Smaug's $0.02
Lord, what a weekend.
I was planning to watch the game on TV, when I was invited to tag along with a couple of Blazer brothers on one of those epic road trips you talk about for years. You're getting this on Monday night instead of Sunday because I was worn out by the time I walked through my front door yesterday, and well, I have a day job.
Rolled out of the Lonely Mountain about 6 am Friday and rolled back in around 5 pm yesterday. In between, we did a little sight-seeing, made fun of Tech, encountered some nice UNT fans (and one asshat), one angry gump Waffle House chef, a gritty Blazer victory, Torchy's and Buc-Ee's.
You guys, I don't have to remind you that this is a rebuilding year and we are the 4th best team in the division, do I? At least that's what people who purport to know said.
But quoth the immortal Lou Brown, "The local press seems to think that we'd save everyone the time and trouble if we just went out and shot ourselves. Me, I'm for wasting sportswriters' time. So I figured we ought to hang around for a while and see if we can give 'em all a nice big s***burger to eat!"
Has it occurred to you that this is a very young team, and we are going to be loaded for bear next year? Captain Clark has got this freight train a-rollin' and it's not wise to step out in front of it.
The guy formerly known around these parts as Flying Mouse told me in 2016 that the rest of this conference is going to hate our guts. They ain't ready for how good we're going to be when we come back. The man is a prophet.
A word on that, though.
Today is the 5th anniversary of Black Tuesday. Yeah, I'm still pretty salty about it, but damn, I'm having fun this year. As always, ever faithful, ever loyal, ever joyous, ever vigilant. The champagne will flow, but the powder will remain dry.
Anywho, on to the observations:
Bad, bad Spencer Brown 19 carries for 111 yards and 1 TD. That's the guy we expected this year. Big, strong man running with authority. Couldn't have come at a better time.
Blazers. Spelled with a D. We held one of the most dynamic offenses and best quarterbacks in this conference to 289 total yards, and a miniscule 21 on the ground. Put Mason Fine on his ass seven times. The 4th quarter numbers are even more telling. UNT had 7 rushing yards and gave up 4 sacks in the final 15 minutes.
Before the Clark era, I dreaded handing the game to our defense. Now, I am reassured.
On the other hand, we rushed for 203 yards. In an age of pinball football, we won by running the ball and playing defense.
A TD for TD TD Marshall, summed up winning with defense on one play. It should be noted that Fine threw up a duck because the world was crashing down around him.
Lucious Stanley, sir. 14 carries, 72 yards and a TD. This guy is one of the unsung heroes of this team. Hits the hole quick and is always clawing and fighting for the extra yard. Lining him up in the Wildcat is a new and effective wrinkle.
The Good Apogee Stadium. I liked it. Modern and clean. Of course, when you're used to Legion Field, you don't have to be all that modern or clean, but it really is a nice stadium.
The Bad So, I mentioned the gump Waffle House chef. Now, let me be clear. I'm not disparaging Waffle House chefs. It's honorable work, and those guys are amazing to watch in action. This guy was a piece of work though. We really had to drive three states away to run into this guy. He's wearing the scarlet letter on his cap (our first sign). He walks up to us (clad proudly in green) and said, "I guess y'all had a better day than I did."
"Well, yeah. We've had a great day."
"Well, did you see any of my game?"
"Nope. *pointing out the window at Apogee Stadium* We came for THAT game."
We then spend the next five minutes listening to the most deliciously paranoid rant about how the SEC didn't want Bammuh in the playoff (he was somewhat unclear on why they'd feel that way) and the officials gave Auburn the game. I hate bringing up that game, but I wanted to demonstrate how pervasive that cult is, like chlamydia.
The Ugly We were walking out of Apogee, making pleasant small talk with UNT fans, when some dolt starts yelling at us, like some monkey sitting in a tree slinging poo. Other than some twitter dolts, he seemed to be a loud, drunken anomaly.
So, what does this mean, Barbara?
It means we're division champs in a "rebuilding year". Clark has harped on raising expectations since day one. Well here we are. I don't know what's going to happen next week. Joey Freshwater may clean our plow.
But then again, he may not. Oh, and Buc-Ee's really does have everything.
That's all I got. For now. I think.
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Smaug's $0.02
