
It was Gumbo Night over at Bruce’s last Saturday. Bruce cooked up some of his finest and invited friends and families over for some nice home cooking. Copious quantities of spiced up punch were used to wash it all down and spark some lively conversations.
Soon, as Bruce pointed out, the women folk were inside taking about neighborhood real estate values while the men were on the deck discussing much more weightier topics. Like – did you know that it is illegal to tie a
giraffe to a telephone pole in Atlanta? Or that you are more likely to die going to buy a lottery ticket than you are to actually win the lottery. Important stuff like that.
Each factoid was greeted with a BS and then confirmed via the internet where, of course, everything is true. There is one involving South Dakota that I will share when we get together in Vegas.
Staying with the trivial theme – here is this week’s trivia
question (answer below)
Without checking the ever true internet – Who is the only person to win the Heisman trophy and play in the Final Four in the same year? And no Ellis, it’s not Julius Peppers.
And speaking of Ellis – we gathered on his deck to watch the very first American Football game of the year – the Hall of Fame game between Dallas and Miami. It may be preseason but it’s football!!
Not much of a game really. One thing that came
quickly back was how bad some announcers are. Chris Collingsworth was prattling on about the Fin’s QB situation and how Tannehill is the young buck but Matt Moore was the experienced vet who doesn’t make mistakes. This is just a few plays after Moore made a huge bonehead play when on 2nd and goal at the 4 - he takes a 15 yard sack.
Do the announcers even watch the game they are announcing or do they just stick to tired old clichés and talking points? If you are going to lay down some quatloos in Vegas, you better to watch the games and make your own
assessments than listen to most announcers. Most just want to blow happy smoke up players butts rather than give you an informed opinion.
On Thursday, the Sax Man got back for an overseas gig bringing back plenty of gifts. One present for himself was a bottle of Fränkischer Hochmoorgeist. I guess the best was to describe it is a high powered version of Peppermint Schnapps. Of course, the recommended way to drink it is to light it first. Even the logo shows the drink on fire.
So we lit it, then covered the fire to put it out a few minutes later (no pulling a flaming Joe for us) and knocked it back. Great stuff. We also watched the Falcons for a while on the Doofus deck. Atlanta is going to be all right as long as Matty Ice stays healthy. If he is knocked out-watch out. The backup QB Dom Davis is absolutely awful. Wouldn’t be surprised to see the Falcons make a move before the season to get the proverbial veteran backup QB.
Staying with the NFL, the SportBoss pulled together a nice analysis of the new Head Coaches, Coordinators and when they play their old teams.
Soon, as Bruce pointed out, the women folk were inside taking about neighborhood real estate values while the men were on the deck discussing much more weightier topics. Like – did you know that it is illegal to tie a
giraffe to a telephone pole in Atlanta? Or that you are more likely to die going to buy a lottery ticket than you are to actually win the lottery. Important stuff like that.
Each factoid was greeted with a BS and then confirmed via the internet where, of course, everything is true. There is one involving South Dakota that I will share when we get together in Vegas.
Staying with the trivial theme – here is this week’s trivia
question (answer below)
Without checking the ever true internet – Who is the only person to win the Heisman trophy and play in the Final Four in the same year? And no Ellis, it’s not Julius Peppers.
And speaking of Ellis – we gathered on his deck to watch the very first American Football game of the year – the Hall of Fame game between Dallas and Miami. It may be preseason but it’s football!!
Not much of a game really. One thing that came
quickly back was how bad some announcers are. Chris Collingsworth was prattling on about the Fin’s QB situation and how Tannehill is the young buck but Matt Moore was the experienced vet who doesn’t make mistakes. This is just a few plays after Moore made a huge bonehead play when on 2nd and goal at the 4 - he takes a 15 yard sack.
Do the announcers even watch the game they are announcing or do they just stick to tired old clichés and talking points? If you are going to lay down some quatloos in Vegas, you better to watch the games and make your own
assessments than listen to most announcers. Most just want to blow happy smoke up players butts rather than give you an informed opinion.
On Thursday, the Sax Man got back for an overseas gig bringing back plenty of gifts. One present for himself was a bottle of Fränkischer Hochmoorgeist. I guess the best was to describe it is a high powered version of Peppermint Schnapps. Of course, the recommended way to drink it is to light it first. Even the logo shows the drink on fire.
So we lit it, then covered the fire to put it out a few minutes later (no pulling a flaming Joe for us) and knocked it back. Great stuff. We also watched the Falcons for a while on the Doofus deck. Atlanta is going to be all right as long as Matty Ice stays healthy. If he is knocked out-watch out. The backup QB Dom Davis is absolutely awful. Wouldn’t be surprised to see the Falcons make a move before the season to get the proverbial veteran backup QB.
