Opperman

Haven't really heard anything in a while. I'm sure he's doing well, though.

Yes it does. 3-man front isn't exactly an unheard-of gimmick. 2-man front because you're out of bodies at the position is. They had no ability to stop the run. I don't see why Fulmer didn't just run off-tackle every play. 3-man front can contain that. 2-man front can't.

If you couldn't do that to a Memphis team with no passing game, no defensive line, and without one of the top 5 running backs in the nation, what makes you think you'll do it when Memphis does have a passing game and a defensive line.

I don't think they gave out an actual award. But there's no question who the AAA MVP was.

If this is Ralph, good to meet you today.

Congrats to Farragut. Catopano is a stud. He was overwhelming today.

Supplements aren't all illegal.

That's what I'd figured, but you never know. You have to respect a guy who tries to help somebody break his records.

Um...has become?

7:00. This has been an amazing run for Bartlett. A fairly young team overall (sophomores at catcher, short, and third and a soph #3 pitcher), they haven't gotten to the regionals since 2000, haven't gotten to the sectional in I can't even figure out how long. They'd been the last team out in the district tournament two or three years in a row. First state tournament berth since 1971 and they're in the finals. This has been incredible.

Can't really avoid it if you want to play them all in one day.

Take I-40 to I-440 to I-24 east. Murfreesboro is roughly exit 80, give or take 5 miles or so depending what part of town.

Nope. It's 2x4, with a three-game series for the title.

I disagree with the idea of taking one from every region, period. Region 8-AA's representative in this would get beat by whatever score the other team wanted both games. There's other weak regions, but 8-AA is the most glaring. They got beat a combined 43-0 in the sectionals. I'd prefer three-game series in the sectionals. Or, for 7-AA vs 8-AA, one doubleheader.

Bring them over for the gauntlet of Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, and Houston. And Cordova, Bolton, Arlington in a few years, Millington, Munford. It ain't a cakewalk in the west, except for the first round of the regional for the two of Germantown, Collierville, and Houston that get there.

Close friend...hmm... Cassinnelli, McGowan, or Arnold? Can't think of any other major RB record-holders off the top of my head, but I've had a long day. A good day, but a long one. Thanks. I'll be around a decent amount for a while...not sure how deeply I'll wade into the non-Plus boards, that may depend on what type of employment I am able to come up with. I'll be around occasionally at least though.

I plan to exercise my civic duty, Chicago-Democrat style, when I go to Busch Stadium in about a week and a half.

And the software, as I know you know, isn't something just anyone can pick up and use, and that's not even factoring in the cost of it. (For those that don't know, the TAS baseball program runs $350.)

JLD has been running a 3-3-5 at Memphis. Last year, they ended up only having four healthy linemen, so they had to go to a 2-4. I don't think anybody in the nation did a better coaching job last year than Tommy West. There's no way a team with four healthy defensive linemen, total, and no passing game should have even been able to think about making a bowl game -- and not only do they make one, they manhandle the MAC champs in it. As far as the sore loser jab -- no. 1999 is when I was bitter. Last year it shouldn't have even been a game. I was disappointed they couldn't pull it out, but I had zero expectation of winning when I heard DeAngelo was out.

I've been working at a D-II college in Arkansas, and covering HS sports on the radio and in the newspapers over there, so I couldn't really spend much time over here. I'm back home for now, but I'm not sure how long.

I'm gonna go way, way, way out on a limb and say Albert Pujols makes the team. Dunno why I think that, just a hunch I guess.

Sweet! Go Panthers!

It's not a powerhouse, but again, it's as good a program over the last three years as any non-BCS school. And for all the orange's recruiting championships, a Memphis team with no DeAngelo Williams, no passing game, and a 2-4 base defensive formation, all due to injuries, had a lead in front of those 100,000 people with less than 10 minutes left in the game.

Nah. Mine's only $15. Season tickets have their perks.

Why? He was 6-3 210 in the minors, he's 6-3 225 now. That's normal filling out for an athlete from 21 to 25. People can lift weights without steroids, ya know.