Archive for January, 2008

Well, in case you haven’t noticed, I am still in the process of changing the graphics and layout here. I decided to get rid of the “Power T” Flag on the header for a couple of reasons.

First, while I do focus on the Vols of Tennessee, my goal is to also cover the SEC and beyond. Thus, in the interest of being a little less partisan, I decided to remove the implication that Gate 21 is about nothing but the Vols.

Second, in light of all of all of the “cease and desist” letters that schools and teams have been sending out to bloggers over the last 12 months or so (See Busted Coverage’s issues with the Big Ten, and MissouriTigers.com’s issues with Mizzou), I decided to remove anything that could lead the University of Tennessee to tell me to can it. While I am all about free and fair use, the fact is that Tennessee would have a pretty easy time demonstrating that I was, essentially, using one of their trademarks. Given the fact that Tennessee had to take Texas to court over the whole “UT Interlock” logo and the “Power T” logo, I imagine that they would be willing to take steps to defend their marks. Furthermore, I don’t particularly want to get into an adversarial relationship with my alma mater. No, I’m not surrendering, I still plan on using the “Power T” and other logos where appropriate, I just figured it probably shouldn’t be in my header. Besides, it’s always better to create your own identity rather than ride on the coattails of others.

Thus, I introduce my new “Gate 21 Volunteer,” which I designed, and who now lives in the header, and may undergo a little more plastic surgery until I get him the way that I want him. I hope you like him, and — in case you care — I’m naming him “Gus” in honor of longtime … media-type-guy … at Tennessee, Gus Manning. Why? Well, I’m not sure, except that I’ve never been clear on what Gus Manning does, but everyone at Tennessee seems to think his opinion is pretty important; in terms of age he’s on the older side of “completely indeterminate;” and he’s a pretty comical character along with his buddy Haywood Harris. Again, it was the only name I could come up with.

Anyway, say hello to “Gus” and let me know if you like him, if you think he needs something else to make his placement in the Gate 21 header make sense. Also, if you’d be interested in having a logo designed for your, blog, website, organization, etc., shoot me an email — I work cheap.

Oh yeah, the BasketVols play Georgia tonight at 7:00. Let’s hope for a win.

Given the topic of this post, it is obvious that I have little to write about today…

- Go Figure …

Technorati Tags: Tennessee Volunteers,Graphic Design,Graphics,Logos,Logo Design,Gus Manning,Gus,Haywood Harris,Copyright,Trademarks,Cease and Desist,Volunteer,Ramblings,Power T,Gate 21

Going Postal, Internet Style …

A few links worth looking at:

• The Knoxville Snooze Slantinel’s take on Bruce Pearl as a color commentator.– Go VolsXtra
• Cedric Wilson really needs to re-think his dating strategy, and avoid the crazies. — YMSWWC and With Leather
• A Message To The Law Enforcement in Knoxville and a Song on the Epic Tale of Rich Rodriguez – YMSWWC
• So, ESPN is Completely Unbiased Huh? and Bama is still looking for an Offensive Coordinator — TSIB
• Eli Manning is Superman? — SEC Football Blogger
• Drunk Girl + Bathroom Stall Door = Funny — EDSBS

• Hey, man Tom Cruise demands that you Respect the Crock. — Hey Jenny Slater
• SEC conventional wisdom, 2008 edition — Get the Picture
• How to Dodge a Federal Subpoena, By Chuck Knoblauch and a everyone wants to know if Tim Tebow’s Legendary Ladyfriend Has Resurfaced?– The Big Lead
• Top 5 ESPN Personalities We’d Like To Muzzle Until After Super Bowl — Busted Coverage
• You be the judge, is Kristi Capel “America’s Hottest Weather Anchor” — Busted Coverage
• A Look at Gator Recruiting Tactics, more reasons to believe that Urban Meyer is one Freaky Dude , and a big “FU Urban Meyer” — Loser With Socks & Sportscrack
• Oh my God! To think people in Japan actually want to be on this game show — Duce of Davenport

• His Parents obviously hate him: “Long Wang” at Chapel Hill? — Brahsome
• Once again, “The Man” (Mizzou) comes after a Blogger — FanBlogs
• Damn, These People Really Want a Whopper (too funny but NSFW – language) – Hugging Harold Reynolds
• Inspired by Barefoot Coaching for Charity, Majerus to Coach Without Pants – Your Face is a Sports Blog
• Cheerleader with Abs of Steel – SI on Campus
  

- Go Figure …

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Image Courtesy of: DevilDust75

Technorati Tags: Bruce Pearl,Drunks,Video,Hit in the Balls,Game Show,Bad Name,Long Wang,Rick Majerus,Florida Gators,Urban Meyer,Sportscasters,Weather Anchor,Kristi Capel,Recruiting Tactics,Headlines Links & Lies,Superbowl,Chuck Knoblauch,Subpoena,Steroids,Tebow,Ronald McDonald,Postal,Law Enforcement,Missouri Tigers,Blogging,The Man,Whopper,Burger King,Eli Manning,Superman,Cedric Wilson,Crazies,ESPN,Bias,Chapel Hill,Knoxville,Links

My updated nominations for the 2007 CFB Awards (including all of the ones from Round 1) are as follows:

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A Exclusive*

Tennessee Head Football Coach Phillip Fulmer surprised the media early this morning with a press conference announcing the addition of a new “Techniques Coordinator” to the Vols coaching staff.

