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After 2001, the yankees have had a lot of different players and a lot of different style teams. Which was the best?
2002- Giambi and Soriano compete for MVP, lose to Angels
2003- Aaron Boone helps put us in series, but aging pitching and tired players fall to Marlins
2004- The first year of the A-Rod era, excellent offense and bullpen but terrible rotation dooms us.
2005- An MVP from A-Rod and some luck from scrubs Small and Chacon put us in playoffs
2006- Shouldve been an MVP for Jeter, Damon joins up and we fall apart to Tigers
2007- MVP for A-Rod helps the yanks overcome a horrid start but the team is done in by Cleveland
2008- No highlights this year other than a 20 win season for Moose
2009- No games yet but the pieces are acquired for a big run
After 2001, the yankees have had a lot of different players and a lot of different style teams. Which was the best?
If you listen to the fans youll be sitting with them soon enough.- Brian Cashman
'09 Yankees
I think the 2002 team was the best - without looking at #s.
The Weaver-Torre debacle still lingers. Giambi put up two monster years and then got tossed to the wolves, unappreciated.
Tiger Woods:Sent: 01:28 PM 09/08/2009:
Have you ever had a golden shower done to you
Yeah, I'd have to agree there...I'm just hoping (as we all are) that the correct answer to this thread will be the '09 team.Originally Posted by THEBOSS84
That's one hell of a solid team.
Im going to say 2003, 4 pitchers who went over 200 IPs and a very good offense although Giambi dropped off some this year. The 2009 team should be better though.
If you listen to the fans youll be sitting with them soon enough.- Brian Cashman
Tough call. The 2002 Yankees were fantastic, and coming into that season were arguably better on paper than any of the dynasty teams, except for 1998, but couldn't come up in the playoffs (me thinks if we weren't facing Anaheim, who had our number throughout the dynasty, there'd have been a different result - the offense was not a problem in that series, it was just terrible pitching that did us in). The 2006 Yankees were very strong, and I'm still not sure what the hell happened in the ALDS that year. 2004 also had a great team that happened to fall apart when it counted most.
However, I'm going to go with 2003 as the best post-dynasty team. That team had it all together. And they also were solid on the postseason, unlike basically every other team since the dynasty.
If I had to rank them, it'd go something like this:
1. 2003
2. 2002
3. 2004
4. 2006
5. 2005
6. 2007
7. 2008
BTW, this is an interesting yet often forgotten fact - the only team to win 100 games 3 season in a row in Major League history is the 2002-2004 Yankees. The 100-win mark was only reached once during the dynasty - 1998. The only other times it has been reached in Yankee history in seasons not resulting in World Championships were 1954, 1963, and 1980.
2003 was such a strong team
Indeed. It was better than the 2000 and 2001 teams, if you ask me. I'd say the same for the 2002 team.Originally Posted by nnysiny
(In fact, I'd say that the 2004 and 2006 teams were better than the 2000 team as well, and maybe even the 2005 team. Looking at regular season record, 2000 remains the worst for the Yankees since 1995, and is even topped by 1993, but I think the record is a bit worse than the Yanks actually were that season, thanks to the September collapse. Still, that was not as strong a team as many of us think of it as.)
I would leave out the current team because it's not fair to put them in with what we already know as history. I'd say it's between '03 and '04, giving the slight edge to '03 because they made the WS, even though the '04 team came within an inning away from making it as well.
Agreed - if I were to rank the current team, on paper, it's as good as the 2002 team, if not better. But you can't compare a team that hasn't even played a game yet, much less played out the entire season, to teams that are now a part of history.Originally Posted by bigjf
The 02-03 Yankees were a great team, we really should have won the WS one of those years. The 06 Yankees were pretty damn impressive but lacked the pitching needed and the "Murder's Row and Cano" lineup went cold. The 04 Yankees were flawed, but were extremely close several times to winning the pennant and probably the WS.
"We understand that John Henry must be embarrassed, frustrated and disappointed by his failure in this transaction. Unlike the Yankees, he chose not to go the extra distance for his fans in Boston."
I'm gonna go with '03. Coincidentally, it was also the last team to make the WS.
Stella said, "Daddy when you gonna put me in a song?"
(Visit the companion site to NYYFans! It's more than meets the eye: The new Political Soapbox)
02, with 03 a close second.
Effing Angels!
Fall down a rabbit hole: Joe Frank.com
Offensively I'd say 07 was our best team, but overall I'd go with the 03 Yankees. If the 07 Yankees had the 03 rotation, that would have been ideal.
Javy Vazquez's 2010 non-Cy Young season: 4-10, 7.15 ERA, 140 Ks, 170 IP.
I said 2007.
We rebounded from a tough start, and just dominated the league in the second half. We just had a few breaks go Cleveland's way in the first round, which was our demise (the bugs, Wang being terrible in both outings, Posada's potential home run in Game 4 going just foul).
I went with 2007 for all the same reasons as well.Originally Posted by YanksFan1992
If Wang's sinkers sank or if Torre called the game when midgets (I know they aren't) started bugging Joba we might be dreaming of 28.
I say it goes
2003 (best pitching out of all these years)
2002 (very good team too)
2004 (a year I like to forget)
2007 (wished the team clicked like the 2nd half)
2006 (see above)
2005 (that team got kind of lucky with Small and Chacon)
2008 (this team would of ascended a couple ranks if all the breaks didn't go against the Yankees)
Quest for #28
For me it's 2003 without a doubt.
"I see Jesus Montero as a potential once-in-a-generation force on offense."
I've gotta say... Aaron Boone homer was just amazingly sweet and I remember it even more clearly than all the WS rings we won before that.
Maybe the greatest game I've ever seen. I can still remember the exact place I was when he hit that first pitch off Wakefield.Originally Posted by grizy
"I see Jesus Montero as a potential once-in-a-generation force on offense."
I called that home run. My dad was a huge Claussen fan, so he completely despised Boone, and was talking negatively about him the entire game. So when it was announced that Boone was up next, my father goes, "Oh great," and I go, "Watch him hit a homer here." And the rest was magnificent history.Originally Posted by grizy
that's when my obsession began. before then, i was a fan but that brought me to the next level.Originally Posted by grizy
New York Yankees
Volume XXVIII
Comeback tunes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvhhW...eature=related
I also called that home run, but only because in that series Boone had hit 2 or 3 bombs off Wakefield that went foul before that.Originally Posted by YanksFan1992
I think 2003 is the model the yanks are going for this year, experienced starting pitching with a circular lineup. I think 09 could be better though because the lineup is better, the bullpen is better. The rotation definitly has a chance to be better, I think it could because its a younger less injury prone starting 5 this year with guys more in their prime. Also we know Clemens and possibly Pettitte probably had a little outside help that year
If you listen to the fans youll be sitting with them soon enough.- Brian Cashman
You could say the same (as far as Wang is concerned) about every team who's top pitcher crapped out. That's not what I call a bad break, just bad pitching, and the Yankees were not good enough to overcome it. They didn't hit Carmona and they should have hit Sabathia, who struggled somewhat in the first game. The midges were a bad break, but the Yankees basically got lousy starting pitching in the series - and they didn't deserve to move on.Originally Posted by grizy
Hughes Rules: Pleading the Fifth
Google is awesome.
Boone sends Yankees to Series
Home run in 11th beats Boston, wins AL pennant
"That's the greatest ever, to have him step up and hit that pitch, that turns a struggling series into a great one," Giambi said. "That's all people will remember -- him getting us to the World Series with one swing of the bat."
On paper, the '09 team is, so I voted for them. However, for teams that actually played a full season, '03, followed by '02.
I say 2003.
I was yelling to the top of my lungs and said this after Aaron Boone's HR: SAY NO MORE. PROUD YANKEE, AARON BOONE.
After that emotion 2003 ALCS, the Yankees just ran out of gas.
"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up." - Jimmy Valvano
One must know pain to be a hero.
i think you are right. not just because we reached the WS but we played well all year. that rotation was good, despite weaver's poor showing and el duque/contreras' lack of innings for different reasons.Originally Posted by nnysiny
Bring tea for the Tillerman; Steak for the son; Wine for the woman who made the rain come; Seagulls sing your hearts away; 'Cause while the sinners sin, the children play ...
1.) 2003
2.) 2006
3.) 2002
4.) 2004
5.) 2007
6.) 2008
7.) 2005
I may not have been the best Yankee to put on the pinstripes, but I am the proudest.
- Billy Martin
None of these years matter because we didn't win the World Series. I'm in agreement with the organizational mindset.
Do you think fans of the Skill Sets in Flushing were happy (I was!) when Beltran struck out in 2006?
Ah, good ol' Brandon Claussen. I was a big fan too, but that's the thing about prospects...Originally Posted by YanksFan1992
A solid 2005 followed by oblivion.
"I see Jesus Montero as a potential once-in-a-generation force on offense."
Toss up between 2003 and 2006. People underestimate just how good that 2006 team should have been.
