There we were, Dathan and myself.  Dathan, a black guy, me, a white guy.  My co-worker at the school we are employed.  My friend.  Dathan and I are not afraid to talk about our Christian faith or our dismay with what we see going on in the world today with regard to racial tension.

Though I did not want to trivialize our speaks in the moment, and know I am not trying to trivialize them now, if you are familiar with the movie “Remember the Titans”, I felt like we were Julius Campbell and Gary Bertier when they were talking together about the hate they were seeing in their newly integrated high school many years ago.

Though Dathan and I have shared experiences that have affected both of us, we always leave each other with a positive word.  We look forward to making the rest of the day better.  He has that affect on me and I hope and pray I have that affect on him.

I really did, even as a very young child, pay attention to the words of a song I sang at my Baptist Church when I was growing up.  The song is “Jesus Loves the Little Children”….there is a line in that song the goes…”red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight….”.  I took heed in those words as a youngster.  By learning, through music, and through a friendship with an older black lady in Jackson, Mississippi, and being around good people, I knew and I know that we are all important.  This is not to say that I have not been exposed to some folks that came from a different place and time than I did.  I feel like that is what I am experiencing now in the front windshield too.

In the rear-view mirror I am reminded of folks that came from a time before me and had ingrained habits in language and belief that die hard.

Now looking forward, I see much of the same.  I see a new generation that has not been taught like I was.  I was taught that all lives matter.  Now I see signs pointing out who matters and who is left out.  There is nothing right about that.

If I can put in the conversation here, something that disturbed me more than anything I saw yesterday was a press conference in Washington State where the members of the press peppered a police spokesman about the tragic killings that happened this past Friday night in a mall there.  It was a surreal press conference.  The police spokesperson did not seem to be in charge.  The media took over and it was scary.  The law enforcement officer gave answers to the best of his ability and the media members were not satisfied.  They acted like they deserved more information….more details…they sounded accusatory in their remarks.  I was startled.  These pencil pushers whose greatest fear is a deadline had no business acting like that.  But, I suppose that is becoming the norm in our media-driven world.  We all have what Doctor Emmett Brown called a “portable television studio” in Back to the Future.  The cameras are rolling and the traditional media doesn’t always get the scoop like it used to.  That is bound to cause some hurt feelings and fester acrid attitudes like the ones I witnessed from the Washington State press members.

Of course I have been asked about the Colin Kaepernick issue of kneeling during the national anthem.  I have a few views on this.  The first is…Merry Christmas to him.  I don’t care what a second string quarterback has to say about much of anything.  He is used to sitting.  The truth is I was just as disgusted with that whole scenario while I was attending a Marshall Football game in Huntington a couple weeks ago when a guy sitting in front of me yelled out before the national anthem…”Okay! Everybody stand now!”  He sounded like a smarty pants.  To make matters worse, the Herd was playing Morgan State from Baltimore, a historically black college.  Then the guy in front of me and a couple with him, spent most of the playing of the National Anthem turning their heads looking for someone not standing so they could be offended a little more.  They reminded me of Colin Kaepernick.

The next week, I exchanged emails with both the head football coach and the athletic director of Morgan State.  The national anthem was not the only thing I witnessed that was less than decent among the Herd fans I was sitting near.  You see, we sit very close to the visiting bench at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium.  Some things were yelled in the direction of the bench that were pretty rotten.  I had enough.  I spoke up and told the chief offending loud mouth that he was a bad example.  He didn’t yell again.  In my emails to Morgan State, I apologized for the rude fan behavior that went over the line.  The responses I received were gracious and thankful.  That is the way it is supposed to be.

So there is kneeling going on everywhere now.

Does the kneeling make me mad?  Yes.  Somewhat.  If you had a son that once hung out of the door of a Blackhawk helicopter with a large machine gun between his legs trying to help good vs. evil, you would probably be mad too.

Does the kneeling make me wonder?  No.  It does not.  Rebelliousness is in full flower thanks to Colin Kaepernick.  I have heard that 11 and 12 year-olds on a team somewhere all knelt during the playing of the national anthem.  They don’t know what they are doing anymore than kids that grew their hair to look like The Beatles did in 1964.  Only this time the fad is much more serious than kids know or understand.

Does the kneeling make me sad?  Yes.  I wish all the folks protesting…red and yellow, black and white…were as interested in the statistic of child abuse as they are a chance to bust windows and throw tear gas cans back at the police or take a knee during a song.

I wish everyone loved the little children of the world.

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson

26 winners and 13 losers…that is the tally so far in my college football prognosticating season.  I am not impressed.  It must get better.  I hope this week it does.

