a lead.  Texas stages a comeback.  A couple of fourth quarter gaffes from the Sooners and then they escape by recovering a muffed/fumbled punt return.  It had a bit of scoring, some drama, and a highlight run from OU RB DeMarco Murray.  A little bit of everything for everyone…well except for a win for the Longhorns, haha!  Boomer Sooner win 28-20.  A close second place for best game: Alabama rallies to hold off the upset from Arkansas 24-20.

2/3s: Biggest Games Left
These are the biggest games that will impact both conference championship and national title outlooks, excluding the conference championship games themselves but including this week’s games (and no, I won’t revisit these individually like I did in the first part of the season…maybe just when the season is over)

Baylor at Oklahoma State 11/6
TCU at Utah 11/6
Alabama at LSU 11/6
Mississippi State at Alabama 11/13
Ohio State at Iowa 11/20
Oklahoma at Baylor 11/20
Auburn at Alabama 11/26
Arizona at Oregon 11/26
Boise State at Nevada 11/26
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State 11/27

2/3s: Biggest Question – Will a non-automatic qualifying team make it to the BCS Championship?
With Boise State, TCU, and Utah all in the BCS top 5, there has never been any other time we have been this close to a non-AQ making it to the national championship.  And with TCU and Utah playing this weekend, we will be down to two.  There seems to be a glass ceiling for these teams, as we see Boise State continue to drop in the standings (even getting passed by TCU in this week’s BCS standings).  We can debate it for the rest of the season, but I see these teams getting passed by a one-loss team like Alabama (assuming Oregon and/or Auburn lose in the next few weeks…and that could happen since Auburn does play Alabama).  I might not be right, but it’ll probably happen.  The team with the best chance to go would be TCU.  The computers love TCU (average #3 in computers while Boise #5 and Utah #9) and would get a boost from beating Utah this weekend.

Enjoy all the football.  From now till the end of the year it will be more or less a review of different things over the course of this year from movies, music, sports, and tech.

themeatlife.blogspot.com

15 Albums That Impacted My Life

I’m going to take a break from the college football blogging for a week, so next week look out for my must sees as well as a midway point review or as I will call it: the Meat Life Halftime College Football Awards.  Haha yeah in know, prestigious.  So during the break, here is some music.

A few weeks ago Bobbie tagged me in her fave albums note.  I decided to make a list as well.  But like any list I make, I have to narrow it down.  When I first made a list of albums I might want to include on here I had a list of 34 different albums.  I tried to narrow it down by how much the album made an impact on the rest of what I listened to and how it related to my life.  As many have said before music is just the soundtrack of our lives.

So here are the albums I picked for my 15:

Boyz II Men – II  1994
This is more a sentimental childhood favorite.  When I first really really started listening to music, this was the best.  I was debating either to put either this or Mariah Carey’s Daydream album.  I was really into love songs and such and was a huge hopeless romantic until the college.  That and every dance in junior high had to include a Boyz II Men slow dance song like “On Bended Knee.”  My fave on this album is probably “Water Runs Dry.”

Weezer – Weezer (The Blue Album)  1994
The epitome of a great CD in my opinion.  An album you can listen to all the way through without skipping any tracks, fun and catchy music, and awesome songs to sing along to.  I didn’t get into it until a couple years after it was released, but as they say better late than never.  Listening to this album now reminds me of times in junior high hanging out at friends’ houses dancing around and listening to music.  Fave track: “Only In Dreams.”

No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom  1995
Ska never sounded better.  When I first heard “Spiderwebs” I thought wow this is really fun sounding.  I think that Christmas of 1996 everyone and their mom got the CD as a gift.  “Don’t Speak” really hit me because when I first got the CD for Christmas not even a week later my grandpa died.  I would play that song over and over and over.  Then “Don’t Speak” came out as a single a couple months later and blew No Doubt up wide open.  Needless to say fave track on album is “Don’t Speak.”

