5 Ways to Get The Lowest Mortgage Interest Rate You Can Online
Everyone loves a bargain and getting a lower mortgage interest rate can save you a substantial amount of money over the life of your loan. There are several ways to go about ensuring that you pay the least amount of interest when you take out a home mortgage.
Be aware of your credit score.
Good credit is the key to not only getting a mortgage, but to getting the best interest rates available. Mortgage lenders like to reward borrowers that pay off their bills in a timely manner. Chances are if you have been faithful with your other payments, you will be faithful to pay them back, so they can afford to take a risk on you and offer a lower interest rate.
Close any existing credit card accounts that you no longer use.
If you have several credit card accounts, they can affect the interest rate on your mortgage, even if they have a zero balance. Lenders see open accounts as potential for debt, which adds a risk of them not getting their money back. To balance this risk, they will often charge you a slightly higher interest rate.
Lock in interest rates before you close.
Once you have agreed on a low interest rate, ask the lender to lock in that rate. Rates can fluctuate drastically in the time it takes for you to get your mortgage and that could mean paying a totally different interest rate than what was originally quoted.
Make the biggest down payment you can afford.
Putting a down payment from your savings on your house, lowers the amount you plan to finance, lowering the interest you will pay over the life of your loan.
Shop Around.
You don’t have to work with the first lender that you approach. With the vast amount of online mortgage brokers, it is easy to compare offers and pick the company that offers you the lowest interest rate. Don’t be afraid to tell brokers that you are shopping around, or ask them if they can match the interest rates of a competitors quote.
Carrie Reeder is the owner of http://www.abcloanguide.com. View her recommended sources for a low interest mortgage loan.
View her list of recommended lenders for low interest rate mortgage loans online. Also, view her recommended sources for a credit report instantly online.
Steve Merril’s NBA Fullcourt Report (Thursday, Feb 23)
A big name was traded on Wednesday when the Orlando Magic sent guard Steve Francis to the New York Knicks for Anfernee Hardaway and Trevor Ariza. It was one of many high profile trades over the past month in the NBA. Perhaps the biggest trade of the season occurred in late January when the Indiana Pacers sent Ron Artest to Sacramento for Peja Stojakovic. This trade has worked wonders for both clubs as the Pacers are on a current 6-1 SU (7-0 ATS) run and the Kings are 7-3 SU (8-1-1 ATS) over their past ten games.
Both Indiana and Sacramento travel tonight to face division rivals in the Pistons and Lakers. Below is a look at each of these national TV games on TNT for Thursday night.
INDIANA at DETROIT (-8 , 178) (TNT)
The Pacers enter this game off an excellent seven game home stand where they went 6-1 SU and a perfect 7-0 ATS with their only loss coming versus the defending World Champion San Antonio Spurs. The current 6-1 SU run follows a 0-6 SU losing streak at the end of January.
Indiana has accomplished their current winning streak without their best player as Jermaine O’Neal remains out with a groin injury. O’Neal is expected to miss at least another month and leads the team in scoring (20.9 ppg), rebounding (9.8 rpg), and blocks (2.2 bpg). Indiana has also been without forward Austin Croshere (8.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg) for the past seven games as he is day-to-day with a concussion. Point guard Jamaal Tinsley (10.4 ppg, 4.9 apg) has missed the past eight games due to an elbow injury.
Despite the absence of three regulars, the Pacers continue to win and are coming off an impressive 97-75 home victory over New Orleans as a 6 -point favorite on Tuesday night. The biggest difference has been the acquisition of former Sacramento forward Peja Stojakovic. The Pacers are 6-2 SU (7-0-1 ATS) since he joined the lineup on January 31st. Overall, Stojakovic is second on the team in scoring (18.6 ppg) and rebounding 7.3 rpg) and has helped fill the void created by Jermaine O’Neal’s absence.
