Coastal Dispatch Archives
...Anticipation for Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight...
...Anticipation for Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight... I just re-watched Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. It's been three years since Tarantino released a movie. I needed a break from revising stories, and decided to delve into his last read more...
A Trip Back in Time: A Review of Bob Keefe's "Stories From the Okefenokee"
In 1969 a young Marine returning to civilian life after a tour of duty as a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam found refuge in a remote and primal place in the Deep South, the Okefenokee Swamp. The Marine's name was Bob Keefe, and he spent five wonderful years in the swamp, working as a read more...
View the BBC's Southern Rock Documentary on Swampland
Swampland has added the BBC's new Southern Rock Documentary to it front page. Go here to view it - Swampland Front Page
Life Lessons in The Big Easy by Martha Gragido
There’s something maternal about a train. It carries you where you need to go and rocks you along, sheltering as new horizons flash past your window. Places you’ve never been. Places that have never known the press of your weight. (The bathrooms on the train read more...
"How Do You Like Your Blueeyed Boy, Mr. Death": Harry Crews (1935-2012)
Harry Crews! I guess I thought he would live forever. When all of those years of out of control drinking did not kill him, I decided he had outwitted the devil. That would be just like Crews--to make a wager with the devil and win. When a great read more...
The University of North Alabama Presents Renowned Author Ishmael Reed
On Monday, March 19 and Tuesday, March 20, the University of North Alabama (Florence, Alabama) will present its 29th annual Spring Writers' Series. The featured speaker this year is internationally known poet, novelist, essayist, and playwright Ishmael Reed. Reed will read more...
A Modern Legacy of America's Finest Archivists
A Modern Legacy of America's Finest Archivists A treasure trove of old, obscure American music exists out there. Bits and pieces of lost American culture preserved between the grooves waits for any listener's ear. This
Alabama's Own Wickedly Spicy Wickles Pickles---Made in Dadeville, AL
2011 was the year of Alabama music, and 2012 is the year of Alabama food. Several months ago I wrote about two phenomenal products unique to Alabama:
Rebecca Meredith, Author of The Last of the Pascagoula, Has Alabama Roots
I discovered Rebecca Woods Meredith when I received a copy of her spellbinding novel, The Last of the Pascagoula read more...
FX's Justified Leads Elmore Leonard To Release New And Old Books About Raylan Givens
Swampland reviewed Elmore Leonard's fine short story collection When the Women Come Out To Dance last year. The collection has been reissued this week with the new title of
Meet Poet and Poetry Therapist Jerri Chaplin
Jerri Chaplin is a certified poetry therapist and poet. She served as the first poet-in-residence at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston (1996). Her work has been read more...
Shakin' in Alabama with the Alabama Shakes--Souful Music Near the Shoals
The small town of Athens, Alabama (not Athens, Georgia) has made national music news thanks to the hot new group Alabama Shakes. Three of the four band members hail from East Limestone High School in read more...
A Georgia Son Shining In The Big Apple: Upcoming Interview with Actor Brit Whittle
A Georgia Son Shining In The Big Apple: Upcoming Interview with Actor Brit Whittle Georgia native Brit Whittle is making a name for himself in New York City. In November, Whittle appeared in an episode of Law & Order: SVU. Whittle read more...
James Calemine & Marc Andress: Solar Flare Blues 2012
SOLAR FLARE BLUES 2012 Last Thursday I recorded a spoken word piece with Honey Blue guitar/pedal steel player Marc Andress. Check out
Lera Lynn Headlines Jacksonville's Natural Life Music Festival
Lera Lynn Headlines Natural Life Music Festival November 20 Athens, Georgia, musician Lera Lynn will headline the Natural Life Music Festival in Jacksonville, Florida, on November 20. The festival began as an event to support the Children's Home Society ten read more...
MAD Magazine's Rare Reunion In Savannah
MAD Magazine's Rare Reunion In Savannah Last weekend the Savannah College of Arts and Design (SCAD) along with the National Cartoonists Society hosted a tribute to read more...
New Orleans in Alabama: Brenda Marie Osbey--and Lagniappe--Poet Jane Hirshfield
This October I traveled to New Orleans to see my good friends David Lummis (author of
Meet New Orleans Author and Photographer: Kristin Fouquet
Reading the short stories of Kristin Fouquet, writer and photographer par excellence, is like eating bon bons. You just have to have one more. Fouquet writes with a photographer's eye for detail, seeing beneath read more...
Lynyrd Skynyrd In The Studio
Lynyrd Skynyrd In The Studio Lynyrd Skynyrdʼs Gary Rossington is In The Studio for the 35th anniversary of theʻliveʼ classic One More From The Road in Dallas, TX- Oct 10, 2011. North American syndicated Rock radio show In The Studio: The Stories read more...
Coming Soon from History Press: "Rocket City Rock and Soul" by Jane DeNeefe
The History Press will release Rocket City Rock and Soul: Huntsville Musicians Remember the 1960s by Huntsville read more...
A Stroll Through Savannah
A Stroll Through Savannah Widespread Panic put on a mighty fine show last night at the Johnny Mercer Theatre. I look forward to tonight's show as well. It's 70 read more...
An Interview From The Road: Grayson Capps Talks About A Love Song For Bobby Long
An Excerpt From Interview with Grayson Capps I just got off the phone with Alabama singer/songwriter/guitarist Grayson Capps. He was calling from the road. He's preparing read more...
Remake of Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs in Theaters September 16
Straw Dogs Out September 16 On September 16, the remake of Sam Peckinpah's savage film Straw Dogs hits theaters. Filmed in Bossier City, Louisiana, the 2011 Straw Dogs is read more...
"The Coffee Shop Chronicles" Featured in New Orleans Course at University of Montevallo
David Lummis' novel The Coffee read more...
Swampland's Daily Duo of Reviews For 8/1/11: Josh T. Pearson and Damon Fowler
Monday's pair of reviews come from a couple of releases from earlier this year. Texan Josh T. Pearson's initial band, Lift to Experience, made one well regarded record a few years back, and he released Last of the Country Gentlemen, his first official solo album, in read more...
Upcoming Interview: Preston Lauterbach's Chitlin' Circuit: And The Road To Rock 'N' Roll
The Chitlin' Circut: And The Road To Rock 'N' Roll Memphis writer Preston Lauterbach's first book--The Chitlin Circut: And The Road To Rock 'N' Roll--arrived in the mail on Monday. An upcoming interview with Lauterbach is on the way, but I wanted to write a quick read more...
A Southern Literary Note on Hemingway's Birthday
A Southern Literary Note on Hemingway's Birthday Today is the birthday of Ernest Hemingway. A southern literary note seems in order to salute one of America's greatest writers...
Swampland's Daily Duo of Reviews For 7/18/11: Jolie Holland and Dawes
This week Swampland debuts its "Daily Duo of Reviews" which gives us a chance to feature a couple of reviews each day and building a connection between them. Our first two reviews in this daily series are
A Preview of Drive Me Out of My Mind: 24 Houses in 10 Years By Chad Faries
A Preview of Chad Faries' New Memoir Emergency Press published Chad Faries' latest book titled Drive Me Out of My Mind: 24 Houses in 10 Years: A Memoir this month. I met Faries through read more...
A "Found Poem" on Craig's List--Thorsby, AL, June 22, 2011
Free Donkeys (3) found and arranged by Penne J. Laubenthal (photo from www) My mom won 3 read more...
Billy C Farlow Tours in Europe to Promote "Alabama Swamp Stomp"
Blues harmonica player and songwriter Billy C Farlow left last week for a month tour of France and surrounding countries to promote his new album
Chris Robinson Brotherhood Big Sur Memorial Weekend
Chris Robinson Brotherhood & Howlin Rain Big Sur Memorial Weekend "Lost in the equinox/lightening flash in a blood red sky Another game of paradox/got the angels choosing sides..."
A Memorial Day Tribute: An Early Salute
A Salute To All The Veterans An early salute for the upcoming weekend... In honor of Memorial Day, and all the read more...
Georgia Public Broadcasting Films "Georgia Outdoors" on the Altamaha River
GPB Films "Georgia Outdoors" on Altamaha River Earlier this month, Georgia Public Broadcasting filmed for three days on the Altamaha River in southeast Georgia. Swampland read more...
Meet Matthew Nolan, Poet and Resident of New Orleans
Matthew Nolan, who subtitles his books "A New Orleans Poet," is the author of two collections of poetry and prose: Crumpled Paper Dolls (2004) and Exhuming Juliet (2009). read more...
Never A Pal Like Mother
Happy Mother's Day 2011 Happy Mother's Day to Everyone! Since it's Mother's Day weekend, I thought I write a dispatch around the great Atlanta label
Happy Mother's Day (and new reviews on the way!)
Hi all, Just wanted to let everyone know to be on the lookout for some brand new reviews coming over the next week or so. Tab Benoit's Medicine, Whiskey Myers's Firewater, and Bobby Thompson's By The Hand are all in the queue. Each drips with its own brand of read more...
Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitizer Prize Winning Journalist, To Speak at University of North Alabama
Isabel Wilkerson, the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in the history of journalism, will be speaking at the University of North Alabama (in Florence, Alabama) at 12:30 PM, Thursday, April 14. read more...
MLB Opening Day 2011
MLB Opening Day 2011 “I was fairly typical of my generation of Southerners, I suppose. I got hooked on the game when I heard Mel Allen’s tense description of Enos (‘Country”) Slaughter of the Cardinals winning the ’46 read more...
Delta Born Blues Legend Pinetop Perkins Dies at 97
Grammy award winning blues pianist Pinetop Perkins died yesterday, March 21, of cardiac arrest at the age of 97. Perkins, whose real first name was Willie, read more...
Spike Lee Speaks Tonight At Savannah State University
An Evening with Spike Lee Tonight Atlanta born filmmaker Spike Lee will speak at Savannah State University. Lee will discuss his life, work, politics and the ability of film to effect social change. SSU professor Chad Faries has been spreading the read more...
Alabama Blues Musician Debbie Bond Pays Tribute to Eddie Kirkland (1923-2011)
The funeral service for Eddie Kirkland, "Gypsy of the Blues," was held on Monday, March 7, in Macon, Georgia. Friends came from far and wide to pay tribute to the 87-year-old blues legend who was killed in read more...
The 2011 Savannah Music Festival
2011 Savannah Music Festival 2011 marks the 22nd year of the Savannah Music Festival. This year, events transpire March 24 through April 9. The festival’s mission statement indicates read more...
Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby James
James Taylor, icon of the music world, is celebrating his 63rd birthday today His debut album "James Taylor" (on the British label Apple) was released in the US in February of 1969. A reviewer for Rolling Stone called the album "the coolest breath of fresh read more...
"If You're Not Living on the Edge, Then You're Taking Up Space": Flo Kennedy
Most people are familiar with the life and career of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, but how many people are familiar with her contemporary-- the flamboyant and vociferous
The Second Cooler: Documentary by Alabama Filmmaker Ellin Jimmerson
The Second Cooler or Le Segunda Nevera is a documentary film by Ellin Jimmerson, Alabama filmmaker, that asks the questions: why are there twelve million Latin American migrants in the United States illegally and why do thousands not survive the border read more...
An "Ardent Spirit" Departs: Reynolds Price 1933-2011
Award winning author and longtime Duke professor Reynolds Price died Thursday, January 20, from complications following a heart attack just over a week before his 78th birthday. Price had been a paraplegic since 1984 when surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his spine ("the read more...
Celebrating The Year of Alabama Music with a Series of Articles by Jane DeNeefe
This year, 2011, we are celebrating the Year of Alabama Music. The December 2010 issue of the Oxford American features read more...
Robert Plant Pays Tribute To Townes Van Zandt
Robert Plant’s Homage To Townes Van Zandt Robert Plant recorded Townes Van Zandt’s “Harm Swift Way” on his new Band of Joy disc. I heard the song today, and I read more...
Swampland 2011: "Crossing the Creek" and The Year of Alabama Music
Happy New Year to all you Swamplanders. I apologize for the long hiatus between this post and my last one, but the holidays caught me off guard, and I was running in place for about six weeks. My resolution for 2011 is to complete tasks in a timely fashion. I am read more...
Merry Christmas From Swampland
Merry Christmas From Swampland Ho, Ho, Ho…I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas from Swampland. Thanks for all the support. A Happy New Year to you all! Don’t let the Devil get you down. I’ve included a couple of read more...
Southern College Football – Coaching Carousel
LEAD STORY With bowl season beginning and holidays upon us, the big news in our Footprint is the gigantic transformation of the coaching hierarchy in the state of Florida. Do you realize that one-season ‘veteran’ Jimbo Fisher of Florida State is now the dean of read more...
Southern College Football – Championship Week
LEAD STORY The amazing story of Auburn and Cam Newton will continue Saturday when they meet South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game.