Bush – Razorblade Suitcase  1996
I got into music a little after the grunge era, so this was a new sound to me.  When I first hear the album it opened up doors to all of the sounds of earlier in the decade like Nirvana and Stone Temple Pilots.  Although Bush’s lyrics were often nonsensical, I was drawn to how they fit into the music and the big guitars.  Fave track: “Swallowed.”

The Wallflowers – Bringing Down the Horse  1996
The album like most in the late 1990s came out when I was still trying to figure out what I was into as far as music.  I was definitely into this album.  This and Counting Crows August and Everything After are albums where I listen to them now and remember what it was like being a hopeless romantic teenager or evenings talking to old friends over a dinner table reminiscing of years gone by.  Very easy listening.  Favorite track: “One Headlight.”

Hootie & the Blowfish – Fairweather Johnson  1996
This is another that kind of plays off that hopeless romantic.  Lots of love songs on this album.  Not as catchy and a bit darker in lyrical content compared to their mega-hit “Cracked Rear View,”  this album probably took a good five or six years before I really appreciated it.  I then put it away for a while and gave it a listen after my son was born and this album really resonates with me now.  Not much of today’s music can grow with you over time.  Fave on the album: “Earth Stopped Cold at Dawn.”

Blink-182 – Dude Ranch  1997
I had listened to pop-punk before and after this album, but this is probably my favorite of the genre.  It was a mix of teen angst and humor unlike what I’ve heard before.  I enjoyed the pace most of all.  And then about five years later I was in the most amateur and fun punk-cover band and we covered my favorite track on the album “Dammit.”

Third Eye Blind – Third Eye Blind  1997
My brother always makes a joke about it, but I used to play this CD over and over and over again.  All the songs were catchy and guitar driven.  I could never really get into their albums after this one, but this one seemed like lightning in a bottle.  My best memories of this album were all the times me and various groups of friends at various times of my life sang along at the top of our lungs to “Semi-Charmed Life.”  Fave track: “Motorcycle Driveby.”

Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape  1997
How could the drummer of one of the greatest bands of the 1990s reinvent himself and start anew?  This album is how.  I know Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters had an album before this, but The Colour and the Shape gave the band a definite sound.  What I remember most about this album?  The music videos oddly enough.  My favorite track: “Everlong.”

Deftones – “White Pony”  2000
In the whole “nu-metal” scene with acts like Korn, Limp Bizkit, Disturbed, and the like, the only band that has really resonated beyond those initial years the sound was popular to me are the Deftones.  I remember my brother getting this CD and we had friends over and we all were listening to it on the stereo in his room.  This was much the gateway for their other work.  Fave track: “Passenger.”

Linkin Park – “Hybrid Theory”  2000
When I first heard this album, it was in a portable CD player hooked up to a tape deck in my old Ford Taurus.  And for a good year it would be my most played CD.  I considered it separate from the whole nu-metal and rap-rock phase of rock music simply because that scene was almost dead by the time this CD came out and the fact that the songs on the album were so layered sonically.  It basically put together most of the type of music I liked and spit out something both familiar and something unlike I’d never heard before.  Reminds me of senior year of high school (don’t worry, fond memories).  My fave track: “Pushing Me Away.”

Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American  2001
Whenever I listen to this, it reminds me of freshman year of college.  Lyrically this album relates very well to that year.  The fun of the first taste of freedom and the sort of loss of that innocent feeling after high school or even post 9/11.  I remember Ethan once told me that whenever he rode in my car that he wasn’t surprised this CD was stuck in my CD player.  And then there is a great memory of riding down country roads in Justin’s car blaring “Sweetness” out the windows.  Favorite track: “Sweetness.”

Taking Back Sunday – Tell All Your Friends  2002
A girl named Jennifer my freshman year of college tried to get me into emo.  She burned a CD full of Dashboard Confessional (and I don’t remember where that CD is anymore).  Then based on the music I already listened to, she figured I’d be more into Taking Back Sunday so she sent me a few tracks off this album.  I listened to them and kept them around but didn’t really get into them until a couple years later.  Now Taking Back Sunday is one of my faves.  Thanks Jenn, where ever you are.  Fave track: “There’s No ‘I’ in Team.”