An abbreviated version of the picks, I give you my week 4 picks:

USC beats Utah tomorrow night.   Go. Go. GO. Men of Troy.  I don’t want to see you with a losing record heading into the crosstown game against UCLA.  Get with it!

Minnesota beats Colorado State….Go Goldy go.

Ole Miss beats Georgia…the Rebs are at home against the Georgia Bulldogs.  I saw those silver britches beat the Rebs in 1999 in Oxford.  Not this year.

Iowa beats Rutgers… The Hawkeyes have to be smarting after the ND State debacle.  They will rebound.

Michigan State beats Swissconsin….Sparty is for real.

Mississippi State beats UMass…State going to visit UMass at Gillette Stadium is like putting perfume on a hog.

Penn State beats Michigan…my UPSET of the day.  Coach Franklin needs this game if he is to stay around Happy Valley for long.  I’m just sayin…  That is a funny place.

WKU beats Vandy…Give the Dores credit for heading up to Bowling Green to play in the cracker box that is Houchens Stadium.

Indiana beats Wake Forest…my brother-in-law Stevarino, the IU faithful from way back, is going to the game.  He sounds like Lou Holtz.  He is already giving me excuses as to why IU is going to lose.  IU will win this game.  Steve is cautiously optimistic.  Indiana Football will do that to you.

LSU beats Auburn…What is better than Tigers vs. Tigers?  Auburn won’t be able to tackle #7.

Bama beats Kent State….Coach Saban may take it easy on his alma mater.  He may want them back for a trade…payday for Kent…W for Bama.

Louisville beats Marshall…My dear wife, Carrie, and I were looking forward to attending this game.  Last week Marshall gave up 65 points to Akron and U of L beat Florida State 63 to 20.  Needless to say, we won’t be making the trip to Huntington.  That is a long way to go to get your butt kicked.  Sorry Herd, I still love you.  And we’ll be back in November for Middle Tenn. and WKU.

UCLA beats Stanford…It is in the Rose Bowl and I gotta believe.

Have a great weekend.  I hope you too watch some college football.

Speaking the Rights…

Danny Johnson

This past Friday night my dear wife, Carrie, and I were back in my hometown watching a high school football game.  The Brownstown Central Braves played host to the North Harrison Cougars.  The score was 7 to 6 in favor of the Cougars at halftime.  North lost the game 35 to 9.  I was not happy with the result.  I was rooting vehemently for the Cougars.  That is quite the juxtaposition from where I was two years ago.  That night I was standing on the Braves sideline taking pictures of my Brownstown friends.  I was in the press box at halftime talking on the Braves radio broadcast and having a nice time with old friends.  I turned the page on that night with a post on these very pages.  You won’t find it here now.  I removed it.  I took it off the day I was hired by North Harrison as a school counselor.  North Harrison became the home school again.  I was not going to let my Brownstown allegiance hang around.  After all, when I came back to North I became a Cougar again.

I have that luxury.  I was able to choose.  You see, my Dad worked for both of these schools.  He was the head football coach at both of these schools.  I attended both of these schools.  I played on the field at Blevins Stadium as a fledgling Brownstown pee-wee football player and then a few years later I kicked the first of my many points on that same field as a North Harrison Cougar.  I have friends on both coaching staffs.  I just know the guys from Brownstown a little better, as I have known them much longer.

The Braves in pre-game.

The Cougars in pre-game.

Coach Mark Williamson in a pensive moment.  What he has done for Cougar football is extraordinary.  Thanks, Coach.  And thanks to Mr. Hatton, our principal, for making football welcome at NH like no other principal ever did before.

The field at Brownstown was awful.  They admitted to it.  And for someone from Brownstown to admit to something bad…well, it must have been awful.  I hope they beat Seymour this week.  And I hope we meet them again in the sectional later in the year….on OUR turf!

On Saturday I got my hair cut.  When I got home, I watched college football.  That was my Saturday.  I watched college football on television until I was tired.  I will leave it at that.  Well, I won’t.  You get tired when your noon team(Marshall)  loses, then your 3:30 team (Ole Miss) loses, and then your 8:00 team (Oklahoma) loses…and you wake up at 2 AM to see that at least UCLA was beating BYU 17 to 7.  The Bruins won 17 to 14.

On Sunday we made beautiful music.  Well, Rod Wurtele made beautiful music.  Let me just say God Bless Jeff Carpenter for introducing me to Rod Wurtele.  Rod plays with the Louisville, KY based “Wulfe Borthers”.  Let me just say that Rod is the man.