The Pistons are 43-9 SU this season and they have an extremely strong home court where they stand 24-2 SU, however the oddsmakers often inflate the pointspread and Detroit is only 13-12-1 ATS in those twenty-six home games. Detroit has the most talented starting lineup in the league with four players making the All-Star team.
Detroit is coming off a 97-87 home win over Atlanta on Tuesday and they are playing with revenge tonight from a 93-85 road loss at Indiana on February 4th. The Pistons were a 7-point road favorite in that game and outshot the Pacers 43-39 percent from the field, but were out rebounded 64-49, including a 25-12 disadvantage on the offensive boards.
SACRAMENTO at L.A. LAKERS (-2, 199) (TNT)
The Sacramento Kings started 0-2 SU/ATS when Ron Artest joined the lineup on January 27th, but the Kings have since gone 7-3 SU (8-1-1 ATS) over their past ten games. Artest is currently second the team in scoring (17.5 ppg), third is assists (3.7 apg), and leads the club in steals (2.8 spg).
Sacramento has become a better defensive squad with Artest and the Kings have held seven of their past nine opponents to 42 percent shooting or lower. Sacramento has also allowed 89 points or less in six of those nine games.
The Kings continue to play without guard/forward Bonzi Wells who has missed the past eight games due to a groin injury. Wells is doubtful tonight and he is tied for the lead in rebounding (7.9 rpg), second on the team in steals (1.8 spg), and fourth on the team in scoring (14.6 ppg) and assists (3.1 apg).
Sacramento might also be without forward Kenny Thomas who was injured in Tuesday’s 102-77 home win versus Golden State. Thomas is questionable tonight due to an eye injury and he averages 26 minutes per game this season and is third on the team in rebounding (6.9 rpg) and seventh in scoring (9.2 ppg). Thomas had been playing increased minutes during Bonzi Well’s absence and Thomas had averaged 11.8 rebounds over the past five games.
The Lakers returned from the All-Star Break with an impressive 99-82 home win over Portland on Tuesday as the Laker’s Lamar Odom’s had one of his best performances of the season with 20 points and 17 rebounds. The Lakers have not won back-to-back games since January 16th and are just 6-9 SU (4-9-2 ATS) during that span.
This is a revenge game for the Lakers who lost 118-109 in overtime at Sacramento on January 19th as a 3-point road favorite. Kobe Bryant had 51 points in that game and was a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line. Lamar Odom had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Kings were led by Mike Bibby’s 40 points and a triple-double by Kenny Thomas who had 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
STEVE MERRIL is a professional sports handicapper and a documented member of The Professional Handicappers League. Get his Premium plays here.
Steve Merril is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Steve_Merril.htm
How to Rid that Lawn of Thatch!
You know that brown patchy debris in a lawn that accumulates on
top of the soil but below the grass line? That’s thatch.
Thatch consist of grass clippings, grass stems, roots, and other
debris that either decomposes or accumulates on a lawn over time.
A few reasons thatch can occur are
1) A lawn has never been aerated
2) Cutting high grass frequently and leaving the clippings on a
lawn.
Thatch is not always a bad thing as it can hold moisture to
protect the lawn from extreme heat and lack of water.
Questions to be asked before removing thatch(dethatching)
1) Is there enough thatch on the lawn to justify dethatching?
2) If so, what process should I use to dethatch the lawn?
Lawn business owners and homeowners need to measure the amount of thatch in a lawn to determine if dethatching needs to be done. I prefer to take a pencil and stick it in the thatch until it touches the ground.Mark the pencil with your fingernail where the thatch comes up to.
After doing this a few times you will be able to eye it and know
whether or not to dethatch. The first couple of times you can
measure with a ruler.
As a guide, anything over 1/2 inch should be dethatched as this
prevents adequete nutrients, air, and water from reaching the
soil. Excessive thatch can also encourage pests and lawn
diseases.
Dethatching can be done in 3 ways depending on the size of the
lawn and the amount of thatch accumulated.
1) Aeration- For lawns that have less than an inch of thatch.
This is done with an aerator. Always use an aerator that pulls
plugs from the ground as opposed to the ones that poke holes.
