2021 Cure Bowl Ranked at #3 Best Bowl on 247 Sports.

Okay, from over a year ago, but still a great game and it involved my school, Northern Illinois University.  Unfortunately, we lost, but that was one enjoyable game to watch.  Neither defense could stop the other's offense.

It was Coastal Carolina versus NIU.

From 247 Sports.com "College football bowl games:  Ranking  top ten from 2021"  by Riley Gates.

He ranked the Cure Bowl at #3.

"With Grayson McCall coming back, you just knew we were in for a fun shootout.  The Chanticleers star threw for 315 yards and  four touchdowns, while Northern Illinois' Rocky Lombardi (is that not a great football name or not?) threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns.

"Both teams ran the ball for massive numbers too, as the Huskies had 335 yards on the ground to the Chanticleers' 199.

"Down six with just a little more than three minutes to go, Northern Illinois looked  done for.  But the Huskies forced a punt and went for a 15-play, 83-yard to try to win the game.  With seven seconds remaining, Northern Illinois had the ball at the Coastal 8-yard line.  Lombardi threw a complete pass for the first down but the receiver did not get out of bounds and time expired.

Finakl score was Coastal Carolina 47 NIU 41.

--RoadDog

New Year's Weekend 2022-2023

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

Went to Sunnyside Tavern in the afternoon and met Kevin and Kelly at Johnny's Diner in Fox Lake for dinner before going to the Fox Lake American Legion for 50-50.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2022

Met Pam at the Windhill Pancake Parlor in McHenry, Illinois, and enjoyed the Christmas decorations.  They go overboard.  Later met Kevin and Kelly at the Fox Lake American Legion for the afternoon New Year's Eve Party with toasting at 4:30 pm.  That's my idea of "celebrating" the new year as it is hard to stay up past 11 pm for me anymore.  Enjoyed DJ Goldy, a real dj, not one of the new ones who do not interact with the crowd.

Watched the college playoffs at the Legion and at home in Margaritaville and was happy Texas Christian beat Michigan and especially happy about Georgia getting lucky and beating Ohio State.  (I went to UGA for a year, plus a whole lot of family went there.)

I actually managed to stay up to midnight.  Happy New Year!!

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2023

I drove over to Squaw Bar in Ingleside to see the Bears play their game.  We used to get together with the "Usual Suspects" to watch the games here.  But, I hadn't been back there for years.  It was like old times, a fun place to watch the game with lots of fans.  Unfortunately, it was the 9th straight loss.

Then went over to Saylor Mick's, a new place in Spring Grove and had their $1 taco special and enjoyed the $1 pints of Hamm's.  This place used to be Tommy's and had huge crowds, especially during the Blackhawk games back 2010-2015.

--RoadNewYear

CBS Sportscaster Ranks Cure Bowl As Best Game-- Part 2

"The game's biggest lead came when Miles Joiner  caught a 12-yard TD from Rocky Lombardi to put Northern Illinois ahead 24-16 late in the first half.  Even that deficit was short-loved as  Coastal got a field goal a minute later to make it 24-19.

"Not only was it a  one-score game the entire time, but the lead changed seven times (4 times in the third quarter).  It was non-stop, back-and-forth football entertainment.  Coastal couldn't stop Northern Illinois, and the Huskies couldn't stop the Chanticleers.

"Aside from the final  possession of the half, the first 12 possessions of the game ended with points, and only three of them ended in field goals.  When Coastal's Charles Ooverson came onto the field for the game's first punt, he did so with only 54 seconds left in the third quarter.

"It came down to the very last play, too.    Northern Illinois had the ball at the Coastal 8-yard line with two second left, but Lombardo's pass to Joiner was stopped short of the end zone and the Chanticleers held on  for the win."

I Completely Agree, That Was One Hell of a Game.  --RoadNIU

CBS Sportscaster Ranks Cure Bowl #1 As Far As Entertainment in 2021 (Coastal Carolina vs. Northern Illinois)

From the January 6, 2021, CBS Sports "Ranking the 37 college football games for 2021-2022:  Rose delivers as Orange, Cotton disappoint" by Tom Fornelli.

Evidently this guy watched all the bowl games and I have to say his picking the Cure Bowl game in Orlando, Florida, as the best of the lot is one I have to agree with.  It matched Northern Illinois versus Coastal Carolina and was the second bowl game player (read most meaningless), but not so with this one.

Coastal Carolina was a 12 1/2 point favorite, but Northern led the whole game until the last six minutes, when Coastal went up and "held" on to win.

