T-North: The Blog

Seriously?

2011-04-27T19:10:00.001-04:00

Here's the top story on american.edu today, just in case you missed it.

http://american.edu/media/news/20110425-Menon-Shakesqueer-Book.cfm

Yuck

2010-08-03T21:44:00.000-04:00

Just in case anyone still visits here...

Did anyone else puke when they read the first article in the current issue of American Magazine? Letters from students at a middle school that AU has adopted, addressed to President Obama asking for his help on things:

- "please help, we need help to become healthy adults"
- "I think we shoul have breakfast in class"
- wanting him to send mentors so kids have some help
- " help us out with our nutrition problems"

Do you think some informed SPA student was smart/kind enough to explain that these aren't things a president can/should do? Or do you think this is the kind of stuff the kids came up with after encouragement from the AU students?

Ugh.

Big Blue Sighting...

2010-06-10T22:56:00.002-04:00

...see the companion blog Ye Olde Malt Shoppe Logic........

Nancy F*cking Pelosi

2010-03-21T22:58:00.002-04:00

Thanks to the "Shot Heard Round the World" in 1951, Dodgers fans refer to Bobby Thomson as "Bobby F*cking Thomson". To which I concur, Nancy F*cking Pelosi.

I Challenge Paul Williams...

2010-03-12T21:35:00.002-05:00

...to watch the AU-Lehigh women's Patriot League basketball championship game on Saturday on CBS College Sports and report to us what happens. You're the only person I know who gets that channel. Plus we may never know the result otherwise.

Patriot League Semifinal

2010-03-07T21:33:00.002-05:00

Like you, I have seen a lot of bad AU basketball over the years. But never on national TV...until tonight. Ugh.

Trying to stay optimistic since there's only one senior on the team...hope the underclassmen will be able to pick it up next year.

Gentlemen, we are officially...

2010-03-03T22:55:00.002-05:00

...lame. I just came here to post some pithy comments about the current (2010, for you future historians out there who are just now stumbling upon this masterpiece of a blog--short for "web log" ca. 2007-2010) Patriot League tournament, when I realized that comments about last year's tournament are still on the front page of the blog.

Anyway, I followed a few scores from tonight and couldn't help but notice that the Patriot League is continuing its tradition of ball-control offense, with first-half scores in the 20-point range in several games. Ugh.

Stephen Lumpkins may be becoming The Man.

That is all.

Sorry...

2009-10-15T18:41:00.001-04:00

...I haven't even read the article, but the headline makes me think, "A Breastivus For The Rest of Us." http://aueagles.com/genrel/20091015

Mr. Chapin? I'm sure there is a very long explanation...

2009-08-25T10:13:00.003-04:00

Todd Young for Congress

2009-06-26T05:59:00.001-04:00

This page turned out to be a little disappointing:

http://toddyoungforcongress.com/

Will AU's new dorm also have a Regal Beagle?

2009-04-27T14:44:00.001-04:00

"New" student housing at AU...at least it comes with the best Resident Assistants you could ever ask for, except for maybe this one.

More observations from the Patriot League Championship...

2009-03-14T23:34:00.003-04:00

1. Holy Cross was provokin' me. While on my way to the arena, I received a text from Renkey stating that several Holy Cross fans were wearing shirts, stating, "God is on our side." Of course, that stirred in me the old flames of desire to engage in borderline (or outright) inappropriate heckling.

2. So...we sat at one end of the arena -- the end where the Holy Cross pep band sat, along with a healthy number of Holy Cross fans. At about the 1:00 mark in the second half, with AU up nearly 20, the Holy Cross fans got really quiet. So, I took the opportunity to shout, "Apparently, God changed sides!" What I really wanted to yell was, "Don't you know there is NO GOD!" But I thought that might be overdoing it. Plus my children were there.

3. Garrison Carr redeemed an otherwise mediocre performance in the Patriot League Tournament. He scored 24 points, 18 from behind the 3-point line, and after shooting only 11-29 from the field in the first two games, made 9-12 FGs and 6-8 from 3-point land. He was clearly the offensive star of the Final.

4. However, there's no way he deserved the Tournament MVP. Brian Gilmore was a much more consistent and dominant presence for the Eagles throughout the tournament. Gilmore shot 67%, 58%, and 71% from the field in the 3 tournament games, for an overall FG% of 65.5%. Carr shot 43%, 33%, and 75% in the 3 tourney games, for an overall FG% of 48.8%. Gilmore had more rebounds (15 to 11), almost the same # of steals (3 vs. 4 for Carr), and only 2 fewer assists (2 to Carr's 4). And, he hit 50% of his 3s, including a 4-6 run during the semifinal -- while Carr hit only 46% of his -- and that number is skewed high by Carr's performance in the final -- in the first two games, he was 7-20 (35%) from the 3-point line.

Moreover, Gilmore was just so much more consistent, passionate, energetic, and effective than any other player on the floor, and took leadership at critical moments -- like his tournament-saving performance in the semifinal, leading AU to its comeback victory over Army. Anyway, I know it sounds like I have a man-crush on Brian Gilmore, but I thought he deserved a case to be made for him as the overall MVP of the tournament.

5. Derrick Mercer needs to learn that he is really short, and that it is counterproductive for him to drive and drive and drive into the lane, only to have his shot stuffed again and again and again and again -- especially if he's only going to shoot 55% from the free-throw line. I hope that in preparation for Round 1 of the Big Dance, Jeff Jones tells him that he should dribble-penetrate and then kick the ball out to someone for an outside shot or for another drive by a player who is taller than 5'3".

VIC-TO-RY!

2009-03-13T21:14:00.002-04:00

AU 73, Holy Cross 57. The Washington Post is calling it a "rout". Well, not quite -- if only because of our woeful foul shooting, the game remained interesting until the last 2 minutes of play.

Bottom line -- we're goin' dancin', and for the second year in a row, I can watch the selection show with more than mild interest.

More to come later after I digest this win.

