Welcome one and all! I’m a little late to the party, but here is the Roundtable. I thought I would have no access to the internet, only to discover that I do if I wait until later in the evening.
Today, the Bamasphere of Blogs brings you the 2nd ever Crimson & White Roundtable. This week’s edition of the roundtable is hosted by the one and only Memphis Tider, who asks:
“Do you put any stock into the superstition that an Alabama coach won’t turn out well if he wins his first game? Bryant lost his first game, Stallings lost his first, and Franchione lost his first. Shula, DuBose, Perkins, and Curry all won their first games as Alabama’s head coach. If this is the case, since Coach Saban is playing Western Carolina to start off the season, is this a sign of bad things to come?
If you don’t put a lot of stock in this, give us a couple of your gameday superstitions, if you have any.”
Similar to last week, we Bama bloggers all submitted our answers to Memphis Tider, who then types everything up and presents it for the fans to read. I hope everyone gets a chance to read this edition. I imagine the superstition section will provide the most entertainment. Memphis Tider is busyblogging away at his humble Memphis manor:
Sorry, it was either this or Logan’s house. MT will get it.
So I did my usual thing when I get bored; I go on YouTube and look up random Alabama football clips. Somehow, I ended up finding a clip of that trick play Arkansas pulled on Alabama this past season. Naturally, I was not amused. But then I started to wonder, how many trick plays did Houston and Gus pull in 2006? I found three against Ole Miss, Auburn, and Alabama. I had completely different reactions for each video. In order to properly present my range of emotions, I go to the king of feelings; Vice President Dick Cheney.
Ole Miss
So after watching that play, I appreciated the creative formations that Nutt and Malzhan set-up. But to be honest, all he really did was (A) hand the ball off, and (B) run straight through Ole Miss (which is natural for McFadden). My Cheney mood is: Indifferent.
Auburn
I remember this play pretty well. I was at home, waiting for the right time to leave and to go watch Alabama play. This game put me in such a good mood going into the rest of my day. I had a smile from ear to ear on my face that afternoon. My Cheney mood is: Happy(At least I think that’s a smile)…
Alabama
I was actually invited to go with some people to see this game in Fayetteville. For some reason, I had a conflicting commitment…. good thing for me. I was able to watch this game, including this pretty creative trick play that caused me some anguish (Mr. Tiffin caused a majority of my anguish that day, even though I still don’t blame him for it). I was in a bad mood all day. And to make matter worse, I had to go meet my girlfriend’s uncle, who is a big Hawg fan, for dinner (don’t worry, she’s a Tide convert). My Cheney mood is: Angry!!!
Is this a dumb post? Probably. But hey, I’m about to go to the beach so all I can say is see ya later! I’ll be back in town before Monday.
Jim Wells is coming back. I can’t really say I’m jumping for joy after hearing this, but I guess this is better than not having a coach at all.
Personally, I think it was time for new blood. Jim still had a level of respect from many of the Bama fans, no matter what they were saying just after the season. Now, he’s gone and ruined whatever credibility he had with this flip flop.
At some jobs, they would call that retirement a vacation Jim.
So the all-time baseball wins leader in Alabama history is coming back, and the fans are shaking their heads…. or fists. I can’t tell really, I’m too busy finding a hole to stick my head in. Oh well, go get ‘em Jimmy.
–EDIT–
After thinking about this for a few minutes, I have a to wonder if Mal Moore gave his full effort on this coaching search or not. Could it be that after the football search he is still extremely worn out mentally? Is he refusing to admit that he needs to retire while letting his responsibilities slip? Was this Wells wanting to come back, or Moore asking him to stay around until he himself leaves? Please share your thoughts as well.
So, after coming home from Stark-Vegas, Alabama plays Louisiana-Monroe as a warm up for the Iron Bowl against Auburn. The 2007 edition of the Iron Bowl will be played at Jordan-Hare Stadium. This game should be a fairly crazy one with not only the addition of Nick Saban, but also the fact that the game will be held on Thanksgiving Weekend. Hopefully, this one will go our way.