This is what Tom Fornelli wrote:

"#1  Cure Bowl    Coastal Carolina 47  Northern Illinois 41

And so we come to the best bowl game of the postseason.  I'm assuming a lot of you are perplexed about how the Cure Bowl can rank ahead of the Rose Bowl or Music City Bowl, but that's just because most of you probably didn't watch it.

"You should have because the second bowl game of the season was incredible.  Not only was there a bunch of points scored, but it was a one-score game the entire time."

Continued.  --RoadBowl

Last Week of 2021: An Afternoon New Year's Eve Party at the Legion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31

There goes yet another year, and boy did it go fast!!  Every year goes way too fast now.  They seem to last just 5 or 6 months.  Hey, and we have taxes coming up if all the tax preparation commercials haven't alerted you to that yet.

Still enjoying listening to the Drive's A to Z Classic Rock Countdown which started Christmas Eve Day and is still going.  They figure it will end sometime next week.

We went to the Fox Lake (Illinois) American Legion for our afternoon New Year's Eve party.  Being kind of old and having a hard time staying up past 11 pm anyway, this is a great way to get the experience without staying awake past bedtime.

The place was packed, of course.  Great to have it back after last year's didn't take place because of you-know-what.  Joe Kadlec put on his usual great job playing his guitar and singing.  The Legion provided Italian beef sandwiches and everybody brought a dish to pass, so there was plenty of food along with $2 draft beers and two really tasty jello shots and, of course, champagne.

Watched Alabama  and Georgia win the NCAA football semifinals and they will play Jan. 10th for the championship.  I went to Georgia for a year and have family members who attended so will be pulling Dawgs all the way.

We did not make it to midnight, of course.

--RoadDog

JSS: Crazy Weather-- Yellowstone, 1883-- the Drive's A to Z-- The Big Guy Up the Middle

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  CRAZY WEATHER--   We certainly have been having some crazy weather around here.  Yesterday we had thunder, lightning, rain and snow.  There was quite a bit of snow on the ground.  Then yesterday, we got 3-4 inches of very slippery snow.

2.  YELLOWSTONE, 1883--  This past Sunday I was able to watch some episodes of Yellowstone and 1883 on TV.  Both are very good, but all that good acting is kind of negated by the overuse of the f___ word.  Come on, get a thesaurus and expand your language base.

3.  THE DRIVE'S A TO Z--  The Drive, 97.1 FM, is now up to the letter "I" in their annual end-of-the-year A to Z.  They are playing 2,000+ songs.  They aren't sure when they'll end, but for sure sometime after the start of the new year.  It streams.

4.  THE BIG GUY UP THE MIDDLE--  Last night, O enjoyed watching the Minnesota-West Virginia bowl game, when the Gophers put in offensive lineman 380 pound, six foot 4 inch Daniel Faalele in  the backfield to run a play.  You never saw a team call a time out that fast as the Mountaineers did.  It didn't help as he crashed right through the line like there was nothing there.

The commentators mentioned when the Bears did that with our Refrigerator Perry back in the 80s.  It sure reminded me of him.

--RoadDog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY:  Ahh ... I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again.

Last Week: NIU Wins MAC Championship, Sat. Afternoon Band, Stucky's, Karaoke, Bears Lose...Again, Another Legion

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4

Watched NIU defeat Kent State for the MAC Championship game, one of the rare times Northern actually dominated an opponent.  (And earlier this season Kent State had just barely beaten us.)  Sadly, I couldn't get it on the radio as I enjoy listening to Bill Baker call the Huskies as he's been doing it since the 1980s.  He IS the "Voice" of the Huskies.

Went to the Fox Lake American Legion for their monthly first Saturday afternoon band and saw an excellent two-piece group but can't remember their name.

Then to Stucky's in Johnsburg for dinner, $1 draft pints and karaoke.  A whole bunch of Sunnysiders came in.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5

Watched and listened to the Bears lose another game at home (now 4-8).  I always enjoy listening to the Bear announcers on the radio as they are real fans.

Then to the McHenry American Legion for the $2.50 Adequate Bloody Marys and $1 off Happy Hour prices.

