Joshua Ray and The 405 Producers

The key to be successful in anything that you do is to learn from those around you. Especially learning from those around you that specialize in the same thing that you do. If your competitor does a promotion that just tanks, it’s smart to learn from them and not try that same promotion. However if they have success doing something you don’t steal it from them, you take it, tweak it, and make it better. You still learned from them though. You can do the same thing when you’re starting a blog. You can find someone with a similar blog and ask them for advice to improve your blog.  Basically you’re adopting their blog when you do this. I adopted a sports blog called the 405 Producers. I first heard about this blog when I was working cleaning pools this summer. My partner and I used to listen to the Sports Animal when in the car driving from pool to pool. Their 5am-9am show the Morning Animal was talking about their producers blog, the 405 Producers. I didn’t think much about it at the time, but I heard about that blog every morning all summer long. So when I needed to adopt a blog similar to my sports blog you can imagine the first one that came to my mind.

Little did I know when I contacted the Sports Animal to interview one of the guys that blogs for the 405 Producers that I would get a UCO alum that took this exact same class and the reason he got into blogging. His name Joshua Ray, and when originally emailed me back the first thing he said was, “is this for Clark’s class?”  Josh is currently the head of the Sports Animal website. He got started blogging two years ago while in Clark’s class. He also took his twitter class too he said. I’d like to take a quick second and plug that twitter class that’s coming up in the next intercession. You can enroll for it later this month talk with Clark or Heather your advisor for more information. Josh along with Michael Doughty are both in charge of the blog with other people contributing to it. The blog is there for them to share his personal views on OU, OSU, and the Thunder. The geographic location is Oklahoma City, their located on Northwest Expressway in the Sullivan group building across the street from the Buffalo Wild Wings.

While the point of blogging is to communicate your thoughts or views, what is the point of doing that if you’re not reaching the people? So the number of followers or viewers you have is critical especially if you try to make money off your sight with advertisements. The 405 Producers averages 300-400 readers per day. Most of the people that follow the blog are listeners of the Sports Animal. They have a link on the Sports Animal website that directs people to their blog. The traffic varies day to day based on how busy the day is in the sporting world. Right now it’s crazy with college football and Thunder basketball starting. Then comes the ever important question does your blog make you money? The blog itself does not make money. However Josh does get paid by the station to keep the blog up. If he was to ever make money off of the blog with advertisements he would have to take the link off the Sports Animal website. So since they are paying him, he has deadlines that he has to make. Josh blogs because he just loves the whole process of blogging. He loves thinking of different story ideas and then the whole process of blogging. He especially loves stories where he has to do a lot of research over stats and past results. It’s just fun putting all the pieces together and that creates for a great story.

         

Now more about the blog. The 405 Producers is unique because everyone gets to hear the opinions of their big time talents on the station like Jim Traber and Dusty Dvoracek when they tune into the Sports Animal, but what about the producers? They actually are the people who write the show for the on-air talent. The blog really just gives the producers an outlet to voice our opinions that they always don’t get to do on the shows. There are strengths and weaknesses to every blog for this one the strengths are “we learned from the best in professor Clark!“ Josh said the strength is there is a number of guys writing for this blog. So their readers don’t have to listen to just Michael and Josh. For the weaknesses he said that blogspot is “VERRRYYY” user friendly, but I would say it’s very basic. He also said to text him about why they still use Blogspot and I never got around to it, but I am interested why. On a cool note we both use the same background for our blogs. I think that’s personally pretty cool. His advice seemed pretty similar of a teacher I have in class. I wonder why? “BLOG BLOG BLOG. That’s the key. Build your own network with social media. Get your stories out there for people to easily find it. “

What Josh likes about his sight is that he can voice his opinion. That’s the main reason Michael and him started doing this. Plus he just loves writing. The dislike part was tough for him to think of. The only thing he could come up with is that he likes having pictures on the blog and that they don’t always have access to as many pictures as he would like.