Staying with the NFL, the SportBoss pulled together a nice analysis of the new Head Coaches, Coordinators and when they play their old teams.

No rematch games for the GO JUMBO weekend (NFL weekend 8) but in looking at the new head coaches and what kind of impact they will have -
Chicago - Got to admit - this choice is pretty unique. Da Bears went up to America's hat and grabbed a pretty successful coach from the CFL. His Montreal Allouettes won back to back Grey Cups in 2009-10. Chicago brought him in due to his background as a QB coach. Trestman was QB coach for the Bucs, Browns, Vikings, Niners, Lions (oh no), Cardianls and Raiders from 1989 - 2003. Someone needs to get inside Jay Cutlers head and see if there is anythng there. Guy has a couple of screws lose.
As far as the coordiantors - pretty unimpressive. The Saints OL was terrible and relied on Brees quick release to a avoid trouble. And anybody from Jacksonville gets stained by that lousy team. Chicago went 10-6 last year and made these moves? Chicago takes a step back.
Buffalo - The Bills went down the NY Turnpike and grabbed the head coach from Syracuse. Usually when you turn around a Big East (oops AAC) program you get promoted to the Big 12, Pac 12 or somewhere else in Div 1A - not the NFL.And it wasn't much of a turnaround. Marrone was 5-7 and 8-5 the last two years. What, more likely, got him the gig was being the OC for New Orleans from 2006-08.
His choice of DC was solid but taking his OC from Syracuse doesn't instill a lot of confidence. Mrs. Bruce will be rooting for Marrone as he was an assistant for Tech from 1996-9. Overall, Buffalo continues to stink given their QB situation.
Cleveland - And the choices just keep getting worse. NFL war rooms were laughing at this pick. No one had Chudzinski on their short list. He was the Panthers OC for the last two years which meant he let Cam Newton do what he does best. But that was about it. Did anyone really fear the Panthers?
Norv Turner is back where he belongs - as an OC so that is a very good hire. Ray Horton is a solid though not inspiring pick too. Cleveland will be slightly better due to the assistants but will only go so far with their quarterbacks (anyone notice a trend?)
Arizona - Bruce Arian's claim to fame is taking Indianapolis to a 9-3 record when Chuck Pagano stepped aside to treat his leukemia. Arians has had a solid career as an OC for Cleveland (OK they sucked), Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.
He grabbed his OL coach to become offensive coordinator and the Eagles DC for a lateral move. Pretty much a yawn. Arizona's solid defense last year was overcome by bad QB play. More of the same this year. Playing in the NFC West leaves little room to move up.
San Diego - Mike McCoy has been an OC for several years with Carolina and Denver. He got to take last year
off there is no need for an OC when your QB is Peyton Manning. Still, San Diego needed a change after years of annual collapses by Norv Turner. Similar to the Bears and Jay Cutler, McCoy needs to figure out if there of Phil Rivers is salvageable. Probably not.
Not so sure his choice of OC is going to help either. Doug Pederson watched as Michael Vick turn into a turnover machine. Sutton as DC is OK. San Diego fortunes will hinge on Rivers gets it going again. I have my doubts.
Philadelphia - Finally, an inspired choice. No, Chip Kelly is not bringing the spread to the NFL. QBs are too valuable to run it as the full time offense. Kelly was brought in due to his high energy and detailed approach. His first order of business is to determine what to do with Vick. He knows what he has with backup QBs Nick Foles and Matt Barkley having coached against them in the Pac 12. If he can get Vick to cut down on turnovers he can jump start the turnaround. Don't see it happening for a full season though.
Kelly made a nice choice with Shurmer as OC and Davis as DC is also pretty good. results this year may not show it but Philadelphia has laid the groundwork for a sustainable turnaround.
Jacksonville - The Jags made a solid choice with Gus Bradley. Under his guidance, Bradley took the Seahawks defense from 24th in points allowed to 1st last year. But like the Lions he will be handicapped by incompetent ownership and poor management. He still has Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne as QBs. The defense better do its job because the offense is going nowhere.
His choices of coordinators aren't going to help. As long as Bradley is stuck with his QBs and executives he is going to struggle. Jags go nowhere again this year.
Trivia Answer – Terry Baker a quarterback from Oregon State in 1962. Terry was the first player to win the Heisman west of the state of Texas. He was the 1st overall pick in the 1993 NFL draft in 1963 by the LA Rams.
