Urban 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 Momentary Stay" : Musings on the Poetry of Harry Moore
The Magic of the Shoals: The Lindsey Film Fest Screening of "Muscle Shoals"
Not since the sold out Drive-By Truckers/ Decoys concert during the 2011
"A Heaping Helping: Songs for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of AL" by Scott Ward
This week I had the pleasure of chatting via Facebook with Alabama musician Scott Ward, producer and director at Lucky Dog Records. Ward has just produced a digital CD designed to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama. The CD which features 23 tracks by read more...
Swinging With The Duke at the 2012 W. C. Handy Festival
The Righteous Brothers may sing about a "rock and roll heaven," but when I die I want to go to jazz heaven. And if there is such a thing as reincarnation, I want to come back as a jazz vocalist. I was in jazz heaven for two hours Tuesday read more...
Mayberry is Alive and Well in Rogersville, Alabama
Henry David Thoreau went to the woods because he wanted to "live deliberately." I go to Rogersville, Alabama. Rogersville is a progressive little town that has managed to keep the flavor of a time gone by. 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...
Award Winning Author Joshilyn Jackson at Northeast Alabama Community College
Award-winning novelist Joshilyn Jackson will be the featured author for the Arts and Humanities Speaker’s Forum at Northeast Alabama Community College on April 19, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. Jackson’s presentation will be held in the Tom Bevill Lyceum and is free to
Author Judith Ortiz Cofer at Calhoun College Writers' Conference, April 11, 2013
Latina writer and storyteller Judith Ortiz Cofer will be speaking at Calhoun Community College's 12th annual Writers' Conference on Thursday, April 11, at 9:30 a.m. in the Aerospace Training Center. She will speak again at 7 in the evening at the Princess Theatre. Both 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...
Swampland Guest Patsy Glenn Writes about Brandon Sparkman and "Called to Jackson"
My long-time friend Patsy Glenn is a freelance writer residing in Florence, Alabama. Glenn joins Swampland to talk about a local hero, Brandon Sparkman, and his recently published book Called to Jackson, Mississippi: The Last Bastion of Segregation (iuniverse
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...
Alabama Born, Auburn Educated Octavia Spencer Wins Golden Globe
The 2011 fall issue of the Auburn University alumni magazine featured a stunning photo of Octavia Spencer on the cover, not as Minny, the feisty maid in Tate Taylor's movie of Kathryn Stockett's The Help, but as Octavia Spencer, celebrated actress and a possible
A Conversation with Jerry Masters: "Hanging From A Tree By My Knees"
Jerry Masters, musician and sound engineer for nearly every hit record cut in the Shoals from the late 60s through the early 70s, and I met for breakfast at Cafe Savanna in Rogersville, Alabama, this past August. I had heard by way of Facebook that Masters
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...
Poem in Remembrance: World AIDS Day, December 1, 2011
Twenty years ago a friend of mine died of AIDS. He was the first person I ever knew personally to die of this disease. He was young and talented and beautiful, and the last time I saw him he seemed completely well. Then I heard that he had died. Shortly after 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...
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...
Documentary About the Life of Rick Bragg "Out of the Dirt" to Premiere In Alabama
The world premiere of Out of the Dirt, a documentary film about the life of Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Rick Bragg, will be held at the IMAX Theare in the McWane Science read more...
What's All This Hullabaloo About "The Help"?
Two years ago, shortly after Kathryn Stockett 's novel The Help was released, I wrote a review of the book for Swampland. I never published the review because I was ambivalent about the novel, and everyone I knew was singing its praises. The Help quickly made read more...
"The Coffee Shop Chronicles" Featured in New Orleans Course at University of Montevallo
David Lummis' novel The Coffee read more...
The Secret To a Happy Ending: The Decoys, DBT, and a Sunday Jam at Dick Cooper's
According to The Drive-By Truckers, the secret to a happy ending is knowing when to run the credits. This week in the Shoals the secret to a 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...
Handy Festival 2011: Rocking the Shoals with Ken Watters and Microwave Dave
This week is Handy Fest 2011, and I was in the Shoals on Monday night, sitting in the Zodiac Theatre in downtown Florence, Alabama, with Randy, my sister Peggy, and a friend
Swampland's Daily Duo of Reviews For 7/25/11: Ronnie Milsap and Hope Waits
For Monday, we present two Southern artists whose travels around their native region helped to define their diverse and eclectic sensibilities. Ronnie Milsap went from the mountains of North Carolina to Nashville with stops at Atlanta and Memphis in between while Hope Waits read more...
Drive-By Truckers To Headline 2011 W.C. Handy Festival in Florence, AL
A concert by the Drive-By Truckers with special guests The Decoys, along with music icons Donnie Fritts and Spooner Oldham, will 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
Billy Reid Shindig in Florence, AL, June 3-4, 2011
Next weekend (June 3-4) will mark the third anniversary of the annual Billy Reid Shindig in Florence, Alabama.
The Civil Wars Play Tornado Benefit at Historic Shoals Theatre in Florence, AL
Once again the marvelously magical duo, The Civil Wars (Joy Williams and John Paul White), took the stage in front of a sold-out house and a wildly enthusiastic audience. This time they were read more...
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...
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
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...
Rock and Roll in the Rocket City Continues with Part 3 by Jane DeNeefe
Swampland is celebrating The Year of Alabama Music with a series of articles by Jane DeNeefe about rock & roll music in 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...
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...
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...
Meet Tasia Malakasis of Belle Chevre--Alabama's Artisanal Goat Cheese Creamery
If you have not yet tasted Belle Chevre, Alabama's fabulous artisanal goat cheese, you are in for a treat. A couple of weeks ago Randy and I drove about twenty minutes north of Athens, Alabama, to the tiny fromagerie of Belle read more...
R. Garth Reflects On a Concert by The Civil Wars
Last night my friend and fellow writer Richard Garth (author of the Tales from Blue Springs series) attended a concert by the duo The Civil Wars. The concert was held at the WorkPlay Theatre near the University of Alabama Birmingham (Alabama). I asked Richard, who 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...
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...
The Way We Were: From the Kitchen Sink to Bea's Beauty Shop
My mother desperately wanted little girls with little curls right in the middle of their foreheads. To that end, she spent years torturing my sister and me in the kitchen sink with Tonis! She would wind our hair tightly on pink plastic rollers and then douse the rollers in a foul 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.
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...
Alabama Designer Billy Reid Wins Prestigious CFDA Fashion Award
Vogue magazine has announced that Alabama clothing designer Billy Reid has received the 2010 CFDA Fashion Fund award. The award, read more...
Southern Literary Trail Celebrates W. B. Huie Centennial
Hartselle, Alabama, native and best selling novelist William Bradford Huie would have celebrated his 100th birthday yesterday, November 13, 2010. To commemorate the
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...
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...
Storytelling in the South--"Life: Legends and Lies" in Athens, Alabama
Mark Twain may be one of the best known storytellers of all time and, by his own admission, one of the biggest liars, but the art of storytelling did not die out with the passing of Mark Twain one hundred years ago 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...
Great Places in America: The BMA Sculpture Garden in Birmingham, Alabama
The American Planning Association (APA) recently named the Charles Ireland Sculpture Garden at the
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.
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...
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
2010 SEC Season Outlook
The nation’s toughest conference looks primed for another stellar season on the gridiron. Alabama and Florida, the last two National Champions, will aim for a third straight appearance in the SEC title game.
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...
2010 Big 12 Football Preview
It was quite the offseason for the Big 12, with the focus on school defections to other conferences. While Nebraska and Colorado will leave the league after this season,
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...
Jimmy Dean--"Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham"
Jimmy Dean, who died on June 13 of this year, would have been 82 years old today, August 10. In honor of his birthday, I prepared his fabulous low fat turkey sausage for breakfast. To tell the truth, I have read more...
Big 12 Media Days Bring a Huge Sense of Relief
What a summer it has been for the Big 12. From the impending departures of Nebraska and Colorado to the league remaining intact, the conference athletic directors and Commissioner Dan Beebe were just glad to get to the annual Big 12 Media Days in Irving, Texas. There will be still read more...
Oldtimers Charades or "You Know Where She Sits in Church"
As I approach yet another birthday, I try even harder to find the humor in aging. Here is my latest attempt. Southerners have never let anything, including a sudden total loss of recall, interfere with good conversation.
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...
Roadtrip to the Shoals: Billy Reid Couture, Trowbridge's Ice Cream, and Sweetwater Plantation
I just bought my first Billy Reid. No, not Armani or Versace. Much better!!! Billy Reid, whose creations 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
Big "XII" Stays Regional Instead of Going West
The college expansion debate and possible maneuvering by key universities over the last month had everyone in our Swampland Footprint buzzing with opinion(s), but for now all of those negotiations and rumors did not amount to much movement.
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 Authors To SIgn Books at Keller Festival in Tuscumbia
As a part of the 32th Annual Helen Keller Festival held this week in Tuscumbia, Alabama, several Alabama authors will be signing their read more...
Rare William Faulkner Collection Auctioned by Christie's in NYC
A collection of William Faulkner memorabilia primarily including first editions (some inscribed) of his novels, manuscripts, personal correspondence (a telegram to read more...
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
Conference Realignment: Gene Stallings Has A Texas-Sized SEC Vision For A&M
Consider us here at Swampland Sports a bit ahead of our time. In September of 2007, we published an article about realigning southern college conferences so that read more...
