Sunday, October 11, 2015

Sigh . . .

Herb Sendek Frank Beemer Wins a Game

State loses to the nut less, flightless Birds of Blacksburg. Frank gets to keep his job and doom VT to yet another year of slightly better than average football.

Last week, State basically gave the game to Louisville.

This week, State continued to lose by making inexplicable errors, but to their credit, Virginia Tech actually put forth a good effort and won the game.

The thing is - before the season started, State looked like it would have a really good 8 and 4 season. I figured our losses would be to Louisville, VT, Clemson and Florida State. With a close game to UNC.

So far, it's working out that way. Except that Louisville and VT are not nearly as good as I had expected. The losses are the same as expected - but it just seems like State is losing badly played games to bad teams. Not close, well played games to great teams. But crappy games to somewhat crappy teams. It just doesn't feel good.

Actually - VT started out looking pretty crappy against Pittsburgh and especially to EZU. Last night - VT looked pretty good.

Also, I bought into the hype that maybe, just maybe, State was getting ready to take that next step up - and a 10 and 2 season was a realistic possibility.

Nope.

We are still a very young team - mostly sophomores and red-shirt freshmen. An 8 and 4 season is a great accomplishment for where we are. And we'll get better. The bad feeling is mostly our own making. Counting chickens before they hatch. It's a process and we have to be realistic.

But I still can't believe the way we are losing. We're playing and looking worse than we are. Even if we lose - we need to step it up. We can definitely play better than we have against L'ville and Tech.

Next up - a bye week and then Wake Forest. We should win easily. And probably will.

Focus

Did not get the car towed to the shop. Instead, I recalled the last time the battery died (due to old age) - the symptoms were the same. Lots of sparks and smoke when I tried to boost it. And, speaking with Bill H (Cameron Village Auto) - he said it is more common nowadays for old batteries to short out. Seems they used to just give out - without all the drama. What makes them short out? It's a mystery.

Anyway, picked up a new battery ($103 plus tax) - put it in - car started right up. Saved a towing expense.

The car has 210,000 miles - the truck 160,000. Getting my money's worth out of them. I expect both to last till 250,000 miles. Looks like they'll exceed expectations.

As long as they are reasonably repairable (alternators, power steering pumps, things like that) - I'll keep them. I doubt I'll replace either of them unless the engines ass-plode.

Sunday

I still need to cut the grass.

It's still raining.

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