Collective wetting of the bed was a female dog.
"Owning the Yankees," Steinbrenner once said, "is like owning the Mona Lisa."
2003, with a sigh for 2006 wasted talent. Amazingly, I still feel more comfortable calling Aaron Boone more of a "True Yankee" than A-Rod. One swing cemented his place in Yankee lore as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, I very much am still hoping for great things out of A-Rod in terms of eventually establishing himself with a championship ring as a Yankee.
oy vey.......Aaron Boone is a "true Yankee", but Alex is not? How I hate that term - I don't even know what it means.Originally Posted by NAceK
Hughes Rules: Pleading the Fifth
I give the lineup edge to 2006 although, the years Jeter and Cano had were off the charts and the production from Damon at the top of the lineup was great not to mention the "down" year from A-Rod in which he drove in 120 runs. Pitching though gives 03 a big advantage.Originally Posted by b_joseph
If you listen to the fans youll be sitting with them soon enough.- Brian Cashman
I came off the wrong way in my post. As far as I'm concerned, Alex Rodriguez IS a Yankee, and as a Yankee fan, I want him to be the league stud he undoubtedly can be/has been. But no one can deny the lack of acceptance by certain circles of the fans, and the media for that matter, but forget the media most importantly the fans. As far as throwing around the term "true" Yankee, which even though I just used it I will agree it is pretty ridiculous, I think the more universally accepted names in the Yankees universe are often attributed to one or more defining moments in their Yankee careers. SPECIFICALLY, their Yankee playoff careers. Boone didn't lead the team to a world series, but tell me that was not one of the greatest moments in the modern Yankee era, or any era for that matter, as a fan. Delivering the deciding blow in a championship bout, in the greatest rivalry in all of sports. Arod obviously has had plenty of individual defining moments in his career, which in turn obviously helps the team, but all I was trying to get at earlier was that a defining moment in the playoffs I think would solidify his place in Yankee lore for many people. Although certainly not all, as we cannot dismiss the fact that he is the highest played player and will most likely get criticized to some extent for any shortcoming, even post world series ring.Originally Posted by Rocketbooster
Anyway long story short, Arod is a Yankee, nobody can dispute that, and if in some parallel universe I was presented with the option to pinch hit for Boone with Rodriquez in 2003, I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't pick Arod 10/10 times.
The 2006 offense was insane. That team was the clear favorite going into the postseason.
I voted for 2009, though. I like this team a lot.
Mo' Nut: One Smoove Brotha.
Jaret Wright's 2005 Cy Young Season: 20-3, 3.04 ERA
I also vote for 2009. I think all of the pieces are there, unlike in prior years. I look at the rotation, the bullpen, the lineup and think to myself "Woah...is this fantasy baseball!?"
I voted for 2006. I remember feeling so confident about that year and going into the post season -- more confident than I had in recent memory at the time. I was really surprised that they crapped the bed so badly in the ALDS.
2009 - World Champion New York Yankees!!
I loved that '03 team. After dispatching with Boston it was painful to watch them flame out against the d*** Marlins.
"Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast."
Also: To all the mediots who actually bought into the "we're into defensive metrics now" Sox meme? You're morons.
That's why I have them at #2 on my list behind '03. They looked unbeatable until Game 2 of the ALDS. And then thanks for nothing RJ and Wright. And ughh, Kenny Rogers. Are you kidding me?Originally Posted by CoyoteYankee
I may not have been the best Yankee to put on the pinstripes, but I am the proudest.
- Billy Martin
The 2009 team has more overall talent and more general depth than any of those years. How that translates to success is yet to be seen, but '09 is the better team.
clear, concise, correct
'03. glad torre's gone.
2003 for the starting pitching. I'm also still impressed that they put together a scorching April (our last hot start, really) with Erick Almonte at shortstop and Juan "The Ass" Acevedo (and his pointy hat) at closer.
2009 is potentially better but I can't vote for a team that hasn't played a game yet.
It's definitely a term that has been overused lately (Boone? C'mon), but I think is valid, given this organization's proud history of great players. In my mind, defining a 'True Yankee' is a lot like defining pornography... difficult to describe, but you absolutely know it when you see it.Originally Posted by Rocketbooster
As for the poll,my vote is for the 2003 team. While the 2002 team may have been better on paper, I still have the happiest memories from '03 when compared to every post dynasty season since. I still remember the look on all the Red Sox fans' faces when "Cowboy Up" turned into "Cowboy Down & Out". Priceless.
Ok, I see what you mean and I feel that one of these days, A-Rod WILL have his defining moment.Originally Posted by NAceK
Hughes Rules: Pleading the Fifth
How in the world is defining pornography difficult?Originally Posted by Tyler Durden
Javy Vazquez's 2010 non-Cy Young season: 4-10, 7.15 ERA, 140 Ks, 170 IP.
I've met parents that think Sailor Moon cartoon is pornography.
The 2009 Yankees have a reasonable chance to be the best on that list, as I think this is the best team on paper that the Yanks have fielded since the dynasty, but until that point, it's the 2003 Yankees. 2002/2006 Yankees tied for 2nd.
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Alabama Football: Breaking Down Toughest Matchups of 2013 Season
The release of the 2013 Associated Press preseason poll, via the AP's official site, was met with its normal college football frenzy. But to the shock of no one who follows the sport, it was the Alabama Crimson Tide who ranked No. 1 in the nation.
Despite the strong roster and winning tradition, the road to a third consecutive BCS National Championship won't be easy. Not only are the Crimson Tide in the always-tough Southeastern Conference (SEC), but the fact that the program is coming off of back-to-back championships makes Alabama public enemy No. 1 in college football.
The following matchups will be the toughest in 2013 for the Crimson Tide.
No. 1 Alabama at No. 7 Texas A&M (Saturday, September 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS)
The biggest test without question is Alabama's meeting with Texas A&M in College Station.
Whether Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel is playing or not, the tough defense and run-first offense of the SEC powerhouse (11th in the country with 242.1 yards per game) will give the Crimson Tide fits.
The ultimate X-factor in this matchup will be senior quarterback A.J. McCarron and how he handles Texas A&M's tough secondary. If McCarron can protect the ball and make efficient plays, there's little doubt that Alabama will be able to walk into Texas A&M's building and stun the program in a Week 3 dream matchup.
Prediction: Alabama 24, Texas A&M 17
No. 12 LSU at No. 1 Alabama (Saturday, November 9 at TBD)
The battle between Alabama and the LSU Tigers will be the same battle that it's been every other time the two programs have faced off in the past: a defensive showcase with timely scoring making the difference in the final outcome.
LSU was 12th in college football last year in terms of points allowed per game (17.5), but it will square off with a defense that returns most of its top stars from 2012.
The Crimson Tide are coming off an impressive year in which the defensive unit ended the season as the top-ranked defense in the nation (10.9 points per game allowed).
Expect the Bayou Bengals to struggle putting points on the board and ultimately lose another heartbreaker to Alabama.
Prediction: Alabama 17, LSU 14
Arkansas at No. 1 Alabama (Saturday, October 19 at TBD)
While on paper the Arkansas Razorbacks don't look like a team that can challenge the Crimson Tide this season, the October 19 meeting could be the ultimate trap game for Alabama if the team underestimates its opponents.
Losing stars like quarterback Tyler Wilson and running back Knile Davis will hurt the Razorbacks, but with one of the toughest schedules in the nation, Arkansas will be seasoned and ready for anything Alabama has to offer.
The Razorbacks visit Alabama in the seventh game on the schedule, but they will have played three preseason Top 10 teams in a row leading into the meeting. While Arkansas may not beat Alabama, playing Texas A&M, Florida, South Carolina and the Crimson Tide in a four-week stretch will have the program ready for its biggest game of the year.
Alabama must be ready for the challenge.
Prediction: Alabama 30, Arkansas 20
All stats via ESPN.com
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Winners and Losers of 2013 AP Preseason Top 25 Poll
The first edition of the AP poll was released on Saturday, and unlike most years, there wasn't much deviation between its appearance and that of the coaches poll.
All 25 teams ranked in the former were also ranked in the latter, and almost in the same, identical order. Only six teams received different rankings from one to the other, showing a rare lack of dissent between voting coaches and voting writers.
But there were still some people who made out better (and some who made out worse) than they expected.
Texas A&M's AP Poll Ranking a Sign of Faith Johnny Manziel Will Survive NCAA
The media believes that Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will be free to play this season.
Texas A&M fans should feel relieved when glancing at the AP Poll that was released Saturday morning. The Aggies didn't fall off the face of the earth and won't have to dig themselves out of hole when the season begins.
Instead, Texas A&M starts with solid positioning at No. 7, which is only a one-spot difference from the USA Today coaches poll.
It's always great to begin the season highly ranked because it puts your team in a position to compete for a national championship without having to jump through hoops. Take care of business and a championship bid will be earned.
