What was your first Iron Bowl experience? Now, I know a lot of people haven't been fortunate to make an Iron Bowl. My first one was....interesting.
First off, a little background story. Auburn had entered the 2003 as one of the top ranked teams in the country. I remember going to Barnes&Noble and buying ALL the preseason hype magazines. I must have read them dozens of times. I even went so far as to buy tickets to the nationally televised USC opener.
Then Auburn was drilled 23-0 by future Champs USC. Then, a surprising loss to Georgia Tech at Georgia Tech. I recall that tickets became REAL cheap after the GT game. So much so that I went to my first Away game at Vandy the following week (and what a fun game that was).
Tuberville pulled off BIG wins against Arkansas and Tennessee in back to back weeks. Both were ranked #7 at the time. Then, the Tigers lost to Ole Miss, Georgia and LSU, putting them in the bottom of the SEC. Being either a Tide or Tiger fan, you know that a win in the Iron Bowl can do wonders for keeping your job. First year coach Shula needed a desperate win and word was circulating that Tommy may be on the doorstep by Saturday night if he couldn't beat the Tide. It's interesting that this was the first time in the history of the great rivalry that featured 12 combined losses for the two teams. The game had little national attention paid to it as it had almost nothing on the line outside of the rivalry itself, yet it still found it's way onto ESPN.
My 21st birthday was coming up and my friends did what all friends do for their buddies. They threw me a kegger on the Friday night proceeding the Iron Bowl. But, before the party was kicked off, my dad called me to inform me that he had scored free tickets to the Iron Bowl. They were 1st row tickets in the endzone. Sure, I was stoked. But, at the time, the game was the furthest thing on my mind.
I stayed at my friend'd house that night and began receiving phone calls from dad at about 7am. I managed to crawl into my car and get to my parent's house, get showered, get in the Exploder, and promptly fall asleep.
In 2003, a lot of my younger friends started their freshman year at Auburn. In fact, we (my future wife and several other friends), had gone down to Auburn to stay with them. They were into tailgating, which had been a new experience for me, since we had never tailgated to games. I took my dad to meet my friends at their spot on Wire Road(before they had the pillars up to prevent parking). Now, many of you may recall the Wire Road of old. It was rowdy and loud. It was a boozefest. I was a naive little kid and just wanted my dad to meet my friends. And so he did. He could not have felt more out of place being around a thousand teenage and early 20s kids who had been at it all night and were just ramping up.
I recall introducing him to my friend Derek, who was completely bombed out of his mind. I remember that he was drooling on himself as he shook my dad's hand. My dad raised a very disapproving eye brow at me. Of course, Derek offered us a Natty Light, to which I managed to politely decline while nearly vomiting on myself from the thought of beer.
We went to see the Tiger Walk and then made our way to the Jordan-Hare. We entered the gates as soon as they opened. I recall that it was very hot and it made me very uncomfortable. But I was determined to prove that I wasn't hung over, though I was definitely Hung. Over. Capital letters on that. But, dad bought me a souvenir size Coca-Cola and life got better. It's amazing what a youthful body can do. Sigh.
Anyway. It didn't take long for the party to get started. The first play from scrimmage, the Tiger's with their backs to me and dad,Campbell hands the ball off and Williams was gone. That 80 yard run seemed to take forever as he hit the sideline and raced with McIntyre at his side into the endzone. I couldn't recall that ever happening, and indeed it appears that it was the first time in Iron Bowl history that the first play from scrimmage was a touchdown. It was one of those plays where you didn't actually watch the end. You didn't have to. When Williams hit that sideline, everyone knew what was going to happen.
Last night and its effects were long forgotten as every Tiger fan in the stadium was jumping with joy. This fanbase needed it, as the wins against Arkansas and Tennessee seemed like long ago for a team that was supposed to be a National Contender.
The rest of the first quarter was strange and wonderful at the same time as Auburn piled up yards in a big way while still throwing an INT in the endzone and taking a safety just feet from us.
The only other play I recall from my first Iron Bowl was the 2nd half kick off when Brooks took the kick right in front of us to the house. I can't find the right angle shot, but in one replay, you can see dad and I yelling.
There was a time when I didn't think I would ever see another Iron Bowl again and that I should stop while I was ahead. The first one isn't the best one, but I will always remember it!
I thought I would mix things up a little this year and broaden the horizons when it comes to college football. Many of you know that I love playing Fantasy Football, specifically College Fantasy Football. With the season only 53 short days away, it's time to start thinking about your fantasy options. So, I wanted to do a little legwork for you. Now, keep in mind that I haven't spent an exhaustive amount of time on Fantasy yet. I will. But I won't tell you about it.