--RoadDog

Last Week: A Garbage Pizza, Cheap Beer, Ricky's 73rd Birthday, McHenry VFW and PLAV and NIU Football Watch Party

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15

Went to Bricks 'N Ivy in Spring Grove, Illinois, and had that great Harry Caray pizza featuring four meats and four veggie, a real garbage pizza.  And, best of all, it was half price.  Also, $6 draft pitchers. Then to Sunnyside for the $1.50 draft pints.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16

Met a bunch of Sunnyside folks at the McHenry VFW to celebrate Rocky's73rd birthday.  Absolutely great BLT sandwich.  Then to the Polish Legion of American Veterans for cocktails and back to Sunnyside.  Rocky somehow survived.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17

Temps in the upper 50s today, so did some yardwork to prepare for the winter.  

Went to Half-Times in Johnsburg where they were having a NIU Watch Party for the televised Huskie football game.  We had about 15 people there and the Huskies had a close game against Buffalo and finally won in overtime.

--RoadDog

Songs from the Summer 1971-- Part 11: 'I Just Want to Celebrate'

I was a junior at the University of Georgia at this time fifty years ago, having transferred at the end of my sophomore year from Northern Illinois University.  My parents and family were now living in Dunwoody, Georgia, Atlanta northern suburbs.  My parents gave me a 1963 Rambler station wagon to go to school.

But, a big reason I transferred was to go to a school with a big football program, which Georgia definitely had.  Vince Dooley coached the team which ended the season with an 11-1 record, good for second place in the SEC and a #7 AP ranking.  That was a fun year, but I couldn't get over the students attending the games wearing suits and evening dresses.  That just wasn't done at Northern.

HEART OF THE COUNTRY--  Paul McCartney  Bob Stroud always plays two Beatle songs at 9 am when Terri Hemmert ends her Breakfast With the Beatles show on WXRT.

BANGLADESH--  George Harrison

GETTING IN TUNE--  Who

I JUST WANT TO CELEBRATE--  Rare Earth

MERCY MERCY ME--  Marvin Gaye

RIDERS ON THE STORM--  Doors

DON'T GO NEAR THE WATER--  Beach Boys

I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE--  Carole King

LIAR--  Three Dog Night     A song that always reminds me of PLC Class at Quantico, Virginia, that summer.

BITCH--  Rolling Stones

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Won't Ever Leave If You Want Me To Stay."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Liar"

JSIS: Stupid-Looking Hair Coming Out of Helmets-- Conference Championship Games-- NIU Football

JSIS--  Just Some Interesting Stuff

1.  STUPID-LOOKING HAIR COMING OUT OF HELMETS--  A couple weeks ago Liz and I saw the annual Army-Navy football game at the American Legion.  Sure was nice to see that no member of either team had hair coming out below their helmets.  I'm sorry, but that just looks stupid.  

Anytime you watch a college or NFL game it seems you see more and more of that long, funny-looking hair on both Blacks and whites.  I don't like it on any person.  Then, there is the guy on the Titans we all call Old Turd Hair.

2.  CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES--  Well, one thing nice about all the college conference championship games this year is the size of the crowds.  NIU is in the MAC and our championship games draw maybe 5,000 to 8,000 fans (but then again, who wants to go to Detroit).  Then the Power 5 games are standing room only.  This year, they are all essentially empty.  Wonder why?

3.  NIU FOOTBALL--  A sad year for Northern Illinois University football with an 0-6 record.  But, this really wasn't a real year anyway.  Too weird and strange with you-know-what.  But, the second year Joe Novak was our coach, we were 0-12 and then by the fourth year, it was all up from there as we were able to somehow keep him despite his success and the Big 10, 11,12,13,14 grabbing MAC coaches all the time.

Maybe This Is a Sign of Good Times to Come?  --RoadWin

In case you're wondering what the name of the group was that beat out the Beatles in their audition, scroll down to this months Music Deaths for David Munden.

Speaking of NIU: Here Are the Non- Conference Football Games for the Next Several Seasons

2020:  Rhode Island, at Maryland, at Iowa, Brigham Young University       (Well, of course, we know that none of these games will take place this year.)

2021:  Maine, Wyoming, at Michigan, at Georgia Tech    (Wondering if any of these will take place?)

2022:  Eastern Illinois, at Tulsa, Vanderbilt, at Kentucky

2023:  at Boston College, Southern Illinois, at Nebraska, Tulsa

2024:  at Notre Dame, Massachusetts

2025:  Maryland, at Iowa,  at UMass.

2026:  at Nebraska, Univ. of South Florida

Okay Huskies.  --RoadHowl

Getting In the Yule Spirit-- Part 1: Army-Navy Football Game and "Guardians of the Galaxy"

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14

We went to the McHenry (Illinois) American Legion where we watched the Army-Navy college football game in Philadelphia.  The place was nearly full of folks pulling for the Army or the Navy and lots of banter and boasting going on.

