Please skip to the ingredients to the drink title to avoid a longer than usual whining session. 

I find it hard to be snarky or funny when the team is 13-0 and a TD favorite in a playoff game.

As John U. Bacon likes to say, “A Michigan fan is only happy when s/he is unhappy.”

I refuse to complain about the recruiting class,  OSU  or media disrespect, wide receiver usage or the favorite of my social media feeds; Klatt and Gus Johnson, ESPN, or Fox  hate Michigan!

I’m writing this as I’m watching Air Force and Baylor in a bowl game I’m not even going to name, because it doesn’t matter.  I generally love the clash of styles bowl games can provide.  As a former teacher, I would have these days off, and “just go ooh another Bowl game to ingest?  Please and thank you!”

I hope I will love college football forever but the changes as they are coming can possibly for a toxic stew.  Individually, I’m in favor of all of them:

NIL: Hell yes players should be compensated for their time and talents

Transfer Portal:  Players should be able to change schools without penalty especially when there’s a coaching change

Playoffs: 4 teams playoff is too small, should be more.

Conference expansion: USC and UCLA delivering better games and more money to the Big Ten, Sign me up.

                 If one gets through...

Bourbon, Pimm’s, Chamboard and gin are all good when on their own or mixed in the proper amounts, but in combination, they would be an unholy mix of sludge.

NIL and the transfer portal are fine, but in combination many teams are tampering with stars of power 5 programs as they are poached by a higher profile or deeper pocketed program.  Imagine being NC State and losing a multi-year starting QB to Kentucky.  Or having a QB who finished 10th in the Heisman voting as a freshman and have two other schools come with 5 million dollar offers, he’s not even in the portal. 

Most fanbases rejoiced when the CFP is finally going thus fixing the self sustaining problem of the same 5 teams dominating the CFP, thus dominating recruiting, thus CFP. 

But wait, I thought NIL was making recruiting more balanced? Why do we need to expand the playoffs?

        And how is OSU in?  

I truly worry about playoff expansion, every game with a top 10 team is a chance for an upset and thus garners interest from me.  I don’t think I’m digging to find a SEC network game for Missouri vs. Georgia when the game is close at halftime when UGA is getting in anyway.  Nor am I actively rooting against Bama, because in the end it doesn’t matter, they are getting in.  I’m not swearing at my cable provider, because I can’t watch Utah-USC and finding my digital antenna to set up in the basement.  I’m proud to say all these things happened this year. 

Or if I am Media provider executive, are 17 million going to watch Michigan- Ohio State when it’s just for a bye in a playoff?

I don’t have answers, even if I did, the powers would not listen to some guy who has a half hearted drinking blog.  Seth and others have very convoluted answers to the playoffs or even Big Ten scheduling but they don’t even pass the first test:

I just hope I learn to love whatever bourbon, Pimms, Gin, chamboard combination the NCAA and power conferences concoct, as much as I do now.

The Hop Toad

4 pm is way too early to pull out the bubbly for a cocktail and as much fun  a margarita is or doing a Paloma, I can’t resist an old recipe of a cocktail that is probably underrated.

First appearing in the Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book in 1935, this cocktail like most others has transformed throughout its history.   The Apricot brandy has been consistent since its inception.

Ingredients

1.5 oz dark rum

.5  oz lime juice

.5  oz apricot brandy  (Rothman and Winter is usually available)

2 dashes bitters

Lime wedge for garnish

Take all your ingredients place in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake for 30 seconds and Strain with into a coupe or cocktail glass. Garnish with the lime wedge.   Simple dark, elegant and interesting.  The aged rum here probably is overkill.

I’ve been doing this for 3 seasons now.  Weirdly every year I have no idea when the last one will be.   If the unthinkable happens, thanks for reading these, especially those who like or comment.  I have no idea what my engagement numbers are, so it’s nice to know I’m not yelling into the ether.

If we do win, I’ll have another cocktail ready..and will be looking for 2 tickets.. Have some nice bourbon to kick in

MgoSalut! And Happy new Year! 

Mark