But this ranking is also a sign that the media thinks Manziel won't be suspended.
Unless you are just waking up for the college football season, you know that Manziel is being investigated by the NCAA for allegedly accepting money for autographs, according to Darren Rovell and Justine Gubar of ESPN.
Obviously, this is a violation of NCAA rules and would likely result in a suspension if the NCAA can prove these allegations took place. What's telling about Texas A&M's position is that voters had to turn in their ballots in the middle of this hoopla, according to Ralph D. Russo of the AP:
If there was ever a time for the media to get cold feet and freak out, that would have been it. The media could have easily assumed Manziel is going to be suspended and dropped Texas A&M drastically in the polls. Heck, Notre Dame fell to No. 14 (Ranked No. 11 in the USA Today coaches poll), which likely has a lot to do with its quarterback situation in losing Everett Golson.
However, this wasn't the case with the Aggies, and it should give the fanbase hope that the reigning Heisman winner will remain on the field. Of course, the media doesn't make the decisions, but it must feel better having more people on your side.
Manziel's attorney is another who believes his client will play this season, but that's what he's supposed to say. There's not as much bias with the media when it comes to players.
Manziel is Texas A&M and will carry the team as far as it's going to go this season. Remove Manziel, and there's no chance for an SEC title or national championship. It'd be like removing LeBron James from the Miami Heat, Tom Brady from the New England Patriots or Miguel Cabrera from the Detroit Tigers. The plane doesn't get far without the pilot behind the controls.
Again, the AP Poll isn't a guarantee that Manziel is out of the woods. Where there's smoke, there's usually fire and Manziel could hear devastating news at any moment. But it is at least a sign of faith that Manziel will participate in this season's run for an SEC title.
The last step is getting the NCAA to hop on board.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Cold Hard Fact for Saturday, August 17, 2013
Fact: In the last 25 years, 16 quarterbacks have won the Heisman. The only one of those quarterbacks to win an NFL playoff game is Tim Tebow.
Bleacher Report will be bringing sports fans the most interesting and engaging Cold Hard Fact of the day, presented by Coors Light.
Source: @NFL_Stats
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
College Football Preseason Rankings 2013: Analyzing AP and Coaches' Polls
With Saturday's release of the AP Poll, both polls are now available for college football fans to examine, release frustration and then get excited that the season is just days away.
Breaking down both the AP Poll and USA Today coaches poll can occupy some of your time while you patiently wait for college football to kick off. Seeing the differences and similarities of both polls can help you gauge a better idea of what most think about your favorite team.
If a team is No. 1 in both rankings, it's a pretty good bet that most believe that said team is the team to beat. If another is ranked in the Top 10 of the AP Poll but ranked outside the Top 15 in the USA Today coaches poll, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
Unfortunately, there weren't many differences in this year's preseason polls.
AP College Football Rankings 2013: Grading Preseason's Top 25 Poll
The preseason AP poll was released on Saturday morning, joining the likes of SEC media days and the first day of fall camps in a string of many unofficial starts to the college football season.
But this one should be the last.
Alabama was the predictable No. 1, followed by Ohio State, Oregon, Stanford and Georgia. If those rankings look familiar, that's because they are: The AP Top Five was identical to that of the coaches poll.
In fact, as ESPN's Brett McMurphy pointed out, the same 25 teams graced each preseason, poll and 19 of them were in the same exact spot.
But there were still a couple of curious differences worth noting.
Florida State Football: Seminoles Must Sell More Tickets
Despite just opening its own indoor athletic facility, Florida State can't help but feel it's the runt of the pack. According to David Hale of ESPN, even though the university spent $90 million on athletics last year it is still behind most of its local SEC competitors.
For example, both Alabama and Florida—two of Florida State's main competitors on the recruiting trail—invested over $110 million in their respective sports. But here's the catch: Nick Saban's football team helps Crimson Tide athletics recoup the funds easily—Alabama garnered over $30 million from football tickets last year.
Of course, when your team is in the football-crazed SEC, is competing for a third national title in four seasons and has a stadium that can hold over 100,000 people, your athletic department tends to easily recoup its expenses.
The scary fact is Alabama got all this money from just tickets—not just conference revenue and TV broadcasts. But that's not the only trick—Alabama has luck on its side.
Tuscaloosa is close enough to its main markets to get fans in the stands. Campus is just an hour's distance from Birmingham, arguably the college football capital of the world. Montgomery is roughly two hours away. And even though Memphis is three hours away, it is actually about two hours closer to Tuscaloosa than the home of Volunteer Nation in Knoxville.
Alabama gets the extra push in dollars from ticket sales because many of its fans are in large cities that are close enough to Tuscaloosa that a trip isn't a burden.
In Tallahassee, it's another story—Florida State actually has to rely on the TV markets because the fans are too dispersed. The Jacksonville market is not only a solid three hours away, but is a Florida Gator market. The Gators, after all, play Georgia in the city every year.
The closest major market to the west is Mobile, which is solid territory for both Alabama and Auburn.
That's why FSU has to catch up and then get ahead. Great games must be played in Tallahassee, both for viewership and for the fans to make the trip to Doak Campbell Stadium. In 2012, Jimbo Fisher's team hosted Clemson and Florida, but the Seminoles also hosted two FCS schools—Murray State and Savannah State.
That's why Florida State should pressure the NCAA to allow a more dynamic and thrilling conference schedule to the Seminoles—one that would scrap the ACC divisions while keeping the Championship Game.
Brian Favat of BC Interruption came up with an excellent idea to bring more important games to the members of each ACC fan base.
Favat's system would remove the aforementioned confusing Atlantic and Coastal labels and have each ACC team face its main rivals. Each team would play nine (not eight) games, boasting five great games against in-conference rivals. The other four games would rotate between the eight remaining conference opponents, ensuring each full-time member in the ACC plays each other in a home-and-home series over four years.
Out of all the teams, the Seminoles would benefit the most from Favat's system.
Favat recommends that FSU play Miami, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Louisville annually. The Seminoles already play Miami and Clemson annually (they will play Louisville annually once Maryland joins the Big Ten). The Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech games, though, will only occur twice over the next 12 years.
These are the games that fans would pay to see—especially Virginia Tech. Combine a stronger nine-game in-conference schedule, and add Florida. The Seminoles already have 10 games taken care of each year, and will already play Notre Dame from time to time. Jimbo Fisher's team should have a better strength of schedule (say, like the 2014 schedule) and will get more fans in Doak.
When Jimbo Fisher first became head coach, a lot of shirts said "Take Doak Back." It's about time the fans have games that make them want to go back.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Why Longhorns Ranking Shows Nobody Has Faith in Mack Brown Anymore
Die-hard Texas fans may take their AP ranking as a slap in the face. But it's time for a wake-up call in Austin.
Despite returning an NCAA-best 19 starters, including the most experienced quarterback in the Big 12 from a nine-win team, the AP voters have the Texas Longhorns as the No. 15 best team in the country in their preseason poll.
The low ranking for Texas, usually one of the traditional powerhouses in college football, shows that both coaches and the media have completely lost confidence in Mack Brown to get the most out of his players. And rightfully so.
Last year, the Longhorns started the season ranked No. 15 in both polls but were ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll and unranked in the Coaches Poll going into the bowl season. In 2011, the Longhorns were ranked No. 24 in the preseason Coaches Poll but finished unranked in both polls.
After three consecutive disappointing seasons, Brown isn't getting the benefit of the doubt from the voters that he's used to anymore.
There is one voter that has the Longhorns ranked high this year and that's Phil Steele. He picked Texas fourth nationally in his preseason poll.
But he also says that Mack Brown is the hot seat more so than any other coach in college football. And that could be a sign of things to come as the No. 1 coach on his hot seat list has been fired each of the last five years.
Since winning the Big 12 in 2009 and appearing in the BCS National Championship game, the Longhorns have had three disappointing seasons with just five, eight and nine wins. While some fans relish the opportunity for their teams to win eight or nine games, people in Austin, Texas are different.
They expect greatness. And with a traditionally great recruiting class, they should get it. But the Longhorns haven't been in serious contention for a Big 12 title since the Colt McCoy era.
While they did finish third in the Big 12 last season, the Longhorns got stomped by co-champions Kansas State and Oklahoma by 18 and 42 points respectively. They haven't beaten either of those teams since 2009.
It's a "what have you done for me lately" world in college football, and the Longhorns haven't done enough to earn the respect of voters this season. That's why they're only getting a No. 15 despite 19 returning starters from a nine-win team.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
LSU Underrated, Florida Overrated and Other SEC Thoughts from AP Preseason Poll
The Associated Press Poll is no longer part of the equation for the Bowl Championship Series, but the release of the second of the two major preseason polls was met with quite a bit of intrigue on Saturday morning.
To the surprise of nobody, Alabama chimed in at the top spot of the AP preseason poll, earning 58 of 60 first-place votes and holding a commanding lead over second-place Ohio State. Behind the Crimson Tide, four other SEC teams made the Top 10: Georgia (fifth), South Carolina (sixth), Texas A&M (seventh) and Florida (10th).
