From the "Talks too much" studios, it's all here. It's happening.
D-Day
No not that one.
This one stands for Decision Day for major college football teams with title hopes and quarterback questions.
Three high-profile teams with a lot of talent and promise picked starters at the most important position Monday.
As TFP ace David Paschall tells us here Georgia will send transfer Grayson Lambert onto the field for the first possession Saturday.
LSU picked Brandon Harris as its starter, and FSU tabbed Everett Golson.
Each of these three teams have more in common.
Each is easily identified as a three-letter entity. Each has an athletic and play-making defense that could be special. Each has a running back who could be a Heisman contender. Each has a chance to contend for the college football playoff.
And each will need the names we now know to be the right choice to make that last one happen.
(Still no word on Alabama though.)
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Speaking of quarterbacks
OK, we had UTC football coach Russ Huesman on the radio Monday.
He sounded in pretty good spirits. He should be. The Mocs are stacked. So, while we will know a great deal more in a week, let's go over what we think.
We think UTC will go 10-1, starting with a win Saturday against fellow-top-10 Jacksonville State.
Quarterback Jacob Huesman warms up during the first day of football practice for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.We think Jacob Huesman will be a Payton finalist.
We think the offensive line - a spot of contention at times last year - will be a strength.
We think that Coach Huesman has constructed a program in which freshmen watch and wait and the experience will be an added benefit. It's a plan that is effective and efficient.
We think at least two of the transfers - they added six this offseason - will pay large dividends.
We think this is a team that could get to Frisco.
And we think that we would have never, Never, NEVER would have even thought about typing that pre-Russ Huesman.
(And beyond that, we also know for a fact that UTC's tribute - and subtle approach to the matter - about honoring the five military men who were killed July 16 is pitch perfect. Here's our A2 column on it.
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The 'er' months
In a former life, we used to talk a lot of baseball with a buddy named Mike.
Mike was a die-hard Yankees fan living in Atlanta. This was when each team was at the heights of its powers.
So when some Johnny Braves Fan would come talking a little junk, we developed a phrase - "Let's talk during the 'er' months" - that pretty much silenced the banter.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Shelby Miller (17) works in the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) The 'er' months are here. In fact, early on this Sept. 1 morning, the Dodgers beat the Giants on an Adrian Gonzalez single in the 14th inning.
Baseball's marathon turns into a final month-long dash starting now. God bless the 'er' months.
Here's a look around at the races with roughly 30 games left in the season:
Toronto leads New York by 1.5 games.
Kansas City leads Minnesota by 13 games.
Houston leads Texas by 4 games.
The New York Mets lead Washington by 6.5 games.
St. Louis leads Pittsburgh by 5 games.
Los Angeles leads San Francisco by 4.5
Also know that only twice in the divisional era has a team leading by 6.5-or-more games on Sept. 1 not gone on to win the division. It happened in 1978 when Boston collapsed (sorry Spy) and in 1995 when Seattle passed California (Anaheim, whatever).
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This and that
- If you are looking for an early Halloween costume, there's been some sightings of going as Caitlyn Jenner. Sorry Jomo, we don't believe they have that outfit in Tennessee orange.
Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) runs up field as Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Peria Jerry (94) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, in Atlanta.- All things being equal, we love the draft. You know this. We have misfired greatly on the NFL production of two former SEC running backs. One was Darren McFadden, but a lot of that has been injuries. The other has been Trent Richardson, who according to this report will be released by Oakland in this round of cuts. To be fair, Raiders fan and 5-at-10 regular FE to the C said this a while back, and in this report a name form the past - one Michael Dyer - that FE shared is one of the prime beneficiaries to this move.
- This is painful. It's the 16 guys who have starts at quarterback in the 16 years Daniel Snyder has owned the Washington Redskins. Ouch-standing.
- Shelby Miller's run of bad luck is staggering. Simply staggering. Can anyone think of a more lengthy run of misfortune despite quality efforts? Miller has gone 19 starts without a win - 19 starts since middle of May - and his ERA is 2.56. Here's his line from Monday night: Seven innings, six hits, no walks and one earned run. Yep, he left the game down 1-0 and took the loss.
- Sad state of affairs at East Ridge, where the football stadium has been condemned.
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Today's question(s)
We have three free-thought items today.
Former Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer, shown here during his final season with the Volunteers in 2008, is excited about the potential of this year's team but has his concerns.Phillip Fulmer turns 65 today. So there's that. And yes, this is a fair time to wonder if UT would be in a better or worse place today if the whole debacle of 2008 had not happened.
Second, Idris Elba will be the first black James Bond. He will always be Stringer Bell from "The Wire" to us.
Finally, in the same general idea of the UTC "We think" rally above, let's play Tuesday Thoughts.
We certainly will know more this time next week.
So what do you think today?
Thoughts?