Frumpzilla

Now that the first of a new decade of newly formated NCAA tournament fields has been set, Frump figured it’s as good a time as any to examine the best of the previous decade.

Some of you may recall Frumpzilla’s Top 25 College Football Programs of the Decade – it was a pretty big hit for us.

This undertaking, while in a similar vein, isn’t necessarily intended as a definitive ranking of select college basketball programs from ‘00/’01 – ‘09/’10. We basically just thought it would be interesting to see how college basketball programs would stack up when plotting out each’s NCAA Tournament performance over the course of a decade.

More than anything, we wanted this to be fun. If nothing else, you might learn a thing or two about NCAA Tournament history from 2000 through 2010 – at least quantitatively — so make the jump to see how the NCAA Tournament of the 2000′s plays out…

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Ahhh. It seems like only yesterday that Frumpzilla was busy writing its first ever UNC-Duke themed post. 2 1/2 years (and several unplanned, unannounced sabbaticals) later, do you think those Blue Devils over in Durham would pass up an opportunity to stick it to their powder blue nemeses? Of course not!

I’d heard about the Dukies starting the above chant during their win over Colgate, but — thanks to Fromthebarn.org — the above clip is the first chance I’ve had to actually see it. If only Friday’s loss to Minnesota had ended the Heels’ weekend woes.

Saturday saw things go from bad to worse in Chapel Hill as Carolina dropped a heartbreaker to bitter rival N.C. State. Fortunately, this particular game was played with that pesky oblong ball so many UNC faithful seem to find passion for at only the most opportune times. No big deal. After all, at least the 8th ranked basketball team was there to redeem an otherwise pitiful 72-hour stretch by beating Vanderbilt on Sunday, right?

Wrong. On the heels of all-world Freshman Harrison Barnes now going 4 of 24 from the floor in his last two games, the Commodores topped Carolina 72-65 Sunday night in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The trip home from San Juan will surely be a long one for Roy’s boys, but hosting UNC-Asheville on Tuesday should help restore some semblance of hope on the Hill prior to the Heels’ next encounter with that oblong ball — Duke, in Durham, on Saturday.

Ironically, something tells me there won’t be much — if any — video evidence of a classic fan rivalry sourced from that encounter.

As our dozens of loyal readers are well aware, whenever Zach Galifianakis happens to release a new Between Two Ferns, Frumpzilla is more than happy to spread the love.  With that in mind, I guess it’s only fair that we also document instances in which  Mr. Galifianakis is placed between the proverbial ferns himself.

Gordon Keith – a Dallas/Fort Worth sports radio, television, and print media personality (yeah, he’s at least a triple threat) – dishes it out here, in what Zach likely assumed would simply be another in a long line of lame, cookie-cutter, local media spots he’d encounter while promoting It’s Kind of a Funny Story. 

Bravo, “Great Gordo,” for livening things up a bit.

Thanks to DBJ for the link (via WFAA.com)

I didn’t catch the ECU vs. Southern Miss game down in Hattiesburg last weekend, but I did happen to catch a bit of the box score when I was doing the research for our latest Riveting Realities post.  It was, well, intriguing, to say the least.

At first glance one simply sees a nice road win for the Pirates. 44-43 at Southern Miss – while perhaps not remarkable in and of itself – is pretty sweet for a program that had only won 9 of 35 games in the series’ history.  What is remarkable, however, is a second glance – specifically at the team stats columns.

ECU rushed 24 times for 33 yards? Only completed 50% of its passes for 305 yards, getting picked off 3 times in the process?  Lost a fumble as well? Forced zero Southern Miss turnovers, and lost the time of possession battle by a whopping 15 minutes? 

I mean, just how in the hell did they manage to win this game – let alone score 44 points along the way?

Well, scenes like those seen after the jump probably had something to do with it…

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Don’t you get tired of talking heads, print journalists, and anyone that just happened to have learned some HTML over a holiday weekend a few years ago (ahem, Ciaran) ramming their college football analysis down your throats on a weekly basis? Sure, we all do.

Wouldn’t it be nice if someone just compiled some allegedly intriguing facts about an upcoming match-up, and then let YOU decide what to make of them? Well, here’s an opportunity to find out — or just gather some tidbits to throw out for discussion at your Saturday morning tailgate — after the jump…

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Don’t you get tired of talking heads, print journalists, and anyone that just happened to have learned some HTML over a holiday weekend a few years ago (ahem, Ciaran) ramming their college football analysis down your throats on a weekly basis? Sure, we all do.

Wouldn’t it be nice if someone just compiled some allegedly intriguing facts about an upcoming match-up, and then let YOU decide what to make of them? Well, here’s an opportunity to find out — or just gather some tidbits to throw out for discussion at your Saturday morning tailgate — after the jump…

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Better late than never for today’s Frump Day links.  As usual, spreading the Hump Day love, one link at a time…

• It’s never too early to throw back a White Russian.  Even at age 2. (Brahsome)
• How’s Dat Pack looking at the end of Spring (Dave from Carter-Finley)
• Bobby Cox?  Pffft.  It’s “Bobby Cocks.” (No Guts, No Glory)
• Looking for a solid, comprehensive World Cup Group D preview?  Look no further. (Sparty and Friends)
• Statefans told you so.  No, really.  They did.  They told you about Lee Fowler. (Statefansnation)
• It’s Cinco de Mayo, for Christ’s sake. Don’t blow up the beer! (Tasty Booze)
• This one is completely random…25 ridiculous pinatas. (Holy Taco)
• If you think the Bulls are the last team John Calipari will be enjoying a summer fling with, you’re probably wrong.  (The Big Lead)
• Jamarcus Russell may or may not be a binge eater.  May or may not explain a lot.  (Larry Brown Sports)
• Should Nebraska join the Big 10?  Hey, everyone else is, right? (The Scores Report)

For the past ten years, one man has has reigned over NC State athletics. This man, at times, has been both myth and legend. One thing he has not been is effective. This man is @Lee_Folwer. Today, Folwer steps down from his post and moves on to the next step in his life. Not before sitting down with us in the Frumpzilla offices(read: the internet).

