Super, Duper, Countdown(s)

Super Bowl weekend is always a fun one. Lots of potential ... lots of opportunity ... lost of food.

This one was no different. And it was actually a good game to watch, so I wasn’t just hanging out by the chili dip (more on that later) all night.

And since it was a special weekend, I’ve got some Super Thoughts on the Super Bowl that I’ll unveil in a secondary countdown.

Wait, two countdowns on one Lazy Blog Weekend Countdown blog entry? What’s going on here? I know. Crazy, right? But we’ll get through this together.

ON TO THE COUNTDOWN(S) !!!!

Super Blog Countdown ...
Here’s a list of my top five Super Bowl XLIII moments ...

5) Flag on the play.
Have you seen more flags in a football game than the one Sunday? It was unreal. Every time I looked up from the chili dip (again, more on that later), there was another flag.
It’s the freaking Super Bowl for crying out loud, let the teams play. I’m all about keeping it clean, but some of the so-called penalties were laughable, while the REAL penalties went unnoticed.
The refs should keep it in their ... um ... well, they shouldn’t throw the flags as much as they did. Just sayin ...

4) Commercials? What commercials?
I wasn’t very impressed with this year’s crop of Super Bowl commercials. What, just because the economy’s in bad shape, the commercials can’t be good? Honestly, there’s been some Super Bowls where I couldn’t wait for the game to break so I could watch the commercials. Sunday, I couldn’t wait for the game to resume.
Although, I did like Bridgestone’s Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head commercial ... and so did the Busy Baby.

3) What a play!
James Harrison’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown to end the first half was incredible. The Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker is a lot faster than I thought. He’s also a lot more, well, watch the video.
Regardless, that play—the Pick 6, not the Clinched 5—was, in essence, the Super Bowl. If Arizona scores there, I think the Cardinals, Kurt Warner and his facial hair are Super Bowl champs.
It’s amazing how they say “one play doesn’t determine an entire game” but, yet, it did.

2) The Boss?
Don’t get me wrong, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are incredible. Their music has entertained millions all across the world. But Sunday’s halftime performance was just, well, like my buddy and former O-A News AU beat hack Collin Mickle said, was just “eh.“
Of course, it’s hard to shove a three-hour, never-forget concert into 12 minutes.
But, what made it watchable was Silvio, er, Steve Van Zandt, and the Boss sharing the mic during “Glory Days.“ Always, always, a classic moment.

1) Replay! My kingdom for a replay!
How can you not at least replay the last play of the game? How? Really?
In my professional opinion which doesn’t mean anything, I thought it was a forward pass. Kurt Warner’s arm was moving forward, which, in the rule book, should have been an incomplete pass. But the replay official didn’t see it that way. But why not call timeout and make sure? I mean, it’s only the Super Bowl. It’s not like the game means anything.

Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for ... The LBWC ...

5) Sunday afternoon. Movie time!
Before the Super Bowl, the wife and I watched a movie together for the first time in like a year. Seriously. With a 4-year-old and a 14-month-old, just finding the TV is difficult.
Anyway, we watched the movie Fireproof and it was great. Well, first, you have to get past the acting, which doesn’t happen until like 30-35 minutes into the flick, but you do, and it’s great.
Remember, it’s a low-budget film made by our friends at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga. (the same folks who produced Facing the Giants).

4) Saturday afternoon. Listen to this!
I love music. And I’m a sucker for anything 80s. Times were simpler then, and the music was great. On the way to and from Auburn University’s basketball game against Vanderbilt on Saturday, I had my Sirius tuned to the 80s on 8, and it made my day. I know all of you loved the MC Hammer shout-out I had on last week’s blog.
Since looking up that YouTube clip, I couldn’t get Two Legit out of my head.
But Saturday, I did. Finally. And I replaced it with Mr. Mister’s Kyrie. An absolute classic. Unbeatable, really.

(**I know all of the LBWC readers love the 80s, and its music as much as I do. The only thing better is the 90s. So I figured we can have a Best Songs Ever countdown next week. Please submit your picks for next week’s blog. But remember, don’t vote until the end of the show. Thank you for your support.)

3) Sunday evening. An ode to chili dip.
Chili dip, chili dip, how I love you, chili dip.
Especially with Fritos chips.
You’re gooey and spicy.
And all together nicey.
Cheese and chili
Oh, Billy!
I love dip made with chili!

2) See No. 3.

1) Saturday afternoon. No Quick Change, but very, very close.
The halftime guest during the Auburn-Vanderbilt game was the Red Panda Acrobat, who was easily the most entertaining thing happening at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum that day.
If you haven’t seen the RPA, then watch the video. It’s quite impressive. She balances on a unicycle and flips bowls from her leg onto her head, without falling, or dropping the bowls. Saturday, she stole the show. My friend and colleague, Jay Tate from the Montgomery Advertiser has a great photo of the action on the HABOTN.
However, as great at the RPA was, she’s no Quick Change. But let’s be honest, who is?
Quick Change is the greatest halftime show out there. It’s so good, in fact, it should be its own Vegas show. Right there with Celine.
And I’m not joking.

Oh, those internets…

The Internet rumor mill has been spinning lately about Steve Ensminger, former Auburn quarterbacks coach, tight ends coach and interim offensive coordinator after Tony Franklin’s firing, taking the tight ends job at LSU after National Signing Day on Wednesday. Ensminger has been working as QB coach at Smiths Station for the past two weeks.

Smiths Station head football coach and athletic director Mark Rose would not like to dignify those rumors with a response.