Let's talk QBs first. It is, by far, the easiest. Now, before you look at this list and say "of course", realize that that I am starting out with the "list" I found online. Well, a compilation of lists. I will tell you what I think about them. Then I will add some other players. Now, each league is setup differently. I am assuming the points are per standard CBS Fantasy. That is, 1 point per 20 yards passing, 1 point per 10 yard rushing, and 6 points for TDs. This list is in no particular order, other than it's as I pulled it off the lists.
Bryce Petty, Baylor- It's hard to miss with Petty. The stats for 2013 were unreal. He exploded last year and few people caught the train. He returns his best option out wide out in Goodley, though he lost Reese. Additionally, he lost his entire running game in Seastunk and Martin, leaving only Linwood, though he rushed for nearly 900 yards and 8 TDs. Petty is a stat monster because of his short yardage rushing TDs and his massive passing yardage. The best part of it all is that Baylor has a soft schedule all year. The only three games that are cause of concern are at Oklahoma and at Texas, though those programs have allowed huge scores in the past. Kansas State does come to town the last game of the season, but the Kansas State D has to make up for its losses. Though Oklahoma State proved to be the kryptonite for the Bears, it should be noted that Petty still threw for 360 yards and 2 TDs, though he fumbled one returned for a TD and fell on the 1 yard line, which Linwood eventually fumbled on the ensuing play. It should be noted that the Texas and Kansas State games were also in the bottom 3 of his production, yet they were still pretty good. Petty is a first round lock. He slings the rock for a lot of yards and throws very few picks.He picks up a rushing TD every other game. Get him if you can.
Marcus Mariota, Oregon- Mariota is another first round lock. He will be missing some big skill position names around him, however. Those include De'Anthony Thomas and Josh Huff. Additionally, last year saw the emergence of Byron Marshall, a RB that changed the whole dynamic of the offense in the wake of Thomas' injury. Oregon goes as Mariota goes. Mariota was hurt in the back half of the 2013 season and it showed. His production slumped, inevitably leading to a massive collapse against Stanford and Arizona. Because of the emergence of Marshall and the inconsistency of Mariota down the stretch due to injury and big games, I caution against having him as your sole valuable QB. Keep in mind that Oregon also place Michigan State in week 2 followed by a Bye week. While it's hard NOT to draft and start Mariota, especially as well as Oregon does in the front half of seasons, Michigan States D is never a slouch. The thing that bothers me the most is this: Oregon REALLY needs to break back through this year. Additionally, Mariota wants to head to the NFL. He has to prove that he can last all season and he can conform to the NFL system. Meaning: He won't be a running threat, taking away his stat buster ability. Since you need a place filler the next week anyway, it may be best to get another QB.
Jameis Winston, FSU-Sure, Benjamin is gone, but the top receiving threat for the 'Noles is back. Additionally, TE O'Leary is back. The running game will be missing top man, Freeman but returns Williams. Winston features a 4:1 TD/INT ratio. And considering it was 40 TD passes...it's hard to think you can miss. But, I firmly believe in sophomore slumps. He won't match the numbers from last year. And, FSU opens up with Oklahoma State. While I don't fear their defense, I do fear a shootout which means big yardage, but also lots of INTs. It really wouldn't surprise me to see a sloppy game for Winston out of the gate. Week 4 should get interesting as Clemson comes to town. Winston would not be my first round pick.
Nick Marshall, Auburn- This year will be a much heavier passing attack from the Auburn offense, so don't expect to draft Marshall for those huge rushing numbers. But, what puts him over the top is the ability to bust 30-40 yard TD rushes when he wants to. Also, there is no place down field that is out of range. While he has struggled with his short game, he will have receivers galore this year that can run with anyone. If defenses allow him to dance or sit in the pocket, he will be devastating down the field. The downside? The schedule is absolutely brutal. However, the front half of the year is a prime opportunity to win some games with his stats and trade him for a long haul or back half QB. Though Kansas State could potentially raise some cane, I don't expect them to. If he performs as expected to that point and has a solid outing, I would trade him. I don't expect him to play much of the La-Tech game with LSU coming to town the following week. And, the schedule is simply brutal afterwards and I don't like his odds of winning me fantasy games.
Brett Hundley, UCLA- If it weren't for his rushing ability, he wouldn't be on my (or anyone else) list. 24 passing TDs and 9 INTs is fairly Ho-Hum. But, 750 rushing yards and 11 TDs ain't. Furthermore, he lost his number 1 target in Shaq Evans, who accounted for 9 of those passing TDs. Fuller returns but has less than half of those TDs, though he did have as many total catches (both had over 40). Payton did have 38 more with only 1 TD, so it's plausible that everyone simply moves up the ladder. Here is the problem, aside from an upset against USC, UCLA wilted against top teams. Though there aren't a ton of top talent on the schedule, Oregon, Texas, USC, and Stanford are all teams I expect UCLA to lose to. And, as last year showed, when they lose, they lose badly. A lot of people are high on Hundley. I am not. I would pass. I think he will be the biggest high drafted bust of 2014.
