Saturday- LSU v. USC

It's gameday in Columbia, and fall is officially here. It's 63 at high noon, and is supposed to be in the high 40's tonight for game time. Looking forward to an exciting game to say the least. More on that later.


I'm watching Georgia Tech v. Clemson right now, and Clemson, Willy Korn and all, looks sickly. Cullen Harper is switching in and they both look bad. I dare say Clemson's offensive line is about as bad as USC's on some plays. Georgia Tech has a great D-Line though, so that also may play a factor. Tech so far has just been smashing them. But there's a lot of game left with three quarters to play.

Rays host the Sox tonight. Beckett goes for the Sox against Big Game James. Personally, I thought this would be where the series would end all along, as Beckett plays much more favorably into the Rays aggressive approach at the plate. He challenges hitters and the Rays are a great fastball hitting team. I'd be cautious if I was Varitek calling pitches if Beckett gets behind in the count tonight. Longoria and Upton will feast on fastballs low in the zone.

For the LSU USC game:

Steven Garcia gets the start tonight, Mike Davis at tailback, and LEMUEL JEAN PIERRE AT LEFT GUARD. The first two I'm fine with, but Jean Pierre? Arguably the worst offensive lineman I've witnessed this year in college football. Against LSU's D-Line no less. If he has multiple false start calls tonight (usually the case) I'd not hesitate to yank him for life.

My keys for the game for USC:

1. Execute on third down. When USC has played well, against Ole Miss and second half of UK, they've executed on third down. That means playing smart, sound football, knowing where to go, and not making mistakes or costly penalties.

2. Control the line of scrimmage on offense and defense. LSU has a great line on both sides of the ball, I think USC needs to control the line of scrimmage on at least one side of the ball to have a good shot at winning. The USC D is great, and I think it will be a defensive struggle for the most part of the game, with the team committing less turnovers emerging the winner.



Quickly:

-There's got to be something more than just living for each Friday night to drink away.

Days draggin', years flyin'

So I got advised today, the last two times this happened I left the J-School in a state of severe depression, as it felt like the only thing ahead of me in my scholastic ventures was pain, suffering, and a mountainous workload. But that's what you sign up for going to college right? Well, today was decent. I'm getting into my major, which I dig, BUT I am eternally saddened because I have to take COPY EDITING at 8 a.m. at some point in my life. But NOT next semester I vow. Regardless, my projected schedule for next semester looks pretty sweet, no Friday classes, that ought to be swell.

The Phillies are in the World Series. Last time that happened, Joe Carter was hittin' bombs out of the Skydome, and John Kruk was still pretty fat. At least they had Darren Daulton. I like the Phillies lineup, J-Rollins at the top, Jayson Werth who reminds me of Corey Hart, Utley, Howard, Burrell, pretty nasty. The rotation is decent looking too with Hamels, Meyers and Moyer.

The Rays, sorry Boston, look like they'll be the AL representatives, maybe by as soon as Thursday night. If that happens, I think Philly has a shot to win this thing. My thinking is this: Dice K OWNED Tampa in game 1 of the ALCS. Why? Dice K nibbles the strike zone, never actually challenging hitters, relying on the corners. Beckett, Lester and sometimes Wakefield, all have stuff that's worthy of challenging hitters, and the approach to boot. The Rays are a young, aggressive team, perfect for those types of pitchers, terrible against nibblers like Dice K, as they end up swinging at bad pitches out of the zone. I think Jamie Moyer will be especially effective against TB, and I HATE Jamie Moyer. Regardless, go Rays, let's see a Series debut.

Briefly:

-all the strength you have within a group melts away by yourself. Facing yourself alone is the greatest challenge to feeling happy.

-Winds of Plague is still kicking my ass.

Following a weekend of gluttony

Such a weekend it was, filled with pastries of all kinds, seafood that trumped the finest offerings South Carolina could ever produce, and the reminder that life goes on everywhere else, even when you're not there. That's what I learned in West Palm Beach this weekend.

Oh my god, WINDS OF PLAGUE. They dropped their album in February, but I just decided to give it a listen today. Unbelievable. That and Bring Me the Horizon's Suicide Season, will serve to keep me entertained for multiple weeks. If you're into heavy music, check those albums out, they're ILL.

The Gamecocks won Saturday, the Dolphins LOST by a point today, Michigan lost to TOLEDO, and the Lions... anyways, here's a few observations from the Carolina game:

1. Chris Smelley does NOT look off his primary receiver. There were way too many times he'd drop back, set his feet, and fire at the first target he laid eyes on. When a Kentucky player didn't break it up or intercept it, it usually was errant and off target. How did Chris go from looking like a competent, legitimate quarterback in the SEC one week ago to an absolute failure against Kentucky? I wasn't even that mad with the O-Line this week either.