You’ve all enjoyed his quips and thoughts on Twitter, however we are both excited and saddened to bring you his final interview ever. It wasn’t cheap (who needs profit anyways?), but at least we are now familiar with the ins-and-outs of wiring money to the Cayman Islands. After the Frump is the entire transcript of @Lee_Folwer’s last interview.

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Frumpzilla spreading the Hump Day love, one link at a time…

The Lions’ Zach Follet doing a little preseason shopping…for his opponents. (Busted Coverage)

Just when you thought Shannon Elizabeth had become as irrelevant as Tim Toone. (Holy Taco)

A growing issue in the world of sports: Premature celebration. It’s more common than you think. No, really. It is. (No Guts, No Glory)

Brewers’ catcher Greg Zaun doing his best Carl Lewis impression. (Sharapova’s Thigh)

Former Redskin, Mississippi State Bulldog, Fred Smoot is bringing the GingerHead Man’s favorite fine dining establishment, Waffle House, to Washington D.C. (Sparty And Friends)

Would you swap Lady Gaga tickets for a chance to see your favorite NBA team in the playoffs? (Sports By Brooks)

Pre-Preseason Hoops Power Rankings. (Statefansnation)

Leave it to MLS to supply you with the worst blown chance in soccer history? Sure (we’re actually big MLS fans, but ya got to play to the masses, right?). (Tasty Booze)

Two for one special! Dez Bryant’s mom isn’t a hooker (anymore), and JaMarcus Russell’s girth is about to cost him a seat on the Raiders’ team bus. And roster. (The Big Lead)

Even more on why everyone’s favorite AD, Lee Fowler, should get the axe. (Yet Another N.C. State Sports Blog)

Why go to the gym to check out chicks when you can do it from the comfort of your own home? (Total Pro Sports)

What a beautiful day and an excellent excuse to tailgate.  As opposed to years past, both sides of Carter-Finley were open and about 20-25k Pack fans showed up…both sides of the lower levels were close to being full.  Additionally, about 300 former players were on hand for the annual reunion, including Bill Cowher, Jerricho Cotchery, Torry Holt and Mario Williams.  Before I get into the on-field observations, I want to mention the efforts made by the current and former players to engage the fans.  For example, I watched Mario Williams come down into the section I was sitting in and slowly make his way across all of the sections, walking parallel to the field…obviously something he did on purpose.  He took the time to sign every autograph and take every picture he could.  As an alum and a fan, I really appreciated that.

Now, onto the game itself…Frump it for my “expert” opinions.

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Guess what, Frumpsters: N.C. State University’s refreshable Braille display could revolutionize reading for the blind. Isn’t that wonderful?!? I’m no tech guru, or I’d tell you all about it myself. Instead, I’ll just point you to Engadget’s story about this promising advancement prior to getting to the real point of this post.

See, as you may recall, Frump’s kinda had it out for NCSU Athletic Director Lee Fowler for some time now. Naturally we thought our sentiment was somewhat isolated to Raleigh and the general heart of the Wolfpack’s fan base, but, after reading the last couple lines of Engadget’s piece on keeping the blind from leading the blind, we now know things may or may not have gone national:

We’re told that the researchers have already presented their findings, and if all goes well, they’ll have a fully functioning prototype “within a year.” Here’s hoping a suitable replacement to Lee Fowler is also unearthed during the same window.

I guess this means Engadget will now be added to Lee Folwer’s ever growing list of “media enemies.”

Credit The Admiral with the link, Ringo with the lovely shoop…

Just what we need, more “U” fans… (No Guts, No Glory)

A comprehensive look at U.S. Soccer’s injury woes leading up to the World Cup (Rumors and Rants)

Is Tiger really any worse than Ali? (Sports by Brooks)

ADP and LT2 in the same backfield?  It’s a possibility (NFL News & Rumors)

Shay “Ave” Maria has something(s) to show you (Holy Taco)

Michael Jordan is soliciting landscaping advice? (Busted Coverage)

Is Robert DeNiro taking on the role of Vince Lombardi a good thing (Tirico Suave)

An interesting look at the “myth” of the regular season conference championship (Yet Another N.C. State Sports Blog)

A grouchy Oscars recap (Prose & Cons)

Leighton Meester shows off her thighs (Sharapova’s Thigh)

Ah, yes.  Frump day.  A time to give a little something back.  Spread the love, Frumpsters.  Spread it think and thin…

F*ck you, March! (Prose & Cons)

Lane Kiffin just knows the Vols were heading for glory. (No Guts, No Glory)

Kiffin also likes to keep it in the family. (Buster Sports)

Hasheem Thabeet.  He’s…he’s not very good. (Bootlegger Sports)

A nice Bucket List for fans of N.C. State football. (Dave from Carter-Finley)

Elmo teaches you how to sneeze (Sharapova’s Thigh)

It’s Bubble Batty time leading up to March Madness (The Big Lead)

Frumpzilla’s answer to the Israel-Palestine conflict: Let Sivan Krispin handle the negotiations (Holy Taco)

Statefansnation’s exclusive interview with the one and only Lee_Folwer (Statefansnation)

Oh, and again…f*ck you, March! (Prose & Cons)