More Music, Moviemaking, and the Annual Helen Keller Festival in the Shoals
You know it's summer in Alabama when the annual Helen Keller Festival week is about to commence. This year the 32nd annual festival in Tuscumbia, AL, (one of the four cities in the Shoals) will run read more...
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...
Talented Texans and Bengals Look for Consistency
Two teams in our Swampland Footprint that will look to repeat a winning season in 2010 are the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans. Both franchises have seemed to be a little snake-bitten over the last few years. Cincinnati looked like an exciting passing team on the rise in 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...
Titans and Falcons Add Solid Defenders in the Draft
One of the most important aspects of the NFL Draft is knowing your identity and drafting accordingly. Two franchises that have played that strategy well in recent years are the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. Both teams made that Playoffs in 2008 and then barely missed a 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...
New Orleans and Indianapolis Add Defensive Playmakers
Many teams in the NFL Draft feel compelled to fill an immediate need with their first selection, but some elite clubs are able to take the best player available and build quality depth for the future. Those picks do not always excite fans on draft day but tend to work out quite well read more...
Holly Hollman Writes about the Dying Art of Shoe Repair
RiverVue's guest writer for this week is journalist Holly Hollman of the Decatur Daily . The following
Please Help Nashville Flood Victims!
Dear Swampland readers, We wanted to pass on an important message from one our Nashville friends: Non- Nashvillians; please spread the word. Temporary shelters are at capacity, missing people are unaccounted for, Nashville has been declared a disaster area by the read more...
Rams Draft Franchise Face in Sam Bradford
We’ll begin our NFL Draft recaps with the team who selected first overall—St. Louis. Much like Detroit a year ago, the Rams forged a new path with the selection of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. After passing on Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez in the last two drafts, St. 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...
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...
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...
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
Pioneering Alabama Civil RIghts Photographer Charles Moore Dies
The year was 1963. I picked up a copy of the May Life Magazine and was appalled to see graphic images of fire hoses and police dogs being turned on helpless protesters in
How Duane Allman and Sam The Sham Gave Clapton His "Key To The Highway"
Athens, GA attorney John Lyndon, brother of the late ABB road manager Twiggs Lyndon, passed on a remembrance right before the Allmans started their run of NYC shows last night. He was generous enough to allow us to share it with everyone: I saw Eric read more...
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...
Tribute to Southern Literary Icon Barry Hannah
Award winning Southern author Barry Hannah died Monday, March 1, at his home in Oxford, MS. read more...
Sweet Home Alabama: Movie Making and Music in Muscle Shoals
A Pitch Video, like a "Demo Reel" in the music business, about the music of the Muscle Shoals entitled "Sweet Home Alabama--The Music of Muscle 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.
Grandma Got Run Over By A Treadmill or Southern Belles at Midlife
First of all let me say that I am not a grandmother, but I am old enough to be one. That being said, I will continue with the story. In an effort to level the playing field in the never-ending battle against bulge, my sister (did I mention she weighs 122 read more...
The Strange Case of Dr. Amy Bishop
As the story behind the fatal shootings at the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Friday, Feb 13, begins to unfold, the actual facts behind the incident become more and more obscure. First of all, those who were victims of the read more...
Ram Get Local Ownership, Likely Staying in St Louis
There was good news in St. Louis this week when it was announced that Urbana, Ill., businessman Shahid Khan read more...
New Information on William Faulkner's Historical Sources Comes to LIght
According to an article in this week's New York Times (February 11, 2010), a Southern literature scholar from Emory read more...
Big 12 Teams See Recruiting Success
We’re used to seeing Texas and Oklahoma at the top of the Big 12, and nothing was different on last week’s National Signing Day. The “Big 2” have won the last six conference title games, and they were both ranked in the nation’s Top 10 with their 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.
SEC Continues to Rule the Recruiting World
National Signing Day has passed, and once again the teams of the SEC were dominant in the rankings. The conference that has won the last four National Championships (with three different schools) continually pulls in the top classes, and that's what it takes to compete in America'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.
Alabama Schools Getting It Done in Recruiting
As National Signing Day arrives this Wednesday, fans will hear a ton about Texas and Florida (as well as Georgia) as those states produce so many top Division I players. But another state where recruiting success is being seen in a big way is Alabama. We all know how well Nick Saban read more...
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.
Getting Defensive in the Peach State
Georgia’s biggest win last season came against Georgia Tech when the Bulldogs rushed for 339 yards on their way to a 30-24 victory. In 2008 the Yellow Jackets top performance took place in Sanford Stadium, as their running attack gained 409 yards on the ground to propel Tech read more...
Crimson Tide Rules: Alabama Celebrates in Life and Art
It was like the closing of the Red Sea in the Rose Bowl Stadium in
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Tech and Tuberville make an Interesting Fit
What a winter it has been for the Texas Tech. From the firing of Mike Leach to the inspired Bowl victory to the coaching search, Red Raider fans have had quite the ride in wondering what’s next for their football program.
SEC Daily Fever: Georgia Still Searching for New Defensive Coordinator
Bud Foster, John Chavis, and Kirby Smart. That looks like a list of top defensive coordinators in our Swampland footprint, but it also the candidates who have turned down the chance to work for Mark Richt this offseason.
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.
SEC Daily Fever: Bama Win Keeps SEC on Top
The SEC captured a fourth straight National Title Thursday night with Alabama’s 37-21 win over Texas in the BCS Championship Game.
Big 12 Daily Fever: McCoy Injury Overshadows Title Loss
It wasn't supposed to end like this. Texas fans could probably deal with a loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game if they had their entire arsenal, but it just seems different after
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...
Happy BIrthday Week: Elvis Presley and Sam Phillips (Sun Records)
Today, January 8, Elvis Presley would have celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday. On Tuesday, January 5, Sam Phillips, the man who read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Alabama Playing for National Title and Conference Pride
Alabama has played their way back to the national forefront over the last two years, and they will try to cap that run with a victory over Texas in tonight's BCS Championship Game. If the
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Looks for Another National Title in Pasadena
It's finally here. Over a month after surviving a Big Red scare against Ndamukong Suh and Nebraska, Texas will take on another Big Red (techinally crimson) when they meet Alabama in tonight's BCS National Championship Game.
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
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Tech Loses More Than a Coach with Leach Firing
What a Texas-sized soap opera going on in Lubbock with the Texas Tech football program. Mike Leach has been fired from the program he took to new heights, and Red Raider fans are left with anger, confusion, and frustration. The Leach ouster has so many interesting angles; read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Meyer Faces Tough Choices Between Florida and Family
Some important decisions are now at hand for Urban Meyer and the Florida athletic department. After the Gators destroyed an overmatched Cincinnati team (dealing with read more...
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Meyer Saga Leaves Doubt Around UF Program
What a roller coaster of a week it’s been for Florida Gator fans. The wishy-washy Urban Meyer drama has left a cloud of uncertainty over the program read more...
Big 12 Fever: Leach Outcome Will Have a Huge Effect on the Conference
A college football coach suspended for a game? That’s definitely something we’re not used to seeing, and there’s no doubt the Mike Leach-Texas Tech administration conflict is very unique. The school’s brass announced their outspoken coach
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.
SEC Daily Fever: Saban Not Worried about Facing Former Assistants in Title Game
The media has raised the question recently whether or not Texas assistants Will Muschamp and Major Applewhite, who served under Nick Saban at LSU and Alabama respectively, give the Longhorns any advantage with their familiarity of the Tide coach as they prepare for the BCS Title read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Conference Bowl Ties in Texas Work for Fans and Teams
Both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State did not quite reach their football goals this season. The Sooners were riddled with injuries to top players and were never a factor in the league race. The Cowboys looked like the second best team in the conference, but still could not get over the 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...
SEC Daily Fever: Gator Fans not feeling the Sugar Bowl after SEC Title Loss
It currently looks like Florida fans are not very fired up for the Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati. As we approach Christmas, the Gators are read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Oklahoma State out in the cold on Indoor Facility
With temperatures below freezing in Stillwater much of last week, Oklahoma State had to brave the elements in their preparation for the Cotton Bowl against Ole Miss. Meanwhile, the Rebels practiced in their indoor facility when the weather was cold or raining. It turns out that OSU 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...
Guest Writer for this Week Reminds us To Count Our Blessings
As Christmas grows closer and 2009, which has been a difficult year for everyone, draws to a close, some of us may find it a bit more difficult than usual to count our blessings. The South has been extremely hard hit by the recession. Friends have lost their read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Can McCoy be the next Brees?
Colt McCoy has done almost everything at the college level. He has won major awards, put up huge statistics, set the NCAA record for wins by a quarterback, and led the 'Horns to the BCS Title Game in '09. But what about the NFL level? In recent years, we've seen many Big 12 read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Brooks receives accolade for another solid season at Kentucky
The website collegefootballnews.com had a very interesting choice for their conference Coach of the Year- Rich Brooks of Kentucky.
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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Missouri Defection Would Shake Up the League
We mentioned yesterday that the Big Ten Conference was looking at possibly adding a 12th team, and that Missouri would be high on the list of choices. These types of decisions and read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Vols Sign Simms Youngest Son
Many teams in the conference added a junior college prospect or two yesterday, and one of the more interesting names to sign was quarterback Matt Simms at Tennessee. Besides the fact that he is the son of Phil Simms, this signing is interesting because his older brother (Chris read more...
