Weekend Update 27 SEP 2015 +Addendum

Fairview Dairy Bar

The Fairview Dairy Bar has been in business, at the same location, since 1953. Last year there was a fire which ruined the entire interior of the restaurant and damaged both adjacent businesses.

Fortunately, rather than close, they decided to rebuild and reopen.

Had breakfast there today (they open at 0630 seven days a week). First time back since the fire.

They did a really nice job. It looks the same - only better. A little nicer, a little brighter, a little newer. All the old signs, photos, nick knacks on the walls were lost. To replace them - there are photos of the old interior enlarged to oversize posters and hung on the wall. It works. Really well.

Next time I'll get a photo of the inside.

NC State Football



The last two games were 'trap' games. Where State could have gone in and got beat by a really good underdog team that was ready for them.

Didn't happen. State has dominated all four warm up games. Yesterday was a blow out.

Next week against Louisville is when we'll find out. The 'ville has lost three games they just as easily could have won - vs. Auburn, Clemson and Houston. All three games were really close. If Louisville had won them - they'd be ranked in the top 15. Louisville is a top level team that just happens to have a 1 - 3 record. They could win out and finish 9 - 3. Unlikely - but not impossible.

So, even though L'ville is 1 - 3, it will be a tough game for State. The odds aren't out yet - but I would not be surprised if State were only a 3 point favorite.

Louisville followed by @ Virginia Tech. I think this season could be the start of something special. But - all the talk about a possible 8 - 4 or 9 - 3 season is still just talk. I'm taking a cautiously optimistic 'let's see what happens' attitude. I'm a State fan. I've had my hopes and dreams crushed many, many, many times.

UNCheats

If Carolina had started the season with a rout of Delaware for it's first game and then played SCAR Saturday - they'd be 4 - 0 and a top 20 team.

UNC's football team is far, far better than their fair weather fans deserve.

Despite heavy rains, Carolina announced a dramatic increase in attendance over last weekend - 23,479,655. They didn't estimate. They counted. In Swahili.

Yes - that is real photo taken at the UNC - Delaware game. I lifted it from the News & Observer web site.

Addendum

State is a steady 4 point favorite across the board with one 5.5 listing. Pretty much where I expected.

The total points has State 29 and Louisville 25.

It's going to be an exciting game and Carter-Finley should be rockin'.

UNCheats -They Just Can't Stop Lying

In my last weekend entry I noted the sparse crowd while watching the Illinois at UNC game.

Today I read where UNCheats announced attendance at the Illinois game . . . wait for it . . . 41,000!

Are you kidding me? How in the world did they come up with that number? Other than plain flat out lying?

Here's a photo -

Do the stands look 2/3 full (40,000) like Carolina claims? Hell no.

Do the stands look even 1/2 full (30,000)? Hell no.

Do the stands look 1/4 full (15,000)? Maybe. Just maybe. Actually, no.

The photo looks less than 1/4 full. That's a realistic attendance estimate of between 10,000 and 15,000.

Here's the article -

http://wncn.com/2015/09/21/attendance-woes-plague-fedora-heels/

Really UNC - can't you people learn to quit cheating and lying?

Bye the way - Fedora seems to have fixed the UNC-SCAR game problems. The drubbing of Illinois was not a fluke. Carolina could win 8 or 9 games this year. They are a lot better than their fair weather fans deserve.

VW

Speaking of cheats and liars - I am very surprised by the VW emissions scandal.

Over 11 million cars. A half million in the USA. The rest are in Europe (mostly).

I've always thought of VW as sort of like the Apple of auto manufacturers. Their cars being extremely well engineered and somewhat cutting edge. They appeal to the market that is willing to pay a premium for the technology - as well as paying a premium to be a bit 'different' from the rest of the herd.

I never would have guessed that VW would try and cheat on emissions. Heck, I would have picked VW to be the company that would research and design diesel engines that were practically zero emissions.

And from a practical point of view - how in the hell did they think they'd get away with it?

I mean - it's not like one or two people cooked up the software scheme. It took a LOT of people to cook up the engines, software, sales, falsify tests and documentation and so forth. It took hundreds, if not thousands to do this.

Folks - someone is bound to talk. The only sure way to keep a secret is if it's between two people. And then - only if one of 'em is dead.