Braxton Miller, Ohio State- If he stays out of trouble and isn't hurt, Miller puts up fantastic numbers. We know that Myer wants him to be a Heisman Contender. Things are stacking up very well for Miller to have a run at the trophy. Myer pulled him for a couple of games last year, but I don't think that's going to happen in 2014. Expect him to put up torrential numbers against opponents in the first half of the season, though I wouldn't be surprised if he gets sat against Kent State. Penn State is a potential down game for Miller and Michigan State is always a threat. With a lack of proven run game surrounding him and his ability to rush for TDs (12 in 2014) and 1,000 rushing yards despite sitting out several games, Miller will be tough to beat. If he is available, take him.
Taysom Hill, BYU- Hill exploded on the scene against Texas in one of the most dominating performances we have ever seen. Though he wasn't great down the stretch, he caught the fantasy world by surprise in producing 1300 rushing yards and 10 TDs. Though he was a solid fantasy candidate in point per 10-yard rushes, he was fairly dreadful in the passing game, going 19:14 in TD and INTs. Yet, the fantasy numbers were terrific simply because he was getting 20 points a game just rushing. He ended the year with 5 100-yard rushing games in the regular season. In 2014, BYU will play much the same level of competition.....fairly low. The fact is, he is going to continue to have rushing attempts. And, as long as he does, he will be a solid fantasy option. He will have 20 points, minimum, and he has the ability to score 50 on any given Saturday.
Christian Hackenburg, Penn State- Hackenburg may be one of the most highly regarded passers in college football headed for the NFL. But, he isn't a real fantasy option. He can't run. He did have 4 games with 300+ passing yards, but really only 2 standout games from a fantasy perspective. That is, games where he didn't throw a pic. His best game was a 40 point game against Wisconsin. He has a low completion rate, especially around ANY sort of competition. Additionally, Zwinak came on HARD at the end of the year and he looks to explode in his senior year. UCF could very well be a loss in the opening week and the schedule gets tough down the stretch. Avoid.
Rakeem Cato, Marshall-Gator Hoskins is gone, which makes me automatically doubt Cato's fantasy viability. Face it, Hoskins caught a TD in every single game from the TE position last year, going for 15 TDs total. But, Shuler, his top target is back. As is Taliaferro, the leading rusher who piled up 1140 yards and 10 TDs. But, although Hoskins and Shuler accounted for 25 of the 39 TDs, Cato spread the rock around a lot. The good news is, though he isn't very efficient (60%), he doesn't throw picks. He also had 100 carries for 300 yards and 6 TDs, though never more than 50 or so yards. The biggest thing is this: he did that as a sophomore. I expect big things from Cato. He faces nearly ZERO competition all year. Meaning, he will get it done one way or the other. Move him to the top of your list.
Chuckie Keeton, Utah State-Keeton will be one of the biggest gambles all year. His 2013 year simply never got off the ground and was halted due to injury, but his 2012 campaign was amazing as he threw for 3373 yards, 27 TDs and 9 INTs while running for 620 and 8 TDs. This kid is the poor man's Jonny Football. But, can he recover from a disastrous 2013 year? Furthermore, will he even start? If he is the starter, lookout for him to be on the board in the mid rounds. He could be a steal in the mid rounds and a sneaky play against Tennesee. One thing we know, he can run. And, running may be the name of the game on Rocky Top. Do I expect him to win? No. But I bet he gets loose. Aside from BYU and Boise State, they don't face much competition. Keep an eye on him in the weeks leading up to your draft. If he is named a starter, you may consider him as a top prospect early. And, if he is on the board late, he makes a fantastic #2 QB.
Devin Gardener, Michigan- Gardener will be drafted simply because he is a big name on a big team. He has moderate numbers across the board and a penchant for multiple INT games. Across his career he is a 2:1 TD/INT guy. He makes terrible decisions and plays on a team with a terrible offensive line, as per his 34 sacks last year. But, against inferior competition, he can put up big time numbers. He has the edge on Notre Dame as well, making him a good play at any point early in the season. The problem with him is, when he struggles to throwing, he runs. So, you get the benefit on the rushing attack but may have 3 INTs. Could he show drastic improvement in his senior year? Sure. But it isn't a risk I would be willing to take.
Jacob Coker, Alabama- Honestly, folks, this one is the biggest risk on the board. Someone is going to draft this guy and he could turn out to be a healthy QB. But when has Bama EVER fielded a fantasy QB? I don't care that Kiffin is calling the plays. This guy had all the talent in the world at USC and the offense didn't find their way until he left. Add in an offense built to run with 2 or 3 studs in the backfield...well....I just don't see it. Now, what I CAN see happening is someone dropping him after the West Virginia game because he didn't perform to their expectations (I.E, Bama ran all over WVU). But, Florida ATL and Southern Miss will be good tune up games. But, again, this is a kid that hasn't even practiced yet. To draft him as your QB is just bad planning. He could be the man. But, if you don't draft him, you only have to play him once....as opposed to being stuck with a bust all season. Pass.
