MAGA Rolls With Tide!

Breitbart News Politics reporter Kyle Morris has a great tweet!

When President Trump was received a chorus of boos at the World Series game in Washington DC, it was non-stop on the National News.

But when he received thunderous applause at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL while attending the LSU at Alabama college football game, there was hardly a word spoke.

It does not fit the narrative which is used to support the agenda promoted via propaganda by the mainstream media. But, the audience for the college football game on television dwarfed the World Series game.

But what else does this tell us? American Thinker takes a look:
What the University of Alabama’s football stadiums tells us about Trump’s popularity.

It was great to see Trump enjoying the latest installment of "The Game of Century."  It was quite a game, won by Louisiana State.

America got to see it is indeed MAGA country in Sweet Home Alabama. Roll Tide Roll!

Something Doing

Something is indeed doing in Tallahassee.

It has to do with the arrival of Willie Taggart as the new head football coach at Florida State University.

Taggart came to Florida State after a year at Oregon, after having left a successful rebuild at South Florida in Tampa. Oregon would have been a wonderful spot for Taggart to settle in at, but in the aftermath of the unusual departure of Jimbo Fisher, Florida State came calling, offering Taggart an opportunity to come back to Florida and lead the team he grew up cheering for; The Florida State Seminoles.

Taggart, a native of the Sunshine States Gulf Coast, jumped at the chance.

Fisher's departure from FSU ruffled a lot of feathers, and his legacy will no doubt be tarnished.

In the later years of the tenure of Bobby Bowden, Fisher added to his offensive coordinator spot the position of head coach in waiting, set to take over the program when Bowden hung it up. Coach Bowden was seemingly pushed out earlier than he had hoped; however, it was obvious that due to age of the staff, or whatever, expectations were no longer being met and it was time to bring Fisher on.

Make no mistake.  Bobby Bowden was among the finest football coaches the game of football has seen, at any level. Florida State University rose to prominence, not only in athletics, but as a University, primarily due to him. As good as a coach he was, Bowden is even a better man,and continues to be Florida State's top ambassador.

Immediately, Florida State had superior success on the field and in recruiting once Fisher took over, with in interjection of youth and enthusiasm. Fisher directed FSU to winning it's third National Championship, in 2013,and the Seminoles sat among the nations elite.

While fans celebrated with appreciation, there was some worrisome aspects, as Fisher's name always turned up in post season coaching searches, most with some fire behind the smoke.

An unfortunate personal situation arose for Fisher, as he went through a devastating divorce, not considered to be of his doing per public reports.  Never the less, this took a significant toll on Fisher no doubt.

So if Fisher wanted to make a change, while the Seminoles would hate to lose him, it was certainly understandable and we could all part ways wishing each other the best.

But the season fell apart after FSU not only lost to Alabama in the opener, but also lost starting quarterback Deondre Francois. Loses piled up, and finger pointing increased, with players openly questioning the leadership. As the season concluded with a bowl game in question, the Seminoles did rise up for an easy and satisfying win at Florida, but Fisher snaked around, appearing to know he would eventually be off to Texas A&M. Recruiting appeared to stop, and damage was being done.

Fisher did agree to bolt to A&M, but wanted to finish it our with FSU. Not a chance. He was essentially forced to resign, thankfully. Fisher could have departed in a much more amicable fashion, but did not take that route, and as such, his Seminole legacy will take a beating; appropriately so in our view.

Enter Taggart. Taggart, a life long FSU fan, wants to be in Tallahassee as head coach of Seminoles. Since his arrival, he has done all the right things, inclusive of openly embracing the former players and considering them part of the program he is implementing moving forward. Hooray!

All across the campus, folks have appreciated Taggart's approach. Throughout the state the Seminole faithful has jumped on the Taggart train with enthusiasm. Players on the team are embracing the new environment, and the recruiting trail has heated back up again, in a big way.

It seems unusual to think of FSU without Fisher, but given the events as they unfolded, it appears this change is for the better.  An in the aftermath of losing Fisher, it was apparent to us Willie Taggart would be the best option FSU take in hiring a new football coach. Since his hiring, Taggart has been very impressive in every move and gesture.

Taggart closes his tweet out with #DoSomething. Something doing is going on at FSU. Taggart feels right at home leading the Seminoles, all is good, and we cannot wait to kick the season off with Taggart and his Gulf Coast offense!

See You Later Mr.College Football!

While on my way to the Diamond Resorts International Celebrity Golf tournament, I got a text. I knew what is was about, and if was the first of many.

It said "We lost him."

Mr. College Football, the legendary Keith Jackson, had passed away late Friday.

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Jackson was a member of the inaugural Hall of BAHL class in 2011, where I wrote the following:

"By far, college football is my favorite sport. I rarely missed televised games as a child, and calling the play by play describing the color and pageantry of NCAA College Football was ABC's Keith Jackson. 