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Meyer's December Shows the Roller Coaster of Being an SEC Boss
From the outside looking in, things appear pretty sunny for Urban Meyer at the University of Florida. He is 56-10 in five seasons in Gainesville, has won two League and two National Titles, had an undefeated regular season this year, and has another Top 10 recruiting class on the read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Hears In-house Criticism of Brown's Salary
Texas coach Mack Brown has the Longhorns playing for their second National Title in four years, and he has led the program to four BCS Bowls in a six year span. Those accomplishments, combined with the UT tradition and massive fan base, mean that the Texas football team brings in as 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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Gill Makes his Priorities Clear at Kansas
Kansas made huge news in the conference this week with the naming of Turner Gill as head coach. The former Nebraska star recived a 5-year deal worth $10 million to continue the momentum on the field of the Mark Mangino regime, but without the off-the-field issues.
SEC Daily Fever: Spurrier Extended at South Carolina
it may not seem like a big deal that South Carolina added an extra year to Steve Spurrier's contract this week, but it shows the USC administration is sticking with the program. After some late season fizzles the last few years, it would be easy to jump right back into the coaching 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
SEC Daily Fever: Ingram Wins Bama's First Heisman
There aren’t many “firsts” left with the University of Alabama’s football history, especially now that Mark Ingram became the Tide’s only Heisman Trophy read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Conference Watches the McCoy-Suh Split Hand Heisman to Ingram
While Alabama fans celebrate, Big 12 followers are crying foul over college football’s most controversial award. With Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh finishing third and fourth, many league fans believe 2009 is just the latest chapter read more...
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: The Heisman is the only Award left for McCoy
Colt McCoy will need a new trophy case after a postseason filled with accolades. He set the NCAA record this season for wins by a starting quarterback and led the Texas read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Kiffin denies any wrongdoing
In one year on the job at Tennessee, Lane Kiffin has become a lightning rod for the national and regional media. His brash attitude and recruiting prowess has rubbed some writers and some other coaches the wrong way.
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Alabama Proves That It Takes Money To Make Money
Last January, Swampland answered the national media criticism of escalating coach’s salaries by saying “SEC Coaching Dollars Make Sense”. read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Mack Brown Handsomely Rewarded
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that now certainly applies to coach’s salaries. Much like the theme in our SEC story today, the University of Texas 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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Suh's Dominant Season Being Recognized
Could it happen? A defensive tackle winning the Heisman? That surprising development seems to be growing more and more possible
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Kiffin Must Replace Some Top Recruiters
A constant theme on Tribal Fever has been the importance of recruiting, and how all of the top teams in the conference recruit at the highest level.
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...
SEC Daily Fever: All-League Squad Looks Like NFL Draft Primer
The SEC is considered the big dog conference in college football right now, especially with Alabama aiming to win the league’s fourth straight National Title. With
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Adjusts to Underdog Role
Texas rolled through most of the conference season before being challenged mightily by the Nebraska defense in the Title Game. Now the Longhorns face a tougher obstacle in read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Alabama Domintates Florida in SEC Title Rematch
Alabama rode a physical offense and a swarming defense to the SEC crown as they defeated the defending league and national champion Florida Gators 32-13.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Survives Big Red Scare
Texas only got 13 points in their 13th victory, but it was just enough to get by Nebraska for the Big 12 Championship. The ugly defensive battle ended 13-12 on 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...
SEC Championship: The Long Road to the Rose Bowl Stadium
The day was September 12, 1970. The integrated football team of University of Southern California met the all-white team of the University of Alabama at
SEC Daily Fever: Championship Game Becomes the "Southern" Super Bowl
It’s finally here. #1 vs. #2. Florida vs. Alabama- 24 wins and no losses. Winner goes to the BCS Title Game, while the loser heads reluctantly to the Sugar Bowl.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Mangino Resignation Could Create Domino Effect
With Texas set as a two-touchdown favorite in the Big 12 Championship, the biggest story in the conference becomes the ouster of Mark Mangino at Kansas.
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.
SEC Daily Fever: Richt Fires Martinez, Other Defensive Assistants
About ten days ago, we wrote how Georgia fans wanted some changes in Mark Richt's staff after a frustrating season.
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: League Titles Have Been Scarce for Texas Lately
Texas has become a superpower once again during Mack Brown's tenure, winning more games than any other school in the country since 1998. Ten victories in a season read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Florida Dealing with Distraction before Big Game
Florida was dealt a self-imposed blow this week in their quest to repeat as SEC and national Champions. All-American defensive end Carlos Dunlap
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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: North Division Needs a Power Team
With much of the media attention on Atlanta and the SEC this week. the Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium is receiving much less national fanfare. The fan read more...
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Could Florida and Alabama Play Twice?
It’s time to address the question on the minds of many college football fans- if Texas loses in the Big 12 Championship Game and the SEC Game is a close one, could we see a Florida-Alabama rematch in the BCS Title Game?
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas and Nebraska Prepare for Title Clash
Much of the attention this week before the Big 12 Championship Game will be on the matchup between the Texas offense and the Nebraska defense. Longhorn quarterback Colt McCoy has been read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Thrilling Weekend Shows League's Strength
The SEC saved its best for the last week of regular season play. There were a number of exciting games where the conference showed its power and depth.
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: OU Dominates Bedlam Game
While most of this season has been frustrating for Oklahoma fans, their counterparts in Stillwater have enjoyed a pretty successful year. But as far as Oklahoma State taking read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Bama Barely Escapes in Thrilling Iron Bowl
Much like Texas on Thursday night, Alabama got a scare from their in-state rival but also remained unbeaten with a 26-21 last-minute win.
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
Big 12 Daily Fever: McCoy leads Texas with Heisman-like Performance
Although Texas A&M gave them quite the game, Texas took care of business 49-39 over the Aggies and Colt McCoy vaulted himself to the front of read more...
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.
SEC Daily Fever: Georgia and Mark Richt Could be Staring at 6-6
Many around our Footprint (and the country) believe Les Miles is having the toughest week amongst SEC coaches, but you could argue that it's even worse for Georgia's Mark Richt right read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: A&M Hosts Texas for Thanksgiving
Texas wrapped up the South Division last week, and Texas A&M became bowl eligible with their win over Baylor. So there's not much to play for at Kyle Field on read more...
Meet Alabama Author Anita Miller Garner
This week Swampland reviews Anita Miller Garner's recently published collection of short stories: Undeniable Truths. read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Wild Sequence Ends with LSU Gaffe, Ole Miss Win
The ending of the LSU-Ole Miss game had fans all over the country glued to their TVs, and scratching their heads as well. The Tigers missed both chances to tie the game on a two-point conversion with 1:17 left, but then recovered an onside kick to keep their hopes read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Tech Crushes Oklahoma in Lubbock
What a game Mike Leach’s club had against Oklahoma . Texas Tech outgained the Sooners by 239 yards on their way to a convincing 41-13 victory. After getting throttled 65-21 last read more...
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...
Shades of Thanksgivings Past: Post Thanksgiving Stress Disorder
As we approach another holiday season, I thought I would repost an article I wrote the week after Thanksgiving one year ago. I called it "PTSD: Post Thanksgiving Stress Disorder." . ------- December 7, 2008 Well, here we are again. Thanksgiving has read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Unlikely Candidate Leads OSU Comeback
What a wild win for Mike Gundy's Oklahoma State club on senior night in Stillwater. With starting QB Zac Robinson unable to play and backup Alex Cate struggling, read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Ole Miss Looks To Continue Late Season Surge Against LSU
The top two teams in the conference have been pretty clear for a while, and the rematch in Atlanta is already set for Florida and Alabama. But who's next? LSU has seeimngly been that third squad all year with their only two losses coming against the Gators and Tide. One team 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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Special Game Tonight For OSU Seniors
As Oklahoma State prepares to host Colorado tonight, Mike Gundy will be focused on the game and the injury status of quarterback Zac Robinson. read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Chizik's First Year Shows Promise
Auburn suffered a tough loss to Georgia last weekend to fall to 7-4, but even the heavy crtics of Gene Chizik’s hiring would have to admit it's been a good first season. The Tigers will take this Sataurday off as they prepare for the Iron Bowl. And speaking of Alabama,
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Florida's Defense Leading the Way in 2009
While Tim Tebow gets all of the national attention, SEC fans know why the Gators have maanaged to stay undefeated once again this year-- their stellar defense. The Florida 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
Big 12 Daily Fever: OU's Murray May Return in 2010
Oklahoma received some potentially big news this week when star tailback DeMarco Murray said he was “pretty sure” of returning to Norman read more...
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Brooks Making History At Kentucky
With their win over Vanderbilt last Saturday, Kentucky became bowl eligible for the fourth straight season. The Wildcats went to three straight bowl games in the read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Kansas State-Nebraska Clash Will Decide The North
Kansas State travels to Lincoln on Saturday, and they will battle Nebraska for the North's berth into the Big 12 Title Game. Bill Snyder has returned to the Wildcats sideline read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Ole Miss' McCluster Has Record Day Against Distracted Vols
Wonder if Ole Miss would increase the speed limit on campus from 18 (Archie Manning's retired number) to 22 after Saturday? #22 Dexter McCluster had a monster 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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: McCoy Ties QB Wins Record As Texas Remains Unbeaten
Many of the stories for the Big 12 Fever during the 2009 season have been negative in nature. Whether it was the injuries to Oklahoma's stars or the struggles of the North read more...
