I have never, up until this past October, cared much about college football. I have strictly been an NFL chick all the way. However, something changed back on 10.02.10. I fell in love with the Tennessee Volunteers. It was a casual thing; the game was on in the background as La, Ben, and I played with the new puppy. Yet, as the last few minutes of the game started to expire, I started rooting for the team in that pretty shade of orange that I have since, also fallen for.
On October 2, the Vols played LSU. The LSU Tigers marched down the field in an attempt to beat the Orange and White. There were only a few seconds left on the clock, LSU had to snap the ball to even have a shot at winning. They did, and their play collapsed around them.
Victory! Victory was Tennessee's!!! They beat the 12th ranked LSU Tigers!! Yay!!!
Eh, not so much. Although time had expired and players were shaking hands, there was a flag on the play. Tennessee had to stop celebrating and LSU had to stop being completely frustrated.
It turns out Tennessee's defense had gotten a bit discombobulated and rushed to get on the field, leading the Vols to have 13 men out there [rather than the 11 that rules allow for]. This gave LSU another chance. It gave LSU time on the clock for another shot at a play. This time LSU delivered and the outcome of the game changed just-like-that.
This is why I fell in love with Tennessee. They were so close to winning, but it was just snapped out of their hands. I guess I could relate to them back then. I had been so close to having my happy ending, but then, just-like-that, it was gone. Doesn't mean I won't be fortunate to have a different, or even better happy ending. It simply means the one I thought I was going to have at that point in time, was quickly taken from me.
In fact, I have a feeling that it will turn out just as good for me as it did for Tennessee. Although, the Vols lost all of their games in the month of October, they came together, and won all of their games during November, ending the regular season with a 6-6 record. And they qualified for a bowl game.
Maybe they didn't win against LSU. But the season ended better than they thought it would have back in October.
It's through Tennessee that I see hope. Hope for a new happy ending.
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I love football. I live it; I breathe it; I would marry it if at all possible. Men just don't understand how I could be so obsessed with a sport. Sometimes, well most of the time, I take it way too seriously.
Which I think is part of my problem. I tend to be into football much more than my boyfriends. It bothers them, this they've admitted. Why? Not so sure. Maybe they are intimidated by little 5'1" me loving football and knowing more than they might about the sport, when they are supposed to be the man and be able to act like they know it all, even though they don't really follow the sport...? Just speculation. No definitive answers have arisen.
Moreover, my obsessive love of football can put me in quite a disgruntled mood. I'm a Buffalo Bills fan, and if you've heard rumors this year...they are 0-6. Awful, just awfully heartbreaking for me. So when someone calls me right after the game to heckle me, or say something bad about the Bills, you can imagine I am far from friendly.
Guys don't understand that it is really serious for me. When they laugh about the game and how disappointing it was (all while laughing) they don't understand that they're a digging their own grave. They have instantly lost points with me; especially since as I answer the phone say, "I don't want to talk about the game yet, I'm still processing the outcome." YET, they insist on talking about the game, saying how disappointing it was. Not that they talk specific plays or strategies...no, they just talk about the scoreboard.
....I thought I said I was still processing and didn't want to talk about it yet....
And for the record, I don't just want to talk about the scoreboard. Yes, it matters, but if you know anything about football you'd man up and talk about plays, players, and calls. Not just the pretty, colorful numbers that any idiot can analyze.
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I love where I grew up. I think that the Buffalo-Niagara region is a place that people don't seem to value as much as I think they should. Typically when I travel around the country and I tell them I'm from Buffalo they say one of two things: 1) Oh you get a lot of snow up there! 2) How 'bout them Bills?!
Yes, we do get a decent amount of snow. Yes, our region can get blasted with Lake Effect Snow from Lake Erie and Ontario. But unlike NYC or Albany or DC we are equipped to deal with it. That's why we don't call in the National Guard or declare a State of Emergency every winter. We have, obviously but we don't cry wolf. We cry, "seriously this is for real, get your asses mobilized!!!" And seriously, I'll take snow any day over hurricanes, tornadoes, massive floods, wildfires, and earthquakes.
Yes, the Buffalo Bills. While this season I have no real way of defending my home team, I can say this. The Bills invented the no-huddle offense. Doug Flutie, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Jim Kelly, OJ Simpson, Andre Reed-- Buffalo Bills players. Buffalo is one of the best stadiums to tailgate at...open containers are acceptable. We did also go to 4 Superbowls 4 consecutive years. Yes, we lost, but no other NFL team has gone in back to back to back to back years. And in the local community, many Bills are present with fundraisers and charity events, like Brian Moorman for Children's Hospital.
What else is so great about the Buffalo-Niagara region? Well I'll tell you.
1.The Falls. Have you ever gone to see it? Pictures are great, but there is nothing like the way you can feel so insignificant when standing besides the powerful waters. Think about all the people who have seen this. Can you imagine being a Native American and stumbling upon this magnificent and powerful setting? It is beautiful in every season too.