Taylor Kelly, Arizona State- I admit that I don't know much about Kelly. It's hard to argue with the pure numbers that Kelly has put up. 57 Tds and 21 INTs in the last 2 years. He also is a fair rushing threat (8 TDs last year) against his Pac-12 opponents. Keep that in mind. His first 4 games are against loose completion before heading to USC, and I would still consider playing him in that game. He has a lot of NFL scouts drooling. Both of his top receiving threats are back including Foster out of the backfield who had 4 TD grabs. Keep that in mind too.
Sean Mannion, Oregon State- Mannion is prototypical size at 6-5 220. He can make all the throws, but he lacks on judgement sometimes. He has thrown 68 TDs and 46 picks, but he has shows improvement each and every year. He is zero threat out of the backfield, which limits his fantasy upside. The good news is, Oregon State doesn't run the ball anyway. He lost Cooks (Biletnikoff winner)and his 15 TDs to the draft, however. Cooks was a terrific receiver and I don't know if the Beavers have someone to replace him. Regardless of who they play, Mannion is a solid choice as he is liable to sling it 40 times a game. But, he may also sink the ship. He had back to back to back games against Pac-12 competition with 3 or MORE INTs. He is another one that is great to pawn off the week before they play USC.
Connor Cook, Michigan State-Honestly, despite his gritty play, he makes me go....SIGH. If 22:6 is what you want, go for it. They play the same teams and their defense isn't nearly as good. This guy is a game manager. He is ZERO threat to run. But, if you need someone to get you 20 points....well....Cook is your guy. He is a terrific "off week" QB, but nothing more. I wouldn't draft him. I would certainly pick him up as a Free Agent.
Kevin Hogan, Stanford- Talk about a disappointment last year. 20 TDs and 10 INTs. 2 rushing TDs. In the two premier games of the year, he threw multiple INTs. The good news is, Shaw is a heck of a coach and I expect this Senior to improve greatly. The problem is, they play some decent teams in SC, Notre Dame, and Oregon. They also play at UCLA, CAL, and Arizona State. It's a risk to draft Hogan. He hasn't shown the promise that Luck did. The good news is, they play an absolute NOBODY the first game of the season. The bad news? USC is the next week meaning he might play a half. Pass.
Everett Golson, Notre Dame- Two words: Playmaker. But, we don't even know if he is a starter yet. Additionally, he took a year away from the spot. And, if you look at his stats...he wasn't THAT good. Pass.
Bo Wallace, Ole Miss- Wallace made strides in cutting down the INTs last year, though he alone cost his team games against Auburn, Bama, and Mississippi State. Wallace will be good for a minimum of 30 total TDs including 8-10 on the ground, which is what makes him so valuable. One could make a valuable argument that this could be the year of the Bo. Though Moncrief is gone, Treadwell burst on the scene early last year and I expect him to be terrific this year. Mathers is back behind him, but the do all Scott is not. Expect Wallace to be huge in the first 4 games of the year. The combination of low competition and the enigma that is the Hugh Freeze offense will be big early. Aside form the Alabama and Auburn games, I expect him to be a solid starter. Consider him as one of the top overall picks.
Dak Prescott, Mississippi State- If (and this is a big IF) Prescott has improved as a passer in 2014, he will be a fantasy dream. He had 4 100 yard rushing games. 3 of those were against SEC WEST TEAMS! He doesn't throw much, but he does a lot of damage when he does. The problem is, his loan SEC games with multple TD tosses was TAMU and Kentucky. In total SEC matchups, he tossed 5 INTs. Yikes. But, as we have seen, rushing stats in most leagues are valued heavy, so Prescott, like Hill from BYU, is a real option. He gets 3 chump games leading into LSU. Take him if he is on the board. Start him. Then keep an open mind about trading. He won't slip up on any SEC West teams again.
Matt Johnson, Bowling Green- 25 TD tosses and 7 INTs. He also can break out and run for scores. Though he may take negative yards in some games, he averages 30 yards and a TD in every other game rushing. He never throws multiple picks in a game. The problem? He can go back to back games with no TD tosses. Additionally, he has a returning 1500 yard rusher in Greene. Most teams will key in on the run and give him the ability to throw down field. What makes him valuable is that he was held under 200 yards passing only twice last year, so you are assured of at least 10 points every time he steps on the field. That may not be enough to help you sleep at night. Consider this, he has a lot of upside and low downside. He could be that guy that blows up and puts you over the top. I don't see many people drafting him high, so keep a careful eye on him in later rounds. He does have a 4th game at Wisconsin.
