Senior Game and a Retrospective

Our senior game tailgating was a-dorable.

I hope our wave mommas enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

I am really digging this tablecloth, which Booty tried to use as a poncho during our 4th Q early start on post-game tailgating. Ha! But fer reals: it's so easy to get together and it's cheap. And that's key to keeping Coach Hullabaloo from getting exasperated.

So how you make this tablecloth, you take two pieces of felt and then cut trims of fringe all the way around the border a few inches. I'd say about 3-4 inches. And then get busy knotting a single knot tie with all of the fringe pieces.

I think I'm gonna improve upon this and get it embroidered either with a major statement fleur de lis, or with "Roll Wave" in old school cursive. Will see what inspires me. But I very much liked this look.

The banner I loved also, so it won't be the last time you see it.

So this was the last game of Booty as Riptide. So I am sharing some pictures as a retrospective. (disclaimer: if none of my sassy sarcastic commentary makes any sense, disregard: I am being facetious)

Booty gagging from proximity to Mike

Booty modeling a swingline stapler in honor of the daughter of the creator of Office Space who was a member of Shockwave. (this by the way, is factual)

Booty graciously welcoming potential future CUSA members as deck chairs continue to be re-arranged.

Booty photobombed all of Memphis Pouncer's pictures at the Memphis game, but all I captured was her doing the chacha at the pregame pep rally at the Alumni Tent (which was still pretty cute).



Me relieved that Tulane didn't add to our gridiron woes by not having Riptide at the UL game.

MrsHullabaloo and Riptide doing a disco bump pre-game at the Senior Game.

Farewell Booty as Riptide! Thank you for your service!

This is An Outrage

Our Moral Victory was swept out right from under us.

Brent Comardelle WAS inbounds with both feet, Joshua Rounds DID go 25 yards, Robert Kelley DID make the first down.

and the pirates WERE facemasking ALL day.

It was such an outrage, I literally almost ran out onto the field and did something. What I'm not sure yet, but it would have been lights out.

Did you know I have fed some of these idiot zebras' wives this season?! Yes. at my tailgates. And this is the thanks I get.

Anyways, funniest thing all season is realizing two things. The cleverness of our injury time outs (I had an Aha! moment in Memphis. So sneeky!) and how I will always have to giggle after a Zach Davis tackle.

He seems to always do this Kung Fu move at his victim after slaying them.

I feel he must say "Namaste!" to them, or something like that.

Also, one new Tulane Tradition we started: instead of pumping a single fist for The Hullabaloo, we are pumping both arms up in the air in honor of Cairo Santos. You know, like the referee signal for "It's Good!" As in, the field goal was good and through the uprights.

Anyways, coming up later: a retrospective on the season. Hope you come check back tomorrow.

Yulfogelmelvin

It officially happened: We've reached the threshold where the team's given up and it's time to just mail it in. Stick a fork in us, we are done says Mrs. BadFan here.

Alls left is to read Rick Dickson's Dreidel Talk to explain away why the team stayed in a perpetual state of confusion and why it was such a brilliant idea to go UP THE MIDDLE FOUR FRIGGIN TIMES WITHIN THE 5.

Last week the Dreidel Talk was about how this was the greatest week of the history of Tulane Athletics. Two book end losses. Awesome. And some crazy names we gotta pretend to love. Yulfogelmevlin is what I'm christening it.

Losing so sucks! But I'm just terribly impatient here, watching this for 21 years. My fandom is old enough to no longer get carded.

Just to pour salt on the wound and further demoralize us, Memphis replayed highlights of the 1992 game. 62-20. I sat in the Superdome actually witnessesing that with some gorgeous J Crew catalogue models from Memphis State that my roomies and I were entertaining for the weekend. Yes, lucky us! I'd totally post pictures, but then I would digress from my pity party.

Anyways, while on memory lane: 10 years ago we went to a Bowl Game. Remember those? Oh, and UL almost beat Florida yesterday.

p.s. the Tulane Marching Band was awesome and I loved, having them with us here in Memphis. They totally rocked. Thank you TUMB for giving us some for real college moments.

That Gathering Formerly Known As Homecoming

Thank you very much to everybody who organized Champions Square, put up with my flagrant violation of "the rules," tried to iron out some major kinks and not only brought us chairs to replace our confiscated ones, but also offered to bring us tables even though we did successfully manage to get those past the very vigilant guards.