2) Rake the lawn manually- using a leaf rake, garden rake, or
thatching rake. Raking is fine for small to medium size lawns
with thatch less than 1 inch. Raking does take some time, but
less stressful on the lawn than a Power Rake.
3) Power Rake- Also called a Power Dethatcher. Use this when
there is more than 1 inch of thatch on the lawn. Power Rakes are
a stout piece of equipment that uses an engine like a lawn mower
to drive vertical blades or tines to cut the surface of the soil.
These blades or tines can be adjusted to certain depths.
You can rent either a power rake or an aerator from Home Depot or
another equipment rental store in your area.
If you decide to dethatch using a power rake mow the lawn to
about half of its regular mowing height.
The blades of the power rake should be adjusted to cut about 1/2
inch into the soil to remove thatch. Always go over the yard
twice and change direction of your paths. For example, (long ways
and short ways) or (diagonal one way and diagonal the other way).
After dethatching, rake up all the debris and thatch.
If you would like to fertilize or reseed the lawn, this is a good
time as roots are exposed.
Water when you are finished dethatching.
Since some power dethatching can make a yard look bad, remember
to dethatch when a lawn can recover the best such as right before
the prime growing seasons. Different types of grasses have best
and worst times to dethatch because the growing seasons vary.
Having a healthy lawn can can definitely improve the look of the landscape and the curb appeal.
If you need any questions answered, please ask them at
http://www.LawnForum.com so the other members can benefit.
I’m here to help!
Kevin Whiteside is the owner and editor of LawnForum.com Monthly,
an online newsletter for lawn and landscape professionals.
Get a FREE subscription here LawnForum@aweber.com
He is also the author of “Turn High Grass Into Cold Cash- How to
Start the Ultimate Lawn Service” http://www.grasstocash.com/adtrackz/go.php?c=areathatch
Extreme Botany And The Glory of the Carnation
Flowers can (and often do) make up a fascinating and beautiful aspect of our environment, both outdoors and indoors. Besides the dazzling (if not bewildering) assortment of different kinds of flowers available to spruce up your office or garden, some studies seem to suggest they even improve your health and mental outlook. In the hopes that you might receive some benefit or enjoyment from learning about them, I have done a bit of research online (and plenty of editing) to introduce my to you a favorite flower of mine. So here it is, in all its floral glory — the Carnation. It’s a wild thing.
The Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus), say “die-AN-thus cari-OFF-ill-us” — is a flowering plant native to the Near East and has been cultivated for the last 2,000 years. So it might well have been familiar to Jesus and the apostles, though we do not know this for certain. Its original natural color was pinkish, but later, ancient botanical types developed red, white, yellow and green varieties.
Some scholars think the name “carnation” comes from “coronation” or “corone” (which were crowns made of flowers, called “garlands”), as the Greeks wove them into ceremonial crowns. Others think the name stems from the Latin “carnis” (flesh), which names the original color of the flower. Early Christians treated this flower as a symbol of the affection God has for his people — or that affection the saints are to show one another — consummately put on display in “The Incarnation,” meaning that God’s great love for His Church resulted in the Incarnation, The Word of God made flesh in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, the glorious King of kings.
For the most part, carnations express love, fascination, and distinction. Light red carnations represent admiration, while dark red ones signify deep love and affection. White carnations indicate pure love; striped symbolize a regret that a love cannot be shared. Purple carnations indicate capriciousness, while Pink carnations have the most symbolic and historical significance.
What are called “perpetual-flowering” carnations — more commonly dubbed “florist” carnations — are the kind florists most often grow commercially (in greenhouses), and so these bloom year-around. You can also grow them outdoors in milder climates. Some varieties of florist carnations grow to a height of 4 feet. Their fragrant blossoms are often 3 inches wide in an assortment of colors including scarlet, white, pink, crimson, red, orange, purple, yellow, and many-splendored colors.