I have been blessed to be in on many recording sessions.  At each of them we were working with material I had a hand in creating.  Save one, every song I ever recorded was one I wrote.  Still, I have this innate sense that I had little to do with what just happened…when I hear something like I heard Sunday afternoon as Rod layered tracks that were recorded…seemingly for him to add his magic to.  I mean that.  I am not being glib.

One session, many years ago, was a time when my friend and music virtuoso, the late Tim Krekel, was laying some guitar work down.  What he did that day made me feel like I had never felt before.  He played a guitar solo that was over the top.  I was younger then.  I loved it.  As the years have gone on, I have appreciated it more.  Well, I never thought I would ever feel that way about a session again.  I thought I had caught lightning in a bottle and had fortunately recorded it.  That is what happened.  I never thought I would find lightning again.

On Sunday afternoon, Rod Wurtele brought the thunder and the lightning and the hail and rain and the sunshine back out and a beautiful sunset to go with it.  I was just proud to be there.

How could he not?

The control board at Al Fresco’s Recording Studio.

Count me fortunate to have a project going with recording master Jeff Carpenter.

Jeff and I taking it all in.

I sat there amazed and thankful as I listened to Rod’s work.

I think he liked it too.

Know that I will treasure this photo, Thank you, my dear Carrie.

If I never walked into the studio again, as there is more planned work on this collection, I could handle it.  How it will ever be better than this day, I can’t imagine.  But I am willing to give it a shot.

Thank you Jefferson.  Thank you Rod.  God Bless you both.

That is truly speaking the rights!

Danny Johnson

I heard Cheap Trick on the radio today singing their iconic song from the “Live at Budokan” album.  I think it came out in 1978.  That album is tanked #426 on Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest albums.  That is not much comfort, given Rolling Stone Magazine needs more constipation relief than any publication I ever subscribed to.  Well, used to subscribe to.

The Cheap Trick song I heard was “I Want you to Want Me”.  I am so glad they still play that song on the radio and it gets played a great deal.

5 songs I hear on the radio I wish I would never hear again:

Redbone: Come and Get Your Love

Elton John:  Bennie and the Jets….mundane stuff.

Soft Cell:  Tainted Love…80s music at its worst.

Styx:  Too Much Time on my Hands…too many awful sounds.

Kiss:  Detroit Rock City…If only that car would have stalled first.

5 songs I wish I could hear on the radio more often:

Kiss: Beth…Peter Criss singing a great song.  Love the cranking violins.  Turn it up!

The Moody Blues:  Your Wildest Dreams…because it hit when I was a teenager and it still sounds good.

Joe Cocker:  Anything by Joe Cocker.  Wish I could have seen him before he passed.

The Marshall Tucker Band:  Heard it in a Love Song…solo heaven.

Phil Collins: Against All Odds…The piano intro still makes me stop everything.

On to the picks.  I hit a few softballs last week.  I needed them.  7 winners and 6 losers the first week and 11 winners and 2 losers last week.  That was better.  I need to move it.  It is Thursday evening and the first game I am going to pick is less than a half hour away from kickoff and I will be accused of cheating when you see this pick.

Cincinnati beats Houston…the Cougars will find the Queen City an unpleasant place to suit up.

Marshall beats Akron….another big game for Chase Litton.  The Louisville Cardinals are next.

Louisville beats Florida State...I think the Cards will do it.  They won’t let down the shot at “GAMEDAY”.

Tennessee beats Ohio….I think.  I am always rooting for Coach Solich though.

Penn State beats Temple…The Nitters got beat by the western boys from Pitt last week.  The Philly boys come calling this week and the Lions will run up the score if they can.

Kansas State beats Florida Atlantic…I always pick against FAU…no offense.

Alabama beats Ole Miss…Of course they do.  They will not lose.  Nevermind Ole Miss has beaten the Tide twice in a row and Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium will be decked out in Powder Blue, so said the edict I received from Oxford via email today.  It does not matter.  The Tide will Roll…again.  They can’t be beat.

East Carolina beats South Carolina…in a twin win for the Pirate faithful.  Last week the poor boys from Greenville beat the gang from Raleigh.  At least NC State had the guts to play in Pirateville.

Kentucky beats New Mexico State….they have to.

LSU beats Mississippi State… The boys in the Red Stick need a win.  So does Coach Mullen.  This could be very entertaining.

Duke beats Northwestern.…Wish I could get to this one.  Ryan Field by Lake Michigan…watching a Duke win.  Then a deep dish pizza.  Enjoy, Chicago.

USC beats Stanford...Do I have a choice here?  Not when it comes to the Trojans.