But, here's the deal. The Greenies haven't won a homecoming game in one of my cat's lifetimes. I am therefor o-fficially cancelling "Homecoming." Throwing my lot in with the Greeks and "boycot it" (in air quotes) like they did this year.

I commissioned these candy jars from Coach Hullabaloo. Via my new obsession: pintrest.

Y'all, Tulane enforcing the unbeknowst to everybody "rules" of Papa Benson's Champions Square went over as well as a fart in a synagogue. And add our having to contemplate a moral victory against Rice, just has me out of sorts!

Or at the very least we shall rename this tradition. Nell and I decided we are henceforth calling it: "A Gathering"

Change the name like they changed Airline Highway to Airline Drive.....Everybody knows it's still Airline Highway, but we're giving it a different spin, put our minds off the additional pressure.

Perhaps change the dynamic of the unsavory elements who may sashay in and ruin our gameday. And, hopefully rob Tammy Nunez of the opportunity to pen yet another one of her simply awful articles that she just relishes to write. Cause lawd, she's just awful. and did I mention patronizing (if she has such disdain, why doesn't she go find a more pleasant team to cover?)

Anyways, yes, I was ever proud of the Olive+Blue's effort in the second half, turning it into an exciting and winnable game. But lawd we tried just as hard to give the game away as well. I quit counting how many TD interceptions and fumbles we had that produced points for Rice. So maybe if we enact this name thing, it will take the pressure off.

Le Sigh...
this mascot planter, another pintrest inspiration

Well, one thing I do look forward to as the Coach Curtis Johnson Era continues to unfold is whipping up a Brazilian Themed tailgate for senior day 2013 in honor of Cairo Santos! Caipirinhas and all, y'all.

Cairo is all of 4 inches taller than me, y'all it was so cute and funny to see him tossed in the air like a rag doll in celebration when he kicked that monster field goal just before the half. (picture from Times Pic)

Oh Happy Moment!

Of course, I can't neglect to mention Ryan Travis genius interception giving us our 3rd Q Mo. Cause that was some kind of awesome reminiscent of our Days of Yore at Tad Gormley Homecomings. Oh if only Griff had seen the open lane for him to run in the 2 point conversion on his own. And if only at least a half a dozen other things, like me remembering to take a friggin picture with the Monday Night Football cameraman to have proof of my hospitality in offering him a free plate of food.

Coach Hullabaloo made me these too. Cute serving stands from spray painted terra cotta planters. Love, right? Totally inspired from pintrest.

But yes, Oh for the days of Yore....or days of the future if we manage to get ESPN gameday to The Y in 2014, but that marketing coup might just be too high to aim for our "right for Tulane's situation" mentality that TPTB insists on. I could have used my aforementioned photograph with their MNF camera person as evidence that my tailgates are not to be missed and deserve ESPN Gameday treatment all. on. their. own.

Here a rogue Tulane fan in Baton Rouge. My new favorite person in the universe. He says he is not an LSU Fan. At All. He begrudgingly goes there because it was the cheapest place he could go to school. I knew I'd found a kindred spirit when he tweeted today "LSU fans are a little mad #ha" (genius, a hashtag for "ha" lol).

Anyways, I just LOVE his irreverent humor, especially as it pertains to Red Stick. Follow him for genius commentary.

So bouquet of roses to my new twitter crush Cal for representing at Gameday. And Bouquet of roses to Alabama for silencing Baton Rouge for the weekend. Yes, Indeed. And bouquets of something to them classy tigah fans for their equally classy chant emanating from their student section. For real, it's not an Urban Legend. Because me, in my naive-tay thought, no...this couldn't have possibly! but no - they even have a whole twitter account for it! Oh, dare to dream y'all!

Next Week: Memphis!

Hide Yo Wife, Hide Yo Kids

Coach Hullabaloo belly laughing this morning that he's gonna bid on the Helluva Hullabaloo Auction for the two week internship opportunity in the Athletic Department. Y'all - I'd get TWO WEEKS! For me to whip them up into shape. Talk about Extreme Home Makeover y'all. (TPTB if you are reading this: WE ARE KIDDING!)

No, for real: TULANE IS BRINGING THE WOOD! The Wave has won. Again! That's two wins in one season!

Above is Peggy fr-eaking out like she was during the game.