Oh, and I ran into Tim Fudd -- aka Squirrel-Killer -- on the floor of the arena during the net-cutting. He looks the same as he did 12-15 years ago, just a bit heavier!

Things to Ponder While Waiting for Friday

2009-03-10T11:22:00.002-04:00

SI's bracket predictions have AU as a #13 seed right now. #13!

ESPN.com bracketologist has AU as a #14 seed.

Given the crapitude that is any team after the top 7 or so, those games could be winnable.

Also, AU is now up to #2 in the Atlantic 11.

The Power of the Gilmore...

2009-03-08T16:31:00.006-04:00

I sit here in my living room, writing in disbelief. Two hours after I left a thundering Bender Arena, I still can't believe it -- our Eagles pulled off a dramatic comeback win vs. the Army Golden Knights in the semifinals of the 2009 Patriot League Men's Basketball Championship, and will now host the Championship Game on Friday afternoon.

I'm not sure we deserved the victory for most of the game, but we certainly earned it in the last 2 minutes. Down 60-55 with 2:05 to play, AU rallied for 6 unanswered points in the final 2 minutes of the Patriot League semifinal to beat Army, 61-60.

Jordan Nichols hit a critical jumper to bring AU within 3 at 60-57, and followed it up with a blocked shot to give AU the ball back. Then, Brian Gilmore, AU's leading scorer (19 points on 7-12 shooting) drilled a 3 from WAY beyond the 3-point line to make it 60-60. Then, a possession later, Gilmore picked up a loose ball caused by teammate Derrick Mercer's bad pass (one of many on the night), then drew a foul on an off-balance shot, and hit 1 free throw with 3.6 seconds left to give AU its final lead, 61-60. When Army's last shot from beyond half-court fell short of the rim, AU ran off the court victors.

Coming into the game, AU owned Army. They had beaten Army at home and on the road this season, both times by 22 points. But early on, it looked like AU was tight, or sluggish, or both. After scoring 41 points in the first half against Lafayette on Wednesday, AU struggled to score 27 in the first half against Army. Army appeared to sense AU's difficulties, and you could see Army's confidence rise as the half wore on. Army outhustled AU for rebounds and lost balls, sprinted down court on offense and defense, and turned that hustle into a 7-point halftime lead.

The lead was also partially a result of AU's poor shooting. It shot 46.7% during the game, as opposed to Wednesday's 58.3%. Garrison Carr was ice cold, going 5-15 from the field. Derrick Mercer was a near non-factor, going 1-5 from the field for 4 points. Bad news for AU -- Garrison Carr is now 11-29 (38%) in 2 Patriot League tourney games this year.

The brightest light for AU was, as I predicted more generally in my last post, Brian Gilmore. He was the key to this game. 12 of Gilmore's 19 points came in a string during a period just after halftime when Army had gone up 38-27. Gilmore, fighting through foul trouble, scored 12 unanswered points by himself to give AU a 39-38 lead. Then, late in the game, as stated above, he hit that 3 to tie the game at 60.

Update: after taking a break to take the kids to the playground, I write again -- and Holy Cross has just finished wiping the floor with Colgate, 61-44. So, here we go again. Friday at 4:45, AU and Holy Cross will face off for the Patriot League Championship.

Postscript: Note to the Patriot League -- scheduling a game for 12 pm Sunday, on a Sunday beginning Daylight Savings Time, is a really, really bad idea. For the players, it was only 11 a.m., and it showed for both teams. For attendance, it was also a bad idea -- the arena was nowhere near full, likely because a lot of families have Sunday morning routines that preclude them from getting to and from church and related activities and then getting to a basketball game by 12. Next time, use your freaking brains and schedule the game on Saturday, or later in the day on Sunday. Really.

Patriot League Tourney Update

2009-03-04T23:04:00.006-05:00

Your faithful reporter is suffering typing with a broken elbow to bring you a recap of tonight's Patriot League quarterfinal match between the American University Eagles and the Lafayette College Leopards. Respect the sacrifice!

AU began its quest for another berth in the NCAA men's basketball tourney in fine fashion, whipping the Lafayette Leopards, 78-56. It was AU's 11th straight win, and 17th of the last 18.

After putting the boy to bed and leaving Cherie and Audrey watching "Go, Diego, Go!", I arrived with about 3:54 left to play in the first half. I sat in "Section 101, in the "adult" bleachers near the end where Delta Chi's hooligans used to sit. I could see Kermit Washington and a bunch of other AU athletic alums I didn't recognize sitting a few rows below me. And Chris, I noticed while looking up at the AU athletic banners at the other end of the arena that AU's men's cross country team won the Patriot League title something like 5 years in a row between 2002-2006. Damn! Of course, I also noticed that most (if not all) of AU's many championship banners were either women's volleyball or men's cross-country. Not exactly representative of a diverse, dominant athletic program, but then we are talking about AU.

Anyway, when I arrived, AU was already up about 10, and it only got better from there.

It was one of those nights when it seemed as if nearly every shot AU put up ended up falling through the net, and when nearly every shot Lafayette put up clanged off the rim. Overall, AU shot 58% from the field -- though taking out Garrison Carr's mediocre long-range shooting night, the rest of the team shot 63%, while Lafayette shot only 36.7% from the floor.

Derrick Mercer and Garrison Carr, AU's two shooting stars, had their expected excellent evenings from a numbers perspective. Mercer had 20 points on 9-13 shooting (69% FG) along with 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Carr had 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists -- though it should be said he only shot 43% due to a 3-10 night from beyond the 3-point line. Carr's assists at crucial moments, and one particular clutch 3 to stop a Lafayette rally in the second half, made up for his mediocre long-range shooting.

