Friday, February 26, 2010

Independence Stadium


Here's a photo of the stadium we play in tomorrow for the championship. Rumor is that the game will be a sell out...

Facts I was able to steal from Wikipedia:
  • Home of the Independence Bowl
  • The home venue of the Shreveport Steamer of the short-lived World Football League (1974-75)
  • Home to the Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League (1994-95), which was undergoing US expansion at the time.
  • Opened in 1925, renovated in 1930, 1950, 1973, 2001
  • Capacity 53,000

Send Off


We left for the state finals today and the high school had a big send off for the kids. Here is a photo one of the coaches took. There were hundreds of students and the band was out playing the school fight song. Pretty cool all around. Tomorrow we play the number one team in the state and the number 3 team in the country. I love being the underdog.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Fight Club

First coed soccer game of the spring was yesterday afternoon and we lost 4-1 to a team relatively stacked with young guys. We had our chances though and they just didn't drop. The championship will be tough to defend this spring but if we have our full roster at games I think we can get it done.

This was the first game back from my ankle injury and it appears it is pretty far from ready. I was able to play through it though, so I'm hoping it gets back to where it was for next week's game. Feels like I am in Fight Club this morning as I hop on my morning flight to DC. The limp across the airport is gonna be fun.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Friday, February 19, 2010

To be the best...

...you have to beat the best.


Carlee and I have been watching the winter Olympics over the course of the last week. Watching any type of sport where the intensity, passion and sheer joy/pain of competition is so evident is awesome. From curling to snowboarding, I enjoy it all.

Tomorrow, the high school team I coach travels to northern Louisiana to compete in the state semifinals. It is no small accomplishment that we have made it this far and I am incredibly proud of the guys and excited to be a part of a team with the talent we have. This is the second year in a row that we have advanced to the final 4. Last year we were knocked out prior to reaching the finals. This year, we hope to reach the final and win it all. We are the underdog tomorrow, but that didn't stop us from pulling an upset in the quarterfinals against the #3 team in the state (we entered the playoffs ranked #6). Tomorrow we take on the second seed.


Here's to all competitors, champions and not...especially the guys on the teams I coach who put in all the hard work for the the love of the game.


Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Just Us Kids by James McMurtry

Posting this song in memory of my brother's companion Habanero. What a great picture of him! We'll miss you Hab!


I've had enough of this small town bullshit
I'm not stayin' in school
I'm makin' good dough workin' with my brother
Cleanin' out pools
I'm going out to California
And man it won't be long
As soon as I get my license
Color me gone

Oh knock it off Johnny
Man, your livin' in your head
You ain't even got a car
And those chicks don't believe a word ya said
But you're doin' all the talkin'
So I just keep quiet
And this'll probably go no where
But I can't blame ya for tryin'

It's just us kids hangin' round the park at night
Hangin' round 'neath the vapor light
We got no drugs and we got no guns
Not even botherin' anyone

Monday, February 08, 2010

Party in a Parking Lot


Our local sporting goods store was kind of on the way home from the Super Bowl party we went to so we drove by to see if another party had erupted. Sure enough, thousands of people were jammed into the parking lot. We saw a crowd of about 50+ on top of a truck bouncing it up and down, car horns were blaring and it was heavier than rush hour on the drive home. People were everywhere. Crazy all around. Here's a photo found on the Independent's website.

Sunday, February 07, 2010

Jay-Z Super Bowl XLIV Kick Off

Really liked this song during the pre-game tonight. Converted it later and it's now on my current play list. What an awesome game!


Who Dat Dog Catch!


Jozy spent a little time this morning warming up for the big game. I played Drew Brees, she played Marques Colston and my wife was on the sideline and covering the action. Carlee took this amazing photo of Jozy in action. Awesome!

After getting in a few passing routes Jozy cam into the huddle for a high five, treats and some water.

The New Orleans Saints Superbowl Drinking Game

If you're from around here, I doubt you'll really need any encouragement for a little liquid celebration...but just in case, here's a drinking game for you. If you want to make it to the final whistle though, you might want to eliminate some of the rules. Geaux Saints!

I am re-posting this from a friend's blog: the blog of jim graham. It was just too funny to not share and on the off chance that you were too lazy to click thru, the entire list is posted here as well. Hope Jim doesn't mind - Geaux Saints!
  1. Every time they mention hurricane Katrina, drink 1
  2. If they show pictures of the City of New Orleans right after Katrina, drink 1
  3. Every time they say how much the Saints mean to the City of New Orleans, drink 1
  4. Every time the words “tragedy”, “flood”, or “devastation” are used, drink 1
  5. Every time they talk about how good Reggie Bush was in college, drink 3
  6. If they show Kim Kardashian in the stands, drink 5
  7. Every time they show a picture of Reggie Bush with a bat or say “bringing the wood” drink for 5 seconds.
  8. Every time Reggie Bush gets negative yardage trying to run around in the backfield a bunch and outrun the defense, drink 1 and turn to the person next to you and say “I told you Vince Young should have won the Heisman”
  9. Every time Reggie Bush gets up and flexes his arms in that pose he likes to do, drink 1
  10. If they mention Tim Tebow for any reason, funnel a beer
  11. Every time they say that “it’s destiny for the Saints to win”, drink 1
  12. If they show footage of Katrina survivors at the Superdome, take a shot of cheap liquor
  13. If they call Saints fans the most passionate fans in football, drink 1
  14. If they say that the Saints, Saints fans, or the City of New Orleans “deserve” a Superbowl victory, drink 1
  15. Every time they say how good of a story the Saints are, drink 1
  16. If Jeremy Shockey pretends to be hurt after dropping a pass, drink 2
  17. If they mention the Saints beating the Falcons in 2006 in the first game after Katrina in the Superdome, drink 5 and remember that we are still a better football team with better fans.
  18. Every time they compare hurricane Katrina to the Haiti earthquake, funnel a beer and yell “bulls*@t!”
  19. Every time they mention Drew Brees as the Mardi Gras king, drink 1
  20. Every time they show Archie Manning, drink 1, and mention how bad he was. If they show old footage of him on the Saints, drink 5. If they mention how tough of a decision it was for him as for whom to cheer for, drink 10.
  21. Every time they show a saints fan yelling “Who dat!” Or a sign/shirt saying the same, drink 1.
  22. If they show Chris Paul at the game, drink 1 and mention to someone how much better he is than Marvin Williams.
  23. If they show former Mayor Ray Nagin, drink 5 and then punch someone in the face

Other Rules not involving the Saints:

  1. Every time they show Eli Manning in the press box, drink 1
  2. Every time Pierre Garcon is mentioned with Haiti, drink 1
  3. If Brett Favre is mentioned for any reason, drink 1

Saturday, February 06, 2010

Who Dat Dog!


Jozy has caught Saints fever as well. To be clear, this is the only piece of clothing Jozy has ever asked to be purchased for her and will probably be the only piece we ever say yes to. Geaux Saints!

Friday, February 05, 2010

Away Message

Just in case you were wondering how pervasive Saints fever is here in Lafayette, here is an away message that I just got on an email I sent to someone who is a local.
My Saints are going to the Superbowl. I will be in Miami through Tuesday of next week, possibly longer if we win.
GO SAINTS!!! WHO DAT!!