| Mike Pirtle: New Orleans 'garontees' a good time |
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By: MIKE PIRTLE, Post Publisher
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Posted: Sunday, December 13, 2009 4:05 am
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OK, I haven’t been a lot of places, but I “garontee” as the late, great Louisiana chef Justin Wilson would proclaim, folks will enjoy visiting the Big Easy where Middle Tennessee’s excellent football team will play in the New Orleans Bowl next Sunday.
New Orleans absolutely has incredible food.
And, is quite historic.
Offers an amazing array of mouth-watering food.
Is a great party town.
Serves up food so good it would make you smack your momma.
Is home to a great and distinctive style of music.
Serves up beignes and crawfish and turnip greens.
Has ambiance.
Did I mention great food?
And, a cool waterfront, a casino and really good eating.
I occasionally play tennis and was lucky enough to be on a team that advanced to play in a tournament in New Orleans. After that I didn’t have a lot of interest in tennis competition that didn’t go through New Orleans.
So, I figure if you are going to a college football bowl game, one in New Orleans is where to go.
Beyond that it’s the chance to see a darn good football team on a national stage.
In light of pre-season expectations, this year’s Blue Raiders are an amazingly good football team.
I don’t care who you are or where you play a 9-3 record is a mighty fine showing and reflects well on Coach Rick Stockstill, his players and staff, the university and its fans.
With the probable exception of Troy whose quarterback seemed to just roast the Raiders, Middle was competitive even in its two losses to BCS teams, Clemson, a competitor to the end in the ACC title race, and Mississippi State.
In the opener at Clemson the Raiders didn’t do well enough at keeping the ball away from two absolute speedsters and against Mississippi State failed to execute in the red zone.
In neither game were the Raiders just outplayed.
Then Middle hit its SunBelt Conference and played the way fans have always wanted it to play, avoiding those unexpected losses at home and instead just finding ways week after week to win when they weren’t just dominating.
A six-game winning streak is impressive against anybody.
Hopefully the Blue Raiders will make it seven before a host of fans having a fabulous weekend.
•••
It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas …
With my frozen toes.
And runny nose.
And the shiver up my back when the cold wind blows.
When winter finally arrived within one week’s time of 70-degree temperatures, the adjustment period was more than a little abrupt.
Something like falling off a cliff with last weekend’s morning surprise snowfall, uh, snowsprinkle, uh, snow-kinda-covering-most-of-the-ground, then the cold, howling winds at the first of the week leading to generally winteresque temperatures.
Not to be a weather report but just to set the stage for how grumpy people quickly became when winter replaced a mild fall.
Seemed like everywhere people were complaining, “I hate winter.” OK, about half the time it was me.
Then, Thursday night I was talking with my mom who lives in McMinnville and she was reporting the very same thing as far as folks whining.
But, (you know it’s coming if you’ve lived here long), wait a while something else will come along.
Weather forecast for Monday: High of 62.
A varied wardrobe is one of the great things about Middle Tennessee (maybe this is just rationalizing). You certainly don’t spend all year in golf shirts nor longhandles, neither silk nor wool, neither bare nor bundled.
I think scientists should figure out human hibernation.
•••
See ya at the Christmas parade, starts at 1 pm. |
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