Mr. College Football, Jackson had a unique way of bringing the game to viewers who watched from couches across the fruited plain. Jackson respected and promoted the traditions, coaches and players and rivalries which make the game special. 

Terms of endearment to the game such as "Whoa Nelly", "The Big Uglies" and "Fumble" will never be forgotten, nor will Jackson. Keith Jackson, a big man at 6'4 275, is a bigger man in the annuals of America's greatest game, NCAA College Football."

I had the opportunity meet Keith Jackson at a "Legend's Luncheon" held when Florida State played Notre Dame in Orlando in 1994. It was an honor to meet Jackson, who was larger than life in many ways.

Like so many expressed who have commented via social media since his passing on Friday, Jackson meant so much to those of us who grew up cherishing the color and pageantry of those autumn Saturday afternoons, where with all due respect to Alabama's university slogan, where legends were made.

Keith Jackson was often imitated across the college football landscape, with many a "fumble" uttered from Jacksonville to Omaha, but few were as beloved at our Keith Jackson.

Alabama coach Bear Bryant and ABC's Keith Jackson

The Color & Pageantry Top 25

The Color & Pageantry

College Football

2015 Final Top 25

1.       Alabama, 14-1, 2
2.       Clemson, 14-1, 1
3.       Stanford, 12-2, 5
4.       Ohio State, 12-1, 7
5.       Oklahoma, 11-2, 3
6.       Texas Christian, 11-2, 11
7.       Michigan State, 12-2, 4
8.       Houston, 13-1, 16
9.       Baylor, 10-3, 17
10.     Ole Miss, 10-3, 14
11.     Notre Dame, 10-3, 8

12.     Michigan, 10-3, 19

13.     Florida State, 10-3, 9
14.     North Carolina, 11-3, 10
15.     Louisiana State, 9-3, 20
16.     Iowa, 12-2, 6
17.     Wisconsin, 10-3, 21
18.     Utah, 10-3, 23
19.     Oklahoma State, 10-3, 12
20.     Oregon, 9-4, 13
21.     Navy, 11-2, 25
22.     Florida, 10-4, 17
23.     Tennessee, 9-4, NR
24.     Georgia, 10-3 NR
25.     Northwestern, 10-3, 15

OUT: Southern Cal (22) and Texas A&M (24)

VOTES: Mississippi State, Southern Cal, Washington State, Temple, Arkansas, Western Kentucky, Louisville, Texas A&M, San Diego State, Boise State, West Virginia, Duke, Brigham Young, Auburn, Memphis and Georgia Southern.