Bless her heart, she forsake us for the SMU game and so now she couldn't believe her eyes. Because after the SMU game, those of us actually in the stands were all commenting where this imposter team had come from.

Booty's explanation during the SMU game was that we simply had to be dressing up Saints players in olive and blue on the sly. Mickey Loomis was on the sidelines yesterday, so ya know...it's plausible. (but for real, props where props are due: to the entire team for not giving up! Mrs. Hullabaloo very proud of y'all!).

Anyways, I listened to the postgame press conference with absolute delight. I relished our win! They interviewed Darion Monroe about his monster punt return (picture by Chris Granger, Times Pickasheet).

Lawd have mercy: when's the last time we've taken a punt return to the house? Or House Adjacent since he was called out at the 1. And I got to witness it y'all! We actually almost got to return a second one to the house, but our punt returner tripped up by himself. boo his! (<-look at me being all kinds of sassy about our extreme makeover on special teams)

Anyways, Darion Monroe's comments towards the end of the post game made me chuckle, because at the end of the clip Monroe was commending Ryan Griffin on managing the offense (did you know Ryan Griffin is running the clock down to zero on purpose?! Except for an occasional delay of game penalty, I'm not sure if I'm digging this approach). Darion capped off his comments by saying that he took his "top off to him."

I AGREE! If we keep this up through the end of the season I urge all of us to take our tops off too. A veritable "wave" of topless fans, waving our tops in the air! #TulaneTradition

Speaking of traditions, our tailgating. Ta Da!

So we moved the festivities down to the Parking Cave, because with our country beset by Hurricane, Cold Front, Tremors and Tsunami on Saturday it was some kind of cold and windy up on the Parking Lot Penthouse atop Garage 5. And cute tablescaping won out over real estate.

I just loved my tablescaping. I used stencils to paint the staggered mason jars, hung precariously here with TU colored gingham ribbon.

I repurposed some of the burlap from our Texas inspired tailgate and added a ruffle on it to go atop my vinyl gingham tablecloths.

Ruffle detail shown here with honeydew and blueberries (as I explained to Coach Hullabaloo who dared to ask why: because it is green and blue! mmkay!) and green bean, onion and walnut salad.

I project runway'd the ruffled burlap while Coach Hullabaloo made our cheddar cornbread in this adorable fleur de lis muffin pan. How cute are these....

Bond Girl brought Nutter Butter Banana Pudding, and y'all...as an earthly being, I could not possibly conceive that Banana Pudding could be freestyled so heavenly! I garnished the top with some dried banana chips and caught a quick snapshot before it disappeared.

I managed to grab a dollop of it after Bond Girl lovingly deposited the naner pudding on the table. I turned around for a second and the naner pudding was gone. Like a vacuum had come by and sucked it all up. To all Banana Pudding aficionados out there in the Greenie Dat Nation or amongst the visitors to my shtetl: Nutter Butter Banana Pudding!

The pumpkins I picked up at Michael's and sliced the stump off the top, added some TU decals and voila, cuteness ensues.

Speaking of cuteness, my homecoming theme, my homecoming theme. It's gonna knock your socks off.....Hide yo wives, Hide yo kids!

So onwards to Homecoming Y'all!

Meanwhile Back at The Hullabaloo Ranch

These pictures have absolutely nothing to do with my discussion below, other than double dipping this post as a tutorial on the making of homecoming mums.

Sad weekend for Mrs. Hullabaloo. Try as I might, we could not make a trip to El Paso happen. I am torturing Coach Hullabaloo about it, because I would have loved to have been there.

Although I did have quite a productive weekend. Mrs. Hullabaloo found Pintrest (follow me). and now I have all kinds of cute ideas to set my tailgating ablaze!

I also singlehandedly got us into the SEC. Well, an SEC tailgating blog roll anyways. Hoo-ray for Gameday Belles!

So two things about our game v. UTEP, well, three.

Yes, it was a good game. Coach Hullabaloo made us Frito Pie, another Texas Treat, in honor of playing the miners. Which - y'all - this meal is soooo not recommended for nail biter games, y'all. I literally wanted to just have a heart attack already and be done with it. But overall, I just have to say: it is quite a quandry which is better: getting a complete shellacking and digesting a proper meal, or outright dropping a winnable game and feeling ill.

