Friday...

Thanksgiving is done. Food was great, that "full" feeling is gone and the region settles into the holiday pattern of busy malls, stores and general good will towards our fellow humans. I like the holidays, enjoy the brittle making and social time I get to spend with friends and family.

What I don't like about the holidays are stores being open. It just bugs me. I may sound like some old fart, but there was some comfort in knowing that all stores were closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Only a handful of mini-marts and gas stations were open, and those were far and few between. McDonalds was closed, the drugstore was closed, Wendy took her burgers and stayed at home; you get the idea. I liked knowing that we had one day where running off to shop or grab that last minute item, just was not possible; if you wanted something, YOU HAD TO WAIT! It was pleasant thinking that my fellow humans didn't have to work and could participate in the holiday experience of family. Corporate America thought enough of their employees to say, "Go spend this day with your family, friends and community". While a vast majority of businesses are closed, the list of stores open on Thanksgiving and Christmas days grows. It's not a good trend.

The Walmarts, Kmarts and a few others are killing the concept of community. If you think about it, for just two days each year, we are given the opportunity to understand that we are all pretty much equal, bound by a common thread of celebration, reflection and giving of thanks. These days that thread, that feeling of sharing something in sync with country and community is weaker, on the back side heading south, and about to walk out the door. I'd like to see the Walmarts of the world say, "Enough; we are closing for the day. Come shop with us tomorrow. We will be here, but family, friends and community are far more important that the beep, beep, beep of our cash register scanners."

The stewardship of our societal bonds are slipping in the name of greed. We can change the trend. All it takes is just takes one mega operation to turn the tide. So, Walmart & Kmart (or insert any open store here), if you are listening, score some points, put on the brakes and do the right thing. Believe it or not, your stores will still be profitable even if you close for just two days a year. Chick-Fil-A gets it, why not you?!

Rant done, needed to get that out......

:-)

Ma Nature checking in...

Flashes of lightening, hail and rain... Ma Nature busting the models and doing her own thing earlier this evening. Computer models bit the dust on the storm that blew through. From what I saw this morning and afternoon, while a small chance for a shower showed up in some of the data, this storm and lightening stuff did not. Unexpected kick of energy aloft, appears to have aided the brief hit of mayhem we had. Still scratching my head on this one. We are but mere mortals and this quick outbreak drove that point home once again. Rain should be moving east with rapid drying the rest of the night.

Enjoy and stop to give some thanks.....

1. If you have not already, take some time to reflect and give some thanks for the family, friends, people and pets in your life. I know in mine, that I am pretty darned blessed all all fronts and I am thankful for that. Despite the sour economy, the ugliness of our political leaders (I want to go golfing with John Boehner), and the general discord across our planet, we as Americans - ENDURE; give thanks. Give thanks for our troops and their families; they, more so than others, endure. THANK YOU to my family, friends, co-workers and my dog! Woof.

2. Foggy start to our day should give way to improving skies, some sunshine and lower 60s. Friday looks clear, chilly and dry. God help yourself if you go near a mall tomorrow!

3. Enjoy the day folks! Enjoy the day!

MMB's BIG C shares thoughts on 1st round match up

Here we go with The First Round:

#7 South Carolina State @ #5 Appalachian State
11/28/09

Time: Noon

TV: ESPNU
Stadium: Kidd Brewer Stadium
Surface: FieldTurf

Capacity: 21,650
Jeff Sagarin Rankings:
ASU: 64.51
SCSU: 58.45

Home advantage: 3.12 points

Appalachian is favored by the Sagarin rankings by 9 points (rounded).

