The Rest of The NESN Live BCS Blog

// January 9th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

You can find the ENTIRE BCS National Championship Game FWG Live Blog
HERE

Live National Championship Blog!

// January 9th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized

8:55
Where is Utah?
8:59
Inside pitch to Aaron Hernandez. Brother of DJ Hernandez, my teammate.
Another pass play to Hernandez on the crossing rout. I am swelling with Connecticut pride.
Side note: Aaron Hernandez has “Thug Life” tattooed on his stomach, saw that last summer.

9:01
Bob Kraft at the game. I’m a Bills fan so that is funny to me. Bob Kraft looks like he has no idea what to do with “free time” in the month of January.
Tim Tebow prays for Tom Brady.

9:05
Tebow gets crushed as he releases the ball. Wow. Superman? You sure?
3rd and 9 for the Gators. Tebow throws across the middle.
TOUCHDOWN.
YES. SUPERMAN. YES.
Sooners are looking for a play review.
Refs decide tempo and pace of game ARE important.
Snap. Kick. Good.
9:07
Where is Utah

…the rest can be found at www.NESN.COM

The National Championship Game

// January 7th, 2009 // 7 Comments » // Uncategorized

Now, I know that the International Bowl has already been decided, so really there is no other game of importance on, but in case you have nothing to do Thursday night there also happens to be the National Championship Game on. Two relative unknowns are battling for the BCS crown. Florida and Oklahoma (I know, I never heard of them either).
The story line for this game is less than compelling: Last year’s Heisman winner (and current candidate for Sainthood) Tim Tebow versus current trophy winner, Sam Bradford.
I know, I know. I feel the same way: When Pitt lost 3 -0 to Oregon State, I knew the bowl season had reached its pinnacle. This shootout was a start to finish adrenaline rush, starting with Oregon being penalized a time out for (get this) wearing the wrong uniforms. Apparently the referees felt that orange was SOOOO last season.
But, I digress.
The national championship. Believe it or not this has actually already been played. Did I hop in my Delorean and fire up the Flux Capacitor? No (but I do have a sweet pair of acid-wash jeans if you’re interested). So what do I mean by all this? Utah should have been crowned the BCS title winner. They went 13-0, not beating slap dicks like Hofstra and Temple (Sorry, UConn) but playing top (ranked) talent like Alabama and those crazy Mormons at BYU. They didn’t back their way into playing in college football’s ultimate showcase. They went 13-0. End of story. Check please. Be sure to tip your waitress.
The only thing Utah did wrong this year was not being a member of a BCS conference. Here’s a news flash: being bestowed the “honor” of a BCS conference doesn’t mean anything anymore. These so called “mid majors” are anything but. The influx of money and the limitations on scholarships has meant one thing for major college football: Parity. I don’t care if you are BYU, USC, Alabama, or Buffalo. All these teams are competitive. Point in case: The 12th ranked and undefeated Ball State Cardinals fell to the University of Buffalo (bowl eligible for the first time in 50 years) in the MAC Championship game. Buffalo then lost to UConn in bowl play. Did UConn win because it’s a member of the Big East? No. But getting ranked would have been easier because they are. Listen to me. I played. Beating Temple was just as hard as trying to take down West Virginia. In 2007 we beat South Florida (ranked as high as #2 that year), and that game was easier than dismantling Rutgers, who had NFL-bound Ray Rice at the helm. My point is this: Rankings and the BCS system are completely arbitrary. The best team is not in the National Championship game. The big money being thrown around means that a more marketable team like Florida finds its way playing this Thursday while Utah finds itself shit out of luck. It’s no longer about the two best teams, its about the perceived best game. What viewers want. Apparently, that is two sub-par teams competing on college football’s grandest stage. The National Championship is supposed to be an all encompassing game, widdled down from all 119 teams to two who will slug it out on live TV. Instead, the BCS system makers decided that only 66 schools are worthy of their blessing.
The system is dead. And flawed.
How do I solve it? a 16 team play off. The rest of the field can go play in bowl games. I like that reward system. All other bowl eligible teams should do so. Playing in a bowl is a privilege and an incredible experience, lets reward teams that are able to win 7+ games (no more of this 6 and 6 and Notre Dame playing Hawaii crap). Now how do we get those 16 teams? The obvious answer is the Top 16 ranked in the Coaches Poll. But honestly, 119 names in a bag an picking 16 would be better than what we have now. My suggestion? The best regular season records, after that best records determined by strength of schedule. A tie? Have a playoff. This is America people, let the best man win.
The current BCS system is about as smart as a bag of hammers. I don’t advocate for a total play off system, but I do advocate for a system that gives us a true national champion. So show me one where Utah would have been playing on Thursday night. Until then, I simply don’t care.