The Buzz Around Savannah Bee
The Buzz Around Savannah Bee Two days ago I interviewed my old friend Ted Dennard, proprietor of the Savannah Bee Company. Savannah Bee specializes in the highest quality of honey, lip balm and body care products. Ted read more...
Southern College Football - Week 13 Themes
It’s rivalry week in our Swampland Footprint. Some teams are looking towards league titles (Auburn, Oklahoma/Oklahoma State, NC State, etc.) while some usual stalwarts are just trying to become bowl eligible (Texas, Georgia, Tennessee). The last weekend of the season is the read more...
Southern College Football - Week 12 Themes
LEAD STORY It finally happened. For the first time since joining the SEC in 1992, the South Carolina Gamecocks will represent the East Division in read more...
The Captain Gabby Sails On The Georgia Coast Mothership Tour
The Georgia Coast Mothership Tour Not one cloud floated in the powder blue sky today. At three o’clock it was 70 degrees, and for mid-November you can’t ask for much better weather. This afternoon I took a tour on the charter boat, The Captain Gabby, starting read more...
Saluting Our Veterans and My Dear Friends Frank and Nell Lutz
Today is Veterans Day--a day on which we pay tribute to all those who served this country in the armed services. Today is especially meaningful to me because it gives me an opportunity to honor two of my favorite World War II veterans: my long time friends and erstwhile neighbors read more...
Southern College Football - Week 10 Themes
LEAD STORY What an old-fashioned Southern soap opera we have on our hands. I’m sure by now you’ve read (or at least heard about) the ESPN story regarding the recruitment of Auburn read more...
Southern College Football - Week 9 Themes
LEAD STORY So much of the national attention (ESPN) at this point in the college football season goes to just the handful of teams in the BCS chase. Auburn-- as well read more...
Georgia's Rock & Roll Halloween Weekend
Georgia’s Rock & Roll Halloween Weekend ...Written from the eye of the tempest near the Georgia-Florida line during Halloween weekend for the UGA versus UF football game... Folks are rushing around here with football, rock & roll and a read more...
Alabama Born Matt Cain Pitches Shut Out for SF Giants in Game 2
Matt Cain, powerful and versatile pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, showed his stuff last night when he pitched a nearly perfect game shutting out the Texas Rangers 9-0. Cain threw about 102 pitches before he was relieved in the seventh inning. What a way to continue the read more...
Dylan, Petty & Drive By Truckers Participate In ‘Back To Black Friday’
Dylan, Petty & Drive By Truckers Participate In ‘Back To Black Friday’ In support of independent record stores, November 26 stands as ‘Back To Black Friday’. Artists such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, The Drive By Truckers, Iron & Wine, U2, read more...
Caught Glove-Handed: Stone Crabbing in the Gulf of Mexico
"Did you catch them or buy them?" I asked my son John Laubenthal when he sent me this photo. " I caught them glove-handed," he replied. John lives on the lagoon in Panama City and catches/eats all things marine. The apple does not fall far from read more...
Southern College Football - Week 8 Themes
LEAD STORY It’s a huge weekend in the Big 12, with conference and national title implications. Top-ranked Oklahoma travels to undefeated Missouri, while read more...
Double Whammy: The Coffee Shop Chronicles of New Orleans and Books-A-Million
This week I am excited to provide the Swampland audience with a double whammy. My friend David Lummis' novel
Southern College Football - Week 7 Themes
LEAD STORY With South Carolina’s huge 35-21 victory over Alabama, the SEC’s current streak of four straight National Championships looks to be in read more...
The Moth In New Orleans: A More Perfect Union: Stories of Prejudice and Power
The Moth In New Orleans: A More Perfect Union: Stories of Prejudice and Power I now will be covering George Dawes Green’s indelible raconteurs club--The read more...
The Unchained Tour of Georgia Documentary
The Unchained Tour of Georgia Documentary On Monday, before the evening performance of The Unchained Tour of Georgia, I spoke with author
St. Simons Island: First Stop On The Unchained Tour of Georgia
The UnchainedTour: St. Simons Island I wanted to have the entire article written about last night’s first stop on The Unchained Tour, but there’s too much material. Right now, a brief dispatch will have to suffice. The Unchained Tour of Georgia, spearheaded by read more...
Streams of Coastal Culture...
Streams of Coastal Culture “May you live in interesting times…” --Chinese Proverb Down here on coastal Georgia it’s festive. Golfer Davis Love’s PGA tour event--The McGladrey Classic--is going on right now. R.E.M’s Mike read more...
Southern College Football - Week 6 Themes
LEAD STORY Florida State and Miami meet Saturday night in South Beach for their usual heated clash. This rivalry has lost a little luster read more...
A Call From George Dawes Green: Prelude to the Unchained Tour
A Call From George Dawes Green The Unchained Georgia Tour: A Prelude To Opening Night This afternoon esteemed author and The Moth creator
It's Never Too Late To Read a Banned Book
I recommend that you start with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or perhaps All The King's Men, or even To Kill A Mockingbird which just celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. The great poet T.S. Eliot once said that his parents forbade him to read more...
Southern College Football - Week 5 Themes
LEAD STORY Alabama and Florida will meet in Tuscaloosa Saturday in a battle of the last two National Champions. It’s been over two years since the Gators lost a regular season SEC game (Ole Miss, September ’08), and it’s been read more...
Billy C. Farlow, Mercy Band, and Alabama Swamp Stomp
Hold on to your habaneros. Blues legend Billy C. Farlow is once again having too much fun with a brand new cd, and he is hotter than ever. In the spring of 2009, Billy C. read more...
Southern College Football - Week 4 Themes
LEAD STORY Week 4 will be ‘Definition Saturday’ in our Swampland Footprint, especially in the SEC West. We should begin to see the true identity of many of our teams and what they have the potential to achieve in 2010.
Neil Young's Southern Shows & Le Noise...Bob Dylan Southern Tour Dates Released...Island Notes
Neil Young in Clearwater Florida Tonight Before the release of his new record Le Noise on September 28, Neil Young will play a string of southern shows beginning tonight in Clearwater, Florida. On the full moon tomorrow Neil plays Hollywood, Florida, and then read more...
Inside Alabama Politics: Fish Frys, Barbecues, and Chittlin' Suppers
According to my friend Dr. Susan Parker, Alabama politics is not just about politics; it is about food and lots of it. No political rally is complete without a read more...
Southern College Football - Week 3 Themes
LEAD STORY After last season, we wrote how the ACC would look for improvement in 2010. Last year’s campaign was summed as read more...
Filming "The Help": News and Blues in the Delta-- Greenwood, MS
About seven miles east of Greenwood, MS, the rolling hills suddenly go flat, a sure sign you are entering the Delta. We had driven to Greenwood via the leisurely
Southern College Football - Week 2 Themes
Guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan--Twenty Years After His Tragic Death
Guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, called by many the greatest blues guitarist since Jimi Hendrix, died read more...
The Illustrations of Georgia Artist Jack Davis
The Illustrations of Georgia Artist Jack Davis Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1924, Jack Davis stands as one of America’s finest illustrators. Inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2003, The National Cartoonist Society, The Society of Illustrators and The read more...
New Orleans Rising: Pontchartrain Park Focus of CNN Documentary
Pontchartrain Park focus of CNN Documentary This evening a documentary on CNN—In America—focused on the efforts of New Orleans actor Wendell Pierce read more...
Hot Haitian Jazz and a Cool New Album by RIYEL (Watters, Atkins, and Abel)
Jazz trumpeter and Alabama native Ken Watters has joined with several of the country's top musicians to form an eclectic and exciting jazz group called
2010 ACC Football Preview
A new era begins in Tallahassee as Jimbo Fisher takes over for Florida State legend Bobby Bowden. The Seminoles should have a powerful offense led by senior read more...
Southern Soul Barbeque Featured on BBQ Pitmasters & Diners, Drive-ins and Dives
Southern Soul Barbeque on BBQ Pitmasters & Diners, Drive-ins & Dives Since their business burned down at the end of March, Southern Soul Barbeque managed to rise above the ashes. Until the rebuilding on the original structure is complete at the end of October, read more...
The Dog Days Descend
Dog Day Afternoon In the Peach State A quick note as the Dog Days descend here in Georgia…I briefly visited Stanley Booth and Diann Blakely today to talk shop, so to speak. Look read more...
Novelist George Dawes Green Today's 'On The Point' Radio Guest
George Dawes Green Today's Guest On WBUR.ORG A couple of months ago I interviewed best-selling novelist George Dawes Green. Green’s book’s The Caveman’s Valentine, The Juror and his most recent work Ravens all experienced read more...
SEC Media Days Attract Huge Attention
The SEC tops the nation when it comes to college football so it should be no surprise that the "Media Days" in July draw so much interest. Media members from all over the country marvel at the three day spectacle that has gridiron fans counting the days until the season read more...
SEC Continues Its Run of Excellence
The SEC ended another stellar year with another national championship. South Carolina won the school’s first ever national title when they swept UCLA at the College World read more...
Looking Good at Sixty-Three--Jimmy Buffett Rocks the Gulf Coast
Been there, done that, have the pictures to prove it, but I wish I had been in Gulf Shores last night for the Jimmy Buffett and Friends Benefit Concert. Thanks to CMT, a portion of the concert was read more...
Reading "The Coffee Shop Chronicles of New Orleans" by David Lummis
Perhaps because I was an English professor for most of my life, friends are always asking me what good book I have read recently. Well, I am happy to report that I have
Charlie Daniels Speaks with GRITZ About The Gulf Oil Crisis and More
by Michael Buffalo Smith Charlie Daniels has had quite a year. More recording, non-stop touring and recovering from a stroke, and he is still doing it to it as fast as he can go. And then there's the now legendary Geico commercial. I spoke with Charlie yesterday to read more...
Neil Young To Play The Gulf Coast
Neil Young To Play the Gulf Coast “I’m a vampire Sucking blood from the earth I’m a vampire I’ll sell you twenty barrels worth I’m a black bat Hanging on your window pane I’m read more...
Music For A Cause: Benefit Concerts from Nashville to Gulf Shores
One week after country music stars rallied to raise over $2 million for Nashville, TN, flood relief,Jimmy Buffet will give a benefit concert live from
Alabama Bred Artist Paxton Creates Pelican Belt Buckle To Help Save Gulf Coast
My talented nephew, California artist and Elk River native Paxton (Mobley), has been creating fine art for over twenty years and has become a favorite with collectors. Recently, he began desiging original belt read more...
Alabama Author Albert Murray Symposium and Book Launch at Lincoln Center
Two of my good friends, Jeanie Thompson (poet and Executive Director of the Alabama Writers Forum) and
Carolina and Tampa Bay Look to Recapture Past Success
With the conclusion of our look at the NFL teams in our Swampland Footprint, we’ll tackle two teams trying to work their way back up to their recent success—Carolina and Tampa Bay. Both squads missed the postseason in 2009, and they each targeted a very specific area of read more...
Tribute Concert To Benefit Historic New Orleans Collection
Harold Battiste Tribute Concert to Benefit Historic New Orleans Collection New Orleans musician Harold Battiste’s book, Unfinished Blues: Memories of a New read more...
Sweet Home Alabama and Bitter Politics
Mudslinging has reached new heights in the rainsoaked red clay of Alabama. Gone are the usual insinuations and innuendo, and in their place are vicious verbal attacks. Party lines have been crossed, and insults have become downright personal.
More Muscle Shoals Soul: Percussionist Jimmy "BeBop" Evans
Yesterday I was having breakfast at Cafe Savanna in Rogersville, AL, with my dear friends Susan and Paul read more...
Big-Name Franchises Make Huge News During Offseason
Three teams in our Swampland Footprint definitely have national fan bases and looked to make a splash during free agency and the draft. The Dallas Cowboys made their news on the first night of the draft, while the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins dominated the headlines with read more...
The Black Keys, Band of Horses, and the Magic of Muscle Shoals
"Soul nirvana" is what one writer calls Muscle Shoals, that area of the Quad Cities in northwest Alabama where such legendary musicians as
Sister Schubert: From a Sunporch in Alabama to the Corporate Boardroom
I have been a fan of Sister Schubert rolls since I popped the first delectable morsel in my mouth some 15 years ago. The name Sister Schubert is a household word in my family, my sister's family, my daughter's read more...
Jaguars Disappoint Fans by 'Reaching' for the Wrong Player
We all know the huge decision that the Jacksonville Jaguars faced in the first round of the NFL Draft—“reach” for local hero Tim Tebow with the #10 pick, or take a higher-rated prospect like Clemson running back C.J. Spiller or Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick read more...
NFL Draft Impressions: Rams Get Their Man; Jags Disappoint Their Fans
Did your team improve? Is your fan base excited about the direction of your squad? We will take an in-depth look at the NFL Draft over the next couple of weeks, but wanted to give our read more...
Swampland's Upcoming Interview with George Dawes Green
George Dawes Green Interview Next Week Next week I look forward to interviewing George Dawes Green. Green wrote The Caveman’s Valentine (the film adaptation starred Samuel L. Jackson), which won an Edgar award. Green’s next book, The read more...
April is the Busiest Month: Alabama and New Orleans
Every week in April has been busy with a literary or cultural event in the state of Alabama including the Alabama Book Festival, an annual event in
Rams and Jaguars Can Shape Their Franchises on Draft Day
The NFL Draft is upon us, and two of the teams in our Swampland footprint have a great chance to decide the direction of their franchise for the next few seasons. The NFL is a quarterback league, and both St. Louis and Jacksonville can select signal callers who will become the face read more...
Excursion to New Orleans
What an amazing adventure I have had in Louisiana this past week. I am starting a series on Swampland about my adventures in the Crescent City (see New Orleans
Celebrate Record Store Day 2010!
Record Store Day 2010 is read more...
Tom Kimmel at 9th Annual Writers Conference, Calhoun College, Decatur, AL
I just returned from a long weekend in the Crescent City, but I don't plan to miss the annual writers conference on Thursday, April 15, at Calhoun read more...
NCAA Title Stays on Tobacco Road
We took a lot of pride in our Swampland Footprint this January when the SEC claimed a fourth straight BCS Title, and now the ACC has brought us that same feeling with another NCAA basketball championship. Duke held off a gutsy Butler squad for a thrilling 61-59 victory that
The Day Southern Soul Burned Down
The Day Southern Soul Barbeque Burned Down “May this shovel, Release your trouble Lay them far away…” --Chris Whitley “Dirt Floor Not a good day for the residents of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Around 11 AM read more...
New Orleans and the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival 2010
I don't get down to New Orleans nearly so often as I would like although it is a place close to my heart. New Orleans is one of my top three cities in America, along with
Allman Brothers NYC Run Begins Tonight!
We were hoping that Michael Buffalo would be ready to go tonight, but his eyes still aren't cooperating. He wanted to assure everyone that he will review all of the Allman Brothers Band shows via Moogis once he is able. In the meantime, we know everyone is read more...
Big East Teams In Our Region Have Great Potential
As we wrap up our coverage of Signing Day and recruiting, there are three Footprint teams in the Big East that deserve a mention.
New Orleans' Preservation Hall Benefit Album
Preservation Hall Benefit The Preservation Hall opened its doors in 1961. Located in The French Quarter—three blocks from the Mississippi read more...
ACC Teams See Mixed Recruiting Success
We wrote a month ago about last year’s mediocre season for ACC football and how the conference would look for improvement in 2010.
New Orleans Saints Win The Super Bowl
Saints Beat Colts 31-17 Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints for winning the Super Bowl tonight. They looked slow from the start, but they held read more...
Sunday Sounds: Super Bowl Sunday
Super Bowl Sunday A cool breeze swirls on the coast of South Georgia…birds chirping…wind chimes echo in the distance. It’s read more...
Frigid February Is Hot Month for Arts in South
Temperatures may be hovering around freezing in the south in February, but the mercury is rising in Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama when it comes to the fine arts The first weekend in February marks the 7th Annual Oxford read more...
National Signing Day: Christmas Morning for Southern Football Fans
It’s finally here- a virtual holiday in our Swampland Footprint.
Coaching Uncertainties Create Instability in the Normally Calm Sunshine State
With National Signing Day approaching quickly, tons of attention will be on the state of Florida with so many top players being courted by schools all over the nation. However, the real race to most Floridians happens between the home state programs. The Florida Gators have read more...
Favre Still Rules Though Saints March and Vikings Retreat
I would not want to be Brett Favre this morning---over forty, utterly frustrated, and physically and emotionally devastated. However, this Mississippi born grand old man of football is my hero, and he's not done read more...
Saints vs Colts Present a Dream SPF Super Bowl
Much more to come on this as the Super Bowl approaches, but yesterday's wins by Peyton Manning and the Colts and Drew Brees and the Saints presented our football-hungry region with the best reason yet to watch the Super Bowl.
Team In Turmoil #2 - Del Rio's Presence Hurts Jags Effort To Rebuild Support
After years of wondering and worrying, recent and disturbing word came out from the developer of the new NFL-ready stadium in Los Angeles - their group is
ACC Daily Fever: League Looks for Improvement in 2010
2009 was a rather forgettable season for ACC football. It started with the Virginia Tech's ten-point loss in the Georgia Dome to Alabama and ended with Georgia Tech's ten-point loss to Iowa in the Orange Bowl.
ACC Daily Fever: Johnson Not Sitting Still at Georgia Tech
Despite winning the ACC, Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson is not sitting still in trying to build the Yellow Jackets into a consistent winner. The Tech offense has been read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Georgia Tech Flops in Second Straight Postseason
"Dance with the one that brung you” was a favorite expression of legendary University of Texas football coach Darrell Royal. When applying that phrase to read more...
Yellow Dogs and Blue Dogs: Alabama's Three? Dog Night
I know what a Yellow Dog is. A Yellow Dog is a Democrat who would vote the Democratic ticket even if he or she had to vote for a yellow (aka "yaller" dog). But what on earth is a
ACC Daily Fever: Bowden Wins Career Finale in the Gator Bowl
It was just supposed to go this way. Florida State overcame a halftime deficit with a convincing second-half performance to win Bobby Bowden’s last game in front of a read more...
ACC Daily Fever: League Starts Postseason Slowly
We knew the ACC would be out to gain some respect during Bowl season, and so far the results have been pretty mediocre. North Carolina dropped a tough game in Charlotte, and Boston College fell to USC as expected in the Emerald Bowl.
Between A Memory And A Dream: Tom Petty's Live Anthology
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' The Live Anthology This new Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' Live Anthology--4 read more...
ACC Daily Fever: UNC's Houston Looks to Star at Home in Bowl Game
North Carolina fans (and the players) may have wanted to go a little further from Chapel Hill than Charlotte for the postseason. But after an 0-3 start in league play, read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Miami offense faces challenge without Fox
Miami received some bad news during their preparation for the Champs Sports Bowl against Wisconsin. Left tackle Jason Fox, who has started 47 games (third most in read more...
Alabama Stocking Stuffers
Still stumped for stocking stuffers this Christmas? What about giving the lasting gift of art, music, film, or literature by Alabama authors, artists, musicians, and filmmakers this holiday season ? Here are just a few of the must-haves that will please any readers on read more...
Sunday Sounds: The Week of Christmas
Sunday Sounds: The Week of Christmas Sunday Sounds counts as a soulful glance on days at read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Bowden Bowl Plan is a Proven Winner
As Florida State prepares for the Gator Bowl against West Virginia, there is a ton change happening in Tallahassee. Bobby Bowden will be coaching his last game, and then Jimbo Fisher and his (somewhat) new staff will take over and hit the recruiting trail.
ACC Daily Fever: Korn Still Practicing with Clemson Despite Transfer Plans
Dabo Swinney has a unique situation on his hands as he prepares his Clemson club for the Music City Bowl against Kentucky. Willy Korn, a former star at Byrnes read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Recruting Must Improve to Compete with the Top Conferences
The AP All-American teams (first, second, and third) were released this week, and the ACC had six players make the one of the squads. League champ Georgia Tech had two read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Foster a Fixture at Virginia Tech
It has become an annual December news item at Virginia Tech—other top programs are interested in defensive coordinator Bud Foster. With him on Frank Beamer's staff since 1987 and the coordinator since 1995, most Hokies fans probably were not too worried about losing the read more...
Alabama Actress Kim Dickens in HBO Series "Treme"
Treme, a made for television series set the the historic area of
ACC Daily Fever: Conference Mediocrity to Blame For Spiller's Heisman Snub
The Heisman vote is in - the ACC's quality of play isn't up to par. Not all from ACC country agree. With Clemson star C.J. Spiller not being invited to the Award ceremony, South Carolina columnist Bart Wright questioned the whole Heisman process. He also wonders why true read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Fisher Building his own staff at FSU
Jimbo Fisher will take over for Bobby Bowden following the Gator Bowl, but the new coach has already been making a statement in Tallahassee. Earlier this week, he read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Unique Regional Rivalry Finally Takes Place in Atlanta
The matchup of Virginia Tech and Tennessee in the Chick-fil-A Bowl has become a very popular ticket in that part of our Swampland Footprint. The last time these two read more...
Shannon Runquist Returns Home To Display Paintings
Shannon Runquist's Work On Display at Anderson Fine Art Afternoon All, I’d like to write up a little something regarding painter read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Georgia Tech Playing For League Pride
In last year’s Orange Bowl, Virginia Tech beat Cincinnati 20-7 which gave the ACC its first BCS Bowl win since Florida State won it all in 1999. Georgia Tech will read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Gator Bowl To Host Bowden Finale
We wrote last week that the Gator Bowl wanted to match up Florida State (in Bobby Bowden's last game) and West Virginia (his former read more...
Swampland Introduces New Outdoor Editor Michael Gowen
Michael Gowen's Tides and Times It is with great pleasure and honor to introduce Swampland's new Wayfaring Editor Michael read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Georgia Tech Beats Clemson in a Thriller
It may not have been the most watched game on Saturday, but the ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville was the most exciting. Georgia Tech answered a Clemson read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Title Game Needs Buzz, Audience
The buzz around Atlanta (and the nation) is at a fever pitch for the SEC Title game. Big 12 Country (along with very interested fans at TCU and Cincinnati) can't wait to see if Texas can finish off Nebraska or if the Huskers can pull the upset.
ACC Daily Fever: Gator Bowl Decision Looms for League and Bobby Bowden
There is a current debate brewing over the pecking order of ACC bowl-eligible teams and where they may head for the postseason. The most interesting scenario read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Clemson's Spiller is the Focus for Georgia Tech
We have written quite a bit the season on the spread running attack of Georgia Tech. It should help Clemson defenders that the ACC Title clash will be the second time this season in which they will see Paul Johnson's unique offense.
ACC Daily Fever: Bobby Bowden Retires
It has finally happened. A day that has been debated seemingly all decade arrived this week with the news that Florida State's read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Tough Weekend for League's Reputation
Last weekend saw a doomsday scenario play out for the league in its three battles against the SEC. #1 Florida was expected to beat Florida read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Big Weekend for the League- In and Out of Conference Play
It's going to be a heated-rivalry Saturday for the ACC- with big games in conference and some in-state clashes out of league. We wrote earlier in the week about how
ACC Daily Fever: Clashes with SEC Rivals Could Boost League's Rep
The ACC has a chance to improve its national perception this weekend with three games against the SEC. And at first glance, the matchups look very favorable for the conference to go 2-1 in those rivalry contests.
ACC Daily Fever: UNC Defense Dominating In November
After North Carolina's crushing 30-27 loss to Florida State in late October, frustration was high in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels had blown a 24-6 secong half lead and had read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Clemson's Offense Sparks Winning Streak
Clemson is on the verge of their first Atlantic Division crown as they prepare to host Virginia on Saturday. After starting 2-3, Dabo Swinney’s bunch has won five in a row with the offense leading the way.
ACC Daily Fever: Florida Governor (and Ann Bowden) Voice Support for Bobby Bowden
As the debate continues on the future of Florida State's Bobby Bowden, the long-time coach received support recently from a well-known FSU graduate- read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Clemson's Spiller Making Late Heisman Push
As Clemson pushes towards their first Atlantic Division crown, star playmaker C.J. Spiller is making a strong case for Heisman consideration. In a season where there appears to be no clear cut favorite for the always-controversial award, Spiller has a a decent shot
ACC Daily Fever: FSU Gets Much Needed Victory
Things looked bleak last week for a Florida State squad that needed a win at Wake Forest to keep their bowl hopes alive. The Demon Deacons had beaten the 'Noles three read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Butch Davis Stays Unbeaten Against His Former School
When North Carolina blew a 24-6 second-half against Florida State and dropped to 0-3 in the conference, there were some questions around Chapel Hill about which direction the program was going.
Southern Soul Barbeque's Griffin Bufkin Offers Brisket Chili Recipe
Southern Soul's Soul by the Bowl Swampland Victuals Editor Griffin Bufkin offers Southern Soul Barbeque's Smoked Beef Brisket Chili Recipe. Read read more...
SEC Football:Don't Spill Bourbon On My Mink--Or My Donna Karan
This Friday's Wall Street Journal published an intriguing
ACC Daily Fever: Bowden Needs Wake Victory To Secure Bowl Bid, Quell Fan Unrest
At 4-5, Florida State is staring at the distinct possibility of not making a Bowl game if they cannot beat Wake Forest in Winston-Salem on Saturday. The Demon read more...
