The Five SEC Players I Would (And Would Not) Hang Out With

I recently had a conversation with a college friend of mine of a college quarterback's, now thanks to the internet  infamous tattoo. It led to the idea for this post. Without further ado, here is the list of players in the SEC, given the opportunity, I would like or would not to hang out with in no particular order.

The "Woulds":

Even Nick Saban likes Barrett Jones

Barrett Jones, Alabama center- A 2011 unanimous All-America selection and Outland Trophy winner, Jones is not only a beast on the field at 6-foot-5, 311-pounds; but he also holds a 4.0 at Alabama, while working on his masters and preparing for the CPA exam. The over-sized nerd, once finished 15th in his age division at a Scrabble competition. Oh and he has played violin continuously since age three. 

Jordan Rodgers, Vanderbilt quarterback- The community college transfer followed began the 2011 season as the No. 2 quarterback on the Commodore depth chart before taking over the starting job and topping Jay Cutler's freshmen year in total yards gained. I would hang out with Jordan on the outside shot he would bring his brother Aaron along, Super Bowl MVP and champion for the Green Bay Packers.

Knile Davis, Arkansas running back and Tyler Wilson, Arkansas quarterback- I went with a combo here for the same reason no parent wants to choose their favorite child. Davis and Wilson are arguably the top players in the SEC at their respective positions. In addition, reports came out that the duo had conversations with former Razorback coach, and poor motorcycle-driving connoisseur, Bobby Petrino over the summer. Wouldn't you like to know exactly what was said?

T.J. Moe, Missouri wide receiver- In my last post, I wrote how Moe stole the show at SEC media days with his comments of how the SEC is better than the Big 12. Other than that,  I do not know much about the No. 1 wideout on the Tiger's depth chart. However, I do know if we were to hang out there is a strong possibility I would have more one-liners to add to my arsenal, which is enough to make the list.

Johnson, stud on and off the field.

A.J. Johnson, Tennessee linebacker- Would I be a fan of his had I not moved to Gainesville, Johnson's hometown two years ago? Probably not, but after doing so and hearing some of the local lore I would like to talk to this kid and get the his full story. I have watched him on some YouTube highlights, and the more I watch the more I wish I could have seen the then Red Elephant in person. Locals here say he is a great all-around person.

Honorable Mention-

Bacarri Rambo, Georgia safety- He was called Fudge before he changed his name in grade school. I would ask for the full story.

Barkevious Mingo, LSU defensive end- The name game again. What is its origin?

Kiero Small, Arkansas fullback- The 5-foot10, 255-pound Small is a willing block seeker in the second and third level. He broke more than ten opponent's helmets and at least eight of his own in 2011.


The "Would Nots":

Tyrann Mathieu, LSU cornerback- If an explanation is necessary, just Google is name. The Honey Badger is a good ball player but has a number of character issues.

Da'Rick Rogers, Tennesee wide receiver- Yet another prima donna wide receiver, who tweets about hanging out with high school kids in hot tubs when he goes home to Calhoun, Georgia. Rogers is talented receiver who used his five-star ranking to shortchange Georgia. He switched his commitment in the last hour to the Volunteers by finagling a scholarship for his high school quarterback. A season later, he publicly announced that he was going to transfer to Georgia State after a disappointing season. These plans never worked out, and now he is still giving his all -- if that possible -- for Tennessee today.

Hard to believe the guy on the right has the art on the right inked on his chest.

A.J. McCarron, Alabama quarterback- Though he is not the reason this blog was created, he comes in a close second because of his tattoo. When one decides to go through with a terrible permanent marking on their body, they prove to me of their poor decision-making skills, which would make hanging out with him not so fun. McCarron's tattoo does just that (and he strives to be just like John Parker Wilson, Bama Bangs and all).

Brad Wing, LSU punter- Football players do not generally respect the masters of special teams (kickers and punters). Sure it was a good play, and another gutsy call by LSU coach Les Miles, but taunting the opposing team after scoring your only career touchdown (which was called back) as a punter is a quick way to find yourself on this list. Cocky punters? Nah.

Bray needs no nameplate on his jersey. He
already has a permanent one on his back.

Tyler Bray, Tennessee quarterback- The Volunteer signal caller is the proud owner of the star tattoo which brought this whole post to life. Since telling the press at SEC Media Days how proud he is of his star back-branding, Bray has thrown a temper tantrum after allegedly being told he would be evicted from his apartment complex. With his cannon-like right arm, he threw beer bottles and golf balls at a neighbor's car. Although he apologized and is paying for the damages, I am not up for a night of taking out anger through vandalism of private property.

Dishonorable Mention- 

Philip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn tight end- He added to the myth that white men can't dance with The Lutzie against Alabama in 2010.

Thoughts and opinions of my list? Or others you would want to add? Comment below.

