Tuesday November 22, 2011 - The View From Section EE

This weeks view is a little different. The south endzone has great seats, but this times its from somewhere on the 20 yard line near the ISU sideline!

The best game to be played in the history of Jack Trice Stadium took place last Friday. Iowa State did about everything they could have done to beat one of the best teams in the country this year. ISU gained more yardage on offense than OSU. ISU had more first downs than OSU. ISU had a greater time of possession than OSU. And most importantly, ISU scored six more points than ISU. When the second overtime started and Jake Knott tipped the ball to Te'Ran Benton the feeling was the game was over, but we are Iowa State fans and a millions things that can go wrong, usually will. This time Paul Rhoads decides to take the Achilles Heel out of play, the kicking game, and give the ball to Jeff Woody who rumbles into the endzone for the touchdown on the third straight run of the second overtime. The whole place went crazy, much like the Iowa game earlier this year, but this win put ISU into a bowl game for the second time in three years, gave ISU their third straight Big 12 win, and knocked OSU out of the National Championship picture, temporarily. Nothing beats an underdog story, and this was definitely it.

Now off of football for a second, today was Brianna's Grandparent's Day at school. She has been so excited for this since her Grandpa Chris was going to be able to go. She had been practicing songs for the longest time that they were going to sing at a program. When I called her today to see how things went, she was very excited, but it was not very easy to understand her. Something about a house full of girls that made the phone call not so pleasant to listen to. Lots of yelling and screaming. Just another sign of things to come in the future.

One other huge note, unless the doctors take forever with their discharge papers, they seemed to take HOURS when Kristy and the kids were being released from the hospital, our good friend Brooke is getting released from the hospital today from her bone marrow transplant. We are so excited for them, but I bet they are a million times more excited to actually see a real bed and be in their own home! It has only been close to a month.

My prediction (5-5 for the season):

I have said this before, I have no problem being wrong on my predictions when I pick ISU to lose. This week Vegas has again decided to put the Cyclones at a four touchdown favorite, that's 28 points to the non football fans. Oklahoma is one of the most talented teams in the country, much like Oklahoma State. But OU is missing two key persons due to injuries on the offensive side of the ball. The ISU defense is playing lights out right now and I believe they can keep games close against a lot of schools right now. With this being on the road and OU coming off a last second loss at Baylor, they will not be too happy. If the ISU defense plays like they did against OSU, they have a shot. ISU needs to minimize turnovers and win the time of possession stat by running the ball well and getting first downs. ISU ran 106 plays against OSU. If the offense can continue that pace, anything can happen.

With that being said, I still have to go with OU. Its on the road, ISU has to recover form a monumental win, and OU is going to be playing very unhappy due to coming off the loss at Baylor. I say OU wins, but Vegas has it wrong again. I think ISU can keep it within 10 points, but lets hope I am wrong and they pull off the upset two weeks in a row.

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Thursday November 17, 2011 - The View From Section EE

Two weeks ago ISU played a bad Kansas team. ISU let Kansas look pretty good, especially running the ball. Luckily, Kansas made just enough mistakes late in the game, including an odd punt call by the Kansas coach down late in the game. A win is a win, and we will take it.

The past two weeks went pretty fast, but not a whole lot happened. Since we have Paige with us for a while now, we tend to barricade the dogs in the basement with us so they do not get into things throughout the house. Both dog kennels are set up side by side and Bri and Emma have been playing "dogs". It works perfect for me. They are quiet and surprisingly do not fight. So Reagan has been going into his kennel just to hang out. His door is left open and he just walks in and lays down. While doing this, Emily decides to crawl in with him. I had to remove both Bri and Emma out of the kennel over the weekend because I did not know if Reagan would freak out and start kicking and scratching his way out. He just laid there and let Emma sit with him. Here is the picture.

