Sunday, August 31, 2008

Two College Football Games...before Labor Day

Thursday I went with Yearwood and Darrell to the GT/Jacksonville State game...mostly to catch up with the guys, whom I hadn't spent much time in years. Both are doing well. Jeff went through a tough period at work before changing jobs, a similar situation to what I'm in these days.

Tech didn't look too bad. The unis don't look too bad in person, and the ugly details are tough to make out from a distance. The team looked ok, but we'll see how they do against tougher competition. The backup freshman QB was small, but looked better than the starter. As always, a night game in downtown ATL is always pretty.

Saturday Ceil backed out of taking Will to the Clemson Alabama game...a wise choice on her part. She went to the Decatur Book Festival and chatted with SPdL novelist Elizabeth Goldsmith Musser.

Will and I took MARTA from North Springs. With 200,000 people downtown for Dragoncon, the game, and black gay pride, the parking desk was nearly full. By the Perimeter Mall station, the train was full. We went early to take in the Cenntenial Park events, but there was little to do except drink Coke Zero and collect Chick-fil-A trinkets.

We got into the Dome way early, but by the time the bands took the field 40 minutes before game time, the only way to see was to stand. Stand we did, until the Clemson team let the wind out of our sails...we got to sit during the second half. While we were in the Clemson section, in the Clemson end zone, a small band of young, drunk Bama fans spoiled the fun for the rest of us.

The Tigers would do well to fire their offensive lineman straight into the defense, and let powerful back James Davis plow straight ahead, with a running start. Instead the men in motion get in the way, linemen constantly pull, giving the defense time to penetrate and clog the line of scrimmage. Clemson RBs are handed the ball while standing still, then they begin running.

I was surprised that Will was ready to leave early. We walked to the Five Points station, arriving just in time to board a North Springs train. On the MARTA ride home some were complaining about the defense, though they did admirably considering the offense held the ball less than a third of the game.

This has been going on for years...they beat up on weaker opponents and stay close against stronger teams with a fumble recovery here or kickoff return there. Looks like 2008 will be more of the same. Some were surprized by the Bama loss. Not me.

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