“I don’t comment on no rumors,“ Rose said. “I hadn’t heard anything about that. I work with him every day, all day and I know he’s been working hard for Smiths Station. I don’t pay attention to no message boards.“

(Photo credit: Cliff Williams/Opelika-Auburn News)

Auburn women rebound at LSU

The Auburn women aren’t ready for a losing streak just yet.

The No. 5 Tigers took care of business today at LSU, downing the Bengal Tigers, 66-55, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Don’t think for a second that we saw a single minute of this game. Trips to Baton Rouge don’t exactly get the go-ahead from upper management during these trying economic times.

Based on the box score and play-by-play, Auburn trailed by five at halftime, but used a 19-5 run midway through the second half to take command.

Alli Smalley knocked down all five of her 3-point attempts on her way to a game-high 21 points. DeWanna Bonner had 16 points and nine rebounds, while Whitney Boddie chipped in 14 points and nine assists.

It’s expected that Auburn will fall a bit in tomorrow’s latest installment of the Associated Press poll because of Thursday’s loss at Georgia, but today’s win certainly saved it from a freefall. The Tigers (21-1) resume conference play Thursday against Ole Miss at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.

(Photo credit: That’s an old shot of Alli Smalley. Shot by Todd Van Emst.)

Super Bowl thoughts and other minutiae

College football may be my game (though my sorry picks performance may say otherwise) but I pay attention to other things around me, as well.

So now that we stand about III hours and XLIII minutes from Super Bowl XLIII, I figured I’d offer up a pick for posterity’s sake since a lack of room didn’t allow me to columnize on it this time around.

And I think it basically comes down to this: Unless Kurt Warner plays the game to end all games, I just don’t see the Cards winning.

It’s not because the Steelers are a superior team. Their offense is average at best, and will definitely have a tough time moving on the Cardinals’ defense.

But how in the world a one-dimensional offense like Arizona’s can move the ball consistently against a Pittsburgh defense that has made good, balanced offenses look awful, is beyond me.

The Cards will keep it close, but I think you’ll see Warner throw at least one pick-6 and/or cough up a fumble for a touchdown in this one. And now that Willie Parker is healthy, the Steelers should be able to chew up clock and keep the ball away from the Cardinals when it counts.

The pick: Steelers XXIV, Cardinals XIV

In other news, I mentioned I was in a wedding this weekend in Birmingham. Well something quite interesting happened Friday night.

In between the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, I walked over to use the bathroom at the Sheraton Hotel at the BJCC. A friend of mine also in the wedding was just standing there, because the Secret Service hadn’t allowed him in the bathroom.

So my friend and I stood there a minute or two, and out from the bathroom steps none other than this guy.

And not only that, but he immediately waved at us, walked the 50 or 60 feet away that we were as though he knew we were there, said “How are you gentlemen doing this evening?“ and shook both our hands.

I’m pretty sure I managed to get out “It’s a pleasure to meet you President Carter” but I was pretty starstruck so I may have imagined it.

But I have to say, that was pretty cool.

In slightly smaller celebrity news, I also had the opportunity to meet former Auburn center Joe Cope at the wedding. Clearly well down from his playing weight, Cope was a nice guy.

I had forgotten that the Sunday staff has a date with IHOP tonight, so I have to delay the special post another day. It will be here tomorrow night or Tuesday night. If it’s not I’ll just give up on it.

Enjoy the Super Bowl.

3 former Tigers feeling super today

Tacky headline? You betcha.

Pardon us, but we’ve been jaded by the non-stop Super Bowl hype. It’s brought out the blog’s worst.

But hey, there’s some relevance to this post, as we’d quickly like to point out that three former Auburn tackle football players will have a lot riding on today’s 43rd installment of the Super Bowl.

They are currently employed by the two participating teams.

Here are some bio boxes of the three. Take note that Steelers’ offensive guard Kendall Simmons (Class of ‘02) won’t exactly be relevant today. He’s been out with an Achilles tendon injury since September. Also, we’d like to point out that Roderick Hood (Class of ‘03) is a fantastic person. He chatted with the OA-News, via telephone, about two months ago. He’s freshman safety D’Antoine Hood’s cousin. They go way back.

Roderick Hood, Arizona Cardinals, CB
How he got here: Hood signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent before the 2003 season. After four seasons with the Eagles, Hood signed a free-agent deal with the Cardinals and has been a regular in the starting lineup ever since.
What he did this year: Hood tallied 40 tackles, picked off a pass and forced a fumble in 15 games this season.
What he did at Auburn: The Columbus, Ga., native finished his career with five interceptions and 106 tackles. He was also a fixture on punt and kick returns, averaging 11.2 and 19.9 yards, respectively, per attempt.

Karlos Dansby, Arizona Cardinals, LB
How he got here: Dansby was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round with the 33rd pick before the 2004 season. He was recently tagged the team’s franchise player heading into 2008 and signed a one-year deal.
What he did this year: Dansby led Arizona and was tied for fourth in the league with 119 tackles during the regular season. He tacked on four sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions and has amassed 23 tackles during the postseason.
What he did at Auburn: The Birmingham native was a regular from the start, picking up 59 tackles his first year on the field. He totaled a combined 160 tackles in his junior and season seasons, including 9.5 sacks.

Kendall Simmons, Pittsburgh Steelers, OG
How he got here: Simmons was drafted with the 30th overall pick in the 2002 Draft by the Steelers. He’s spent his entire career there, but will not play in today’s game. He was ruled out for the season in September after suffering an Achilles’ tendon injury.
What he did this year: Simmons played in four games before going down with the injury and being placed on the season-ending injured reserve list.
What he did at Auburn: Simmons was a huge presence on the Tigers’ line from 1999-2002.

(Photo credit: That’s Roderick Hood and we lifted that shot from NFL.com)