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Show DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 4, 2012 FB SEASON continued from Page 10 Candace: "Really, Jake, another pitcher of beer?" Me: "Sweetheart, it's only halftime." Candace: "Let's go for a run." Me: "Can we skip it? There's going to be a game on soon." Candace: "It's Tuesday." Me: "I need to get ready for Thursday, and running will derail those efforts." Bless Candace and other companions of football fans for listening to this blather. If I used those excuses for anything in June, I'd call myself an idiot. But from September through December, they all make perfect sense to me. I've been brainwashed not only by Oregon's offense and Alabama's defense but by college football as a whole. I've used the "Relax, it's college football season" excuse to legitimize watching some awful games. I normally don't have Lit'l Smokies and Coors with my breakfast pancakes, but wait, Wyoming A&M and Southeast Oregon State are playing, so it would be detrimental to me if I ate anything healthier than standard tailgating fare. College football isn't just an excuse for doing bad things — it makes you do bad things. Consider this weekend. I told friends on Thursday, Friday and Saturday that I was going to go hiking up Butler Creek to try to spot some moose. Prime moose-spotting occurs in the early mornings and evenings — that's two chances a day. I could have gone Friday, Saturday or Sunday, but I never did. Why? That damn college football, that's why. My alarm would sound at 5:3o a.m. — well before any football preview shows even come on. Plenty of time for me to go hang out with moose up on Butler Creek. But wait, I'd tell myself each morning. There's a pre-pregame show coming on in just three hours. What if I'm not back in time? So, as you can imagine, I would lethargically amble to the kitchen and fry whatever variety of sausage I could find in my freezer. What, you're judging me? Relax, it's college football season. j.bullinger@ chronicle.utah.edu 13 FAMILY continued from Page 11 In addition to seeing her first action on the collegiate level, Luke is also adjusting to new surroundings, as she transferred from Wake Forest University during the offseason. She continually praises her team not only for their efforts on the field, but for being there for her as she makes the transition to a new place. "I felt like I was part of the team from day one," Luke said. "There is no divide in grades or in experience. Everyone just supports each other." In the second game of the season against Southern Utah, the family-like bond of the players manifested itself in another way. After going I into halftime tied at zero, Manning decided to make a tactical adjustment by taking out a defender and putting in an extra midfielder. The team had never practiced the scheme before, but it didn't miss a beat as it scored four goals in what turned out to be a blowout victory. "I attribute [the success] to the hard work, girls stepping up and being willing to play different positions and different formations," said junior midfielder Allie Wisner, a captain of the team. "Players are stepping up big, both young and old. We are working really hard and any adversity [that comes], we are just facing it head on." The team's bond goes beyond just the time spent on the field. The women know how to have fun together, which turned out to be crucial to keeping the morale up on their just-completed road trip. "I just love it — it's the best," Luke said. "When it comes down to game time we can get serious, but right before [that] we have a dance party." As conference play nears, the team's bond will be tested as the level of competition will increase. For now, the bond is so good that even Manning isn't afraid to joke around a little bit. "My job is just not to screw it up," he said with a laugh. "I'm trying really hard to screw it up, but they won't let me." Manning might joke, but the Utes are rolling, even if he is trying to screw things up. m.ellis@ chronicle.utah.edu University MEDIA SALES GROUP limy THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH Tm 9 8 3 6 3 5 4 2 • U Ic- 8 U RACE STOMP VOCA ANAL KENYA IMON HARVEYDENT CESA TCELL SAINTNIC WORSHIP OAR NI AMA ITINA DOCEN GI T NOISILY CHI KENS RAT H ONDOLA EHU SCHEME SERIF UN OE PAL ENLARG R IN ADING DUNNO INRED COLLI ION MOYER I AAC MUT SPIKE TEMPT ETO U 9 L 6 7 4 5 8 3 1 www.popculturecomics.com I- 2 ANSWER TO TODAY'S PUZZLE 4 7 9 3 Pe Doug Bratton 2006 "Bring Your Cat to Work Day" ended up costing the Disney Company millions. University FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 4 CAMPUS BRANCHES • FREE GtFT I WITH NEW ACC®U NT 1=1 Sign up now Deals for food, entertainment and everything else for students, faculty and staff at the University of Utah. Go to www.UtahCampusDeals.com and sign up today to get $10 in Deal Bucks! Tell us where you want deals from - email ads@utah.edu |