Live from Luxembourg

The Grund, Luxembourg

So, I moved. To Luxembourg. No, not a city in Germany but a tiny country and city right next to Germany. The country is a little larger than the state of road and has almost as many inhabitants (600,000) of the Boise, ID area. I obviously moved here to try to make the country's Olympic golf team. Kidding, kinda. Amazon (work) gave me the opportunity and though I was extremely happy in Seattle, I couldn't say no to living abroad for few years.

There have been some cool/interesting sports moments for me already. I was invited to play golf at one of the country clubs in the area, Kikuoka, with another an Amazonian who is a member of one of the local golf society's. Think of a golf society like a men's league in the States without course sponsorship but exclusive, as in you need to be invited to join.  I must say, the first nine holes on continental Europe did go well as I was able to shoot a +1 (37) for nine holes and tied for the lowest score of the evening and won a sleeve of Pro V1's for having the lowest score as a guest. Hopefully, I will be invited back.

Another interesting event that happened in this first couple weeks is that Luxembourg's National soccer team played France to a tie in a World Cup Qualifying game. It was a huge moral victory for the team and the country as most of the Luxembourg team members are no where near the caliber as Les Bleus. I am hoping to go to see a qualifier when Luxembourg hosts here in the first week of October.

The thing I miss the most about the USA is football (and big kitchens, story for another time).  Thankfully, I have a good VPN and am streaming the Utah State football game as I type this.

Over the next few years, I hope to take in as many European sporting events in person as possible including:

The British Open
Wimbeldon
Ryder Cup (Sept. 2018 in France)
Tour de France
French Open
Champions League
... and who knows what else!

Along with golfing all the classics in the United Kingdom and skiing in the Alps, I should be busy. Stay tuned for more pictures and posts!

The Games of 2013

What another great year of sports! I was able to check some major things off my "Sports Bucket List." I got to see the Jazz beat LeBron and the Heat for the second straight year in Salt Lake. In March I was able to attend the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, even though Gonzaga lost to Cinderella story Witchita State, it was a lot of fun to go with my mom and dad. The next week Major Leagues Baseball's Rockies and Mariners faced off for a final exhibition game at Spring Mobile Ballpark! You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. The summer brought a lot more Bee's game and also allowed me to develop my fan-hood for soccer and Real Salt Lake. What a great year as they nearly won the MLS Cup in December. Aggie and Ute football filled my fall. Though there were some definite ups and downs (such as the Aggies narrowly losing to the Utes on opening night, which cost me a bet that has made me grow out my hair until the end of college football season) it turned out to be a great year for Aggies in their first season in the Mountain West Conference. The highlight of my year came when I was able to attend my first NFL game in Baltimore. It was also the coldest I've been this year! There were a combined five touchdowns by the Ravens and Vikings in the last two minutes with the Ravens eventually prevailing. The teams I rooted for ended up 12-12-1 (.500) record in games I attended this year. My worst record since I have been keeping track but the memories surely won't be forgotten.

For the previous "Years in Review" click here.

Men’s College Basketball 

Record in Games I Attended:  3-4

01/09/13 Utah vs. UCLA L, 53-57 Huntsman Center, SLC, UT
01/27/13 Utah vs. Stanford L, 56-87 Huntsman Center, SLC, UT
02/02/13 Utah vs. Colorado W, 58-55 Huntsman Center, SLC, UT
02/28/13 Gonzaga at BYU W, 70-65 Marriott Center, Provo, UT
03/23/13 Gonzaga vs. Wichita St. L, 70-76 NCAA Tournament 3rd Round 
03/23/13 Arizona vs. Harvard W, 74-51 NCAA Tournament 3rd Round 
11/30/13 Utah St. vs. BYU L, 74-85 Energy Solutions Arena, SLC

College Football 

(all Utah State games at Romney Stadium, all Utah Games at Rice Eccles Stadium)

Record in Games I Attended:  4-4

08/29/13 Utah St. at Utah L, 26-30 
09/07/13 Utah vs. Weber St. W, 70-7
09/14/13 Utah St. vs. Weber St.W, 70-6
10/04/13 Utah St. vs. BYU L, 14-31
10/12/13 Utah St. vs. Boise St. L, 23-34
11/02/13 Utah St. vs. Hawaii W, 47-10
11/09/13 Utah vs. Arizona St. L, 19-20
11/30/13 Utah St. vs. Wyoming W, 35-7