SEC Media Days, Cam Newton Street, Hold the Joe But More Kobe Please

We find ourselves in the middle of the beginning of the unofficial kickoff of college football. A little wordy, huh? It is easier to call them the Southeastern Conference Media Days, where coaches begin to make excuses for why their team will not live up to expectations (Steve Spurrier and Joker Phillips), respond with numerous wild card answers (John L. Smith and Les Miles), or simply fulfill an obligation to their conference (Nick Saban). 

No matter how your coach answers, the SEC Media Days are the biggest of their kind for the most competitive league in any sport so enjoy the make-believe camaraderie and hopefully we get a coach to drop gems like Missouri's T.J. Moe, "They say girls are prettier here, air's fresher, and the toilet paper is thicker."

Couldn't agree 'Moe', T.J.

This lonely student's sign reads: Protect the Paterno statue.

Some Students Ask for More Joe Please:
In more Joe Paterno news, students -- a population of two -- are camping out in order to protect the statue, which remains erect outside Beaver Stadium.

An anonymous flight from Ohio read "Take down the statue, or we'll take it down for you" (a hopeful me desires for this news to be true).

I wish I would have made note of this in my last post, but the chances of the statue being vandalized is somewhere around 100%. This is all the more reason to take the thing down from its current location and follow my instructions. Students from Penn State have tweeted that "these few students do not represent the entire campus population."

All the more reason for the "protesting" students to take advantage of their parent's investment -- because it does not last forever -- in room and board, and go back to their dorm and hold their own Paterno-crazed pity party.

Cam Newton Way Should be a toll road if plan comes to fruition:
He has NFL records. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year. He has a statue at his alma mater (Can you even call it that when he only spent eight months there and did not receive a degree from there? Or Blynn Junior College? Or Florida? I digress.). But getting a road named after him? You must be out of your mind.

He is a 23-year-old admittedly "very immature" quarterback. And while -- speaking from experience-- this is to be expected for a man of his age, let's give him some time before we Georgians give him such an honor. For one, it would cost the residents of Scarborough Road in South Atlanta money, time and effort to change their address. Residents also report to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that they are not ready to name a street after a person with a scandaled past.


A second hearing is still on the agenda where the proposition will likely be shot down. If the road does pass a second vote, can we all agree it should at least be a toll road?

Give me more Kobe
NBA Commissioner David Stern has come forward saying that at the next olympics it is possible we see the 23-and-under rule enforced. Within these parameters, USA basketball would still be able to use NBA professionals with onlythree players over the age of 23. This would help protect players in the NBA from participating in the Olympics and coming home injured a la Blake Griffin and Kyrie Irving.

If Stern gets his way, you won't see Kobe or LeBron in USA unis anymore.

Thirty-three-year-old Kobe Bryant thinks the same way I do about the Commissioner's proposal, "It's a stupid idea," Bryant said. I could not agree more with the Olympic gold medalist.

Whether or not to play should remain up to the players, who risk injury and fatigue in the next 82-game season. Some argue that NBAers in international play makes for a competitive disadvantage for the rest of the world.

Um... is that not the point of competition? To be the best? In addition to winning another gold this summer clips such as these will be recorded for all Americans to "Ohh" and "Ahh" over.

Kobe also told a Y! reporter earlier this week that it is "possible" he retires at age 35. Say it ain't so. Sure Bryant is made fun of for the number of shots he takes, but a 1 1/2 years ago he ranked as the ninth best player of all time (and his stock is only rising). Of course, he may be modeling his career even more so like his idol Michael Jordan by testing retirement and coming back as a player-manager down the road.

Should Joe Go, or Should Joe Stay Now?

I am sure the masses have been patiently waiting and  anxiously checking each and every day, if not more often, to read what I think should be done with the Joe Paterno statue at Penn State University. Sorry I have been busy with a research paper last week and traveled to lower Alabama -- the only "LA" I recognize -- for a week at the beach with the family. Now that I have a few free minutes, here is what should, and if Penn State has any sense, will be done with the JoePa statue. 

If you have not heard what happened in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania from 1994 to 2009, get out of your mobile home every once in a while and watch the news. On second thought, you may be better for never having heard these tragedies. 

Sandusky being hauled off to his final earthly home,
the Centre County Correctional Facility.

With the aid of a high-profile football program the Nittany Lions defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, lured young men, who lacked male role models, and sexually abused them time and time again. Some incidents took place in the basement of his house, while his wife was upstairs!


Sadly, even more molestation happened in the football locker rooms, where Sandusky would rape these boys in the team showers. Sandusky's reign is over. 


He will now rightfully die in prison, or serve 442 years in prison first, after being found guilty on 45 of 48 counts against him.

Paterno, the most powerful man in the state of Pennsylvania, along with officials at the university knew what was happening and turned a blind eye to the horrid acts taking place only feet away in order to protect their precious football program and its once revered cleanliness. Now we know otherwise.