These carnations are widely used in floral arrangements for weddings, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, January birthdays, funerals, and a host of other occasions. As with border carnations, their flowers are long-lasting and can be easily preserved for dried flower arrangements. Some spectacular varieties of florist carnations are:
The Pink Calypso — Double flowers having lovely clear pink petals
The Dianthus Pierrot — Double flowers with pale rosy lavender blossoms edged with purple
The Dianthus Astor — Double flowers of deep scarlet and very fragrant
The Dianthus Nina — Double flowers with smooth-edged petals of crimson
On February 3, 1904, the Ohio General Assembly passed a joint resolution naming the scarlet carnation the official state flower. Fifty-five years later, on April 8, 1959, the Ohio Legislature named Alliance, Ohio the “Carnation City,” for truly it is the home of Ohio’s State flower. Another honor was bestowed on the pink carnation when it was officially chosen as the emblem of Mother’s Day in 1907. Carnations have also long been representative of the month of January, symbolizing “new beginnings,” which is just what mothers, weddings and the month of January have in common.
I tend to favor the last two listed, D. Astor and D. Nina, together with white carnations, for which I have given the suggested Bible verses as:
Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
AND 2 Corinthains 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Carson Day has written some 1.3 gazillion articles and essays with insightful, if alternative, viewpoints. He writes on all manner of topics, studied the history of ideas in college, and still wonders, “What box?” He remains at large despite the best efforts of the civil authorities.
To see his completely unauthorized blogsites, go to: http://ophirgold.blogspot.com (The Omniblog) or http://extremeprofit.blogspot.com (Carson’s Day Trading Outpost)
Making Your Time Turn A Profit
The common saying that time is money is true. Wasting time in what can be considered meaningful tasks can be a waste of money. For example, as a small business owner you spend time and energy surfing the net to learn the latest marketing ploys. If you have calls to return or product delivery to complete, then surfing the net is time unwisely spent. Learning and incorporating those skills that assist the owner in accomplishing more within a set period is an essential management tool.
Time management tools or systems are essential for the smooth operation of the business as well as the health of its employees.
In order to learn time management skills, it is important for the individual to take a few moments to reflect on some key questions. Ask which system helps the owner recall key information, visual, audio, or kinesthetic? Some people need to write information down while others can hear it once. Others like to use their hands, like inputting data in a computer or palm pilot. Knowing how one cues oneself is key to which time management strategy to use. A colleague diligently recorded all data in a memo book. Despite his efforts, he still needed a verbal reminder. He was an auditory learner who switched to using his cell phone to remind him of key appointments and calls. Time management approaches are not a one size fits all. Find your style and then modify it to fit your needs.
The following strategies are probably best suited for those who rely on visual reminders. These are suggestions intended for the reader to adapt to meet his or her needs.
* Keep a daily log that outlines all tasks, due date, pertinent information. Keep the design simple so that it is clear for all reading it what needs to be done, by when, and for whom. Office supply stores sell these products ready made, but often those made by the owner or time manager serves as well.
* Use a basic color code to highlight the different tasks. Rush jobs due that day can be highlighted in a bright pink. Those long-term projects that require work completed that day can be in green or blue. The idea is that all staff should be able to determine at a glance that Order #12 needs to be delivered by 3pm so that energy is focused on the task.
* Post your task sheet where all staff can view it. Post it by the clock or coffee machine. For those who are reminded best by saying it aloud, point out what needs to be done that day and who should be doing it. Assign staff to work on various projects unless all energies are needed to make a deadline.
* At the end of the day, mark off what has been completed.
This is a relatively low cost approach to time management. By bringing the staff together, the owner clarifies what needs to be done and assigns a priority. This approach also strengthens the owner’s time management skills.
There are a number of time management strategies available on websites. Some offer free assessments for viewers. Provided you are not facing a deadline, owners should invest a few moments to investigate these sites.
David Gass is President of Business Credit Services, Inc. His company publishes a weekly e-newsletter on Small Business Consulting at their web site http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com You can sign up for their free newsletter by visiting http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com
Cell Phone Reviews - Why Do Them?
