Great football going on today

[geomon666]

My Canes win in a triple overtime thriller over Clemson. BC is beating FSU at halftime. And my personal favorite...Oklahoma will slide out of the top 25 after todays embarrassing loss to UCLA. :)

[RoyGBiv]

1. Indeed ...

This Florida v Tennessee game ain't too shabby either.

<rant>

On the subject of OU, as an OU fan, I will say I am regretfully rather enjoying this season. (Yeah, I know I sound psychotic.) I feel bad for the team, but the last few years have reminded me why I loathe so many sports fans. I've been an OU fan since I was old enough to recognize the difference between Sooner crimson and Husker red. That is, I followed the team, supported the team, cheered for the team all the time, even when they were down and out, which wasn't often actually. Switzer's retirement, and OU's downfall as a national powerhouse, happened to coincide with my being of an age to go to more games on my own. I went to eleven OU-TX games in a row during this time, saw OU win a couple times, tie once, and lose a lot. Still, I was there.

And then came 2000, the last year I could afford to go to an OU-TX game because no one expected them to win. With the better team came the fans who are not really fans but sunshine and oranges followers. I couldn't beg a ticket out of anyone, can't afford the regular method of purchasing this ticket, and certainly can't even dream of the sums of money required to buy a ticket from someone. Prior to the season, E-Bay had pairs going for upwards of $1300. I wouldn't pay that if I did have it.

I know one of these fair-weather fans who pre-purchased a pair of tickets. He spent $800. Now he's trying to dump them. I offered him face value. :-)

In short, I'm glad to see these people learn a little humility, even if it does come at the cost of the confidence of the players and the emotions of true fans everywhere.

</rant>

[marbuc]

2. Hope you enjoy it while it lasts

My Buffs are going to steal a win next week in Miami! ;-) I am heading down for the game, and win or lose, I plan to have a good time.

Are you familiar with the area? Do you have any recommendations for pre and post game festivities? I'm staying at a hotel in Coconut Grove, so any tips on restaurants/bars in the area would be appreciated.

[Awsi Dooger]

6. Go to Shorty's

A personal favorite of mine, barbeque restaurant on South Dixie Highway dating to the early '50s. Makes the list of best places to eat in Miami. Old wooden exterior and seating. Great corn on the cob, ribs and beef sandwiches. A little bit south of Coconut Grove near the huge Dadeland Mall.

Others will no doubt point you to Joe's Stone Crab, a popular eatery on the Beach.

The Grove was hit fairly hard by Hurricane Katrina. I was in Miami for that and drove through the Grove a few days later. Tons of trees down and businesses boarded up and closed with no reopening in sight. Many people lost their lives by deciding to stick it out on small boats in the Grove marina.

You could also tour Coral Gables, site of the Miami campus and very scenic with all the Spanish style homes and tree lined streets. The Biltmore Hotel has a long history and has been restored recently. It dominates the skyline in the Gables and is worth a brief tour. Also some very good restaurants at the Biltmore if you don't mind a fairly high tab. Again, that Gables area was hard hit by Katrina. In places there were huge trees down one after another. I'm talking root systems 10 or more feet wide and 6 to 10 consecutive trees toppled. Residents of the Gables were literally unable to drive away for days, with the streets blocked by trees. The Donald Ross golf course at the Biltmore was still closed a week ago. Nothing to compare to what Katrina did later, obviously, but the cleanup was still in progress when I left on Monday.

Pre game festivities are mostly young rowdy Canes fans walking across the bridge and to the Orange Bowl chanting stuff like, "We've got some Canes over here, whoosh, whoosh..." Unfortunately, I'm not kidding. Since the stadium isn't on campus you don't have the traditional tailgating that you're no doubt used to in Boulder.

[RagingInMiami]

11. You have plenty of tailgating

It's just not on campus.

[RagingInMiami]

12. Man, I feel sorry for you

Coming all the way down for a loss.

If you're into late night eating and drinking, I recommend Flanagans in Coconut Grove, which stays open until 5 a.m. and serves really good food and has a great selection of beer.

You might also want to tour Calle Ocho in Little Havana to get a taste of the original Cuban community in Miami. There is really a lot to do down here, so PM me if you have any specific questions.

[marbuc]

13. Thanks for the tip

And Flanagan's sounds up my alley, at least whilst drowning the tears! ;) Seriously, I am familiar with Canes football, and am aware of the possibility that we might lose. I plan to enjoy myself win or lose, and wouldn't spend the energy going all the way down there if my enjoyment hinged on a win.