FWG Ice Skates…Hilarity Ensues

// January 7th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

Who are you kidding, your favorite part of this blog is the “Final Thoughts.” So here. Enjoy.
More Final Thoughts…

I spent the night in the Adirondack region (Glens Falls) meeting (more) of the girlfriend’s family. I squeezed into ice skates two sizes too small and again confirmed my lack of athletic ability. It’s like that skating bear you see at the low rent circus. In theory it’s great, in practice…well…no bear can skate, and neither can this fat white guy.

Even worse: I’ve played hockey my entire life. Apparently poorly. But let me reinforce why I love my girlfriend so much. She always manages to make me feel better about this sort of thing. “Here, hold your hockey stick. You’ll look like an athlete when people look back at this picture.”Great point. Which brings up another great point:

Why I’ll Lie to My Kids (also doubles as a great book title)
-your father won the Heisman (the wonders of Photoshop)
-your father won 8 gold medals (why does he bear such a strong resemblance to Michael Phelps?…shut up and eat your peas)
-your father was a running back who scored a lot of touchdowns…and apparently used to be black (Donny Brown gives FWG his old jersey for this one)

I ate (again? c’mon) at the restaurant where Rachael Ray once worked. Only I could be star-struck by a Food-Network star (keyword here: food).

Dennis Leary is hilarious. I have one word for his book, “Why We Suck“
Changed my life. It will change yours too. (No, it won’t make you fatter.)

Looking at that picture again: I look like some sort of hockey-stick-wielding terrorist:

My Last Game: Bowl Victory

// January 7th, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Uncategorized

My last game. I’m not sure where to start. I had the same problem this time last year, writing a blog wrap up. I surmised that writing after the bowl in Charlotte was tough because we had lost, and ending such a great season on a loss left a bitter taste in my mouth. This time it’s a little different.
It’s the same feeling that every kid gets on the last day of school, with the entire summer sprawled out before him. Excitement about all the summer fun, but you know you won’t be keeping up with all your friends in homeroom, there won’t be teachers hounding you or homework to do. In a strange way all that impending freedom is scary.
Well, my last day of school was a bowl game in Canada. My school years were 5 years as a UConn football player, my teachers were some of the best coaches the country has to offer, and their homework assignments were simple: watch film, practice hard, execute and win.
My summer however, this time, is a lot more scary. I don’t know how to do my taxes (this was the rallying cry for me and a few other seniors after some celebratory beers in downtown Toronto.) It’s the first time I’m no longer a college football player. I am now a responsible (well semi-responsible) member of society. Degree in hand. But before I delve too far into all the this sentimentality, let me break down the game:

Donny Brown. Wow.
Over 250 yards rushing. What a great guy. He is the most dominating running back in the nation. All we do is run. We telegraph the run. We smoke signal the run. Everyone knows “power” is coming…and still…no one can stop Downtown Donny Brown.
It really was a story of two teams, the first half we looked like some sort of slap-stick comedy act. Fumbling and bumbling the football (and cramming into a Volkswagon bug…you know…for the kids). Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.
The defense held fast. I’d like to say it was our athletic prowess and roster full of future-NFL talent (some of it was), but it was also the air-tight game plan put together by our defensive coaching staff. Led by Hank Hughes and Todd Orlando. Having Todd Orlando as your defensive coordinator is almost not fair. Not to mention he had 4 weeks to comb over every play Buffalo had ever run. I think he even filed a freedom of information petition (the hippies finally got something right!) with Turner Gill’s parents. Those home movies were invaluable. Seriously, he’s like Rainman (just replace that juice box with a can of Kodiak).