2. Steven Garcia has a MUCH better arm than any other USC quarterback right now. It's now all about decision making against LSU. I pray to God that Steve Spurrier doesn't handcuff him and stick to the hyper-conservative playcalling that's dominated USC's offensive selection for most of the season until recently.

3. Jasper Brinkley, ladies and gentlemen, is BACK. Did anyone else notice whenever he hit someone Saturday, it was more of a doling out of punishment? He's thumping in the middle.

Quick thoughts:

-focus on what you can control, everything else falls into place.

-running, is awesome. try it.

-If you want something bad enough, you'll do something to get it.

Yahm Kipper!

Happy Yam Kippur (I hope I spelled it right) to all those who observe Judaism. Thanks to ya'll, there's no public schooling today.

Real short:

There's nothing more that I love than seeing a team I despise totally drop the ball in a season they're expected to ball out. Thank you Clemson.

I had pumpkin cheesecake tonight. Delicious. My brother is fat.

BYE.

Bring your own pillow to the airport

I hate Atlanta airport, and hate flying in general. That's because I hate heights, and Atlanta's airport is too huge for it's own good. Anyways, my flight was canceled today, and I had to pay for a hotel room and a 4 am wakeup call. Solid. See you on Thursday, South Florida.

In other news, check the bros. Not a lot of resemblance eh? Tanner and Eli ladies and gentlemen.

It was a beautiful, beautiful day

Thanks to all those who wished me a happy birthday Tuesday, it was greatly appreciated and made for a fantastic day. Spectacular weather combined with the kindness of others makes for the best of birthdays. Turning 20 wasn't so painful after all!

Tuesday nights for the obsessed sports fan are lonely ones. ESPN ran the riveting Madden show chronicling a bunch of overweight trash talking teenagers trapped in young adult bodies when it could have showed some NBA preseason games or at least just rerun PTI over and over again. ANYTHING but that Madden show. It hurts to watch. Well, almost as bad as the And1 mixtape tour show. THAT was bad. "Oh baby!"

The ALCS and NLCS are set. I'm siding with Tampa in the AL, and Philly in the NL. Why? I hate Manny. He's a lout who doesn't hustle and pouts when life sucks. Wait, how can life suck when you're making 20 mill a year? I do dig Joe Torre though, thought he got a bum rap in NY. I want to see the Rays win because A. I'm sick of Boston. B. Tampa's the underdog. C'mon. C. I really am just sick of Boston. Sorry Boston, I love KG, I even love Tom Brady (Hail to the Victors!), but man, your act got old. New blood!

I fly out for home Wednesday, to enjoy the splendors of birthday celebration with family and friends still in West Palm. The beach is a plus too.

Tuesday Observations

1. 20 years really isn't that long of a time to be alive. I'm probably not the first kid to have learned this upon turning 20 though.

2. The best gift is the gift of kindness. Material items pale in comparison.

3. If you just believe that everything happens for a reason, life begins to make a whole lot more sense, and the anxiety and stress of daily life is taken away.

4. It's not the things in life that mean anything, it's the people you share your life with that mean everything.

J325 Assignment-Dr. Moore's class

The following is my article for Dr. Moore's J325 class, the first of two in the semester.