UCLA beats BYU…Do I have a choice here?  Not when it comes to the Bruins.

It is almost time for kickoff in Cincinnati…by way of ESPN for most of us.  Go Bearcats!

What the heck is a Bearcat anyway?  It is the nickname of my mother’s high school teams in Mississippi.  And the Mississippi Gambler is coaching Cincinnati now.  I know one uncle who I am sure is glad of that.

Have a great weekend.  I will.  Tomorrow night I am heading up to Brownstown with my dear wife, Carrie, and my Dad.  The North Harrison Cougars are going to have some fun 50 miles up the road tomorrow night.

I can’t wait!

Later this weekend I will write about it, and well, I will…

Speak the Rights.

Danny Johnson

We did it.  My dear wife, Carrie, and I left the Marshall football game Saturday at halftime.  A big storm was brewing.  The Herd was up 49 to nothing and it was only going to get worse for the Morgan State Bears.  It did….but it probably could have been worse.  The Herd won 62 to 0.

The fountain, which was turned on the day of the Spring Game, was outlined in a sky of blue.  What a beautiful site it is to see this fountain flowing.

The first entry into the Joan C. Edwards Stadium of the 2016 campaign.  “The Joan” is a great place to watch college football.

Was there a storm brewing?  I think so.  It was quite windy before the game.

And so it began.  There is certainly reason for optimism in Huntington.  The two toughest games are against Pitt on October 1st at Heinz Field.  The other is the week before when the Louisville Cardinals come to town.  If the Cards beat Florida State this week…and I think they certainly can…the Herd will be entertaining a Top 5 team.  With an 8 o’clock kickoff…The Joan will  be rocking and rolling at kickoff, if not before.  Wow.

2nd down early in the game.  Chase Litton, sophomore quarterback for the Herd, was 13 of 16 for 309 yards and 6 touchdowns in the first half.  The offense was very impressive and the defense was improved as well.  I thought the defense was going to be better after watching them in the Spring Game.  I knew the offense would be sound.

Another touchdown and a scoreboard that better have plenty of fresh bulbs on the Marshall side.  This thing is going to be busy.

The storm was brewing to the west.  Note the clouds to your right, they were building in the Northwest.  And though the game went on, it was very wet and windy for much of the second half we did not see.  We relied on Steve Cotton to give us the play by play on the radio.

On the way home from Huntington on Sunday, it was September 11th.  As we drove through New Salisbury, we found this at the fire station.

I took pause.  I, like so many others, can’t believe it has been 15 years since our world changed for the very worst.  Remember how we all wanted to help each other out after that dreadful day happened.  I ask…where did that spirit go?  We need it back.  I hope it is not a national tragedy that brings it back.  But I think history will tell you that is what it would take.  Sad, but true.

I was in a classroom at the school I was working in at the time.  It was my “prep” period.  As was the custom, I went to see one of the friendlier teachers there to visit with him and just chew the fat.  I walked in his room.  I looked at the TV hanging from the top of one wall.  I thought he watching some documentary.  Then between his announcement and the urgency I heard from the television, I knew it was real.  I sat down and watched in bewilderment.  It was not horror, not yet.  It was a dumbfounding bewilderment.  I could not believe what I was seeing.  One of New York’s twin towers was in peril.  Then, I could suddenly believe and bewilderment did become horror.  As I watched the television, I saw the second plane fly into the unscathed twin.

The planes that fly into the Louisville airport, when they are using a west to east landing pattern, fly over our house.  We can hear them.  We can see them.  For a period of time, there were no planes in the air.  It was a surreal time…lonely in a way.

A couple summers ago Carrie and I were in New York City and we visited the site of the World Trade Centers.  I won’t forget this any time soon.  I wrote about it here then.

Names on stone and a place to reflect upon them.

This poor lady stood and rubbed her hand against a particular name over and over and over again.  She was there for a long time.  I wanted to give her a hug.

Lady Liberty is still hanging in there.  Lord knows it ain’t easy.

I have no doubt she could…speak the rights.

Danny Johnson

Two Saturdays ago my dear wife, Carrie, and my brother-in-law Stevarino went to see John Fogerty in Evansville at the Ford Center, a nice new multi-purpose facility that opened in 2011 in style hosting a Bob Seger concert.  I was not there.

John Fogerty is a concert you wish you could take everyone you know to.  Everyone gets it.  I wish everyone got The Moody Blues.  That just ain’t gonna happen.  You listen to The Moody Blues and you are left with a certain amount of thought that goes into what is going on.  You like what you think, or you run away from the very thought.

