80's Halloween Flashback

- I'll never grow out of enjoying the Charlie Brown Halloween special...you know, "The Great Pumpkin"...but whatever happened to the Garfield special? Those two used to come on tv back to back every year. I'd wait 364 days to see Garfield and Odie dress like pirates and paddle that little boat to the creepy island...Those were the days!

- At least 90% of kids watched Stephen King's "IT" when it originally aired as a mini series...89% of us were totally freaked out by it...70% never trusted clowns again...and 30% are still in therapy today.

- I LOVE the horror films of the 80's...but have you ever noticed how slowly most of the killers move, yet they always catch their victims? I've never understood why the poor fool being chased by Jason didn't just pick a direction and keep running like hell.

- Killer Klowns From Outer Space was a true classic...and ridiculous in every way...but I've still managed to avoid circus tents for most of my life...I also catch myself checking cotton candy for bodies...

- Does anyone remember the Highway to Heaven episode in which Michael Landon turned into a werewolf on Halloween? Very cool...If he could have done that on the prairie, poor little Laura would have most certainly wet herself.

- The Monster Squad was awesome...one of those movies that made you want to round up some buddies for an adventure...I ran across the dvd at Walmart earlier this year and was so overcome with excitement that I almost pulled a "Laura Ingalls" myself.

What happens at LSU, stays at LSU...

Todd's Rant on SEC Officiating

- I want to have an SEC team playing for the national title every year...However, it's very discouraging to see the SEC officials paving the way for their undefeated teams. I know the league would love to see #1 and #2 in the country play for the conference title, but the refs shouldn't play a part in guaranteeing that.

- A replay official has one job during a game: Look at the video evidence. Study the different angles. Make the correct call....Dan Dembinski, the replay official for the Florida-MSU game, had access to the same video and still shots that were shown on ESPN....The still photo tells the story, in this particular case...If this isn't enough evidence to overturn a bad call, then what is the point of having a replay review in the first place?

- Here's an idea that was being discussed on my favorite message board...Why not put cameras on the goal line for every game? This would solve the problem of questionable replay angles.

- Mississippi State also fell victim to the replay official in the Houston game...Not surprisingly, it was a an SEC guy in the booth.

- Look at the blocked field goal at the end of the Alabama-Tennessee game...A player clearly removed his helmet before the play was over, which is supposed to be an automatic penalty. Guess what? No penalty against Alabama. Wiith the officials so eager to call those non existent celebration penalties this season, how could they pass up a chance to call a LEGITIMATE penalty?

- I don't like Lane Kiffin the least bit, but I find truth and humor in one thing he said about Saturday's game. When asked why he didn't run one more play before lining up for the field goal, Kiffin responded that he didn't want to give the refs a chance to throw a flag and back his team up.

- While listening to The Sports Drive, I learned that Tennessee was the second LEAST penalized team in the country going into the Alabama game...When the dust settled on this one, the Vols had nine penalties. Bama had one...It's very hard to play an entire game with only one penalty, especially when you're as physical and aggressive as the Tide.

- Don't confuse any of my remarks as a rant against Alabama. While I dislike Saban and his program, I was actually pulling for them to remain unbeaten. I want MSU to have another shot at knocking off a top team when Bama comes to Starkville...Whether the Dawgs win or lose, I always welcome the opportunity to make headlines.

- I fully support Dan Mullen, Bobby Petrino and any other coach who speaks out against these ridiculous calls and sticks up for their players.

- Do you think it's a coincidence that the worst calls this year have all benefited the highly ranked teams?

- SEC Commissioner Mike Slive is a pitiful excuse for authority.

Totally shameless, I agree...but do we really care?

