Kiffin comes back to So Cal

Hey, SEC bloggers and Kiffin haters: Lane is coming back. That is right. He could not take the heat of the SEC, so he decided to come back to SC. He was a long time assistant to Pete Carroll at SC. He was the wonder-child, along with Yoda Master Norm Chow, who guided the offense at SC that unleashed havoc on the world with Leinnart and Co. a few years ago. Now, I know what you are thinking: This guy ruffled a lot of feathers during his one year (can you believe it was only 1 year) at Tennessee. But, after his stint at SC, he went to the pros with the Oakland Raiders, becoming the youngest head coach (at 31) in the modern era of the NFL (whatever that means). He did poorly in the pros. Then, Rocky Top for one. Now, he comes back and he brings his dad with him (fantastic) and Ed Orgeron (super fantastic as he headed our recruiting under Pete Carroll, is a former Miami (the "U") assistant, and was defensive line coach under Carroll). So, we get back 2 of our former assistants plus one of their dads. Sounds good on paper...wait and see. As for us, we were either desperate to hire a coach, or we just ruined the Volunteers next few seasons! Consider it an early Christmas present to our fellow SEC bloggers. Rocky Top may have just been leveled by the Trojans. Out. Victor

Hey; Anybody out there?

First post in a long time on the "old" blog. Anybody out there? Very lonely out here in blog land. Pete Carroll is gone. Athletic Director Mike Garrett should retire (assuming he was ever working in the first place). We are, likely, facing NCAA sanctions for Reggie Bush/Joe McKnight matters. No coaches on the horizon to replace Carroll. And, we are losing blue-chip recruits faster than Usain Bolt runs the 100 meter dash. Yeah, that quickly. Other than that, things are great in the Trojan Nation. We need a life-line, lifeboat, life preserver, and life, itself. Help!! Victor

Are my gutty little Bruins back? I love our defense but suspect my offense still lags behind. We'll see what our season will truly be like after the Stanford game. Ay Dios mio... EL Feo Zarate

So the Trojans lost - the sky has not fallen

Did I actually just join the highly esteemed Coast to Coast Sports Chat? Did I log in without 20 emails to Joaquin asking for help, or having a personal 1-hour consultation with Vic and Nora? But I won't get too excited, because next week I will forget my login or password and you won't hear from me until next year.......So the Trojans lost, big deal. The Detroit Lions lose every week and I haven't shed a tear for them since Errol Mann missed a 23-yd field goal against the arch-enemy Minnesoata Vikings in 1971. The Trojans new win streak begins Saturday @ the Coliseum against Washington State, and we begin our climb back into the top 5. The Gators still rule the College Football landscape, for the moment............ Johnny Cueto

Are the Aggies back? Don't know, but I am!

Well sports fans, it has been a helluva summer in Texas. No hurricanes yet, but at least FSU felt one last night! But c'mon, does anyone really care about FL football? Well, anyone but Joaq?And what does Joaq say, "if you aint a Gator, you aint s**t!" Well, here in Aggieland we have a similar saying and it goes like this "We are the Aggies and the Aggies are we and we are damn tired hearing about Colt McCoy, his heisman dreams and tu being a possible #1!" Well, somewhat similar but y'all get the gist! So I attended the Aggie game last Saturday night with my family and it was good to see us not give up a TD! Whoop! We looked fast on both sides of the ball as we are starting four of our true freshman "athletes". Three on D alone! Now I realize it was only the Lobos of UNM, but still, it was see us get a big win and a good win over a Mountain West team (right OU?). But it was very good to see us cover the spread....and another team's receivers...finally! Whoop! We are off this week, but have Utah State and UAB (who beat the hell outta Rice) coming to town. Then, a big showdown with the Hogs of UA in Big D on October 3! Hopefully, we will be undefeated going into that game! So set your Tivo's, it will be one for your grandchildren to watch! I'm out until more Aggie info to report, but until then, it is good to be back in the blog and it will be even better to have the Ags back in the Top 25! Whoop! Gig 'em!

The Swamp is a Dangerous Place!

This is Rhonda and JoaqGator this Saturday in the tunnel on the way to our seats (Don's seats) @ The Swamp. We went with our dear friend and my old UF Law School professor, Don Peters, [picture at right] who just joined our mediation firm. We had an absolute blast. It was an evening game and the weather was terrific. OK, it was a little humid (about 185% humidity) but there was a nice breeze and the temp was in the high 70's. We got to see the Gator veterans briefly put on a heck of a scoring show and then we got to see a lot of young and extremely talented true freshmen show their stuff. Everyone played, including the scout team. The speed was blinding and with the exception of a minor injury to one of our offensive linemen nobody on either team was hurt. It was a very fun time. We got to enjoy our new HD super huge stadium jumbotron screens which featured a close up of my son John Fraxedas flanked by two beautiful young women, Jason's wife, Ashley Fraxedas, and her sister, Amanda Knaus. Jason was left out of the frame... maybe next game, Jason. I'll talk with the producer. The flyby was impressive but for some reason, after a gazillion years of doing flybys south to north, this one came from the north and caught everyone looking the wrong way. All in all a wonderful opening. I'll post more pictures on the right. I understand Johnny Cueto was at the Coliseum for the Trojans first scrimmage with "Do You Know the Way to San Jose State?" and he promised to publish a post here with his experiences soon. College football is here! Let's fire up this blog!!! P.S. If you click on the title to this post "The Swamp is..." there is a link to an article in the Gainesville Sun which includes a heartwarming story about Tebow spending time with a disabled kid in a wheelchair which he had invited to the opening game with his family and taking him around the locker room to have the team sign autographs for him just before game time. I don't care if some of you out there may be tired of hearing about Tebow, but he is a super-special kid in every way with a true heart of gold and we'll only have him for a few more weeks. I wish him a healthy and fabulous season, Heisman or no Heisman, Nt'l Title or no Nt'l Title!

College Footbal OMG

Here we are again and not a moment too soon what with Afghanistan, health care, and all the rest. I must confess that I did not watch the Florida game against Charleston Heston (as Victor calls it) but the USC game was loads of fun. Nice to see a Mater Dei alum (where Nicholas and Natalie went to H.S.) do so well. Hopefully his talent will take USC past the almost-lost-to-Navy Ohio State football team. Away we go!

A Call to Arms. All Hands on Deck. The Season is Here!

Joaq, A blog call out to Hoya Willie, Hawkeye Ted, Aggie Pete, and your Crimson Tide/Elephant people. The Season is upon us. We need full participation for the blog reach its true potential. Invite these people again and bring them into the fold of our little slice of blog heaven. The CFA season is here. Lets rock!! Victor

College Football Starts Tomorrow Night - Thursday 9-3-09!!!

Thursday's Games of Interest: So. Carolina @ North Carolina State 7:00 PM Eastern - ESPN Oregon @ Boise State 10:15 PM Eastern - ESPN

To Hold Back or Not to Hold Back: USC & UF Week One

The Trojans and the Gators are both playing powder puff teams for their openers this Saturday. USC is playing San Jose State and Florida is playing Charleston Southern. The question is do they open up the offense or just put in their first teams for a brief warm up and then put in the backups and not open up the play book. My call is that Florida just puts in their backups and barely opens up the playbook, which will remain closed until we face Tennessee on Sept. 19. An article for the LA Times is urging the Trojans to go for broke and put in their full offensive package. Link to LA Times article is here: LA Times . What do you guys think?