There is a statue of Paterno leading his team on to the field at Beaver Stadium. Some, like iconic former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, want the statue torn down, as to not bring up the memories of what happened under his watch. Others would prefer the statue remain standing as a reminder of what happened, and how we should all be more aware of like situations around the country.

Here's your middle-of-the-ground solution, and to be quite honest, the most sensible one. Take the statue down... from its current location. Remove the wall behind the statue as well, so whenever I watch a Penn State game in the next 30 years (let's be honest, I never watch Big 10 games, unless Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt is the only game on television), I do not have to be reminded of Paterno's filth and total disregard for human lives, children's lives at that.

Take said statue, and erect it in a room on campus where you can, with unbiased writing tell the story of Paterno. There is no doubt he did a lot of very good for Penn State, donating millions and raising millions more so that thousands could be educated. However, now we know of his despicable secrets, which should be brought to light as well.

Even better, put the statue in a room in the campus library, which is currently named after JoePa. Take out a few of those now useless bookshelves and place the statue where all can come of his life, the good and the bad. And where the statue once stood, place some sort of tribute to those all around the world who are victims of emotional, verbal, physical and sexual child abuse.


It is a horrible situation and one no one saw coming except for those on the inside of the pedophile ring at Penn State. Now they face criminal charges. Paterno, who lived a lie until his dying breath, is lucky to be dead or he too would have suffered the fate of Sandusky.

The new-look CDC thanks to the folks at Nike.

More: Other entities have, or still have to, make decisions of what to do with things that bear Paterno's name:

Mentioned earlier, do you leave the library named after a man who has marred the very name of your institution? No. Follow the lead of Nike CEO Phil Knight below. 

Nike spoke quickly by taking down Joe Paterno's name off the child development center at their Oregon headquarters. Good call by Phil Knight.

The NCAA has been called upon to enforce the death penalty on Penn State football. Keep it away. It ruined  the Southern Methodist program the one time is was used in football and effects kids who had nothing to do with the football staff's dreadful decision-making. Instead, remove Paterno's 409 wins from the record books, effectively making him the all-time wins leader no more.

Have a better suggestion? Share in the comment section.

Passport 2012: Life Together

Some people say they can feel the presence of God the most at the beach, in the mountains or in a church. One of the most important places for me and the transformation of my own faith is located in at a small university in Wingate, North Carolina.

I got to go back to the same kids mission site I worked in 2009,
where some of the children even remembered me.

Passport Inc. has a youth camp that meets each year at Wingate University during the summer. I have had the chance to attend as a camper, bible study leader and chaperone at Passport's Wingate location.

I told a version of this what this place means to me and its importance to my own walk with God to the FBC Gainesville Youth on Thursday night last week at camp.

In the summer of 2009 I had the opportunity to work for Passport as a bible study leader (BSL). For those of you who know me and know the role of a BSL at camp, know that taking on this adventure was taking a step outside of my comfort zone.

On our way to one of the nightly parties.

For those of you who have never been to Passport and seen a BSL in action, they are the ones on stage leading games, dances and all-around acting a fool to keep campers laughing and spirits high, along with leading bible studies and directing mission sites for campers, the latter of which is much more up my alley.

Looking back, I can assure you it was the best summer I had in college. Not only did I learn a tremendous amount about my own faith, but relationships were formed that would last and pay dividends down the road.

That summer I met Chris Burns, the youth minister from First Baptist Church Gainesville and a good friend of my own youth minister, John Uldrick in my hometown of Rome, Georgia.

It was a brief meeting, as was all of my free time that summer. We talked for a few minutes and I did not think about it again for another two years, when I moved to Gainesville to attend Brenau University for my Masters in Occupational Therapy.

Burns leading church group devotions

To make a two-year-long story short, Burns asked me to go with the FBC Gainesville group as a chaperone last year. It was an introduction to the youth group of sorts, a chance to meet some of the students before I would work as a youth intern over the next school year. 

I shared on the last night of camp last year how I felt I was well on my way to becoming a part of this family.

Fast forward 365 days and I found myself back in the same room, with much of the same group, on the last night. I told the group how they, over the past year, have exemplified this year's theme and followed Jesus' call to live 'Life Together.'

I have attended everything from ballet concerts to basketball games as many of these youth and their families have welcomed me into their homes, and ultimately their lives.

Eating oranges... with the peel.

Because of these experiences -- and the fact that I am a male in an all-women's cohort at Brenau -- I would much rather spend a weekend with these youth than most others in Gainesville.

I am beyond thankful for my church family at FBC Gainesville and for the good fortune brought about because of a camp at a small university 30 miles east of Charlotte.

Another bonus to my week is I as able to take a old college friend, Kris Roberts, to camp for the first time as a chaperone with me. For an account of his experience here is the link to his blog.

FBC Gainesville chaperones

Kris and I got to drive the "Dale" bus all week long.

Demonstrating my low aptitude for double dutch.