About Auburn
The first settlers arrived in the winter of 1836 from Harris County, Georgia. They intended to build a town that would be the religious and educational center for the newly settled area. In 1856, the state legislature chartered a Methodist college, the East Alabama Male College in Auburn. This college, now Auburn University, opened its doors in 1859. The college was turned over to the state in 1872, and was renamed Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College with a new mission as a land grant college. After the U.S.A. entered World War II, Auburn’s campus was turned into a training ground for technical specialists in the U.S armed forces. After the war, Auburn was filled with soldiers returning to school on the G.I. Bill. Auburn began a period of growth that lasted through the 1950s and 1960s due to this increase of students. Construction of Interstate 85, beginning in 1957, connected Auburn to the major cities of the state. This allowed for Auburn University (renamed in 1960) to schedule more home football games in Auburn rather than in larger cities around the state. This created the strong tourism component in Auburn’s economy.
Places of Interest
If you want to enjoy the great outdoors with the family, a visit to Chewacla State Park. The park facilities include a 26-acre lake, swimming area, playgrounds, hiking trails, a modern campground and picnic areas with tables, grills and shelters. There are entrance fees, but the prices are relatively low.
Golf enthusiasts should check out Grand National on the Robert Trent Jones Trail, if you haven’t already. I know this isn’t what you might view as the first place to visit during Iron Bowl weekend, but I do think it is a good place to check out no matter, game or no game. I’ve been told many times that this is one of the better courses on the RTJ Trail.
For those of you who are looking for a place to visit close to the campus, Toomer’s Drugstore, located on (you guessed it) Toomer’s Corner. This is Auburn’s best known location, where they roll everything in site after a win. They are also famous for their lemonade and ice-cream fountain drinks.
The Tiger Trail might interest some people. It is a walk of fame that goes through campus and downtown. It honors past students, athletes, and coaches. I know many of you aren’t Auburn fans, it is probably a good tour through the campus and Downtown Auburn.
Food, Drinks, & Nightlife
If you are looking to eat at a popular Auburn landmark, try Mama Goldberg’s Deli on the corner of Magnolia Road and Donahue Drive. This run-down shack conceals some of the best sandwiches in town. A few of my Auburn friends suggest “Momma’s Love all the way,” which is a sandwich naturally.
If buffalo wings are something you desire, check out The Buffalo Connection on the corner of Wire Road and Shug Jordan Parkway. The prices are good and the place is pretty popular amongst the students, who call it “BuffCon.”
Pizza lovers will be very happy after they visit the Brick Oven Pizza Company on Gay Street. Not only is the pizza good, but they serve beer and wine as well. Eat on the patio if the weather is nice.
Formerly a restaurant called The Hungry Hunter, The Highlands is now one of the largest bars in town. This place doesn’t have as much of a college atmosphere as other bars in town, but it still does pretty well. They provide live music and are located on Opelika Highway between Dean Road and Shug Jordan Parkway.
Also under the same ownership as The Highlands, SkyBar Cafe is a fairly new and popular spot. The bar attracts the younger crowd, although older students enjoy it as well. They also provide live music and are located on Magnolia near College Street in downtown Auburn.
Many consider The War Eagle Supper Club to be an Auburn classic. Supper Club is a different kind of place. It draws all crowds and all ages, and is unrivaled for great live music. Supper Club is a “private” bar, so you’ll have to wait in line for a membership card on your first visit. However, that membership gives you the ability to drink until 4am, so often the crowd shows up around 2am, when the downtown bars shut down. I’m guessing that this place is pretty big on the Auburn Tigers based on their names.
Other than an unlikely SEC Championship Game and possible Bowl, this is the end of my Bama Roadtrip series. I know I didn’t hit all of the popular places in every city, so feel free to do some investigating of your own. I hope this has proven to be helpful for you. For now, use this video to help you deal with the anticipation of 2007 Alabama football. Roll Tide.
It seems that Herb Winches can’t help but burn bridges where ever he goes. After telling Citadel Broadcasting where to stick it, he nows says that he doesn’t want to do his future radio show on WERC. Now he wants to do a show with Paul Finebaum, who has a contract with Citadel.
Two long time rivals (at least for the listeners) might be pairing up. Could these two men put aside their egos to make a radio show work? Would they be partners, or would Winches be the new sidekick? Can Winches deal with the constant calls from I-man and Shane? It certainly would be interesting radio.
I just wonder if these two men, who are both used to headlining their own programs, would be able to take turns being the lead on the program. I’m not claiming that they both have ego issues. But, you do need to develop some level of ego in order to pull off a radio show. Sometimes it is difficult to put aside that ego after years of broadcasting.
