4 Hard Downs: USC vs Buffs, What Does Almost Get You? Oh and, Chicken On Pita
Not surprised by Colorado game, Chicken Cooked Vertical and Surviving vs Dying
A lot going on coming out of this weekend. Thursday my dad and I went and helped at my kid’s school and definitely got loaded up with more than expected. We were told mulch and ended up doing a lot of digging up old shrubs and stumps. For people who haven’t done that type of work, there is a difference.
But it was worth it and my kid saw us working through her classroom window. Very cool to see her grandpa and dad both putting in the sweat equity. Also, it did feel like I was a kid again when my dad had me out there breaking my back doing a bunch of yardwork.
We also went to the greenway on Sunday so my kid can practice the bike. She is 5. She still has training wheels. This different greenway is all paved so it is easier for her to get reps than in our very hilly neighborhood or on the unpaved gravel greenway.
We did have an incident…
I went to wipe my sweat with my towel and she stopped while the towel was in my face and I knocked the bike over, banged up my shins and she cried because she fell. I do not think I am to blame for this, but certainly was a moment where people are running and biking past us while I quietly simmer about my shins hurting and my wife is consoling my kid who thinks she’s hurt.
You can’t get hurt going 0 miles an hour on a bike.
But a cool family thing to add to the rotation so that we can get out, get active and make it a part of our routine.
As we turn it over to October and get into the thick of the CFB season, I’m also ready to break out some of my long sleeve gear and keep pushing the pace with respect to the impending “run a 6 minute mile” challenge.
So, go ahead and SPOT THE BALL!!!
1st Down: Almost Is A Dirty Word
Duke. Auburn. Colorado.
All of them almost won.
But in the words of Brandy from 1998:
It sucks. You have it on your racket. It is all there for the taking.
Duke lost their quarterback to the high ankle sprain for a few weeks. Auburn falls to next to last in the SEC West (only because they haven’t had the chance to lose another SEC game). Colorado is another national story of “see they’re not that good” for everyone who hates Deion.
All three were a handful of plays, honestly, just a good drive, from not losing those things and instead winning a huge game against big teams. Duke’s prevent defense, ugh. Buffs not being able to get a big stop. Auburn forgetting that Brock Bowers is a monster.
Like. Seriously. Cover 19. Throw everything you have at him. He can’t be the guy that gets you.
But that’s why almost doesn’t count.
2nd Down: Deion Handling Situation With Aplomb
Here is Prime in the aftermath of the wild game in Boulder:
Full video is here from 9News, there are some cool things about Shedeur Sanders in the extended version. For this down, I just wanted to hit on that initial podium response.
We lost? Yes.
We played bad? Yes.
Is it my fault as a head coach? Yes.
Are our special teams bad? Yes.
Do we start slow? Yes.
Do I love you? Yes.
Did you fight? Yes.
Were there positives (run game)? Yes.
Is there work to be done? Yes.
Do I have to figure out a way to fix things? Yes.
Did the other team earn this? Yes.
Let’s Go.
The two things I will be watching from the Buffs will be slow vs fast start, a thing Deion mentions and special teams. They’ve had some special teams “almosts” but they didn’t close the door.
I appreciate this candid discussion.
3rd Down: Utah & LSU Show Us Why Almost Doesn’t Count
The other side of that coin.
Utah loses. LSU loses.
They didn’t survive.
Neither of these teams will make the playoff.
If they had “almost lost” they would still be in the mix with a chance.
Which leads into “almost winning.”
We didn’t have our QB!
We had two 100 yard WRs!
We had a few mistakes (2x)!
Close to winning is maybe the worst space to be in as a favorite. Anytime the underdog wins you don’t get to make excuses or get the benefit of the doubt, just ask Clemson.
What’s crazy is, in theory, Utah should be closer to the playoff, still, than LSU. They play USC, Washington and Oregon. But, whew buddy, the way people don’t watch the Pac-12 is a problem. If they win those 3 games and finish things out playing another one of them again and winning, they should be in.
Maybe that Colorado date at the end with the publicity machine churning from the Pac-12 and future Big 12 helps them out. I’m looking forward to it.
4th Down: Chicken Shawarma Was A Hit
Homemade Pita?
Check!
De-boned Thighs Marinated?
Check!
Fresh Made Tzatziki?
Check!
Chicken Shawarma served up nice. Easy to slice and cooking it on the grill with the skewers and the onion helped it setup and be ready to serve. Thighs, not breasts. Skin on, not boneless-skinless.
So put it all together:
Good dinner and we did big crinkle cut fries.
I’m super excited for Thursday fun play this week where we can hit on some weekside cowboy action. Also glad we get to mention more orbit motion because that was remarkable. We saw two, nope, three Top 10 almosts this weekend.
But almost doesn’t count.
On to the next!!
Cheers!!
"We were told mulch and ended up doing a lot of digging up old shrubs and stumps. For people who haven’t done that type of work, there is a difference."
One note name that tune. Not only in the yard, but inside. "Oh, did we say 50 third graders for movie night? We meant 50 kids from each grade, K-3..."
But, so worth it. I'm reminded I need to get back in the volunteer line.
That shwarma lookin' good!