If this article has been posted in other realignment threads, my apologies. Move on. But in some aspects, it seems to me that the 5 "weak" schools of the Big 12 are merely putting off the day of reckoning where they'll end up in another conference with other weak schools (but at least with a better chance of winning the conference) or dropping down into the football universe of the Northern Iowas, Appalachian States and Montanas (but at least they'll have a chance to play for a real national title).

I think that keeping the Big 12 together in this manner may, in the long run, come back to bite Texas (and Oklahoma to a lesser degree) in the ass. Having a conference that's basically non-competitive year in and year out with 2-3 teams pretty much a lock to win it is going to hurt Texas in seedings for the MNC because, sooner or later, the voters/polls/system is going to get fed up with Texas playing the equivalent of a weak OOC in its conference, with one or two exceptions.

Now, you can say "so what? The Big 10 is dominated by Ohio State (Michigan - except fairly recently) and no one else. " True to some extent, but Iowa and Wisconsin have been good enough to scare the Big Two on and off for two decades, Penn State is no slouch - and the rest of the pack, with the exception of Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois and to a lesser extent, Purdue, has shown they have the ability to derail a good season for the stronger teams now and then.

Do you really see the five weak members of the Big 12 (in football) doing anything over the next decade (because the pressure to consolidate in college football is there... I highly doubt the 'new' Big 12 will stay in its current configuration any longer than that) to threaten OU and Texas? A&M and Tech will be good, but not at the same level consistently as Texas and OU will be...

It was a gorgeous morning here in Sacramento for the 4th annual Parkway Half-Marathon and 5K and while waiting for the 5K to start, I saw this dude sitting under a shade tree, notebook computer on his lap, and wearing an ISU hoodie. At first, I wasn't sure if it said Iowa State, so I walked a little closer, and then introduced myself. Nice guy... we're both "Iowa exiles". He wasn't running this morning, his wife (a Fresno State grad and the dude had a Fresno State cap on) was... he's working on his MBA on-line and had a paper that was due by midnight tomorrow to do.

We had a very pleasant chat, contrasting living in California to Iowa (he'd like to move back, but it sounds like they're underwater on their house), and briefly talking about the Hoiberg hire at ISU (which if it works out for ISU is going to be a very good thing for them but likely a very bad thing for us). I parted by saying "Go Clones - except when you play us" with a big smile.

The real purpose of this post - if there really is one - for those of you outside Iowa that bump into our in-state rival (I do not consider UNI our rival, I went there my freshman year and I count myself as a UNI fan too), do you share pleasantries about being Iowans that went to different schools... or do you get out the baseball bats and hand grenades? :)

(My run positively sucked, but this race is run on the American River Parkway bike trail, and after the turnaround point, you could see the Sierras today - very clear, very pretty - they were "out" to the point that you could see snow on the highest peaks. That's pretty cool!).

Yes, this is apparently true.  Highlight vids are in the article.

This is, of course, ridiculous IMHO, but, hey, its USC! Its Lane Kiffin! Its hot chicks in SoCal!

This is, of course, ridiculous IMHO, but, hey, its USC! Its Lane Kiffin! Its hot chicks in SoCal!

This is, of course, ridiculous IMHO, but, hey, its USC! Its Lane Kiffin! Its hot chicks in SoCal!

Another MNC for USC is now fixed for 2015! Woo Hoo!

Since no one seems to give us any respect - and I'm sure the "they'll choke, GT was just unprepared" articles will come out soon enough... its old but still good...

I used to be such a sweet, sweet thing
Till they got a hold of me
I opened doors for little old ladies
I helped the blind to see
I got no friends cause they read the papers
They can't be seen with me
And I'm gettin real shot down
And I'm feeling mean

No more Mister Nice Guy
No more Mister Clean
No more Mister Nice Guy
They say he's sick, he's obscene

I got no friends cause they read the papers
They can't be seen with me
And I'm feelin' real shot down
And I'm gettin' mean

No more Mister Nice Guy
No more Mister Clean
No more Mister Nice Guy
They say he's sick, he's obscene

My dog bit me on the leg today
My cat clawed my eye
Mom's been thrown of the social circles
And Dad had to hide
I went to church incognito
When everybody rose the Reverend Smithy
He recognized me and punched me in the nose

He said, no more Mister Nice Guy
No more Mister Clean
No more Mister Nice Guy
He said you're sick, you're obscene

Although it was initially made fun of as an "upside down Fred Flintstone", The Tigerhawk - at least the original version of it - has become a classic. Despite an attempt a few years back to "update" the image (which went over like a turd in a punchbowl), the original brought to Iowa football by Fry endures. Its a gift that keeps on giving, in a good way. And, unless you're dealing with a completely ignorant fuckwit, The Original Tigerhawk doesn't even need "Iowa" on the shirt with it to Know What It Means. Its more than just Iowa sports, it has become - IMHO - to symbolize All Things Iowa.

I even believe, Dali-Lama-like, that if enough Iowa fans wear their Tigerhawks at one time, and concentrate really hard, we can achieve world peace, communicate with aliens and higher animals, give Bill and Ted the actual talent to play their instruments well, and bring Ron Popeil back from the dead (I really miss the GLH commercials, don't you?). But screw Elvis. Or maybe we can just will the Hawks to victory with our positive thoughts (although I think its going to take a serious shitload of those to get men's basketball over the bitch-made hump they're on anytime soon).

Anyhow... I thought it might be interesting to see the various Tigerhawks from Hawk fans lives. The rules are pretty open (well, don't post anything that will get you banned by OPS)... it doesn't have to be a shirt... it can be a sign, vehicle, etc. but it has to be a Tigerhawk you actually own (or at least in the case of an SO a Tigerhawk that's on someone that you regularly get your greasy little mitts on, OK?).

This is my son, walking their new puppy in CT (they live there during the school year with their Mom). I got he and his sister matching Tigerhawk hoodies (you can find these at Kohl's in Merle Hay Mall in kids' sizes) when I was in Iowa over Thanksgiving. Now they know that there's Only One Team Worth Rooting For (fuck UConn). I think this an extremely cute picture (he's almost 10, and is in the Cute Zone between being a little boy and a teenager you want to seal in a barrel) even though it appears the puppy is about to drop a giant and potentially lethal dump.

BTW, he can also be easily bribed - with a small amount of money - to run around his Mom's house screaming "IOWA FOOTBALL ROCKS!" I find this especially amusing because a) there's really nothing she can do about it and b) she's a Georgia Bulldogs fan. Anything to pee on the SEC is a good thing.

P.S. If you DON'T have a Tigerhawk - and shame on you and you're going to burn in a thousand hells if you don't get one IMMEDIATELY - (and yes, I have mine, I just don't have the picture handy at the moment) there's still time before the Orange Bowl to Get Your Tigerhawk On. Happy Holidays everyone! :)

via photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net

via photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net

See what happens when you don't buy cookies from Iowa Girl Scouts? I mean, you've gotta have something to take away the sour taste of Gatorade coming up your windpipe - you know, kind of like a hot dog burp, but worse, because it burns too - as you stagger off the field from a typical Iowa Bitch Hit... at least while you're sitting there with enough ice on your knees and head to reverse global warming, you can have a yummy cookie and maybe remember who the fuck you are.

I mean, the cookies do taste better than Gu or one of those fruity granola energy bars.