Well let’s be honest some people just don’t bother doing cell phone reviews, and why should they? Well let’s keep things simple, would you just walk into a car showroom and drive away within 5 minutes, not many would unless you have done your homework first. Cell phones can be complex, you need to know what you what before you jump and buy, and then there are the cell phone carriers, who to choose from. A little research goes along way. The cell phones today are far different than when first introduced onto the market. We now have GPS phones, camera phone, PDA phones and phones with Bluetooth technologies. Bluetooth, when it first came out I thought it was a fashion icon to dye your teeth. You have to be aware of what you are buying in order to maximise the usage.
What are you using the phone for?
Simple question like what is the phone for, need to be answered. Do you need the cell phone for business, general call or fun (camera phones). What cell phone manufacturer do you prefer, or do you even know of any? Well here are a few to keep your mind open: Samsung, Motorola, Nokia, Motorola, NEC, Oki, Sony Ericsson, Philips, JRC and Mitsubishi to name but a few. Well let’s put things into perfective, all the major cell phone manufacturers claim to better than the other, word off month from friends and family will give you an honest opinion or maybe you have used a previous cell phone from one of these manufacturers. Everybody has a key use for the cellular phone, do you need to take photos? If so the camera phone is really the only option, if you need quality photos you need to check if the camera phone has a zoom in and out option and what the pixel rate is. Do you want a flip screen cell phone or standard display?
Business users may benefit more from the PDA phones. PDA are ideal as they are compared to as a mini PC. The specifications can be looked as that to a computer and it is the ideal phone for working from home or hotel rooms if you travel. The GPS phones are great for the more sporty among us such as climbers or adventurers. Global positioning satellite will allow you be traced if lost or in difficulty, great for those travelling to remote regions.
By researching a little you get a whole new perspective on cell phones and manufacturers. The market leaders in cell phone manufacturing are the ones who bring out the newest technology, keep your eyes on the web to see bulletins and news flashes in the communication business world. Cell phones have come down in price with the increased competition and the ever growing demand by the general public but they still need careful consideration.
Cost Saving:
If you are reluctant to get another monthly bill into the household you can opt for the prepaid cell phones. Prepaid cellular phones are very popular and a great way to manage your finances. There is no monthly bill, it’s simply pay as you go. You get credit for your phone from your local store or simply call a number given to you by the cell phone carrier and top up with a credit card. Remember prepaid cell phones are more expensive per minute to operate than a bill phone.
Trade in your old phone
Most people are aware but some are not, if you already have a bill phone and are looking to get a new one ask in your store about a trade in or upgrade, most cell phones carriers offer upgrades as an incentive to stay connected to their network. Do not simply go and pick one of the shelf and pay for it without mentioning the possibility of an upgrade.
Cell phone accessories to go with the phone:
Many of us like to spice things up a little with our phones by changing the cell phone face plate and so on. Not all cell phones allow this to happen so check before you buy or you could be in for a disappointment.
Phones that work internationally:
Do not take it for granted that the phone you buy works internationally if you want to travel. Most cell phone manufacturers have models available to do so but you need to ask about their range of tri band or quad band cell phones.
About the Author
Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of
Prepaid Phone Plans which includes
Cell prepaid plans,
Carriers,
and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your phone interests and needs.
Use a Big Dildo for a Great Orgasm with your Lady
Some gents have a hard time keeping a hard on and some chicks have awfully long sex drives, meaning it will take the chick an awfully long time to come. Because of this difference in sex drives, sexual intercourse may turn into an annoying and unsatisfying sexual session. That’s why huge dildos will probably be helpful. If the gent shoots early in the love making session, or even if the chick just takes longer than her lover, he can continue to penetrate the girl with the small dildo. That way all sexual play does not end. It gives the man substantial time to recharge his energy and also helps the woman happy. And so when the male is set up to come back into the sexual session, the gal will still be aroused enough to accept the boy.