A Loss is A Loss says I. and while the team is losing better, I want a WIN dernit. TPTB better not be thinking we can just hang our hat on a couple of wins and some moral victories to placate us. My tailgating parties deserve it afterall! I take no prisoners in crafting our weekly tailgating parties and show no mercy to Coach Hullabaloo's bank account.

My other two points I wanted to make was, What in Tarnation are We Gonna Do When Ryan Griffin Graduates? Jesus, Joseph and Mary, pray for us.

and lastly: why was Erleens Darka not given the ball to help us pound into the endzone or give us a first down after that 4th Q fumble recovery?

alas...UAB is up next and we are doing a BBQ theme tailgate. Dreaming of Mason Jars, Gingham and Burlap...it's gonna be some kind of awesome, I guarantee!

The Hip Replacement

Our last game against The Ponies, just like our last game against the Horned Toads....A WIN! It's our signature way to bid adieu: "Au Revoir! Have Fun in Your New Conference! Remember Us!"

While I did a major booty shake and I plan to put my new cute Roll Wave pin on my pyjamas for sweet dreams, TPTB better not be thinking that this now excuses them from continuing to mail it in. Although Rick Dickson is probably currently on his knees doing a Tim Tebow at Marie Laveau's tomb in complete relief that his Dreidel Talk on the 16th will be slightly less contentious.

Anyways, another complete winner today was our tailgate which was awesome.

I simply cannot take complete credit for such cuteness. I got inspiration from Oh My Goodness Gracious. and Coach Hullabaloo slaved over my new fleur de lis waffle maker while I fussed at him that we were running late. (so thank you Coach Hullabaloo for putting up with my obsessions)

The drink comes from Helen Gurley Brown! Yes! Im reading the book that launched her to fame and it was her signature brunch beverage. Take 6 coffee cups and boil down to one cup, then mix with a quart of vanilla ice cream and half to full fifth (depending on your tolerance!) of liquor of your choice. I used Bourbon. Sprinkle the top of each drink with ground nutmeg. And then warn your guests, girl!

One of the funniest things from the game was that when we had a clear lead, I was sitting with Mr. and Mrs. Circe and I started calling the plays. It was quelle hilarious. SMU was fixin to kick another Field Goal and I started cheering "Block That Kick! Block That Kick!" and then we did! And so our next posession I swept my arm up and over and pointed to our endzone and yelled "Go Long!" and then we did! One of our neighbors in the section asked me what the powerball numbers were going to be tonight. I'm so sure! ha ha!

With these play predictions, I joked with Circe that next game I would make myself a witch's hat and a Greenwave colored broom (Wilson Center would so love that, you know, that I actually do have a witch's broom).

So anyways, your happy final

Last of the Mohicans

We were having fun doing some cheers at the game yesterday.

"I screen, YOU screen, We ALL scream for NO SCREEN!" (because, lawd, if Up The Middle weren't enough)

And then we actually had some witty cheers going for our 11 first downs. Preacherman came up with this "Tulane, four lanes, six lanes a highway! Drive! Drive! Drive!"

So funny!

Although the fans around me were ready to burst into flames if they saw another screen pass play. Which was either dropped for an incomplete pass or intercepted for a touchdown.

I think the fans that are left and haven't been chased off just yet (because despite the prayer chain at Wilson Center, I am not going away) should fly airplane banners around the Superdome for Homecoming. Lighten up the mood a little, "PLEASE PLAY 11 MEN EVERY DOWN" "WE WILL NOT GO ACROSS THE STREET"

or something to this effect. Funny? No? okay, just an idea. I don't say that all my ideas are good.

Anyways, I finally debriefed Caoch Hullabaloo over Jewish Coonasses at Brunch this morning about his evening of sideline reporting for Hullabaloo Huddle. In an un-official, unpaid, capacity of course. The jury is still out if he has the fortitude to be extended an internship opportunity here.

When I finally got into the stadium yesterday, I decided I would watch the game from the stands. We had sideline passes, but the stupid student section was all riled up, we were in unforgiving path of the afternoon sun, and there was nowhere to manuever down there. So I let Coach Hullabaloo play on the sidelines without me so I could sit and chat with friends in the stands.

Coach Hullabaloo feels that all is not lost - we needn't slit our wrists just yet. There are indeed players who are playing their hearts out and he sees a glimmer of hope for improvement.