Charlie Ward won the Heisman in 1993 as a QB for Florida State and was point guard for the basketball team. But the Seminoles lost in the regional finals that year to Kentucky. Close but no Macanudo for Charlie.
Remember the GO JUMBO weekend is Oct 26th at the LVH
Chicago - Got to admit - this choice is pretty unique. Da Bears went up to America's hat and grabbed a pretty successful coach from the CFL. His Montreal Allouettes won back to back Grey Cups in 2009-10. Chicago brought him in due to his background as a QB coach. Trestman was QB coach for the Bucs, Browns, Vikings, Niners, Lions (oh no), Cardianls and Raiders from 1989 - 2003. Someone needs to get inside Jay Cutlers head and see if there is anythng there. Guy has a couple of screws lose.
As far as the coordiantors - pretty unimpressive. The Saints OL was terrible and relied on Brees quick release to a avoid trouble. And anybody from Jacksonville gets stained by that lousy team. Chicago went 10-6 last year and made these moves? Chicago takes a step back.
Buffalo - The Bills went down the NY Turnpike and grabbed the head coach from Syracuse. Usually when you turn around a Big East (oops AAC) program you get promoted to the Big 12, Pac 12 or somewhere else in Div 1A - not the NFL.And it wasn't much of a turnaround. Marrone was 5-7 and 8-5 the last two years. What, more likely, got him the gig was being the OC for New Orleans from 2006-08.
His choice of DC was solid but taking his OC from Syracuse doesn't instill a lot of confidence. Mrs. Bruce will be rooting for Marrone as he was an assistant for Tech from 1996-9. Overall, Buffalo continues to stink given their QB situation.
Cleveland - And the choices just keep getting worse. NFL war rooms were laughing at this pick. No one had Chudzinski on their short list. He was the Panthers OC for the last two years which meant he let Cam Newton do what he does best. But that was about it. Did anyone really fear the Panthers?
Norv Turner is back where he belongs - as an OC so that is a very good hire. Ray Horton is a solid though not inspiring pick too. Cleveland will be slightly better due to the assistants but will only go so far with their quarterbacks (anyone notice a trend?)
Arizona - Bruce Arian's claim to fame is taking Indianapolis to a 9-3 record when Chuck Pagano stepped aside to treat his leukemia. Arians has had a solid career as an OC for Cleveland (OK they sucked), Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.
He grabbed his OL coach to become offensive coordinator and the Eagles DC for a lateral move. Pretty much a yawn. Arizona's solid defense last year was overcome by bad QB play. More of the same this year. Playing in the NFC West leaves little room to move up.
San Diego - Mike McCoy has been an OC for several years with Carolina and Denver. He got to take last year
off there is no need for an OC when your QB is Peyton Manning. Still, San Diego needed a change after years of annual collapses by Norv Turner. Similar to the Bears and Jay Cutler, McCoy needs to figure out if there of Phil Rivers is salvageable. Probably not.
Not so sure his choice of OC is going to help either. Doug Pederson watched as Michael Vick turn into a turnover machine. Sutton as DC is OK. San Diego fortunes will hinge on Rivers gets it going again. I have my doubts.
Philadelphia - Finally, an inspired choice. No, Chip Kelly is not bringing the spread to the NFL. QBs are too valuable to run it as the full time offense. Kelly was brought in due to his high energy and detailed approach. His first order of business is to determine what to do with Vick. He knows what he has with backup QBs Nick Foles and Matt Barkley having coached against them in the Pac 12. If he can get Vick to cut down on turnovers he can jump start the turnaround. Don't see it happening for a full season though.
Kelly made a nice choice with Shurmer as OC and Davis as DC is also pretty good. results this year may not show it but Philadelphia has laid the groundwork for a sustainable turnaround.
Jacksonville - The Jags made a solid choice with Gus Bradley. Under his guidance, Bradley took the Seahawks defense from 24th in points allowed to 1st last year. But like the Lions he will be handicapped by incompetent ownership and poor management. He still has Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne as QBs. The defense better do its job because the offense is going nowhere.
His choices of coordinators aren't going to help. As long as Bradley is stuck with his QBs and executives he is going to struggle. Jags go nowhere again this year.
Trivia Answer – Terry Baker a quarterback from Oregon State in 1962. Terry was the first player to win the Heisman west of the state of Texas. He was the 1st overall pick in the 1993 NFL draft in 1963 by the LA Rams.
Charlie Ward won the Heisman in 1993 as a QB for Florida State and was point guard for the basketball team. But the Seminoles lost in the regional finals that year to Kentucky. Close but no Macanudo for Charlie.
Remember the GO JUMBO weekend is Oct 26th at the LVH