Gator Hunting Postgame Analysis and Photo

As I previously mentioned, I went on an alligator hunt this past Friday night. Here's the money-shot:

Five foot alligator just after being harvested near Walterboro, SC

Gator-hunting is a pretty active kind of hunt. You're not just sitting there waiting for a gator to come along. Your actually out hunting for them, as in actively prowling through the marsh looking for them. It's not like deer hunting where you just sit and wait for a deer to walk out in front of you.

Basically, you have to find the gator, hook the gator, let him fight a little so he's tired out, then get him in close to the boat so you can dispatch him with a shot to the head in a coup de grace.

Oh, and gators are kinda tough. This one, after being shot in the head and having his spinal column severed with a knife, still was wiggling his tail and moving his feet thirty minutes later. Point being, gators are really tough animals. It's no surprise that they've been around since the dinosaur times without evolving very much.

If you're a hunter, and you ever get the rare chance to go gator hunting, don't pass it up. I'll be looking for some good gator recipes now.

2012 South Carolina Football Poster

It's that time of year again! Football posters are out! We've seen that this isn't as simple as standing around and having your picture taken, though. I think we all remember this poster-failure.

In any event, I was going to put the photo of the 2012 South Carolina Football Poster on the blog, but you can see it better here at the link. I know it's tough to make that single left-click, but I'm sure you'll have a power-bar afterwards.

In my opinion, the poster looks great. I like putting Clowney and Taylor on each end...because they're...defensive ends. (I see what you did there, Spurrier.) They're also each about 12 feet tall, so the composition is balanced. Few people know it, but Spurrier actually minored in studio art. He has a real critical eye for composition and form.

After close scrutiny, it appears that Lattimore's knee is 100% good to go. You see that look in his eye? It's saying Yeah, you think I'm going to be slowed down by a little ol' knee injury? Your funeral bro.

In related news, we finally have our QB in the team poster. Sorry #TeamGarcia. Shaw is going to shake and bake this year. Remember, when in doubt, it's never a bad decision to hand the ball to #21.

SEC East Impact Game

According to ESPN, it's the USC/UGA game.

As usual, ESPN has no idea what they are talking about. The biggest game in the SEC East this year is the UGA/UF game. (Shhhhh! You can't say "Cocktail Party") Some college students might hear you and start drinking.

The hottest seat in the SEC coaching world belongs to Mr. Mark Richt. If UGA loses to USC in Athens this year, the  dawgs fan base will get unruly. However, even with a loss to USC, if Richt can beat the Gators in Jacksonville, he'll be OK. Lose both and he's got almost no margin for error in other games. Keep in mind that some of those other games are pretty tough.

You want to play Boise State when you give the Broncos a whole year to prepare? Didn't think so. UT in Knoxville? No thanks. Yeah, the Vols are young, but they're going to surprise a team or two. Richt is a great coach, but for some reason the natives are restless in Athens. If UGA fires Richt, the Georgia program goes backwards in a big way.

Yes, this is the actual 2011 Florida Gators Football Poster

For the uninitiated, one thing we take seriously in the South is our football. Even when there aren't any games to watch, one-upping and ridiculing your rivals (or anyone worthy of ridicule) is pretty much a full-time deal. Usually, there isn't much material to work with when talking trash about the Florida Gators. They have been a dominant program for a long time and gaffes are few and far between. However, with this...

...the University of Florida is just asking for it. Seriously, whoever approved this poster is probably already fired.

This poster is really weird laughable on several levels. First, and most obviously, the Gator looks like he's either from "The Muppet Show" and is about to sing a song or he's been hit with about a hundred tranquilizer darts. I lean towards Muppet. In any event, it looks silly. Just the gator logo from the helmets would be better. Heck, just a blank space would be better. Maybe Gator fans are just glad it's not a crocodile of previous media guides past.

Second, Muschamp looks....scared, confused, about to cry? That's up to you. To me, he looks like the photographer told him that the picture would be on "3" and he took it on "2", so Muschamp didn't have time to fully form his war face. Or maybe he's on the same drugs as the gator perched above him.

Finally, let's leave the photo-shopping of the "speed swooshes" (or whatever the heck that is) to the professionals. Actually, just don't do that ever. Thoughts?