SEC Football:Don't Spill Bourbon On My Mink--Or My Donna Karan
This Friday's Wall Street Journal published an intriguing
SEC Daily Fever: Kiffin Must Be Decisive In Dealing With Player Arrest Incident
For Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, this week was supposed to be about continuing the Vols current momentum (on the field as well as recruiting) and winning the "Coach O" game in Oxford. Instead, he's dealing with his first 'crisis management' experience as three UT freshmen read more...
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: OSU-Texas Tech Should Create Fireworks
The league's best game of the week looks to be a potential shootout when Texas Tech travels to Stillwater to meets the Cowboys. The last time Oklahoma State 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
SEC Daily Fever: Georgia And Mark Richt Desperate For An Auburn Win
Georgia fans are feeling a little nervous these days. The Bulldogs have already been blown out by two rivals, Tennessee and Florida, and they will face two more in Auburn and Georgia Tech over the next three games.
Big 12 Daily Fever: '09 Teams Succeeding With Less Passing, More Running
Last week, Nebraska relied on the running game to beat Oklahoma while the Sooners threw five interceptions. Oklahoma State won at Iowa State by running for 331 yards while only throwing for 142. Kansas State beat rival Kansas by rushing for 266 yards and passing for 66.
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Spurrier Says He's Staying At South Carolina For The Long Term
As South Carolina and head coach Steve Spurrier prepare to host #1 Florida on Saturday, this game is a reminder to Gamecock fans of what their coach built at his alma mater and what has not happened in Columbia.
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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Does It Matter Which North Team Plays Texas In The Title Game?
A Nebraska writer has penned an interesting column that suggests the Cornhuskers would be the better opponent for Texas in order to have a competitive Big 12 Title game. We can surmise that fans in read more...
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Officiating Issues Creates Negative Vibes For Top League
It’s the story that won’t go away- another week, another game where bad officiating dominates the league conversation. The SEC read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas A&M's Late Collapse Endangers Postseason Hopes
Mike Sherman’s club entered the Colorado game having won two in a row and seemed ready to make it three with an eleven-point lead at the half. However,
SEC Daily Fever: Alabama Beats LSU, Wins West
Alabama won a physical 24-15 battle against LSU on Saturday, and they now have cemented the highly-anticipated SEC Championship Game rematch with Florida. The Tide 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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Nebraska Shuts Down Oklahoma Offense
Oklahoma’s season went from frustrating to worse Saturday as Nebraska’s defense controlled the battle of the ‘Big Reds’ for a 10-3 win.
SEC Daily Fever: LSU-Alabama Is The National Game Of The Week
The eyes of the college football world will be on Tuscaloosa Saturday afternoon when #9 LSU meets #3 Alabama. This game has conference and national 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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: The OU-Nebraska Rivalry Should Happen Every Season
Berry Tramel of 'The Oklahoman' writes this week about something that just seems obvious to most college football fans: the Oklahoma-Nebraska game should happen every year.
SEC Daily Fever: Meyer looks bad after Spikes debacle
Many fans around the league are asking the question this week: what kind of program is Urban Meyer running in Gainesville? While many have questioned Meyer’s recruiting read more...
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 (
Big 12 Daily Fever: K-State ascension could hurt league's image
Bill Snyder has returned to the sideline in Manhattan, Kansas, and the Wildcats are sitting in first place in the Big 12’s “little brother” Division. The read more...
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Georgia's Richt looks to right ship in Athens
While much of the attention following the Florida-Georgia game has been on Brandon Spikes eye-gouging of Washaun Ealey, the reality for the Bulldogs is that they have the feel of a program that has slipped a notch from past seasons.
Big 12 Daily Fever: OU-Nebraska has lost a little luster
It’s still the battle of the “Big Reds”, but this one doesn’t have quite the significance of past Oklahoma-Nebraska read more...
Meet Alabama Poet Harry Moore
Dr. Harry Moore, professor emeritus of English, is the guest author for this week on Swampland. Harry has been a friend and colleague of mine for over three decades. He
SEC Daily Fever: Seemingly Insufficient Punishment For Spikes Sparks Controversy
Is a half-game suspension at home against Vanderbilt really a punishment? That’s what many are wondering after Urban Meyer read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Sherman Has Aggies Thinking About A Bowl Berth
Texas A&M started the season by winning their first three games against rather weak opponents. That was followed by losing three in a row, including an embarrassing 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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Clearly the Conference's Best
Texas versus Oklahoma State was built up as the game of the year in the conference, but the Longhorns separated themselves from the rest of the league with a read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Freshmen SEC Coaches Seeing Success
One of the consistent themes in the conference this season has been the effect of the three new coaches. That continued on Saturday with Tennessee, Auburn, and Mississippi read more...
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: OSU-Texas Could Decide the Big 12
The biggest game in Oklahoma State history? It's starting to feel that way around Stillwater as the Cowboys prepare to host #3 Texas on Saturday night. OSU enters the game 6-1 overall and unbeaten in the conference, and the ramifications of beating the Longhorns would be 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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Sam Bradford Shouldn't Be Second-Guessed
Sam Bradford had successful surgery yesterday, and he now will rehabilitate his shoulder in preparation for the NFL Draft. The read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Ole Miss Looks To Finish Strong
As Ole Miss prepares to travel to Auburn this Saturday, Houston Nutt's team will look to build the same second half of the season momentum that they did in 2008.
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: OSU-Texas Should Be a Barnburner
Texas and Oklahoma State will meet in Stillwater this Saturday night in what looks to be the Big 12 game of the year. The enthusiasm of the Cowboys fan base was 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.
SEC Daily Fever: Tebow Shuns The Media
An interesting scenario happened after the Florida win at Mississippi State; Tim Tebow did not meet with the media.
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Officials Under Heavy Scrutiny
Here we go again-another week, another rash of bad and missed calls that have SEC coaches angry. A week after Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino was reprimanded by the league office, two more read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Nebraska Must Rebound For Conference Balance To Return
We've been very critical of the North Division and for good reason. As the conference tries to catch the SEC in national perception, the North has become an anchor read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Bama Hangs On Against Tennessee
We have used the term "survive and advance" several times during league play, and that's just what Alabama (barely) did with their 12-10 victory over 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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas A&M Gives The Big 12 South Even More Depth
While many consider Iowa State winning 9-7 over Nebraska the league's biggest surprise on Saturday, the divisional disparity in the Big 12 becomes cleraer when taken in combination with what occurred in Lubbock when
Geezefest 2009: Yankee, Come Home!
On September 25, 2009, forty-four years after students from New Jersey, New York, and environs first appeared on the campus of Athens College (now Athens State University),
R.E.M. "Live at the Olympia"---Hear Prior to Release
According to NPR, Live at the Olympia is not a live collection of
SEC Daily Fever: LSU needs Auburn win to stay on league's top shelf
Most in the local and national media are already looking towards December for the highly- anticipated Florida-Alabama matchup in Atlanta, but one team who has the talent to throw a wrench in that scenario is LSU.
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Could Bradford Return In 2010?
There was much debate last winter on whether Oklahoma's Sam Bradford should enter the NFL Draft. He had won the Heisman Trophy, and many thought he would be the 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...
SEC Daily Fever: Nutt Back In Spotlight As Ole Miss Prepares For Arkansas
When the 2009 season kicked off, Ole Miss looked to be a contender in the West while the Arkansas was supposed to play the role of spoiler - but roles could be reveresed after this Saturday's game.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Tech's Profile Continues To Rise Under Leach
As Texas Tech prepares to host Texas A&M this week, this game looks like two teams headed in different directions. After two tough losses to Top 20 teams to 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...
SEC Daily Fever: Kiffin And Saban Build Their Programs Using Past NFL Perspective
As Tennessee and Alabama prepare for their annual October clash, the Vols seem to be a couple of recruiting classes behind the Tide in building a roster to compete for a league title.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Gundy Has OSU in Big 12 Contention
It’s been quite the rollercoaster for Mike Gundy’s Oklahoma State team. The renovated Pickens Stadium played host to a huge opening week victory over Georgia, 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...
Meet John Lee of "When The Buddha Met Bubba"
Writing under the pseudonym of Richard "Dixie" Hartwell, John Lee, the best-selling author of The Flying read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: North Division coming up short
We have written many times that for the Big 12 to catch the SEC in power, the North Division was going to have to pull its weight.
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.
SEC Daily Fever: League Refs Under Scrutiny After Missed Calls
It seems to happen every week- fans gripe about the refs. While part of that is just fans being fans, this season has seen an especially high number of questionable calls around the SEC.
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.
SEC Daily Fever: Florida Squeaks By Arkansas, Drops to #2 in AP
We wrote on Friday that Florida could be in for a classic trap game against Arkansas, and that’s what it turned out to be.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Bradford Knocked Out Again, Texas Squeaks To Win
The nightmare for Oklahoma fans continued Saturday as their Heisman-winning quarterback was laying on the turf for the second time this season. Sam Bradford read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Oklahoma-Texas should be a Classic
This one has it all-Tradition, Star players, Conference and National Title implications, and good old-fashioned hate. The Red River Rivalry will kick off read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Should Florida be on Upset Alert?
Is this the one? Even though the Florida Gators have won two of the last three National Titles, they lost a surprising game in the middle of both of those seasons. Urban read more...