2. We have seasons! Spring, Summer, Fall, & Winter!! There is so many things to do and see during all of those!
3. There are at least 10 universities I can think of off the top of my head. Good schools too.
4. Festivals, Fairs, Ghost walks, museums, concerts at many different venues. This is a great place for families. Lake Erie, Niagara River, Lake Ontario bring many options, as well.
5. Buffalo Night Life. Chippewa Street has so many bars and clubs. Different Buffalo districts play hosts to all different sorts of bars, lounges, and restaurants.
6. Anchor Bar and Duff's Wings have amazing chicken wings. Anchor Bar is where the "Buffalo Wing" was invented. By the way, they are called chicken wings here, not Buffalo wings. Speaking of food: Mighty Taco, Ted's, Tim Hortons... The staple of Loganberry beverage.
7. Canada is right there! Want to go to a foreign country? Get your passport, hop in the car, pay $3.25 toll, and you're in Canada. Pretty simple.
8. The people. For whatever reason people here in the Buffalo-Niagara region are very nice, very hospitable. Mr. Rodgers would be very proud at our region of good neighbors.
9. The region is so varied. There are obviously the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, but there are also suburbs (Clarence, West Seneca, Amherst, Orchard Park...), as well as rural areas (Cambria, Newfane, Barker, Akron...) that have their own festivals and culture. As a result there is something for everyone and always something to do!
Just take mine & Yahoo! News Real Estates word for it, ok?
And P.S. I've been to Pittsburgh and many of my friends are from there. It is an awesome place to live too! Very similar to Buffalo-Niagara region.
I'm a big fan of brown glass bottles. I'm also a big fan of frosted glasses. Hello, I'm Lorelai and I'm a cold beer drinker.
For me, one of the most satisfying things in this world is a nice cold, great tasting beer. I know I'm not the only one who thinks so. Ben Franklin, yea the historical guy who is found on $100 bill, said: "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Ben's right on this one (the turkey being the national bird of the country...eh not-so-much)! Hundreds of songs have been written about the tasty liquid and enjoying it in a bar, honky-tonk, and tailgate.
I shouldn't have to try to convince you that beer is amazing and by far the best version of alcohol in the univserse. The calories are what make it taste so freakin' good! So enjoy them! And don't order a light beer. That's like ordering a piece of birthday cake...without the frosting. Sad.
During my 8 weeks at boot camp, I craved beer like no other in this world. And its not that I wanted to get loaded...I just wanted that smooth, lovely hops & barley concoction on my lips. In fact, I don't use beer to get loaded. Maybe in my youthful, undergrad days, but definitely not now in my sophisticated graduate days. I think beer should be valued.
Did you know the reason beer is so popular in the more Northern European countries (ie: England, Germany, Denmark) is this thing called The Little Ice Age that happened between the 11th and 12th centuries? They had orginially been more into wine, but the Little Ice Age happened and they no longer had a climate suitable to sustain a large grape crop that wine required. So, they turned to what still would grow in colder temperatures; sturdy and hearty hops, barley, & wheat.
That being said, I am not a beer connoisseur. In fact, I know very little about the creation of, the differences in, and the quality of beer. What I do know is all from trying out different beers and finding the ones I like. And I am a very loyal beer drinker. I know what I like. I know what I don't. But I am willing to try something new if someone recommends I try it...or it has an interesting name or label. Going to resturants that have micro-brews is one of my favorite things. (Huske Hardware & The Mash House in Fayetteville, NC have a fantastic selection of micro-brews for the record.)
My favorites: Molson Canadian, Yuengling Traditional Lager, and Sam Adams Cherry Wheat.
I would love to visit the brewery in Montreal for Molson. Yes, that is one of the things on my to-see list.
So, this Saturday, I'm going to go hang out with the boys, watch some college football at the bar and drink a few ice cold beers. Yes sir, I'm a cold beer drinker.
I love fall. It is my favorite season. There are the beautiful leaves and colors. There are "Back to School" specials at the stores. There is Thanksgiving, turkey, and cranberry sauce. Pilgrims. Indians. Halloween. The crunchy noise leaves make when you step on them. Pumpkins & corn stalks. Mazes in corn fields. Ghost walks. Fashionable European scarves & cowboy boot weather. Tailgating with some beers and great friends. Oh, yea...and that amazing sport we call American Football. Boys in tight pants & shoulder pads? Yup, that's my kind of stud!!
But no matter how amazing football can be (and it definitely is!), my absolute favorite thing about the season is: Allegheny College Homecoming. Which is exactly where I was this past weekend. I revisited my old undergraduate place of 3 wonderful and meaningful years, spent time with friends that mean more than words can properly express, and tailgated for the football game!