Series: Appalachian leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Appalachian 37, South Carolina State 21, November 29, 2008

Another year, another championship, and another uninteresting playoff match up. That song could be sung by both South Carolina State and Appalachian in 2009. When you have similar champions from year to year and the NCAA selection committee is so concerned about travel costs, the odds are good that you will start seeing the same teams more often. In the past four years, Appalachian has been matched up in the playoffs with a team from South Carolina or Virginia. This time around, it is even the same opponent from last year�fs playoffs. Its starting to feel like South Carolina State is in the SoCon and they are the team that Appalachian plays after Western Carolina. This is not going to turn into a gripe about playing South Carolina State in back to back playoffs, but more of a gripe about not having a playoff system that actually crowns a National Champion. This week�fs winner will play the Richmond and Elon winner, which was also exactly the same as it was in 2008. This whole deal is starting to get predictable and that makes it no fun for the funs. South Carolina State thought they were worthy to host a game, and maybe they should have hosted. If they hosted they would most likely play another school, one that they may have not played so recently. Every team deserves a fair shot, and this selection process does not deliver it for the fans, coaches or players. It is starting to resemble the other upper division of college football.

Since so little has changed between these two schools in the past year, I'll just copy last years thread and save some time. Just kidding. In the mean time, each team�fs best player from 2008 is still around. William Ford is the Bulldogs leading rusher, despite being off of his 2008 pace just a bit. Ford has rushed for 372 fewer yards and four fewer touchdowns in 2009. Obviously, defenses have crowded the box against the Bulldogs in an effort to contain him and the SC State offense. Even backfield mate Travil Jamison has rushed for 239 fewer yards and 11 fewer touchdowns. That�fs a total of 611 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns missing from one year to the next. Most teams that lose that kind of production will not win consecutive conference titles, but SC State did. So where did all the offense go?

Quarterback Malcolm Long has had similar numbers from 2008, but they did not come close in the passing game to make up for what they lost in the running game. Long threw for 340 more yards in 2009 and has also completed a higher percentage of his passes by 7% and his average per attempt has increased by 1.32 yards to eight yards per attempt in 2009. One hopes that a quarterback can get better with more experience, and that is exactly what Malcolm Long has done. Long has also lost about 15 pounds from last year, which has improved his quickness and running ability. Long ran for zero touchdowns on the ground in 2008, but has five rushing touchdowns in 2009.

Long�fs top receiver is junior Oliver Young who has had at least four catches in every game against FCS opponents. Young has been on a hot streak the last couple weeks with 12 catches for 289 yards and four touchdowns against conference rivals Morgan State and North Carolina A&T. Young has increased his yards per receptions by three whole yards from 2008 and has caught nine touchdown passes in 2009. Last year against Appalachian State, Young was held to just one catch for 18 yards.

Just like last year, Appalachian is wondering about its quarterback situation. Armanti Edwards was injured for the second time in as many years in the game against Elon. Last year, DeAndre Presley filled in against Western Carolina. This year it was Travaris Cadet, a former transfer from Toledo who filled in nicely last week. Cadet ran for 58 yards and threw for another 101 yards, but more importantly, did not turn the ball over. Cadet managed the game and did all he needed to do to beat Western. More importantly, Cadet got the ball to Devon Moore who ran for a career high 191 yards and two touchdowns, and topped the 1,000 yard mark for the season. Right there is where the comparisons stop. In the 2008 playoffs, Appalachian was down to its fifth-string running back and the ground game was ineffective. This season, Appalachian will start an all conference performer who can do a little bit of everything. Moore has 15 rushing touchdowns on the season, including 28 receptions for 248 yards.

The Mountaineer defense has stepped up its game in the last month of the season. Since giving up 34 points to Wofford, Appalachian has held every opponent to fewer points per game that their average. In that five game stretch, Appalachian has held opponents to a meager 17.4 points per game. At this time, that total would be good enough for 7^th in the nation. In that same five game stretch Appalachian has only allowed 275 yards of total offense per game, another total that would good enough for 12^th in the nation. Appalachian�fs defense has also started to force turnovers. In those same five games, Appalachian has forced 11 turnovers, while only giving up 6 on offense. That +1 advantage in the turnover department would rank 11^th in the nation. Those are three critical statistics when a defensive unit is measured. Are you giving up points and yards, and are you taking away the football from the other team? Appalachian�fs defense has been doing that with the best of them at the most important time of the season.

