A note of explanation about this endeavor. 

It is weekly. It is about football, duh, thus seasonal and subject to cease at the whim of someone or another. Kinda like that pumpkin spice mocha chai turtle latte at Central Perk, which is essentially a milkshake.

Do fries come with that shake?

The lede here is usually some meandering acid flashback having nothing to do with football at all that came to my addled mind while I was watching too much gridiron over the weekend. Ending up with some nuggetoids of actual football info that are of interest to me, and hopefully my readers. 

Got it?

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Saturday was bitter sweet. The Louisville Cardinals prevailed, but in a manner that has me  wondering aloud about the state of matters at the Schnell Complex. Also the magical run of my Detroit Tigers ended sadly if not surprisingly in Cleveland.

During the Tigers’ two and a half month ascendence, I thought often of my Aunt Ruth, a diehard baseball fan on a daily basis until she passed a few years ago in her mid 90s. Which got me thinking about my trips back to Motor City in my youth, and the fun it was.

Especially as a husko gordo, who had to buy his clothes in the euphemistically designated husky section at Lad ‘n’ Dad. Aunt Ruth loved bagels. So did/ do I. And she knew exactly when the fresh hot ones came out of the oven, which was when we’d go to replenish our supply at her favorite bakery a few blocks away.

Which memory led me to buy the first bagels I’ve eaten in years, and frankly best I’ve ever had in Louisville. From Born to Bagel out in Middletown. Which is with some cultural irony down the street from Southeast Christian. (That’s the kind of mind shtick I have to cope with every day.)

I went for a half dozen, most placed in the freezer for future consumption. Which circuitous musing actually leads me to pigskin. (Thanks for sticking around.)

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There are a number of schools standing at 6-0. (In case you missed it, that’s the connection: Half dozen = 6.)

Pittsburgh for the first time since their signal caller was some fella named Marino.

West Point is 6-0 for the first time since the days of Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside, or at least those of the glory years of the Lonesome End. (Actually I don’t know when Army was last 6-0, but I referenced those icons to see if the youngsters among you without a clue will google ’em up?)

Navy by the by is 5-0.

Also 6-0, Iowa State for the first time since ’38, Texas — Aren’t they always 6-0? — Brigham Young, Miami (Fla), Indiana, Oregon and Pennsylvania State.

Congrats all.

 * * * * *

There are some transfer portal QBs making their mark in the ACC.

Cam Ward, formerly at Wash State, undefeated so far at Miami, and in the Heisman conversation.

Eli Holstein, formerly a member of the Crimson Tide, now a Pitt Panther and also unblemished at the helm.

Maalik Murphy, who was the guy left out in the Ewers/ Manning conundrum at Texas, now a Blue Devil (5-1).

And former Buckeye Kyle McCord tossing lots o’ dimes in the Carrier Dome for 5-1 Syracuse. (Wonder how many O*H*I*O fans thought of him when there current portal guy didn’t hit the turf soon enough Saturday night in Eugene to give his FG kicker a chance for victory?)

Of all the portal guys in the ACC though, one Tyler Shough actually has the best TD/Interception ratio. 14/3.

 * * * * *

Brian Kelly has never lost a night game at LSU in Baton Rouge. Where it is reported to be the most raucous environment in all of college football.

 * * * * *

With its W over Southern Cal, Penn State became the second Big Eighteen school (of 11) with a two time zone road victory.

During that OT battle, TE Tyler Warren caught 17 passes for 244 yards and a score.

 * * * * *

Which impressive numbers don’t even come close to what some HS kid did in Louisiana.

Payton Houston is the sophomore QB for Evangel Christian, an apparent football factory. I mean 14 of the tiny school’s grads have turned their scripture learning into NFL careers.

In a 77-76 overtime loss to a school actually name Captain Shreve, Houston was 53/68, 817 yards and eight touchdowns.. He also rushed for 88 and two more scores.

 * * * * *

Atherton Rebels 34, Butler Bears 0.

— c d kaplan