Eminem – The Eminem Show  2002
Although I think his best album is probably the Marshall Mathers LP, my favorite from him has to be The Eminem Show.  Like most of his work, Eminem spends most of the album analyzing himself and the relationships around him.  He still disses a couple celebrities, but in this album he was growing past that.  In the era I have lived in, Eminem is probably my favorite rapper (but my fave rappers are probably for another list).  I related the most to his music because it felt real and not some caricature of some gangster persona (like say Ja Rule or 50 Cent).  My fave track: “Sing For the Moment.”

Kanye West – The College Dropout  2004
Another fave rapper of mine.  Now he might be a complete asshole as a person, but I really like his music.  First time I listened to this album the whole way through I was impressed with the witty lyrics and introspection.  Adrian always says that “All Falls Down” is on the 1821 soundtrack and the epitome of our college careers.  I then remember a house party where they were bumping to “Jesus Walks” and that memory makes me laugh a little bit.  My favorite track: “Jesus Walks.”

What albums impacted your life?

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College Football Week Five Review

Well, there was lots of great football this weekend.  I traveled to Dallas with the family for OU-Texas festivities. Here were my picks for the games to watch last weekend and a slightly different look back at them.


the Meat Life Must Sees:


Oklahoma vs. Texas
Stanford at Oregon
Florida at Alabama
Washington at USC

The Red River Rivalry lived up to billing as usual, although it was almost not.  Oklahoma held a 28-10 lead at the beginning of the 4th quarter after a beautiful tiptoe run TD by DeMarco Murray, when a series of mental breakdowns both for the players and the coaches kept it dramatic.  That is until Texas muffed a punt and gave Oklahoma the ball back with a little more than a minute left. Game ended with OU victory 28-20.  Stanford-Oregon was probably the most entertaining first half of football all season.  High scoring and back and forth momentum, Stanford had a 31-24 lead at half.  Oregon shut them down the second half scoring 28 unanswered points with LaMichael James taking over the game.  Ducks prevail 52-31.  Florida was a letdown much the way Texas was last week against UCLA, offense atrocious against Bama.  Tide snooze to victory 31-6.  It seems Jake Locker redeemed himself after the horrible performance against Nebraska a couple weeks before.  In a game that was back and forth the entire time, Locker comes back from an earlier injury to lead his team down by 2 points down the field to set up a last second field goal as time expired to win the game 32-31 against USC.


the Meat Life If You Have The Time...:


Texas A&M at Oklahoma State
Miami (FL) at Clemson
Wisconsin at Michigan State
Penn State at Iowa


Texas A&M looked as if they would blow out OSU with a 21-7 lead at half...that is until the Cowboys woke up and scored 28 unanswered points to take a 35-21 lead in the fourth.  Then OSU squandered that lead and let the Aggies back in and tie it up with five minutes left and time left to score...if it weren't for Jerrod Johnson throwing picks.  The Cowboys get the last minute field goal to win 38-35.  Miami was up early and stayed that way, so this one was kind of a snoozer, Jacoby Harris well enough to win with 4 TD passes (but the 2 INTs still haunt you if you were a Hurricane fan).  Miami rolls on the Tigers 30-21.  Michigan State looked impressive again as their coach Mark Dantonio still recovering from both a mild heart attack as well as a blood clot.  Sparty holds Wisconsin down 34-24 as they stayed in control for most of the game.  And to round out my picks, Iowa dominates Penn State (the Nittany Lions are in rebuilding mode as we speak) in this snooze-fest 24-3.


Although there aren't really any other games I wish I had added, I will say that LSU-Tennessee ending is the most bizarre I have seen.  Les Miles...where are your coaching skills at man?  With 28 seconds left, you should already have a play ready for your QB to execute.  Miles lucked out though, as Vols coach Dooley had not eleven, not twelve...no...THIRTEEN players on the field when the Tigers center accidentally hiked the football before time expired.  LSU scores the winner after the penalty and WOW if Les Miles isn't the luckiest coach who just stumbles into victories, then I don't know who is.