As great as Mercer and Carr were, Brian Gilmore proved why he will be the key to AU's Patriot Tourney title and NCAA berth hopes. While Carr and Mercer largely floated around the 3-point line, Gilmore banged bodies inside, creating an inside game for the Eagles and forcing the defense to collapse on him -- freeing up Carr and Mercer to drain 3s. Gilmore had an outstanding night, combining 17 points on 8-12 shooting, with 7 rebounds, and 1 assist. He also had a monster dunk (yes, an AU basketball player had a monster dunk) as part of a 13-0 run to begin the second half and break Lafayette's back.

AU next faces Army in the semifinals on Sunday afternoon. AU beat Army twice in the regular season, 58-34 and 58-36. Army only eked out 53 points against Lehigh tonight in another quarterfinal, winning 53-50. With Holy Cross whooping Bucknell, 75-56 tonight, and facing Colgate in the other semifinal, it is looking more and more like we will have another AU-Holy Cross showdown in the Patriot League Championship Game. But, first things first -- I'll be at the Army game on Sunday.

Go Eagles!

Another Fine AU Grad

2009-02-26T17:50:00.002-05:00

Ryan Russman, AU SPA (96?) is a DUI attorney in NH.

Apparently, back on November 4, 2008, as he was out walking his dog, he came across a man removing Obama signs from a yard. I turns out that it was the owner of the yard removing signs that someone had put there without his permission. A verbal altercation occurred, which included the aforementioned owner dropping some F-Bombs on our intrepid ambulance chaser. So what did he do?

He filed criminal charges of disorderly conduct and criminal threatening. Fortunately, the defendent was found not guilty.

Fuck Ryan Russman. Anyone remember him?

Eagles Basketball

2009-02-15T16:49:00.003-05:00

I've seen 3 AU games this year, and the Eagles have been better each time.

I saw AU vs. Oklahoma in Norman. AU needed perfection to have any chance, and they pretty much stunk it up from start to finish. I saw AU vs. Holy Cross on ESPNU a few weeks ago. The Eagles probably should've won that game, but two AU hallmarks got in the way: (a) no inside presence and (b) inconsistency.

Finally, I saw AU put a 25-point whoopin' on Colgate on ESPNU yesterday. Still no big man and still some inconsistency, but when you're a small school no one has heard of, it's nice to have a dominating win on national TV.

If the Eagles win out (including a game vs. Holy Cross at Bender Arena next Saturday), they will be the top seed in the Patriot League tournament and will play all their games at home. This is a good thing. They have to stay consistent, though, or I'm afraid someone could beat them if they get complacent.

Go Eagles!

Poodle-on-Poodle violence

2009-01-22T13:11:00.005-05:00

See Commandments of Life, #13..."Thou shalt not be French"

Clinically Depressed Poodle Mauls Former French President Chirac

Are you kidding me?

2008-12-29T16:51:00.002-05:00

Housing follies, again, at our alma mater.

The Holiday Inn Georgetown, American's Newest Dorm

Oh No

2008-11-17T11:22:00.000-05:00

The dream of an undefeated season ends. In Norman, Oklahoma.

Joe the Plumber

2008-10-17T09:10:00.006-04:00

Looks like the story I posted was incorrect. Sorry all. Still tired of Joe the Plumber though.

Calling all bloggers

2008-10-09T17:19:00.002-04:00

If you have a blog, a Facebook page, a MySpace page, or basically any internet presence at all, I need you to post a link to www.manabouttown.com. We're trying to build links to help with search engine placement prior to Christmas. Links in context are great ("I was looking for a classic gift and I found www.manabouttown.com," for example), and so are permanent links in a blog role are elsewhere.

Thanks for your help.

The cost of gas...

2008-09-18T16:17:00.001-04:00

...is hitting everyone hard these day, including drug dealers.

Red Life at it Again

2008-09-18T13:03:00.002-04:00

Can you imagine what we T-Northers would have done if Megh@n ever tried to do this with us?

From The Eagle.

Is there a lifeguard in the house?

2008-09-09T21:42:00.000-04:00

He's gone off the deep end: http://zeebop.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-palin-whitewash.html.

I'll admit it I don't get it

2008-08-29T12:16:00.002-04:00

I'll admit my ignorance here, I don't get Palin as the VP choice. Granted she gives them a true christian conservative, and she's a pretty nice looking woman, but is that really enough for the second seat on the ticket?

This One's for Paul

2008-08-28T22:52:00.002-04:00

A profile of his high school's greatest rivals (I think) - the Morris Redskins. Where's the love for Oswego High?

Don't ask me why I could only find this in the Orlando Sentinel. I read it in the Tribune this weekend.

AU Basketball Schedule

2008-08-22T09:29:00.002-04:00

2008-09 schedule out today. Looks like they're stepping it up a notch, with games at Oklahoma, Maryland, George Washington, Georgetown, and Manhattan. Nice to see. Hope they can pull it off.

Jeff Jones also got a new contract; no details provided. Fine by me--success should be rewarded. I just hope AU can put the money into the program that will allow them to build on last year.

One more thing--US News says AU is #83. That's up from #86 (maybe 87?) last year, but still 3 below the Colorado School of Mines.

Read this book

2008-08-12T21:38:00.003-04:00

Don't Let My Mama Read This, by Hadjii. You will laugh your ass off at this guy's stories--he could be the black Jason Speck.

Baby Names for Chapin

2008-08-11T09:12:00.002-04:00

I don't recall whether the Chapin-Ravens are having a boy or a girl, but I think Barack could work either way. Any other suggestions?

SIS assasin?

2008-08-06T11:29:00.003-04:00

So is anyone surprised that the teenager arrested in MD with a fake CIA ID, guns, map of Camp David and other materials, was going to be an SIS student at AU in the fall?

We're #T-208!

2008-07-21T22:01:00.002-04:00

ESPN.com is out with one of their goofy ranking systems again - this time ranking college basketball teams since 1984 (the year the tourney expanded to 64 teams). AU is tied for #208 out of 300.

If they ranked us since 2007, we'd be #60 at least.

Kip Kantelo's Older Brother?

2008-07-09T23:18:00.001-04:00

You make the call. (Originally found here.)

AU Basketball Incoming Class

2008-07-07T16:59:00.002-04:00

Looks like they picked up some height this year. Link

Out of Curiousity

2008-07-02T09:33:00.002-04:00

So is anyone else on facebook? After my wife's 15 year high school reunion, I was a bit curious about what my class was up to, so I joined up. Looking for former T-North members though, I only found Abi, Eric Diehn, and Ryan Claycomb. Anyone else on there?

Uh, I Don't Know About That

2008-06-19T20:57:00.003-04:00

SI's Luke Winn has a look at how the longer three point line for the NCAA next season could affect certain teams. His conclusion: mid-majors will be hurt the most.

But I'm linking to this mostly because of the first chart. AU is #5 as far as highest reliance on three pointers for NCAA tournament teams. Here's the key takeaway:

"The top six in the chart above is essentially a collection of

many of the nation's best mid-majors."

Finally, what we've all been saying for years!

Just curious if anyone knows this guy

2008-05-25T23:14:00.001-04:00

Just wondering if anyone knew this guy (the second letter) from our days at AU

http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/05/the_crime_of_being_white.html

AU Photo Store

2008-05-05T20:29:00.002-04:00

For those of you who aren't regular visitors to AUEagles.com, I bring to your attention a new feature offered - the AU Photo Store. The photos range from the historic and interesting to the mundane to the oddly inappropriate.

I won't be paying $160 for a framed photo, but the choice is really yours.

RIP - Charlton Heston

2008-04-06T15:09:00.002-04:00

"Get your stinking paws off me you damned dirty ape!"

GAME DAY!

2008-03-21T09:29:00.003-04:00

I'm a bit disgruntled because I'll be on a train downtown for a meeting when the game starts, but will do my best to check in on the score if I can.

Any predictions?

Tennessee 86, AU 64.

Up for discussion

2008-03-18T10:05:00.002-04:00

As shown by Sunil's post, American University is getting more press from making the NCAA tournament than from anything else the school has done (although I'm sure the Ladner debacle also rates highly).

Discuss: What should the university/the university's marketing department/the university's admissions office do to capitalize on this exposure?

A little something from the NY Times

2008-03-18T10:00:00.001-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/sports/ncaabasketball/18american.html?ex=1206504000&en=d5a9ff4403ca4daf&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Good behavior should be rewarded...

2008-03-16T08:25:00.001-04:00

...with cash. I'll be sending a few bucks to the athletics dept. soon. Anyone else with me?

I Want to Thank Jebus

2008-03-14T19:08:00.002-04:00

Paul was right, that was a tough game to watch.

The best thing you can say: it's over and ended the right way.

By the way, did anyone notice how annoyed Jeff Jones looked as he had to wait for the floor rushers to pass him by before he could shake the Colgate coach's hand? I thought he was going to take one of them out.

Hot Damn!

2008-03-14T18:42:00.000-04:00

Ugly, but I'll take the win!

Ugh

2008-03-14T18:24:00.002-04:00

I'm watching the AU-Colgate game, and AU is up 43-42 with about 2 minutes left.

Watching this atrocious display of basketball, I'm reminded of some of the AU-George Mason matchups of the mid-1990s, where it seemed that neither team was desirous or capable of winning the game, but because the rules require that one team has to win, one team eventually would.

This is terrible basketball.

USA Today

2008-03-14T08:52:00.002-04:00

Front page story today (in the actual paper I saw here in DC, different versions in other parts of country) on NCAA, "the never have beens...", and American University.

Here is the story on their website: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2008-03-13-Neverbeens_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Curious

2008-03-12T22:00:00.002-04:00

Those who attended the 2002 Patriot League championship game at Bender should be puzzled by this release. We walked up at 4:15 and bought tickets. Is interest so much greater this year than that year that the game is going to be sold out before Friday? Just seems kind of odd.

Mike Wise, I Love You...

2008-03-12T13:23:00.001-04:00

Check out this article on AU's history of being associated with, but never quite achieving, college basketball excellence. It nearly made me weep.

Who has the keys...

2008-03-10T21:11:00.000-04:00

...and can they please lock Chapin out for his own good?

AU wins...

2008-03-09T15:56:00.003-04:00

72-60.

AU will play Colgate Friday at Bender Arena for the Patriot League Championship. We beat Colgate twice this season by 8 points each time, 65-57 and 68-60.

:30...

2008-03-09T15:54:00.001-04:00

70-60 AU

1 to play...

2008-03-09T15:51:00.000-04:00

70-58, AU

2 to play...

2008-03-09T15:46:00.001-04:00

65-55 AU.

3:32 to play...

2008-03-09T15:40:00.000-04:00

59-53 AU, Garrison Carr about to take 2 free throws........

Tightening up...

2008-03-09T15:37:00.000-04:00

57-53 AU with about 5 to play....

Army makes a run...

2008-03-09T15:27:00.001-04:00

51-43 AU with 7:35 to play.

49-32...

2008-03-09T15:19:00.001-04:00

AU is on a run!!!

With 12 to play...

2008-03-09T15:15:00.001-04:00

44-32 AU over Army.

With 15:48 to go in the 2nd half...

2008-03-09T15:08:00.001-04:00

35-27 AU.

At the Half...

2008-03-09T14:45:00.000-04:00

AU leads Army 32-20 at Bender Arena.

With 6:32 to go in the first half...

2008-03-09T14:31:00.001-04:00

25-12 AU.

Great 1st half so far...

2008-03-09T14:25:00.000-04:00

23-8 AU with 10 minutes to play.

Love this Progressive Talk...

2008-03-09T14:12:00.001-04:00

I'm listening to the internet broadcast of the AU-Army game on Progressive Talk 1260. Don't know who the main play-by-play guy is, but damn, he is excited -- and as a result, I'm excited! 9-2 AU in the early going.

Video of Navy Losing

2008-03-06T18:47:00.001-05:00

Via the DC Sports Bog: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2008/03/navys_loss_the_video.html

Check out the other posts about AU storming the court. Funny.

My Pseudo Live Blog of Tonight's Game

2008-03-05T21:20:00.001-05:00

As you will see - I couldn't follow the game hardly at all. Thanks for nothing, Internet.

7:15 – Log on to espn.com, AU down 28-22 at halftime. Damn Paul Williams and his predictions!

7:16 – Navy 45, Bucknell 31 with that Sprink character with 24 points – can’t anyone guard this guy?

7:41 – yahoo news tells me that Patrick Swayze has some sort of cancer. I do not read further.

7:43 – AU 34, Holy Cross 34. Dare to dream?

7:44 – Trying to launch espn’s real time score thingy. Apparently this game doesn’t merit good technology.

7:46 – The search for a real time gamecast continues as sportsillustrated.cnn.com fails me.

7:50 – What the hell is this crap? I go through the effort to sign up for Eagles All-Access just to be told it costs money. Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll keep my $6.95.

7:52 – Somehow the Navy game is updating regularly with scoring information (Navy 59, Bucknell 57 – Go Bucks!). Why can’t the AU game get the same investment?

7:53 – Bucknell takes Navy into overtime. Despite the fact that AU is hardly a lock to win its own game, I feel compelled to root against Navy as the Eagles show no propensity to beat the Mids this year. Didn’t we once win 47 games in a row against them?

7:56 – Weird – even cstv.com has the gametracker only on the Navy game. Perhaps the Patriot League is not held in as high esteem as the CAA is.

8:04 – Navy-Bucknell all tied up again with 0:32 left. AU game stuck at 6:40 for a long time (with AU down 3).

8:06 – Colgate first winner tonight – by 2. Does it really matter?

8:09 – Thanks for finally updating, ESPN. Navy-Bucknell in OT #2 – and is that AU ahead 56-54 with 2:30 to go?

8:11 – AU 59, HC 58. What a crappy first round match-up. Shouldn’t the conference champ get to choose who it plays?

8:13 – Seriously, how low must the Patriot League be held that espn can’t pay some kid $5 to run the gametracker at the AU game?

8:14 – Make sure to TIVO the latest Real World/Road Rules challenge. Hope the Rookies can finally win a challenge!

8:15 – the Navy game keeps running down, the AU game stuck at 1:30 left. WTF?

8:17 – Bucknell makes a 3-pointer to take a 2-point lead with 1:00 to go. Wow.

8:18 – Seriously, f-in killing me. Update the AU game!

8:18.01 – Updated. AU wins. Now I get to be unreasonably nervous about the next game.

8:21 – 0:39 left and Bucknell up 3 – will AU get two wins tonight?

8:24 – Navy ties the game at 75. John Feinstein must be eating this crap up.

8:25 – Onto the 3rd OT? Come on!

8:26 – By the way, Lehigh leads Army by 4 with a couple minutes left – I think that’s who AU would play next.

8:30 – Army ties Lehigh with one second left. These are actually some good games. Good thing I can’t see them.

8:31 – Our second OT game of the night – Army-Navy tied at 54.

8:34 – Navy up by 2 with 2:00 left. F.

8:36 – Dagger. Some Navy guy puts them up by 3 with 0:58 to go.

8:37 – On the TV, last week’s Real World/Road Rules challenge. How did the rookies lose the coffin challenge? They may be suckiest bunch of sucks who ever sucked.

8:38 – I do not congratulate Jared for keeping the weight off for 10 years. Just thought you’d like to know.

8:39 – Reverse Dagger! Bucknell hits a 3 to tie it at 84. 0:41 left.

8:40 – Bucknell wins 87-86! Looks like it was on a 3 pointer with no time left. What a game!

8:42 – I guess Navy hit a two with 2 seconds left and Bucknell went the length of the court. Wish I could have seen that.

8:43 – As if it matters, Lehigh by 1, 2:20 left in first OT.

8:45 – 0:55 left, Army now up by one.

8:47 – ESPN News is worthless – show me Bucknell-Navy highlights!

8:49 – 0:12 left, Army still up by one. That’s one service academy AU can beat.

8:52 – Army now up 3.

8:55 – Game over. Army wins by 3 in OT.

8:56 – Four games, eight points total winning margin. Good night for the Patriot League, better night for AU.

I probably could have spent the last hour and a half more productively.

Prediction

2008-02-29T09:44:00.003-05:00

If AU finishes 2nd in the league and Holy Cross finishes 7th (both of these things are possible as I write this), I predict that Holy Cross will defeat AU at Bender Arena in the first game of the Patriot League tournament. Season over.

I want AU to do well, but I just feel like I've seen this movie too many times before and I know how it ends.

Is this the year?

2008-02-17T16:13:00.003-05:00

I was beaten to the punch on this one, but thought it deserved to be mentioned here - this AU basketball team maybe pretty good. After Paul and I talked about www.firejeffjones.com, it turns out it may not be necessary. They probably have the player of the year in the Patriot League (this Garrison Carr kid who looks pretty good) and a fairly sizable lead in the conference with a favorable schedule down the stretch. I think that means they'll be home for the Patriot League tourney.

I won't schedule my NCAA tournament viewing time just yet, but I will keep that time open.

Liberals descend on AU

2008-01-28T11:57:00.000-05:00

Bender Arena hosts freak-a-circus

T-North Job Fair

2008-01-22T14:32:00.000-05:00

I got an e-mail from Mr. Close earlier today--he has a new job (I'll let him tell you about it).

I also have a new job. My new job is here. I am their real estate rep for their eastern region. I'll be lining up new sites in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and about 1/3 of Texas. I start next week.

F%*@ing Davenport lounge

2008-01-16T21:14:00.000-05:00

So the AU website features ten virtual tours on its website...and this is one of the them?

http://www.american.edu/tour/5.html

New Malt Shop Logic Podcast

2008-01-16T10:51:00.000-05:00

Featuring Paul S. Williams.

It's over on Malt Shop Logic.

Chapin is Wrong

2008-01-16T10:50:00.000-05:00

The vandalism incident was the reason for the floor meeting that Todd ripped into the RD.

Just had to set the record straight.

The "Vandalism" Incident, Part 2

2008-01-13T00:11:00.000-05:00

We were outraged, not merely by the gloating, but by the sheer gall shown by those who had seen fit to sully our lounge with their sneering "Victory" article so soon after the hurtful loss.

Later that night, a Council of War was convened in the room shared by Messrs. Lewis and Chapin. It was decided to carry out a multi-pronged raid that would teach those no-good dweebs once and for all that provoking T-North in a rare moment of defeat was, shall we say, inadvisable.

We decided to:

1. Borrow the mattresses stored in the old LLC room (on the Terrace level) and stack them in the main entryway to T-South, thereby forcing upon any T-Southers the inconvenience of using the back stairways to enter/leave T-South;

2. Use the tempura finger paints (like you find in elementary school, easily water-washable) also found in the old LLC to paint faux threatening messages in strategic locations;

3. Remove all of the shower curtains from the T-South men's and women's bathrooms, leaving all T-Southers to shower exposed the next morning, or forgo showering;

4. Smear shaving cream on the handles of all of the bathroom fixtures in the T-South men and women's bathrooms, leaving bleary-eyed T-Southers to find their hands full of slimy goodness the next morning.

5. And, in one cruel (yet perversely inspired) gesture, a certain student, who shall rename nameless (you know who you are, Mr. Dept. of Commerce), decided on his own to add a flourish -- he (allegedly) poured table salt into the tank housing T-South's "Floor Pet", Akbar the Fish.

In the dead of night, we carried out each of these tasks flawlessly and without being discovered. It's a testament to T-South's dweebiness that not a single one of them was awake to catch us between 1-3 that morning. Every one of them was in their room with the doors closed and the lights out.

The next day, all hell broke loose. Our RA and T-South's RA called the entire T-North population together to communicate how upset and downright distraught the T-Southers were over their victimization, and how angry Catherine Green, the new RD, was at our mattress-stacking, because it posed a hazard to fire evacuations (and as we later found out, because she'd had a student burned to death in a previous job as an RD)...never mind that the stacked mattresses still left open both of the back stairwells in T-South.

The RAs seemed most concerned with repairing any damaged relations between the two wings of Anderson Terrace, and repeatedly and explicitly offered that any conversations that might be conducted between pranksters and RAs for the purposes of achieving detente would remain confidential.

Being a sensitive, modern man (read: FOOL), I approached T-South's RA, Lori -- who by the way now appears in Washington Post ads -- a pretty, young, african-american woman, holding a wine glass, talking nonsense -- and in her room, quietly confessed only MY role in the night's pranks. I told her of finding the finger paints, particularly a bottle of red paint, and getting the bright idea that it would look like blood. I thought I could (and I did) paint, "DIE" on the T-South TV screen, leaving excess paint to drip down and look like blood. It was sick, but I was 19, what do you want? Lori thanked me for coming forward, and I left.

The NEXT DAY, I was charged by Catherine with violating the AU Student Code of Conduct. Lori had typed up our conversation and submitted it to Catherine. She had lied to me, and now I was to be hoisted by my own petard.

At my hearing, I learned that at least 1 or 2 others had fallen for the "confidential conversation" line, and had confessed. But at least one of them (SAL!) had confessed not just to their role, but to EVERYTHING.

In the hearing, I confessed to my role, characterized it as a harmless, youthful prank, but also as a thoughtful one, as I chose paint that I knew (from many years of elementary school abstract painting, no doubt!) to wash away easily when doused with water. I assured the board that had the paint been permanent in any way, I NEVER would have thought to use it. This was actually true. I knew and loved our janitor, the slightly crazy "Mama Rawlins", and did not want her stuck with the task of trying to scrub permanent paint off of a wall or anything else.

I also professed ignorance of all others' activities. I had to stifle a laugh when Catherine read out part of her 'incident summary," which included the line, "Akbar did not look well." I mocked her summary in my rebuttal, asking her to define exactly what she meant by "did not look well". When she could not offer anything beyond the written summary, I turned to the board with a look that tried to say, "Do you see? Do you see what I put up with?"

The board clearly agreed with me. Though it found me guilty (since I confessed), I was assigned only to write a 5-page paper on fire safety and perform some small # of hours of community service.

I wrote a paper entitled, "Donald Duck Teaches Stop, Drop, and Roll!", on the efficacy of cartoons to teach children valuable real-world lessons (such as putting out fires!) and then rode the AUTO shuttle for a few hours and surveyed students on their impressions of it and their perceived opportunities for improvement. Never mind that I'm pretty sure that there is no such special as Donald Duck teaching fire safety, and all I did was submit my survey report into the black hole that was AU Public Safety.

Thus ends the story of the Vandalism Incident...

The "Vandalism" Incident, Part 1

2008-01-12T23:25:00.000-05:00

Todd's post has my mental wheels turning, and my memory's coming back. May as well take advantage while it lasts.

It was mid-spring 1994. Tension was in the air. Kurt Cobain had just sucked on the business end of a shotgun and pulled the trigger (Courtney! It was Courtney!) Tupac was serving time for assault. The venerable Grace Slick was tussling with police officers in an alcohol-fueled rage.

And, in a move sure to anger one Chris Close, Oasis was on the verge of selling more albums in the UK than any other band until 2006. I know, I know, it was a travesty.

Finally, it was time for the annual T-North/T-South Softball Game, nerd-dom's version of the Cool Kids vs. the Dweebs (with T-South playing the role of the Dweebs, of course).

It was, surprisingly, a tight, back and forth game. Our team, despite having many superior athletes, was hamstrung by hangovers, a hot day, and the presence of too many girls who expected to play :-)

As the final inning approached, T-South led, 6-4. In the top of the last inning, we rallied for 2 runs to tie the game, and it gave us renewed life. After a couple outs and a couple hits, the bottom of the inning came down to T-South at the plate, 2 outs, runners on 1st and 2nd.

I don't recall who was playing most of the various defensive positions, except that I, Brian "The Babe" Chapin was in center field and Sal, "Hey, how'd I get salad dressing on the back of my neck?" Olivo was catching.

The batter lofted a soft, shallow fly that touched down just behind second base. The runner on second took off at contact, hit third, and headed for home. I charged the ball, scooped it, and in one of the best throws I've mustered in a lifetime of recreational base/soft ball, threw a perfect laser strike to Sal at home plate to gun down the runner who was barely around third when I came up throwing. It was a perfect throw, and I had the runner dead to rights by several steps.

I made the throw, watched it, started trotting in toward home to get ready to bat...and then...Sal...dropped...the...ball.

The runner scored, the game was over, and T-South erupted in joy -- they actually jumped around screaming like they'd won the freaking World Series. I was disgusted, and so were several more of us. Most of us on the T-North team had played organized sports, several of us had even starred on high school baseball teams, and hell, we had a ringer -- our own Stacy Beese was all-Illinois for high school softball!

And here we'd just lost to a team whose members' idea of athletics was constantly changing seats in class to illustrate the basic definition of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.

Dejected, we headed off to TDR for lunch. After Trenita swiped our cards for plus points, we drowned our sorrows in unlimited "free" Pepsi products, and unenthusiastically waited in line for french fries and chicken patties made by The Surly Grill Cook.

Upon returning to T-North, we found a white piece of paper taped to our lounge TV. Printed on that page was a fake "news" article touting T-South's victory over T-North. The game wasn't over even 2 hours, and already they were gloating.

It meant war.

Most Favorite Excerpts from Ivers' Syllabi...

2008-01-12T22:41:00.000-05:00

If memory serves me correctly, my favorite quote from any collegiate syllabus during my AU years was from one of 3 courses I took with Dr. Ivers. If I remember accurately, under "Course Objective", the first line was, "The objective of this course is to make your brain hurt."

It made me laugh out loud at the time -- it was audacious, uncompromising, stark -- so unlike what one might see in a typical syllabus -- but it also gave me an appreciation for what was to come. I didn't think anything could top it. But then I perused his latest syllabi. Enjoy....

"Students who do not like to read, write, and/or be accountable for what they say will not like me or this class very much. Consider yourself warned."

"My expectation is that you will really, really come to class prepared; and that you will really, really be prepared to offer some thoughtful, intelligent insight into the questions, cases, and other issues that we discuss. If you do not want to work hard and think hard, please do not take this class. This is college, and college is supposed to be hard."

"....I am not blowing smoke when I say that I really, really expect students to read what I ask them to read and be able to offer some intelligent commentary on the material."

"Please do not ask me to give you my lecture notes. I do not write any; never have; and I am not about to start this semester. You are responsible for yourself."

"....Do not put your phone, PDA, etc., on your desk or anywhere else that I can see it...."

And my personal favorite (story to follow): "Do not bring food to class...."

The story goes: I was taking a class with Dr. Ivers that included a break in the middle of the class. During the break, a student (let's say it's a man, and let's call him Jughead), who had previously violated several class rules on repeated occasions, including failing to show up for a good part of the second half of the semester, returned to class after the break with a cheeseburger.

Jughead sat down, began munching, and became lost in his own world. He did not notice when class resumed, and Ivers, instead of picking up the lecture where he had broken it, instead stared silently and angrily in Jughead's direction. The entire class was hushed, utterly silent, waiting for the impending cataclysm.

Minutes passed, and Jughead still failed to realize he was under Ivers' gaze. Finally, he looked up, mid-munch, mouth full of food, looked around at his fellow students, then looked at Ivers, and said, with a shrug and some attitude, "What?"

I thought Ivers was going to bodily hurl Jughead from the room. He looked that upset. Instead, Ivers tersely reminded Jughead of the class rules posted in the syllabus, including the prohibition on food, that this was hardly Jughead's first violation. Then, Ivers summarily dismissed him from class. Jughead was incredulous -- could not believe he was being kicked out, could not understand how that could possibly occur.

After another few minutes of disbelieving looks cast in Ivers' direction, Jughead slunk out of class, not to be seen again for quite a while. Class resumed, far more subdued than it had just been. And, everyone had just had a certain lesson reinforced: in a school where almost anything went, you just didn't mess with this particular professor. Ever.

Memory is fading...

2008-01-10T19:29:00.000-05:00

I remember that in my senior year (I think, because i was rooming with Close after I returned from WA state in the first semester) that later in the year in the second semester that the RA had to have the Dorm RD (Residence Director -- not sure if that is right, but the top Nazi in Anderson Hall) hold a meeting with folks on the floor in the Lounge for something that had been going on...I just don't remember what it was. I do remember that I and other seniors were told we didn't have to attend because we weren't the problem. I know they were trying to put the smackdown on people for some ridiculous reason on which they had no grounds. I also know that I decided to attend anyway, despite being told I didn't need to be there, because I knew I couldn't get in trouble and I could speak up and tell them what I thought, which I did. Does anyone remember what the subject was? Or remember anymore specifics? I guess those entire pitchers of Margaritas that we would drink Guapo's burned a few brain cells. Paul, Speck and others were living over in that Embassy townhouse at the time.

PS (I think Brian Haney was part of the Nazi troops still at this time)

Were you guys aware of this?

2007-12-20T13:20:00.000-05:00

http://zeebop.blogspot.com/

Send me your address

2007-12-17T09:41:00.001-05:00

Chapin, Close, Lewis, Sunil, and anyone else who wants to--send me your home address to I can send you a Christmas card. My e-mail is paulsamwilliams@hotmail.com.

Build Traditions in AU Basketball

2007-12-12T12:35:00.000-05:00

Anyone want to take bets as to the outcome of the rematch?

http://www.american.edu/newsletter/development/2007/dec/athletics_1207.htm

It's a sad fact that this is the lone thing to commemorate.

1000 Wins! (But 941 Losses)

2007-12-05T23:06:00.000-05:00

AU Men's Basketball records 1,000th win.

At least 25 occurred while I was at AU.

Note to Keith Gill and Jeff Jones

2007-12-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

Interesting article about a coach who had some success in college basketball, then left the college game for a while, then came back to college coaching and has quickly built a formidable program. I'm sending copies to AU's athletics director and basketball coach.

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/1210/060_print.html

Not Promising

2007-12-03T22:18:00.000-05:00

Every week, the Post is publishing a local college basketball poll. They rank the top 11.

At one point, AU was in the top 11. This week, one vote that puts them behind the Maryland women's team and ties them with Frederick Community College and Sean Taylor.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2007/12/local_hoops_poll_week_four_bbt.html

That might be generous.

Anyone want to camp out?

2007-10-29T17:13:00.000-04:00

http://aueagles.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102907aaa.html

A picture that needs no description...

2007-10-29T13:56:00.000-04:00

Hey Chapin: What's Your Shoe Size?

2007-10-04T11:44:00.000-04:00

Got to love the newsletter

2007-09-10T09:16:00.000-04:00

Now I'm glad I never made it into the Alumni newsletter

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09092007/news/regionalnews/gay_hanky_pranky_spurs_1_5m_al.htm

Submitted without Comment

2007-08-27T22:39:00.000-04:00

http://aueagles.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082707aaa.html

Libs bug the sh*t out of me

2007-07-24T09:42:00.000-04:00

Hey Chapin, two old-timer posts in a row...

Anyone else watch the libs' You Tube debate last night?

My favorite question was from two fat chicks who asked what the government could do about their diabetes. Perhaps if they would stop eating crap all the time and get a little exercise, they wouldn't be looking to the government to fix the problem that they likely created for themselves. Typical liberal stuff, though, and not unexpected. But they do bug the sh*t out of me.

Cornelius Kerwin is now the president of AU

2007-07-23T16:05:00.000-04:00

OK, Chapin, here's a post from an old-timer...

As you know by now, AU has named Neil Kerwin as the new president of the university. Seems like a pretty good choice to me, but here are 2 things I find incredible about the whole process:

1. AU officially launched the search process in November 2006, hired a respected search firm, spent lots of money and time trying to attract viable candidates, extended their self-imposed May deadline, and still could not find a qualified person from outside the university who was willing to take on the job. This is not a strong statement about AU.

2. Even though Kerwin apparently wanted the job, the board of trustees didn't even take him seriously until recently. Check out this article from the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/18/AR2007071802585.html. The quote is, "Until this month, the sources said, Kerwin was never fully interviewed or given a chance to articulate his vision for the school by all the campus groups that met with other candidates." They spend all this time looking for someone who apparently doesn't exist, and they ignore Kerwin until the end.

I love AU, but that whole damn place continues to frustrate me.

Hey, goddamnit...

2007-07-10T22:29:00.000-04:00

Why isn't anyone posting to this blog anymore? Paul, Todd, etc., you old-timers, you're slacking....

Huh?

2007-05-29T23:25:00.000-04:00

This "solid recruiting class" is neither solid nor classy. Discuss amongst yourselves. http://aueagles.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/052907aab.html

ToFlo sighting

2007-05-23T22:42:00.000-04:00

From the pages of American Magazine: Todd Florence, Kogod/BSBA, Kogod/MBA '04, and Tracey (Gavin) Florence, CAS/BA '98, welcomed their first child, Aleksandra Kathryn, on July 24, 2006. Tracey is the assistant dean for Student Development at Marymoung University and Todd is an account executive for CelerityIT traceygavin@hotmail.com or Todd at toddfl@cox.net.

I cite problems; Forbes provides solutions

2007-05-09T10:34:00.000-04:00

I refer you to my post from last December, when I wrote about AU's freshman yield rate. The most recent issue of Forbes magazine has an interesting proposal to help all colleges solve this problem. I've provided a link below.

Supporting this idea would be a great way for AU to show institutional leadership for America's community of colleges and universities.

Cupid and Colleges
Students who truly prefer Tufts over Amherst or Columbia would have a way to show it.
By Ian Ayres Barry Nalebuff
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0521/166.html?partner=email

Rest In Peace

2007-04-23T14:28:00.000-04:00

A New Twist on "Boot and Rally"

2007-04-09T12:30:00.000-04:00

And, fittingly enough, it still applies to cross country runners...

Running Wild
Reebok this week will unveil a global "Run easy" campaign touting its athletic shoes and apparel. One print execution shows a long-distance runner bent over, spewing his guts out. Text reads: "Run + Puke + Run = Crazy. Run Easy." Lead agency for Reebok is Mcgarrybowen, New York.The effort will celebrate the camaraderie and joy of running, per Mark Bossardet, head of global running at Reebok in Canton, Mass. U.S. sales of running/jogging shoes and apparel were $3.1 billion in 2006, with shoes up 8.9%, per Sporting Goods Manufacturers Assn., Washington. The push comes at a time when Nike is fast-tracking its Nike+ system, which links shoes to an Apple iPod and enables runners to monitor their vitals. Mark Parker, Nike president/CEO, said that by year's end Nike+ technology will expand from six lines to all its running shoes.

Throw the Bums Out

2007-04-04T23:20:00.000-04:00

http://www.nbc4.com/news/11516096/detail.html

How did we miss this? AU has a new AD!

2007-03-27T22:48:00.000-04:00

Keith Gill of Oklahoma is our new AD. Check out the Post article here.

5 in a row, with our nemesis in wait...

2007-03-03T21:54:00.000-05:00

So suddenly, the Eagles are on a roll. They've won 5 straight, and are perhaps proving the truth of Feinstein's line that this is a senior team "...that wants to do something special...."

Do they have an upset of Holy Cross left in them, or have they expended all their magic?

Opinions?