Your most stimulation area is your mind. And as far as innumerable women won’t admit this, the penis is a symbol of power, no matter how big or tiny, it is still associated with fertility. Penetrating your lady with a huge dildo will often make a fantasy of power play reality. If you like lube you should try it with your favourite Sex Toys.
Some females savour the sensation of feeling full in their vagina or bottom. Whenever a sexy toy such as a thin dildo, penetrates the vagina or back passage, the muscles contract around it. Loads of females notice the tightening of the above muscles to be powerfully enjoyable.
Light Fixtures Need Attention Too!
Light fixtures are a detail that should not be overlooked. If you are decorating a new home or redecorating your current home, you should pay special attention to the types of light fixtures you choose because they play a large part in the personality of the room.
Light fixtures can basically be divided into two types. There is general lighting and accent lighting. General lighting is exactly what it sounds like. It provides the main source of light for an area or room. Accent lighting is used for more specific purposes, such as a picture light to highlight a work of art, wall sconces to illuminate a hall, or a simple reading lamp to brighten a dark corner.
General Lighting
For your general lighting you should look carefully at what the room will be used for. In a kitchen, you will want bright lighting overhead so that you will be able to see while you are pureeing, chopping, and slicing. There are many more options today than there used to be and fluorescent light fixtures can be a great solution for the kitchen. It’s bright and energy efficient and now comes in not only the traditional long tubes with the stark lighting found in offices and stores, but in warmer colors and compact shapes to mimic incandescent bulbs.
In the dining room, traditional choices for light fixtures usually involve chandeliers or something similar. On the market today are great ceiling fan lighting options as well as amazingly creative track lighting that can spread the light around and give the room a warm glow.
Track lighting is also a popular light fixture choice in bathrooms. Placed over the mirror, these light fixtures give even light across the space.
Bedrooms often have overhead lights and/or ceiling fans. For kid’s rooms, there are many fixtures in fun colors and styles to suit their personality and the theme of the room. Light fixtures in the Master bedroom will tend to be more subdued.
Common areas such as the living room, family room, or den do well with lighting that is adjustable or that has a dimming feature. This way you can have low light for activities like watching T.V. or relaxing, or a brighter light for reading or doing work with your hands like sewing. You can even get a wall dimmer switch for these light fixtures.
Accent Lighting
This type of lighting is sometimes an afterthought for homeowners. As they see a need, they add a light. When you find the perfect spot for the rocker or recliner where you plan to read the newspaper or a favorite novel, you can choose light fixtures that fit in that spot. It should not be too bright, but it should be focused on the area you will need it most.
Picture lighting can be accomplished with overhead, side or underneath lighting. Lighting that clips to the frame used to be a popular choice but types of light fixtures can actually damage the picture with heat. You should also take care to choose bulbs that do not produce UV rays as these are also damaging to paintings or photographs.
Another place you might want to consider accent lighting is in the kitchen, such as over the sink, the stove or the cutting board This way, if you are limiting your activity to one area of the kitchen, you can have focused light where you need it.
The lighting you choose for your home is just as important as the paint color, the carpeting, or any other feature. It highlights all of the features you want to bring out, and it can shadow those you want to minimize.
Margarette Tustle writes for home and family. Visit Light Fixtures to find resources plus more information about lighting, mood and your home.
What is the Emperor Wearing - A Book Summary
What is the Emperor Wearing?
Once upon a time, an emperor who loved clothes was
approached by two con men who made him an offer he
couldn’t refuse. They promised to weave him a special
cloth that would be invisible to anyone that is stupid or
unworthy of their position. As the work proceeded, the
emperor sent high-ranking officials to inspect the cloth.
While these officials saw only air where the cloth was
supposedly being made, they reported that the work was
proceeding well for fear of being considered stupid or
unworthy of their rank. Finally the emperor and his
entourage came to inspect the cloth. None could see it,
but all, also fearing to be known as stupid, proclaimed
its magnificence. The con men pretended to cut and sew
while everyone supported the deception. When the emperor
wore clothes made from the “fabric,” the crowd likewise
pretended to see clothes. A small child, viewing the
naked emperor, announced to all that could hear: “the
emperor has no clothes!”