This playoff game is one of only two in the first round between top 10 teams, the other being Richmond and Elon. This game will perhaps have the feel of a quarterfinal or even a semifinal game. South Carolina State and Appalachian are two teams that have tough defenses and running games that are difficult to stop. The difference in this game starts with Appalachian�fs running game. As previously noted, Appalachian started a fifth-stringer last year and Armanti Edwards�f injury was worse than what had been diagnosed. Edwards carried 19 times for 42 yards in the win, but was rarely successful. This time around, the coaching staff has a better feel for Armanti�fs injury, and will probably run him only a couple times, if at all. Devon Moore can certainly handle the load and it will be a little different than what South Carolina State saw last year. Moore has averaged 17.5 carries a game in 2009 and will most likely see 20 carries on Saturday. South Carolina State�fs William Ford is not having the season he did last year, but he is not to be forgotten. Ford ran for 117 yards and a touchdown last year against Appalachian. The difference for South Carolina State could be Malcolm Long, who has been more accurate this season. Long completed only 17 passes on 40 attempts against the Mountaineers last year. Appalachian�fs secondary is among the top units in the nation, with 14 interceptions and only allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 56% of their passes. I think this Appalachian team is a little different that last year�fs version and that will throw South Carolina State off their game a bit. The Bulldogs will not roll over and play dead, but overall, Appalachian is healthier than they were last year and it will show.

The First Pick:

Dog Tired 20

Mountaineers 34

From the Mountaineer Message Board...

Ok folks, you know the drill. Call you auntie. Call your Uncle. Call your two-bit half brother-in-law from Gastonia. Call that cousin from your sister's boyfriend's cell mate in Raleigh.

I don't care who you call... just do it and tell them to get their butts wrapped up and in their seats at the Rock this Saturday!

I'm bringing my usual 6 + 2 that normally don't make it up...

You know SCSU fans will be bringing it, let's do the same and fill up our stadium with Black and Gold!

Monday.. back to work..

1. Week off is over and it's back to work today; short though the week may be. Mom and dad have settled in here at the house, we had a sizable group of folks in last night for spaghetti dinner, sauce made from scratch by me, and today, they are off to do whatever as I head to work. With some luck, I'll catch up with them for dinner this evening.

2. Politicians being paid off in order to advance debate in Washington....hmmmm. I always thought we elected folks, to office, in order to actually debate subjects of importance in this country. For any Democrat, or Republican, not to allow debate on the floor of the Senate or House, is absurd. To be paid off by hundreds of million of dollars, just to vote for debate, is criminal. Does anyone really deny the need for a third party in this country anymore? I mean honestly. Wow.

3. Tough game up the mountain at App this past weekend. A win is a win ugly or not. Give credit to WCU, they play right down until the last :36 seconds of the game. AE sat out the game, and was missed. I thought it wise to hold AE out and let him completely heal for the playoffs. I will admit, for a few moments on Saturday, I questioned that decision. But, I am mere "watcher" of the game and I don't armchair quarterback. Aside from the ugly win, I had another success with shooting the game highlights off the mountain. Mike Rapp and I were able to line up our strongest signal yet! Technology is fun!

4. Drizzly, gray, chilly, and raw sort of day today. We should be "wedged" in through sometime on Wednesday. Travel could be difficult in the early mornings as wide spread fog will be a sizable issue. Flight delays are likely and you'll need to pack your patients if you are traveling by plane, train or automobile.

5. Enjoy the day....

Staycation.... yawn...

1. Not much to report from the staycation front. Been a slow week of cleaning, running around and prepping for the parental units to arrive on Sunday. Oh yeah, brittle making is in full gear.... Course, I'm up the mountain to shoot the ASU / WCU match-up on Saturday. Might be making the mad dash off the mountain as one of the live trucks is out of commission; we'll see.

2. My friend Brian sent me the pumpkin picture below. It is all sort of bad taste, but you know, ah heck, it was funny; bad taste, but funny. I'll have the pecan pie please!

3. Nice weather today, building clouds Saturday with rain and cold expected for Sunday.

4. Enjoy the weekend!