However, having watched the FSU game, and seen a score indicating how tough Clemson played the Canes, it seems like the Canes aren't so mighty this year, and I'm fairly confident the Buffs will give them a run for their money.

[RagingInMiami]

14. The problem with the Canes this year is their offensive line

If you can blitz and rush hard, you will sack Kyle Wright. If not, they will burn you.

But the Orange Bowl is another factor. First game of the season. It's going to be hot. Humid. Totally what Colorado is not used to. Then the screaming fans. The atmosphere.

It's hard to win there.

[RagingInMiami]

15. Flanigans

Which is called the "Laughing Loggerhead" by the locals, is on Bird Road and 27th Avenue, two major roads near the grove. I was just there tonight.

Good ribs.

[marbuc]

16. Are there any local beers worth recommending? eom

[RagingInMiami]

17. That is a local bar

It's a few blocks away from the crowded masses you will get in Coconut Grove's commercial district, which has a good choice of bars, clubs and restaurants.

Another good local bar I would recommend is called "Fox's Sherron Inn". It's in South Miami, which is a short drive from Coconut Grove. It's on US1 so it's easy to find.

Then there's Tobacco Road, Miami's oldest bar. It's a blues and jazz bar in downtown Miami. I included links.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/miami/N27144.html

http://www.tobacco-road.com/

[marbuc]

18. Thanks again

Any local beers I should look to sample?

[RagingInMiami]

19. We're not known for local beers

Down here it's all about Heineken or the usual staple of American beers.

[spartan61]

3. Did anyone watch the great game Michigan State vs Notre Dame

It was so exciting, and my Spartans won it in overtime!!! Go Green!!

[akarnitz]

8. What a great game!!

Maybe this game opened the eyes of the football world to Drew Stanton.
Heisman in his senior year? Could be.

Trannon looked(and sounded)good. Any drops in this game? I only watched to mid-way thru the 2nd qtr.. Listened to the rest at work, but was kinda busy.

[ewagner]

4. FSU 28 BC 17

w/4 Min to go in 4th...

we're gonna fight, fight, fight
for F...S...U
we're gonna scalp 'em Sem-in-oles...

[Awsi Dooger]

5. Other than Florida winning, I'm having a great day

Hey geomon666, I'm a huge Canes fan also. I bet Clemson in the first half +3.5 due to my pet first half anti-revenge theory, then pulled for Miami to win the game, so everything was awesome. I bet on FSU because the talent gap in that game wasn't represented in the pointspread. FSU got underrated simply they don't have a prolific offense this year. My first halves are going well on the big favorites and my alma mater USC is already well ahead, 28 points in the first quarter.

Damn Gators. Tennessee got a low catch at the 1 ruled incomplete via instant replay late in the first half and then the FG was blocked. My alltime football pet peeve is low passes being called incomplete. Hint: your hands and forearms are BELOW the football. I played WR in high school and wanted to kill the refs who insisted on calling those passes incomplete. The ball hits the top of your hands or forearms and may pop up a bit, but that doesn't mean it ever hits the ground. I'm amazed and disgusted that ignorance prevails in every level of football officiating. Especially when you need supposed irrefutable evidence. The idiot announcers like Dan Dierdof persist in calling those passes incomplete when they see air between the hands and football. A big lineman lug like Dierdorf has no clue what a skilled receiver can do with a low throw. I could go on forever about this topic.

[Tafiti]

7. Hey.

Don't give a fuck about Miami (to be honest - or BC or FSU or Okie), but I just wanted to compliment you on your sig line. Those APC propaganda posters are awesome. It might almost be worth it to have all of them spanning your entire sig line space. I personally like the one that says, "Stick To Your Daily Routine" with a woman with groceries in her arms. In other words, "Go back to bed America, you are free to do what we tell you!!!"

[TroubleMan]

9. Yeah...it was fun to watch, but I'm upset about my Vols losing

Their special teams really sucked.

[RagingInMiami]

10. That was a great game

But the Canes really need to do something about their offensive line. But rather than wait for the line to improve, they should adjust their offensive strategies to include more timing patterns.

The Canes have the speed on receivers and Kyle Wright is very accurate. This would tear defenses apart.

Right now, they're doing as they've always done, drop back and look for the open receiver, but the QB is taking a beating.