There was also some extra motivation going into the game. Every interview and story was about about Buffalo. The 50 year anniversary of what that 1958 team did. While I commend the team of 1958, it was as if the media and everyone else forgot we were going to be on the field on Saturday.

That and we heard a Buffalo player give an interview and tell some Canadian TV station, “Predict the score? Sure. 37-7. Buffalo wins…” (apparently his career as the future Nostradamus has been cut short).

The second half was pure domination, quintessential UConn football (and of course, UConn defense). Capped, of course, by the longest interception return for a touchdown in UConn history: 100 yards later the win was sealed, the Gatorade was flowing, and Coach Edsall needed a new pair of pants (he changed at half-time too, but you know…for different reasons).

So the celebrations were long and hardy. The FWG got go conduct the band (wish granted!), and for a few moments all was right with the world.
I did not want to leave that locker room. Leave such a special group of guys. My “summer” was (is) just beginning.

So whats next for the FWG?….I’ll explain that in…

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS:

I am off to play professional football. Nope not in the NFL. Not the CFL. Not your local arena league. I am hopping the pond, landing in Austria on March 1st.
This opportunity presented itself and I jumped at the chance. I think it will be a good way to say goodbye to the game (and see Europe at the same time).

Want to learn more about this, I suggest you read the book:
Seriously. Get it. Read it. It helped sell me on this whole thing.

So here’s the deal with the whole “BLOG THING”.
This blog took on a life on of its own. I am going to keep it, and comment on UConn Football from my perspective (as a former player).
I will also be writing exclusive content for NESN.COM and http://chriscooley47.blogspot.com/2008/12/new-blogger.html

So come here for updates on my life, happenings in UConn Football, and some insight on training and competing at the next level. It will be sure to get more interesting when I touch down in Austria.

Back for more soon…
FWG

Super Fans…the FWG Blushes

// January 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Focus on Buffalo is at an all time high.
Went to the lobby to see my parents, before heading to bed check.
In an awesome turn of events, I felt like a minor celebrity for the first time (I imagine it’s how your local used car salesman might feel after being recognized in the supermarket).

Some pictures were taken (they’ll be posted later) after they email me.
But some great comments were also made:

“Hey you’re the Fat Guy!…you look better in person.”
(Thanks.Yeah, that camera adds a few…hundred pounds).
“You can hardly tell you’re bald.”
(Yes sir. My baldness is hiding under all this thinning hair.”

Some Final Thoughts:
I’ve never considered who the biggest fan of this blog might be. Its probably a tie between Tom and Barry ( you know who you are).
Well, bad news guys, you might be out done by two girls I met tonight…
Erin and Abbie (thats..IE!)
Even better, Erin is from Upstate New York.

Bed time.
One more against Buffalo tomorrow.
-FWG-

The Obligatory Scott Lutrus Post

// January 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I knew something wasn’t quite right this bowl trip. I thought it was the “Canadian Fries” (side of gravy please), then I thought it was the currency (FWG missed the memo that those little coins are two dollars a piece…$20 in the wishing well). But then it occurred to me, I’ve been far too kind to my bowl-game roommate and resident All-American (not to mention the Pride of Connecticut) Scott Lutrus.

For those who read (and sometimes enjoyed) last year’s bowl blog, you know that Scott was a frequent target. Either it was his shower-prep-time-routine (jusssst shy of 2 hours), to his vocal rendition of the UConn fight song. Having him as a roommate was comedic gold.

Maybe I’ve matured (I haven’t). Maybe I’ve turned my focus to more important things, more worldly events like global warming and pollution (I definitely haven’t). Maybe I’m too busy posing for pictures with the Rev. Jesse Jackson. (see below)

Whatever the case, the bottom line is that I have been far too kind to Scott thus far.