Bob Davie deserves credit for bringing New Mexico bowling, and the Lobos battled Rich Rod's Arizona Wildcats to the end, falling 45-37 in the Gildan New Mexico Bow to kick off the expanded bowl season....Many on the east coast may not know, but Utah and Brigham Young are heated rivals, but the stadium was rendered speechless after Utah, with the help of a host of turnovers, ran out to a 35-0 first quarter lead; however, BYU never gave up and made it respectable by games end, losing 35-28 in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl....Appalachian State came back to top Frank Solich and his Ohio Bobcats, kicking a field goal as time expired to win 31-29 in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.... In the AutoNation Cure Bowl, a new game in beautiful downtown Orlando, San Jose State defeated Georgia State 27-16....At the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Louisiana Tech defeated Arkansas State 47-28...The Miami Beach Bowl was very entertaining a year ago, and was once again as Western Kentucky, behind the strong arm of Brandon Doughty, beat South Florida 45-35....Terry Bowden got Akron their first bowl win in defeating Utah State 23-21 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl...Toledo, perhaps feeling something to prove, dismantled what most felt was a stout Temple defense in defeating the Owls 32-17 in the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl....In the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, Boise State bombed Northern Illinois 55-7, and it could have been worse...Georgia Southern, who almost beat both Florida and Georgia, losing to the Dawgs in OT, destroyed a decent Bowling Green squad 58-27 to get school's first bowl win in the GoDaddy Bowl. GSU quarterback Favian Upshaw made many thing of Tommie Frazier as the backup quarterback ran for 199 yards and four touchdowns in a mind boggling performance...Western Michigan upended Middle Tennessee 45-31 in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl....San Diego State pounded Tommy Tuberville's Cincinnati Bearcats 42-7 in surprising fashion in the Hawaii Bowl...Marshall got the best of defensive minded Connecticut in the St. Petersburg Bowl 16-10...In a snowstorm, Washington State capped a decent season in defeating the Miami Hurricanes 20-14 in the Hyundai Sun Bowl on CBS....Out in Dallas at the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl, Washington defeated Southern Miss 44-31....In a thriller in the Bronx at the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Duke defeated Indiana 44-41 in OT...Virginia Tech sent Frank Beamer out a winner in stopping Tulsa, who was operating on all cylinders offensively, 55-52...Nebraska finally went to the ground game and won the lines of scrimmage in dumping UCLA 37-29 at the Foster Farms Bowl...At the Military Bowl presented by Northrup Grumman, Navy outscored Pittsburgh behind quarterback Keenan Reynolds.....In the Quick Land Bowl in Detroit, Minnesota got by Central Michigan 21-14...In the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Air Force was unable to corral Jared Goff and the Cal Golden Bears, falling 55-36...Baylor, using a third team quarterback in wideout John Jefferson, and without All America wideout Casey Coleman and running back Shock Linwood, Baylor ran wild from the get go on North Carolina, roughing up the Heels 49-28 in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando.  Baylor broke the record for most total yards and most team rushing yards in a bowl game, previously held by Nebraska in rather stunning fashion....Nevada dumped Colorado State in teh NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl...After the debacle in almost firing coach Les Miles, LSU got after Texas Tech in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl and beat Texas Tech 56-27 behind top flite running back Leonard Fournette....Auburn found a defense and throttled Paxton Lynch and the Memphis Tiger 31-10 in the Birmingham Bowl....Behind QB Dak Prescott, Mississippi State jumped all over NC State 51-38 in the Belk Bowl...Freshman QB Lamar Jackson, who was emerging throughout the year, came up big as Louisville upended Texas A&M in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl....Wisconsin held the talented USC Trojans in check en route to a rather surprising 23-21 in the National Funding Holiday Bowl.....Florida State was outplayed and outcoached by a Houston team that came to win in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on New Years Eve at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta.....Tennessee set the expectations high for 2016 in thumping Northwestern 45-6 in the Outback Bowl....Essentially playing a road game in front of a partisan Gator crowd, Michigan pummeled Florida 41-7 in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl in beautiful downtown Orlando....Ohio State got clicking and defeated Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl 44-28, with it appearing the Irish, who lost All America linebacker Jaylon Smith in the first quarter, finally had their back broken on the injury front.  Even if healthy, Ohio State showcased what may have been and appear poised to lose a truckload of players to the NFL......Stanford, behind a brilliant performance by Christian McCaffrey, destroyed Iowa 45-16 in the picturesque Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual.....Ole Miss demonstrated their strengths in overwhelming Okie State 48-20 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.....Georgia raced out front and then held on to dump Penn State 24-17 in the TaxSlayer Bowl on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville. Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove his #88 TaxSlayer Chevrolet out to midfield to participate in the coin toss....Arkansas, behind RB Alex Collins, ran by Kansas State 45-23 in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl....In a top notch bowl game, down 31-0 to Oregon behind the stellar quarterbacking play of Vernon Adams, Texas Christian mounted a comeback for the ages and got to overtime, then defeated Oregon 47-41 in 3OT's.  Great game....In another wild contest few on the east coast saw, West Virginia outlasted Arizona State 43-42, making just one more big play the Sun Devils.

Due to the inability to fill all the bowl games with teams with winning records, three teams with losing records (5-7) were issued bowl invitations based upon academic success.  The three teams were Nebraska, Minnesota and San Jose State.  Each team, as you may imagine, won their bowl game.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

In the Capital One Orange Bowl, the Clemson Tigers outscored Oklahoma 21-0 in the second half to dominate the Sooners and place the Tigers in position to win their first National Championship since defeating Nebraska in the 1981 Orange Bowl. Deshaun Watson was stellar, both with his arm and legs in dazzling the Sooners, who were favored.  Clemson also turned in a top notch defensive effort against QB Baker Mayfield and the high flying Sooner offense.  Clemson is IN.

Later, in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Alabama trounced Michigan State, dominating the Spartans 38-0. Although Alabama looked in control, the game was still in question with Bama leading 17-0 when Cyrus Jones returned a punt to give the Tide a 24-0 lead.  Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry took over from there, for which the Spartans had no answer.  Alabama owned the line of scrimmage, and got a great performance from QB Jake Coker. It was a bloodbath, and Alabama is IN.

North Dakota State pummeled top seeded Jacksonville State to win their fifth straight FCS National Championship, which is remarkable and worth the admiration it deserves.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Congratulations to the Alabama Crimson Tide, the 2015 College Football National Champions! Alabama scored 24 fourth quarter points, and needed them all, to outlast Clemson 45-40 to win the National Title.

Most everyone is well aware of the storied football history of Alabama, but this is their fourth title in the last seven seasons.  This feat is unmatched in the modern era, and has eclipsed Nebraska, who went 60-4 in winning three titles in four seasons in the mid 1990's.