We were both in agreement about the disarray of play calling, players clearly unsure about their assignments, our aggravating stack of delay of game penalties (to the point that the fans in the stands started shouting vocal countdowns 10! 9! 8! 7 6! ..etc), and this business of 10 men on the field for 7 friggin' plays. None of us at Tulane were expecting a coaching staff that needed on the job training, and so these elements of sloppy skippering have us most disconcerted.

But what had me literally rolling in laughter today was Coach Hullabaloo who did a live reenactment of Justin Shackleford catching the long bomb for our touch down drive.

For that particular drive, Coach Hullabaloo happened to move to the other side of the benches anticipating that we would finally, thankfully, GO LONG. and Miracle of miracles, we did. So Coach Hullabaloo was actually facing #80 when the ball came sailing into his bucket.

pictures from Parker Waters are here. They are really good. He's an awesome photog.

Coach Hullabaloo recounted how the ball actually traveled down to about Shackleford's waist before he pulled it back up again towards his chest and that the look on his face at the precise instant of contact with the ball was a mixture of shock, surprise and panic. As if saying "OMG, Tulane has completed a Pass! There's Nothing But Green Space in front of US. and We're not fixing to get buried in a gang tackle!"

Coach Hullabaloo wishes he had commandered Parker's camera for that one, because he said it was such a funny reaction that he'll never forget it in his life. It lasted all of about a second, because then Shackleford turned on his jets and headed for the pylon. Hoo-ray!

So how cute is this dress?

Too cute right? The lady who made it does not have an etsy store, or a website, but she does have an email and phone, so if you wish to get her contact info, drop me a line below.

One of my better memories form yesterday was enjoying having the band at the away game so that we could have some for real college football team moments like singing the fight song and then swaying to the alma mater after the game.

So now my chickens, I'm all just about Over It. Given myself a good 24 hours to decompress. I gotta drag Coach Hullabaloo out to get me a Fleur de Lis Waffle Maker for tailgating next week. Although Booty made me laugh this morning that I should update my centerpiece for SMU to include 50 one dollar bills (with a thong - that was my idea). Who knew?! Methodist Football Players are into stiffing hookers. Ha Ha!

Onwards to SMU!

Bataan Rouge Death March

Good gravy. Mrs. Hullabaloo kept an exasperated Coach Hullabaloo up until almost midnite making costume decisions for our first away trip of the season.

Who knew one of the perils of having a closet bursting with gameday options would lead to indecisions of this magnitude! and Coach Hullabaloo being ever more aggravating by responding noncomittaly "yeah...that one is cute too, can we go to sleep now." Lollipops have mercy, which one is cute-est?! Because it is e-ssential that at least I look the part of a spirited fan. While being lead to slaughter and humiliation.

Much like Marie Antoinette packing before headed to the guillotine.

Although pictured, out are the boots, which I love so. It's going to be high 80's in Lafayette. Better to debut them at the SMU game next weekend in the Superdome. The sandals, I explained to Coach Hullabaloo, are a gameday decision. No, I don't necessarily need 3 pairs of shoes for 2 days. But better to have options than to be sorry. If Tulane can't manage the logistics of bringing Riptide to home games or much less to games within 2 hours driving distance, then I'll make up for it by having cute shoes.

Anyways, as you can see, Coach and Mrs. Hullabaloo are completely in the throes of packing. Last week we were advised that the trip (we are traveling with the team for this one, can you believe they are letting me?) would be making a layover in Bataan Rouge for the night and then continue on to Lafayette the day of the game. I was tempted to stay home.

Who wants to go to Bataan Rouge? So the team shall be staying in the outhouse prior to our lynching appointment in Lafayette. Yes.

Waveprofessora mentioned that they, too, were gluttons for punishment and going to watch the Cajuns slay the Wave. She added that Tulane would need a miracle. I'll say. Last week on ULM's opening drive, the wide receiver dropped a perfect pass and Peggy joked that Jesus was our 12th Man. Ha! This weekend we need a raging outbreak of scabies to befall the first through third string of the Cajuns' roster. In addition to a locust pestilence to swarm Lafayette rendering the city uninhabitable between the hours of 4pm and midnite. Forcing the reschedule of the game for a later date to conveniently fall under the regime of a new and improved Athletic Director Administration.