With son Shane.

Fogerty is a special case.  His music is straight-forward unlike anything else I have ever witnessed.  He smacks you in the face with a brand of original 60s/70s rock and roll that almost seems like it was made up…a point in time you think you know but don’t understand how it can be so good.  It is that good.  And the old boy can still sing.  We could go on for pages about how he was cheated out of a fortune that would probably make him the richest man in American music, had he played his cards right.  He didn’t.  He got record company cheated like so many others in those days.

You rock and roll aficionados notice Kenny Arnoff playing drums.  The whole band was great.

As I write these words, I am listening to The Lovin’ Spoonful.  John Sebastain is a genius.  I would listen to him read the phone book.  “Darling Be Home Soon” is a favorite.  It reminds me of old friends.  It is right up there with Barbara Streisand’s “Places That Belong To You” when it comes to remembering old friends.  The older I get, the more I seem to lose track of my old cronies.  I suppose that is the way of the world.  Most of you might remember “Do You Believe in Magic” or “Summer in the City’ or “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice”.  Those are more recognizable Lovin’ Spoonful songs.

I could go on.  I probably should write some more about music, cause I sure don’t know much about college football.

Last week was an abysmal 7 winners and 6 losers.  Pathetic.  I am embarrassed.   There, I  said it.  It must get better.  This week, it will.

U of L beats Syracuse…I was in Syracuse this summer…drove through there.  Basketball country.

Boston College beats UMass….the Massholes should have stayed in FCS.

Minnesota beats Indiana State…nice trip for the tree boys….they will have fun then get chopped down.

Penn State beats Pitt...used to be the backyard brawl on the last game of the year.  Good to see these two playing again.  Might be close.  Pitt might win.

Michigan beats Central Florida…I need this game to help my percentage.

Ohio beats Kansas…Coach Solich can’t get beat by the Jayhawks.  His Nebraska pedigree won’t allow that mess.

Florida beats Kentucky…poor UK.  You gotta feel sorry for this bunch.

Notre Dame will beat Nevada….wake up the echoes after a loss to the Longhorns.

Duke beats Wake Forest…Blue Devils go 2-0…then it gets tougher.

Alabama will beat WKU…of course they will, they can’t be beat.

Indiana will beat Ball State….they darn well better.

Ole Miss beats Wofford…Wofford is just fun to say.

Marshall will beat Morgan State…Carrie and I will be at The Joan for this one.  Kelly Green Out.

That is it sports fans.  I can’t write anymore about College Football today.  I start having visions of last weekend.  It was ugly.  It has to get better.

Tomorrow night the NFL begins with Denver hosting the Carolina Panthers in a Super Bowl rematch.  Peyton Manning is gone and so is most of my interest in this game…and most other NFL games that don’t have a Manning playing.  Go Giants!  Isn’t one of Cooper’s boys on the way to the NFL?  Please say yes.

Have a great weekend….and don’t forget to…

Speak the rights.

Talk about a guilty pleasure, I have moved on to  Michael W. Smith….“Go West Young Man”.

Danny Johnson

I have not worked much during this Labor Day Weekend.  On Saturday I played golf and watched a great deal of college football on the television.  Carrie, my dear wife, worked on Saturday.  She made blueberry pies and bread pudding cups and I don’t know what all for a Baby Shower that was given in honor of new Mom to be, Laura Goins Callahan (and husband Ryan Callahan).  The event was held at the home of one of Laura’s aunt and uncle’s in Louisville, Kentucky.  A good time was had by all, by all accounts I can report on.  It was great to see Ryan and Laura.  They are good young folk.

The Saturday golf game went well.  My scrambling team was 2nd.  We played to 4-under…that was nice.  6-under won it.  I rolled in a putt that was a double breaker from a long way out and that was my personal highlight.  It was fun playing with a great team.  Thank you Sam, Matt, and Damien.

On Friday night the North Harrison Cougar football team ran its record to 3 wins and 0 defeats.  We are once again in some air…flying high.  It is a great thing to behold, for no other reason than knowing we don’t have a group of knuckleheads on the team.

A few scenes from Friday night from The Hill.

There was another great crowd on hand.

The Cougars won 39-21.  In confidence before the game, I predicted a twenty point victory.  By the way, The Cougars are 14-2 in the last 16 games.  Very proud of this group indeed.

My Dad’s rule is ALWAYS STAND UP FOR A KICK OFF!

The linemen heading to scrimmage.  We need more pictures like this one.

About to score the final points.