Nick Saban has squarely placed himself among the very best in the annuals of college football coaching, as he now has five national championships, having won one at LSU before coming to Alabama after two mediocre seasons with the Miami Dolphins.  Saban perhaps coached his best game on this evening, with an uncharacteristic trick play in an onside kick that appeared to turn the fortunes toward the Crimson Tide.  OC Lane Kiffin should also be recognized, for he is well on the way of atoning for failures as the head man at top jobs in both the NFL and college and will find himself with another opportunity sooner than later.

Alabama made the big plays, repeatedly, to win the ball game, on a night full of big plays.

Bama got out early, with Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry bolting 50 yards for the first score. However, Henry would not be story for Alabama on this night.  It would others, most notably tight end O. J. Howard.  Gridiron watchers in south, along with the NFL scouts, have known about Howard for years, but he has never been asked to play a significant role and never accumulated statistics that would place him contention for honors.  Hell, he had not caught a touchdown pass since 2013.  Howard hauled in five catches for 208 yards and 2 touchdowns, finding himself wide open time after time.  QB Jake Coker, who played a very smart game, found Howard and that connection seemed too much for Clemson.  Coker also, while avoiding a sack, found ArDarius Stewart for a big sideline grab.

But the big play that finally did Clemson in was a fourth quarter 95 yard kickoff return by Kenyon Drake.

Alabama's Kenyon Drake find paydirt with 95 YRD KO RET TD
Photo/USAToday

Alabama played well on defense, not withstanding the score, but had trouble matching up with Clemson quarterback DeShaun Watson and his big play making ability.

Top ranked Clemson, 6.5 point underdogs, came to win and has can hold their head high. The Tigers came very close to winning, making a bunch of big plays themselves. Quarterback Deshaun Watson, The Color & Pageantry 2015 All American quarterback, played a brilliant game and served notice on the nation he is among the nations best.

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson
Photo/SI.com

Watson was 30/47 for 405 yards with four touchdowns, and ran 20 times for 73 yards as well.  Watson did throw an interception, where Watson fired an attempt to hit a receiver on a wheel route but Bama safety Eddie Jackson fell back to pick it off.  Had Jackson  not made the play, Clemson would likely have been up 21-7.

Watson and Clemson got performances by Wayne Gallman and a host of receivers to keep the pressure on Alabama.  In addition, defensively, most of the evening, Clemson played very well.

Defensively, the Tiger held up strong in the trenches, with DE Kevin Dodd and DE Shaq Lawson, making several sacks and tackles for loss.  CB Marquise Alexander made some plays early, but was lost to injury by the end of the first periord, and his loss withour question hurt the Tigers.

Clemson got screwed by poor officiating at the end of the first half, losing the opportunity for a play and a time out.  After the officials failed to get it right, Clemson had a field goal partially blocked and lost momentum going to the break.

It was a very enjoyable game, exploding with drama in the fourth quarter. Instead of this Monday Night tilt, the game should have been played the preceding Friday Night, as it was an early morning on the east coast for those of us fortunate enough to be employed.

Bama made the most big plays, and Clemson had failures on two special team plays, the onside kick and kick return touchdown, that told the tale of this game.

Congratulations to Dabo Swinney  and Clemson on a big year and congratulations,once again, to the 2015 National Champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide!  RTR!

Henry A Heisman Hit

Derrick Henry/Alabama
Photo/ABC7News

The Color & Pageantry extends our congratulations to Alabama running back Derrick Henry for winning the 2015 Heisman Memorial Trophy.

Henry becomes only the second player from the storied history of Alabama Crimson Tide football to win the famed trophy (Mark Ingram 2009), perhaps the most significant individual honor in all of sport.

For the record, our Heisman ballot, if we had one (and we don't) would have read as follows:

1.   Christian McCaffrey, Stanford,
2.   Dalvin Cook, Florida State
3.   Derrick Henry, Alabama

Henry, however, is certainly well deserving of the award.  A long standing record of former Georgia star (and Hesiman winner) Herschel Walker of most rushing yards in a season in the Southeastern Conference was broken this fall by Henry.

Henry literally carried Alabama offensively, and in large measure because of the performance of Henry this fall, Alabama is a participant in the College Football Playoff with a chance to bring home yet another National Championship.

Henry, from the north Florida town of Yulee, certainly made his opportunity in the spotlight shine.  In offering testimony, Henry stated the following words of wisdom:

“I just want to talk to the kids that are looking and watching this TV today,” Henry said. “I just want to give you all advice. I am hoping I am someone you can idolize yourself behind and look up to because God is everything. Always keep God first. Always pray. Don’t be afraid to pray. He always hears your cry. If you have dreams, go chase them. If you believe it, you can achieve it. And God will be there every step of the way. I am a living testament, man. Growing up, having this dream, I am so nervous. I never thought I would be up here. But God is good. And I get on my knees every night and thank him for everything. So keep God first. Always pray. And always chase your dream.” 

Congratulations again to Alabama's Derrick Henry, the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner!