Official 2009 College Football Discussion Thread

[bama_ed]

My son asked me if the elephant was Alabama's mascot.

I hear 'Crimson Tide' - and the battle cry 'Roll Tide', but how does the elephant come into play here.

Is it sorta like Auburn being the Tigers and having an Eagle fly to mid-field pregame?

Kaguilbeau,

Your son is obviously very smart and inquisitive and should he not choose to pursue LSU as his favorite college football team, he is smart enough to be a Crimson Tide fan.

Seriously, the elephant mascot, Big Al, came about as a part of Alabama's long, rich national championship tradition. Back in 1930, Alabama under Frank Thomas had a tremendous football team allowing only 13 points while scoring 217 over the season. Alabama's players were so much bigger, stronger, and better coached than the opponents (men among boys) that an Atlanta sportswriter began referring to us at the "Red Elephants". The name stuck and the rest is history.

Of course, that 1930 team went to the Rose Bowl, won (shut out Washington I think), took another NCAA-sanctioned national championship, and the elephant became the moniker. In fact, tell your son that Alabama was the reason the PAC-10 conference (or whatever it was then) signed the contract to align with the Big-10 conference: they were tired of Alabama coming in and winning. Alabama made 6 trips to the Rose Bowl in 20 years over the period of the 20's-30's-40's and lost only once.

I recall you're in Lafayette. I used to get there about 4 times a year in my job and enjoyed eating at Randol's and listening to the music and watching the dancing. Your part of LA has some great culture.

Bama ED

 

[kaguilbeau]

Bama Ed - I knew that you'd know the answer about Alabama's mascot. I had know idea you knew so much of their history.

Yes, this area of Louisiana has some wonderful culture - and some of the best food around. Yell loud if you're ever back down this way!

 

[testtubes]

Another great weekend of football!! Who would have believed that losses to Florida and Bama would cause LSU to rise in the rankings from #9 to #8?
Gotta love college football and WDW! Here's hoping that the rest of the season produces some wins (La. Tech, Ole Miss, and Arkansas remain).

 

[KimIce]

Any one a Penn State Fan? What was their problem Saturday, they sure Sucked!!!

 

[RNmomnFL]

Crying foul on the the LSU gain in the rankings after losing...just don't get it!? That being said, just glad my Bulls are remaining in the top 25. USF has had two losses also, like LSU, to current ranked teams too. Just got to keep winning Bulls.

 

[AuburnJen92]

I'm actually going to a football game this weekend!!! Can't wait!! Going to Auburn's Homecoming!! Pulling the camper down to their RV field!!

A couple of firsts for me. College football game and boondocking!! We'll see how much power Jen and Chris's generator has

It was quite the party! I got to meet Carol's son too! What a weekend. I am going to post a trip report, including sideline pictures. I am getting them off my phone right now.

 

[cwmajors]

I already asked that Auburn question, and if I understand the response correctly, it was something to the effect that the Tiger was a mascot, but the War Eagle was a battle cry. So that Eagle that you see is not a mascot- it's a battle cry. It still looks like an Eagle to me, but if it works for them, what can I say?

The Elephant at 'Bama, I have no idea about. He doesn't look like a Crimson Tide to me. But then again, I'm not exactly sure what a Crimson Tide is?

It's not just the Alabama folks who are guilty of this, though. The University of Miami's team is called The Hurricanes, but they have a giant chicken running around their field.

TCD

Here's more information than you needed about Auburn and the whole Tigers/War Eagle deal:

Auburn (the city) was named for the town described in Oliver Goldsmith's poem "The Deserted Village." One of the lines of that poem, "Where crouching tigers wait their hapless prey," is the source of the Tiger mascot. The first line of the poem, "Sweet Auburn! Loveliest village of the plain," is still used to refer to Auburn- the school newspaper is the Auburn Plainsman, and the baseball team plays at Plainsman Park.

There are several stories about the source of "War Eagle"- one tells of a Civil War veteran who found an injured eagle on a battlefield and brought it back with him to Auburn, another claims that the original Creek indians who lived in the area had a Chief War Eagle, and still another tells of a student cadet whose shoulder decoration fell off during a pep rally- when someone asked him what it was, he shouted "It's a War Eagle!" and it spread around from there. Nobody really knows for sure which is true at this point, but it's a fact that Auburn fans have been yelling "War Eagle" for over 100 years. Auburn has had a live eagle mascot for much of that time. The current War Eagle VII, "Nova," started serving in 2006. The previous War Eagle VI, "Tiger", served for 20 years, and still lives in Auburn at the raptor center there. She retired due to health concerns- she's quite old for a captive eagle.

So: It's the Auburn Tigers. We yell, "War Eagle!". It's never the Auburn War Eagles. That'd be like calling them the Arkansas Sooie Pigs or the Alabama Roll Tides.

Also: The Miami Hurricanes' mascot is Sebastian the Ibis. He's their mascot because the Ibis is the last bird to leave before a hurricane hits and the first one to return.

I'm sure whatever Ed said about what elephants have to do with Roll Tide is right, I suppose- I just don't care.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Here is our trip report for the Alumni Band trip. After 10 hours of driving in the RV, we parked in the hayfield and set up for dry camping and turned on the generator. Carol (clkelly) would arrive Friday. We then staked out our "claim" of space with the infamous orange tape....

My son has this fascination with key cards at hotels. (probably because he has to stay in the RV...) This was at the Lexington in Auburn, where my parents stayed overnight.