Students share mixed views on campus security
By Michael Wunderlich

“Crime takes but a moment but justice an eternity.”
Those anonymous words depict the situation of many a University of South Carolina student that has experienced personal damages due to crimes committed against them or personal property on campus.
There will never be a day when every criminal will be apprehended in a timely fashion, every injustice paid for, but students and housing staff feel that there has been progress made at Carolina in dealing with on campus crime.
The month of September saw a series of high profile crimes and incidents occur on the Columbia campus.
What was described as an “all out brawl” took place in the Russell House dining area between five Gamecock football players and a group of unknown assailants suspected of having gang affiliations in the Columbia area.
Across the campus are papers showing a police sketch of an armed robbery suspect wanted for holding a USC student at gunpoint near the Sims and McClintock residence halls on September 14.
Campus police take action
In response to the recent spike in crimes, the USCPD has begun installation of security cameras throughout the campus that will monitor areas 24 hours a day.
The cameras, having been installed at various locations throughout the Columbia campus, from the Greek village to the Horseshoe and Bates parking lot are expected to be fully functional by the spring or summer.
Aside from the new cameras, there are also the traditional emergency call boxes placed around campus in case of emergency.
Campus safety progressing
Despite the recent rash of higher profile crimes that have taken place at USC, members of the Campus Housing staff feel that campus safety is improved over previous years.
“The state of campus safety has really caught up with the times we’re in,” said a Campus Housing Resident Mentor, who spoke on condition of anonymity. (Due to policy about giving interviews on campus conduct, no Campus Housing official was available for comment on the record)
“We’re becoming a lot better with dealing with mental illnesses than ever before, and although it’s not directly related to campus safety, it’s an offshoot of it I think,” the RM continued.
While the RM commented on campus safety as an improving situation, they noted nothing’s ever a perfect system.
“As an organization, housing is more reactive than anything. We can’t really prevent anything from happening.”
Recently, there has been an increase in official presence on campus, as USCPD has stepped up its involvement in patrolling the school grounds, taking preventative measures into focus.
Problems still exist
While there have been actions taken to discourage criminal activity and provide a better chance of catching criminals when they do act, students still feel there are areas of problem on campus.
“Garages and lots,” said sophomore Lyle Sweet. “I remember a friend of mine getting mugged in a lot last year.”
Sweet also remarked that earlier in the year, his car was broken into in the Horizons parking garage.
“The new parking garage hasn’t had any attendants in it to my knowledge,” said sophomore Abby Rouen.
Still other students would like to see more aggressive and hands-on steps in the form of human action and personal responsibility take form on campus.
“I would like for the campus to adopt what is done in Utah, Concealed Carry for students,” said sophomore Edward Jones. “The university is doing what it can without taking too much freedom from the students, which is important.”
Concealed Carry is the ability to bear a handgun without it being seen by anyone else. The idea is to not show a criminal who is armed, making carrying out a crime a more difficult decision.
A permit is available to those 21 years of age and older to carry a concealed weapon, although the state of South Carolina does not issue permits to non-residents, which would make obtaining a permit difficult for out of state students.
Jones owns a firearm himself, but does not keep it at his on-campus residence.
According to the data provided by the US Department of Education, the number of burglaries increased on campus from 2004 to 2006, as well as in residence halls.
The USC Division of Law Enforcement and Safety also keep crime statistics on its website, and list that from 2001 to 2006, the number of cases of assault reported has risen from 47 to 62, although the total number of crimes listed on campus fell in those years from 635 to 558.
Compared to the national average, Columbia as a city ranked worse in every crime category except murder.
Risks evident in surrounding area as well
Aside from the incidents that recently took place on campus, there have been places of worry for students going to and from common local destinations.
“The walk (from Five Points) gets kind of scary at night,” Sweet said.
Recognizing the distance between the campus and one of the more popular student hangouts in the area, USC this year has introduced Cocky’s Caravan, a free shuttle service for students with stops spread from the Vista, to Five Points to the Koger Center and Greek Village.
Aside from the new Cocky’s Caravan, there still are the preexisting APO Escort Services, or Duck bus, and the availability of police escort as well.
The University website also has a list of tips to keep safe on its main website, advising students not to carry large sums of cash with them, avoiding shortcuts and isolated areas after dark and not walking alone after dark among them.
What can you do right now?
Students seeking further statistics and information on campus crime can access the school’s law enforcement website at www.sc.edu/crimestats/index.asp, where tips on preventing and avoiding crime are available, as well as contact information for campus police.
Campus police were not available for comment.

"Maybe Next Year" Vol. 101

The MLB playoffs are in full swing, and I love life. None of my teams, (Tigers, Marlins) are participating, but that doesn't mean I can't cheer! The Rays as of Monday are up 2-1 on the White Sox, and even though he got the loss today, Matt Garza has disgusting stuff. 98 mph cheese and when it's on, a ridiculous hook, he's going to be their ace before Kazmir ever figures out how to work the inside of the plate next year. The Cubs? Ehhh. Anyways, I'd love Boston win to see them lose to the Rays in the NLCS, that'd make for some compelling television. In the NL, the Phillies are my choice to get to the Series, they have to face LA, and I believe they'll crush LA's pitching, although Milwaukee just didn't have a chance when Ben Sheet's arm fell off.

In the NFL, the Dolphins continue to wage war against AFC preseason contenders, vanquishing the Chargers this week. Ronnie Brown is the new Darren McFadden in that Wildcat offense. The REDSKINS look legit, Jason Campbell is money. I can't really devote a lot of league commentary as I have a book to be reading for English, but oh my God... the Lions! New plan: move the team to LA, and get an expansion franchise in there, and make Mike Illitch the owner. He likes winning, William Ford. You don't.

Hockey season is here! The Panthers... traded Olli Jokinen, so I'm boycotting my fandom towards them. The Red Wings are favored this year, and with Marian Hossa, let's see what happens.

In world observations, the world's fattest man is giving another morbidly obese dude diet tips. That's an actual story on MSNBC. The world we live in...

Sunday Observations:

1. Little Pigs BBQ in Columbia might be where God goes and grubs out. It's that good.

2. Chris Smelley has a pulse, and Emanuel Cook tackles anything with two legs.

3. Early autumn = absolutely gorgeous weather, enjoy the outdoors you rats.

4. The loudest man is usually the weakest man.