Let me add that it was delightful to see NH kick a 30 yard field goal on the last play of the half.  I believe that was a first…a fg with 00s left on the clock.  Nice job by the line, the snapper, the holder and Ben Waynescott the kicker.  That is ALWAYS nice to see.  Fun to watch it for a change.

I BOW IN DEFERENCE AND SUPPLICATION to my friend Brother Tim, the Alabama King of Marengo, Indiana.  I picked USC to beat Bama.  Bama slaughtered them 52 to 6.  When USC was up 3 to nothing, I thought about texting Tim to ask him if Bama was planning on scoring tonight?  I am glad I did not send that text.  He too used more than a modicum of restraint by not reminding me, after each Tide, how dreadfully wrong I was.

Perhaps Tim, who was on The Hill with us Friday night, was right.  He said I picked USC because I am going to see them play UCLA in November.  I also picked UCLA to beat Texas A&M and UCLA lost.  There may be something to Brother Tim’s logic.

So what do we know about this year’s Alabama team?  They are the best team in the country.  If they bring their best twenty players over to Oxford in two weeks and leave the rest of the team at home, they will win by 20 instead of 40.  They are that good.  The NCAA will consider borrowing from high school rules and allow a running clock in the 4th quarter to get the bloodletting stopped when the Tide comes to town.  Nick Saban should drop his clipboard right now and declare himself as a right in candidate for President.  He would win and the country, given the great defense that would be played, would be safer than it has been since The Cold War.

All Hail The Crimson Tide of Alabama!

Pardon me while I climb on top of the house and jump.

It has been a bad week of college football predictions for me.  I picked Notre Dame to beat Texas.  I am glad Texas won.  I picked FIU to beat Indiana.  I am glad the Hoosiers won.  I picked LSU to beat Swissconsin.  I am not glad the Bucky Cheesebadgers won.  And I recant my story of LSU being crowed National Champs at the end of the season.  That can only be reserved for the Crimson Tide of Alabama because they are going to whip every team asking for it.  I bet they will beat Ole Miss by 40!  Think I can get to Vegas and back before 6 in the morning?  That would be some smart money, now!

I have picked 7 winners and 5 losers the long weekend.

I picked Ole Miss to win tonight.  I won’t hold my breath.

Have a great rest of your week!

Speaking the ROLL TIDE rights.

Danny Johnson

First and foremost, I am so so so sad to hear about the injury to Teddy Bridgewater of the Minnesota Vikings.  By all accounts he hurt his knee in practice today and it is not good.  My sources tell me he may miss the season.  You have no idea how troubling this is for me.  My mother wears a Teddy Bridgewater #5 jersey every time she watches him on television.  She already had it out during the pre-season.  This makes me sad.  Sorry, Mom.  I know what it is like to have you favorite player on the bench.  This was going to be a big season for the Vikes in the new stadium.  I hope it still is.  But I can tell you, I too lost another reason to be excited about the upcoming NFL season.  Peyton is gone.  Now Teddy for 2016.

On to the college football picks:

Louisville beats Charlotte…badly.  I hope The 49ers get a nice payday.  Louisville is loaded.  Just wait.

FIU beats Indiana…and I hate it.  The Hoosiers have not played a regular season game in Florida.  Traveling south is not their forte.  In 2011 they went to North Texas and got beat.  The guys in Florida will have a chip on their shoulder when the basketball school comes to town.  If the defense is improved for the Hoosiers, we will find out.  Let’s hope so.

Stanford beats Kansas State…the job Coach Shaw is doing at Stanford is amazing.

Purdue beats Eastern Kentucky…The Boilers need a win.  Hope they improve this year.  Not holding my breath.

LSU beats Swissconsin…The Tigers get to play in Death Valley for home games and other venerable SEC venues…and now they go to Lambeau Field?  Cam Cameron a.k.a The Trash Can (I will tell that story this year) will help Coach Les Miles this year.  They studied hard.  The offense will be more diverse and the defense will take care of business on their way to winning the BCS Title Game.  You heard it here.  I don’t like it.

Iowa beats Miami of Ohio…Practice game for the Hawkeyes, my third favorite Big Ten team.

UCLA beats Texas A&M…Josh Rosen comes out firing.  He better…and he better find his receivers.  A&M still finding itself.

Arkansas beats La. Tech…The Hogs will overwhelm the Bulldogs.  Don’t worry Coach Holtz, you will still have a good season.

Southern Miss will beat Kentucky…UK is a bad penny.  The guy calling plays for USM was fired by UK after last season.  Need I say more?  Southern Miss is where Brett Favre played. The Golden Eagles don’t lose this game.  After the game, Coach Mark Stoops looks to the yellow pages for a realtor.  Sorry Coach.  I like you!