Utah Jazz

(all games attended at Energy Solutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT)

Record in Games I Attended:  1-4

01/14/13 vs. Miami W, 104-97
02/08/13 vs. Chicago L, 89-93
02/27/13 vs. Atlanta L, 91-102
10/30/13 vs. Oklahoma City L, 98-101
11/11/13 vs. Denver L, 81-100

Real Salt Lake 

(all games at Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT)

Record in Games I Attended 3-0-1

07/03/13 vs. Philadelphia T, 2-2
08/24/13 vs. Columbus W, 4-0
10/23/13 vs. Chivas USA W, 2-1
11/10/13 vs. Portland W, 4-2 Second Round MLS Playoffs

Other Events 

Record in Games I Attended 1-0

03/30/13 MLB-Colorado Rockies vs. Seattle Mariners- MLB in SLC  
                        Spring Mobile Ballpark, Salt Lake City, UT
12/08/13 NFL-Baltimore Ravens vs. Minnesota Vikings W, 29-26
                        M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

Year of Games - 2012

I wasn't very good at keeping up with my blogging this past year but it is never too late reminisce on the games I attended. I had a blast having half season Jazz tickets with Hillary during the beginning part of the year. While in Boise I was able to attend a number of minor league baseball and hockey games. In accord with tradition I don't record minor league sports so those contests are not reflected in this years 10-5 (.667) record, but none the less I am really falling in love with hockey! And how about that Aggie Football?! A perfect 2-0 in the games I attended on their way to an awesome 11-2 bowl championship and conference championship season! What a turn around. Sadly, this was the first year I was unable to attend a Major League Baseball game since 2007, in 2013 I hope to make up for that!

Men's College Basketball

Record in Games I Attended:  0-1

02/02/12              Gonzaga at BYU                L, 73-83 Marriott Center, Provo, UT

College Football

Record in Games I Attended:  4-0                                                                 

09/27/12              Utah St. vs. Utah             W, 27-20 (OT) Romney Stadium Logan, UT

09/20/12              Boise St. vs. BYU            W, 7-6 Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID

10/13/12              Boise St. vs. Fresno St.    W, 20-10 Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID

12/15/12              Utah St. vs. Toledo          W, 41-15 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID

Utah Jazz 

Record in Games I Attended:  6-4

01/06/12              vs. Memphis                   W, 93-86

01/11/12              vs. L.A. Lakers                L, 87-90

01/21/12              vs. Minnesota                  W, 108-98

01/28/12              vs. Sacramento                W, 96-93

02/01/12              vs. L.A. Clippers              L, 105-107

02/10/12              vs. Oklahoma City            L, 87-101

02/17/12              vs. Washington                W, 114-100

02/20/12              vs. San Antonio                L, 102-106

03/02/12              vs. Miami                        W, 99-98

03/17/12              vs. Golden State               W, 99-92

A Year of Games 2011

One of my favorite parts of the year is looking back at all the memories. Here is my 2011 list of major professional and NCAA events that I attended throughout the year. I went to a total of nine different venues in four different states. Four of those venues I visited for the first time in my life. I saw teams from 11 different states. I experienced my first college bowl game and my first MLS game. The teams I supported finished with a record of 12-6 (.667) this season, slightly down from last years 20-4 mark.

I look forward to 2012. I became a half season Jazz ticket owner and have tentative plans to visit the east coast and the likes of Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. As always, thank you friends and family, it was an interesting year and I am happy to have you all to go to these games with.

Look for my list of the Biggest 2011 Sports Moments next week.