Here's what to watch during the OU bye week:


Must Sees:


NEW ADDITION   Nebraska at Kansas State  Thursday 6:30 PM CDT
Pittsburgh at Notre Dame   Saturday 2:30 PM CDT
NEW ADDITION   Michigan State at Michigan   Saturday 2:30 PM CDT
Arkansas vs Texas A&M   Saturday 2:30 PM CDT
Florida State at Miami (FL)   Saturday 7:00 PM CDT

If You Have The Time...:


NEW ADDITION   Alabama at South Carolina   Saturday 2:30 PM CDT
LSU at Florida   Saturday 6:30 PM CDT
Oregon State at Arizona   Saturday 7:00 PM CDT




As always, enjoy the football!




themeatlife.blogspot.com

College Football Week Four Review

There were some good games this weekend.  There were also a couple of stinkers and an upset thrown in.  Here's a look back at what we saw.


the Meat Life Must Sees:

Miami (FL) at Pittsburgh
Here is one of the stinkers.  Pitt pretty much had no chance and couldn't get anything going.  Even though Miami QB Jacory Harris still battles the INT bug (he had 2 this game), Miami's defense smothers the Panthers.  TML Who to Watch For athlete Dion Lewis from Pitt has struggled through this early part of the season, only rushing for 41 yards in this game.  Hurricanes storm Pitt 31-3.

Alabama at Arkansas
Game of the week right here.  Arkansas builds a 20-7 lead in the middle of the fourth, Heisman hopeful and TML Who to Watch For athlete Ryan Mallett threw for 313 yards during that span, torching the vaunted Bama D.  But the Crimson Tide showed why they are the defending champs with back to back INTs on Mallett and reigning Heisman winner Mark Ingram pounding out 157 yards on the ground.  17 unanswered points and Bama rolls through with a 24-20 victory in Arkansas.

South Carolina at Auburn
Another barn-burner in the SEC.  Auburn bottles up the spectacular SC freshman RB Marcus Lattimore to just 33 yards after averaging over 111 yards a game.  Gamecocks QB Stephen Garcia puts up great numbers in building a 27-21 lead, but after two fumbles was replaced by freshman Connor Shaw in the fourth quarter who threw INTs on back to back drives.  Auburn QB Cam Newton is continuing to build a name for himself as he led the charge for the Tigers with 2 passing TDs and 3 rushing TDs, the two passing to take the lead and the win.  Auburn outdoes SC 35-27.

West Virginia at LSU
LSU is probably the worst looking undefeated team in the country.  The Tigers pull off the win despite QB Jordan Jefferson throwing for less than 100 yards and 2 INTs.  DB/Return man for LSU Patrick Peterson struck a Heisman pose in the endzone after a punt return for TD in the second quarter to give LSU a 17-0 lead.  The Mountaineers made the score respectable, but their RB Noel Devine was bottled up for just 37 yards rushing.  Tigers win over West Virginia 20-14.


the Meat Life If You Had The Time...:

UCLA at Texas
The upset this past weekend.  Texas had no offense whatsoever, turning the ball over four times in the first half alone.  Their top-ranked run defense was shredded by the Bruin Pistol-option for 290 yards.  There was no time that Texas even threatened to come back, making it hard to read going into the Red River Rivalry.  The Bruins give the 1997 Rout 66 a sequel, upsetting Texas 34-12.

Stanford at Notre Dame
Here is the other stinker this weekend.  Notre Dame had no defense.  Stanford dominates this game.  They even have a player score a TD on both offense and defense in back to back series.  LB/FB Owen Marecic scored a rushing TD and then returned in INT for TD just 13 seconds apart.  He is one of the rare players in this day and age to play both sides of the ball.  The Cardinal stomps the Irish 37-14.