LSU is the only other SEC team in the Top 25, as the Tigers will start the season in the No. 12 spot.
Did the AP voters get it right? Which SEC teams are overrated, underrated and have the most pressure heading into the 2013 season?
LSU Is Still Being Overlooked
In many regards, the AP poll isn't much different than any of the other 2013 preseason polls. LSU is again outside the Top 10 looking in, and that's a shame.
Too much has been made of the roster attrition on the defensive side of the ball, and a solid foundation was again overlooked. Sure, defensive ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery are gone. But the foundation of the Tiger defensive line was, is and always will be the big uglies in the middle, and Anthony Johnson (30 tackles, 10 TFLs) and Ego Ferguson return to clog up the middle.
Defensive coordinator John Chavis has never had an issue figuring out his roster at linebacker, and Lamin Barrow—LSU's second-leading tackler last season (104)—returns to anchor a talented group that features Tahj Jones back from nearly a year off, Kwon Alexander back and 100 percent after last season's ankle injury and a laundry list of 4- and 5-star linebackers ready to step in.
Jalen Mills was solid at corner as a freshman last season with 57 tackles (fourth on the team) and two picks, and Jalen Collins will step into more of a leadership role this season. At safety, Craig Loston and his 55 tackles (fifth on the team) returns as well.
Yeah, LSU lost some folks. But there's still plenty of talent to go around. Since when has roster attrition been an issue in Baton Rouge?
Offensively, the Tigers can still run the ball with Alfred Blue, Kenny Hilliard and Jeremy Hill (if and when he moves back up the depth chart). Plus, new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron's desire to stretch the field fits right into quarterback Zach Mettenberger's strength—that big arm.
LSU's "rebuilding year" has been a myth all offseason. The Tigers are legitimate national title contenders.
Florida is Overrated
The Gators will have a solid defense, no doubt. A solid core returns with defensive linemen Dominique Easley and Dante Fowler, linebacker Ronald Powell and defensive backs Marcus Roberson and Loucheiz Purifoy.
But can that group be as opportunistic as last year's squad?
Florida led the SEC with 20 interceptions last season, and finished third in turnover margin with 1.15 gained per game.
That's asking a lot, but with the offensive questions facing the Gators this season, they may have to.
The Gators haven't been able to develop a deep passing threat over the last couple of seasons and finished last in the SEC in passing offense last season with 146.3 yards per game. Will Quinton Dunbar take that next step? Will freshman Demarcus Robinson emerge as a deep threat? Can quarterback Jeff Driskel do it himself?
Those questions haven't been answered during fall camp. Plus, the running game has been without starter Matt Jones—who's stepping in for Mike Gillislee—due to Jones' battle with a viral infection.
There are more questions than answers in Gainesville, and too many to call the Gators a Top 10 team in August.
Alabama Is Cursed
It wasn't a surprise to see Alabama at the top spot in the AP poll, but that designation carries a dubious distinction. The preseason No. 1 team in the AP poll hasn't won the national title since 2004, when USC claimed the top spot in the final AP poll (its BCS National Championship was vacated).
According to ESPN's Brett McMurphy, only three times since 1993 has the preseason No. 1 finished the season in the same spot.
Only 3 preseason No. 1s in last 31 years have won national title: FSU in 1993 & 1999; USC in 2004
— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) August 17, 2013This is nothing new to Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
He successfully coached against complacency in 2012, leading his program to back-to-back BCS National Championships with a target on its back. The backbone of that team was a veteran group of starters, many of whom went through the disappointment of the 2010 season.
Those player are gone, and Saban is forced to fight against complacency again. With fewer players on the roster who are familiar with failure, that's a tall order.
No Johnny Manziel Hangover
The deadline for voters to turn in their ballots was last weekend, according to the AP's Ralph Russo. That gave voters plenty of time to adjust Texas A&M on their ballots based on the uncertain status of Aggie quarterback Johnny Manziel, who has been under fire this month after reports surfaced that he allegedly took money for autograph signings.
Johnny's drama didn't matter.
Texas A&M found itself in the No. 7 spot, only one spot behind its No. 6 ranking in the USA Today coaches poll.
A little.
The Aggies would certainly be competitive without Manziel thanks to a four-headed monster at running back and wide receiving corps that—other than Mike Evans—is largely unproven but loaded with talent. Are the Aggies a Top 10 team without Manziel? Probably not.
Voters obviously erred on the side of caution. Since Manziel is practicing and no announcement has been made regarding his eligibility, A&M didn't move much in the poll.
Hoddy Toddy?
Hello? Is this thing on?
Ole Miss surprised the college football world with a 7-6 record in 2012 that could have been much better had the Rebels closed out games versus Texas A&M, LSU and Vanderbilt.
There's no such thing as "should haves" in college football, but the Rebels were still on the brink of greatness last season, return 18 starters and got a talent injection with a top-10 recruiting class this summer.
That should have been enough for the Rebels to slide into the back end of the Top 25, but no dice.
In fact, the Rebels come in ranked 36th in the initial AP Poll after earning just 11 votes, according to ESPN.com. That puts them behind the likes of BCS-buster Northern Illinois and Fresno State.
Quarterback Bo Wallace nursed a sore shoulder towards the end of last season. As long as he's near 100 percent following offseason surgery, he should cut down on those 17 interceptions and become even more of a dual-threat QB than he was last season, when he added 390 yards and eight rushing touchdowns to his 2,994 passing yards and 24 touchdowns.
Ole Miss will be competitive in virtually every game, and when it springs that upset—which, based on the trajectory of this team, is inevitable—it should find its rightful place in the Top 25.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Notre Dame's Low Ranking in 2013 AP Preseason Poll Is Overreaction to 'Bama Loss
The Irish rang in at No. 14 in the 2013 preseason Associated Press Poll released Saturday morning. Dating back to 2004, Notre Dame is the lowest-ranked BCS championship runner-up in the AP Poll in the last 10 seasons.
And it is largely due to the team being a year ahead of schedule, having played in game no one expected them to be anywhere near in the first place.
When the Coaches' Poll debuted, it seemed losing quarterback Everett Golson was the impetus to slide the Fighting Irish down a few notches. With the debut of the AP Poll, it seems that folks just are not buying Notre Dame as a Top-10 caliber team.
This Irish team, loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, is expected to be worse than 2010 Texas, a team that ranked fifth in the preseason poll. Worse than the team that hobbled to a 5-7 record, had no clue which way was up on offense and ultimately imploded.
In real time, this Notre Dame team, with just one loss of note on defense, is apparently worse than the Florida Gators, who are ranked No. 10 and got shellacked by the Louisville Cardinals. Charlie Strong is a great coach, but he's not Nick Saban, and Louisville in the Sugar Bowl is not Alabama in the title game.
It is more than just the loss of Golson creating the stigma surrounding Notre Dame. Even after being beaten down two years in a row by the SEC, Ohio State clocked in at No. 2 to start the 2008 season. This is not a Golson issue—it is a Notre Dame-specific problem.
But the good thing is the Irish have all season to prove they belong. They get to prove it against Stanford at The Farm. They get to prove it against an Arizona State team that somehow could not find its way into the Top 25. They get to prove it against USC and Michigan, both ranked in the polls.
Notre Dame boasts a top-five defense in the country, with legitimate quality talent at every position. In 2014, Prince Shembo, Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix III and Sheldon Day will come off the board as high draft picks. 2015 should see KeiVarae Russell be one of the most highly sought-after corners for the next level. Matthias Farley is becoming the type of safety coaches want on their roster.
The defense is loaded to the gills and it has the offense's back. Yes, the Irish's approach on offense will be more traditional, but given the talent on the roster, and Tommy Rees' command of the scheme, traditional does not mean stagnate.
At No. 14, the Irish do not get to play the role of sneaking up on teams. However, they are better than teams ranked ahead of them. With quality games on the schedule, and a team that tumbled hard following the title game, expect Notre Dame to push higher as the season progresses.
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Biggest Snubs and Surprises of 2013 AP Preseason Top 25 Poll
The college football AP preseason poll was officially released on Saturday, and now is the time for fans to go absolutely nuts over the rankings. It never fails. There will always be a crowd of people who don't agree with the order of the top five, while others will cry until the cows come home about the team that wasn't even mentioned.
Guess what?
There's a long season for every team to prove itself.
Until then, take a look below at the latest AP Poll rankings, via ESPN, before looking at some of the surprises and snubs.