My Prediction: (5-4 on the season)

Tomorrows game could be an interesting. The second ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys come into Ames for a Friday night game on national television. This OSU team has been destroying everyone. There are about eight million stars that have to align for this upset to happen. The ISU offense is set to be a fast pace offence that runs a lot of plays and runs them very quickly. In order for ISU to even compete in this game, they have to take care of the ball, and continue to get first downs and keep offensive drives alive. Even if they do not score, they need to get to mid field, and if forced to punt, punt it deep into OSU territory and make them have to use the whole field to score. On the defensive side of the ball they need to keep the key wide receivers in front of them and hold OSU to field goals. They will score, there is no doubt about it, but if they hold them to field goals or make them gamble on fourth down conversions, then there could be a chance. Vegas has this game pegged as a four touchdown blow out in the Cowboy favor. It very well could happen. ISU has nothing to lose, so why not throw out every trick, unconventional play possible to shock a Cowboy team looking at a potential National Championship.

I will say that Vegas knows what they are talking about with these spreads, but I think ISU covers. I still think they will lose, but I think they hang early but OSU pulls away late and wins by 17.

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Wednesday November 2, 2011 - The View From Section EE

So last Saturday I was sitting in the basement with Bri and Emma and a couple boxer dogs preparing for what I thought was going to be another ugly Iowa State football game. Turns out, me and a ton of other people were completely wrong. Iowa State completely dominated a ranked Texas Tech team that won at Oklahoma the previous week. The Oklahoma that is considered one of the best in the country. This goes to prove what we at our tailgate have been talking about all year. When the offense is not turning the ball over so much, the defense is on the sidelines resting and preparing for the next drive, rather than running back on the field. Its a team game, and when both sides of the ball are working together, good things can happen.

With our different work schedules, this year both Kristy and I had to work on Halloween. Thankfully, Trick or Treating in Harlan was on Sunday, a day we were both off, so we took the girls, and Paige to Harlan for the night. It was a lot of fun minus a little cold. Emma was dressed as a cow in a warm costume. Bri was a Fairy, in a not so good costume. She has since decided she would like to be a dog next year in a warm costume like Emilys. Here are a couple pictures of them our and about. We took Paige, because Reagan is a jerk around others, if not everyone. Paige was funny because she was shaking scared as we walked into my parents house and she even more frightened when she saw a Frankenstein walking toward her. She definitely is lacking in the guard dog department.

Bri really enjoyed it this year. She was pretty helpful with Emily too. She would help her up some steps and even ask for a piece of candy for her when Emma was left behind. But things can change quickly. Our arrangement was going to be she was going to pass out candy in Omaha since we both had to work and my Dad was going to be watching them. Once she saw her friends going out, she had a meltdown. Since things tend to go in her favor, her friends' mothers said they would take her around our neighborhood. About an hour and a half later, she is back with her Hello Kitty bag pictured above almost completely full. She will be on a sugar high for a very long time.

Beginning last Friday, we have a new member to our family for a while, Paige, Tim and Brooke's boxer dog. Brooke is in the process of going through a bone marrow transplant, so we will be looking after Paige for the time being. So far, her and Reagan have behaved very well. The initial excitement wore off in roughly 30 minutes. Now they are content with sleeping on separate couches in between short bouts of fighting over a bone or being picked on by two kids. All of our thoughts and prayers are headed Brooke's way as she begins her bone marrow treatment this evening.

Here is a picture of Paige and Reagan I submitted to Iowa State to hopefully be featured on Cy's Pets of the Week on the video board at Jack Trice Stadium this weekend. It took a some Pupperroni treats and a few smacks to the face, yes that's you Paige, but it worked. Kristy thinks Reagan looks tough in the too tight jersey, but I think he looks like he needs a few less scoops of food a day. Anyway, these two have to be chosen for this Saturday. I guess we will wait and see.

My Prediction: (4-4 on the season)

This week, on paper, looks like it should be a gimme for ISU, but Cyclone fans only need to look a few hours east to realize there are no gimmes in college sports. See Minnesota's win over Iowa last weekend. Kansas will be coming in to Ames looking really bad. They have arguably the worst defense in FBS football and last week the offense only notched three first downs and less than 50 yards of total offense. Stats like that will not go very far for the Jayhawks. I think ISU runs away with this one and wins by more than 20 points.

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Friday October 28, 2011 - The View From Section EE

Last week saw an ISU quarterback throw an interception on the very first play of the game. Not long after, he was pulled, and a new quarterback is now in place. Barnett looked pretty good, but some crucial dropped passes stalled a few drives and Texas A&M was able to do just enough to maintain a solid lead. Even though A&M won easy, it seemed ISU had some new life with a new quarterback into place.