This might explain why VW never bothered to come out with an electric or hybrid car. I guess if you're going to try and pull off a global emissions scam - you just don't give a 'bleep'.

Weekend Update 20 SEP 2015

This entry is written over a couple of days and uploaded (or will be) on Sunday. So, if the writing is in present tense - it was written at that time - but served up later. Mostly Saturday comments while watching games.

Thursday

Watched the Clem's Son - Louisville game last night. Louisville is a top 25 team with an 0 - 3 record. They just can't seem to catch a break. They could easily win the rest of their games (including at NC State) and end up 9 and 3.

State's next home games are Louisville and then Clemson. Those games are going to be a lot different than playing Eastern Kentucky or Troy. In fact, Louisville will be State's first 'real' game. It should be exciting.

Friday

Friday night's game was FSU at Boston College. I still don't know why BC is in the ACC. I'd like to see Notre Dame come in as a full member - ditch BC and even out the league with Army and Navy. Yeah, Army's football sucks. And neither of them have what you'd call a real basketball team. But the ACC is a southern conference at heart and in the south, the military is held in high esteem (as it should be). It would have been a great fit. Actually - keep BC and lose Syracuse. Syracuse seems even less of an ACC school than BC.

Where was I?

Oh yeah - the FSU - BC game. For a bottom tier team - BC kept FSU on the ropes till the very end. I don't know what to think of any of the 4 teams I've watched Thursday and Friday. The underdogs seem a whole lot better than I thought they'd be (but still losing) - and the top tier ranked teams seem to be struggling (and still winning).

I don't know what it's going to be like when State plays any of them.

Saturday

Thought about going to the State - Old Dominion game. Actually had planned on it. Had hotel reservations in Norfolk and my sister / brother-in-law would have joined me. But - I never got tickets through the Wolfpack Club (the game is a sell out) and just decided I wanted to chill at home this weekend.

ODU is yet another 'warm up' game - but it's a road game. At a loud, full, stadium. ODU sells out their stadium. They're much like Appalachian State - they really support their football team. It's a good road test. We'll get to see how we handle a raucous, unfriendly setting. And Shadrach 'puff daddy' Thornton will be back in the game.

We're finally getting into the real college football season. There's several good games on today. And by next week, just about every game played will be 'big'.

Watching the Illinois at UNCheats game. The stands are practically empty. As in - less than 1/4 occupied. If even that much. Wow. I guess the fair weather whine and cheese fans are staying home.

Holy Moly! Is that really Bitch Davis in the ESPN2 halftime studio? For the UNC game? LOL Someone at ESPN2 has a wicked sense of humor!

Parking

I really like my parallel parking space at Carter-Finley. Easy in and easy out. Lots of room. Have plenty of room for a shade tent for tailgating. Will have to get one for next year. And, for the first time in 30 plus years, I'll ask the ticket office to 'please keep me in the same parking spot'. Hope that happens.

Sunday

Nice win. But - our seccondary can be exploited. I'm thinking that Clemson will throw the ball all over the place when we play them. We must get better on our pass defense.



Our offensive line is starting to have problems. It's injuries. The coaches have been moving folks all around to fix the holes. It is what it is. Nothing permanent - several guys have gotten banged up more than usual and it shows with protecting the QB and controlling the offensive line.

We have all new kickers. Punting looks good. Kickoffs look excellent. Field goals - not so much. We are 1 - 2 on field goals. Finally made a 36 yarder. After clanking an earlier 48 yarder off the upright. And we've missed an extra point attempt (by my count). These misses are all about accuracy. Hopefully practice and technique will fix this.

Lots of other fun games to watch yesterday.

The Ole Miss at Alabama game was exciting. It's almost impossible to win at Alabama.

Nebraska at Miami was fun - until the fourth quarter. I just can't figure out Al Golden and his coaching staff. They do the least with the most talent of just about anybody I've ever seen.

Today I will entertain myself by mowing the grass. Oh Joy! I did bring some work home so I'll probably spend a couple hours doing that too.

Bye the way - I'm not a college football (and basketball) nut. It's just there isn't anything else going on that is worth blogging about. So during the college season - it's football and basketball. Actually, I probably am a college basketball nut.

Then boredom until the next season rolls around.