If Herb can drive off Shane and Bobby, then I’m all for Mr. Winches making the jump.
Required reading for the Finebaum Staff. Get crackin’ Herb.
In other Finebaum news, it seems that the Hunter Ford situation may be forced to resolve when the Hoover grade investigation heats up. It is more than likely that the grade scandal will become the topic of the month… I can’t wait.
I have to be honest, I’m tired of having to listen to people argue over a large scale version of “he started it first!” on the radio. It really isn’t being mentioned that much right now, but I get the uneasy feeling that we could be starting a cheating accusation war between Alabama and Auburn. Could this be like the 1990’s?
If you want to accuse one school of cheating, you are going to have to deal with your program’s skeletons coming out of the closet as well. Some people refuse to realize this. All they do is search every internet message board with a fine toothed comb, looking for the rumor that sounds the best. (I’m still waiting for UGA to turn in half of the SEC.) They believe almost everything they read. Yet when their program is under attack, they deny everything and scream that everyone is just out to get them because they are afraid.
I don’t care who started what, I just want football season to start. Behave children!
After the game verses Ole Miss, Alabama has two home games against Tennessee and LSU. Following those two home games, the Tide travels over to Starkville, Mississippi to play the Mississippi State Bulldogs. We all remember the loss to State that basically ended Mike Shula’s career. The best way to thank them for that is to, well….. beat them horribly.
About Starkville
Settlers were drawn to the Starkville area because of two large springs. A mill southwest of town provide clapboards which gave the town its original name, Boardtown. In 1835, Boardtown was established as the county seat of Oktibbeha County and its name was changed to Starkville in honor of Revolutionary War hero General John Stark. After the 2000 census, the city population was said to be 21,869.
Places of Interest
Mississippi State University has been spending some money recently to improve the visual quality of their campus. This includes starting a new tradition, The Junction (see a picture HERE). It is named by the students, and gives tribute to the university’s past connection to the railway that used go through that location. I wonder if it is a response to hearing so much from Ole Miss fans about The Grove. This is probably the best place for tailgating now, but there are plenty of regulations to follow.
Another new addition for MSU is the Barnes & Noble bookstore, which is in the Cullis-Wade Depot. This complex is right next to the football stadium, so you won’t be too far from tailgating. You can find snacks, Starbucks coffee, and most anything else you would want in a college bookstore.
If you want a souvenir that can fill you stomach, try the MSU Cheese Store (The MAFES Sales Store). I had a neighbor bring my family a ball of Edam cheese one Christmas… I’ve been wanting to get some ever since. They also serve peanuts and juices, which I have not had a chance to try yet. Their wide variety of products should please most customers. The store is located in the glass annex at the front of the Herzer Food Science Building on Stone Boulevard, about 300 yards south of Scott Field.
Food, Drinks, and Nightlife
If you’re interested in some nightlife fun, try Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern. This place is known for the pizza and jam band atmosphere. This is the site where Johnny Cash played before being arrested on his walk home, leading to the inspiration for the song “Starkville City Jail.”
If you want some BBQ, try The Little Dooey, a Starkville favorite. They serve Hickory-smoked sausages, chicken, catfish, and ribs (smoked, rubbed, battered twice, then fried and served with tomato-based sauce). Lee Corso seemed to love this place…. I’m not sure what that means.
Some people consider Sonny’s Barbecue to be Starkville’s best kept secret. I cannot find a website, but I do know that they are located on 16th Section Road. The only problem is that this place has closed its doors temporarily. Maybe they’ll be open by October.
If you want a good burger than you can get in Starkville and Tuscaloosa, try Mugshot’s Grill & Bar. If you can eat the Mugshot on location in the given time limit, you get your meal for free.
Another good place to visit for the nightlife is The Veranda. They serve both lunch and dinner. They also have one of the more popular nightclubs in Starkville, the Dawghouse Lounge at The Veranda.
If you like New Orleans style food, try Oby’s. They have four locations around the state of Mississippi, with the original location in Starkville. They’ve been around for a long time, so most people from the area should know this place if you need to ask. They claim to have a quick casual style, which is probably a good thing for visitors.
If you want a list of more places to eat, CLICK HERE.