Aggie Men’s Basketball

(all games attended in D.G. Smith Spectrum, Logan, UT unless otherwise noted)
Record in Games I Attended: 10-0

01/20/11 vs. Louisiana Tech W, 74-57
01/22/11 vs. New Mexico State W, 59-49
02/02/11 vs. Nevada W, 67-45
02/05/11 vs. Boise State W, 77-49
02/12/11 vs. Fresno State W, 71-55
02/26/11 vs. Idaho W, 84-68
03/11/11 vs. San Jose State W, 58-54 WAC Tournament, Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV
03/12/11 vs. Boise State W, 77-69 WAC Championship, Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV
11/11/11 vs. BYU W, 69-62
11/26/11 at Idaho State W, 75-62 Holt Arena, Pocatello, ID

Aggie Football

(all games attended at Romney Stadium, Logan, UT)
Record in Games I Attended: 1-3

09/24/11 vs. Colorado State L, 35-34 (2OT)
09/30/11 at BYU L, 27-24 Lavell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
11/12/11 vs. San Jose State W, 34-33
12/17/11 vs. Ohio L, 24-23 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID

Utah Jazz

(all games attended at Energy Solutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT)
Record in Games I Attended: 0-2

01/05/11 vs. Atlanta L 110-87
02/11/11 vs. Phoenix L 93-85

Major League Baseball

Record in Games I Attended: 0-1

08/30/11 Seattle Mariners vs. Los Angeles Angels L 6-13 @ Safeco Field, Seattle, WA

Other Events

Record in Games I Attended: 1-0

10/29/11 Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders 3-0 1st Round MLS Playoffs

November in Review- The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The Good-

Aggie football. A four game win streak and the first bowl bid in 14 years! Robert Turbin is a beast among men out there. Coach Anderson did a great job at rallying the troops after a tough start to the season.

The NBA Lockout is over! After 147 days of negotiations, there will be basketball this year. I didn't think I'd miss the NBA that much but I really have. Obviously the players were starting to miss there paychecks too.

Denver Broncos. Haters going to hate, but week after week, Tim Tebow keeps winning.

The Bad-

Aggie Basketball. It really saddens me to say this, but the Aggies just don't have it together right now. For as long as I have been around Aggie basketball, well that's only about six years, but in that time Utah State has had a system and when players leave, new players fill those spots in that system. Well this year the talent level is different, can't say if its better or worse just different. Up to this point the Ag's haven't figured out what works yet. Hopefully they will get it figured out by the time WAC play rolls around.

The Ugly-

USU apologizing to BYU after the basketball game. This is college basketball, not Jr. Jazz. I am sorry if people were offended, but I was at the game and it was no worse than the other USU/BYU games I have attended before. Nobody was beaten up, nobody left in tears. Athletes like coming to hostile environments and trying to silence the crowd. It makes it exciting. So administrators, let the Spectrum remain a spirited place and if you have a problem with a sign or a students language, take care of it at that moment, have them removed from the game, whatever. Just don't go apologizing later.

USU Student Protest. If there was a "Really, Really Ugly" category this would be in it. Fortunately I wasn't there but last night when the students were quite for the first three minutes of the basketball game for whatever reasons was ridiculous. We are athletic supports, support the athletes and your school. If there is a problem to be resolved, take care of it so that it doesn't effect your team. A young basketball team, as I mentioned before, needs all the help it can get. Give the positive energy, be the 6th man and protest at another time. Maybe sit in your seats after the game when they try to turn out the lights or whatever. If your going to take some credit for wins, ya gotta take some credit for losses.

Heartbroken x 3

This is definitely not the blog I wanted to be writing today after attending last night's Utah State/BYU football game in Provo, UT. But lets face it, bad things happen. And if you are a Utah State fan, alumni, support, player, etc. bad things seem to happen just about every time the Aggies take the field.

The Aggies blew a 10-point lead with 3 minutes left to Auburn in the first week of the season, that hurt, but a loss to Auburn was expected. In week 3, the offense and defense played well enough to win but because of two muffed punt returns, Colorado State was able to score in the last minutes to tie the game and win in double overtime. And to cap it all off, last night, with a lead in final minutes once again, that hated team from down south was able to put together a 96 yard touchdown drive against the Ags to win the game with 11 seconds remaining.

What can be done! I can't take anymore heartbreak, this team has the talent and skills to win, they just somehow seem to miraculously lose each and every game! One thing that I think would help would be for Coach Anderson to take given points or at least shots at given points i.e. the extra point in the second overtime of the CSU game and the field goal late in fourth quarter against BYU. When the team wasn't as talented as opponents, trick plays and going for it was fine, but now, I believe we have a good team, we need to take points!

I'll always support the Aggies but its going to take a couple of wins before I make the trek back up to Logan to watch another game. I hope the team has some moral left and can still rally to make a bowl game.