I had been pulling for the Army the last ten years because of Navy's domination.  I just have a tendency to pull for the underdogs.  But, since Army had won the last three games, I was pulling for my real favorite, Navy.  I won a Navy hat.

And the Army fans were having quite the good time early on, but eventually the better team won.

Went to Sunnyside, came home and watched my favorite superhero movie "Guardians of the Galaxy."

--RoadLord


DID YOU KNOW:  Dueling is legal in Peru as long as both parties are registered blood donors.

From Happy to Happy Valley: #1 Place to Enjoy a Football Game is Penn State

#1  PENN STATE

Why, they even call the area where Penn State is located "Happy Valley" even though it really refers to the fact that the area wasn't hit as hard during the Great Depression because of Penn State being located there.

More than 100,000 fans descend into a cozy Pennsylvania town (42,353) every football weekend and transform it into one of the grandest parties in college sports.  Parking lots open on Thursday night as pop up towns of tents and RVs cluster around Beaver Stadium.

Students set up camps for first-come, first-served seating in their section, helping to build anticipation before game day.  Stroll through the tailgating area before kickoff and you're likely to be invited to share a beer or a brat in somebody's tent.

It's hard to beat the raucous atmosphere of a whiteout during a night game in State College with students chanting,  "We Are Penn State!!"

The downside?  Traffic is miserable with a two-lane road in and out of town.

I sure would like to have done some of (or all of) the research for this article.

Can't Beat Fun at the Old Football Game.  --RoadBall

I Guess I Should Be Telling You How They Arrived at the Rankings

I have only been to a whole bunch of games at Northwestern's Dyche Stadium, now Ryan Field, and one U of Illinois and one Indiana University game, so that is the extent of my Big 10 football experiences.

The writers of the article in the Tribune last year said they weighed factors such as atmosphere, tailgating, tradition, food and even parking to rank fan experience at each school.

They think you should put some of these on your bucket list, but say you might want to skip the East Coast.  I personally believe that those East Coast schools:  Maryland and Rutgers, are a blemish on the Big Ten, 11,12,13,14.

--RoadDog

From Happy to Sad-- Part 5: #3 Nebraska and #2 Wisconsin

3.  NEBRASKA--  Even if the game is a dud, you'll never forget your first trip to Memorial Stadium.  It is well-situated  near booth the campus and downtown Lincoln, where the most intense pregaming takes place.

The "O" Street area is full of college bars and the Haymarket part of downtown is just the place for you late 20s and 30s folks.

The experience of the fans of the visiting team is unmatched, with upbeat "Sea of Red" locals saying, "Welcome to Lincoln!  Hope you enjoy the game!" and inviting you to their tailgate for free food and drink.

Eat a corn dog and ask who the third-string punter is.  Husker fans will know.

2.  WISCONSIN--  Tradition and winning combine for a fantastic atmosphere.  Wisconsin has it all.  When "Jump Around" blasts at Camp Randall before the fourth quarter and the stadium literally starts rocking, you know you're at the Big Ten's best parties.

Wisconsin doesn't have a central tailgating area, but feel free to pop onto a lawn for a house party and buy a red Solo cup  and tap a keg.  Fans mill in and out of bars on regent Street.  Grab a couple of Spotted Cows (craft beer, hey, it's Dairy Land for crying out loud) and some brats to feel like one of the locals.

Fans even stick around for the postgame celebration with the marching band, known as "The Fifth Quarter."

So, Who's #1?  --RoadDog

DID YOU KNOW (From the Orange Peel Gazette):  The longest one syllable word in the English language is   "screeched."

From Happy to Sad, Big 10 Football Fun-- Part 3: #5 Ohio State, #4 Iowa

5. OHIO STATE--  The first time you see the "Shoe", you might be awed by its size and grandeur.  There is a massive tailgating area and then, that marching band, which bills itself as TBDBITL:  "The Best Damn Band In The Land" and they live up to that as well..  Before the game, about 10,000 fans go to the St. John Arena  for a concert.  However, OSU fans have a reputation for being less than cordial to visiting fans.

Though I am definitely NOT an OSU fan, one year a buddy and I were in Columbus when the Buckyeyes played Indiana at home.  And, I was pulling for OSU, something I thought I'd never do.  But it is always more fun to be cheering with the home team when you are in their home.  I had a real good time at several bars.