After the game against the Bulldogs, Alabama comes home to play Louisiana-Monroe. That game will likely be over by halftime, giving us a chance to rest our guys . The next road trip is the biggest game of the year… THE IRON BOWL! With the 5 game losing streak, Nick Saban, and conspiracy theorist Auburn fans put together, this game will be full of storylines. The Tide vs. The Tigers, should be fun. Please stay tuned for my preview of Auburn, Alabama. That will be the end of my Bama Roadtrip series. Roll Tide.
Are you serious?? If there was ever a team trying to nickel and dime a draft pick, it is the Portland Trailblazers.
Most people expect them to take Greg Oden. However, this questionable flip-flopping job by the Blazers leads me to believe that they are trying to keep from paying him a ton of money. Don’t get me wrong, Greg Oden will surely earn plenty of dough where ever he goes. But, if they make it seem like he isn’t their sure fire #1 pick, then he can’t really demand more money since they could hold drafting Kevin Durant over his head.
I can’t wait to see them leak a rumor that he is really a 48 year old man, draft him, and claim that he is bringing an new sense of youth to the organization.
So far, we’ve had two road trips up to this point. After the FSU game, Alabama comes home to play Homecoming against Houston. After Homecoming, The Crimson Tide travels to Oxford, Mississippi to play the Ole Miss Rebels. Oxford is a MUCH different place than Nashville and Jacksonville. I’m not expecting as many people to spend the whole weekend in Oxford, so this edition of the road trip guide is going to be a little bit different.
About Oxford
The City of Oxford is located in Lafayette County in the north central portion of Mississippi. It is estimated that the current (2007) population is 19,000. Oxford was first incorporated as a town in 1837, and was given its name after the town of Oxford, England in the hopes of securing Mississippi’s first university. They were successful in their goals, with The University of Mississippi opening its doors in 1848. Famous alumni/citizens include John Grisham and William Faulkner.
Places of Interest
Obviously, The University of Mississippi is the place to be on gameday. I always like to get a look at the different campuses when I can. Ole Miss is in a traditional southern style town, so expect a little bit of the old south feel.
The best known place for tailgating in the SEC, if not the country, is ‘The Grove.’ An Ole Miss tradition for ages, the Grove is one of the most scenic tailgating hot spots you’ll ever come across. But don’t expect being able to come and do as you wish, the Grove Society has set up plenty of rules to preserve the Grove.
Food, Drinks, and Nightlife
If you aren’t planning on tailgating, but still would like to eat in Oxford, you do have plenty of options. I’m posting as many as possible so you can have plenty of places to consider in a smaller town filled with plenty of fans and traffic.
One one the best places for breakfast in Oxford is The Beacon Restaurant on North Lamar Boulevard. They open at 6 am on Saturdays. They seem to have good food at reasonable prices. I hear that there is a back room for ‘deals’, but I don’t know if that is true or not. It is An Oxford institution.
If you’re looking for a restaurant with a good location that is also pleasent, try the Downtown Grill. The food is rumored to be good, but I’m not sure if it is the best in town. Their Dinner menu is little on the expensive side as well.
If you’re looking for a good meat and three place for lunch, try the Ajax Diner. It is located on the Courthouse Square, which seems to be a great location in a smaller college town.
If you want a good pull-pork sandwhich, there is always Handy Andy Grocery & Market BBQ. You basically order, get a number, and wait until they call you up. It could take a while if crowded.
If you want to get outside of Oxford, try the Yocona River Inn. It is about 8 miles southeast out of town in Yocona. The prices are higher than you might expect, but the food is supposedly pretty good.
City Gorcery seems to be very popular in Oxford. I cannot find a solid link for anything involving the place, but it does seem to be pretty popular based on word of mouth. They have a wide variety of food (Italian, French, etc).
If you want a bar, try Proud Larry’s. They seem to be fairly popular based on the sites I’ve found. They do provide plenty of live music throughout the year.
After this game, Alabama comes home to play against Tennessee and LSU. Enjoy your trip!
(P.S. expect to hear ‘Dixie’ a lot while in Oxford)
So I decided to go with a new look for the blog. I felt that I should at least have something close to Alabama’s colors since I am an Alabama blogger and fan. Plus, I decided I didn’t need that poorly made header.
This does look more professional to me, but I know I’m not expert on what the readers like and dislike with their blog themes. So, I hope you enjoy it. If you have anything to say, leave a comment or drop an e-mail. Roll Tide!