No "Lazybones"--Happy 100th Birthday Johnny Mercer, RIP
According to The Business Insider, fourteen of the twenty-five laziest cities in America are in the south (ie,, in the Swampland footprint). with
ACC Daily Fever: Clemson Cannot Overlook NC State
Clemson has won four in a row, and the offense has averaged over 40 points a game during their streak. The Tigers can wrap up their first ACC Title Game berth with read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Georgia Tech's Low BCS Status Is A Casualty Of A Weak ACC
With Georgia Tech in the Top Ten and only having one loss, ACC fans would like to think that the Yellow Jackets have an outside shot at the BCS Title Game with a few breaks.
ACC Daily Fever: Florida State Loses Ponder For The Year
Florida State suffered a devastating blow this week with the news that quarterback Christian Ponder is out for the rest read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Georgia Tech Survives Wake Forest Scare
What a decision. Trailing 27-24 in overtime against Wake Forest, Paul Johnson had his Yellow Jackets go for it on 4th and inches from the five-yard line.
The Return of John Keane's Strawberry Flats
Return of John Keane’s Strawberry Flats On St. Simons Island, Georgia, at Gnat’s Landing, last night an old killer Athens, read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Clemson Will Control ACC Atlantic With A Win Against FSU
Clemson could virtually wrap up the ACC's Atlantic Divsion with a home win against Florida State on Saturday night. That seemed improbable when the Tigers dropped to 2-3 on the season after their crushing defeat at Maryland.
ACC Daily Fever: Virginia Tech tries to avoid third straight loss
In a season where the ACC has looked very vulnerable against non-BCS foes, Virginia Tech will have a tough contest tonight when they visit East Carolina (
ACC Daily Fever: Andrews leaves an amazing legacy at FSU
As expected, longtime Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews announced yesterday that he will retire at the end of this season. And what a read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Duke Improving Under Cutcliffe
Coming into the season, Virginia Tech looked like the clear favorite in the Coastal Division, with Georgia Tech and Miami also having a shot. The Yellow Jackets have read more...
Guest Swampland Victuals Editor: Southern Soul's Griffin Bufkin
Griffin Bufkin's Soulful Recipe For Smoked Oysters Griffin Bufkin owns
ACC Daily Fever: Georgia Tech Surges Towards Elite Status
As much of the league struggles for respectability, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets continue to look impressive. On a night where Paul Johnson’s club did read more...
SEC Daily Fever: "Cocktail Party" Remains A Great Southern tradition
It's more than just a football game. Whether it's golf tournaments, concerts, or just a long weekend with friends, the Georgia-Florida game has become a can't miss event for both fan bases and for read more...
ACC Daily Fever: North Carolina Revives Season With Improbable Win
Nobody wins in Blacksburg, right? Especially not teams that enter late October without a conference victory. However, North Carolina changed both of those last night with a shocking 20-17 win at read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Jacory Harris Struggles, Matures
After starting the season with over 650 yards passing and five touchdowns in the two wins against Florida State and Georgia Tech, Miami quarterback Jacory Harris read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Two North Carolina Teams Hurting The Conference
In a fairly disappointing season for the ACC, two programs falling way below expectation have been North Carolina and NC State.
ACC Daily Fever: Paul Johnson Has Changed the ACC Landscape
Georgia Tech's running attack has the Yellow Jackets in the driver's seat in the Coastal Division and has the league's defensive coordinators very frustrated. As has read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Clemson Shakes Up The ACC With Its OT Win At Miami
Dabo Swinney got the biggest win of his young career on Saturday as Clemson defeated Miami in a 40-37 overtime thriller.
ACC Daily Fever: FSU Gets A Much Needed Victory, But Bowden Still Under Scrutiny
It looked like the Florida State season was about to spiral out of control last night, as the Seminoles trailed 24-6 at North Carolina early in the third quarter. But read more...
ACC Daily Fever: FSU and UNC Are Both Desperate For A Win Tonight
It's pretty amazing that here in late October, the North Carolina-Florida State clash will feature two teams searching for their first league win. But that is read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Shannon Keeps Miami Focused
With Georgia Tech’s big win over Virginia Tech last Saturday, the biggest beneficiary may have been the Miami Hurricanes. The Coastal Division is now a read more...
SPF Daily Rating: Team In Turmoil #1 - Washington Redskins
We knew it was going to be a tough year for several SPF teams. We are going to spend some time this week on a few individual teams to give a sense of their respective level of desperation. Our first team is the Washington Redskins. Their fall might be the read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Will Clemson Ever Become A Dominant ACC Force?
Clemson made a statement last Saturday with their resounding 38-3 win over Wake Forest. It showed that they have the talent to be a heavy player in the ACC and could be a serious contender for the Atlantic Division title.
ACC Daily Fever: Georgia Tech Enters National Picture With Win Over Virginia Tech
The Coastal Division just got very interesting after Georgia Tech’s 28-23 win over #4 Virginia Tech on Saturday.
ACC Daily Fever: Tech battle will decide Coastal Division
The Coastal Division could get very interesting on Saturday if Georgia Tech can beat favored Virginia Tech at home in Atlanta. That result would net a three-way tie read more...
SPF Daily Rating: Bengals Blackout?
The Bengals have had a dream season so far. They've beaten their arch rival (Steelers). They've beaten their in state rival. They are a last minute tipped pass away from being undefeated, but they are still at 4-1 and lead the AFC North.
ACC Daily Fever: Clemson-Wake Forest Winner Could Become Atlantic Favorite
The Atlantic Division is wide open at the midway point, and an important game in deciding that half of the conference will take place Saturday when Wake Forest read more...
ACC Daily Fever: NC State's Tom O'Brien Needs To Beat Former Team
It’s been a year full of frustration in the ACC, and one team that has showed a surprising lack of progress is NC State.
SPF Daily Rating: Saints Fever Sweeping the Gulf Coast
As we predicted, it has been a pretty dire year for SPF teams. Even one of our playoff locks, the Tennessee Titans, is surprisingly winless and going nowhere fast. The best news amongst our SPF teams comes from the Saints who made an off season commitment to read more...
ACC Daily Fever: The Coastal Division Shaped By Battle of Tech Schools
It seems to be a weekly theme around the ACC; league coaches trying to prepare for Georgia Tech’s vaunted running attack.
The Michael Gowen Interview: Kayak Fishing On St. Simons & The Georgia Coast
The Michael Gowen Interview Fall 2009 A couple of weeks ago my old friend and I Michael Gowen conducted this interview on the Shifting Banks read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Embattled Bowden Sees FSU Fall To 0-3 In League Play
We wrote before the weekend about the concern for Florida State having to prepare for Georgia Tech’s running offense amid the Bobby Bowden read more...
Pat Conroy "South of Broad" Contest Winners Announced
Congratulations to all of those who participated in the Pat Conroy "Win a Copy of South of Broad Contest" sponsored read more...
ACC Daily Fever: FSU Prepares for Georgia Tech Amid Bowden Debate
It’s been quite a week in Tallahassee. With everyone voicing an opinion on the future of Bobby Bowden, there have been more than enough read more...
SPF Daily Rating: Blank Talks About A New Stadium In Atlanta For Falcons
Amidst a serious economic downturn, Falcons owner Arthur Blank has again begun engaging in public discussion about a new stadium to replace the Georgia Dome. The fact read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Gator Bowl Dumps The ACC For The SEC
It’s been a tough year for the national image of the ACC and their quest to be perceived with the big boys of college football. Ever since the opening week (N.C. State lost to South Carolina, Virginia to William & Mary, Duke to Richmond, Maryland to Cal, and Wake Forest read more...
SPF Daily Rating: Del Rio Keeps Playing Silly Games #3
We guess Jack Del Rio's two game win streak has further emboldened him. After already playing silly media games with players on two different occasions (here and read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Bowden Saga Engulfs The Sunshine State
The drama of the Bobby Bowden saga at Florida State continues to be the story of week. The
SPF Daily Rating: Are the Cowboys and Texans Going In Opposite Directions?
As always, there is panic in Cowboy Nation. Panic like this always ensues when their beloved team isn't undefeated or at least in the top half read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Miami Looks Like a BCS-Level Team
While Florida State is battling inconsistency and coaching upheaval, their Sunshine State rival Miami is experiencing resurgence.
SPF Daily Rating: Saints Look Consistent, Perhaps Elite At 4-0
It's early, but the 2009 New Orleans Saints look like a very, very good team. No one has ever questioned this team's read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Against His Wishes, This Will Be Bobby Bowden's Final Season at FSU
It might not be "official" yet, but 2009 will be Bobby Bowden's last season a Florida State's head coach.
ACC Daily Fever: Miami-OU History Reminds Hurricanes Of Past Glory
Most of the attention for Saturday night’s Miami-Oklahoma matchup has been on the quarterbacks. Sam Bradford will not play for the Sooners, and Jacory Harris will try to bounce back from last week’s tough outing against Virginia Tech.
SPF Daily Rating: Del Rio Cancels Garrard's Radio Show
We hate piling on, but Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has been asking for it. Just recently, we wrote about Del Rio's penchant for playing silly games - most read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Georgia Tech Carries the ACC Flag into Starkville
Georgia Tech has a chance to do the conference proud Saturday when they travel to Starkville to meet an improving Mississippi State squad. One aspect working in read more...
SPF Daily Rating: Jaguars to Orlando?
Orlando Sentinel sports columnist, Mike Bianchi, made some big sports news today when he reported that the Jacksonville Jaguars might be looking to move
Topic for Final Week of the Pat Conroy Contest: Place in Southern Writing
In William Faulkner's masterpiece Absalom, Absalom!, Canadian Shreve McCannon who is Quentin Compson's roommate at read more...
Discussion: Essays From Third Topic in Pat Conroy Contest (Relationships)
Thanks to each of these entries from our second week of the Pat Conroy contest in which winners will receive a 1st Edition copy of Conroy's South of Broad. (
ACC Daily Fever: Florida State Should Focus on Saving Its Conference Season
The question this week in the ACC is - which Florida State team will show up at Boston College? Two games ago, the Noles dismantled a quality BYU squad on the read more...
SPF Daily Rating: Dolphins Trade for Thigpen
The Miami Dolphins wasted no time replacing injured QB Chad Pennington by trading for former Chiefs and Coastal Carolina QB Tyler Thigpen in the wake of Pennington's decision to have read more...
SPF Daily Rating: Chad Pennington to Miss Season
Although they don't want to officially announce it yet because of a possible misdiagnosis, the immediate signs are that Dolphins QB Chad Pennington will miss the 2009 season with a shoulder read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Another rough weekend
The negative theme continued Saturday for the ACC as Florida State lost to South Florida, while
SPF Daily Rating: Texas Stadium RIP
Last night, the Irving (TX) City Council approved the funds to demolish Texas Stadium. Lost in all the hype of the new Cowboys Stadium, it's hard to believe that a place with so read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Miami at Virginia Tech Is This Weekend's Biggest Game
The anticipation in Blacksburg is reaching a fever pitch. It is not lost on us here that it has been quite a while since an in conference ACC matchup is the game of the week.
SPF Daily Rating: What if Redskins Lose To Lowly Lions? Bye, Bye Zorn
It's the unthinkable times two. The first unthinkable is that an NFL team can finish 0-16. That already happened with last year's Detroit Lions. Now that the Lions are 0-2 to start the 2009 season, the question starts - "who will they finally read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Clemson Can Make ACC Proud on Saturday
Lost in the shadow of the ACC's biggest weekend game that pits Virginia Tech against visiting Miami, Clemson finds itself preparing for a tough home game against TCU.
SPF Daily Rating: Del Rio Playing Silly Games in Jacksonville
In what should be a small story, Jags coach Jack Del Rio has brought back WR Nate Hughes to the practice squad after cutting him on read more...
Pat Conroy Contest Week 3: Relationships in Southern Writing
The Pat Conroy Contest enters week three on September 23. There are some great posts on the
Discussion: Essays From Second Topic in Pat Conroy Contest (Family)
Thanks to each of these entries from our second week of the Pat Conroy contest in which winners will receive a 1st Edition copy of Conroy's South of Broad. (
Discussion: Essays From First Topic in Pat Conroy Contest (Fate)
Thanks to each of these entries from our first week of the Pat Conroy contest in which winners will receive a 1st Edition copy of Conroy's South of Broad. (
ACC Daily Fever: The ACC's Best Team in 2009 Could Be Determined on Saturday
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. One of the most important games in the conference season will take place Saturday in Blacksburg when Miami travels to meet Virginia Tech.
SPF Daily Rating: Lack of Playmakers Leave Florida Teams Winless
"I'm not interested in Pro Bowl players, I'm interested in world champions." "[I'm interested in 'non-talent issues' [namely] the hustle, the effort, the technique, the fundamentals, all of those things." The above quotes read more...
ACC Daily Fever: UNC Program Improves Under the Radar
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. While Miami has been the best story of the early ACC year, the only other undefeated team in the league (and ranked all season) is Butch Davis’ read more...
SPF Daily Rating: The Saints Roll Again Behind Smart Decisions
The New Orleans Saints keep their high powered offense rolling once again as they went into Philadelphia and smoked the Eagles 48-22. What read more...