1 Alabama (58) 0-0 1498 2 Ohio State (1) 0-0 1365 3 Oregon 0-0 1335 4 Stanford 0-0 1294 5 Georgia (1) 0-0 1249 6 South Carolina 0-0 1154 7 Texas A&M 0-0 1104 8 Clemson 0-0 1083 9 Louisville 0-0 1042 10 Florida 0-0 894 11 Florida State 0-0 845 12 LSU 0-0 802 13 Oklahoma State 0-0 755 14 Notre Dame 0-0 748 15 Texas 0-0 677 16 Oklahoma 0-0 579 17 Michigan 0-0 531 18 Nebraska 0-0 382 19 Boise State 0-0 328 20 TCU 0-0 323 21 UCLA 0-0 286 22 Northwestern 0-0 199 23 Wisconsin 0-0 185 24 USC 0-0 134 25 Oregon State 0-0 129Ricky Williams Speaks out on Johnny Manziel's Off-the-Field Behavior
Former NFL running back Ricky Williams is well-known for his eccentric personality, and he has never been a stranger to controversy. This time, the former Heisman Trophy winner spoke his mind about the off-field exploits of defending Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.
According to KEYE TV in Austin, Texas, Williams believes that Manziel's higher profile since winning the Heisman Trophy has put more eyes on him and made it more difficult for him to avoid the limelight.
"You know once you win the Heisman Trophy, there's going to be more attention on you," said Williams. "You are probably not going to be able to get away with all the stuff you got away with before."
The former Texas Longhorn also referenced the Texas A&M quarterback's history and suggested that his recent issues aren't particularly shocking.
"To the media I would say, if the media did their research on who this kid was, nobody would be surprised."
It's possible that Williams has a point, as it seems like Manziel is getting himself into trouble at every turn. The first notable incident this offseason occurred when Manziel was a college coach and counselor at the Manning Passing Academy back in July.
According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Manziel missed meetings and practices due to illness, which resulted in Manziel leaving the camp early. Despite that, rumors regarding Manziel's "partying" being the true reason behind his dismissal have persisted.
Manziel is currently dealing with an even more serious offense that could potentially cost him eligibility at Texas A&M. According to The Associated Press, the NCAA is investigating Manziel on the grounds that he may have received payment for signing autographs.
Williams is far from a saint in his own right, as he was suspended for testing positive for marijuana back in 2006. Williams had previously retired from football when he tested positive for a third time, but he returned to the Miami Dolphins soon after.
This led to Williams playing a year in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts before returning to have a productive latter half of his career with the Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens.
Williams knows a thing or two about the pressures of being a star player, though, so perhaps he knows what he's talking about when it comes to Manziel.
Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter
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Preseason AP Poll Football 2013: Toughest Opponent for Every Team in Top 25
The college football regular season gets underway in less than two weeks. With Saturday's release of the Associated Press preseason poll and previously the USA Today poll, teams from around the country with championship aspirations now have a good idea of where they stand.
While coaching staffs will insist their teams are going to take it one game at a time, it's hard not to look ahead to see the biggest hurdles on the horizon. Every Top 25 team has at least a few tricky opponents on the schedule.
With that in mind, let's take a glance at the complete AP poll, along with the toughest opponent each ranked team will face in the coming months. That's followed by an examination of the top college football games of the 2013 regular season.
Top Games of 2013
Alabama at Texas A&M (Week 3)
The complexity of this matchup could change completely depending on the status of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. The defending Heisman Trophy winner is going through some high-profile off-field issues, which have dominated headlines in recent weeks.
Last season, the Manziel-led Aggies stunned undefeated Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Regardless of who's under center for Texas A&M, the Crimson Tide will arrive in College Station for this marquee early-season clash with revenge on their mind.
Of course, Alabama rebounded after that loss to claim its second straight national championship. The Aggies are once again one of the biggest tests on the Tide's schedule as they look to bolster their case for being a college football dynasty under Nick Saban.
Florida vs. Georgia (Week 10)
One of the great rivalries in college football will reach a fever pitch if both teams enter this year's meeting undefeated. Under that scenario, both teams would likely be firmly inside the Top Five and have a national title on their mind.
Georgia is on a modest two-year winning streak against the Gators, but both games were decided by one score.
The biggest advantage the Bulldogs have is Aaron Murray, who threw for nearly 3,900 yards and 36 touchdowns last season. His outlook in 2013 is promising as he looks to build on last year's success.
Florida's chances rest on further improvement from Murray's counterpart, Jeff Driskel, and continued dominance from the defense, which ranked fifth in points allowed last season. The unit flustered Murray into three interceptions in the last meeting and will look to replicate that in 2013.
Oregon at Stanford (Week 11)
It seems like every time these two Pac-12 powers have met in recent seasons there's been some type of national title implications. Last year, Stanford upset Oregon in overtime to diminish the Ducks' title hopes. Two years ago, the reverse happened at Stanford Stadium.
With both sides entering the season ranked inside the Top Five, it seems like they are on another collision course.
At least one of the teams, if not both, will probably have championship hopes on the line yet again, adding intrigue to the budding rivalry on the West Coast.
Mark Helfrich takes over for Chip Kelly, but numerous playmakers remain, including the always dynamic De'Anthony Thomas. Stanford will counter with a more conservative approach that will rely on a huge defensive effort and timely plays on offense.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
AP Preseason College Football Rankings 2013: Complete Order Released
No FBS school has claimed three national championships in a row since Army turned the trick from 1944 through 1946. But if the AP preseason college football rankings are any indication, the Alabama Crimson Tide could very well be celebrating a three-peat of their own at the conclusion of the 2013 season.
'Bama is nearly a unanimous selection for the country's top team heading into the year, and it is certainly easy to see why. A dominant defense that smothered Notre Dame in the title game last season remains largely intact, and two-time defending BCS national champion quarterback AJ McCarron is back for his senior season.
Of course, the Tide also won the title in 2009, so Alabama has an opportunity to win its fourth title in five years this season. In order to do that, however, it will have to deal with plenty of top-flight competition.
Here's a look at how the rest of the Top 25 has taken shape ahead of the upcoming season:
Much like the USA Today rankings, the AP rankings suggest that a small handful of teams can give Alabama a run for its money. Ohio State is coming off an undefeated season, and while being banned from postseason play prevented the Buckeyes from competing for a national title in 2012, they'll look to make up for lost time this year.
A strong Pac-12 duo could potentially crash the BCS party as well in the form of Oregon and Stanford. Both have taken turns dominating the West Coast over the past couple of seasons, and whichever team wins the annual meeting stands a great chance to win the Pac-12 championship and end the regular season undefeated.
If that doesn't come to fruition, a host of SEC teams are hungry to slow the Tide's roll. Georgia is a popular pick due to a great defense and the return of quarterback Aaron Murray. Texas A&M was the only team to beat Alabama last season, behind the arm and legs of signal-caller Johnny Manziel.
There are also a couple of SEC dark horses worth considering in the form of South Carolina and Florida. Both teams have major deficiencies on the offensive side of the ball, but their defenses rival Alabama's for best-in-the-country honors.
Luckily for 'Bama, it only has to play Texas A&M and a somewhat mysterious LSU team during the regular season, so there aren't many landmines standing between it and the SEC Championship Game against Georgia, South Carolina or Florida.
Some lesser-hyped teams worth keeping an eye on include the likes of Nebraska and Boise State, as both seem like squads that can rise quickly in the rankings. The Huskers will have a tough road going through the Big Ten, but they reached the Big Ten Championship Game last season. Their biggest offensive weapons are back in the fold, as quarterback Taylor Martinez and running back Ameer Abdullah are ready to run wild.
The Broncos certainly don't have one of the best teams from a talent perspective this season, but that may not stop them from going undefeated and crashing the BCS party. Boise State lost just two games by a combined six points last season, and it was dealing with the departures of quarterback Kellen Moore and running back Doug Martin to the NFL.
Now that the team is another year removed from that, the Broncos seem poised to go undefeated. That may not lead to a spot in the BCS National Championship Game, but a BCS appearance of any kind would be a major accomplishment.
With all of that said, Alabama is still the team to beat until proven otherwise. The pollsters certainly agree, so now it's up to the Tide to show that they deserve their lofty ranking. Teams will undoubtedly be taking aim at them, but they haven't let that stop them in recent years.
Even if Alabama is the clear No. 1 and remains so throughout the season, the battle for No. 2 will be a competitive and interesting one.
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AP Preseason Poll 2013: Season Predictions and Championship Odds for Top 25
The 2013 AP Preseason Poll has been released, finally giving fans a chance to see the road their favorite programs will need to navigate in order to climb the rankings and contend for a BCS National Championship.
You can view the preseason poll via the AP's official site.
With the release of both the Associated Press and USA Today polls, it's time to take a crack at predicting how each team will perform during the 2013 regular season.
Read on to check out the official AP Poll and my predicted wins and losses for every team in the Top 25, plus some bold predictions heading into this season.
Bold Predictions for 2013 Season
Alabama Makes it Three Championships in a Row
It may not be that bold of a prediction because the Alabama Crimson Tide have won two BCS National Championships in a row, but that only means the target on their backs is even bigger. How dominant willy they be in 2013 without a couple key players from last year returning?
After losing star offensive linemen Chance Warmack and Barrett Jones, as well as running back Eddie Lacy, starting quarterback A.J. McCarron will need to be at his best. The senior is still the face of the offense, but not having those contributors around him will make a difference.
Fortunately, McCarron still has a lot going for him to thrive this season.
Despite the departures of key players, head coach Nick Saban is bringing back a strong class, including McCarron, running back T.J. Yeldon and wide receiver Amari Cooper. There are high expectations for these playmakers and this deep, well-rounded offense.
With a roster that is still one of the most impressive in the nation and enough championship experience to give the program a definitive edge, there should be little doubt that Alabama brings home the crystal trophy once again.
Ohio State Will Not Match 2012's Perfect Season
The Ohio State Buckeyes were punished by the NCAA last season and were excluded from the conference championship and any bowl games. For a program that went undefeated in 2012 (12-0), the postseason ban was tough to swallow.
As high as the expectations are for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes this season, the pressure placed on this team will force it to crumble in key moments and will result in three tough losses that take the program out of championship consideration.
With a schedule that features serious tests against Wisconsin, Michigan and an improved Penn State squad, Ohio State will find it difficult to match perfection in 2013.
Junior quarterback Braxton Miller will have the most impact on the Buckeyes' chances of becoming one of the best teams in the nation, but with six games last season amassing 155 passing yards or less, defenses will be better prepared for Ohio State's game plan.
If Miller doesn't improve his passing consistency, the Buckeyes are in trouble.
Boise State Will Go Undefeated
While Ohio State won't go undefeated, the only team that will earn that honor this year will be the Boise State Broncos. There is no question that the program has been underestimated once again, but the school has become accustomed to the disrespect.
Senior quarterback Joe Southwick led the team to an impressive 11-2 record last season, and with the return of junior wide receiver Matt Miller and sophomore running back Jay Ajayi, this year could be the Broncos' chance to make a run at a BCS National Championship.
The slate of matchups this season plays into the favor of Boise State—the toughest game will be a trip to play BYU in Utah—and the lackluster competition offers the chance for the team to go undefeated.
The strength of schedule in the Mountain West Conference will always be an issue, but if Boise State maintains perfection, the program at least deserves to be considered for a bid to play for a national title.
All stats and information via USA Today and the AP.
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Ooooh! Chicken Pot Pie!! Maybe tomorrow night...great idea!!! Tonight I made potato soup with chunks of chicken, cream, and cheese. I goofed royally at the store a couple of weeks ago. I bought a package of Cabot's habarnero jack (I think it was jack) cheese. I like hot. I don't like hot so hot you can't taste after eating it. One thin slice of cheese on a Triscuit is more than I can handle of that stuff. So I thought, grate a LITTLE in the soup. I'm telling ya...just a little! I added some cheddar cheese too. That little dab of habarnero was almost half a dab too much. But it made some good soup! Now to find out what to do with the rest of it. I may grate it and freeze it in tablespoon size clumps. That's about all I can handle! Sherry Does this hat make my butt look big? www.keepyouinstitches.blogspot.com http://s193.photobucket.com/al...9/keepyouinstitches/ www.friendsofthedaingerfieldpu...library.blogspot.com | ||||
I have company for lunch and had roasted pear salad, chicken baked in butter and cream, white and wild rice and a lemon meringue tart -- supper was yesterday's roast with fresh mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. Another piece of tart for dessert. The tart. Martha | ||||
That's puuurty! Whether You Think You Can Or You Think You Can't..... You're Right - Henry Ford | ||||
Saturday eve we had dinner guests for Grilled NY Strips and Twice Baked Potatoes, Green Beans with bacon, onion in beef sauce and another fresh Pear Romaine salad with homemade pear vinaigrette and this time added feta, bit of onions and green pepper. I live in the booondocks so had to put together my own spumoni using Cherry chip, Mint chip, & chocolate ice creams from the niche dairy that came pretty close to satisfying my love for the real thing. Tonight it's my favorite pot roasted beef with veggies and gravy. | ||||
Lurah -- have you tried roasting the pears before adding them to the salad -- it's great and the "juices" that they're roasted in make a great vinaigrette! It's an Ina recipe and I'm sure you could google and find it -- roasted pear salad. It's a new favorite of ours! Martha | ||||
Company for dinner tonight -- I need a picture for my newspaper column and a whole lasagna is way too much for the two of us -- so what do you do? Ask 2 couples to join you! Dinner -- stuffed mushrooms and corn chips and a homemade blue cheese dip to start; lasagna, salad, garlic bread and a baked fruit compote with rum raisin ice cream for dessert. Wine of course, drinks before and coffee after. Martha | ||||
Yeah, or I could go to my kitchen library and pull the recipe from which one of Ina's books? I have them all. That sounds even better. Have you ever had Cuisine Perel's D'Anjou Pear Vinegar, it's lovely. I have fig & Meyer lemon and Cherry vinegars from Lulu - These are my three best vinegars! I don't know what I'll do if my favorite little gourmet deli and shop full of condiments, mixes and specialty items ever closes. Thank goodness it's a couple hours away or I'd bave one of everything by now. A favorite use for the cherry vinegar is on steamed green beans with Craisins and candied almonds - who wouldn't eat green beans fixed this way. | ||||
Sorry, Lurah, I had forgotten that you were an Ina fan as well and had mentioned on another thread that you had all of her cookbooks. It's in Back to Basics. The flavored vinegars sound lovely and at one time I have bought pear vinegar . . . and although I do have a good balsamic and a unfiltered organic cider vinegar in the larder I mostly use my own homemade red wine vinegar for most things. I may have to see about getting some cherry vinegar for your recipe for green beans sounds yummy! Martha | ||||
Martha, is the newspaper online with your column? Sherry Does this hat make my butt look big? www.keepyouinstitches.blogspot.com http://s193.photobucket.com/al...9/keepyouinstitches/ www.friendsofthedaingerfieldpu...library.blogspot.com | ||||
Mexican stuffed peppers and grilled chicken | ||||
Well, one is -- google fstribune and then when it comes up click on opinion and it lists the columnists and there I am -- but there is only one of the columns. They are transitioning so . . . And the other paper doesn't have me listed as a columnist -- I've mentioned that but they haven't done anything about it! Perhpas some day! Martha | ||||
Dinner tonight was beef pot pie with a biscuit crust. The last of the Sunday roast -- enough for DH to have lunch on tomorrow. Cool night -- comfort food! Martha | ||||
Went out for Chinese! I had Curry Shrimp. Sherry Does this hat make my butt look big? www.keepyouinstitches.blogspot.com http://s193.photobucket.com/al...9/keepyouinstitches/ www.friendsofthedaingerfieldpu...library.blogspot.com | ||||
KYIS - Thanks for asking about Linderhof's column. It was a breath of fresh aire. Linderhof - Thanks for the Ina reference. Do you take reservations for an invitation to come to lunch or dinner? If I'm ever on my way to Dallas or heading to Tulsa we could plan our meal stop at your fine establishment! I enjoyed your column and the blog is lovely. "NOTE: I made 4 individual tarts instead of one big one. I am rather fond of individual desserts!" After I've prepared a meal to entertain I know folks are stuffed, at dessert time "make my piece very small" is often requested. With a near warehouse of all types of individual molds, pans, plaques, and mini tins I can do just about anything in an individual serving. I wish more restaurants would move to offer those little "shooter" desserts. They'd be amazed how many more would be sold. That's just the right amount, you didn't exactly overindulge and as I get older I enjoy sweets less and less.This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lurah, | ||||
Tonight I made chicken fried steaks with gravy, mashed potatos, peas and chocolate pie for dessert. Very yummy! | ||||
Lurah -- if you are ever coming my way, I'd love to have you stop and actually I'm about 3 hours away from Tulsa so if you're coming on 69 highway south, you'll come through my little town. And I hope when you do, you will let me know for I'd love to meet you. My email is on the sidebar of my blog. So give me a shout! Martha | ||||
Martha, Thanks for the directions to your column. I was so hoping photos would be included and you didn't disappoint. TY! Pssttt...Lurah, did you click on the photos? They enlarge. Sherry Does this hat make my butt look big? www.keepyouinstitches.blogspot.com http://s193.photobucket.com/al...9/keepyouinstitches/ www.friendsofthedaingerfieldpu...library.blogspot.com | ||||
Well, I sure wish you guys lived closer to me. We could have cooking parties or something. :-) Made pork chops in cream of mushroom soup last night. Will try to make lasagna either tonight or tomorrow night. Bought these lasagna noodles from Barilla--no boil kind. The package is much smaller than regular lasagna noodles so I'm a bit puzzled but will give it a go. | ||||
I use only those Charcoalsmom. I usually make my lasagna in a 9x13 pan then place the uncooked pasta three to a layer. On the package it says not to let them touch each other because they expand when cooked. I think they're comparable to the lasagna noodles you have to boil first, and they are definitely a lot easier! | ||||
I only use Barilla noodles and really like their lasagne variety. I do lay my dry noodles in a flat dish and pour boiling water over them to soak while I'm getting other items prepared. Just lift them out of the warm water and they have a head start on cooking. They are so much easier to use, especially since I make so many lasagne using differnt size and shaped pans. And they never tear and generally come intact from the box. | ||||
I had two frozen Lobsters in the freezer, I'm defrosting them now (kinda late), just debating if I should steam them or boil them. Probably steam because it's just the two tails and four claws and I think if I boil them they'll get waterlogged. For tomorrow night I ordered 10 lbs. of live crawfish which I will boil in a very spicy and flavorful concoction of lemon, cayenne, lots of salt, Zatarains crab boil mix and add small potatoes, baby artichokes, corn on the cob, and halved heads of garlic. | ||||
Well, I put all the ingredients together for the lasagna and it's in the oven baking. Kind of excited about it though I was really worried when I read the post about putting the noodles in water first because I did not do that. | ||||
Pot pie again this evening. I went for a massage (I'm melting.....) after work. I put one container of pot pie filling in the freezer and left the other in the refrigerator along with the rest of the pie dough. Easy peasy! Sherry Does this hat make my butt look big? www.keepyouinstitches.blogspot.com http://s193.photobucket.com/al...9/keepyouinstitches/ www.friendsofthedaingerfieldpu...library.blogspot.com | ||||
Can you post your recipe KYIS, I have a lot of left over turkey from turkey soup I made and wanted to make a pot pie... | ||||
Linderhof, thank you for the lasagna recipe. So the lasana I made tonight turned out fairly good. I used the recipe on the back of the Barilla no boil lasagna package but I didn't have any eggs. I doubled up the ricotta cheese and sauce (one jar Prego, one jar Giatta--oh, is that how her name is spelled? It looks wrong)and baked it for about an hour at 375. Burned the bottom but it was still fairly good overall. | ||||
Forgot to say, I bought a chocolate cream pie the other night so have been having that for dessert these past few dinners. | ||||
Lurah, Thanks for the hint on lasagna noodles. No cooking tonight - Souper Bowl. We're going to Habitat For Humanity's fundraiser. A fun event - about 40 restaurants from the area will have soup to sample along with bread from local bakeries. Local artisans craft "bowls" of all shapes and varieties that you get with your ticket. I will try to take a photo of some of our past bowls. | ||||
Sure! It's from Top Secret Restaurant Recipes with some changes...but here's the original recipe...I'll put changes I made at the bottom. Marie Callender's Chicken Pot Pie Your favorite pastry recipe. While vegetables are steaming: line the bottom of your individual pie pans, regular pie pan or casserole with pastry. *1 cup sliced carrots (about 3) *1 cups sliced celery *2 cups frozen peas *1 cup chopped white onion **4 cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast halves cut into bite-size pieces Sauce: 4 tablespoons butter 5 tablespoons flour 2 1/2 cups chicken broth 2/3 cups milk 1/2 teaspoon salt pepper Steam the carrots and celery for 5 minutes. Add frozen peas and onion and continue to steam for 10-12 minutes or until the carrots are cooked. Melt butter, whisk in flour. Add chicken broth and milk; bring to a boil. Cook an additional minute or so until thick. Add salt and pepper, steamed vegetables, and chicken. Ladle filling into prepared crusts. Put top crust on, crimp, slit 2-3 times to allow steam to escape. Put pie on a baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 - 45 minutes. My changes: * 1 cubed potato steamed with onion AND 3-4 cups of frozen mixed vegetables. Yes, I know that there's green beans in there...doesn't bother me. I don't fool with slicing/dicing celery carrots, etc. And I don't like that many peas in my pot pies. ** Turkey or ham works just as well as chicken. Once I had a party and had lots of chicken or turkey sandwich meat left over. LOTS. I diced it and used it in my pies. And...you may have to add more milk to make it saucier. The little pans shown in my blog are too small. If you cook them long enough for the crust to brown, the liquid is all gone! http://keepyouinstitches.blogs...Chicken%20Pot%20Pies The recipe book suggests no smaller than 16-ounce casserole dishes that measure 4-5 inches across the top. I don't think my little pans hold more than 8 ounces. I have 4 cast iron skillets about the correct size, but those make HUGE servings. When I use them, I serve in the skillet...looks pretty nifty if I do say so myself. The first time I made these, it seemed to take ALL DAY LONG! I had watched/helped my sister-in-law who had hers prepped and assembled in about 30 minutes. Big learning curve for me. It takes about an hour to prep and assemble starting with raw potatoes. Sherry Does this hat make my butt look big? www.keepyouinstitches.blogspot.com http://s193.photobucket.com/al...9/keepyouinstitches/ www.friendsofthedaingerfieldpu...library.blogspot.com | ||||
KYIS - I have some leftover roast beef, I think I'll make your pot pie recipe with it and use beef broth. There's also some frozen shrimp that's not big enough for cocktail that I can use in this another day. Agree with you about the potato substitution. Dang, that's way to many peas for me! When I was a kid, the most peas in any pot pie ever was 7. I know because I picked them all out! | ||||
KYIS -- your recipe looks good. Pot pies are one of my favorite foods -- beef, turkey or chicken! Your recipe is a bit different than mine and I'll try it next time! Martha | ||||
I know about the English/sweet peas LOL. They are a love them or leave them vegetable for me depending on how they are prepared. I do not like canned peas...they flat stink when they are heated...smell like "pee" to me. I like LeSuer baby peas in a pea salad...don't make it out of full grown peas...they are tough. Frozen peas I can take or not...depending on brand and what's been done to them. I LOVE fresh homegrown peas any way you can cook them. First time I grew them was for first DH. We almost didn't have any to cook...I ate them while shelling...SO GOOD!!! And nothing -absolutely nothing- tastes like them cooked with a bit of butter and sprinkle of mint. Hope my pot pie recipe works good for you! Did I mention that you can bake it in a casserole and not single serve portions? That makes a faster assembly. But we like crust. Last night we had TURKEY AND DRESSING!! LOL I opened the chest freezer for a pound of ground beef. I had it in my hand, spotted a bag of turkey parts left over from Christmas. Grabbed it and a pint container of leftover dressing. We had that along with some purple hull peas I froze this past summer. I was afraid it would be too soon after the turkey gluttony of the Christmas holiday - but we enjoyed it! Sherry Does this hat make my butt look big? www.keepyouinstitches.blogspot.com http://s193.photobucket.com/al...9/keepyouinstitches/ www.friendsofthedaingerfieldpu...library.blogspot.com | ||||
[QUOTE]Originally posted by KeepYouInStitches: Sure! It's from Top Secret Restaurant Recipes with some changes...but here's the original recipe...I'll put changes I made at the bottom. Thanks KYIS, I'm going to make this tonight!! | ||||
I felt well enough to cook today. I have stuffed green peppers in the crock pot, for supper and tomorrow's lunch. and on the stove, I've got Italian wedding soup, special request from DS. I won't have to cook tomorrow if I don't want. I have stuff going on Tuesday and Wed, so that will be simple stuff or left overs. Life is GOOD!! | ||||
Kathy, sorry you weren't feeling well, hope it's something that will heal and you'll be back on your feet. | ||||
We have Sunday Lunch -- pork chops cooked in the oven with thyme and glazed with balsamic vinegar, roasted parsnips sprinkled with sea salt with shallots and garlic, roasted carrots sprinkled with dill and roasted peeled chunked sweet potatoes sprinkled with brown sugar. Dinner is popcorn or leftovers. Martha | ||||
Alas, another good cook who has the Sunday night popcorn supper tradition! Always milk to drink with it. DH topped his off with wedged apple and caramel dip. When kids were preteens then we'd finish off with fried egg sandwiches if they were still hungry. They did come to loathe Sunday night popcorn so for awhile we had favorite pizza shop delivery! The bill was always $35.48! | ||||
I made English muffins tonight with a new recipe. Third recipe I've tried. Three's a charm! This one is from King Arthur flour and is THE recipe. I'm excited! DH went for a motorcycle ride this afternoon. He got home just as I was finishing up with the English muffins. When I made the last of the pot pies, I just put the filling in a casserole and used only a top crust...which wasn't enough for either of us. I split use an English muffin each (fork method) and topped with the reheated pot pie. THAT WAS GOOD!!! Sherry Does this hat make my butt look big? www.keepyouinstitches.blogspot.com http://s193.photobucket.com/al...9/keepyouinstitches/ www.friendsofthedaingerfieldpu...library.blogspot.com | ||||
Sherry -- that sounds really good and you are so brave to attempt English muffins! Martha | ||||
Saturday was "Chili con Pon" ~ you put chili in the bottom of a baking pan with corn bread batter on top ~ cook for about 25 minutes at 375 degrees and flip onto plates, bread side day. Serve plain or top with salsa, cheese, onions, sliced black olives and jalapenos for the adventuresome. Sunday was Swiss Dips - roast beef with choice of cheddar or white cheeses on fairly delicate slices of rolls. Grill the breads first under the broiler with garlic/butter/margarine, top with the cheese until broiled to bubbling. Add the beef (heated in the au jus) and serve piping hot! Monday will be more work than the two above - Hearty Beef Stew - start with marinated sirloin steak browned in a big kettle, add LOTS of broth and seasonings. a little red or white wine (your choice) and carrots, potatoes, onions and cabbage - simmer for 4-6 hours until the spoon stands up. Serve with bisquits - hot from the oven. Edited to Add: Reading the above? Sounds like fairly "substantial" meals and have to say they are necessary this time of year ~ snow hasn't melted since mid-December, had an ice storm (first one in memory for many years on Friday) and it is so cold right now that our double pane windows are frosted over ~ so, yes, dinners like these are appreciated right now. Fresh fish, light vegetables and a salad just won't do! This message has been edited. Last edited by: Idaho Resident, | ||||
*going to move in with Idaho Resident* | ||||
CCM, You're welcome anytime ~ just be sure to bring your long underwear ~ you'll need it here right now! | ||||
KYIS - kudos for posting the pot pie recipe Made it for supper tonight and they were excellent! I used 2 cups of potatoes and 1/2 cup of frozen peas and used leftover roast beef and beef bouillon. | ||||
Ok, IR, long underwear it is. And remember, I do the dishes. :-) So tonight I made pasta and fresh fruit for the kids and heated up the lasagna for myself. It's funny how it tastes better after a day or two. Am getting a little tired of eating it, though. Froze some of it a couple of days ago. Also made fried potatoes with onions, green and red peppers. I put in a fair amount of spices (am trying to use more spices--bought two different spice blends) and they tasted good. Have a little left over for tomorrow. But the big ticket item for tonight was making apple crisps. Daughter brought home a recipe from school, I goofed up the batter part of it a little by adding the sugar and lemon juice directly to the fresh apples instead of the batter, the flour I bought was open when I went to use it so had a delay while dh went out to buy new flour, and when it was all said and done and baked, neither kid liked it. | ||||
Also want to ask--will someone be starting a February dinner thread? I'm really enjoying this. Would like a breakfast and lunch thread, too, or maybe it can be a daily food thread or something. | ||||
Charcoalsmom -- I think I've started the last two dinner threads and will be happy to start the February one as well. How about an "Unusual Breakfast Dishes" or "Special Breakfasts" thread because so many of us have the same old oatmeal or scrambled eggs, etc., but if we make a special dish . . . then that desserts posting. Martha | ||||
With chicken breasts from the freezer for my 75 degree January day on the prairie, I made King Ranch chicken. It was too warm for comfort food but the casserole and a big salad were really really good! Martha | ||||
Lurah - I am so glad it worked for you! I've thought even using leftover beef stew would make a delicious pie! I worked the concession stand at the junior high basketball game with our library Friends group and was starved when I got there so made me a half batch of nachos. Since we had a short night, I got home at 6:30 in time to fry husband an egg to top a toasted English muffin half. Then he decided he wanted the other half toasted with marmalade. Sherry Does this hat make my butt look big? www.keepyouinstitches.blogspot.com http://s193.photobucket.com/al...9/keepyouinstitches/ www.friendsofthedaingerfieldpu...library.blogspot.com | ||||
LOL - Last bag of flour I brought home from the store came the rest of the way open at the check out aisle. The clerk started to call for someone to bring another. I said no, that's okay, it's too busy and I don't mind. Isn't it odd that some things come triple sealed and others not? Must be a good reason why no laws have been enacted to worry about that. | ||||
It's cold again on the prairie -- we did enjoy the 70 degree days Monday and Tuesday! And so comfort food once again. Beef bourguignon. I use Ina's recipe instead of Julia's. Martha | ||||
Meatloaf and potatoes tonight! Son is coming for a visit, bringing boxes to store until he MOVES BACK TO HIS HOME!!! I am ecstatic! He wants to be on his own - he's 29 so he should be - but will probably stay in our camper until he can find a place to live. He'll be spreading job applications around tomorrow and looking for a place to stay...but rentals he can possibly afford in our town are not in good neighborhoods and all of the apartments are government subsidized and there's quite a bit of drug use...I feel so sorry for the law-abiding citizens that have to live there. But there are other towns within 25 miles with jobs and housing. That is waaaay better than the 320 miles away from his mama. Sherry Does this hat make my butt look big? www.keepyouinstitches.blogspot.com http://s193.photobucket.com/al...9/keepyouinstitches/ www.friendsofthedaingerfieldpu...library.blogspot.com | ||||
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Thank You Gifts for Men - Business And Executive Gifts - Wine Gift Baskets
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Analisa Garza, originally from Laredo, said even before she moved to San Antonio, she knew it was her home. Garza, MESA Center Coordinator for over a year, did some of her undergraduate course work in San Antonio, but completed her graduate studies in Laredo. Read More >
On Friday, December 6, 2013, San Antonio College leaders received an award from the Alamo Colleges Leadership Academy for Success (ALAS). Read More >
Jerry O'Connor, coordinator of the physics program at San Antonio College, said engineering students realized they weren't in Kansas anymore during their recent trip and participation at the Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston during the week of November 11-15, 2013. Read More >
In September, San Antonio College launched the SAC pedometer program. To date SAC has over 100 employees set-up with a pedometer and logging their daily steps. Read More >
San Antonio College honored 36 employees with 15,25 and 40 years of service. Read More >
This August, San Antonio College joined 62 other colleges and universities in a program that provides on-campus support to veterans transitioning to student life. Read More >
Tobin Lofts at San Antonio College, a new student living development, is now officially open to college students of San Antonio. Read More >
The newly renovated Moody Learning Center was rededicated on Thursday, October 10th… read more. Read More >
More than 100 guests witnessed the "topping out" of the Challenger Center/Scobee Planetarium construction project at San Antonio College. Read More >
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I am trying to find the most cost effective approach to building a web application based in PHP. I want to know if using a PHP Framework such as, Social Engine would be best to avoid having to avoid coding the monotonous Account Settings, Privacy Settings, Account Creation, Log in, Log out, etc.
The reason I am asking is that I have a coder that is currently building a web application for me, but, I think that he wanted to start from scratch and build out the shell of the site (Account Settings, Account Creation, Email Authorization, Privacy Settings) just to bill more. In hindsight, this could have been accomplished by just buying something like Social Engine and then customizing the specs of the project onto it.
It's a social application, dealing with friends and status' and facebook "like" buttons. Is it difficult to grab the raw code, that's already written, and transform it and customize if how I want instead of starting completely from scratch? Is this really the most cost-effective approach?
It seems like he's trying to build a car by hand, and started welding the frame, because I wanted to order a custom car with a different radio, and nicer seats. Just yank out the seats and radio and stick in new ones? Don't build the entire car from scratch. Am I wrong?


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"Lawyers claim that their clients have been grossly mistreated, which is what criminal defense lawyers are paid to do."
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The whole idea of equal justice under law means that you've got to play by the rules. It has nothing to do with the underlying subject matter. You just tell the truth.
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Hey everybody!
This week we have a special present for you in celebration of April Fool's Day. For $0 (0 Microsoft Points) you can download-
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Due to work Sony is doing on their store they won't be adding new material for a couple weeks so this won't release on PlayStation Store this week. When they go back up with new material in a few weeks, though, it will be there lovingly waiting for you. For free. I'll post something up here when it is available on that platform.
It will be available on Xbox360 on April 1st.
Also special thanks to Valve and to Jonathan Coulton for helping to make this happen. You rule.
Talk about this week's DLC here.
DLC credits available here.
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1. Victoria's principal advisor was her uncle King Leopold I of Belgium (her mother's brother, and the widower of Victoria's cousin, Princess Charlotte).i; [Note Record]
2. In 1840 she survived an assassination attempt when riding in a carriage with Prince Albert in London.ii; [Note Record]
3. In 1845 she personally donated £2,000 to the Irish people in the aftermath of the potato famine.iii; [Note Record]
4. Queen Victoria was the first known carrier of haemophilia in the royal family. As there are no known haemophiliacs among her ancestors, her case was either an instance of spontaneous mutation, or she was actually the illegitimate daughter of an unidentified haemophiliac male. However there is no evidence of such a liason with her mother.iv; [Note Record]
5. Flags in the United States were lowered to half-mast in her honour by order of President William McKinley, a tribute never before offered to a foreign monarch at the time and one which was repaid by Britain when McKinley was assassinated later that year.v; [Note Record]
i. Victoria: A Biography; Page 16-78; [Source Record]
ii. Queen Victoria; Page 161-165; [Source Record]
iii. Private Responses to the Famine; [Source Record]
iv. Queen Victoria's Gene; [Source Record]
v. The Times 14 September 2008; [Source Record]