Anyways, one of my favorite things about using Tulane Away Games as an excuse to travel (since I haven't figured out how to pack Riptide myself since it's such a hassle for the Athletic Departmen to do so) is compiling a personal list of dining, shopping and sightseeing recommendations. I love, love, love Suzy Gershman's books, but until Tulane follows Notre Dame's lead of commiting to funding and running a team that attracts the loyal support of our national alumni base, I don't see us successfully booking games in exciting locations like Ireland or whatnot where Suzy's guides would come in handy. Although Coach Hullabaloo and I would love to schedule another round of Humiliation in Hawaii if TPTB finds it in their hearts to throw Tulane fans a bone and at least give us pleasant surroundings for our weekly ass-kickings.

So anyways, I've been compiling suggestions on my own to endure our dreary travel to the remote and barren locations of our bottom ranked conference. Oh, Tulsa? Ok, you must go to El Elote or the Polo Grill. El Paso? The Greenery. Birmingham? Jim N Nicks!

These tips have come in quite handy. If you are stuck in say, Hot Springs, Arkansas like Mr. and Mrs. Preacherman were, and I was able to guide them to Central Park Fusion. Which has been a recommendation they have graciously thanked me for on multiple occassions since their trip.

Anyways, so for Bataan Rouge, we have reservations at Maison Lacour, which is alleged to be a very good authentic French Bistro. And let me tell you: quelle relief that I found it! Did you really think that Coach and Mrs. Hullabaloo would go to TJ Ribs to admire the pawned Heisman?

Genius!

Right? Don't you just love, love the koozies? The Louisiana Sportsmen theme for yesterday's tailgate was truly genius.

and I can't wait to break out that playbook again. Perhaps with a faux antler chandelier (do you honestly believe I would harm an animal in pursuit of the ultimate tailgating tablescape?).

But my word, yesterday's game is one episode where Mrs. Hullabaloo hates to be proven correct about intuition.

From the bottom of my heart, I love Coach Johnson's enthusiasm and darnit, I am absolutely crazy about his wife! She is Fabulous exclamation point. If only we could will Coach Johnson to do well as a collective.

I am really terrified to go back to my initial reaction to the December press conference in the Wilson Center. Wherein I listened in panic to the words "I don't know yet what the offense is going to be" "We're gonna play a version of what the Saints play" "You can script plays all you want, but then xyz player is gonna go out and make a play and that script goes out the window" or the real zinger: "Scott Cowen intimated me"

!!!!!

Peter, Joseph and Mary, I can't believe me some of the excuses that are being trotted out and sampled to see if they stick. Like "we put in 9 different players and still trying plug in which ones will work with the plays" (or something to that effect)

For real? We can't evaluate talent 4 games in? I heard this movie before and it was Bob Toledo. And the plot was a refusal to give up on a system that we couldn't recruit for or that worked for our team, instead of playing up the talent which we have in order to cobble together a string of wins. And the story ended with 3 seasons too long on a contract (because, honestly I was done, done, done when Andre Anderson had a tantrum in the locker room after USM the last time we played in Hattiesburg).

And yes, I know and appreciate that the Voice of the Wave needs to remain positive in what he puts forth on the airwaves in order to keep the job he loves, but the fact that our special teams is doing better is hardly comforting. or THIS

Hello, our 4th quarter touchdowns these past four games is not due to some miracle cohesion that is sprung forth out of thin air. It is due to playing against our opponents practice squads, which opponents have begun to put in out of pity. Because we can't sink any lower than LAST. Which is where we have wallowed for longer than my lifetime.

So please, Tulane Athletics SID, please do not put forth any more bull like, well everybody else in the conference also lost or whatever in addition to this. It just makes this sorry Tulane Tradition sadder that there's not a path to fixing any of this with our self-imposed contraints. And on top of that, that more effort is put into excuses and spin instead of common sense solutions.

TPTB has GOT to own this. Maybe I should make them some cute armband mums like they do in Texas for homecomings there. Decorate it with ribbons that read "Longest Losing Streak in the FBS" "I Compared Conference Hopping to The Titanic" "I Told Fans To Go Across the Street" or "7 to 120 Under My Watch" or my favorite: "The Next Head Coach Will Be Getting a Gift" (yes, TPTB said this. To Me. In response to when I asked after Toledo was finally fired, why he wasn't fired earlier back in December 2010 when he should have been fired. Said "gift" was in reference to the talent on the roster that Toledo built that needed to be preserved in tact).

