My subconscious disagrees. I just woke up from a dream in which Amanda and I fell asleep on our couch and missed the game (which is basically how I feel about the Super Bowl this year). When we awoke, we found that the Eagles had won 30-20. McNabb was MVP.

We’ll see how this turns out.

Later: Apparently, my subconscious knows shit about football.

P.S. That AmeriQuest commercial with the cat was awesome.

Later: So, I was wrong. But the Blue and Red team played valiantly to defeat the White and Teal team, and much fun was had in the process. And thus ends my season of not paying a damn bit of attention to the NFL.

30 penalties in a game is just too much, but the last-second heroics of a visibly maturing Matt LeZotte made it worthwhile. The marching band was, as always (so I'm told), loud, but I could have done without a mostly-70s-music program.

Now it seems that the football players that live next door to us are celebrating in style; I've never parked as far away from my door as I had to just now. I can't bring myself to care all that much; they deserve it.

Congratulations, Jon Gruden and company. Enjoy it while it lasts, because there's no such thing as a dynasty in the NFL.

Giants in 2003!

Super Bowl XXXVII (37?!) has a chance to be among the classic games in history, with the high-offense Raiders going up against their former coach and the stingy-defense Buccaneers. In situations like this, I tend to favor the defense. Though Oakland is currently giving four points, if I were a betting man, I'd take the Bucs.

It just hit me: Perry White is Jeremiah Trotter in My Cousin Vinny.

The first was in the first quarter, when, kicking a field goal on fourth down, George hit the post. The second came at the end of the first half, when the referee called a phantom timeout on the Dukes, their third, and time expired on the next play from scrimmage as the officials dug through the pile.

The final opportunity lost came in the final minute of play, as the Dukes took penalty after penalty, only to move up to the one yard line on a blatant pass interference by UMASS in the end zone. On fourth and one, with 40 seconds left to play, the Dukes ran an off-tackle play and came up short.

My heart feels like it's been smashed into tiny pieces. Why am I not used to this yet?

1980 - Scott Norwood ties his own record for the second of three times when he nails three field goals in a 30-14 win over Liberty. Mickey Stinnett, John Coursey, Mike Glover, and Burke George now share the record with Norwood.

"Wait a second," I thought when I read that. "THE Scott Norwood went to JMU?" He did.

Thanks, Scott. You are responsible for my earliest Super Bowl memory. You rule!

After returning to JMU, we hung out at the football game, performing Thunder and Blazes and March Finale for the 12th and 13th times today. Sadly, the Dukes put up a valiant effort against the Villanova Wildcats, but ultimately lost 30-26.

Following the game was Dr. Rooney's big announcement that was hinted at last week.

Over the winter break of 2003, the Marching Royal Dukes will be taking a trip to Ireland and Germany. The only two places in Europe I really want to see before I die.

I need to start saving US$2000 now. And how can I go about picking up German again?

I am so psyched.

Far more disturbing than the loss of this week's game, however, is the potential loss of Marshall Faulk for any length of time. I watched the play where he "strained" his neck, and the first thing I said was "Oh God, he just fell on his head." Then I see him being helped off the field, and my heart almost stopped. I was heartened to see him back on the sidelines in uniform in the second half, but he didn't come back into the game, and his status is uncertain for Sunday's game. If he's out for on any given Sunday, I can basically write-off that week's game. Scary.