Outside of going to the games - work is the same, humming birds are still here and entertaining me at the feeder, the raccoon still comes to eat at the food bowl on the deck every night (will try and get a photo), the grass still grows and needs periodic mowing. Life is good - and continues. Just not worth blogging about. If anything happens, I'll let you know.

Labor Day Weekend 2015

Had a good time at the game. It is always fun when you win. You can't always tell how a season is going to go from the first game - Especially against an opponent with much less talent, size, etc. - but - the Pack looked good. Defense needs some tuning - but the offense was essentially 100% perfect.

Saw a funny tweet - which I didn't copy but can recite -

"What's worse than giving up 21 points to Troy? Having your 5th year senior Quarterback dark horse Heisman Trophy Candidate throw 3 INTs in the redzone."

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts - Carolina would have won that game Thursday.

;-)

I was really surprised by the crowd at Carter-Finley Stadium. Labor Day Weekend. Against Troy. Equals Sell Out. The place was full. I would not have ever come close to predicting that. I expected the stands to be 2/3 full. Instead - full house.

Next Saturday's FCS opponent Eastern Kentucky will actually be a tougher game.

EK was in the FCS playoffs last year. And, they have at least 4 starting standout transfers from FBS schools. EK is kind of like an SEC school - they recruit players who are, shall we say, not going to win outstanding citizenship awards. They go after kids who need to transfer or who have 'not fitted in' (i.e. about to get kicked out) with their first schools. EK may actually have more 3 star recruits than NC State. Watch out for the hidden shivs.

For the rest of the weekend. Did pretty much nothing. Ran errands and the grocery store today.

I'll be watching the VT - Ohio State game tonight. Go Castrated Gobblers! I hope they can pull off the upset again.

Football +Addendum

Finally, college football season is here.

UNC-CHeats - South Carolina

South Carolina plays UNC-CHeats on ESPN. Is there anyway possible they can both lose?

I guess I really dislike SC worse than UNC-CHeats. So I'll pull for the Tarholes to squeak out a win.

Actually, I think Carolina might be really good this year. They have really good talent - have had for the past couple of years. Their offense is pretty much the same from last year - which was actually darn good. Their defense was horrible. But with new DC Gene Chizik - they have got to be better.

Parking

We play a cupcake Saturday. Game time is 1800 (6 PM) so we might do a little tailgating.

My seats are always the same. But they do move us around the parking lot. Or threaten to move us. Don't want to get moved? Easily fixed. Just up the annual donation to the Wolfpack Club (WPF). Problem solved!

Till next year. LOL

I'm in the same spot as the last few years. But - spaces used to be 'pull in' - which were very narrow on my row. The front of the vehicles were usually in the 'road' - because the spaces weren't long enough and people also would set up tents behind or in front of their Suburban trucks - and if you needed to drive down the road - well tough cookies.

This year the WPC finally figured it out and made the spaces on the 'short' side parallel parking. And that's where they put me. It's a great space.

Looking north towards the indoor practice facility (brand new btw).

Looking south towards the gate to Trinity Road. A straight shot in and out.

And as in the last few years, not too far from the stadium.

I don't (can't) give anywhere near what the Big Time Donors give. But I have been a WPC member for 34 years now. So I guess that does count for something. I've got a really good spot. I hope I get to keep it.

Some people 'improve' their spots. This guy is at the end of the adjacent row - at the Trinity Road end. I think he's into his college football tailgating a little bit more than I am.

Nuke is driving up tomorrow for the game. Chip and Erika can't make it so Nuke's got a friend who will probably go with us.

You know, I can't even remember who we're playing. Troy? Like in Troy, Michigan? Troy from Greece?

Addendum

UNC should have won. Two end zone interceptions = 14 lost points. At least 10 for sure. Plus, there was an easy UNC interception in the first quarter that would have been a 6-pick that didn't happen.

SC did not win the game - UNC lost it. When you have 440 yards and only 13 points - that tells you something doesn't add up.

I hope UNC brings that same game when they play us at Thanksgiving.

And another thing -

Go to any WalMart parking lot in North Carolina and you'll see a few, a very few, NC State decals and bumper stickers. But you'll see a whole lot of UNC stickers.

With all the WalMart Carolina fans - how come Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium was so empty?