This book provides valuable stories similar to the one
told above. These are stories of ordinary individuals in
the workplace who are striving to steer a course between
deception and damaging confrontation by developing
truth-telling skills.
By: Regine P. Azurin and Yvette Pantilla
Regine Azurin is the President of BusinessSummaries.com, a
company that provides business book summaries of the latest
bestsellers for busy executives and entrepreneurs.
http://www.bizsum.com
“A Lot Of Great Books….Too Little Time To Read”
Free Book Summaries Of Latest Bestsellers for Busy
Executives and Entrepreneurs
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(c) Copyright 2001- 2005, BusinessSummaries.com - Wisdom In A Nutshell
Spurrier Vs. Fulmer (2005 Edition)
Tennessee head coach Phil Fulmer’s worst nightmare is back, and in case the hefty leader of the Vols hasn’t cared to notice, you can’t blame him. After all the hoopla and fanfare of the former leader Florida Gators football program’s arrival in South Carolina, somehow Steve Spurrier has hovered beneath the SEC radar.
His first coming out part was Southeastern Conference Media Day, an event Fulmer decided to make this year. A year ago, he decided to skip out, to avoid a legal circus and subpoena involving a former Alabama assistant coach who claimed Fulmer was in cahoots to bring down the Tide football program. An NCAA investigation led to the school being placed on probation for five years in 2002.
Alabama got a slight measure of revenge by defeating Fulmer’s Vols 6-3 on a late field goal, now his squad heads back to Knoxville to face another old nemesis affectionally known as “the ol’ ball coach”. Spurrier left a Florida Gator program that would defeat Tennessee on a yearly basis during the time current NFL MVP Peyton Manning was calling the plays.
Currently, Bill Bellichick New England Patriots are the squad Manning can’t seem to solve, almost a decade ago it was Spurrier’s boys that dealt the blow to his Heisman and National Championship hopes. It wasn’t until Manning left Tennessee as the #1 pick in the NFL Draft, Tee Martin got Tennessee over the hump and past Florida and another Sunshine state team, Florida State, for Fulmer’s lone NCAA Title.
This Saturday at Neyland Stadium, there are no Peyton Manning’s, or even Danny Wuerffel’s behind center for these squads, and the luster seems to just not be there as of yet. But, if you’re an avid SEC football junkie, seeing these two coaches opposing each other has to get you at least a little excited. Spurrier and his Gator club used to taunt Tennessee all week leading up to kickoff, and walk off the field afterwards still talking trash
His new Gamecock club is still in it’s infant stages of building a winning tradition, so the verbal jabs probably aren’t coming. But, man just wait, once Spurrier gets the players in place, you’ll hear the mouth of the man with the visor. Better jump on Spurrier now, he’ll be back to running up the score on over-matched opponents soon enough.
Don’t look for the fans in Knoxville to show Spurrier any mercy, he will be greeted with a chorus of boos when he leads his squad out of the tunnel. Tennessee must win, or they fall out of the top 25 and their post season outlook gets very cloudy. A win by South Carolina would instantly launch them into bowl eligibility and into “legit” conference status.
South Carolina comes into this match-up as two touchdown underdogs, but with a huge mental edge. Both teams have lost their running backs for the season, Gerald Riggs for the Vols and Syvelle Newton for the Gamecocks. Spurrier, the master at making average quarterbacks look like stars, has a young sophomore in Blake Mitchell that could be the next on that list.
John O’Nan is a freelance sports journalist who currently writes for http://www.realfootball365.com and contributes for http://www.onlineplayersunion.com
to reach this author, feel free to drop him an email at nay7201@mail.com
He is also currently seeking other freelance and steady, fulltime gigs. Feel free to do a google search of his other work to see if he can help boost your website or publication.