ACC Daily Fever: FSU and Virginia Tech Get Huge Wins for the Conference
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. While the lower teams in the conference have had some terrible losses early, two of the league stalwarts, Florida State and Virginia Tech, had big time wins on read more...
SPF Daily Rating: Houston Texans Don't Like Being Called "Soft"
To say the Houston Texans have been disappointing since entering the NFL as a expansion team in 2002 would be an understatement. In a way, however, everything about the Texans seems understated, including their presence on the field according to those who have been calling read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Canes Looking Like A National Power Again
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. What a difference a year makes and what a difference the Miami coaching changes made in their convincing 33-17 victory over Georgia Tech.
SPF Daily Rating: Jacksonville Mayor Makes Personal Plea For Fans To Buy Jags Tix
The Jaguars lost an astonishing 17,000 season ticket holders between this season and last. Expectations are that most of their games will be blacked out locally. So who have the Jags turned to?
ACC Daily Fever: Is Miami's Defense Ready For Prime Time?
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. A year ago, Miami simply not ready for Georgia Tech’s running attack. The Jackets totaled 472 yards on the ground on the way to a 41-23 victory. read more...
SPF Daily Rating: Delhomme Under Fire In Carolina
Things are getting ugly in Charlotte and Carolina for Panthers QB Jake Delhomme. Delhomme is getting major flack from fans. read more...
Pat Conroy Contest Topic #2: The Significance of Family in Southern Writing
"You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain't going to have any blood stick to you" says the barn-burning father Ab Snopes to his ten year old son Sarty shortly before Ab burns yet another barn and Sarty turns his back on his father and runs away into the dark read more...
Family In Southern Lit and the Pat Conroy Book Contest
Greetings, I’d like to direct everyone’s attention to a contest Swampland, our Writers of the South Facebook group, and Doubleday Books are running to win a read more...
ACC Daily Fever: FSU's Players Call Closed Door Meeting
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. It doesn’t affect their ACC title hopes, but the BYU contest in Provo Saturday could become Florida State’s most important game of the season.
SPF Daily Rating: The Falcons Display Winning Formula in Week One
The Atlanta Falcons have opened 2009 just like they did 2008 - by winning decisively. The main difference is that they beat the ultimately 0-16 read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Miami Works Long Hours To Stop Tech's Running Game
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. We wrote last week about how tough it would be for Clemson
ACC Daily Fever: Almost Competitive Conference?
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. The Week 1 storyline for the ACC was tough defeats and narrow escapes against supposedly ‘inferior’ opponents.
ACC Weekend Fever: Clemson Rally Against Tech Shows Heart, Falls Short
ACC Weekend Fever Previews Top Stories for the Upcoming Weekend Although it was still a 30-27 road loss, Clemson has to be encouraged
Pat Conroy Has Always Been a Favorite Writer of Mine
It’s no secret how much I love reading. I guess that holds true for any writer. It sure does for me. Now, one of my favorite writers is fellow South Carolinian Pat read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Short Week Has Swinney Understandably Nervous About Tonight's Game
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Paul Johnson’s spread running attack had quite the effect on the league a year ago.
Week One Essay Topic: Destiny and Fate in the Novels of Pat Conroy
Prince Hamlet declares in the final act of Shakespeare's play "There's a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will." The Irish novelist Frank Harris says "There is a destiny that shapes our ends...." The debate over fate versus free will has raged read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Miami's Jacory Harris Provides Hope For ACC
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. What a game. For a week that saw the league struggle mightily, the Florida State-Miami thriller was a nice sign of the ACC’s potential.
ACC Daily Fever: Miami-FSU Barely Salvages An Opening Week Full of Bad Losses
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. You know it was a bad week when columnists are already calling you the “
Fishing Camps & Gator Hunting
Fishing Camps & Gator Hunting In South Georgia Today I conducted another interview with my old friend Michael Gowen, proprietor of
Pat Conroy Sweepstakes : Win Copy of South of Broad
Beginning on Wednesday, September 9, 2009, Swampland.com in conjunction with our Writers of the South Facebook Group and Nan A. read more...
ACC Daily Fever: N.C. State's Loss Gets 2009 ACC Football Off To Poor Start
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. This one will sting awhile. North Carolina State was in a great position to move the program forward, but instead flopped on national television with
ACC Daily Fever: All Eyes on Raleigh Tonight
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. What an opportunity tonight's game presents for North read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Miami's Brutal Opening Month May Affect Shannon's Future
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. In a recent interview,
ACC Daily Fever: Hokies Must Improve on Offense
$(document).ready(function() { $('p > a[href*=swampland]').after(''); $('p > read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Cutcliffe Inspires Hope at Duke
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. When you talk postseason in Durham, most Duke fans automatically think March Madness.
ACC Daily Fever: 2009 Is a Make or Break Year for Al Groh at UVA
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Can Virginia get back to the days of George Welsh when the Cavaliers were a consistently solid team in the ‘90s? One man who will try and help that read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Will Gamecock Trash Talk Motivate an Improving NC State?
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. The 2009 campaign will be huge for N.C. State’s Tom O’Brien, who has gone 11-14 in his first two years in Raleigh after eight straight winning seasons at read more...
ACC Daily Fever: FSU's Offense Continues to Raise Concerns
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. It seems that Bobby Bowden is not too happy with his read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Two More QBs to leave the "U"
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. An interesting story broke today in Coral Gables as two more quarterbacks read more...
Art Scene in Athens, Alabama: Local Southern Authors Rule
The literary scene is booming in the small town of Athens, Alabama. In the past year at least four authors have published their work.
ACC Daily Fever: Will The Injury Bug Derail Virginia Tech's Season?
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. It’s been a tough preseason camp for Virginia Tech, especially at the running back position.
Possums Tales and Other Southern Fare
I was inspired to write about possums when I first saw this sign in front of Hickory Barn read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Biletnikoff List Shows Unfortunate Lack of ACC Playmakers
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know Although it’s good news for Jacoby Ford, it’s not so good news for the conference.
ACC Daily Fever: Another Florida Coaching Legend Passes Over Tebow
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know This will get them talking in the Sunshine State.
ACC Daily Fever: Ticket Sales Say That UNC Is More Than Just Basketball
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know What a difference a top coach can make. Butch Davis has awakened the North Carolina football fan base as
ACC Daily Fever: New Starter for Clemson
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Clemson will have a new signal caller for their opener as Dabo Swinney has named
ACC Daily Fever: GA Tech Loses Backup QB
ACC Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Georgia Tech suffered a blow to their depth over the weekend when
Trailblazing Playwright Judi Ann Mason Dies at 54
Judi Ann Mason, who died of a ruptured abdominal aorta Wednesday July 8, 2009, was widely known in the film and television industry. Born in 1955 in
Art from Alabama to New Orleans and Along the Trail of Tears
This week's feature is about Going Green in New Orleans--how one city is turning trash into treasures. As we become more and more environmentally read more...
Guest Writer Diane Lehr and Renowned Ceramicist James Watkins
Swampland is honored to have Diane Lehr as our guest writer for this month. Lehr graciously consented to do a feature on renowned ceramicist James read more...
Orrin Hatch's Folly: Senator, College Football Is About Conferences, Not Teams
After concluding Senate hearings about the BCS, Senator Orrin Hatch wrote an op-ed piece that appeared on ESPN.com. Here's a selection of that article: During the June 7 read more...
Doctor from Alabama Obama's Choice for Surgeon General
Once again Alabama has made the national news. For the last two weeks the web has been buzzing about a speech that financial guru and CEO of Retirement Systems of read more...
Echoes of the Ebo Tribe
Echoes of the Ebo Tribe As I promised yesterday, here’s an old ghost read more...
A Dispatch From The Coast
A Dispatch From The Coast After business in Atlanta, I’m on the homeland fandango this weekend to
Advice to Mark Sanford: Never Put it in an Email and Never Lie to Your Staff
Unless you have been in the jungles of Borneo for the last four days, you know that
NBA Draft: Swampland's Pro Hoops Teams
Pro sports has a problem in the Swampland Footprint. Considered the top level of competition and interest throughout the rest of the country, the pro game doesn't resonate with read more...
Not Everyone Can Be From Alabama
Continuing with my theme of levity for the rest of this month, I thought I would share with you this delightful guide to Alabama entitled "Understanding Alabamer" that has been making the rounds read more...
The Tampa Bay Bucs Try to Re-Imagine Rather than Rebuild
Who are these guys? No team in the world of SPF has had more turnover and change than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So far, reaction in Tampa to that change has not been promising for the Glazer family. For the first time in years, there's no season ticket waiting read more...
The Saints And New Orleans Find Re-Birth After Katrina
The 2009 season will be huge for the Saints both on and off the field. While record-setting Drew Brees tries to get the team back to the Playoffs, the bigger story may lie within the city as
FSU Booster Suggests ACC Divisional Realignment
The Orlando Sentinel recently reported that the president of the Seminole Boosters, Inc has written a plea to his school to ask that the
Indie Filmmaker Tonya Holly Hits the Silver Screen
This week, May 11, When I Find the Ocean by independent filmmaker Tonya Holly will be shown in more than 90 theaters in 31 states including Alabama as an official
For Better or Worse, the Jaguars are Jack Del Rio’s Team
If Jacksonville does not succeed in 2009, there is no one left to blame outside of head coach Jack Del Rio. After the 2006 season, he fired most of the offensive assistants. Following a lackluster 5-11 campaign in 2008, the Jags let GM James Harris go and replaced half of the read more...
National Poetry Month and Kentuckian Wendell Berry
April is National Poetry Month, and I have been musing over one of my favorite poems that I keep posted on the door of my refrigerator. It is "The Peace of Wild Things" read more...
A New (Media) Day Dawning for the SEC
We ran across this video recently, and we thought we'd put it up for everyone to view. It ran at the end of Raycom Sports final SEC game during this past SEC basketball tournament in Tampa. We all know about the SEC's new ESPN deal
Authors Michael Knight and Nanci Kincaid To Speak at Alabama Writers' Conferences
On Thursday, April 16, Calhoun Community College will host its Eighth Annual Writers’ Conference. The featured author for the 2009 conference will be Alabama native
Rocking from Cleveland, Illinois, to Southern France: Spooner Oldham, Wanda Jackson, and Billy C Farlow
April is a huge month for southern musicians. On Saturday, April 4, my neighbor down the river Spooner Oldham and “the sweet lady with the nasty voice” Wanda
In Defense of Jay Cutler: Why Most SPF Teams Still Don't Get It
I wish it hadn't come to this [trading Cutler]. I'm disappointed. . . . It's a sad day for one of the elite franchises in football and all the Broncos fans, and I'm sad - John Elway The saga of Jay Cutler has mesmerized the NFL landscape just like Brett Favre did read more...
It's Not Just Southern; Everybody Does it: Misheard Song Lyrics, Malapropisms, and Mondegreens
Recently I decided to do a web search on Elton John's "Tiny Dancer," and I ran across this book:
Less Than Six Degrees of Separation: Deryle Perryman, Blind Albert, David Lyman, and Vietnam
For my great-grandparents, the war was the Civil War, for my parents’ generation it was WW II, but for my generation, the war was Vietnam. The Vietnam War shaped a
Horton Foote and William Faulkner: From Page to Screen
The award winning playwright and screenwriter Horton Foote, who died last week at the
Big Medicine Come Soon
"Beyond the horizon, in the Springtime or Fall Love waits forever for one and for all." --Bob Dylan Greetings read more...
The Big East in SEC Country: How USF Can Join the Sunshine State Elite
After looking at the SEC-ACC competition within the Sunshine State, we next wanted to examine the challenge that Big East member South Florida has read more...
SEC vs ACC: Can FSU and Miami Join Florida to Make a "Big 3" Again?
As we wrap up our look at states with SEC and ACC schools, the Swampland focus turns to the seemingly abundant football fields of the Sunshine State. The State of Florida produces the best recruits east of the Mississippi River and is home to a couple of very salty gridiron read more...
Sweet Home Alabama Just Gets Sweeter: Literary Events in March
March is definitely coming in like a lion in Alabama this year. March 5-8 marks the occasion of the 12th Annual George Lindsey Film Festival in and around the area of
SEC vs ACC: Georgia and Georgia Tech Battle for Peach State Supremacy
With recruiting classes signed and spring practices approaching, it’s a good time to look at states in the Swampland Footprint that share SEC and ACC teams. We’re going to start in the Peach State, where a long time
The Clock is Ticking for Spurrier at South Carolina
As we continue to take a post-Signing Day look at the coaches and programs in our Swampland Footprint, it’s an interesting time to examine the state of the South Carolina program under Steve Spurrier. An SEC legend as a player and coach at Florida, Spurrier has not yet read more...