Oh and p.s.- BYU don't say its not a rivalry game anymore. You stormed the field. A win over the Aggies must now mean something!

My Top 10 Sports Moments of 2010

My annual list of unforgettable sports moments from the past year. This isn’t necessarily a list of the biggest events of the year, just a list of moments that I will never forget.

10. Never Ending Tennis Match
I am not a huge tennis fan but I will never forget the 22nd through the 24th of June when John Isner and Nicolas Mahut played the world’s longest tennis match. It was impossible to turn off the TV! “Isner, Mahut, Isner, Mahut” when will it end?!

9. 2010 PGA Championship

A controversial finish on the 72nd hole left Zach Johnson out of a playoff for the championship where Martin Kaymer beat the long hitting Bubba Watson for his first major championship. Tournament golf at its finest!

8. The Decision
Oh LeBron… Anybody who is reading this most likely already knows about the shenanigans that LeBron James pulled this summer. To break up with a whole city on national TV is heartless and definitely unforgettable.

7. NCAA Basketball Championship
The ultimate David vs. Goliath Story, almost, as the Butler Bulldogs nearly upset the Duke Blue Devils! I know I thought that Hayward’s shot was going in!

6. Canada/USA Olympic Hockey
Wow. You couldn’t ask for a more thrilling game in one the premier events of the Winter Olympics. Both teams really came to play on the sport’s biggest stage and then for the games star to win it in overtime, just classic.

5. Year of the Pitcher
Oh what was that? Another no hitter? Yup! There were six no-hitters, err should have been seven if Armando Gallaraga’s would have counted, including two perfect games in the 2010 MLB season. None of the games were more special though than my #2 Moment of the Year.

4. The 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach
The tournament wasn’t the most exciting but that fact of the matter is, I was there and it was beautiful. To watch the world’s best golfers up close and personal in one of the games four majors is amazing!

3. “Beat the Heat”
November 9, 2010. The day Paul Millsap brought his talents to South Beach. This was just the beginning of what has turned out to be a good season for my Utah Jazz. Make sure to watch the video clip attached to the link.

2. Unhittable Halladay
Rarely does anybody watch an entire baseball game the whole way through (especially on TV) but on this occasion, when Philadelphia Phillie Roy Halladay took the mound in the first game of the National League Division Series playoffs I don’t think I missed a pitch. It is amazing to see person do an almost perfect job at anything.

1. End of a 17 Year Drought

Anytime that something doesn’t happen for as long as time as 17 years, it is definitely going to be worth remembering. Though the Aggie football season didn’t go all according to plan I had to give the victory over arch rival BYU the top spot for the year. We absolutely handled those egotistical Cougars in their favorite sport. It definitely is nice to have some bragging rights for a while!

Alright there is my list! I hope you enjoyed it and I would love to hear your moments of the year! Happy 2011!

Some moments were close but didn’t make the cut… Boise State Football Loses to Nevada, Saints Win Super Bowl, Giants Win World Series, Utah Jazz Upset Nuggets in First Round of NBA Playoffs, Michael Vick’s Return as a star

The 2009 List

A Year of Games

It's Christmas break and I'm a little bored so I have compiled a list of all the professional and NCAA sporting events I went to this year. The links will take you to my blog posts that I wrote on the events. Check the blog next week for my Top 10 Sports Moments of 2010!

I finished the year with a 20-4 (.833) record for teams I was rooting for. I saw teams from 14 different states. I went to 7 different venues. I saw all of my favorite teams (the Phillies, the Jazz, the Aggies). I saw Tiger Woods. I saw the World Series Champion. I saw one of the most prestigious events in professional sports in the most beautiful spot in the world when I attended the 110th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. I felt the magic that is the Spectrum on a winter night. And I experienced it all with you, my family and friends. Sports wouldn't be the same if I didn't have you there to cheer and jeer with. I have been very blessed, thank you! Here is to the games and championships that we will enjoy in 2011!