4.  IOWA--  When "Back in Black" plays, the crowd roars in anticipation of "The Swarm" where Iowa players lock arms before running onto the field.

And recently, they have added another tradition, "The Wave" as fans show support for patients in the children's hospital that overlooks the stadium.  That to me is probably the greatest college football tradition anywhere and really moves you as you can see the kids waving back.  I'm getting tingles just typing this.

Kinnick Stadium is a classic brick stadium that seats about 70,500 fans, but there are often 100,000 or more people in black and gold milling around.

--RoadFan

From Happy to Sad, Big 10 Football Fun-- Part 2: Minnesota, Indiana, MSU, Michigan

9.  MINNESOTA--  TCF Bank is the most modern stadium in the Big Ten and a huge improvement from when they played their home games in the Metrodome.  Finally a home field on the campus and, and you can buy beer.

8.  INDIANA--  The Hoosiers have a late arriving crowd, especially for noon games.  There might be 15,000 fans in the stadium at kickoff and twice as many in the parking lots.

7.  MICHIGAN STATE--  A huge, underrated walk along the Red Cedar River on a fall day as the leaves are changing is a must..  Spartan Stadium is blah, but the tailgating is astounding.  Drink beer, not the water.

6.  MICHIGAN--   The Big House is an intimidating, massive stadium, sometimes referred to as a crater with a football field at the bottom.  Some consider it a sure-fire bucket list item, and that fight song will sure stick in your mind.

Football Saturday, You Know.  --RoadPunt

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CROSS PURPOSES:  "Ferry Cross the Mersey" was a 1964 hit song for which British Invasion group?


Gerry and the Pacemakers

From Happy to Sad: Where to Go for Big Ten, 11,12,13,14 Fun-- Part 1: The Bottom Five

From the September 21, 2018, Chicago Tribune by Shannon Ryan and Teddy Greenstein.

Well, it's that time of the year again.  Leaves are turning, beer is flowing, winter's on its way.  Where to have a lot of fun at football games in the Big Ten, 11, 12, 13,14:

(Not exactly sure how come they still call it the Big Ten what with 14 teams, but I'll simply refer to it as the Big Ten after this.)

14.  MARYLAND:   Probably more into Hoops.

13.  RUTGERS:     Eating. but not much else.

I hate these two above teams being in the Big Ten.  They are not Midwest in any sense.

12.  ILLINOIS:    Bad teams don't attract.  Careful.  Everyone, even us fifty year olds get carded on the party street.  Well. that last second win against Wisconsin Saturday might help a little.

11.  PURDUE:  Low attendance at games.

10.  NORTHWESTERN:    Really not much around it.  But I will be at the game this Saturday.  Sre glad I wasn't there this past Friday against Ohio State.

--RoadTailGate
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CROSS PURPOSE:  Who was the founder of the American Red Cross?


Clara Barton

At Least We Got Through That Horrid NFL Preseason, Now We Have That Horrid NCAA Preseason

I think most will agree with me that the NFL preseason is just a big waste of time.  Hardly any regulars play.  A big who cares.

However, now sadly, we are in the NCAA preseason when the Big Guys beat up on the Little Guys.  That is, the Power Five Conferences play the Mid-Level teams and generally blow them out (as seen with Nebraska beating my Northern Illinois 44-8 last Saturday.

Taking a quick look at the Lines for some college football games this weekend:

Iowa State by 19 over Louisiana-Monroe
Ohio State by 40 over Miami of Ohio
Clemson by 41 over UNC-Charlotte
Indiana by 27 over UConn
Miami by 30 over Central Michigan
Virginia by 31 over Old Dominion
NC State by 20 over Ball State

These are ridiculous games, even though on rare occasion one of the Little Guys beats a Big Guy.

College football needs to do something about these impending blow outs.

Granted, the Little Guys get a huge payday for playing these games, but even then, COME ON!!

--RoadDog

I Really Knew My College Football Team Logos

I took a test on Arca Max Comics given by Sideline Topix.  On it you were to give the name of the college by looking at the school's logo.  It definitely helps to know the school nickname.

I had to guess on the Baylor Bears and Washington State Cougars, but got them right.

I'd have to say the Oregon Ducks is absolutely the worst looking logo.  Of course, ducks just don't strike fear into the hearts of most folks.

Some of the answers would have been really hard except for the made-up names.

The teams were all Power 5 conference members until the final 12.

Take it at Sideline Topix.  "Can you name the college football team by the logo."

Where Was Northern Illinois?  --RoadDog