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.
SEC Daily Fever: Can LSU Still Challenge For the West Crown?
We wrote earlier this week that it’s beginning to look more and more like a Florida-Alabama rematch in the SEC Title Game.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Beyond The Red River Rivalry
Most of the attention in Big 12 country this week will be on the Red River Rivalry, but there are two other league games that will go a long way in defining the conference season.
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...
Meet Kelly Kazek: Swampland Guest Writer
Journalist and author Kelly Kazek joins us on Swampland to write about an exciting events to take place this weekend in Athens, Alabama: the
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Wants A Red River Win To Lift Their Season
Maybe it’s just gamesmanship before a huge rivalry battle, but the Texas Longhorns say they are glad to see Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford back on the field and ready to go read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Snead and Ole Miss Are Struggling
Along with Georgia, one of the most frustrated fan bases in the league at the halfway point has to be that of Ole Miss. Their record will not look that bad after 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...
Country Music Hall of Fame Benefit Tonight - Watch Online
Oklahoma's own Vince Gill has been one of Nashville's brightest lights over the last few decades. He's a top level picker, singer, and songwriter. He has kept traditional country music alive while also read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Georgia Coaching Staff Under Fire
There is some extra heat radiating from Athens these days, as Mark Richt tries to regroup his Bulldogs after being blown out by Tennessee. AJC columnist Mark Bradley called Georgia’s 45-19 loss in Knoxville “
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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Tech Has QB Decision To Make
In ten years at Texas Tech, Mike Leach had never seen one of his starting quarterbacks miss a start because of injury. That changed last Saturday when Steven read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Florida and Alabama On Path For Title Rematch
Tim Tebow did start and play against LSU Saturday night, but it was the Gator defense that dominated the game and propelled Florida to a 13-3 road victory in Death Valley.
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Bradford Back Just In Time For The Sooners
Oklahoma fans received some comforting news the weekend when Sam Bradford was announced as the starter. The Heisman winner threw for 389 yards and a score in 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...
SEC Daily Fever: Will LSU's Running Game Beat Florida?
Prime time national television audience, Baton Rouge, #1 vs. #4; this one should be fun. That’s the scenario as Florida travels to LSU amid questions read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Mizzou Suffers Loss With Brutal 4th Quarter
It looked good for three quarters. Missouri was up 12-0 over Nebraska in a game that saw a torrential downpour throughout the night in Columbia. Unfortunately for 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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Tonight's Missouri-Nebraska Clash May Decide the North Division
A key game in the Big 12 North will take place Thursday night when the surprising Missouri Tigers host Nebraska. Gary Pinkel’s team has been one of the nice surprises 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...
SEC Daily Fever: Arkansas Has Much To Prove Against Auburn
Arkansas came into the season with the goal of at least being a factor in the SEC West, if not more. Already at 0-2 in league play, the Hogs begin a stretch this Saturday 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
SEC Daily Fever: Saban and Nutt Share Mutual Admiration
While the Florida-LSU matchup is getting much of the conference attention this week, another key league game will take place when Ole Miss hosts Alabama. The read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Both With QB Issues, OU and Baylor Prepare To Face Off
When Oklahoma travels to meet Baylor, all eyes will be focused on the quarterback position-for both teams. Obviously the whole nation is waiting to see if Sam read more...
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Auburn Faces Offensive Shootout At Arkansas
While most of the attention in the league has gone to the three teams in the Top 4 of the polls, maybe the best story of the early season has been the resurgence of Auburn.
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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas In the Driver's Seat
The early story in the conference has been the decline of injury-riddled Oklahoma and their two non-conference losses. Meanwhile, the
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.
SEC Daily Fever: LSU's Tight Win Sets Up SEC Mega-Clash
It may not have been the most well played game, but what a finish we all got to see in Athens Saturday. LSU led Georgia 6-0 after three quarters, read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Bradford-less Oklahoma loses at Miami
It started well enough. The Oklahoma defense got two early interceptions, but Landry Jones and the offense could only turn them into seven points. Miami eventually got read more...
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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Jones, Not Bradford, Will Lead OU At Miami
The mystery is over for Oklahoma: Landry Jones will start at quarterback when the Sooners travel to Miami to meet a hungry Canes squad.
SEC Daily Fever: Georgia Looks To Define 2009 Season Against LSU
Saturday’s huge clash between Georgia and LSU will go a long way in defining the Bulldogs’ season. Mark Richt’s bunch is 3-1, a pretty solid record read more...
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Baylor's Once Attainable Bowl Bid Seems in Doubt After Injuries
We’ve written this week about the tough blow Baylor suffered when start quarterback Robert Griffin was lost for the season. Based on his stellar freshman read more...
SEC Daily Fever: LSU Can Prove Their Top 5 Ranking Between the Hedges
LSU will begin a brutal three-game stretch this Saturday that will test their lofty #4 national ranking.
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
Big 12 Daily Fever: An Undefeated Texas A&M Relies on Youth
Lost in all the Big 12 buzz has been Mike Sherman's quiet rebuilding job in College Station. Most were wondering how A&M had sunk so low before Sherman's hiring. It looks like it's the same old story - not enough recruiting of talent.
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...
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Bradford Creates A Tough Dilemma for Stoops
The decision of the season is rapidly approaching for Bob Stoops: does Sam Bradford play against Miami read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Hogs Desperate for Win in Big D vs Texas A&M
Can you have a must-win game at the beginning of October against a non-conference opponent? That’s the feeling around an Arkansas squad that sits at 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...
SEC Daily Fever: Is Bama the league's top dog?
Florida still has the #1 spot in the national polls, but many believe Alabama is staking a claim as the best team in the read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Another rough weekend
The negative theme continued Saturday for the ACC as Florida State lost to South Florida, while
Big 12 Daily Fever: Tech loses late at Houston
It was a fairly solid week for the Big 12 as most of the conference beat up non-BCS opponents. But the one that got away was the read more...
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.
SEC Daily Fever: Gamecocks Embrace the Spotlight While the Rebels Wither
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. South Carolina played a physical game led by their relentless defense and took down #4 Ole Miss 16-10, Thursday night in Columbia in a classic SEC headknocker.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Rival Abilene QBs Match Up in Houston vs Texas Tech
The talk of Texas this week continues to be the high octane matchup of Texas Tech at Houston. Second year HC Kevin Sumlin has read more...
Poets Jeanie Thompson and Kathleen Driskell at Athens State University
Poets Jeanie Thompson and Kathleen Driskell will be reading from and talking about their latest collections of poetry at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, at
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Rebels-Gamecocks Ready To Prove It in Primetime
It should be a great Thursday night national television matchup between Ole Miss and South Carolina, two teams that have a lot to prove.
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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Mizzou's 3-0 Start Bolsters Northern Half of Conference
One of the best developments for the Big 12 North this season has been the solid early start of the Missouri Tigers. With the departure of Chase read more...
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
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.
SEC Daily Fever: It's Offense vs Defense When Arkansas faces Alabama
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. One of the more interesting storylines this Saturday will be seeing
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Tech and Houston Provide A Weekend Shootout
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. In what promises to be a Wild West offensive onslaught, Texas Tech will meet Houston in a game that sees these two teams in unfamiliar roles.
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Verbal Jabs Between Meyer and Kiffin Escalate
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. New Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin may have gotten the first word in between him and Urban Meyer when he boldly (or stupidly depending on your point of view) announced read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Bradford Back on the Practice Field
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma doctors will have an interesting decision to make in the upcoming weeks.
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Longhorns Looking Like The Class of the Conference
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Texas was able to take care of business against Texas Tech this year, and it looks like
SEC Daily Fever: New Coaches Show Early Promise
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. The story of the early SEC season continues to be the impact of the new coaches. We already knew the strength of the top teams in the league (Florida, 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...
SEC Daily Fever: Meyer Looks To Make Statement Against Kiffin
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. The national media has had this game circled since Lane Kiffin's hiring press conference earlier this year. Kiffin and Tennessee will travel to the Swamp this 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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Mike Leach Tries To Downplay Tech vs Texas
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Texas is ready to tackle a key step towards their goal of a Big 12 (and National) Title when they host Texas Tech Saturday night.
16th Trail of Tears Ride and Commemorative Sculpture in Tennessee
Tne Sixteenth Annual Trail of Tears Remembrance Motorcycle Ride will begin this weekend (Saturday, September 19) in Chattanooga, TN. Held annually on the third Saturday in September, the
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Nebraska Hopes Maturity Will Lead To Win Over Virginia Tech
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. The game of the week nationally may be the Nebraska-Virginia Tech matchup.
SEC Daily Fever: Hogs-Dawgs Could Be The SEC Game of The Weekend
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. One of the more interesting matchups of the weekend has to be Georgia traveling to Arkansas. (Give Mark Richt credit - his tough schedule has kept his team on 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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Texas Says Revenge Not The Goal Against Texas Tech
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. It was the signature highlight of the 2008 season- Michael Crabtree’s catch and score as Texas Tech upset undefeated Texas.
SEC Daily Fever: Chizik Tries To "Manage" Auburn Fans' Expectations
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Auburn fans have had more than a little frustration with their offense over the last few seasons.
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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Nebraska Battles Big 12 North Credibility, Virginia Tech
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. As the North Division strives to catch up with the South, the need for big non-conference wins becomes paramount.
