This semester I’m discovering how much I enjoy reading the newspaper, which is convenient, because the TU campus is chock full of free Collegians, USA Todays, and New York Timeses. It’s harder, but possible, to find the Tulsa World too, my favorite for the sports section.

Enjoyed the linked article proposing seven new(ish) conferences to participate in a 16-team NCAA FB playoff. I especially liked the suggestion for the Southwest conference (schools’ current conferences notes in parentheses):

• Arkansas (SEC)
• Baylor (Big 12)
• Houston
• Southern Methodist
• Missouri
• Texas
• Texas A&M
• Texas Tech
• TCU
• Tulsa

You know that the real reason I like it is because Tulsa got included. But also, it makes good geographic sense (call it the Texas and Friends conference) and contains a good balance of talent—it’s got some powerhouses, some programs whose fortunes are highly variable, and some schools whose success is mostly recent. And the rivalries! Preserving UT/A&M, restoring Horns/Hogs, establishing Mizzou/Arkansas, and giving some good private schools (Tulsa, Baylor, TCU, and SMU) the chance to form or firm up good blood feuds. Yes please.

I’m all for it. Who do I call to make it happen? 

This is one of the best-received articles I’ve written for The Collegian, and it was easy and fun to write. Read away!

Map of the USA by NFL teams. Posted mostly for Ben and Tim, with whom I’ve had multiple discussion about the geography of pro football fandom.

By John Lepine

46. Final Crisis (finished 31 Oct. Yes, another graphic novel, part of the Crisis series that has popped up a lot on my list this semester. Thank Ben Zuerlein for that. No really, thanks, Ben. I’ve enjoyed these comics a lot.) 

47. The Cotton Patch Version of Luke and Acts by Clarence Jordan (finished 20 Nov. Part of a really refreshing translation of the New Testament. Used to read the Cotton Patch for laughs, but this semester I read it as my morning devotional.)

48. Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality by Wesley Hill (finished 26 Nov. Started reading this after Thanksgiving dinner and didn’t go to bed until I had finished it. Humble, honest, heart-wrenching, hopeful.)

49. The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis (finished 8 Dec. Very well written look at the changing nature of football strategy and its effects on Left Tackles, and in particular a Memphis-born phenom named Michael Oher.)