Last Wednesday, my sister Teresa and her husband Juan Luis, and my brother Paddy flew in from Seattle. It was a real good time filled with way too much food, as usual. We got to watch a couple World Series games, showed Paddy what keeps people returning to casinos (A $50 plus winnings on the strangest slot machine I have ever seen).

Bri and Emma had an outstanding time! Teresa and Juan Luis spoiled Brianna with another awesome pair of shoes, her Sketcher Twinkle Toes. Last summer Bri got a Twinkle Toes toy from a happy meal somewhere. She had been asking us for them, and we just blew her off hoping she would forget. To all of our surprise, Teresa came to the rescue for Bri's new fancy shoes! Emma got a pair of cowboy boots and she look hilarious trying to walk. It was a good relaxing few days with them. It was unfortunate that their trip was not very long, since Kristy and I went to Ames for some football a day before they had to leave.

Tomorrow Iowa State travels to beautiful Lubbock, TX to take on Texas Tech. Before the season started, Texas Tech looked like a winnable road game. Then Texas Tech won at Oklahoma last week. With a new quarterback starting for the Cyclones, its hard to tell what is going to happen. Last year ISU beat Texas Tech 52-38 in a wild game in Ames that included an onside kick that ISU returned for a touchdown. The second time that happened to Texas Tech last year. Vegas has Texas Tech somewhere near a two touchdown favorite. My guess is that is pretty accurate and Tech wins easily.

My Prediction: (4-2 This Season)

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Thursday October 20, 2011 - The View From Section EE

Last week ISU's game at Missouri was a disaster. I believe Iowa State either forgot to get on the bus to Columbia or just gave up. Halfway through the season and they sit at 3 wins and 3 losses. Most did not think 3 wins were possible and now they are 3 wins away from a bowl game. With 6 games to go, 3 more wins are looking like a huge obstacle the way they are playing.

If this blog seems a little disorganized, its because I am writing on my phone. I do have to say, the mobile blogspot is a lot better than a year ago.

We are currently sitting at my parents because my brother Paddy and my sister Teresa and her husband Juan Luis flew in from Seattle. Last night we moved the basement couch so we could make some room for a bed. What do we find that is pictured below, some blonde locks of hair. Today when we got to my parents I asked Brianna about it. She immediately asked "how did you find that?" Turns out, she cut her hair on purpose because I would not let her play on the computer or watch her shows on TV.

We also just got back from Bri's first parent/teacher conference. We had to reaffirm with her teacher that we are talking about the same girl. They said how good she is and how she is the girl who likes to answer questions in class. She even told her teacher how she was going to make it a point to talk to Bo in school. The teachers said he is the really shy kid in class and it was really nice that Bri was going to make it a point to talk to him. Makes us proud, but I still think they had the notes of another girl.

The second picture is one of Emily at the airport. She game a warm Omaha welcome to everyone on 3 different planes as exited their plane and walked through the terminal. She had a lot of people wave and smile!

This Saturday is Homecoming in Ames and Texas A&M comes into town. My gut feeling says it will be a lot smaller crowd than the three almost sellouts the first 3 games, and that will reflect on the score too. The Cyclone Defense has disappeared and the Offense, well, is this same offense that has looked awful for 3 straight games. There could be an upset special brewing for the Cyclones, but I don't see it this Saturday.

Texas A&M: 42

Iowa State: 17

Thursday October 13, 2011 - The View From Section EE

I take no comfort in having a pretty close score in last weeks Iowa State at Baylor game. ISU kept it close early, but a horrible fumble call, reversed for Baylor was the game changer and the game was over at that point in the second quarter.

This week has been pretty uneventful. It is getting comical watching Bri in the bus line. She definitely has no issues sticking up for herself. Today she was third in line. Then as the other girls lined up, she left the line for some reason and the next girl in line took her spot. She did not like that! She basically forced her way back to her spot. When I talked to her about it, she believes that once you leave your spot in line, it cant be taken away. I told her she shouldn't have left or she should place her backpack in her spot. She doesn't like those rules.