Friday, we went shopping! I sent some picture texts to Pete reliving the good ole' days of when we beat Florida from the art gallery and took this picture of Toomer's Corner. This is the tree that Auburn fans and grads "roll" (throw toilet paper into the tree) when Auburn wins a big game.

I think this is Hargis Hall. It holds the graduate studies administration. I remember the inside of that building well. I paid many tuition bills there!

 

[AuburnJen92]

This is the landmark for Auburn, Samford Hall. It holds administrative offices.

In the state of Florida, we don't usually get the changing of the colors, so my son got to see the wonderful colors of the fall season.

We took some pictures in front of the sign at Samford Hall for the scrapbook.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Friday afternoon we headed to Montgomery to see my sister and her family and TiggerinBama. Since Tigger was sick, we didn't get to meet up with them, but I did get to play with my nephew! Saturday morning, early, we were at band practice playing and then out to the field to learn our spots for halftime.

[imghttp://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs043.snc3/13054_1294942172302_1192749535_30887439_6099565_n.jpg[/img]
After marching into the stadium (oh how the memories came back) we got to our seats and started playing. CJ was enjoying the game too.

It was then time to go on down to the field and get ready for halftime. This is taken right before we marched on. Carol says I was on the jumbo tron! (like I need to be bigger!)

We came back and met CJ and took this picture while we were still on the field.

The game was over, Auburn won their homecoming and we tailgated and watched the other SEC games from the satellite! What a weekend! This is the picture of everyone there at the hayfield. You can see the Mousektab in the background!

 

[clkelley]

OK, I have a few pictures of the Auburn game also

This was my first big school game, so the whole thing was all new and fun for me!!

Here's our parking spot for the weekend

Saturday morning came bright and early as Jen and Chris had to be at practice at 7:45 am.

And then marching practice after that:

Jen & Chris had to be in the stadium early, so myself, CJ, Chris's sister and boyfriend wandered around Campus. (We didn't want CJ to have to sit in the stadium for more than an hour before the game !!)

We got into the stadium and watched some Football!!

Half-Time is getting ready to start

 

[clkelley]

Both of my brothers went to Auburn, and it turns out my middle brother was also at the game with his son.

There's Chris with the orange floppy hat

The Alumni Band Playing

The Marching Band

I left about half-way through the third quarter as the game was a blowout and I was hot and sunburnt. I walked over to where my son works at Cheeburger Cheeburger, then went to his apartment with him.

Here is Toomer's Corner rolled:

We came back to the camper and watched some more football, had some brats, and other good food, and I fell asleep in my chair, so Jen and Chris woke me up and sent me to bed.

Sunday morning, we packed up and went to IHOP

 

[kaguilbeau]

Jen & Carol - I really enjoyed your report of the Auburn game. Isn't SEC football great? Looks like it was a fun time - and beautiful weather. I'd love to attend a football game and tailgate with a camper.

 

[clkelley]

This is the tree that Auburn fans and grads "roll" (throw toilet paper into the tree) when Auburn wins a big game.

Matt, (my son) says some folks roll the tree when Auburn loses too. He works right down the road from that corner.

 

[stacktester]

Wow, lot's of geeks in one place lol. Just kidding. That's pretty cool the Alumni was invited in.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Wow, lot's of geeks in one place lol. Just kidding. That's pretty cool the Alumni was invited in.

we got in FREE, I like Free...

 

[AuburnJen92]

Jen & Carol - I really enjoyed your report of the Auburn game. Isn't SEC football great? Looks like it was a fun time - and beautiful weather. I'd love to attend a football game and tailgate with a camper.

We expect you at the next Auburn/LSU game....

 

[kaguilbeau]

We expect you at the next Auburn/LSU game....

You got it!

 

[bama_ed]

Bama beat LSU this weekend 24-15.

Before anyone starts complaining about officiating I don't think it would have changed the outcome of the game. LSU only had 9 yards offense on 3 possessions in the 4th quarter.

My BIL told me about the Amtrak train stopping in Tuscaloosa on Friday coming up from New Orleans (The Southern Crescent). He was in traffic and the train was so long it blocked cars much longer than normal. The Tuscaloosa News made a video of the LSwho fans getting off the train. Lot of canned adult beverages in hand getting off the train if you know what I mean.

Very exciting game. Bama left a few points on the field though - still not a complete game. The LSU game has become the biggie here in the SEC West for us. The Tiger fans were for the most part pleasant and well behaved while they were with us.

Some good games coming up this weekend but given my prediction skills (nada) I'll refrain from mentioning any names. I was glad to see Notre Dame go down to Navy. Maybe now they'll fire Weiss because in 5 years the program is no better off than it was in year 1. They play Pitt this weekend.

Bama goes to Miss St. this weekend who always plays us hard. They held Florida close for a while in their game. I hope Bama isn't looking past State.

One game at a time!

Roll Tide Reauxl!

Bama ED

 

[kaguilbeau]

Bama beat LSU this weekend 24-15.

Before anyone starts complaining about officiating I don't think it would have changed the outcome of the game. LSU only had 9 yards offense on 3 possessions in the 4th quarter.

I won't complain about the officiating - but it didn't help any that LSU's starting QB and back were on the sidelines during that time. The only thing I'm seeing pictures of around here are of the interception that wasn't to be. Shots showing that his feet were in bounds - but I think the official said he didn't have control of the ball. Good win by Bama - congratulations!

Glad to know that the fans were sorta well behaved. People from south Louisiana tend to have a reputation. Everything turns into a party!