For Ole Miss and Arkansas (and Nutt and Petrino), It Looks Like a Win/Win
We've all witnessed the media firestorm surrounding Auburn and Tennessee's respective head coaching hires of Gene Chizik and Lane Kiffin. Like they tend to do, the media took some minor fires of controversy and poured gasoline on them, leaving any remnants of logic and reason read more...
In Defense of Lane Kiffin: The SEC "Family Feud" with Urban Meyer
There is no other conference more proud of itself than the SEC. SEC fans from rival teams hate each other with a passion bordering on the pathological, but when success arrives, it is embraced not just for the winning team but for the conference at large.
SEC Dominance - From the Field to Recruiting (And It Isn't Stopping Soon)
The reaction to Signing Day is always interesting as every coach in America is thrilled with their class while fans have mixed reactions to their school’s ranking and new players. Everyone that followed Wednesday's coverage saw plenty of ESPN's favorite big-market teams read more...
Film in the South: Sixth Annual Oxford Film Festival Begins February 5
This has been an exciting weekend, and so if you have recovered from Superbowl Sunday you might want to make plans to travel to
SB Sunday Reflections on the SPF Season: Teams Fell Short; Dungy & Gruden Gone
As the Footprint wakes to a Sunday featuring the 43rd Super Bowl hosted by one of our great Swampland cities, it gives us a chance to reflect on the past SPF season. Although five of our 13 SPF teams made the playoffs, none made any noise since they all were "one and read more...
Sweet Home Alabama: New Tags for Old
Sweet Home Alabama Lord, I'm coming home to you ----"Sweet Home Alabama" Lynyrd Skynyrd Band A brand new license plate featuring a pastel beach scene read more...
President-elect Barack Obama and The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
It was a blistering day in August of 1963 when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and read more...
In Defense of Bob Stoops, the BCS (again), and the Big 12 (and a Look at the 2009 Season)
Proof, in college football, always comes over at least a two year period. This means that Heisman winners and BCS Championship opponents almost always have to have a strong previous season leading into their big year.
Taking a Lesson from The Fat Man for 2009: Fats Domino and the Courage to Go On
Sunday night I watched the public television premiere of the documentary Fats Domino— Wallkin' Back to New Orleans. I found in that film a message of hope and inspiration for all of us for the coming read more...
A Stroke of the Brush: The Paintings of Shannon Runquist
The Paintings of Shannon Runquist 12/28/08 Born in Savannah, Georgia, during 1970,
Alvin Ailey, Otis Redding--and Fifty Golden Years!
I recently returned from taking a very small bite out of a very big apple. I traveled to New York City this past weekend with my daughter and a longtime friend to experience Christmas in the city and to attend read more...
PTSD--Post Thanksgiving Stress Disorder
Well, here we are. Thanksgiving has come and gone, the carcass has been picked (in more ways than one), the leftovers frozen, the hangovers have been medicated with the hair of the dog, and families continue to perpetuate the myth that
The Sunday Slate (Week Fourteen): NFC South Showdowns!
We had to take a couple of weeks off due to technical issues with the site. Check out our Faulkner-inspired T.I. Poll to see how the teams rank. On to this week's read more...
Saturday's Slate: Conference Championships
Here we are, after a week off due to technical difficulties, to find ourselves on the verge of crowning some conference champions and setting up the BCS Title teams. It has been a long and exciting year. Luckily for us, today's games have the potential to live up to the read more...
Art and the South: Spotlight on Athens, Alabama, and Native Son Paxton
The little north Alabama town of Athens may not be the Sante read more...
The Sunday Slate (Week Eleven): Key Swampland Showdowns in Jax, DC, and Indy!
After four SPF teams have byes last week (Dallas, Washington, Tampa Bay, and Cincinnati), we are heading into the home stretch. Intra-division matchups will determine playoffs berths. This week our two SPF NFC East teams and the entire AFC South face off. As read more...
Saturday's Slate: SEC vs. Big 12 South Looking Good!
After a season of many a wild ride, a little clarity emerged from last week's games. The SEC has their championship game set. The Big 12 is now down to three (maybe four) potential BCS participants. The rest of our TF conferences have a ways to go, but none of read more...
Not a Red South or a Blue South, but a New South
"...For the times they are a-changin." Bob Dylan On Monday, November 10, the New York Times ran an article entitled
The Sunday Slate (Week Ten): Byes Galore
Four SPF teams have byes this week (Dallas, Washington, Tampa Bay, and Cincinnati). There are only a few good-looking games on the schedule. The rest, outside of a select few, look like virtual byes - either be easy wins or sad losses. As Always, SPF teams in read more...
Saturday's Slate: The November Home Stretch Begins!
College football remains the Footprint's most compelling and spectacular sport. The 2008 season has delivered us yet again a roller coaster ride of sporting goodness. The stakes have been high all season. So far, at least two key programs (Tennessee and read more...
A More Perfect Union
Where shall I start? I am overcome with emotion because today is a day I never thought I would live to see. When I was growing up in Alabama, waiting rooms, restrooms, and water fountains were still labeled White Only. You remember. You saw the movie
Back To The Island
Swampland/Mystery And Manners Travel To St. Simons Island for Cultural Celebration 11/02/08 "Odds and ends, odds and ends,
The Sunday Slate (Week Nine): SPF Inter-league Barometer Time
Carolina and New Orleans have bye weeks. There's one Swampland Showdown. The rest of today's Slate features matchups between SPF teams and the rest of the NFL. There is a chance that SPF teams can go undefeated this week sending a huge message to the rest of the read more...
Tuesday Tastings (Week 8): Midway Point
Thanks to Patrick "Snowman" Snow's item early Monday morning, he helped us cover a lot of ground for our tastings. Without any further waiting... FINGER-LICKIN' read more...
Snowman's Six-Pack of Reax from Sunday
1) The Titans and Colts will go at it on Monday Night Football in the Music City. Tennessee comes into the game undefeated and looks to deliver the ultimate knockout blow to the usual AFC South Champ. The
The Sunday Slate (Week Eight): Big Games in Big D, Music City
Finally, we have a few big games to savor. As Always, SPF teams in CAPS with (Week 7's T.I. Poll Ranking) TAMPA BAY (4) @ DALLAS (1) - This pivotal Swampland read more...
KO'ing Kudzu in Carolina
After my October 17th feature on Alabama filmmaker Max Shores, I decided read more...
Saturday's Slate: A Bit of Relative Calm Before the Storm
Although you can't take a week off in college football, this week seems like a palate cleanser before some of the biggest homestretch games are played. November will feature great game after great game and next week's
Swampland Hosts Georgia-Florida Bash
Swampland/Mystery And Manners Hosts Pre-Georgia-Florida Football Outing 10/22/08 On October 31, Swampland/Mystery And Manners read more...
Rays to Host World Series
The Tampa Bay Rays improbable run to the World Series commences tonight, and their success should be a huge boon for Southern baseball. With the Braves’ NL East dominance over and the Texas teams struggling, Tampa Bay’s club of youngsters provides a blueprint for other read more...
Tuesday Tastings (Week 7): Rams Recognized, while Dallas Declines
It was a tough week of football in SPF land. Two of our teams were off (Jacksonville and Atlanta) and several others played like they were taking the week off. FINGER LICKIN' GOOD St. Louis Rams - It is time to read more...
The Sunday Slate (Week Seven): Find Some Magic
With only four games worthy of interest and two teams off (Atlanta and Jacksonville), we are looking for a little magic in our Sunday Slate. The NFL usually provides a few unexpected surprises. Maybe this is that week. It certainly won't be hard with entertaiment read more...
Saturday's Slate: BCS Busters vs. Disciplined Talent
Last week was a lesson in symmetry. Many teams met on the field that looked like mirror images. Something had to give, and it did. 3 of the top 5 teams lost giving the nation a new number one, Texas, who beat Oklahoma in what was probably a top 10 of all time Red read more...
Filmmakers in the South: Spotlight on Alabama
This week I would like to celebrate southern filmmakers, particularly those who hail from Alabama or who have made films about Alabama. One of these outstanding
Tuesday Tastings (Week 6): Burt Reynolds Loves The Falcons!
It was a very weird week in SPF land. Many teams lost games they weren't expected to lose. A few others had surprising wins. (The Titans were off so they don't get included this week.) FINGER LICKIN' read more...
The Sunday Slate (Week Six): The "Must Wins" Begin
The NFL is a game of inches. Each week matters. The stories of each of our SPF teams are told as the season unfolds. There have been enough games to know that this week has more than a few teams in desperation mode. Simply put, more than a few of our teams read more...
Saturday's Slate: Symmetry Saturday
We've already been treated to upsets throughout the Tribal Fever landscape, but let's not forget that upsets require a precondition of disparity between teams, etiher real or imagined. This Saturday's games are of a different sort. It seems across the board that all read more...
Tuesday Tastings (Week 5): Nothing Is Easy
St Louis was off last week, so we are spared another missive on how terrible they are. The good news is that their temporary absence sways our SPF teams well into the positive over all. The best of our teams are living by a simple rule - nothing comes easy in SPF read more...
The Sunday Slate (Week Five): Separation Sunday
This week doesn't have the same drama as a Cowboys/Redskins weekend, but SPF teams pushing towards the playoffs, a solid 8 of 15, can further prove their mettle this week by taking care of business. As Always, SPF teams in CAPS with (Week 4's
Saturday's Slate: Picking Up The Pieces
Last week had USC losing on Thursday which appeared to set up big things for Georgia and Florida. Then, both stumbled last week, but both have a chance to redeem their season. This shapes up to be another great season filled with surprises as another team with destiny read more...
Tuesday Tastings (Week 4): Hail To the Redskins!
Since Miami and Indy had byes this past week, we're leaving them off our weekly Tastings dispatch. That still leaves us with 11 samplings of varied quality. Let's start off with the best of the bunch... FINGER LICKIN' read more...
The Sunday Slate (Week Four): Cowboys vs Indians, er Redskins
Week Four features the only classic pro football rivalry in the Footprint. That's reason enough to tune in. Two of our teams have byes (Indy and Miami) and several others have critical games. We will quickly break it down for you. As Always, SPF read more...
Saturday's Slate: Ding Dong, The Witch Is Dead!
Of course, this means that the two perennial pretenders that stand in our way, Ohio State and USC, have both lost and neither appear to have the right kinds of games left to springboard back into the national title hunt. That should mean that the national championship game read more...
Auburn Rules!
If not on the gridiron, at least in the classroom. According to an article in the New York Times (September 21 ) entitled The read more...
Tuesday Tastings (Week 3): We're Dolphin-safe now, but the Goat, er Ram, is Smoked
After getting a full-sized Sunday helping of SPF games, some things have improved while others took a turn for the worse. "Finger Lickin' Good" Yum, yum. These teams served it up on Sunday leaving their fans hungry read more...
The Sunday Slate (Week Three): The NFC South Goes North While the AFC South Faces Off
Week 3 doesn't feature as many interesting games as last week, but the AFC South faces off and the NFC South heads up north. As Always, SPF teams in CAPS with (Week 2's T.I. Poll Ranking) Here's a read more...
The Trail of Tears 2008
Today, Saturday, September 20th, some 150,000 motorcycles will make their way toward Florence, Alabama. This is the 15th Annual Trail of Tears read more...
Saturday's Slate: Barometer Games (Intra- and Inter-Conference)
This weekend marks the beginning of some classic early season rivalry games inside the SEC. TF has a rundown of all the key games. BEST INTRA-CONFERENCE GAMES
Our Week Two SPF Tastings: Give Us Some Panther, but Steer Clear of Ram and Bengal
After getting a full-sized Sunday helping of SPF games, not everything we sampled was up to par. Let's do a quick break down in hopes that maybe some of the team cooks can get their wares "Finger Lickin' Good" Although read more...
The Only Serious Philosophical Question
The recent death (September 12) of novelist David Foster Wallace (I
The SPF Week 2 Slate: Pretender/Contender Separation Begins
It's only Week 2, but many of today's games determine how seasons will unfold for our SPF teams. One game may mean nothing, but two games often represents a trend. Let's start with our inter-SPF matchups. SPF teams in CAPS with (
Despite the Drumbeat of ACC Criticisms, the Big East Remains the Bigger Problem
The ACC has been this season's early whipping boy thanks to Clemson's beatdown in Atlanta handed to them by Alabama. However, we don't see that game as any long term indicator. That game result resulted primarily because Alabama has a coach that understands how to read more...
The SEC Upgrades To College Football 2.0
The nation at large now sees what the Footprint has long known - SEC Football is dominant and truly in its own league. Despite the hue and cry against it, the BCS has allowed sports fans to see top teams, by and large, go against each other on the field. Since read more...
A Place To Come To
In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal entitled “The End of Placeness,” columnist
Friends Flee Gustav
Here on Elk River we are opening our homes and hearts to friends who are fleeing the fury of Hurricane Gustav. My neighbor and former read more...
Gamecocks Destruction of Wolfpack Serves Notice to Clemson and the ACC
Last night was the glorious kick off to the 2008 college football season. Teams from almost every conference had games allowing us some very early previews of what might be coming in the weeks ahead. Everyone now knows about the
Back from the Blue Ridge
Just a quick note to say that I have been "on the road" for the past five days, and I have lots of exciting adventures and observations to share in the coming weeks. Although I have traveled extensively in the continental US and in Central America and abroad, this was my read more...
A Humorous Comparison of College Football Between the South and the North
As our beloved college football season nears, we at Tribal Fever thought everyone should read this comparison between college football in the South versus our Northern counterparts. (This has been making the rounds via email so many of you might have already seen it - read more...
Rays of Baseball Hope
We’ve reached the midpoint of the baseball season, and there seems to be a high level of optimism for the teams in our Swampland footprint. The story of the year in MLB has to be the surging Tampa Bay Rays. The franchise that has been more of a laughingstock than a contender read more...
NBA Draft Post-Mortem
It was an interesting NBA Draft night with Miami and Memphis from our region making big headlines. Before I take a look at some of the specifics, the question has to be asked: Does the NBA have to make the Draft so complicated for the fans? It’s amazing how many picks are made read more...
Southern Literature Series to Premiere on Swampland
“The past isn’t dead. It isn’t even past” ( Requiem for a Nun) In William read more...
Father's Day and Rick Bragg
If you are looking for a gift for Father’s Day, look no further than Rick Bragg’s latest gem,
FONO Announces the Capitol Hill Bayou Bash!
This Tuesday, June 17, anyone in or near the DC area should come out to the American Legion as Friends of New Orleans (FONO) continues its efforts of bringing New Orleans and Louisiana culture around our read more...
Friends of New Orleans and Swampland.com Join Together!
Swampland.com is proud to announce that we have joined Friends of New Orleans (FONO) as an official cultural partner for this worthy charity. Here is the mission statement of FONO direct from the official read more...
With Leadership In Flux, the BCS Proves Its Worth to the Big East
Tribal Fever will never stop its defense of the greatest sport in our Footprint - college football. How a sport that has record ratings and revenue would ever be under scrutiny is beyond us, but we believe the heart of that line of criticism lies in its "limited" read more...
Conference USA Must Step Up to Avoid Potential College Football Upheaval
Last year, Tribal Fever presented a modest proposal about conference realignment for teams in the Swampland Footprint. The proposal came from our understanding of the love and passion of college football in read more...
South Dominates College Baseball
by Patrick Snow There is one more week of college baseball before the conference tournaments, and the teams in our Swampland footprint are looking very strong. I had the pleasure this past weekend to attend a great 3-game series between Vanderbilt and Georgia. The Bulldogs read more...
Farewell to Art Icon Robert Rauschenberg
Texas born painter, photographer, printmaker, sculptor, choreographer, onstage performer, set designer and, in later years, even a composer, Robert Rauschenberg read more...
SEC Football Update, Memphis Style!
Ron Higgins was on fire over the weekend. He's one of the best writers about SEC football newspaper writers outside of Tony Barnhart. (For those of you just finding out about Ron, please
Too Much Fun
When Deryle Perryman contacted me last week to say that he and fellow filmmaker Moises Gonzales were coming to Alabama and would I like to read more...
Why Swampland Sports Loves the BCS
Despite winning back to back national titles in football, the SEC susre seems to hate the BCS. Lately, this hatred has been reaching a new level. It all started when University of Georgia President Michael F. Adams announced a proposal for
Post - NFL Draft Newspaper Wrap Up
We found this article from a week or so back that is about NFL Network being the tail the wags the dog for that league. Swampland Sports has long written now about the ways read more...
SPF's NFL Draft First Round Log (Live All Day!!)
read more...
Widespread Panic In Orange Beach, Alabama
Widespread Panic On The Beach 4/19/08 Morning Folks, Last night proved a fine night. The weather here in Orange Beach, Alabama, is read more...
...Night Before Widespread Panic On The Beach...
A Prelude To The Spectacle 4/17/08 Before I take off for the three
Alabama Beat: Words and Music in the Deep South
The three poems currently appearing in the Poetry section of Swampland are by Mississippi born Pulitzer Prize winner Natasha Trethewey (published by permission of the author). Trethewey won read more...
Snowflakes: Southern Sweet 16
Here a quick primer for our teams in this weekend’s NCAA Tournament. East – This is definitely the Heavyweight bracket for our Swampland region. With #1 overall seed North Carolina playing near home in Charlotte, the Tar Heels have to be read more...
Season Summary: New Orleans Saints
Quick Summary: The Saints bombed out after their near-Super Bowl run in 2007. People can point to injuries, but SPF warned before the season started about the Saints and the team's read more...
Alabama's Going Green: "Let's Get Dirty"
Huntsville, Alabama, has chosen “Let’s Get Dirty” by the Huntsville country music band
Alabama's Going Green: A Delicate Balance
Yes, I read the article in the New York Times this past Monday about the biodiesel spill near
Snowflakes: Small Conference Hoops Does the Footprint Proud
It’s the most exciting time of the year for many of the smaller schools around our region. Their conferences tournaments have become an extension of the NCAA Tourney as winning the automatic bid fulfills their dream of having a shot at the big boys. Many pundits feel it would read more...
Season Summary: Miami Dolphins
Quick Summary: The Dolphins are one of the NFL's proudest franchises, but the 2007 season became its collective undoing. Within this one season, the Dolphins were only a Patriots Super Bowl win from losing all their records of distinction. Brett read more...
Alabama's Going Green
Holden Caulfield wanted to know where all the ducks go in winter. Ann (Andie MacDowell) in Sex, Lies, and Videotape was read more...
Black History Month: Look Back, but Move Forward
“Look back but move forward” was the credo of civil rights activist Johnnie Carr who died Friday at the age of 97.
Water, Water, Everywhere, Nor Any Drop To Drink
Today the New York Times ran an article entitled “Georgia Claims a Sliver of the Tennessee River.” The quarrel is not just about boundaries. It is about water, read more...
Let The Sunshine In
I was listening to NPR on Saturday morning when I heard the bluesy sound of an acoustic guitar and a voice that reminded me of a cross between Tom Waits and Elvis Costello (more in mood than in actual vocal comparison.). The voice was that of
Preservation Hall's John Brunious Dead at 67
Trumpeter John Brunious, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's leader and senior member, died Tuesday, February 12, 2008 in Orlando, Fla., after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 67.
It's Not Easy Being Indie
I always thought that in my next incarnation I wanted to come back as an independent documentary filmmaker. I held on to that dream until I sat in an darkened room in a warehouse in Huntsville, Alabama, on Friday afternoon and listened to independent filmmaker
Snowflakes: SEC Hoops
* The Kentucky Wildcats finally look to be playing the kind of winning ball that Big Blue fans expect. It took a while to adjust to new coach Billy Gillispie (and his gameday practices), but now the ‘Cats are sitting only one game behind SEC East leader Tennessee. In a recent read more...
Snowflakes: Smaller Conference Hoops
One mid-major club that higher seeded teams will not want to see in the Big Dance is Davidson from the Southern Conference. The Wildcats are perfect 13-0 in league play
Snowflakes: ACC Hoops
* The best rivalry in college hoops takes place Wednesday night when #2 ranked Duke invades Chapel Hill to battle #3 North Carolina. This game is always a barnburner on Tobacco Road, and the winner will have sole possession of first place in the conference. The biggest story read more...
Petty & Eli: Underdogs Triumphant!
I sat back Sunday ready to enjoy a Super Bowl without a "horse in the race," so to speak. All of our SPF teams had been summarily dismissed in what was a down year for the Footprint on a pro football level. My thoughts were only on watching the Super Bowl as a read more...
Adventures In The (Pig) Skin Trade On Super Bowl Sunday
Roving Notes On Super Bowl Sunday 2/3/08 "There is some kind of back-door connection in my head between Super Bowls and The Allman read more...
The Day The Music Died
The day was February 3, 1959. At approximately 12:55 AM, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, the “Big Bopper,” and their twenty-one year old pilot boarded a small plane near Clear Lake,
Snowflakes: SEC Hoops
by Patrick Snow * Someone forgot to tell 2-time National Champion Florida that they were supposed to struggle this season. After winning their second NCAA title in a row, the Gators lost the top six players off their depth chart and lost their coach for a day or two. read more...
Lest We Forget: Four Spirits
January 30, 2008, marked the 60th anniversary of the assassination of India’s political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi. It was Gandhi whose name was most invoked
Snowflakes: Small Conference Hoops
by Patrick Snow The regular season seems to get a little overlooked in many of the smaller or “1-bid” leagues in our Swampland footprint, but there are some great races happening as these teams position themselves for the postseason run. We’ll try each week read more...
Snowflakes: C-USA/Big East Hoops
by Patrick Snow * Could this week finally bring the contest where #1 Memphis actually loses a conference game? The last time that happened was at UAB on March 2nd, 2006. On Wednesday night, the undefeated Tigers travel to Houston to battle the 15-3 Cougars. After read more...
The Best of All Possible Worlds or Is There Balm in Gilead?
I live in the boonies, the hinterlands of Northern Alabama. For years, I made do with erratic reception from local television stations, and then one day satellite TV and DSL changed my life. This week, thanks to a relatively new channel called
Six Degrees of Separation
In the south we not only claim kin we also claim friends. I have learned that behind every new acquaintance there lies the possibility of finding an old friend—not to mention discovering a new one. Such was the case this week when I was working on a feature about read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week 19, Part 4): Down By The River
12. Cincinnati Bengals and 13. St. Louis Rams - Our final Poll spots are held by two teams that have a connection via the river culture from which they arose. Like railroad tracks in towns across the south, rivers often appear to be a cultural divide, but they read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week 19, Part 3): Teams at the Crossroads (aka the NFC South)
We've now gone through the first 7 teams in the T.I. Poll. So far, the entire AFC South has been covered as well as the traditional big market teams in Dallas, DC, and Miami. This leaves us with a group that the NFL has neatly placed in a division they call the NFC read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week 19, Part 2): Teams "On the Verge"
This is SPF's group of teams that are "On The Verge" of reaching elite status. They all have challenges, but they are clearly heading in the right direction. 4. Washington Redskins - A lot can happen in a week. The Redskins' read more...
SPF's Divisional Playoffs Pre-Pregame Show (or T.I. Poll Week 19)
There are three SPF teams left in the Super Bowl hunt, but the news doesn't stop with them. Of the 4 current coaching vacancies, SPF has three of them (Miami, Atlanta, and Washington). Signs point to a year of great transition. The SPF footprint has some of the read more...
LIghts, Camera, Action! Film Festivals and Film Debuts in the South
Late winter and spring of 2008 will see the blossoming of a host of film festivals in the South. A number of the festivals showcase original films and present cash awards to the best new films. Others bring classic, hard to find, topical, or thematic films to the read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Wild Card Weekend Edition)
We're mixing it up again going into the playoffs. In an up and down year, six of the 13 SPF teams made the playoffs. Two, Washington and Tennessee, made it in the final weekend. SPF is rooting for an all-Footprint Super Bowl, and this isn't out of the realm of read more...
Criteria Studios: 50 Years Later
Legendary Miami Studio 50 Years Later 12/30/07 Jazz fanatic Mack Emerman started the Miami, Florida, Criteria Studio 50 years ago. The read more...
Dr. John Voices Frustration At Friday New Orleans Show
Dr. John Expresses Frustration With Katrina Fallout 12/29/07 Dr. John informed the audience--at his first of two shows in his hometown last read more...
SPF's Week Seventeen Pre-Pregame Show
Playoffs and draft slots. It's all on the line in a strange season-ending weekend in the Footprint. EARLY GAMES Jacksonville (11-4, 5-2 away) Houston (7-8, 5-2 home)
White Pelicans on Elk River
White Pelicans are a rarity on Elk River. I have never seen one north of Gulf Shores, but on Christmas morning a friend down the river called to say that a dozen White Pelicans were winging our way in the midst of a flock of cormorants. I had despaired of ever sighting pelicans read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Seventeen)
It's the last week of the NFL season. There isn't much left to be decided. Two SPF teams (Washington and Tennessee) can get in the postseason fun if they win. We expect them to do so if only because they are playing two other SPF teams (Dallas and Indy) who are read more...
SPF's Week Sixteen Pre-Pregame Show
SATURDAY NIGHT Dallas (12-2, 6-0 away) Carolina (6-8, 2-5 home) NFL Films Video Preview This is a much better read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Sixteen)
SPF laid down the gauntlet before last weekend's games. Many teams answered the bell. With two games left in the regular season, teams out of the playoff picture may have as much to play for as those that are in. Don't sleep SPF fans, there is still much to be read more...
SPF's Week Fifteen Pre-Pregame Show
It has been a largely disappointing season for SPF, but these final weeks can redeem or further decimate a team's momentum for 2008. There are three shoe-in playoff teams in the Footprint - Dallas, Indy, and Tampa. Two others (Jacksonville and Tennessee) have to keep read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Fifteen)
SPF will say it - this has been a very tough year for pro football in the Swampland Footprint. Of our 13 teams, more than half of them have been in serious disarray. At best only 5 or 6 teams will have a clear direction heading into 2008. Most will be going back to read more...
SPF's Week Fourteen Pre-Pregame Show
SPF has been beating a few drums this year, but one is about letting players play. Coaches coach systems. GMs find players to fit into these systems (or in the case of special players, systems are designed for their talents). Except for read more...
John Sayles Interview
Mystery & Manners John Sayles Interview 12/8/07 On Thursday I interviewed John Sayles. Sayles' new movie Honeydripper was filmed in Alabama. Honeydripper read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Fourteen)
SPF has looked at the coach/QB relationship. Now, it's time to look at the owner/coach relationship. When this relationship is good, everything clicks for the fans. The fans want to see the coach as an extension of the owner, an extension that helps build a bridge read more...
SPF's Week Thirteen Pre-Pregame Show
While Tribal Fever nation witnessed their conference championships this weekend, SPF has found a few of their own. There are four key head to head matchups in the SPF footprint this week - two of which will probably decide the winner of the AFC and NFC South. Our other read more...
TF Conference Championship Preview
Today is the day we find out whether it will be an all-Swampland matchup in the BCS Championship Game. If all goes according to plan it should be Missouri vs. West Virginia. Still, there are a few other game worth watching. It has been a great year for college read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Thirteen)
Coaching changes. They happen every year even though it seems as though jobs are more than safe. Changes are usually made because the coach no longer has the confidence of the fans. Once that occurs, the owner is left with little choice. As long term, one read more...
SPF's Week Twelve Pre-Pregame Show
Leadership. Is it there? The leader(s) of each SPF team define that team to their fans. Already, Thanksgiving solidified a sense of leadership between coach and QB with both the Colts and their Manning/Dungy duo and the Cowboys with their Wade/Romo combination read more...
TF Rivalry Week Preview
Rivalry games define college football. More than bowl games or even conference championships, a win against your rival means bragging rights for a year. That is why this weekend's game can often be the hardest to call. A team with a losing record can suddenly make read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Twelve)
SPF often talks a team's style when it comes to identity. Style, though, is kind of a catch all. Dig a little deeper and it comes down to coaching and, of course, a team's QB. This week seems like a good one to put the QB position under the read more...
Confessions Redux
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of Auburn’s 1957 National Championship. Not only did the Tigers go undefeated that season, but they also held Alabama scoreless in the Iron Bowl while running up an astounding forty points. Saturday, November 24, is the golden read more...
SPF's Week Eleven Pre-Pregame Show
This week, more than any other this NFL season, the fan will find out who their teams are. Are teams going to the playoffs? Will they be Super Bowl contenders? Are they on the rise even if playoffs aren't likely? We shall see.
TF Saturday Preview: The Year of Transition Nears An End
The wild year continues. In many ways this was just a sign of the transition college football around the Footprint has experienced. In some ways, it shouldn't be as surprising as it has been. Nick Saban's arrival lit a fire under everyone. The ante was read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Eleven)
Week Ten was a very weird football weekend. Many of the SPF teams lost games. Few had important wins. It just seems like this was a week to stumble. Desperation might be the biggest factor in any NFL game. The teams that are desperate have an edge read more...
SPF's Week Ten Pre-Pregame Show
SPF will stick by this point - no team set the NFL back more than the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. This "champion" brought the worst part of hip-hop's "thug" culture to NFL through the real life violence of Ray Lewis, whose murder acquittal and read more...
TF Saturday Preview: Everything's Still To Be Decided
Patrick Snow has it right. This year's season of college football has shown that it is one of the most compelling sports to follow as a fan, especially in the Footprint.
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Ten)
Everyone knows that football is the dominant sport in the Footprint, but it has always been college dominating the pro variety. The goal of SPF's "Team Identity Poll" is to gauge the connection of each team to their fans. This week, two different studies were read more...
SPF's Week Nine Pre-Pregame Show
It's it the "Clash of the Titans!" The Colts-Pats game deserves the hype that it is getting. Both teams have built long term consistently excellent football teams in the "salary cap era " - something that is supposedly impossible. This read more...
Tiger Rag
In the spring a young man’s fancy may turn to baseball, but in the fall in the South everyone’s fancy turns to football, and in Alabama there is only Auburn and
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Eight)
Things continue to settle out in the SPF Footprint. This week's big question is whether the South's best is the NFL's best. The Colts were just that last season, but their old New England nemesis seems to have stolen their thunder again. Here's last week's read more...
SPF's Week Eight Pre-Pregame Show
Much like yesterday's college slate, this week's SPF schedule features teams looking towards the season's end and where they want to be at that point. Teams know that the season is half over at this point and they need to be making their final pushes. The best teams read more...
TF Saturday Preview: Pole, er.. Bowl Position
If you aren't a Florida or Georgia fan, this weekend might be a good one to spend with the kids. This is a pretty thin weekend for good games in the Footprint. That's why Athlon's college football preview spends most of its time previewing games outside our read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Seven)
SPF's season previews are looking pretty good so far. The teams we singled out like the Jags, the Texans, and the Dolphins have shown themselves to be in hot water with their fan base. The Jags and the Texans suffered "must win" losses that neither could read more...
SPF's Week Seven Pre-Pregame Show
Getting on the same page. Coaches and players that have the same sense of urgency signify teams that are winning. The NFL is a business, and like all business deals - interests must align. This is the reason that ownership, the front office, and the coaching read more...
TF's Saturday Preview: Act Like You've Been There Before!
It's the old saying when a player celebrates a little too much - act like you've been there before. This rules seems to also hold true to some of our Footprint's winning neophytes. When programs are new to winning, they don't know how to handle themselves. That's read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Six)
Here we are again for SPF's weekly Team Identity Poll. Things have shaken up a bit. We are much closer to how we saw things at the beginning of the season. Let's start with a look at last week's Poll: 1. Dallas Cowboys 2. Indianapolis read more...
On the Road Again
Sorry I have been incommunicado lately. I am still struggling with allergies that seem to get worse rather than better. Ah, fall in North Alabama. Speaking of fall, this weekend my sister, her husband, and two of our friends made a road trip to the hills of middle Tennessee read more...
SPF's Week Six Pre-Pregame Show
It's week 6 for the SPF teams. Four teams are basically done, but the rest have critical games that will go a long way to determining how the rest of the season will play out for them. Here's this week's slate (video links courtesy of read more...
TF's Saturday Preview: The History Behind SEC Dominance
Tribal Fever would like to start this weekend's festivities by directing everyone to a fantastic series on ESPN.com about the SEC. Which leads us to this week's focus - the historical read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Five)
The rich seem to be getting richer (and the poor, poorer) in the SPF Footprint. There is happiness at the top, confusion in the middle, and desperation at the bottom. Let's start with last week's T.I. Poll 1. Dallas Cowboys 2. Indianapolis read more...
SPF's Week Five Pre-Pregame Show
It's week five in the NFL season. Overall, the SPF Footprint is shaping up to be a year of the haves and have-nots. The Footprint contains two of the NFL's winless teams (Dolphins and Rams) and several other struggling squads. However, we also have two of the best read more...
Tribal Fever's Weekend Slate (10/6/2007)
Let's start with this week's College Football Preview from Athlon. Swampland's own Patrick Snow hosts each week. (Read Patrick's new column on the state of baseball in read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Four)
Just like in the college ranks, it was a bit of a crazy week in the SPF Footprint. Right now, there are more bad teams than good, but the good teams are pretty darn good so we guess that evens things out a little. Here's last week's "Team Identity" read more...
Arrivederci Roma, Ciao Athens (Alabama)
I have just returned from ten days in Italy (Venice, Florence/Tuscany, and Rome) and am way behind on my blog, so please bear with me. I am somewhat jet-lagged, and I am preparing to leave for Jackson, MS, on Wednesday to participate in the
Upset Saturday, or not?
Patrick Snow mentioned in his last column that he was looking ahead to next week's games. Based on yesterday's game result, so were too many top 25 teams in the Footprint. TF Upsets read more...
SPF's Week Four Pre-Pregame Show
Welcome SPF fans! Here's today's slate. (SPF teams in BOLD) Early Games Dolphins v. Raiders preview Rams @ read more...
Swampland welcomes Tribal Fever!
It was only a matter of time before Swampland Sports starting covering the colleges in earnest. Today marks the start of Tribal Fever, Swampland.com's dispatch dedicated to college sports in the South. We have new features up including Patrick Snow's latest read more...
SPF T. I. Poll (Week Three)
Back to our weekly gauge of how each SPF team is resonating with its fans. First, let's take a look back at last week's Team Identity Poll: 1. Dallas Cowboys 2. Washington Redskins 3. Indianapolis Colts 4. Tampa Bay Bucs
SPF 's Week Three Pre-Pregame Show
Here we are again. Let Week Three begin! SPF Teams in BOLD Early Games Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans (
SPF Friday Fishwrap-up: the Cowboy/Redskin paradigm
We've just posted a new analysis of the Wayne issue in Florida, Weaver in Jacksonville and Huizenga in Miami. Team Identity is our focus as always. That's why we start our Friday dispatch with read more...
Swampland Sports Thursday Links
Just a few quick hits here on Thursday.... Snowman's Latest Column Patrick Snow's new column is up. As a Vol himself, it pains him that he's calling out Phil Fulmer read more...
CD and DVD releases for week of September 18, 2007
New Releases Doyle Bramhall Is It News (Yep Roc) Jim Dickinson
SPF T. I. Poll (Week Two)
Time for our Week Two "Team Identity" Poll. Things keep getting interesting, and that's how we like it. Let's start off with a recap of last week's T.I. Poll: 1. Dallas 2. Indianapolis (tie) 2. read more...
SPF's Week Two Monday: Playmakers making plays
THE "BEATING THE DEAD HORSE" THEME Our theme for this week is similar to last week's - the importance of playmakers. In the Footprint, we all love great coaches. We all love great schemes. However, it usually comes read more...
SPF 's Week Two Pre-Pregame Show
Each week, it will be SPF's pleasure to bring you the best pregame show on the Net. We provide our audience with clips from NFL.COM mixed in with our commentary and insight. Let's run down today's slate of games: Early games (SPF Teams in read more...
SPF Friday Fishwrap-up: LeBatard vs. Galloway
Another great southern tradition is writing. We have a whole section called Discourse that is dedicated to this pursuit. Newpapers (aka fishwraps) around the Footprint have great sportswriters that deserve to be read, and sometimes needled.
SPF's T. I. Poll (Week One)
Team Identity. This is our constant gauge for the success or failure of NFL teams in the South. College football reigns because people see themselves as part of the team. In the Swampland footprint, allegiances don't change at the college level. Coaches read more...
"When I die, the brush dies": Remembering Jimmie Lee Sudduth
Jimmie Lee Sudduth, celebrated Alabama folk artist, died Sunday, September 9, in Fayette, Alabama, at read more...
SPF's Week One Monday: Channeling SEC over Big Ten
12 of our 13 SPF teams have played. Only the Bengals remain with a tough Monday Night battle against the Ravens. It's only week one, but let's review what we know. The Swampland footprint loves football. It is part of the culture. However, read more...
Southeast Adventure Outfitters
read more...
SPF Week One Game Log
Thursday's game didn't do nearly what yesterday's college slate did to pump us up here at SPF. Our own James Calemine is a little distraught about his Bulldogs going down to the dreaded read more...
Sunday's slate & Long term troubles for the Jags in Jax
Phew! The 2007 previews are finally up. Now we can get down to some regular daily updates at SPF. Tomorrow's slate of games features these inter-SPF read more...
I have been having a lot of trouble with Mapquest lately. Used to be, I could depend on those wonderful internet cats to guide me safely to and from my destination, whether it be Live Oak, Florida or Dothan, Alabama. But a few months back, I was completely misguided while on read more...
The Last Outpost of Time
7/9/07 “All that we see is but a dream within a dream.”
Charlie Daniels, Ricky Skaggs to Appear On New Gospel Album
Charlie Daniels is participating is in a religious-themed CD of contemporary Christian songs done country-style. Time Life is slated to put the 16-song disc produced by Teddy Gentry of Alabama and Mike Curtis in September, according to Curtis. The disc was recorded in Nashville and read more...
Road Trip to Beaufort, SC, Sports Fans!
Recently, we decided to take off, pretty much on a whim, and set sail for the shore. Jill and I had visited before, but it would be nice to take a leisurely drive and visit. I didn’t realize just how much that town has to offer until we took this unexpected road trip, read more...
Willie Nelson On The Road Again
1/21/07 Willie Nelson takes his show on the road to the British Isles this week. Nelson prepares to tour in the states in the next couple of months. James Calemine