Aggie Basketball

(all games attended in D.G. Smith Spectrum, Logan, UT unless otherwise noted)
Record in Games I Attended: 12-1

Jan 11 vs. Hawai'i W, 98-54
Jan 16 vs. Boise State W, 81-59
Feb 2 vs. Idaho W, 80-62
Feb 6 vs. Nevada W, 76-65
Feb 17 vs. Louisiana Tech W, 67-61
Feb 20 vs. Wichita State W, 68-58
Mar 1 vs. Fresno State W, 76-39
Mar 6 vs. New Mexico State W, 81-63
Nov 13 vs. Weber State W, 77-65
Nov 17 at BYU L, 78-72 @ Marriot Center, Provo, UT
Nov 27 vs. Northeastern W, 56-54
Dec 7 vs. Long Beach State W, 81-53
Dec 31 vs. Hawai'i W, 74-66

Aggie Football

(all games attended at Romney Stadium, Logan, UT)
Record in Games I Attended: 2-2

Sep 11 vs. Idaho State W, 38-17
Sep 18 vs. Fresno State L, 41-24
Oct 1 vs. BYU W, 31-16
Oct 23 vs. Hawai'i L, 45-7

Utah Jazz

(all games attended at Energy Solutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT)
Record in Games I Attended: 3-1

Jan 23 vs. New Jersey W 116-83
Feb 27 vs. Houston W 133-110
Apr 23 vs. Denver W 105-93 1st Round of the NBA Playoffs
Dec 3 vs. Dallas L 81-93

Major League Baseball

Record in Games I Attended: 2-0

May 10 Philadelphia Phillies at Colorado Rockies W 9-5 @ Coors Field, Denver, CO
June 14 San Francisco Giants vs. Baltimore Orioles W 10-2 @ AT & T Park, San Francisco, CA

Other Events

Record in Games I Attended: 1-0

June 16 & 17 The 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey, CA
Oct 31 Utah State Soccer vs. Hawai'i W, 4-0

Then It Began to Rain

Saturday morning... no work, no school, just sports all day! The Aggie homecoming game at 3 followed by the Phillies in game six of the NLCS. The forecast had called for a storm, but as kick-off for the football game approached it was a mild 60 degrees outside, everything in my sports world seemed just fine.

Looking a little shaky on offense and defense the team allowed Hawaii the first touchdown. Soon though, the Aggies looked like they had settled into the game and after a big scamper by quarterback Diondre Borel to tie the ball game up. Utah State had a chance at knocking off the Rainbow Warriors. Then the wind picked up, the temperature dropped sharply, it began to rain. It was like a sign from nature officially ending summer and the Aggie football teams hopes at a decent season. I don't believe an endless summer is possible, that's illogical. I just like to hope that the weather will stay good for as long as possible and I'll be able to enjoy that summer state of mind a little more. Kind of the same way I hope that Utah State will have a good football team. Summer teases me with nice days through September, the Aggies tease me with a few early season wins. But as the fall progresses, I realize some things just aren't possible.

It kept raining for the rest of the day, literally and figuratively, as I watched Ryan Howard strike out and my boys of summer, the Philadelphia Phillies, be eliminated from the playoffs. Sure it was a long shot to come back from being down three games to one, but I had hope. I mean these guys are good! Appearing in the last two World Series, I thought they could find the fight in them to make it back. Half my apparel is now out of style until April. I had little feeling like the hype on the team was just a little too much entering the series, it seemed as if every analyst was choosing the Phils. It's definitely possible the team overlooked the streaking Giant's and Phillie killer Cody Ross. Sad to see a whole season completed without a championship, but in the end, only one team can win.

Today, it is still raining.... The end of the week is looking sunny though, just in time for tip-off of the Aggie and Jazz basketball seasons. Seasons that could end in the sun!

Seventeen Years

Seventeen years ago I had not started kindergarten, this spring I will graduate from college. Seventeen years ago the internet was a novelty, now its rare to go more than a few hours without being online in some form. And until last night, seventeen years ago was the last time the Utah State Aggies had beat the BYU Cougars!

Last night was a great experience, maybe even better than beating BYU in basketball last December. Right now America is a football country and when you beat your rival that you haven't beat in almost two decades on national TV, it is kinda big deal! So yea, both the teams were 1-3 going into the game, but the Aggies aren't the team that is now 1-4 and that sure does feel good!

