New Banner, happy Saturday!

Hey everyone, I finally got around to updating our banner as requested by the group. I hope everyone approves. Any suggestions are welcome. Aside from that, I wish everyone the best of luck in their games this weekend! I will be in Orlando, FL with family, watching the UF-TN match, as well as LSU-Auburn, probably some others. Cheers!

4th Week - Upcoming Games

Upcoming games for the principal blog participants are: Saturday September 20th -

• 12:00 PM ET Iowa at Pittsburgh TV: ESPN2

• 12:30 PM ET Georgetown at Yale TV: No TV. Follow on Gametracker

• 3:30 PM ET No. 4 Florida at Tennessee TV: CBS

• 3:30 PM ET Miami (FL) at Texas A&M TV: ABC

• 7:45 PM ET No. 6 LSU at No. 10 Auburn TV:ESPN

Thursday September 25-

• 6:00 PM (PT ) No. 1 USC at Oregon State TV: ESPN

Other Games of Interest: Saturday September 20th -

• 12:00 PM ET Troy at No. 13 Ohio State (I have picked Troy)

• 8:00 PM ET No. 3 Georgia at Arizona State TV: ABC

As always click on the title to this post for a more complete schedule. Good luck to all bloggers -- Specially AggiePete. Beat Miami!!!!!

Coast to Coast Rick Fraxedas!!!!!

My brother Rick, world renowned water systems engineer, husband to dancing sensation Mari Fraxedas, father of three great kids, double Gator, and all-around great guy (did I say double Gator) is not one to let small matters keep him down. As all our fellow bloggers know by now Rick and Mari recently had a major fire in their beautiful house in Fort Lauderdale. They will be homeless for months. Yet barely a week after the fire Rick was with me at The Swamp for the Gators' opening game against Hawaii. A couple of weeks later Rick was tailgating at the USC campus with Nora and the Katniks proudly wearing a Gator "alumni" shirt in anticipation of USC's historic game against Ohio State. I cannot imagine the fear and loathing, the utter chattering of teeth, on the part of the Buckeyes upon seeing a Gator shirt amid all the Cardinal & Gold... and then, the piece-de-resistance, Johnnie Cueto was wearing an LSU shirt!!!!! Que familia! What a Blog!!! If you click on the title to this post above, it will take you to a Picassa Web Album with the pictures posted to the right in higher definition. Enjoy!

A Day to Remember

Rick Fraxedas is truly the embodiment of the Coast to Coast Sports Chat! One week he is at the Swamp and within two weeks he is at the Coliseum for the USC vs Ohio ST. Game. The day was divinely inspired, since we attended Mass at the Cathedral of Los Angeles (Our Lady od the Angeles), and we were awestruck at not only the beauty of the structure, but the presence of numerous different ethnic groups in traditional garb and song. The Japanese drums began the proceedings and it was uphill from there. We even joined them at a reception afterwards and had thai food. Then we drove past the Walt Disney Concert Hall on our way to the GAME. Once we arriced, the sea of humanity was everywhere. We walked the campus all the way to the Stadium thinking we might score some tickets. No such luck as they were hype exspensivo. We finally tracked down the Katnik tailgate party and had a beer with the youngsters. (Pictures to follow). From there we saw the team, lead by Pete Carroll, walking through a huge crowd of people. We saw Sanchez, Maualuga, etc...very impressive group of young people. The band was playing their dorky fight song, repeated ad infinitum, which is then rattling in my sbuconscious for days. The best part was that Rick wore his Gators t-shirt and it caused a sensation. The USC fans loved it, but the Ohio people were visibly disturbed by the presence of a nemesis. The comments were funny and all in good fun. A lady passing by said that even though she had a USC hat on, she was a Gator, just incognito for the day. After all of that, we made it back to Victor's for the opening kickoff and a great tailgater at his house. A fun time was had by all. I also see that Natalie is still in the number one position. Fun for her since she picks the teams by color of uniform, if she likes the school, and if she knows somebody who attended. Sounds like as good a way to pick as any.

Hangover heaven in LA

Hola bloggers from Coast to Coast. Great seeing Cuz Ricardo the last few days here in the OC, earning true coast to coast honors. Vic you were on the money as always, saying for 2 weeks that we were way too fast for the slow-footed buckeyes. Had to be there in person @ the Coliseum, early in the week calling all my bros until one offered me a ticket @ face value. But I may not get invited back as I was "too loud" for all those quiet people in our immediate section. Lost my voice early on, but kept screaming and whistling to the dismay of everyone. I was tailgating on foot pre-game, patrolling the exterior of the coliseum as a one-man wrecking crew, carrying a plastic bag with melting ice, rum & pepsi. The rum was gone but mysteriously the 22-oz pepsi was nearly full. Ended up wearing a purple LSU t-shirt into the coliseum with a USC hat, and everyone said "you're one confused dude". From what I remember I ripped it off the back of an LSU fan, then he took my SC shirt, so we were even. I believe me secretly wanting an LSU shirt was because of my love for this blog and some ragin-cuban-cajun names Lou Lion. I later bought another SC shirt and covered up my drunken mistake. Anyhow, it was a memorable day, even though I don't remember any of it! Sorry Nora we missed you and Rico, we couldn't park for 45 minutes, then we got "lost in the mayhem and merriment". Our teams are atop the polls, keep on winnin and grinnin. Johnny C

3rd Week Recap - Of Principal Blog Participants:

• USC 35 Ohio State 3 - In the most anticipated game of the early season, the Trojans utterly crushed the Buckeyes Saturday night at the Coliseum, limiting the Buckeyes to a single field goal. USC dominated every aspect of the game. Ohio State suffered its worst loss since 1994 and scored its fewest points in head coach Jim Tressel's eight seasons. The Trojans now look unstoppable. Congratulations, cousins! Fight on!!!!!! Now comes the Pac-10.
• LSU 41 North Texas 3- Charles Scott ran for touchdowns of 39 and 43 yards, Trindon Holliday scored on a 92-yard punt return, and LSU cruised to a 41-3 victory over winless North Texas on Saturday night. Now comes the SEC.
• Iowa 17 - Iowa State 5 - For the fourth time in six years, the Cy-Hawk Trophy will reside in the Hayden Fry Football Complex, following Iowa's 17-5 victory over Iowa State this afternoon inside Kinnick Stadium.Congratulations Hawkeye Ted!!!
• Lafayette 24 - Georgetown 6 - Lafayette scored a touchdown in the third quarter and added another in the fourth to break open a close game, beating Georgetown, 24-6, in the Patriot League opener for both teams at Fisher Stadium Saturday night. Sorry about that Willy the Hoya. Better luck next Saturday
• Florida and Texas A&M were idle - Florida travels to Tennessee next Saturday and Texas A&M hosts Boo--hoo U, Randy Shannon's crybabies from the formerly proud University of Miami.

Congratulations Trojans!!!

Congratulation Trojans on a resounding victory over Ohio State! You dominated every aspect of the game with blinding speed and held the haughty Buckeyes to a single field goal. Amazing! A single field goal!!! Haven't checked the boxscore yet... still buzzing from Land Sharks and Mount Gay Rum but it looked impressive as all get out. We're all Trojans tonight. Fight On!!!!!!!!!!!!

3rd Week-- Upcoming Games

Upcoming games for principal blog participants for the 3rd week are:

• 12PM ET Iowa State @ Iowa Hawkeyes TV: Big Ten Network
• 6PM ET Georgetown Hoyas @ Lafayette TV: No TV. Catch on Gametracker
• 8PM ET North Texas @ LSU TV:ESPN 360.com
• 8PM ET Ohio State @ USC TV: ABC --National Broadcast-- Biggest Game in September with major BCS implications!

• Texas A&M -Bye Week- Getting ready for Miami Hurricanes.

• UF Gators - Bye Week- Getting ready for Tennessee

Enjoy a great Saturday! Click on title of this post for more complete schedule as we all wait for USC v Ohio State!

Buckeye Arrogant Trash Talk - Great LA Times Article

Gang, If you click on the title to this post it will take you to a great article in the L.A. Times by Bill Plaschke. The gist of the article is that the arrogance of Ohio State and their fans is unbearable. It focuses on the trash talk earlier this week by Buckeye wide receiver Ray Small saying that USC has no class and implying that the Trojans don't play "real" football. Here's a sample:

• "In varying forms, I've been hearing Small's comments since Tressel and Carroll were both hired eight years ago. It's as if Ohio State folks believe they invented the game, while USC has only exploited it. Ohio State plays football, USC entertains with it. Ohio State teaches football, USC taunts with it. Blah, blah, blah. This condescending attitude is so prevalent in Ohio that this summer, even former Trojan Carson Palmer, who works in Cincinnati and never criticizes anybody, couldn't help himself. 'I cannot stand the Buckeyes', he said in an interview... "

Boy, does that sound familiar!! Two years ago when Florida was about to play Ohio State the arrogance and condescension coming from the Buckeyes was overwhelming. "Florida doesn't play 'real' football". "The Gators don't deserve to be on the same field with the Buckeyes." "Those Sunshine Sissies are about to find out what 'Smash Mouth' football is all about." Well... I think the whole world saw what real football, SEC style, looks like and this Saturday they're about to see what real football, PAC-10 style, looks like. Go Trojans!

New Banners Coming Soon!!

I've requested Rob Fraxedas, our blogmaster, to create banners for the proud Iowa Hawkeyes and the amazing Georgetown Hoyas. He just got back from a cruise and is trying to dig out at work and at home but he assures me he will get on it soon. You should realize that these banners are not simply downloaded they are lovingly handcrafted and wonderfully wrought to insure uniformity and artistic balance. He says all are welcome but if anyone asks him for a Buckeye banner he will respectfully decline!