In Memory of Four Little Girls: Birmingham Church Bombing 1963
On this the 46th anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, that killed four little girls, I am reposting an piece I wrote over a year ago. Here are the opening lines of the
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Kiffin Continues Tennessee's Recruiting Gains
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Saturday was a tough day for Lane Kiffin and the Vols.
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.
SEC Daily Fever: UGA and South Carolina Deliver Early Season Drama
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. What a game between Georgia and South Carolina. With their recent history, we all expected a low scoring, defensive affair.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Oklahoma State Fails To Handle Success
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. After a thrilling 24-10 win over Georgia, the fans in Stillwater were on Cloud 9. With a Top 10 ranking and the cross-state rival Sooners loss, the potential of read more...
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
SEC Weekend Fever: Mullen vs. Chizik
SEC Weekend Fever Previews Top Stories for the Upcoming Weekend Auburn hosts Mississippi State in 2009's first meeting between SEC rookie coaches. Quite a lot has changed in a year for both squads.
Big 12 Weekend Fever: OSU Puts Fans Ahead of Money
Big 12 Weekend Fever Previews Top Stories for the Upcoming Weekend What a tough decision for Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder: Dallas vs. Stillwater for the huge opener agianst Georgia.
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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Aggies Early Schedule Helps To Build Youth and Momentum
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know.
SEC Daily Fever: Georgia & South Carolina Ready Defenses For A Tight Game
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Mark Richt and Steve Spurrier are both offensive-minded coaches, but it looks like they have to rely on their defenses to win early in 2009.
SEC Daily Fever: Gut Check time for Georgia
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. After dropping the opener at Oklahoma State, it is a huge week for Georgia as they try to avoid an 0-2 start when they battle South Carolina Saturday.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Injuries Quickly Put A Damper On OU's 2009 expectations
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top ACC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. The young season just keeps getting worse for Oklahoma.
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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Devastating Opener for the Sooners
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. There was the nightmare-with less than ten seconds to go in the first half. It was Oklahoma’s worst fear;
SEC Daily Fever: Solid Debuts For New Coaches Makes Conference Even Deeper
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. With the exception of the Georgia loss, it was a pretty solid start for the SEC. The biggest story had to be the debut of the three new coaches.
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 “
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Spurrier Lets Defense Rule Over Wolfpack
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. It wasn’t pretty, but South Carolina relied on their defense for a hard fought 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
Big 12 Daily Fever: Can Mizzou Show That The Big 12 North Isn't Just The Big Ten?
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. A very meaningful game for the Big 12 North will happen Saturday when Missouri meets Illinois in the opener.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Oklahoma gets a Scare
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Nervous Sooner fans are still waiting for official confirmation from Oklahoma, but apparently
SEC Daily Fever: Tide Duo cleared to play in Opener
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Although the NCAA did find a violation in the Alabama case involving receiver Julio Jones and running back Mark Ingram,
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,
SEC Daily Fever: Auburn Opener Provides Dilemma for Vince Dooley
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. An interesting scenario presents itself for SEC legend Vince Dooley in the Auburn-Louisiana Tech opener.
Big 12 Daily Fever: OSU Battling Distractions Before Georgia Opener
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. It’s been an interesting week in Stillwater as Oklahoma State prepares for their huge matchup with Georgia.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Sherman Hopes Personal Example Inspires Aggie Players
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. After going 4-8 in his first season in College Station, Mike Sherman knows how hard he must work to turn things around.
SEC Daily Fever: Embattled Dawgs D Gets Opening Challenge
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. While much of the talk in Athens has been about replacing Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, the key to the 2009 Georgia season may lie in the improvement of the read more...
ACC Daily Fever: Hokies Must Improve on Offense
$(document).ready(function() { $('p > a[href*=swampland]').after(''); $('p > read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Bama Locks Up Saban For Another 3 Years
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. A contract extension for Nick Saban, whose megadeal already runs through 2014?
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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Led By Griffin, Baylor Looks Ready to Surprise
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. When looking for candidates to challenge the “Big 2” in the South Division, most experts see Oklahoma State playing the role this season that Texas read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Ole Miss Fans Hoping For a Monumental Season
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Coming off a Cotton Bowl win and with quarterback Jevan Snead returning, the expectations at Ole Miss are as high as ever. The fan base has responded by
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Does Taylor Potts Represent a New Era of Texas Tech QBs?
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. The same question always hangs over the Texas Tech program- is it the quarterback or the system?
SEC Daily Fever: Vols' Brown cleared by the NCAA
$(document).ready(function() { $('p > a[href*=swampland]').after(''); $('p > 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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Longhorn DB Earl Thomas Looks To Help Revive Defense
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. In the conference currently known for offense, the team that plays the best defense may be the one that advances to the Title game.
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...
SEC Daily Fever: Latest On Julio Jones and Alabama
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. It's the story that just won't go away in Alabama.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Will Missouri run the ball more in 2009?
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. With Chase Daniel at the helm, Mizzou fans got used to seeing the ball tossed all over the field.
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...
Big 12 Daily Fever: A&M leading WR changes positions
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman has made an interesting decision
SEC Daily Fever: How will Kiffin's offense fare in Year 1?
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. As expected, Tennessee has named senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton the 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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: The Big 12 Makes Comparisons to the SEC - Should They?
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. The Big 12 conference was well represented in the initial AP Top 25 Poll with
SEC Daily Fever: The Gamecock Spotlight Shines on Garcia in South Carolina
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know It’s nothing new for Steve Spurrier to seem upset with the play of his quarterbacks.
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...
SEC Daily Fever: SEC Media Policy Upsets the Press
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know A huge debate is about to happen regarding the direction of the league’s media coverage.
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.
Big 12 Daily Fever: Fans Are Lining Up In Stillwater
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. As a highly-anticipated season approaches for Oklahoma State, we know about the preseason Top 10 rating, the renovations to Boone Pickens Stadium, and the read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: OU Linebacker Sues NCAA
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. We wrote earlier in the week about read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Eligibility of Prized Vol Recruit Under NCAA Scrutiny
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know The highly-publicized recruitment of Tennessee’s Bryce Brown has taken an interesting turn a few weeks before the top running back is set to make read more...
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
SEC Daily Fever: Tough Break for Improving Vandy
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know Vanderbilt’s defense suffered a major blow with
Big 12 Daily Fever: Red Raiders get RB back
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Texas Tech got some welcome news as it appears that
SEC Daily Fever: Tough Injury for the Razorbacks
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. The Arkansas defense has suffered a major loss with the news that
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
Big 12 Daily Fever: Big Recruiting News for Mizzou
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Missouri got some huge news read more...
Big 12 Daily Fever: Sooners Await Status of Key LB
Big 12 Daily Fever is the top Big 12 story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Oklahoma is still read more...
SEC Daily Fever: Auburn Names QB Starter
SEC Daily Fever is the top SEC story of the day. Disagree? Let us know. Chris Todd was recently named the starting quarterback at Auburn, and he
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...
My Life According to Billy C Farlow--Lost in the Ozone
There is a clever little game making its way around the internet. The game is called "My Life According To ....." To play you simply substitute your choice of artist or band and then answer the questions with song titles recorded by the artist. I found it read more...
That's What I Like About the South: Whitt's, White Sauce, Dale's Sauce, and Sundrop
In this series of blogs, I would like to talk about victuals (pronounced "vittles") that are uniquely southern. The first stanza of the song "That's What I Like about 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...
28th Handy Blues Fest in Florence, Alabama, July 17-26
W. C. Handy's autobiography Father of the 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...
Billy C Farlow, Delta Blues, and More News from Elk River
Well, we have survived yet another holiday weekend on Elk RIver. This weekend we did not burn down read more...
Guns for God?
"I don't see any contradiction in this. Not every Christian denomination is pacifist." - Ken Pagano, the pastor of the New Bethel Church in read more...
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...
FedEx's Fred Smith Could Be The Perfect New Owner for the Rams
In our post-draft update, SPF wrote about the murky future of the St Louis Rams. Since then, they've officially put up the "For Sale" sign leading many read more...
Medusa Meets Bride of Frankenstein: A Night at the Sleep Clinic
After my very serious piece about US Highway 72, I thought all of us could use a little levity. Hope you get a laugh out of my recent night at the read more...
Tennessee Rules: Places to Experience, Music That Rocks, Vistas That Amaze
This month I want to share with you the incredible diversity and exquisite beauty of my neighboring state, the "volunteer" state of Tennessee. From geography (Tennessee is often referred to as the read more...
Highway 72--Not the "Highway To Hell" but the "Highway From Hell"
My eyes are bleary and my hands are shaking as I write this blog. I had planned to post a cheery and humorous little piece about possums, but instead I am writing about senseless death. Tomorrow I will bury my second friend to be killed on Highway 72
Alabama Poet Jeanie Thompson to Read from New Collection in NYC
Alabama author Jeanie Thompson will be reading from her most recent collection of poetry The Seasons Bear Us on read more...
Helen Keller Lives On in the "The Miracle Worker"
On the first day of June,1968, author and activist Helen Keller, born in 1880 in Tuscumbia, read more...
Daniel Snyder and his Washington Redskins Strive to Finally Win "On the Field"
They are "The Team" in our Nation’s capital. They remain one of the NFL's most valuable teams sporting the largest stadium in the NFL and a brash young owner who keeps them as high profile as any squad in the league. Whether it’s the big-name coaching carousel read more...