Oklahoma at Cincinnati
The game was probably closer than it should have been.  OU build a comfortable 24-9 lead early in the third. The Bearcats kept clawing back, tearing up the Sooners defense which now ranks in the bottom third of the FBS in rush/pass/total yards against.  Cincinnati really could have won the game if not for OU safety Jonathan Nelson's first half play (TD saving tackle, forced fumble, and INT) and turnovers by Cincy WR D.J. Woods (that fumble into the endzone and then a fumble on a punt toward the end of the game).  Sooners escape Cincy with a 31-29 victory.

Oregon State at Boise State
Oregon State put up another valiant effort against a non-AQ team, but too much smurf-turf trauma.  Boise QB Kellen Moore was his usual self, throwing for 288 yards and 3 TDs, one of them the game-clincher.  Beavers spectacular RB Jacquizz Rodgers was held down to 46 yards rushing.  I guess for Boise fans here begins the countdown to see if the Broncos will make the BCS National Championship.  Boise pulls it out 37-24.


There were no match-ups that I wish I had included on these lists this week.  The coming weekend is setting up to be big!  Here are the ones I want you to see:

Must Sees:

Oklahoma vs. Texas   Saturday 2:30PM CDT

NEW ADDITION   Stanford at Oregon   Saturday 7:00PM CDT

Florida at Alabama   Saturday 7:00PM CDT

Washington at USC   Saturday 7:00PM CDT

If You Had The Time...:

NEW ADDITION   Texas A&M at Oklahoma State   Thursday 6:30PM CDT

Miami (FL) at Clemson   Saturday 11:00 AM CDT

NEW ADDITION   Wisconsin at Michigan State   Saturday  2:30PM CDT

Penn State at Iowa   Saturday 7:05PM CDT

Georgia at Colorado   Saturday 6:00PM CDT

Enjoy the games this weekend!  BOOMER SOONER!

College Football Week Three Review

Alright folks, here we go again!  Another great week of college ball.



the Meat Life Must Sees:


BYU at Florida State
Well, this game was short on the drama factor.  Dubbed as a revenge game, there was not much revenge.  The Cougars kept it close in the first half, trailing 13-10.  But the Seminoles held BYU to just 39 yards in the second half.  Florida State pounded the football on the ground, rushing for 278 yards.  Florida State runs over the Cougars 34-10.


Nebraska at Washington
The supposed road test for Nebraska turned into a field day for the Nebraska running game.  Again no drama there, so the Meat Life must sees are taking a beating.  The Huskers dominated the Huskies.  Burkhead, Helu, and Martinez all rushed over 100 yards, 6 TDs on the ground between the three of them.  Locker had a career worst 4-20 passing and is more than likely out of the Heisman race.  Cornhuskers roll over Washington 56-21.


Texas at Texas Tech
Now this one lived up to the billing.  Texas took a quick 14-0 lead, but Tech scratches and claws it's way back to tie it up by half.  Longhorn D stepped it up big in the second half as the Red Raiders struggled to move the ball.  In the fourth quarter, Texas had a 23 play, 9:23 clock squeezing TD drive aided a pass interference penalty on third down that kept the drive going.  Longhorns grind out victory over Tech 24-14.


the Meat Life If You Had The Time...:

Arkansas at Georgia
For as early as the kickoff was, this game was really good.  Arkansas looked in control as they had a 24-10 lead going into the fourth.  Georgia scores 14 unanswered points to tie the game late.  Each exchange a short drive and punt.  Arkansas has the ball with Heisman hopeful QB Ryan Mallett in command.  They drive down to the Georgia 40 yard line when Mallett hits an open WR Greg Childs about 15 yards down field, Childs makes on move to fake out an defender and is gone to the endzone with 15 seconds left on the clock.  Arkansas makes a statement with the road win against the Bulldogs 31-24.

Baylor at TCU
Here's a good debate...who's the better non-automatic qualifying BCS team?  Boise State or TCU?  TCU outslugged Oregon State a few weeks ago and then rolls over Baylor (granted they are a Big 12 cellar-dweller for quite a while).  The Bears never really had a chance as the Horned Frogs imposed their will on Baylor.  TCU QB Andy Dalton was 21-23 with 267 yards passing and 2 TDs while RB Ed Wesley took care of things on the ground with 165 yards rushing on 19 carries and 2 TDs.  TCU rolled Baylor 45-10.


the Meat Life Misses and Wishes Named Must Sees:


Iowa at Arizona
The late night cap game was excellent.  Arizona dominated the first half, jumping to a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter due to a blocked punt, interception return for TD, and kickoff return for TD.  It then seemed as if they were in meltdown mode as punts and a Nick Foles INT throw get Iowa back in the game with it tied at 27-27.  Foles leads a 72 yard drive to give Arizona the lead and the Mike Stoops defense holds strong as Arizona holds on to win against Iowa 34-27.

Clemson at Auburn
Auburn seems to be surviving the barn-burners as they squeak out another close victory.  Clemson took a 17-0 lead as it seemed there was a rout in progress.  Auburn claws back with a 21 point third quarter to gain the lead.  Clemson comes back to tie the game and they go to OT.  In OT Clemson holds Auburn to a field goal.  It seemed Clemson tied it but a time out was called before the ball was hiked.  The redo misses and Auburn slides to a 27-24 victory over Clemson.

Notre Dame at Michigan State
Man, another close game for Notre Dame again.  Probably the best ending of the week.  The game goes back and forth all game and goes into OT.  The Spartans force the Irish to a field goal in OT.  Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio calls a play he calls "Little Giants," a.k.a. fake field goal where punter/holder Aaron Bates who hadn't thrown a pass since high school finds open  TE Charlie Gantt wide open for the game clincher.  Later Dantonio has a mild heart attack, has a procedure done to unblock an artery to the heart.  He is okay and so is his cardiac-performing football team.  Spartans shock Irish 34-31 in OT.


Alright, here is a preview of this weekend's must sees, along with some new additions I've added to the list:

Must See:
Miami (FL) at Pittsburgh  Thursday 6:30 PM CDT
Alabama at Arkansas  Saturday 2:30 PM CDT
NEW ADDITION  South Carolina at Auburn  Saturday 6:45 PM CDT
West Virginia at LSU  Saturday 8:00 PM CDT




If You Have The Time:
UCLA at Texas  Saturday 2:30 PM CDT
NEW ADDITION  Stanford at Notre Dame  Saturday 2:30 PM CDT
Oklahoma vs Cincinnati  Saturday 5:00 PM CDT
NEW ADDITION  Oregon State at Boise State  Saturday 7:00 PM CDT




Enjoy the football folks!


themeatlife.blogspot.com

Linkin Park “A Thousand Suns,” the Meat Life Complete Review

September 14, 2010 saw the release of the fourth studio album of Linkin Park entitled A Thousand Suns. The band over the course of the last decade have sold more than 50 million albums worldwide despite the ever changing struggles of the music industry.  And while the first half of the decade saw a distinct and singular definition of the “Linkin Park sound,” the last two albums including Suns see a departure from that causing a divide between critics and fans alike.

Linkin Park album covers from first to latest

Next month will mark 10 years since the band Linkin Park took the rock world by storm. With the rap-rock scene of the late 1990s dying down, Linkin Park took its brand of that genre, mixed it up with more electronic and pop elements, and came out with the widely successful Hybrid Theory.  Since then they have taken slow evolutionary steps to try and create a new sound for themselves.  The 2007 release of Minutes to Midnight gave way to a more stripped down sound, less Korn and Nine Inch Nails and more U2.

A Thousand Suns sees the band take a step even further away from their signature sound of the early part of the last decade.  Lead singer Chester Bennington billed it as a “concept album,” and that is definitely the case.  The album explores the danger and paranoia of modern technology, war, and apocalyptic themes.  Although there are dark themes, the album overall has a positive outlook on society’s future.  The band samples several political figures’ speeches from the 1950s and 1960s, including a speech about the Vietnam War by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that give the album a very ominous feel.

As I have said probably a number of times already, this isn’t the same Linkin Park I grew with as a high school senior or a college kid.  A Thousand Suns will not be for everyone.  Some people may actually hate it…a lot.  Critics from MTV and Artistdirect.com have actually likened it to Radiohead’s Kid A in 2000, an album I actually don’t really like.  But they have a point because this album is a turning point for the band much like Kid A was a turning point for Radiohead.

For the music on the album, there is actually less actual songs on there than I would have expected.  But that basically makes it more of a complete piece of work as a whole.  At first listen I only looked at it in terms of individual songs (nine in total), but after listening to it once all the way through from beginning to end it makes a lot more sense as one piece of work rather than 15 individual tracks it is split up to be.  There is definitely a buildup, a climax, and a conclusion.  One noticeable thing will be the guitars…or lack thereof.  Although the album at times still feels heavy, the band explores other sounds and instruments to get that heavy feel.  There are still guitars on the album, but not in the overpowering sense of say Hybrid Theory or Meteora.

The first couple tracks start with ambient noise and a quote from physicist Robert Oppenheimer in an interview he did after his work on the atomic bomb as he quotes the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu scripture.  The line quoted includes where the album name is from.  The first actual song on the album,  “Burning In The Skies,” gives kind of a dance-pop feel.

There is another track of ambience and then leads into “When They Come For Me,” a hip-hop track mainly featuring second vocalist Mike Shinoda that has a heavy Middle Eastern feel with heavy drums and hums from Bennington in the background.  Next comes “Robot Boy,” which sounds like something reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s The Wall.  Another interlude buffers that song and “Waiting For The End.”  That track has a real reggae-style hook from Shinoda between the sentimental verses from Bennington.  “Waiting” is said to be the second single to be released.

“Blackout,” the next track, is vocally a throwback to Bennington’s old scream from LP’s past as well as the old pace of the band’s previous work.  “Wretches and Kings” is another hip-hop track and probably bumps the hardest of the songs on the album.  It takes a sample of a rage-against-the-machine speech from Mario Savio.  That leads straight into an electronically modified and ominous quote from Martin Luther King that I referred to earlier.

“Iridescent” feels a bit like a holdover from Minutes to Midnight.  Another interlude and then the lead single from the album “The Catalyst” comes on.  I can understand why they picked this as the first single, a kind of transitional song to introduce the public to the new sound.  “Catalyst” feels a bit like the soundtrack to a revolt and is definitely the climax of the album.  The album closes with the acoustic driven “The Messenger,” probably the biggest surprise on the album.

All in all, the album is worth a couple of listens in the very least.  If you were an LP fan that only liked their Hybrid days, you will be disappointed in the album.  If you are looking for something different to listen to, this may be a good album for you.  I would have to say that after a couple listens all the way through, I’ve grown to like the album.  Not a classic, but definitely worth multiple listens.  It certainly is very different from anything else coming out from popular artists right now.  And I definitely recommend if you listen to it for the first time, to listen from beginning to end as one piece.  It seems to work better that way, and I’m sure you can find 47 minutes out of your day to do so.  One complaint I have is that it feels rather short, but so are the other LP albums, so nothing new there.

One thing that is still the same with Linkin Park is that all the songs sound very cinematic, something I've always liked about the band.  Their songs all have an epic sound and feel like they would fit in well in a movie scene or two.  And although it may feel like Linkin Park is still experimenting and finding that new LP sound, it’s an entertaining journey. 

the Meat Life gives A Thousand Suns 7.5 out of 10.

Download these tracks from A Thousand Suns now!
“Wretches and Kings”
“Blackout”
“Iridescent”
“The Messenger”
(I’ve already told you to download “The Catalyst,” so you should already have that, haha)

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New Banner

Haha!  Hey guys new banner on the Meat Life, courtesy of Michael S. Mitra.

Enjoy the weekend.  I'll hit you back with a thorough review of the new Linkin Park album A Thousand Suns.


themeatlife.blogspot.com

College Football Week Two Review

Same deal as last week.  The Must-See Games were a little bit of a letdown entertainment wise.  If you were cheering for the home team though (like me cheering for Oklahoma), then the Must-See Games were your treat to watch.  Here it goes again!

the Meat Life Must Sees:

Florida State at Oklahoma
In the first couple drives, this game had the makings of a classic shootout.  Each team drove decisively down the field.  Then, things got ugly.  The young OU defense stuffed the Seminoles and QB Christian Ponder for most of the rest of the game.  The Sooners and QB Landry Jones took advantage of a leaky FSU secondary, throwing for 320 yards and scoring 34 points…in the first half!  They didn’t need RB DeMarco Murray to run the ball 35 times to pull this victory off.  Sooners roll over FSU 47-17.

Miami (FL) at Ohio State
The Hurricanes special teams certainly kept it interesting in the first half, scoring a kickoff return and a punt return for TDs, but this was all Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes in this one.  Miami QB Jacoby Harris was plagued by the Ohio State defense all day, throwing 4 INTs.  Pryor did his best to keep the Heisman hype rolling leading the team in passing and rushing with 346 total yards.  Buckeyes stomp Miami 36-24.

Penn State at Alabama
There was some concern with last year’s Heisman winner RB Mark Ingram still sidelined with the knee injury, but Alabama’s Trent Richardson filled in nicely for the second week in a row rushing 144 yards.  This game was never close, unless you count the six minutes it was scoreless.  Alabama coasts to a 24-3 victory over the Nittany Lions.

the Meat Life If You Had The Time…:

Michigan at Notre Dame
Unlike my brother’s hatred for Big Ten/Notre Dame style football, I thought this game was very entertaining and probably the most entertaining in the weekend ESPN hyped as “Monster Saturday.”  Notre Dame QB Dave Crist misses most of the first half as Michigan takes a commanding 21-7 lead behind dynamic running/passing QB Denard Robinson a.k.a. "Shoelace."  Crist comes back in the second half and rallies the Fighting Irish as they take the lead 24-21.  It then becomes the Denard Robinson show once again, as he led a 72-yard drive down the field for the winning score.  Robinson had 502 yards of total offense alone, 258 of those rushing, enough for 5^th most in a game in Michigan history.  If they keep playing like this, I might have to take what I said about RichRod back.  Wolverines pull out 28-24 above Notre Dame.

South Florida at Florida
This game was great in the first half.  South Florida held a 7-0 lead until toward the end of the first half.  Then the second half came and they imploded.  Gators RB Jeff Demps takes over the game, running a career-high 139 yards and 255 all-purpose yards.  South Florida just kept turning the ball over with 4 INTs throw by QB BJ Daniels (he only completed 5 passes to his team).  The Gators take the game from South Florida 38-14.

Oregon at Tennessee
This was building up to be a classic.  The game was delayed due to lightning in the first quarter.  Tennessee was holding their own and had a tie with the visiting Ducks 13-13 at half.  Then lightning struck Oregon, scoring 35 unanswered points in the second half.  The Volunteers offense was shut out in the second half.  Oregon RB LaMichael James had a nice game after serving a one game suspension, rushing for 134 yards.  Ducks top Tennessee 48-13.

There weren’t any games I wished I had included on this list this week.  Although I would say this, it was a bad time to be a ranked ACC team.  Each team that was ranked lost, the worst was Virginia Tech’s choke-fest to FCS and Founding Father James Madison 21-16 (although Georgia Tech’s 28-23 loss to Kansas wasn’t pretty either, Kansas lost to FCS North Dakota State the previous week 6-3).  At least Florida State and Miami got beat down by top ten teams.  Out of the previous ranked teams, only Miami is still ranked in the top 25 in the AP and Coaches’ polls.

Okay kids, here are my picks for next week:

Must See:
BYU at Florida State Saturday 2:30PM CDT
Nebraska at Washington Saturday 2:30PM CDT
Texas at Texas Tech Saturday 7:00PM CDT

If you have the time…:
Arkansas at Georgia Saturday 11:00AM CDT
Baylor at TCU Saturday 3:30PM CDT

Enjoy!

themeatlife.blogspot.com