Knights and Dragons

 Today was the day that is the real focus of our trip: the football game between the Army Black Knights and the UAB Blazers.  The group of about 60 UAB fans made the journey from Birmingham to the US Military Academy at West Point NY to watch the game at Michie Stadium.  Our day began just after 7 am as we met in the lobby of the Knickerbocker Hotel for the bus ride to Pier 11 at the tip of Manhattan.  There, we boarded a Sea Streak ferry for the two hour ride up the Hudson River to West Point.  The ferry ride on the perfect cloudless day provided incredible views of the city of New York as well as the countryside upstate.  The fast catamaran vessel carried us swiftly up river with a comfortable but very breezy ride.

We arrived at West Point, and after a brief shuttle from the dock, sat in our seats in the stadium. A good hometown crowd turned out to watch their team, while we Blazer fans attempted to support the team in spite of our small numbers.  And the dismal play of the team.  UAB football had been on the upswing in recent years, with multiple postseason bowl appearances and a conference championship.  But after the sudden unexpected retirement of beloved head coach Bill Clark due to health problems, the team has been quickly dismantled.  Clark was replaced by Trent Dilfer, a Superbowl winning NFL quarterback with no previous college coaching experience.  The risky pick has not paid off as Dilfer has shown no coaching ability in the past two seasons as the Blazers have descended into ineptitude.  Most fans devoutly hope for a coaching change at the end of the season, if not before.  So it was no surprise that Army beat UAB 44-10.  Still, the experience was a memorable one, being my first visit to one of America's military academies.

After the game, our group returned to The Knick by bus.  A small group of us then set out walking across Times Square to Junior's, a well known restaurant.  Initially dubious about visiting what I assumed was just an overpriced tourist trap, I was pleasantly surprised by the whole visit.  We were able to get a table with only a very short wait, the food was impressively good, and the service was superb.  Junior's is most famous for their cheesecake, and it did not disappoint.  I recommend the reuben and French onion soup.  After dinner, we made our way through the raucous Times Square crowds one last time for our last night at The Knick.  Tomorrow, the journey home to Birmingham.

#winasone

 The day eagerly anticipated in the Deep South is here at last: College Football Season is fully here.  Sure, there was a "Week 0" game last weekend in Dublin, Ireland.  But with the kickoff tonight of the UAB Blazers vs Alcorn State Braves at Protective Stadium, the season is officially underway.  Second year head coach Trent Dilfer expects an improved Blazer defense this year to support the impressive offense led by quarterback Jacob Zeno.  On a warm late summer evening, the Blazers will work towards getting the season off to a strong start.  While I certainly hope for a good result from the Blazers, I also am looking forward to one of life's guilty pleasures:  stadium food. 

Addendum: UAB won, 41-3. Go Blazers!

We are the Champions

 A short time ago, the NCAA announced the lineup of the four-team college playoff for this season's National Championship.  The leadup to this revelation was the topic of much discussion.  The playoffs only accommodate the current top four teams in the nation, and strong arguments could be made for at least five teams.  Someone was going to be left out and be very understandably upset.  Turns out the aggrieved team was to be the Florida State Seminoles, who earned an undefeated record and the ACC Championship.  (An interesting personal note: I've met FSU AD Michael Alford, who is a friend of a friend.  I totally sympathize with his feelings right now.)  Ahead of them were the Michigan Wolverines, Washington Huskies, Texas Longhorns, and Alabama Crimson Tide.  Much will be written of the reasoning of the 13 member selection committee, but as they say, the decision of the committee is final.  So on New Years Day, Michigan will play Alabama in the Rose Bowl, then Washington will face Texas in the Sugar Bowl.  Winners of those games will face each other in the National Championship game in Houston on January 8, 2024. 

 The Rose Bowl is of interest to me, due to my connection to both teams.  In the mid 1990s I was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and retain an affinity for the team.  But as I have lived in Alabama for 30 years, I've adopted an alliance with the Crimson Tide.  I don't have a direct connection to the school (much like all those "sidewalk fans" who never were students there), but I've always called myself a "fan-in-law", via members of my extended family who were students in Tuscaloosa.  My wife is the same, even more so.  So for the next couple of weeks, I will be even more isolated than usual.  As a sensible, intelligent political moderate and social liberal in Alabama, I can feel quite lonely at times.  In my daily life, I rarely encounter anyone who shares my views on...well, anything.  You try being a scientist in a conservative state.  So until New Years, I am really on my own.  Once that game is over, I can go back to being a mere political and social outcast.  Go Blue.

Win as one

 

Today was the last home game of the 2023 season for the UAB Blazers.  The Blazers managed to muscle through to a 34-24 win over Temple.  It's been a disappointing season for the 4-7 Blazers, and with one more regular season game to go, they have no prospects of post-season play.  Disappointing, too, for first year coach Trent Dilford, who came into this season with such high hopes and expectations.  But today, Blazer fans appreciate a hard-won victory, and nurture hope for the future.  Go Blazers!

Post game wrapup

 I live in the Deep South, where college football is virtually a religion. From Labor Day to New Years Day, family events like weddings and reunions must be planned with caution, so as not to conflict with the Saturday priority of college football.  While I would otherwise not be a big fan of football, I do follow college games, if only to be conversant with friends and family this time of year.  But one of my legitimately favorite parts of the year has become the collection of humorous wrap-up videos that follow the weekend games.  There are three primary ones that I make a point to always view: Funny Maine, SEC Shorts, and Matt Mitchell's SEC Roll Call.  All of these video offerings had humble beginnings several years ago- think bored community theater actors and an iPhone. But they all have rapidly grown in sophistication and production values, to the point where they are now reasonably professional, and they all have linked merchandise and/or commercial sponsors.  Funny Maine is a solo act and rabid Crimson Tide fan who started as a simple reaction video, shot as if he was responding to game tv coverage in real time.  He has now grown his concept with costumes, themes and special effects.  SEC Shorts grew out of a Birmingham community theater - like group and now is sponsored and even has a traveling live stage show.  Matt Mitchell was once a member of another local video comedy group but has spun off to a solo act.  During college football season, he is a one-man show depicting a conference call of SEC teams after the weekend's contests.  Easily the most comedy-dense of the weekly videos, it requires a broad familiarity of all the league games to appreciate the rapid one-liners Mitchell reels off in his intensely edited videos.  So whether my preferred team wins or loses, the post game wrap up videos always bring a smile to my face.

SEC Roll Call: Matt Mitchell

Imagine Dragons

 Approaching a religion in the Deep South, college football is well and truly underway. This year, we are enjoying season tickets to games of the UAB Blazers.