Jeff Driskel, Florida- Yall are laughing, I know. He hasn't been very good in his first years as a Gator. But, he has gotten ZERO help from his team and coaching staff. I really felt like last year would have gone a lot differently for the Gators had he not been hurt. Yeah yeah...he didn't start off so hot. Driskel can run and he can throw. There is still a lot of talent in Gainesville and the Gators HAVE to win games this year. He gets 3 tune up games where I fully expect him to stack up stats against Idaho, Eastern Michigan and Kentucky. There is no way I would play him against Bama. He will be a solid trade to someone else who isn't the wiser. You may be able to get 2 position players for him. Just be ready to pull the trigger.
Connor Halliday, Washington State-Anyone who throws for 35+ times in almost very single game is worth looking at. The kid threw for 34 TDs and 4600 yards. WOW. What a number. Yet, he tossed 22 INTs in his first season under Leach. He is zero threat out of the backfield. He spreads the ball around, but his top target in Gabe Marks, who caught 70 passes and 7 TDs is back. They have zero run game to speak of, which is good...I guess. The main issue is that Halliday struggles against ANY competition. He may throw 3 TDs, but he will more than likely throw 3 INTs as well. Only against inferior competition and the lower levels of the Pac-12 did he eclipse the 1:1 ratio. However, I expect him to greatly improve this year. I expect him to hit 40 TDs and drop the INTs to 15, making him a can't miss.
Zach's Top 5 Can't Miss Fantasy QBs
Bryce Petty, Baylor- Barring a complete meltdown, it's hard to imagine his production falling off.
Braxton Miller, Ohio State-Senior QB on the Heisman Watch list. Low competition. Dual threat.
Connor Halliday, Washingon State-Throws it 30-40 times a game. No rushing attack. If he cuts down on the INTs just a LITTLE, he will be a monster.
Rakeem Cato, Marshall-Don't let this guy get passed you. He plays no competition and doesn't turn the ball over.
Taysom Hill, BYU-He runs. A lot. And that's good enough.
It was another Thursday, which could only mean one thing...Thursday Night Wildcat out of Ditto. This one was a bonus cause I didn't really think we would fish it. But, things came together.
If you have kept up with our Wildcat record this year...it hasn't been very good. In previous years, we had won a lot of checks with small fish. We would routinely get 3rd place with a 6 pound bag of dinks. We just couldn't get the kicker! This year has been completely different. We have caught nice fish after nice fish including 4+ pound largemouths and a lot of 3 pound smallies. Take last week, for example. We caught only 3 fish and were the first out of the money. Of that 3 was a nice 3.3 pound smallie! You can read about that tournament here. In the last month, we have been right there...OH SO CLOSE. Josh even cashed a check weeks back without me while only weighing in 2 fish!
And that's the other thing. The fishing has been brutal. That end of the river used to be easy to fish. But, you might go all day without a measuring fish. At first we thought it was the lack of current. But, the last 2 weeks have featured current exceeding 54,000 CFM at times!
Well, we got to it. We started off fishing our "big fish" hole, as we have done for the last several years.
I was throwing a Strike King 6XD, grinding it through some rocks, when something knocked the bait sideways. As I set the hook, the line snapped. That is one of the first times this year I have broken one off. I tied on another 6XD and went back to casting it. I figured I had knicked the line and broken it. Not that it would be outside the possibilities, I am using 8 pound test. I like my cranks to get DDDEEEPPP. The 6XD certainly does that!
A few casts later and one thumped it. But, as I slow played it, it made a hard charge and I knew what it was....a nasty ole drum. I worked it to the boat, fished out my pliers and got my crank back. I retied and we spent another 30 minutes without a bump.
We jetted upriver to a spot that we have caught *some* fish on, including last weeks video on the perfect quick release:
Josh was throwing a plastic of some sort and quickly boated a nice 2 pound smallie off a rock point. A few casts later, I drug a C-rig off the backside of the same point and had one nail it. As I fought it, I knew it was a trash fish. I didn't expect to bring the mother of all gars to the boat. Heck, it was bigger than Josh's gar from last week! Man, those gar must like C-rigs!
The spot shut down. We fished some bluffy areas without much of a hit. I was stuck on some rocks while throwing a shakey head. As I drove the trolling motor to retrieve it, Josh was flipping some brush. And, he flipped up a Wheeler monster! This thing was MASSIVE. We figured it was at least 4.5 pounds. So, we had 2 fish. That wasn't going to win anything, but both were quality fish. All we needed were 3 dinks. So, we headed to a place we KNEW held dinks....Butler Basin.
On one of my first casts with a Sammy, the wind blew it ACROSS the shore. As soon as the bait hit the other side of the shore, a fish nailed the sammy. I popped the rod as hard as I could and the fish came flying over the point. Josh made the remark that he was wondering how I would get the fish in the boat, but he sure didn't expect that!
We didn't get another bite and we headed to weigh in. We figured we MIGHT get big fish. We weighed in our 2 fish for 6 pounds, including the 4.85 largemouth. And no one else weighed in.