SEC Predictions for Week 8

Florida VS Mississippi State

This is a huge game for my Bulldogs...The #1 team in the nation comes to Starkvegas for a big ESPN televised game...Coach Mullen goes against his old team and his old quarterback...Cowbells will be clangin'....The atmosphere will be electric...The Gators haven't won in Starkville since 1986...Call me crazy, but I almost feel an upset in the air...I don't want to jinx it, though, so I'm picking with my brain instead of my heart...I really hope this is wrong.....Gators 35 - Dawgs 24

Ole Messy VS Arkansas

The Rebs showed out against UAB, but have yet to impress against a decent opponent...The Hogs nearly knocked off Florida last week and had a close loss to Georgia earlier in the year...Take away the Alabama game and the Razorbacks have been in the thick of every battle so far...They are also getting better with time.....Arkansas 30 - Rebs 27

Tennessee VS Alabama

I see this one going down as a defensive struggle...Although Monte Kiffin is a master of that side of the ball, I believe Alabama will be too physical in the end...If defense wins games, then the Tide will roll.....Bama 20 - Tenn 13

Auburn VS LSU

Just when I started to believe Auburn was the "real deal", they drop two in a row...LSU is still overrated, in my opinion, but I see no way in hades that the Tigers from the plains go into Baton Rouge and beat the Bayou Bengals...although I think it will be pretty close.....LSU 28 - Auburn 20

Vanderbilt VS South Carolina

Poor Vandy...Injuries and suspensions have the Commodores looking like ...well...Vandy again...Spurrier has the Gamecocks playing pretty well right now. Even though Bobby Johnson's defense may keep his team in this game early on, I see Carolina running away with this one.....SC 35 - Dores 13

Kentucky VS Louisiana Monroe

The Wildcats are a hard team to figure out..Everybody had written them off, until their win over Auburn last week. Now it appears that they may be decent after all...Like I've said many times, though, Rich Brooks is a coach that usually over achieves...ULM should provide his cats with an easy non conference win, which is critical if they want to go bowling.....Kentucky 38 - ULM 14

Todd's Costume Suggestions for Halloween '09

- Mississppi State coach Dan Mullen should go as the Pope...because what he's done with the MSU offense has truely been a blessing.

- Mississippi State defensive coordinator Carl Torbush should leave his socks off and go as Joe Lee Dunn...Bulldog fans would enjoy a flashback to the dominant defenses of the late 90's.

- Mississippi State offensive coordinator Les Koening should go as Woody McCorvey...What could be more frightening than that?

- Anthony Dixon should go as a workhorse...because he is one.

- Lane Kiffin should go as a jackass...because he is one.

- Jevan Snead should go as Tim Tebow...then rebel fans will finally have the Heisman winner they've been talking about for the last 25 years.

- Tim Tebow can go as whatever the hell he wants...he's Tim Tebow.

- Lou Holtz should put on a straight jacket and go as a crazy old man...oops, too late...I guess Halloween came early for Dr. Lou.

- The entire Ohio State football team should go as the SEC team of their choice...then they'll know how it feels to wear big boy britches for once.

- The entire Notre Dame football team should go as a Big 10 team...then at least they'll know what it feels like to be in a conference...plus, the Buckeyes would have another cream puff on their schedule.

- Les Miles should go as a polaroid picture...then maybe his mediocre coaching abilities would be exposed...Get it? EXPOSED...Moving right along...

- Nick Saban should embrace the nickname and go as Nick Satan...although, I'd hate to give the devil a bad name.

- Ed Orgeron should just go sober...He scares enough children as it is. We don't need him ripping his shirt off and yelling "Wild Boys" once the alcohol hits.

- Steve Spurrier should put on some blue and orange as go as the "real" ball coach.

- Houston Nutt should go...as a nut...literally...Almond or pecan, it's his choice.

- Tommy Tuberville should flap his ears and go to the moon...but the man can coach!

- Phillip Fulmer should wear his old Tennessee gear and go as "The Great Pumpkin".

- John Madden should go as Brett Favre's torso...then he will be the best torso in the NFL...If you don't get this joke, call the Sports Drive and ask to hear the sound bytes!

- Sports Drive host and former MSU quarterback Matt Wyatt should go as...himself...We know the backup QB is always the fan favorite...Who would wanna give that up for a day?

- "Hotty Toddy" Scotty Spencer should simply go as Scotty Spencer...With this final piece of the puzzle in place, the Sports Drive could then go national.

- Brad Locke, MSU beat writer for the Daily Journal, should wear his hat crooked and go as Sylvester Croom...I could always just feel the love between these two...

- Kyle Veazey, MSU beat writer for the Clarion Ledger, should go back to Oxford...and stay there.