USC beats Alabama…The game is in Jerry’s World….the place the Dallas Cowboys play.  The Tide has been there before.  I don’t think the boys from Troy have been there.  Doesn’t matter.  Bama has played quality openers for a number of years.  This is the most daunting since opening up against a Top Ten Michigan team in 2012 at… well…Jerry’s World.  They dispatched the Wolverines that day 41-14.  This time it is different.  The USC team has their coach….Clay Helton.  He replaced deposed Steve Sarkisian.  He had his troubles.  The players obviously wanted Coach Helton.  He was not a sexy choice for such a program.  Add new Athletic Director, Lynn Swann, into the mix…and folks in Dallas get nervous.  That is the way it will work against the Tide.  The Tide will fall this year.  It is time.  We don’t have to like it.  That is just the way it happens.  No coach or team ever stayed on top.  It was a good run for the Tide.  We must give them that.  We must tip our hat.  It is a new day.  Their old defensive coordinator is now driving the company car at Georgia.  That is quite the Tide compliment.  That…and they are going to miss Kirby Smart.

Clemson beats Auburn…it won’t be a complete loss for Tide fans this weekend.

Notre Dame beats Texas….I hate this pick.  I hope Texas wins.  I don’t think they will.  The Irish have had a tumultuous off-season.  They are just not held in quite as high regard as they once were.  I think it is because they put artificial turf in Notre Dame Stadium.  That is not right.

Ole Miss beats FSU...because this is the stage and opening game they have been dreaming of.  They have watched the Big Brothers of the SEC play meaningful openers (the Rebs did beat Boise St. in the 2014 opener in Atlanta) and they want their shot at a perennial power.

And so it begins.  And though no one in America cares what a white high school guidance counselor in rural Southern Indiana has to say about anything…leading me to feel somewhat oppressed…I will still stand for the playing of our national anthem when I attend the high school football game this Friday night.  Unlike some out there, I know the value of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and know how it can help kids in need be they black, white, or yellow.

Speaking the Football Rights…

Danny Johnson

I wish I had my camera last night.  I meant to bring it.  Truth is, I was actually a bit anxious as the late afternoon became evening on what Neil Diamond would appreciate….a Hot August Night.

NEWSFLASH….MY DEAR WIFE, CARRIE, TOOK SOME PICTURES WITH HER PHONE!

Last night the North Harrison Cougars played host to the Corydon Central Panthers.  The team in blue, the Cougars, won by a score of 49 to 0.  What I witnessed on the field was one of the finest team efforts ever put forth by a North Harrison team and know that I have seen plenty.  When quizzed what the difference in the teams were, I came up with one thing that stood out.  We were ready.  I use the pronoun “we” because I have strong ties to the school I attended and played for and am now employed by.  We were ready to play.  That included at the top of the list a well conditioned group of players.  They put in the work prior to getting here so they could reap the harvest.  Our linemen were in better physical shape than their backfield.  You win that way.  Thanks goes out to Coach Williamson and his staff.  You can’t imagine how much time and effort they have put in to have these young men where they are right now.  You have no idea.

While the Panthers were with hands on hips and thigh pads and knee pads looking for some remote quality to come through the thick August air they were looking for, the Cougars were still on the field bouncing around like prize fighters.  I was very proud of the Cougars last night. The season record stands at two victories and no defeats.  Next week we host the Salem Lions.  I hope it is a little cooler next Friday, though I doubt the NH Cougar Football Team cares.

At some point during the halftime, a gent showed up over my shoulder.  He is a stealthy sort.  I can’t tell you how glad I was to see him.  It was my old friend Mick Rutherford.  When I say old friend.  I mean it.  I have written of him before on these pages.  It was a hot August morning in 1979, my first day of school as a 6th grader at North Harrison Elementary.  He and Kelly Samons came and sat down by the new kid.  Am I ever thankful they did just that.

When I was punting the football and kicking the football on the field we were looking upon last night, Mick gave me the ball each time.  He was the long snapper and I can tell you…”Old Porter never missed a snap!”  Porter is a nickname that has a long derivative lineage we won’t go into here.  Just trust me.  Mick was a great teammate.  I wish we would find a way to get together more often.  Our euchre games are stuff of legend.  I am blessed.

Was it good to see him?  What do you think?

We were missing one old friend last night and I would be remiss not to mention him here and now.