“Aggressive play is a key component of success in college football these days — in fact, it has always been important.” Fulmer said at the press conference. “I, along with our staff, have increasingly felt that we needed to work on playing more aggressively at the individual level. We’ve been working like heck on this, but felt that it was time to bring in a specialist in this area — if for no other reason than to have a fresh perspective on things. It is for this reason I am extremely excited to introduce new Tennessee Assistant Coach and Techniques Coordinator, Jules Winnfield.”

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Well, despite giving it everything they had, the Vols came up a little short against the Wildcats of Kentucky. Once again, the Rupp Arena mystique foiled the Orange once again…

It was not for lack of effort or lack of heart that the Vols fall to 16-2 on the season. It was not for lack of production on the part of Chris Lofton — who broke the all-time SEC record for 3-pointers (367) and scored 22 points in the process. It was not for lack of coaching on the part of Coach Pearl. What beat the Vols was the fact that Kentucky had to win this game, and Tennessee didn’t. For a team on the ropes like Kentucky, losing the game to Tennessee was not an option if they wanted to have any hope of continuing to be a contender in the SEC. Kentucky had to win this game, or else fall farther below the .500 mark.

In the end, it was Kentucky’s ability to shut down Tennessee’s offense in the second half which killed the Vols chances of winning the game. Poor free throw shooting late in the game didn’t help matters as the BasketVols fought to regain the lead. In the end, the scoreboard told the story: Kentucky 72 – Tennessee 66.

The bright side of the story is, however, that Tennessee is still in the driver’s seat in the SEC East, has made it clear that they can run with the big boys, and that they deserve the respect of the national media. Duke Crews will soon be back in the lineup, adding another orange shirt on the floor — and a formidable one at that. Furthermore, Chris Lofton showed signs of regaining the stroke he had during the 2006-07 season. While the loss to the Wildcats does put a blemish on the Vols record to date, it is a small one. There are great things to come for this team, and come March, Tennessee will be right in the mix.

It sucks to lose to Kentucky, especially when you had the ability to beat them, but sometimes the game just doesn’t go the way you want it to. That’s what playing in the SEC — whether it be in basketball, football, or any other sport — is all about … Every game matters, and every team can beat you.

After all, it wasn’t too many ago that the Vols would have never even had a chance…

- Go Figure …

Technorati Tags: BasketVols,Tennessee Volunteers,Bruce Pearl,Chris Lofton,Rupp Arena,SEC Basketball,College Basketball,News & Notes

Well, since there isn’t a lot going on in the world of college football, the powers that be have now declared open the nominations for the 2007 College Football Blogger Awards. You have until Midnight, Sunday 27 January 2008 to vote.

Do you regularly read college football blogs? Have a favorite team blog? Want pretend that your opinion really matters, because your Mother never hugged you? Like receiving money in return for your nominations? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the 2007 CFB Awards needs you to nominate your favorites. You need not be a blogger to vote, you only need to know how to point and click.

There are a wide variety of categories which are listed after the jump.

Since Gate 21 is — as the title says — a college football blog, I would appreciate any and all nominations the folks out there in blogworld see fit to bestow upon me. I’m not much an electioneer, but any votes you’re willing to cast for Gate 21 would be greatly appreciated. Not to tell you what to do (but I’ll do it anyway) I — lawvol, the master of ceremonies here at Gate 21 — feel that this blog is deserving of consideration for a nomination in the following categories:

1. Best New Blog
2. Brady Quinn Award (Prettiest Blog)
3. The Jenn Sterger’s Rack Award (Best Photoshopping / Farking of a photograph)  (Click for List of Examples)
4. Tyrone Prothro Award (Best Individual Post) (Suggestions:  Thoughts on the BCS Championship, and Sam and Andy’s Forever)
   

Anyway, here’s a link to the nominations page: 2007 College Football Blogger Awards, or you can click the banner at the top of the Right Sidebar.

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This is just a little too strange, and I had to pass it along:

From the Sunbury, Pennsylvania Daily Item:

Woman accused of beating sister with prosthetic leg

IRWIN (AP) _ A Westmoreland County woman has been accused of using her sister’s prosthetic leg to beat her on the head and face.

Police said Donna Sturkie-Anthony, 41, beat her 43-year-old sister, Sherrie Lynn Gibson, on Wednesday. They said they arrived at the pair’s home in the Lincoln Mobile Home Trailer Park after receiving a request for an ambulance after midnight.

Police said they found blood on the floor and around the couch, where Gibson was lying, conscious but bleeding from head and face wounds. Police said Gibson told them her sister had struck her repeatedly with her prosthetic leg.

Sturkie-Anthony, already wanted for previous charges, was jailed in the Westmoreland County Prison on several assault charges relating to the alleged beating. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 25.

According to ESPN Radio, it has been confirmed that — surprise, surprise — alcohol did play a role in the altercation.

I’m just really glad that this happened in a state other than Tennessee…

- Go Figure …