The Tennessee Titans Only Need to Stay on Course
The 2008 Tennessee Titans played Jeff Fisher football- run the ball, limit mistakes, pressure the passer- all the way to the NFL’s best read more...
Alabama Blues: Freedom Creek Festival and Cigar Box Guitar Extravaganza
Don't miss the chance to travel to the beautiful state of Alabama this weekend for some of the best and as well as some of the most original blues you will ever hear. Looks like Alabama will finally get a break read more...
More Southern Success Stories in Florence, Alabama
When I was a child the only bookstore of any size in North Alabama was Anderson Books which first opened in
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...
Rams Try Rebuild (and Remain) in St Louis for the Long Haul
At the beginning of this decade, the St. Louis Rams were as identifiable as any team in the NFL. The “Greatest Show on Turf” had star power to burn with the likes of Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt and Issac Bruce. However, while those teams were lighting up read more...
Alabama and The Civil Rights Movement: Forty-Eight Years Later
On this day, May 20, 1961, a white mob attacked a busload of "Freedom Riders" in Montgomery, Alabama, 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...
The Colts and Peyton Manning Look to Sustain Their Run of Excellence
Over the last seven seasons, the Colts have been as recognizable as any team in the NFL-same GM, same coach, and same MVP quarterback. They have made the Playoffs in all seven of those years and currently have a league-record six straight 12+ win seasons. Under Bill Polian, 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...
Record Store Day Remembrances: Orlando's Park Ave CDs
Orlando, Florida seems an unlikely Southern musical hub. In the shadows of the all-encompassing mouse south of town, this ever-emerging city has seemingly yet to define itself culturally outside of Disney and its other famous tourist attractions.
Clothing Designer Billy Reid Moves Corporate Headquarters to Florence, Alabama
Who would ever dream that an internationally known clothing designer would base his corporate headquarters in Florence, Alabama. For the past four years, Louisiana native
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
The World's Oldest Living Person and My Nonagenarian Friends
The current adage “Old age is not for sissies” has never been more true. Gertrude Baines, who became the world's oldest living person on read more...
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...
Calipari Looks to Return Kentucky to SEC (and National) Prominence
The big decision has finally been made. After nine years of building up Memphis to a perennial power, John Calipari has decided to leave the Bluff City for the money, big conference pedigree, and read more...
2009 Alabama Book Festival Includes Rick Bragg, Frank Stitt, and Nanci Kincaid
This year's Alabama Book Festival will feature a star-studded cast of authors, including author Rick read more...
Historian and Scholar Dr. John Hope Franklin Dies at 94
I first met Dr. John Hope Frankin in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1992 . He was the guest speaker at the
Billy Gillispie's Fate Could Send Big Ripples Throughout the SEC and the Footprint
Mark Wiedmer at the Chattanooga Time Free Press has it right. If Billy Gillispie gets fired, it will create a coaching shakeup around the Swampland 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:
Willie King Lives On in New Blues Song by Blind Albert
Vincent Gabriel (aka Blind Albert) has written a brand new blues song entitled "Ode To Willie King." Gabriel said that he was inspired to compose the song after reading the
Blues Legend Willie King Dies at 65
The music world mourns the passing of blues musician Willie King. Funeral services were held yesterday, March 15, in Aliceville, Alabama, for King read more...
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
Academy Award Winning Playwright Horton Foote Dies at 92
Texas born playwright Horton Foote died peacefully in Hartford, Connecticut, yesterday (March 4th) just ten days short of his 93rd 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...
Guest Writer Sheila Byrd and the Search for George Washington Harris (1814-1869)
This week’s special guest for RiverVue's Southern Literature: Roots and Branches series is
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
Southern Cities Make Up 50% of Portfolio's "Top 10 Best Markets for Small Business"
Portfolio Magazine released their list of the Best Markets for Small Business. Here are the cities that made their Top read more...
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...
Alabama In the New York Times and on NPR: Southern Sheriffs, Archaic Laws, and Colorful Criminals
From Sut Lovingood: Yarns Spun by a Nat'ral Born Durn'd Fool to Smokey and the Bandit, 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...
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
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
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...
Alabama Rules: From Blue-Eyed Soul to Soulful Blues
My friend Deryle Perryman, native of Florence and resident of Albuquerque, recently returned from the Porretta Soul Festival in
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...
The Dog Star Rages and Leos Roar
It is August and the dog days of summer are upon us. The ancient Romans noticed that the hottest days of the year, late July and early August, coincided with the appearance of
Where Have All the Small Towns Gone?
The centuries old ubi sunt query—where are those who went before us? or where are the snow of yesterday?—has always been a question with no answer. But this particular question is not read more...
Vick Still Casts a Long Shadow Over NFL Hopes in Atlanta
Has it really been a year? Last week marked one year since Michael Vick was indicted on federal charges for his role in a dog fighting ring that operated in Virginia. It also marked the beginning of one of the greatest falls from grace that we have ever seen by an athlete in read more...
Is 8 Wins The SEC's New Over/Under For Coaching Success?
An interesting debate was sparked last week when the University of Tennessee announced it had extended Coach Phillip Fulmer’s contract: What is an read more...
Alabama in July
The Fourth of July is over and along with it Willie Nelson’s annual Fourth of July picnic near San Antonio featuring Merle 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...
Alabama: A Place in the Sun
It is July in Alabama and the corn is literally as high as an elephant’s eye. Jungles of lush green flank the country roads. Where formerly one could see for miles, one can barely see the road directly ahead.
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...
Will Jags' Fans Respond?
An interesting question was asked last week in the local Jacksonville paper regarding the Jaguars and their fans: “What has this team not done to legitimately pursue a Super Bowl 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...
Overrated? Let's Start with Sal Paolantonio and other "National" Sports Analysts
Here we go again. I guess ESPN has nothing better to feed NFL fans during the offseason than more of Sal Paolantonio’s “Overrated/Underrated” drivel. read more...
Duke Over Notre Dame: College Sports Are Still The King Down South
Since the SEC just wrapped up its meetings down in Destin, Tribal Fever thought it would be a good time to check in. College sports are the glory of The Footprint, and the rest of the nation is taking notice. The significance of yesterday's news that Notre Dame's AD read more...
Tying The Knot: East Meets West in the Deep South
This weekend I attended the wedding of two young friends at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The wedding (or more accurately the weddings) involved both a traditional
More Six Degrees: From Florence, Alabama, to Florence, Italy
On March 4, 2006, my old friend Deryle Perryman and filmmaker Moises Gonzales showed their documentary film Dangerous 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...
April in Alabama
Nothing could be more beautiful than April in Alabama and, in my case, nothing could be more exciting. I recently returned from the Alabama Studio Weekend in the
Snowflakes: Jake Long Goes #1 (and Other 2008 NFL Draft Thoughts)
The NFL Draft is this Saturday, and some of our Southern teams appear to hold the key to the most important non-gameday of the year. The Miami Dolphins have the #1 pick, and the Miami Herald reports that OT read more...
Snowflakes: What Are SEC Football Critics Going To Do Now?
With spring football in full gear, it’s never too early to look ahead to the upcoming season. We at Swampland have focused many times on the ongoing theme of the SEC “arms race” in America’s toughest conference schedule to navigate. With Florida and LSU read more...
Season Summary: Houston Texans
Quick Summary: The Houston Texans finished last in their division again. The good news is that they also had a non-losing season for the first time in the team's history finishing 8-8. Coach Gary Kubiak's team looked much better than in his first read more...
Alabama: Places to Be and People to See
The Alabama Book Festival held in Montgomery, Alabama, is only in its third season and already it offers a unique opportunity for participants to meet and listen to over seventy authors, among them read more...
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...
Season Summary: Carolina Panthers
Quick Summary: The Carolina Panthers entered the 2007 season as a Super Bowl contender. They started out strong, but the team could not overcome the loss of QB
Season Summary: Cincinnati Bengals
Quick Summary: The Bengals were SPF's most disappointing team from this past season. They have all the tools on paper to be a perennial contender starting with a great QB in Carson Palmer, who has all kinds of skill position help. Unfortunately, read more...
Alabama's Going Green: "Let's Get Dirty"
Huntsville, Alabama, has chosen “Let’s Get Dirty” by the Huntsville country music band
Snowflakes: Big 12 Tourney as Expected, but Change on the Horizon
The least surprising of all conference tournaments this March has been the Big 12 Tourney in Kansas City. Both Texas and Kansas have been Top 10 teams for most of the season, and they have maneuvered their way to Sunday’s Championship game with a probable #1 seed on the line read more...
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
Video Clips: Tornado Hits Downtown Atlanta during SEC Tourney Game
Below is a clip of the game broadcast of Alabama vs. Mississippi State during the moment when a tornado hits the Georgia Dome and damages the roof.
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...
Snowflakes: Conference USA's Mediocrity is True Source of Calipari's Frustration
Memphis has their sights set on the Big Dance and the Final Four as they cruise through another C-USA Tournament at home. When the Tigers beat UAB, John Calipari became the only coach besides Adolph Rupp to win
Snowflakes: Big 12 Hoops
* The Big 12 is looking quite solid as the postseason approaches. There is a strong possibility that half of the league gets an invitation to the Big Dance, with both Kansas and Texas still having a shot at a #1 seed. If either the Longhorns or Jayhawks win the Big 12 Tournament, 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...