Aggie pride is everywhere right now. The restaurants were packed until the wee hours of the morning last night and the internet is abuzzing. Here is a little sampling of the mood in Logan and the rest of the west from some of my friends Facebook status's:

"And today was the day that the Aggies beat the YBU's in a little game we call football :)"

"BELIEVED. We did it. Finally. GO AGGIES!"

"AMAZING game...17 years in the making and we finally beat BYU. That's right...WE WON!!! Go Aggies!"

My buddy at the U, "PS, Utah State better storm the field!" oh we did!

"... I believe that WE JUST WON!!!!"

From a Boise State fan "Go Utah St. way to hand it to those cougars!!!!!"

"It seems like every frustration I have had in the last 6 months went away when I watched Utah State smash the Cougars, GO AGGIES!"

A friend at the Y, "I think my roommate and I cursed BYU Football with our non-LDS sins."

"YEAH!! GO AGGIES!! Put BYU in their place tonight!! :D"

From my anti-football sister who goes to Gonzaga: "AGGGIEEEESSS! heck yes. Go UTAH STATE FOOTBALL!!!!"

and finally one that sums it all up,

"It's a good day to be an Aggie :)"

I'm Back!!

Wow, it has been a long time since I've blogged! A lot has been happening lately, school is in session, moved into a new place with my best buds, and I started a new job at the golf course. The course is located about 15 minutes outside of Logan, in the canyon on your way to Salt Lake. It is absolutely place, I'll be getting some pictures up soon. Overall, life is good.

Even though I haven't blogged for a bit, the world of sports hasn't slowed down a bit.

• The Phillies are back in first place and looking strong as they move towards the MLB Playoffs.
  
• Football season is full swing, the Aggies have a great chance to win one a big game as they take on Fresno State this Saturday in Logan.
  
• Oh Boise State! They beat Virginia Tech but then Virginia Tech lost to a FCS school. I wonder how much the BCS payed Virginia to lose that game and hurt Boises chances of playing in the National Championship game. Even though I hate Boise State, I want to see them do well until Dec. 4 when the Aggies roll onto the blue turf and take them out. I'm already dreaming of it.
  
• Another reason to hate BYU, Utah State was offered a spot in the Mountain West Conference but didn't take it because they believed the Y would join the WAC for everything but football, it didn't happen and now the WAC looks to be going defunct.
  
• Reggie Bush forfeited his Heisman. I don't think he should have. Sure what he did off the field was shady, but on the field he was simply amazing. The best college player I have ever watched.
  
• And then there is flag football, I'm already frustrated with a first week loss! It's typical though, my all time record in intramural sports is now 7-37.

Well that's all for now, hopefully I'll keep more up to date from now on!

State of WAC

States of the former WAC

I woke up yesterday morning and like usual turned on ESPN while eating breakfast. Low and behold, some of the best sports news I had seen all summer, BYU was to join the Western Athletic Conference for all sports but football. The Cougars would have to come to Logan every year and play basketball against the Aggies in the Spectrum. It seemed as if this summers conference shake-up was going to be a good thing for everyone including, a Boise State-less, Western Athletic Conference.

That was until the Mountain West poached Fresno State and Nevada, two of the premier WAC football teams, yesterday afternoon! Leaving the WAC with the following six schools, Utah State, Idaho, San Jose State, Hawaii, Louisiana Tech, and New Mexico State. Six teams spread across six states, with no natural rivalries and limited historic rivalries. This is a very bad situation. Only two of the state are even neighbors!

I was opposed to the idea of super conferences (Texas & Oklahoma going to the PAC-10) this summer because of the ruining of rivalries and the large geographic distances that would separate the institutions, but in reality those conferences could survive that. The WAC with six teams, can not. And I am not willing to pay another increase in student fees so that Utah State's athletic teams can travel to Ruston, LA and Honolulu, HI because ESPN and its TV money do not want to support a conference with just six teams.

Honestly, I don't know what can be done and I have absolutely no power to do anything about it. So in theory, this blog is more of a rant than a solution, but if I were in charge of the WAC, this is what I would try and do; entice Montana to move up from the Big Sky and Wyoming to move back from the Mountain West, all the while still getting BYU's sports for everything besides football.

Montana could be looking to make the jump from the FCS Division and into the Bowl Divison. They have done just about everything in the FCS and they could see this move as their chance to make it on the national scene. Boise State made the jump less than 20 years ago and look where they are now! The WAC is a depleted conference football wise and the Grizzlies could quite possibly have a winning record in their first season. They would restore a rivalry with University of Idaho by doing this too. Wyoming would make the move for similar reasons; a chance to play in an easier conference, keep its long standing ties with BYU for all other sports, and create new rivalries with schools such as Montana and Utah State.

It will be interesting to see what happens to the WAC, the 6th oldest conference in the Bowl Division, hopefully it will still be around by the year 2011.

Bowling? Next Year!

It's that time of the year again. The Holidays. A time for family, friends, and meaningless college football games! As much as I hate the current system in place for the college football post-season, I would like to see the system continue (and I'm sure it will) for at least one more year. Why? Because I'd love to go watch a bowl game that the Aggies are playing in! (more on how I think the BCS should change in a later post)

The Aggies this last year finished with a 4-8 record, their best record since 2002. The Aggies were a mere two games away from a bowl qualifying record this year. Three times this year the Aggies lost by four points or less. Two of those three losses coming at the hands of bowl-bound teams, Nevada(32-35) and Fresno State(27-31). In all the Aggies played seven bowl teams this past year. They played respectably in each of those games.

There is no reason the Aggies can't be in a bowl next year. It is clear that Coach Gary Anderson has his team on the right track and with many star skill players returning, such as quarterback Diondre Borel and 1000+ yard, running back Robert Turbin, the Aggies should be a legitimate WAC contender.

It has been years since the program has been truly respectable; next year with the talent and coaching in place, the 2010 season should be a program changing year leading to a great decade of Aggie Football! See you in Albuquerque, Boise or maybe even Honolulu for the bowl game!

November 16

Last Week:
The Jazz went on the road last week. They won the games they were supposed and lost the ones everyone expected them to. Eric Maynor was impressive for D-Will while he was out. The team looked good against the Cav's and should be able to take them down in January when they are full force.

Aggie basketball won it's first game! It's always nice to open up the season with a big road win against an in-state rival

Aggie football had a good win against San Jose State. The game was freezing. Robert Turbin is a beast and eclispsed the 1000 yard mark for the season with a pretty impressive TD run!





What I'm watching and watching for this week:
*MARCUS' GAME OF THE WEEK*
Utah State Football vs. #6 Boise State - Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m. ESPN 2
One of the highest ranked teams ever to enter Romeny Stadium. The Broncos laid a whooping on in-state rival Idaho last week. ESPN 2 comes to Logan for the first time ever. The Broncos have to be beat sooner or later, this could be a huge turning point in Aggie football if it goes down Friday night. It's going to be a blast!

Utah State Men's Basketball at Utah - Nov. 18, 6:00 p.m.
A similar situation to the Weber game, two years ago the Ag's got beat pretty handily by the Utes in Salt Lake. This year should be a different story, Utah lost its opener to Idaho.

Also this is the one month anniversary of the 12th Green. A total of three followers and eight posts. Thank you my faithful readers!

November 2

Last Week:
The Phillies are down 3-1 in the series, not what I had predicted or hoped for. Last nights game was ridiculous. Giving up three runs in the top of the ninth with two outs? Really, really?

A decent start to the season for the Utah Jazz. 1-1 after two games. I haven't had a chance to really watch them yet. The NBA season is so long as long as they don't totally blow it these first couple weeks everything should be alright.

The Denver Broncos finally lost. Pretty impressive that it didn't come until the seventh week of the season with a new coach and new quarterback. They'll get back on track this week.

The Aggie basketball team had there first preseason game on Friday. Largest and wildest crowd I have ever seen for an exhibition game. Overall the team looked good. (full review on the Ag's later)

Aggie football, more of the same. Sooner or later this team is
going to learn how to win!

What I'm watching and watching for this week:
*MARCUS' GAME OF THE WEEK*
World Series Game 5- Tonight, 6 p.m. FOX
This is it, the Phillies have to win the next three games. It's win or go home It's going to be hard, but not impossible. Hopefully I'll also be watching games six, seven, and the championship parade!

Utah Jazz vs. Houston 11/2, at Dallas 11/3, vs. San Antonio 11/5, vs. Sacramento 11/7
Too early in the season for any of the games to be super important. I would love to see them go 3-1 though!