Here’s why I’m against Props 1, 3, and 4:

Here’s why I’m against Props 1, 3, and 4:
Driving back from Las Vegas a couple weeks ago– the Aztecs were 6-0, ranked 18th in the nation, and favored to win all their remaining games.
Last weekend was wild. From start to finish we had bowl quality games. It was a great weekend for college football.
Last weekends highlight? Jackson (5) and I got to go on the field at halftime of the Aztecs game. Very cool, thanks again Aztec Club!
And this weekend? Not so much. Pretty much all of the Power 5 teams have headed for a date with Cupcake City. Most of these match-ups are about point differentiation and no one getting hurt… not seeing who has the best team.
Last week, the Aztecs did about what we’d expect them to against an inferior opponent: They kicked their booty.
I was surprised how long it took into the first quarter before said butt kicking was unleashed. But it was unleashed and Aztec fans left happy.
This weekend is a test of another kind with Cal coming to town. Each time we play a Power 5 conference team I go into hoping that we’ll be able to compete and win, and that’s what I’m hoping for here. We’ve got a better all-around team than they do. We should beat them. But will we? That’s why you play the game. The team that wants it more will win.
11-9
Maryland @ Florida International – Terps
Louisville @ Syracuse – Cardinals
Nevada @ Notre Dame – Irish
Cal @ San Diego State – Aztecs
Penn State @ Pitt – Nittany Lions
Cincinnati @ Purdue – Boilers
Wyoming @ Nebraska – Huskers
Utah State @ USC – USC
UConn @ Navy – Navy
Tulsa @ Ohio State – Buckeyes
Wake Forest @ Duke – Dukies
Kentucky @ Florida – Gators
SMU @ Baylor – SMU
NIU @ South Florida – South Florida
South Carolina @ Mississippi State – Miss State
Arkansas @ TCU – Frogs
Iowa State @ Iowa – Iowa State
BYU @ Utah – BYU
North Carolina @ Illinois – Illini
Va Tech vs Tennessee – Virginia Tech
Here we go again.
Minus a bit of a novelty game last weekend between Cal and Hawaii in Australia this weekend should be an amazing beginning to the college football season. Sure, there are some powder puff games but there are tons of heavy hitters that should make for some good television viewing.
Appalachian State at Tennessee – Vols
K-State at Stanford – Trees
Colorado State vs Colorado – Buffs
Hawaii at Michigan – Wolverines
Oklahoma at Houston – Sooners
Iowa at Miami (OH) – Hawkeyes
LSU vs Wisconsin – LSU
Fresno State at Nebraska – Huskers
UNC at Georgia – UNC
SMU at Kentucky – Kentucky
Mizzou at West Virginia – Mizzou
USC vs Alabama – Bama
San Jose State at Tulsa – Spartans
Clemson at Auburn – Clemson
New Hampshire at SDSU – Aztecs
NIU at Wyoming – Huskies
BYU at Arizona – Zona
Northern Arizona at Arizona State – ASU
Notre Dame vs Texas – Irish
Ole Miss vs Florida State – FSU
What a bunch of f*******g amateurs!
March 1, 2016 – The Pit, Albuquerque
A fan yelled this at players last week in disgust. His team, the University of New Mexico, were in the closing minutes of a blowout loss to San Diego State. [In fairness, an Aztec fan yelled something similar at Viejas earlier this year.]
The irony of that moment has stuck with me. It’s ironic because his team, the New Mexico Lobos, are a bunch of amateurs. That’s the point of college athletics. It’s played by amateurs.
College hoops dominate my free time January through March. As the conference season unfolds I find myself watching more and more and more college hoops. ESPNU is regularly on in the background like muzak while I work. Last night I watched conference tournament games from four different leagues. And by this point in March my attire has dwindled down to all-Aztecs-all-the-time… all red and black all the time.
For some people March Madness is the NCAA tournament. But for nuts like me? Sometimes I feel like March Madness is an actual illness. A happy addiction.
In our collective March Madness let’s not forget how this ends.
There are 351 division 1 teams in Men’s Basketball. Only 68 teams will make the NCAA tournament. And only one team will hoist a trophy next month in Houston.
Chances are very, very good that your favorite teams season is going to end in a loss. Even my beloved Aztecs are not likely to win it all.
You team’s season might end in a blow out or a buzzer beater. But in that moment… are you going to be mad at the team or are you going to appreciate all that they’ve done?
Here’s the advice of a long-time basketball nut:
And certainly don’t scream at players.
Disappointed? Sure. Sad? That’s normal. Bummed for the players? Totally understandable.
But don’t take it out on them, they are a bunch of amateurs.