That’s about to change.

I’m noticing a trend with my dear friend. Every time a beautiful babe comes within 10 yards, his clothes start to get itchy. Very itchy. So much in fact that he has to rip off those cotton threads as quickly as humanly possible. My girlfriend came to visit. Scott takes off his shirt. My Mom comes to the room: Clothes off. My 105 year old great grandmother…there’s Scottye…sans shirt.

I noticed the development of this affliction during our spring break in Mexico. The slightest breeze and Mexican sun would cause Scottie to make like Rico Suave and shed the clothes he apparently loathed like a straight jacket.

Over time, gone untreated, this had lead to chronic-shirtlessness (ask your physician). Even the cold weather climate of Toronto has done nothing to curb this cousin to nudism. Our first night in Toronto found Scott Lutrus, in 15 degree weather (thats Fahrenheit), with the snow covering his torso.

I’ve talked to Scott about this, but you know what…it takes a village. So I now implore all fans of UConn Football to provide Scott with words of encouragement in regaining his shirt-hood. Its all about baby steps, perhaps a tank top there or scarf here to start. So next time you see him, make sure you tell him “Scott…I’m here for you. Please put on a shirt.”

At the end of this blog, I’ll be turning it over to a one-time guest blogger. That’s right, Scott Lutrus will get his shot at revenge. Tune in for that.

Time to beat Buffalo.

-FWG-

The Rev. Jesse Jackson….

// January 2nd, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Uncategorized

Jesse Jackson came to speak today. I loved his speech, message, and vocal-cadence.
YouTube video of his speech posted by tonight…but more importantly the picture I took with him.
He didn’t know what to think when I shoved my way between him and Canadian dignitaries.
“Who are you…”
“Well, I write this blog…”
“Blog?? But…oh”
“Smile!….thanks”
ROCK ON REV.
(His Body Guard Looks Concerned)

We Visit The CN Tower…FWG Freaks Out

// January 2nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I’m going to let the pictures speak for themselves:
But this is a picture of the Rogers Centre (BELOW). We are looking down on it from the CN Tower. That’s where the Toronto Blue Jays play. The dome is enormous, but looks incredibly small from a height that made me cry.

As if the height of this thing wasn’t bad enough. In 1992, some engineer with a twisted sense of humor decided to install a glass floor. Below is a picture of this terrifying little feature (notice I could only put one foot on it…)

On a clear day, you can see Rochester, NY from the CN Tower. Throwing up the “U”…UPSTATE.

7 Pounds of Sushi

// January 1st, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

If I get one more hamburger with mayonnaise on it, I am going to write a very strongly worded letter to their President (excuse me, Prime Minister). Not much by way of exciting events, everyone is keeping their focus on the game as a priority. However, I did discover that the player hospitality suite has Guitar Hero, which puts an end to my “social experiences” here in Toronto.

However, the day took a turn for awesome when we arrived at the Roger Centre (formerly the Sky Dome). First, I am a huge fan of all dome-shaped objects (ice cream scoops, meatballs, Dippin Dots), second, I love Major League Baseball. Specifically, the Boston Red Sox. It just so happens that we are staying in the MLB visitor’s locker room, so my first question was, “Where does Big Papi change?” (Some might be asking why my first question was where a 290 lb Dominican gets naked. These people aren’t part of The Nation). The operation’s manager for the Rogers Centre pointed me to his locker and I thoroughly enjoyed soaking in the “Papi-ness.”

Fast forward to New Year’s Eve.

Club promoters vastly underestimated the eating power of offensive and defensive linemen. Three hours into the night, about 7 pounds of sushi had disappeared.

I woke up this morning and my breath smelled like Fisherman’s Wharf. That should impress the ladies. We’re heading for the CN Tower tour in about an hour, should be a great view (by the way, I’m completely terrified of anything higher than an ant hill).