Pigskin Palaver: Saturday’s Dog Day Afternoon

Not talking Atomic Dogs or underdogs.

Had enough of the latter on gameday to last until the 12th of Never.

(OK, maybe in a bit, hoping that a bit more venting might ease the pain of that epic meltdown.)

Talking real dog dogs.

And my favorite moment of Pigskin Saturday.

Context:

I discovered the empowering unconditional love of canines late in life. In the summer of ’04 when I met my future bride Joanie’s black Lab. Lilah the Love Dog.

We connected. The canine and future Mrs.. Such that the dear canine soon enough began sleeping on the floor beside my side of the bed. Much to the faux dismay of the Film Babe.

Then there was Abbey. The Sad Eyed Lady of the Highlands. The beagle who stole my heart and soul forever and always when we met at a rescue dog event at Hogan’s Fountain.

She ran to me sitting on the ground and started licking my face. I mean, come on, how you gonna turn away from that?

With all due respect to my bride, my family, U of L sports, Impellizzeri’s pizza and JazzFest, Abbey was and remains the Great Love of My Life.

Gone now years later, I still talk with her almost daily, standing at that portrait Joanie crafted, which you see above.

Then, Carbon, the Frenchie who never could get enough of my touch.

Which brings me to College Game Day from Athens.

They, of course, brought UGa, the Bulldog’s bulldog mascot onto the set.

Sadly Kirk Herbstreit recently lost Ben, Planet Chinstrap’s favorite traveling canine. So, Herbie is now bringing along a younger Golden of his, Peter. Just as lovable by all accounts

Who when seeing papa petting that other dog immediately came from off camera, and tail wagging demanded, paws on the desk some of that love.

Too damn cool.

 * * * * *

As for what went down in Silicon Valley.

It remains as difficult to understand that here-you-take-it lack of effort as how bitcoin works.

No deep dive.

Fanbase is furious. Justifiably so.

One of my peeps was so pissed, he couldn’t rehash until the morning after.

The other, Smarts, after watching three quarters, was out to dinner with his bride and another couple at Mayan Cafe. Savoring, I’m advised, those incredible lima beans of Bruce’s. Good for him.

When he learned the score, he didn’t even bother to watch the taped last stanza.

But during rehash did come up Sunday morning with the perfect description of Brohm’s responsibility for the L.

Coaching malpractice.

Cause of Action I.

There’s also DB Malfeasance as an additional C/A.

Not to mention too many violations of obrepat prohibitus (encroachment not allowed).

Enough.

 * * * * *

Not sure if it was an intentional homage to the fact that Ohio State’s game against Northwestern was contested in Wrigley Field or not? Ryan Day may have a sense of humor and history, but it never has been apparent.

But when the Buckeyes went in for their first of many TDs, they lined with in a straight T formation. Old school. Like when Da Bears played in the Friendly Confines.

 * * * * *

Atherton High School Rebels 19, Moore High School Mustangs 6.

JMA’s drive for a state title continues.

 * * * * *

So yeah, there was Brian Kelly getting in touch with his inner Nikita Khruschev, banging on the table during his post game presser.

You think Jeff Brohm’s getting some grief? Which he is?

Imagine what it’s like for BK in Baton Rouge.

Flipside. Happy for Florida’s Billy Napier. His AD Scott Stricklin realizes there’s been improvement against a killer schedule, and that patience is called for.

 * * * * *

All those schools facing coaching changes who had their eyes trained on Curt Cignetti can fuhgettaboutit.

He’s going to be a resident of Bloomington for awhile. Living well.

— c d kaplan

 

2 thoughts on “Pigskin Palaver: Saturday’s Dog Day Afternoon

  1. One of the toughest and most confounding and disheartening losses for Cardinal football I can remember and I go back a long ways. The post game call-in shows and message boards were going beserk. Sure, we were
    out of the playoffs and ACC Champ game, but we could have continued our climb up the polls as 3 teams above us LOST !

  2. I was not as smart as Smarts – recorded the game and began watching around 5. After the first half of the 3rd Q I was pretty sure we were going to survive what was already an ugly game. Went to dinner, heard what happened, but was that enough? No , I went home and watched the rest of it. Guess I had to see every ugly detail. I also saw my Badgers battle Oregon to the very end. At least they played up to their capabilities, considering their lack of any offense.

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