We were 2nd with big fish! Though we lost to 11 pounds in 4 fish, no one else weighed in a limit. In fact, while talking to the guys who run the tournament, they informed us that there hadn't been a limit weighed in weeks! Wow! But, we will take a check however we can take it!
This year appears to be the year of the cucumber. Last year was all about the tomatoes. Sigh. The tomatoes seem to have some sort of disease. I addressed this with my grandmother last evening and she said that the disease lives in the ground, so you are supposed to rotate the crops around the garden to prevent back-to-back years of the disease rotting your plants.
Anyways, as I alluded...the cukes are coming in like MAD. I was able to fix a gallon of my cucumber salad for our Very BFZ 4th of July Party.
Even then, I had a ton left over at home. So, I decided to attempt to make pickles. It would be my first attempt. Other than look at some general dos-and-donts, I used a variety of cukes from Japanese to Mucher, as you can see. I made up my own recipe from the herbs I grow. Anyone that knows me just rolled their eyes and said "of course you did." But, I like learning for myself.
I minced up sweet basil, dill, mint, and garlic as fine as I could. I added salt and fresh ground black pepper. Then I dumped it in some purified jars.
While I did that, I skinned and sliced the cukes and one white onion. I then sprinkle them liberally with kosher salt in a colander. Then, I shake it to remove the water that the salt pulls out of the cukes. I do this so that the cukes will absorb more flavor when they are canner, or in the case of my Vinaigrette that you have read about.
Then, I filled the jars with the slices and added white vinegar until the jars were almost full. You need to leave a little room at the top for the vacuuming process.
Upon talking to my grandmother and reading a little bit, I realized that a 100% vinegar filled jar would be too tart. So, I cut each jar to about half and half water/vinegar. I placed a tall kettle with water on the stove and turned it on to High. Then, I placed them in the water bath, brought the bath to a boil and let them sit there for 10 minutes. After they cooled, I removed them and checked the tops of the cans. After 24 hours, they remain under vacuum. The vacuum process worked and they can now be stored at room temperature.
Do they taste good? I don't know. We will find out soon! I hope so, because I plan to can a LOT of them considering I am getting 5 cukes a day.
If you are lazy and want the low down...watch the vid above.
Last year, we had planned to have a GREAT party on the 4th. Skeet shooting, swimming, cart rides, fireworks, and great BBQ. Then it rained. All day.
We had planned on going to Florence on the 4th. But, the older kids went out of town at the last minute. And, with the kids gone, the family didn't care much about us coming....(I keeeed). So, we decided to scrounge our friends together and have a party. Of course, EVERYONE already had plans by the Tuesday before. Well, not everyone....
So, I spent all day Thursday running around procuring the necessities. I spent WAY too much money and that didn't include the first firework. But, it did include clay pigeons, shotshells, and a Boston butt, among other things.My wife posted on Facebook the following update:
"Zach told me he was going to buy fireworks today. Let me tell you how this is going to go down. Zach arrives at fireworks store. Zach sees prices. Zach imagines dollar bills exploding in the air. Zach doesn't buy fireworks. The end."
Well, that's certainly true. I would rather spend my money on other things that are cheaper and make bigger booms. (think about that...it refers to both guns and food).
I spent that afternoon preparing the 20 pound butt by brining it for 8 hours, then giving it a dry rub. I also prepared my WOLD FAMOUS EOTWAWKI BBQ Sauce.
At 8AM, I was up stoking the coals and BBQ was on. Although I spent the next 4 hours by myself tending the coals......Don't mind me..I actually love BBQing...even if it's by myself. While I was bored, I picked the blueberry bushes, which Gavin proceeded to DESTROY. The blueberries paid him (and us) back 4-fold over the next 2 days with really awesome blueberry poop.
Eventually, everyone rolled in. We set up the skeet thrower and the several games of "Chumps" sprang up. I think I won one round and finished behind Rob two different times. The first couple of rounds would be fast until we were in the finals. We must have had 5-10 skeet sets before either of us won it. We shot cases of clay pigeons before moving on to slightly heavier artillery. The ARs, SKS, AKs, and all assortment of heavy caliber guns made appearances, including a S&W 500 with hotloads that nearly made a canoe of Neil's head.....
We shot a TON of rounds. As you can see.
We played with the dogs and the chickens.
And, then it was time to eat. I admit that I had underestimated the size of the crowd we ended up having, so I had to hit the grill to make some hamburgers! As I cooked, local comedian The Vizzini stole the show. I guess it's my fault for inviting him. But I am sure glad he brought his parents! Just kidding. I set him up for it and he came through giving us at least 1 good joke.
After the last hamburger was done, I headed over to the food trough, only to find that there was a spoonful of butt left. Well, beggars can't be choosers...so I took what was left. The only thing that went faster than the butt was Rick's famout baked beans. Now, this man is a professional BBQer...so it was no wonder. I had no less than 20 people ask me if I made those beans. So, of course I said. "Why yes. Yes I did."
Just kidding. I think he drummed up a lot of business. Heck, I might just have him do ALL the cooking next year! I assume the beans were good, as I didn't get any.
As the sun went down, we wanted to get some vids and pics of some fireball action. So, we got the AKs out and let them eat! Man, did we catch some nice fireballs on video.
Just when we thought things were slowing down, the swim trunks were donned and everyone hit the pool. As you can see in the vid, we made some waves! The fun hit a whole new level at that point. Even the dog got involved!
And then a firework finale! Check out the vid and pics!
The Misfits continued their march towards the playoffs with another mercy rule win. In the last 5 games, they have held opponents to a total of 21 runs. Their average is down to under 11 runs per game while they are scoring over 15 runs a game.
Things did get a little chippy when Overly Competitive Guy showed up.
Anyway, check out the vid. That's all yall care about anyway.
I didn't know Philip Lutzenkirchen personally. Sure, I wished I did. Who wouldn't? Aside from shaking his hand at the spring A-Day game in 2009, a Fan Day or two, and a few Tweets on Twitter, I have no personal connection to him, other than as a fan. I guess the closest I ever came to him after he became such a sensation is yelling at him from our tailgate spot in front of Plainsman Park after the Prayer in Jordan-Hare. He turned, smiled, and waved, then he was gone.
I feel for anyone and everyone who did know Lutz. I can't imagine how they felt about losing him. If I feel as bad as I do about losing a great man, I can't imagine what they feel. I'm not writing this article for you to feel sorry for me or for Auburn fans, and I certainly don't want you to think it's just some other article out there trying to get some attention. I just feel like I, as a fan, owe him a few words and thoughts after what he has given me.
Coach Saban had been at Alabama for a little over a year. In that short year, Auburn fans like myself had become educated to just how important recruiting was in winning football. It wasn't that Coach Tuberville had done a bad job, it was just that Saban had revolutionized the National Signing Day. I had begun to keep up with recruiting a fair amount in 2008. While there was zero doubt that Tuberville had a lock on top defensive talent, the offensive woes of 2008 didn't look like they would improve much in 2009, as the the cupboard seemed bare and the class of 2008 was missing offensive playmakers. Except for one player.
Not that I am a talent expert, but there was one offensive player on the list of Auburn recruits that I could draw a circle around and label "can't miss." Philip Lutzenkirchen exhibited all of the play making abilities that Auburn needed, and he did so in more ways than you might expect. While different positions push their agenda with a skill or two: receivers showcase their speed and hands, running backs their power and moves, the man we called Lutz showcased a skill SET. He blocked inline. He blocked on the perimeter. He made catches in space. He made catches in traffic. But he wasn't just a workhorse tight end, as he also had a fair amount of circus plays of his own, which made him an internet sensation. But, I had rarely seen a highschool kid that brought such a complete game with him. We always hear about how receivers have to learn route reading or running backs have to pick up blocking schemes, which is why so few make it on the field early. But, there was zero doubt in my mind that Lutz would be a guy who could understand it all and implement it quickly.
With the closing whistle of a blowout loss to Alabama, the word was already out that Tuberville and Franklin were out the door. While that wasn't a surprise, what would be a surprise was the decision for the #3 tight end in the country to remain steadfast to his commitment to Auburn. To many, it seems simple hindsight that I would label him so important to Auburn football, but the truth is that in 2009, the player that I had the most apprehension about signing was Lutz. That's saying something, since the class of 2009 was littered with NFL talent like McCalebb, Nick Fairley, Emory Blake, Daren Bates and Dee Ford. I don't mean that as a snub to any of them in the slightest. But, if I had been given a list (and I was, thanks to Rivals) of incoming freshman and asked to circle the one that would be a certain major impact, Lutz was the one. With the infusion of Coaches Chizik and Malzahn, he decided to stay an Auburn commitment. I breathed a sigh of relief.
2009 exhibited an offensive explosion of the likes I had never seen. The combination of two future NFL talents in Ben Tate and Ontario McCalebb proved to be deadly out of the backfield while the unlikely QB, Chris Todd, put up some amazing numbers. Lutz found himself behind a 4 year starter in Tommy Trott, who had been a decent threat to defenses each year, being the most prolific tight end that Auburn had seen in my lifetime. Trott held the bar for Auburn tight ends with his career 45 catches and 4 TDs.
Yet, it didn't take long for Lutz to become a contributor, as he snagged his very first college pass in the 3rd quarter against Mississippi State for a touchdown. I was there. And while Kodi Burns was the official player of the game with his 3 TD runs and 1 TD toss to Lutz, it was an official changing of the guard at tight end and the development of a real weapon at tight end. I recall going back to my best friends house after the game and replaying the whole game on Tivo and talking about the importance of these new recruits, such as Blake, Lutz, and McCalebb.