Our dear old friend Malcolm “Corner King” Lincoln died 19 years ago yesterday.  Above is a picture of the two of us the day Carrie and I were married in 1996.  It is a treasured photograph.  It hangs on a wall in my home office space.  I look at it often.  Ironically, the good fellow that took this picture, Bryan Moss, was gathering up photos at the NH-Corydon game last night.  It is always good to see him.

On October 23rd,  Mick and Kelly and Gus Stephenson and I will be playing our 17th Annual Corner King Classic Golf Tournament.  It is a one round event.  A golf course can only take so much punishment from four old hackers.

Good game, good game, good game….that is what is usually repeated and repeated and repeated during a scene like this.  There is not much time for anything else to be said.

And so it goes.  And the band played on.

By the way, the North Harrison High School Band sounded great last night.  We are blessed to have Mr. Dathan Echols leading our fine high school instrumental music charge.  Keep up the good work.

As it was winding down last night I sat relieved, happy, and very content next to my old high school football coach and my always dear old Dad.  A nice way to take in an evening.   Thank you, Carrie.

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson

• Coming soon…Week 1 College Football Picks.

This morning, as my dear wife, Carrie, and I were heading east to our place of work, I heard a song on the radio that came back to me very heavily.

What possessed an 8 year-old kid to fall in love with this song is beyond me.  But it was me in 1976.  Released on The Eagles album “Hotel California” on December 7, 1976, “New Kid in Town” was the A-side of a 45 that featured the tune “Victim of Love” (great guitar lick) on the B-side.  I was not a new kid in town in 1976.  I was living in Brownstown, Indiana  the same town I was living in when my Mom and Dad broght me home from the hospital.  Still, there was a dark tone that resonated with me even when I was eight.  I know that sounds silly.  It may be.  It may not be.  When I hear two particular phrases in that song, time stands still.  There is still the same angst that presses up against my spine that did all those years ago.

“There’s so many things you should have told her,
But night after night you’re willing to hold her, just hold her.
Tears on your shoulder….”

“Where you been lately? There’s a new kid in town.
Everybody loves him, don’t they?
And he’s holding her, and you’re still around…”

Those just hit me just right.  They seemingly always have. There is a twinge of desperation…a sort of cry in Glenn Frey’s voice that is not to be found in many straight-forward Eagles songs.  It was a nice reminder this morning.  It was neat to go back for a few minutes and think about a song that should not hit an eight-year-old like that one hit me.  But…I have always had a funny musical sensibility.  When my friends wanted to hear Hank Williams, Jr. or Alabama or David Allan Coe…I wanted Elton John and Neil Diamond and Paul Anka. Don’t even ask how The Moody Blues were considered.  And…I knew it had to be that way.  They are still my good friends.  We don’t listen to music together.  We never did too much even then.  The football locker room and the high school weight room were where we listened to music.  We did pretty much depend on 96 WQMF in those hallowed spots…rock and roll…fast paced tunes help the muscles move.  I don’t care what Richard Simmons says.

For the record, I have never been too enamored by The Eagles.  I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt…but  if anyone ever called The Moody Blues “pretentious”…they never heard of The Eagles.  I was at a solo concert given by Don Henley, “Mr. Desperado” at the Louisville Gardens in 1990 at the HEIGHT of his solo hit album “End of the Innocence”.  He sang 13 songs.  That was it.  He did make a bleeding heart plea about saving Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden Woods Project”.  The Eagles did not pursue Thoreau’s plea to “simplify” unless it meant simply charge more for your concerts when folks show up to kiss you musical ring.

Here is what I know.  When The Eagles reformed in..what was it…1994/95?  They hit the big barn circuit with their concerts and charged out the nose.  A few years earlier I had seen Pink Floyd play for over three hours at Rupp Arena for 18.50.  When The Eagles came to Deer Creek in Noblesville the pavilion seats were 85 bucks.  This was over twenty years ago.  This is when the concert ticket prices decided to sky-rocket.  The Eagles got it and so did everyone else.   I can say not all have gone this route.  Bob Seger has been kind.  The Moody Blues have been relatively kind.  Garth Brooks is kind.  Paul McCartney is not kind….but he does sing 36 songs!

Last week Joe Walsh, Eagles guitarist and singer, played The Louisville Palace.  He sang twelve songs.  I knew the set list beforehand.  I wanted to go.  I think he is great.  I will not, however pay 7 bucks a song to hear anyone…The Moody Blues included…so far.  Carrie and I saw Joe Walsh open for Bob Seger in Detroit in 2013.  Walsh played seven songs then we heard Bob Seger’s huge set…and the tickets were comparable to Walsh’s ticket prices at The Palace.  Not good. Not good at all.  But that is the way it is.  Some groups just like to milk the old cow.

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson