the ultimate college football water cooler
Editors Note–This is a re-post from Dfwfootball.net
There will be a huge singning this weekend in Arlington at the Convention Center. There will be tons of current and former Cowboys along with athletes from other sports Fort Worth’s Paulie Ayal.
I will let Signings411.com tell you more about it. Click here to find out more!
Editor’s Note–This a re-post of an article from Dfwfootball.net.
Last year at my college football blog, I read and reviewed several books. I like to think I had a niche at Collegefootballtopten.com doing book reviews, and I had access to the books working for a bookstore.
One of the authors I read was a guy by the name of Jeffrey Marx. He wrote a very inspirational book about a former Baltimore Colts football player-turned volunteer coach, mentor and minister. My story about reading it was almost as compelling as the book itself! Check out my reviews here and here.
Now, Marx has written a new inspirational book about a New England Patriots deep snapper who was teaching seventh-grade Bible Study when he got the call to snap for the Super Bowl bound Patriots. The player eventually won a Super Bowl ring on a last second field goal in which his job was critical to the outcome of the game.
I am a fan of what Marx is doing with his books. I highly recommend fans picking up a copy of his book and reading it, especially as we are approaching the football season. We all could use a little inspiration in a world in which it seems that the bad dominates the day in sports. We need heroes who display courage and provide inspiration.
The book is available to buy on Tuesday August 18. You should be able to find a copy at your local bookstore, however, you can help out this site and buy a coy from our bookstore at the same time. Simply navigate to the bookstore, and look for the Jeffrey Marx books. There is a regular copy and a large print copy available in the store. To make it easier, here is the link.
Be sure and let everyone you know that likes football about the book. Feel free to pass along this article if you would like. You can use the addthis button at the bottom of the article to send it via email, Twitter, and other social media outlets.
About the Book
“In his first book since his New York Times bestseller Season of Life, Pulitzer Prize winner Jeffrey Marx tells the remarkable and true story of one man’s odyssey from seventh-grade Bible teacher to Super Bowl champion.”
The Long Snapper: A Second Chance, A Super Bowl, A Lesson for Life
“Don’t we all long for one last chance? Don’t we all dream to do it over again? Anybody who has ever had those pangs will love Jeffrey Marx’s beautiful and uplifting story about a guy who had opportunity dropped into his lap. Do yourself a favor and read The Long Snapper.”
– Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated
“Jeffrey Marx has done it again, only better than ever. Thoughtful and inspiring, The Long Snapper is quite simply a joy to behold.”
– Rick Telander, Chicago Sun-Times
Brian Kinchen was a thirty-eight-year-old husband, father of four, and seventh-grade Bible teacher whose professional football career had been over for three years when the New England Patriots called on December 15, 2003. With the Patriots riding a ten-game winning streak and the NFL playoffs only a few weeks away, they needed a fill-in for the obscure but vital job of snapping the ball for their punter and kicker – a long snapper. Brian was hesitant because he had received similar invitations to tryouts that yielded only disappointment – the teams always went with a younger guy. But could he really turn away from the chance of a lifetime?
The Long Snapper chronicles Brian’s remarkable odyssey as he and the Patriots – led by head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady – seek the ultimate trophy. Unfortunately, the dream come true turns into a personal nightmare as Brian struggles both on and off the field, and the pressure to perform on the biggest stage in professional sports nearly causes him to walk away. Seven weeks after leaving the classroom, however, Brian overcomes his greatest fear and snaps the ball on the historic game-winning field goal with only seconds left in the Super Bowl.
The Long Snapper is the story of a man who finally achieves the success he has always wanted. Brian Kinchen’s championship ring is a powerful status symbol for all to see. But his journey forces him to reexamine what really matters, and he realizes the true measure of a man has nothing to do with status: life is not about prestige, it is about passion and purpose. It is about impacting the lives of others.
I had a chance to interview Rafael Priest at TCU’s Media Day for Pegasus News. I enjoyed visiting with Rafael, and he came across as very grounded and smart. Rafael is going to be a big part of the TCU defense this fall for the Horned Frogs as there will be so many new players on the field for the Frogs on defense.
I sat down with Marshall Newhouse at TCU Media Day for Pegasus News. He
was gracious enough to answer my questions. If you get a chance, check out the article.
Q & A With Marshall Newhouse
My apologies as I have not been writing as much through the Spring and Summer as I have focused on Dfwfootball.net. Dfwfootball.net has become a site that focuses on semi-pro and minor league football. I have enjoyed working on that site, and it has become the flagship of what I do.
However, I still love college football. And, I will still continue this blog, and I will still write for Pegasus News articles about the Dallas-Fort Worth college football teams.
That being said, I have a new article out at Pegasus News. Over there I have a article that discusses the top ten questions for college football in Dallas-Fort Worth.
College Football Office Pool
We will continue the Pool again this year. Last year it was a very popular feature at CFTT. I will annonce details in a few days.
Top Ten Football Movies
I started something in the Spring that I didn’t finish. What is the top football movie of all time. Well, through a series of polls and pool play, we are going to narrow the field. Hopefully, by December, we will have a winner and a new top ten list.
Fantasy Football
Dfwfootball.net will sponsor a fantasy football. If you are in to fantasy football, and you are looking for a leauge in which to play, give it a try. We will be using Fantrax to host the league. I will provide you details in just a few days.
Prizes
Both the fantasy football and the Office Pool will have prizes. It probably won’t be much, a book or something, but you can get something for your efforts along with bragging rights!
Well, actually, it’s probably the rain. It has been raining this evening in Fort Worth, Texas. Oh, who am I kidding? I am beginning to smell football in the air!
It’s the smell of cut grass. It’s the smell of a late summer rain shower. It’s the smell of pigskin. It’s the smell of media days. It’s the smell of Phil Steele. It’s the smell of Dave Campbell’s Football (in Texas). It is the smell of preseason previews and predictions.
Football is in the air!
I spent a little time today watching a couple of games from last year on ESPN U. My college football juices began to pump, and I jumped in the air for joy! Not really, but I wanted to.
I started to talking to a guy at work yesterday about the spread offense, and I began to get going just a little bit. I became excited none the least. Speaking of which, the yearly football display is up at Borders in Fort Worth where I work. Come by and check it out if you are in town. There will be new books out in the coming weeks, and they will be up when they come out.
Books Coming Out
Probably the book which will get the most publicity is Game Day by Craig James. James, the former SMU star and ABC/ESPN commentator has been apart of ESPN’s Game Day for several years now, and he has the stories to share with you and me. You can pre-order it at my bookstore. It comes out September 22, 2009.
The Long Snapper by Jeffrey Marx
Marx is the author of Season of Life, and he is coming out with this book on September 1. It should be very inspirational.
Our Boys by Joe Drame
This is another book about a small-town football team who was extremely successful. This book is set to be released August 18.
Gift for Ron by Everson Walls
This is the inspirational story of how Everson Walls decided to give a kidney to his friend and former teammate Ron Springs. This book is set for a November 3 release date.
First Star by Lars Anderson
This is another book about the great Red Grange. I became impressed with Red’s life story after reading the book about him by Gary Andrew Poole, Galloping Ghost (which I still recommend!). This is book has a December 29 release date.
TCU's Andy Dalton is a darkhorse according to Phil Steele
The “Sports Illustrated Heisman Tour Presented by Nissan” Brings 75 Years of the Heisman Trophy and the History of College Football to Fans Nationwide Starting September 5th
NEW YORK, July 23 /PRNewswire/ — Sports Illustrated and Nissan have teamed up to help fans celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Heisman Trophy and the great history of college football with the “Sports Illustrated Heisman Tour Presented by Nissan.” During the 2009 season, the tour will make 10 stops at some of the most anticipated match-ups of the year, showcasing college football’s most famous award, a rich collection of SI’s history covering the quintessential American sport, and Nissan’s dynamic line-up of cars and trucks.
For no charge, fans at each tour stop will have the opportunity to meet former Heisman winners and college football legends as well as pose for a SI cover shot with the Trophy itself. The highly interactive 100 x 100 foot experience also features one-on-one trivia challenges, SI.com kiosks and a look back at past Heisman recipients through SI’s renowned photography and story-telling. As the campaign’s presenting sponsor, Nissan will showcase the 290-horsepower 2010 Maxima premium performance sedan, the original “4-door sports car.”
Is Houston's Case Keenum a legitimate candidate?
“Exhilarating performance is at the heart of college football’s most prestigious award, the Heisman Trophy, and the same is true of Nissan’s flagship sedan, the 2010 Nissan Maxima,” said Christian Meunier, vice president, Nissan Marketing. “Partnering with Sports Illustrated is the perfect way to bring 75 years of college football history to life while offering fans a closer look at Nissan’s exciting vehicles.”
The Sports Illustrated Heisman Tour Presented by Nissan represents a continued partnership between two of the game’s most recognized brands. By working with Nissan — the official ambassador of the Heisman Trophy — Sports Illustrated augments its longstanding coverage of a true American pastime with a one-of-its-kind, multi-platform campaign that reaches out directly to tens of thousands of college football fans.
“Covering college football is part of the DNA at Sports Illustrated and there is no higher honor in the game than the coveted Heisman Trophy,” said Sports Illustrated Group Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Judelson. “We are thrilled to partner with Nissan for the third consecutive year. We consistently continue to innovate and evolve the tour and in 2009 thousands of college football fans will experience the Heisman Trophy and its rich legacy in a meaningful dynamic atmosphere.”
In addition to the coast-to-coast, 10-stop experiential tour, the campaign includes the release of a SI Presents custom publication dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Heisman Trophy as well as several print and digital sponsorships surrounding college football content. For the first time, SI.com will feature a video based “Greatest Heisman Moments” bracket, and SI senior writer (and nationally-syndicated radio host) Dan Patrick will be making appearances at various tour stops. In conjunction with that, one lucky sweepstakes winner and three friends will win a trip to the BCS Championship Game with Dan and a Heisman legend.
The “Sports Illustrated Heisman Tour Presented by Nissan” will make the following game stops during the 2009 college football season:
– September 5, 2009: Georgia at Oklahoma State
– September 12, 2009: USC at Ohio State
– September 19, 2009: Texas Tech at Texas
– October 17, 2009: Cal at UCLA
– October 31, 2009: Florida vs. Georgia in Jacksonville
– November 7, 2009: Ohio State at Penn State
– November 14, 2009: Michigan at Wisconsin
– November 21, 2009: Cal at Stanford
– November 26, 2009: Texas at Texas A&M
– December 5, 2009: SEC Championship
Nissan will be the exclusive sponsor of the custom publication, which will feature an introduction by Dan Patrick on why the Heisman is the coolest award in sports; an interview with John M. Heisman, the grandnephew of the trophy’s namesake; a gatefold poster showcasing every Heisman winner as well as facts and figures about the award itself; and a decade-by-decade rundown of all the winners that includes vintage photos, their key statistics, their “Heisman moments” and odd facts. Plus reprints from SI Vault of classic feature stories on the following Heisman winners: Iowa’s Nile Kinnick (1939), Notre Dame’s Angelo Bertelli (’43), Texas A&M’s John David Crow (’57), UCLA’s Gary Beban (’67), Stanford’s Jim Plunkett (1970), Penn State’s John Cappelletti (’73), Georgia’s Herschel Walker (1982), Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders (’88), Texas’s Ricky Williams (’98), Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne (’99), Ohio State’s Troy Smith (’06) and Florida’s Tim Tebow (’07).
Versus has jumped on the blogging band wagon. In effort to set itself apart, the cable network, which covers Mountain West Conference games including Fort Worth’s TCU, is launching a unique “round table” type show featuring the nations best bloggers.
This is a chance for a blogger to be on TV. How great is that? The show, called FANARCHY, begins Tuesday, June 16, 2009.
From Sinuate Media
FANARCHY is a show by the fans for the fans, bringing the robust online world of sports banter to life on television. This is a weekly half-hour series, hosted by Zach Selwyn will debut on Sunday, June 7, at 11 p.m. ET and will air regularly on Tuesday nights at 10:30 p.m. ET, beginning June 16.
Each FANARCHY episode will feature seven very opinionated sports fans appearing on-air via their personal webcams. From on- and off-the-field athlete antics and bogus referee calls to what they would’ve done if they were the coach or owner, FANARCHY guests will be giving their unvarnished take on everything and anything outrageous and controversial currently happening in sports in a frenzied back-and-forth style.
Now, because some bloggers come to my site to see what nonsense I am spewing, I am supposed to let you know that, you too, can audition to be a part of the how. Just proceed to www.Versus.com/FANARCHY.
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I thought this would be fun. Milkshake is really a misnomer, as any good milkshake is made with ice cream, but ice cream, of course, is made with 
milk. So I guess it comes out in the wash.
This list, like so many here at CFTT, is subjective. Since I have only lived in Arkansas and Texas, well, my milkshake consumption is limited. Nevertheless, I have an idea of what MY top ten milkshakes are. So, here goes.
10. McDonald’s
The restaurant that started the hamburger craze also started the milkshake craze, I suppose. They do have good milkshakes and they are nice to have on a hot day.
9. Wendy’s
Few fast food restaurants have the thickness in their shake as the Wendy’s Frosty™. It really is a creamy soft serve ice cream. Dave Thomas would be proud.
8. Jack in the Box
Try their oreo cookie ice cream shake. Enough said.
7. Whataburger
A Texas hamburger institution, and they have a great chocolate shake too.
6. Seattle’s Best Coffee
They announce that they have the “world’s best coffee shake,” and I believe it too. I’ve never tried anyone else’s, but SBC’s is pretty good. They use real ice cream.
5. Dairy Queen
I grew up being treated at DQ. Great soft serve ice cream, and they are the first place that I realized could mix flavors. I gained 5 pounds that week. Peanut butter and chocolate together, wow!
4. Fuddruckers
At least in our town, they use real Blue Belle ice cream to make their shakes and malts.
3. Braum’s
Based out of Oklahoma, they have some of the best ice cream around. A former boss also swore by their milk. Oh, and they do make a good milkshake using that premium ice cream.
2. Pappa’s Burger
One of the waitresses recommended a oreo-peanut butter milkshake and I tried it. It was awesome. She knew what she was talking about.
1. Purple Cow
Based out of Central Arkansas (we have a few in the DFW area), they simply have a great milkshake. I had a peanut butter-chocolate (are you seeing a pattern) and it was outstanding. I couldn’t even slurp up the peanut butter with my straw as it was so thick.
Where do you get your favorite milkshakes from?
What does Phil Steele’s college football preview and TCU’s Jerry Hughes have in common? Aside from the fact that they are both passionate about college football, Steele has put Hughes on the cover of his Texas addition. I picked up my copy on Friday at Borders Books, and have began the annual pilgrimage through the pages of Steele’s masterpiece preview.
Last year I reviewed four of the college football previews, but this year, I am just buying Steele. Phil Steele’s magazine is full of numbers. There is a misunderstanding that Steele’s magazine is a better’s magazine, but it really is not. He uses a complicated system of numbers to create power rankings in several different areas which means when the season is through, you will see he is pretty accurate.
True, the sports betters use his magazine, but that is because he is so accurate. If you want to pour through numbers and facts, Phil Steele’s magazine is for you. Just a word of warning. When he has a “read here first” to understand what he is doing, you need to follow instructions. Without the preface readings, you might be lost.
On the Texas cover with Hughes is Texas Longhorns QB Colt McCoy and Baylor QB Robert Griffin.