In 2009, he snagged 4 passes for 66 yards and 2 TDs.
With Cam and the explosive National Championship team, he caught 15 balls for 185 yards and 5 TDs, easily overshadowing (in my mind) any Auburn tight end in my 30 years as a football fan. But it wasn't the stats that made him the premier tight end in Auburn lore. After all, Andy Fuller set the bar extremely high in 1993 with one of the biggest catches in Auburn history against #1 Florida. Fuller had a terrific career himself, catching 33 passes for 513 yards and 5 TDs.
In fact, what catapulted him to the top for Auburn tight ends isn't 1 play, but 2...at least.
The first play that will live forever in Auburn fan's minds is the TD grab in Bryant-Denny to cap one of the greatest comebacks in all of college football. I have written my thoughts in The Cam-back: Iron Bowl 2010 on this game, including the pure elation that exploded after his catch to seal the game. After most big time TDs (and especially those not so big ones), we see some form of practiced choreography. We sigh chestbumps and high steps. We see players spiking the ball. It's all usually thought out and practiced. What we are seeing is players celebrating for themselves. Not for the game. And not for the fans. But that wasn't Lutz's reaction. After the simple half dozen high steps that Lutz threw down after his biggest catch, he exploded into a heartfelt blast of emotions because he KNEW and UNDERSTOOD what this game meant. The catch was never about him. It wasn't about stats. It wasn't about NFL draft stock. It was about his team and his fans. You can see it in the dance, but more importantly in his eyes and the pure unadulterated scream of ecstasy after the Lutzie.They had done something so few teams had done or ever would do. They had gone into Big Brothers house. Had gone under the knife. And had clawed out to deliver a knock out blow that was the defining moment of this generation's Iron Bowl fans. And he knew it. He felt it. Because he authored it.
How about the one-handed grab and dive against Ole Miss. Take a second to watch:
It was truly an amazing play from beginning to end. But what most people don't know or remember is what that TD cost him. He tore his labrum early in the year, but he played through it. It is an injury I have experienced myself. When it first happens, it isn't too bad. But, the more you do, the worse it gets until you have the last straw. I believe it was in his dive into the endzone in this play that was the end. Perhaps his greatest feat of personal accomplishment on the field is overshadowed by just what it cost him. While all of us in the stands or at home clapped each other on the back and talked about the Great Lutz, we should see it in a different way: that this one play exemplified his love and devotion to Auburn Football. To the point where he would give his body for each of you. And he did.
It's easy to remember the high points. It's easy to recall the the things we want to remember. But we should also remember that Lutz gave us more than just an Iron Bowl win and near record breaking stats in all categories as a tight end. He sacrificed his body for the Auburn Family. He gave up potentially millions for each and every one of us. Lutz could have left after the 2011 season for the NFL as one of the top graded tight ends in the country. He had wrapped up the greatest season for an Auburn tight end with 24 catches for 238 yards and 7 TDs on one of the most inexperienced teams Auburn has fielded in recent history. And he did all of that playing through injury. It would have been easy to say goodbye and enter the draft and cash in on his hard work. I would have and so would you. Even in a plagued 2012 campaign where he had serious injuries all throughout the year and the ball just wouldn't come his way, he never gave in. He fought until his body gave out. He could have hit the bench and tried to salvage an NFL draft pick. But he didn't. This man had different priorities. He had the right ones.
Lutz loved Auburn and Auburn loved him. He is one of the few players we will ever see that stayed in school because he loved his University and fans. Along the way, he did what so few NFL prospects ever care about doing: he got his degree and, he stayed completely out of trouble. There was zero doubt in anyone's mind who coaches would send to SEC Media Days. And, just as he was reliable on the field, he was reliable off of it, staying completely out of trouble, something sorely missing in the modern age of major college athletics.
His love for Auburn was so great that despite having graduated only months before and experiencing NFL life, he was back at Auburn as an Ambassador for our great University. Typically, it takes years for people of such stature to even begin to care about giving back to their school, yet here Lutz was, recruiting for the school, hoping to find a spot as a coach. Just 2 years after he had left. Amazing, really.
And while detractors may point out that ultimately football is about self-gratification and "making it," Lutz proved to be about more than making millions in the NFL. He was invested in his friends and fans and loved giving them time. Lutz was a force on social media, never above interacting with his fans. He would let you know where he was and when he would be there. He had such a zeal for life that he shared through social media. My wife and I constantly found ourselves laughing at his antics. Lutz was his own man and he believed in being true to himself and his fans. While his accomplishments on the field are evident and his plays immortalized forever, that's not how we should all remember him.
Lutz is the embodiment of everything we want to see in our athletes. He was fiercely loyal to his University. He loved his fans. He believed in doing things the right way. He displayed courage and character in his play on the field and his life off of it. He Believed in Auburn and Loved It.