Em has taken up hitting as a hobby recently. Both Kristy and I, and I imagine her Grandpa too, have been the victims of this. Oh yeah, cant forget Reagan, more on him later. Today we were getting her ready to leave and she loses her patience after her first shoe is put on. After she rolls over, we turn her back around, and she hits us. This will be interesting to see how long this trend will go.

Now back to Reagan. He continues to eat socks. On Monday I found a pair of Emily's socks. They were still rolled up! He has made our house a disaster. It took him a couple days to clear whatever else he had in his system, but he is very fortunate he was not kicked to the curb.

My Prediction (Season: 3-2):

Something has to give. Both Iowa State and Missouri are 0-2 in Big 12 play. If ISU is going to get the three more needed wins to qualify for a bowl game, this one seems to be a road win they must have, along with the one at Texas Tech. If the last two years trend is going to continue with a solid road win, this may be the last chance. (Missouri's record does not show it, but I believe they are a better team than Texas Tech.) I say something gives, and ISU finally plays a near complete game, minus the kicking game, and pulls off the win and reclaims the Telephone Trophy for quite possibly the last time.

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Wednesday October 5, 2011 - The View From Section EE

Thankfully, last weekends game is over. Leave it up to Iowa State to come into a big game, undefeated at home, on national television, and lay an egg as bad as they did. First half turnovers and unexcused penalties did them in against a slightly above average Texas team. Nothing is more frustrating then seeing ISU players taunting and yelling after a play. That has been a common theme the past three years, especially for the Defensive Backs. Football is suppose to be a team game with a lot of discipline. The prime example was at the beginning of the second quarter. ISU was already down 13-0 but had a huge stop to force a Texas punt. Instead of getting off the ground and running back to the sideline, Leonard Johnson decides to headbutt the Texas receiver. Subsequently, Johnson is pulled and on the very next play, his replacement was burned for a 50 some yard touchdown pass. That was the ball game right there. The first three games they flirted with disaster with penalties and turnovers, but now that conference play has begun, they will not win another game again if they continue to walk that tight rope all year.

Its a good thing ISU football fans have adapted to this tailgating thing that happens before, during, and after Cyclone football games. There is no better way to get over a football game then good food and cold beverages! This weekend was Family Weekend and the Lil' Cyclone Members could go onto the field before the game, so I decided to take Bri. Kristy's sister, Morgan also went to the game, but did not go on the field with us. To my surprise, they were really good. That probably had to do with the game being so bad we left early. While tailgating, Bri got to take another picture with Cy! She continues to be over her fear of mascots. Here is the picture of Bri and Morgan with Cy while the adults were at the Lottery tent.

The first two games of the year it took us forever to get into the Stadium. Those crowds were just as large, so we decided to leave a little earlier to get lined up. We walked in with absolutely no issue and were were about 50 minutes early. So after that lengthy wait, Bri and I walked onto the field. Here is a picture of Bri and I on the midfield log and the view of the massive video board.

Here is a picture of Bri and Morgan as they wait, very patiently, as we sat before they would let us onto the field.

And finally, one of the big highlights for Brianna, a dog that walked by our tailgate. A huge Saint Bernard walked by that was available for adoption. He was a very good looking dog. The conversation the ensued after this was about the difference between adopting and buying. Bri kept associating how you can adopt toys from a store and buy a dog. I still have a headache from trying to explain that.

My Prediction: (2-2 This Season)

Whatever happened to the Baylor Bears of the past where it was a shoe-in for win every year? This is not quite the case anymore, especially with one of the best quarterbacks in college football this year, Robert Griffin III. Baylor was also undefeated until they lost at Kansas State last week. I am sure they are looking for a huge win, and with a banged up Iowa State team coming to Waco, it very well could happen. In each of the last two years, ISU has had a huge road win, at Texas in 2010 and at Nebraska in 2009. Between Baylor, Missouri, and Oklahoma, the three biggest conference road games this season, I find it hard to believe this is the one they win. I say Baylor wins this one easy by going ahead early and ISU scores some late garbage points. I would not put it past Paul Rhoads to get this team ready to play and ISU pulls off a shocker, but I am not going to predict it.

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