Snowflakes: C-USA/Big East Hoops
* West Virginia has won 3 of their last 4 and really seems to be coming together at the right time. One of the main reasons for their solid play of late is that post man Joe Campbell has averaged 25.5 points a game in the last 4 contests, including 32 in the Mountaineers’ huge read more...
Snowflakes: Big 12 Hoops
* Texas’ stellar play throughout the season has put them into great position for a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Winners of read more...
Snowflakes: SEC Hoops
* I’ve written all season about the banner year for basketball in the state of Tennessee. The two best teams in the league appear to be from the Volunteer State in Tennessee and Vanderbilt (although detractors would qualify the Commodores inclusion as long as they are playing read more...
Snowflakes: Small Conference Hoops
* We still have a great two-horse race in the Sun Belt Conference as both South Alabama and Western Kentucky try to prove they are Big Dance worthy. Many bracket
Snowflakes: C-USA/Big East Hoops
* Well, it finally happened. The 47-game home winning streak and the perfect record on the season ended for Memphis last Saturday when Tennessee defeated them, 66-62, in the raucous FedEx Forum. Surprisingly, the Tigers were outhustled and outrebounded by the smaller Vols who made read more...
Snowflakes: ACC Hoops
* Miami seems to have played themselves back in to the NCAA Tournament picture. Just two weeks ago, the Hurricanes were 2-6 in ACC play and seemed to be drifting off to another subpar season. However, Frank Haith’s club has righted the ship by winning four in a row including 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.
Snowflakes: #1 vs #2
With all due respect.to the other games this weekend, there’s only one mammoth matchup read more...
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...
Snowflakes: ACC Hoops
* What a great win for Wake Forest Sunday night. The Demon Deacons topped #2 Duke 86-73 to provide the fans in Winston-Salem and first-year coach Dino Gaudio with their best moment of the season. Of course, last summer turned tragic for the entire Wake family after the untimely 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
Snowflakes: SEC Hoops
* After attending the Vanderbilt-Kentucky game Tuesday night in Nashville, all I can say is ‘Wow’. The Commodores are always tough at home (15-0 this season), and they handed the Wildcats the worst loss in their SEC history, 93-52. Vandy scorched the nets at over 55% for read more...
Snowflakes: Small Conference Hoops
We often focus on teams that reach the dream of an NCAA tournament or special players who make the NBA, but sometimes it’s just about playing for the love of the game. That thought takes us to tiny Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. The Blue Hose
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...
Season Summary: Atlanta Falcons
Quick Summary: The Falcons endured a year of endless upheaval. Problems brewed last season when the team sank into a string of losses creating situations where star QB Michael Vick made obscene gestures to the Georgia Dome crowd. This led to the 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
Season Summary: St. Louis Rams
Quick Summary: This was the first year SPF covered the Rams, and it wasn't an auspicious beginning. It shouldn't have been so considering the Rams finished the previous season at 8-8 and signed their franchise QB Marc Bulger (a West Virginia alum) to a read more...
Snowflakes: Big East/C-USA Hoops
* With the league’s RPI being 11th in the nation, it’s a distinct possibility that Conference USA could be a one-bid league this season. Even though John Calipari has tried to talk up C-USA, the conference is just not performing up to the “right below the BCS read more...
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...
Snowflakes: ACC Hoops
by Patrick Snow * As Duke put the finishing touches on their 93-84 victory at Maryland Sunday night, it became increasingly clear that the ACC will be a two-horse race this season. Duke and North Carolina are definitely the class of the league and are probably the only two 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...
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)
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...
In defense of Bobby Petrino (and Arkansas)
Tribal Fever prides itself about being on the pulse of college sports in the Footprint. We aren't here to sugarcoat it in any way. College football is king down here. Everything else runs a distant second. In that light, we want to set the record 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...
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Wednesday night’s opening game of the 2007 World Series at Fenway Park was a heartbreaker for Colorado Rockies fans. I have always read more...
It is Raining on the River!
I guess I rattled my rain stick enough this weekend to wake up the clouds. We In North Alabama are reveling in what the Navajos call a gentle “female” rain, and I pray it continues all week. I especially hope it rains profusely on Atlanta, Georgia, where they are having 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...
Philip Morris: Corporate Charities, the Arts, and Virginia's future?
In today's NY Times, there is a piece about a problem in the local arts scene. It seems 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...
More Alabama Authors: Eric Smith
Eric Smith is assistant professor of English at the University of Alabama-Huntsville where his speciality is Post Colonial Literature. Over ten years ago, Eric was a student in my classes at Athens State University. After completing his B.S. at ASU, Eric attended 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...
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...
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 9/2/07
Your weekly filter for the top sports stories around the South 1. Our biggest story of the week was the biggest in the nation as the whole country has now learned about read more...
Spotlighting Alabama Authors
During the next few weeks I will be featuring the poetry of several Alabama writers whose poems were published in the recent anthology: Whatever Remembers Us. These poems read more...
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 8/26/07
Your weekly filter for the top sports stories around the South 1. What an interesting day for the Atlanta Falcons as they play their first home contest under new coach Bobby Petrino while Michael Vick
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 8/19/07
Your weekly filter for the top sports stories around the South 1. Although college athletics has become (mega) big business, there are a few reminders every now and then that it’s still a game for ‘kids’ and that the best coaches tend to be read more...
Welcome Back!
Greetings to all you football fans around the Swampland footprint! Southern Pro Football is back to cover another NFL season. Patrick Snow and I will be making sure that SPF covers the NFL from a Southern perspective. For all of you that didn't tune into
Hot and Wet or Hot and Dry?
The state of Alabama made the national news on two consecutive days this week: first regarding the referendum that could have reversed the legal sale of alcohol in the city of Athens (billed as "Alabama City Mulls Return to Prohibition") and secondly for the read more...
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 8/12/07
Your weekly filter for the top sports stories around the South 1. Well the inevitable happened last week when Barry Bonds finally hit Home Run 756. It turns out the Orlando Sentinel’s Mike Bianchi, just like Hank Aaron and many others in our region,
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 7/22/07
Your weekly filter for the top sports stories around the South 1. What a messy story. The news of Michael Vick’s federal indictment seems to have split fans in the city of Atlanta, and probably has given Falcons owner Arthur Blank a splitting headache. The read more...
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 7/15/07
Your weekly filter for the top sports stories around the South 1. The college sports “arms race" never seems to slow down. Whether it’s upgrading a current facility or building a new practice complex to ‘wow’ recruits, schools in read more...
Look Homeward, Angel: In Memoriam Doug Marlette
On Tuesday, July 10, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Doug Marlette was killed in a car wreck on a rain soaked road in north Mississippi. Marlette and the driver of the truck, the theatre director at Oxford read more...
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 7/8/07
1. Ed Hinton nails it again. His piece on the fans of racing and their connection with “real race drivers” speaks to a growing concern we have read more...
07-07-07
Isn't seven the most powerfully magical number? -- Tom Marvolo Riddle to Horace Slughorn Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Whether you are superstitious, mystical, fascinated by numerology, or simply curious, you have to be just read more...
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 7/1/07
1. The NBA Draft was this week’s big sports story. The Draft is all about hope for the future. Despite recent expansion in the Swampland footprint, the NBA has struggled to find an audience down South. The problem starts with the NBA’s inability to connect with the read more...
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 6/24/07
Swampland’s Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 6/24/07 Your weekly filter for the top sports stories around the South
Ninety is the New Forty-five
I hope each of you read the newspaper article by James Lewis of Newhouse News Service published on May 26th. Lewis wrote about four ninety-plus year old women from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, who went out for an evening on the town. The women left the Country Meadows Retirement read more...
Uneasy Rider
Last weekend I traveled to Austin, Texas, for the 90th birthday celebration of Dr. Elva Mclin, my mentor, friend, and longtime colleague. Another former colleague and friend of the honoree accompanied me. Because neither of us had ever been to Austin before, we elected to stay in read more...
A boom for Jacksonville's economy?
A new day may be dawning in Jacksonville. Long a home for north Florida and south Georgia farmers looking for a better economic future, Jax has been a "deep South" stronghold in read more...
Nashville - the NHL's Waterloo?
News arrived last week that owner Craig Leopold is selling the Nashville Predators to Canadian businessman (and Blackberry tycoon) Jim Balsillie. This development has Nashville hockey fans in a desperate state. The thought is by many in mid-Tennesee, including Tennessean read more...
New Carter Family Documentary Released
3/25/07 A new hour long documentary on the Carter Family--Will The Circle Be Unbroken--highlights the career of the legendary country group.
...5th Annual Music Maker Relief Foundation Fishing Tournament Approaching...
1/14/07 Music Maker Relief Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting musicians rooted in southern musical traditions with instrument acquisition, tour support, life maintenance, medical, and emergency relief. Music Maker was formed in 1994 by folklorist read more...
Townes Van Zandt & Eddie Hinton on Film
12/11/06 The work of the Late, Great Townes Van Zandt is now available on DVD. Be Here To Love Me can be found at www.townesthemovie.com. A new book about Van Zandt is due on March 7, 2007. John Kruth's book is titled read more...
Leon Russell Rolls On, Lucinda's Latest, and Robinson & Dickinson Collaborate
12/10/06 Leon Russell plays in Athens, Georgia, on December 14 amid a run through the south. The Oklahoma legend's touring schedule rolls on through 2007. Russell's new CD, Angel In Disguise, features 11 new compositions. The Master of Space & Time still read more...