We all knew in June what we had on our hands, heck we knew in the spring. (or if I understood this and the staff didn't, then that makes me want to go out and stage a one woman Occupy Camp on the Claiborne neutral ground - well with Naked Pizza and The Pyramid nearby I need to have to plan for sustenance you know. So this seems like an ideal location. Also, I had an awesome pedicure at the nail salon there on Calhoun too. Afterall, I gotta keep up grooming while manning my Occupy Camp. You didn't think I'd go all grubby like the genuine Occupiers did you?).

So, I digress: If it was imperative to run the Saints playbook, then what prevented us from getting JUCO's to carry out that concept? If even just for the SAFETY of our student athletes. You know, other peoples' children?

But I have to give props where props are due: You know one thing that has improved after Fans complained long and hard enough? The Dome is no longer an ice box during the games. Hoo-ray!

And then of course, #57 Zach Davis is the gift the keeps on giving with his genius interceptions.

I am sad I missed the one from yesterday now that we are spending the 4th Q back at tailgating and finish up listening on the radio. Three quarters being as much as my eyes can take. But I did catch the one in Hawaii and it was balls the wall nuts. More on Zach Davis in a second.

The truly genius dish, though, from yesterday's tailgate is awarded to the Camp Street Krewe who served Shrimp n Corn Macque Choux with beef jerky from Bourgeous Smokehouse in Thibodaux.

O-M-G. Coach Hullabaloo was kevelling that beef jerky was so awesome. I can't wait to copy this! So I'll share a recipe a for Crawfish n Corn Macque Choux so I'm not a complete copy cat. (also, I am sharing that Coach Hullabaloo hopes that Coach CJ is sitting down with Sean Payton today and taking copious notes).

So about Zach Davis....Last week, Coach Hullabaloo mentioned talking to his daddy at tailgating. I looked at him mighty puzzled. Because of course Coach Hullabaloo, being a male, didn't know his name so I had to wrack my brain about which particular student athlete's parent he could be speaking of. I was told we had met this fellow previously and so I had to catalogue my brain going on just this one nugget of information alone. And what was most puzzling was that Coach Hullabaloo said that apparently Daddy Davis has attended many other of our tailgates. And then Coach Hullabaloo was puzzled with me, because like how could I not know about this stealth tailgater?

Coach Hullabaloo and I had indeed met Daddy Davis previously, when some jerk fans came up to us at tailgating in Tulsa one year and made a stupid rhetorical question if Tulane was any good. In addition to just being appauled at this lack of manners, I was mortified about who this misguided individual was speaking to - Daddy Davis of all people.

So indeed, Coach Hullabaloo sez that Daddy Davis has popped into our tent over the past few years and instead of leaving the fellow standing there amongst our revelry, Coach Hullabaloo entertains him as any good host can given the inane NCAA improper benefits rules (really? I can't give Ryan Griffin's wheelchair bound grandfather a bottled water while he melts in Champions Square?). But who knew we were graced with Daddy Davis' visits? It was certainly news to me.

Zach Davis' absolutely adorable mom came by our tailgate today and so I shared with her the story about Daddy Davis being our stealth tailgater. It made for a funny story, especially with Peggy later on in the game when I was telling her about our stealth companion and she was as unawares as I was.

Well, let me tell what will not be stealth - and that is this genius tailgating dish which I proclaim "Season Winner"

MIRLITON AND CRAWFISH MACQUE CHOUX
halfa stick unsalted butter
3 cups fresh corn kernels
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 cups Louisiana trinity (1 cup onion, 1 cup bell pepper+celery)
1 10 oz can chopped tomatoes, or Ro-tel
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
2 cups heavy cream
3 mirlitons cooked, peeled, and diced
(maybe some chopped okra!)
1 pound Louisiana crawfish tails
handful of minced parsley
generous handful chopped green onions

Heat butter in medium saucepot. Add corn and saute for 2 minutes. Add chicken stock, trinity and tomaters. Turn heat up and cook until the chicken stock has evaporated. Add garlic, Cajun seasoning, salt, hot sauce, and heavy cream. Bring to a boil. Add mirlitons and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add crawfish tails and simmer for 10 minutes or until cream starts to reduce and thicken. Add parsley and green onions and stir to combine.

P.S. TPTB, if one of yous are reading this, yous are starting to mess with my tailgating and that is a problem.