A little back story, I recently moved to Minneapolis and started working full time post-college... My time trolling TN has been significantly cut back and I've been missing the community a ton. I've wanted to post a fan shot for a while as far as my feelings towards the program post Bowden, safely into the CJF era and after the 2010 season... The fact that the Twins are a massive disappointment and the NFL lockout isn't progressing at all, it seems like now is a good time to do so... I need something positive to think about right now... Enter the Florida State Seminoles and Coach Jimbo Fisher. What I've come up with are thoughts that most of you have regarding the program, so I feel as if I'm preaching to the choir, but I really need to get my thoughts on paper and into a forum of my peers. 

Let me preface this by saying that I love Bobby Bowden. What he did for Florida State University won’t be replicated ever again in collegiate sports. He came in and revolutionized college football, transforming Florida State from a football team with the reputation of its past as an all girl’s school into a national powerhouse. What he did cannot go unnoticed or without praise, and I appreciate everything he did for my school... but just like Ali Larter said to James Van Der Beek in Varsity Blues, "things change, Mox." and boy did they change for the worse.  

That being said, the past decade has been tumultuous to say the least as far as Florida State Football goes. The atmosphere grew stale in Tallahassee, the swagger was gone and the team on the field was uninspiring. Bobby had made some poor choices in coaching hires, instead of going out and finding up-and-coming, sought after coaches and coordinators, he hired members of his family and inner circle. Tallahassee was still ripe with top talent year after year, unfortunately the direction of those x’s and o’s was fractured and under qualified. Development was lacking and instruction was underwhelming. The team went from a National Title appearance in the 2000 season and degraded into an unorganized mess of a team. Some may not consider 8-5 and 7-6 an unorganized mess of a team when you consider some of its ACC competition, but for what FSU was, it was a massive disappointment. 

Continue on and hit the jump if you care to read my thoughts on the Noles. 

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Some People love their kids, some people love their pets, some people love cupcakes, I love the Minnesota Twins. I am the definition of die-hard. My bedroom in college was decorated like any 12 year old Minnesotan’s, covered in Twins memorabilia. All I was missing was Twins wallpaper and a Joe Mauer comforter (which would not have been healthy for a 23 year old male).

On November 20, 1986 I was born a diehard Twins fan. Though I don’t remember it at all, photographic evidence has shown I witnessed the Twins win their first championship. At a young age seeing this made my love for the Twins even stronger. The Twins have always shown everything that is great about baseball. They swing for the fence, chase down every foul ball and grind out every win... endless amounts of grit. They allow the likes of Mike Redmond, Hank Blanco, Matty LeCroy, and Jim Jam Tater Salad round second and slide into third (when all four could easily be thrown out at first by Jay Buhner in right field, at any time in their career). They’ve embraced the Lew Fords of the world, they remind us that walks will haunt like the ghost of Christmas Past, and they are not afraid to throw out the hardest swinging outfield in baseball (the first soul patrol). The voice of Darth Vader once said that one thing will remain constant, "Baseball, Ray," and with the Twins we can all depend on a team that hustles, plays sound defense, and can grow some damn good facial hair.

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With the All-Star Break upon us, and the Twins tripping all over themselves going into the break (Seriously, Punto, pick up your feet when you run), I think its time to relax, crack a beer, and ponder the important things (facial hair, bacon, patriotism, etc...). 

As I laid around watching the Twins game today, watching Big Mustache deal to the Tigers, I was shocked to see Cuddy sporting a Fu Man Chu... Pavstache went 7.2, solid all around effort right when the team needed it the most. Ghengis Cuddyer went 2 for 3 with 2 BB, 2 RBIs and 1 R, solid day for Mustache #2.

It is now 8:30 EST and Anthony Slama is on the bump in the future games and what do we see on the upper lip? Yes, lip sweater blaring as he strikes out the batter to end the inning.

Is it time for the rest of the Twins to man up and grow some mustaches during the break? I think so.

I'm not going to lie, I can grow a pretty solid mustache for being 23 years old (I currently have had one a week longer than Pavano). I also feel like more of a man than most my age that wander Florida State's campus, regardless of how much time they spend in the gym... They don't offer the lip wisdom I have. I'll devote a handful of months yearly to growing mustaches for various reasons, mainly to be awesome.

I don't think that anyone can argue that the mustache has been detrimental to any baseball player, ever. Some could even consider it a performance enhancing device. Let us run down the Twins that are able to grow facial hair and what kind of boost in their play we could see.

Joe Mauer has been slumping, this is not news to any Twins fan. Would this Joe Mauer slump?

I think not. We're looking at career numbers with this Mauer. 

Morneau is currently sidelined with concussion symptoms... 

I'm sorry, but that Morneau only hands out concussions. Lumberjack Morneau is a perennial MVP with the ladies, too.

There is no doubt in my mind that Punto should grow out nasty mutton chops that connect to a Fu Man Chu, Hardy needs to round out the left side with a Magnum P.I. Stache.

As far as the starters go, Blackburn seems to be the most likely candidate for a facial hair make over. He has shown he has the skill to grow a solid face garden, but lets just see it contained on the upper lip. He could rival Pavano's and I'm sure his ERA would drift down into the low 4's as well has developing a knack to strike out batters looking (at his stache), finally bringing his K numbers to where they should be. 

Rauch needs to cap off the MMA look with some sort of nasty beard, I refuse to make any suggestions because he'll trace my IP address and hunt me down if he doesn't agree with me. 

Dan Haren can grow quite the neckbeard... think about it. I'm not sure what Roy Oswalt can bring to the table as far as facial hair goes... but I'd just be happy to have him at the table with a fake mustache.

That's just a small look at our Twins and the facial hair conundrum. So, what do you think? Do we need more facial hair? Suggestions, photoshops of players with 'staches, thoughts on bacon?