- Tyson Lee's girlfriend should go as a football...then maybe Tyson would finally hold on to it all day.

- I should go as Col. Reb...then Tyson could beat me with a cowbell for making that last comment...and we'd have some great new material for the jumbotron...I love ya Tyson!

SEC Week 7 Predictions

Mississippi State 34- Middle Tennessee State 20

Old Mess 31 - UAB 13

Georgia 24 - Vanderbilt 10

Auburn 35 - Kentucky 20

Florida 41 - Arkansas 28

Alabama 21 - South Carolina 10

Todd's Random Mid-Season Thoughts on Mississippi State Football

- Mullen has done wonders with the offense in a short perioid of time...He's making the best with what he has and we are moving the ball better than we have in years.

- A year ago, we scored 183 points in 12 games...So far this season, we've put up 165 in six games...That's impressive, if you ask me.

- The problem is, Mullen can't hold on to the ball for his players...Turnovers kill.

- We have an awesome group of young players, both on the field and on the sidelines...This is the first time in a looong time I can say "wait till next year" and honestly believe it.

- I'm not sold on Carl Torbush as the Defensive Coordinator...People like to say that there's a reason Tyson Lee was a walk on QB...Well, there's probably a reason Torbush had fallen way down the coaching ladder before coming to MSU, also.

- Tyson Lee makes a lot of mistakes...I still love the guy, though. As I've said before, Tyson can't change his height and he doesn't pencil in his name at the top of depth chart. He just gives it 100% when he's called upon and he has a huge heart. He takes a beating and keeps on coming.

- I think Tyson shouldn't be so hesitant to run the ball...He does very well on the designed QB runs, but he doesn't want to take off and run under pressure. I feel he's left a lot of yards on the field because of this.

- I'm partial to Chad Bumphis, being a Tupelo boy, but I'm telling ya...Chad is going to be THE MAN in Starkville the next few years.

- Keeping the redshirt on Tyler Russell is the right decision...I trust Mullen when it comes to quarterbacks. He watches practice every day and I believe he would have played Russell by now if he truely thought he was ready to make a difference.

- Once this season has passed, and we turn toward spring drills, we'll all be glad that we have Tyler Russell for a full four years...Russell, Bumphis, Heavens, Chris Smith, Montrell Connor and so many others have me excited in a big way.

- I'm very glad we have Leon Berry.

- If we are able to land juco transfer Cameron Newton at quarterback, to go along with Russell and Relf (assuming he returns), we'll probably have the biggest one year turnaround at that position in the history of our program.

- We can't win many games with no pass defense, pure and simple...When a team starts slinging the ball against us, our best hope for a stop is a turnover...That's a bad feeling.

- Our special teams has been a big bright spot...There was much made of Mullen taking control of this unit, much like Urban Meyer does at Florida, and now I realize what the buzz was about.

- There are some great seniors on this team, who I wish could be around for another year to be a part of what I feel is going to be something special.

- Jamar Chaney is one of them....Outstanding player and an all around good guy.

- Anthony Dixon is a monster at running back...I have a feeling it's a struggle for him to stay on the straight and narrow, but he has true potential at the next level if he keeps his head straight.

- We are 2-4...not good...We could possibly have been 5-1 at this point, if you look through those maroon colored glasses...But in all honesty, we should be at 4-2...That is both discouraging and encouraging...Before the season started, 2-4 at this point seemed on par...but losing to LSU by four inches and then throwing away three chances to score on Houston in the red zone is hard to swallow.

- Now I'll watch some more games, probably have a few drinks and try to convince myself that Mississippi State football isn't everything in life...By mid-week, I'll start thinking "You know, we really should beat MTSU this weekend"...and then, IF we win...I'll find myself thinking "Hmmm, you know Florida hasn't won a game in Starkville in nearly 20 years...."

Ohhh man, it's just an ongoing cycle!

Todd's Week 5 Score Predictions

Mississippi State 27 - Georgia Tech 24

Old Mess 20 - Vanderbilt 13

Alabama 30 - Kentucky 10

Georgia 30 - LSU 27

South Carolina 38 - S.C. State 6

Arkansas 28 - Texas A&M 27

Auburn 23 - Tennessee 16

Tulsa 37 - Rice 17