 In conclusion I took a lot away from this, but mainly I learned that blogging is just telling a story to a bunch of readers. It’s adding yourself to the story.

NBA All-Star Uniforms

The NBA released this year's uniforms for the 65th All-Star game. The game is taking place in Toronto on February 14th. Happy Valentines day to all those players and coaches wives that get to spend that special day at the basketball arena...sounds romantic. The uniforms were designed by Adidas the official on the court partner of the NBA. This is the first time that the game has been played outside of the United States. Also because it's Canada you know they had to find a way to get that maple leaf on the jersey....they found a way. Take a look.

All photos via NBA.com

Personally I think the design is pretty cool and I think Adidas did a great job. However I think the NBA dropped the ball by having this game on Valentines Day. All they did was upset men and women everywhere or just proving that they don't even care about the All-Star game either.

Jimmy V Week

It really is amazing what sports can do for people and communities. It's a great outlet for people to rally around and come together. Especially when it's an underdog that has no shot, but pulls off the miraculous. Jim Valvano otherwise known as Jimmy V coached the biggest underdog of them all in 1983. The North Carolina State Wolfpack went into the ACC postseason tournament one loss away from their season being over. Sitting at 17-10 on the season and 8-6 in ACC play the Wolfpack began on journey to this day that is called, "Destiny". In the first round the Pack went down to wire with Wake Forest and pulled out a 71-70 win. Next was the #5 team in the nation the North Carolina Tar Heels with Michael Jordan leading the way. After falling down six points early in OT to a Dean Smith club without a shot clock, Valvano came up with craziest idea of them all. Lets foul them and put them on the free throw line. That crazy idea got State to the ACC final against the #2 Virginia Cavaliers and the great Ralph Sampson. After switching to a triangle and two defense where the two both guarded Sampson the Pack came back to win 81-78. NC State was ACC Champs and earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. That made for a cool story that everyone would remember for a few years...Valvano and his boys weren't done yet though. 

Now it's time for the NCAA Tournament and North Carolina State is heading to Corvallis, OR to take on Pepperdine. After over looking the Wave the Pack has to come back late to just make it out of the first round. Next they took on #6 UNLV who had only lost two games all season. That was till they played Jimmy V's bunch who found away to win yet again 71-70. Now time to the Sweet Sixteen and NC State got to take deep breath as they beat Utah 75-56. Hope they enjoyed the breather now it's time to battle with Sampson and the Cavs yet again. This game was even closer, but Cinderella found away again 63-62 to make it to the Final Four at The Pit in Albuquerque, NM. There Valvano and the boys took care of business vs Georgia another Cinderella 67-60. Now there was only one obstacle left it just happened to be the biggest one of all, a Houston Cougars team better known as Phi Slama Jama. A team that featured three first round draft picks, two of which were Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler(maybe you've heard of them before). Jama only lost two games all season and won twenty-six straight games leading up to the National Championship game. The Cougars were eight point favorites and no one gave Jimmy V and The Cardiac Kids a chance. Everyone said you can't run with these guys...I'll let the video tell the true story.

Cinderella found her slipper that night and Jim Valvano's bunch immortalize themselves in history. Jimmy V gave America a gift that night in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but his greatest gift was still yet to come. In June of 1992 Valvano was diagnosed metastatic adenocarcinoma, which is a type of cancer. On March 3, 1993 Jim accepted the inaugural Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award at the first ever ESPY Awards. Valvano who was so sick had been throwing up the whole way on the flight to the ESPYs. Needing to be helped up to the podium Valvano gave one of the greatest speeches and calls to action ever heard. Take a look.

"Don't give up, don't ever give up"

That night Jimmy V gave his greatest gift. He gave people hope that suffer from this terrible disease. It's expected that over 1.5 million people in America alone will be diagnosed with cancer this year. It's also believed that it'll kill 589,430 Americans this year or 1,620 a day. Cancer affects us all, we all know someone who suffers from some form of cancer. That night Jim Valvano gave a speech that didn't just inspire, but also left a plan on how to defeat cancer. With the help of ESPN the V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded and since 1993 has raised over 150 million dollars for cancer research. Jim Valvano is no longer with us, but would be so proud of what has been accomplished in the fight against cancer. But he would then tell you that fight isn't over yet. We still haven't beaten cancer and still need your help to raise more money for cancer research. So that one day when you or your love one needs help that maybe a cure will have been found. If you're currently suffering from cancer you aren't alone and Jim would tell you seven words never to forget. "Don't give up, don't ever give up"

To Donate to the JimmyV Fund go to www.jimmyv.org/ or call 1-800-4JIMMYV

Conference Championship Week

It's time...It felt like we were saying that just the other day. In reality it's been three months since we first kicked off the season. The season just flies by so fast. As a football player told me in class today the season goes by quicker than the two-a-days do for sure. It's true it flies by and in thirteen weeks teams have fought it out to get to this stage. Not everyone has the right to be here. You have to earn it(unless your Texas)...and get a little lucky too. Just ask Alabama, if it wasn't for an Arkansas miracle against Ole Miss that helped the Hogs beat the Rebels. The all mighty Tide would be at home this week(Money says the Playoff Committee wouldn't hold that against them). Not every conference has a week like this one. The Big 12 already has a champion in Oklahoma and it's well deserved they played everyone in their conference. Now it's time for the very best from each conference to square off against a familiar face one last time. Some travel to a neutral field or to enemy territory, while others get to host the biggest game of the season. For all there's a lot on the line. A possible spot in the playoff hangs in the balance for the lucky and for the not so fortunate it's just another chance to get that ring. It doesn't matter if your school has 45 or just 1, winning it leaves you immortalized forever in your school's history. At the end of day it's just another day of getting to lace it up and going to battle with your brothers. The only difference is when you win...they hand you a trophy that reads CHAMPION. It's Conference Championship week...are you ready?

Conference Championships this week
Friday
MAC - 7pm ESPN2
Bowling Green (9-3) vs Northern Illinois (8-4)

Saturday
American  - 11am ABC
22 Temple (10-2) @ 19 Houston (11-1)
Conference USA - 11am ESPN2
Southern Mississippi (9-3) @ Western Kentucky (10-2)
SEC - 3pm CBS
18 Florida (10-2) vs 2 Alabama (11-1)
MWC - 6:30pm ESPN2
Air Force (8-4) @ San Diego State (9-3)
PAC-12 - 6:45pmESPN
20 USC (8-4) vs 7 Stanford (10-2)
Big Ten - 7pm FOX
5 Michigan State (11-1) vs 4 Iowa (12-0)
ACC - 7pm ABC
10 North Carolina (11-1) vs 1 Clemson (12-0) 

BEDLAM

Each team has one true rival(some teams have more than one)! That one team if they lost every single game that season, but somehow beat yours then it would all be worth it. One day of the year where the outcome of this one will determine your mood for the next 365. Rivalry losses are tough when they have a little distance between the teams, but when you have to share a state with them a loss becomes unbearable. In Georgia they have Clean, Old Fashion Hate, Oregon has the Civil War, in Mississippi get ready for the Egg Bowl, you've heard of the Iron Bowl in Alabama, but in Oklahoma we have BEDLAM.

Where even though one team is clearly the others big brother it hasn't stoped what has been a one sided rivalry into becoming nationally known. With two of the last three games going to OT. All three have been decided at the very end. With the names of Bell and Hill terrorizing the opposing teams dreams. No Sooner can lay in bed at night without remembering Tyreek Hill taking a punt to the house to force OT after Bob elected to rekick. While Cowboys dreams are haunted with the sight of The Bell Dozer on the ground in 2012 and in the air in 2013. Tonight's game has a new flare to it as a Big 12 Champion will be crowned. Instead of just being handed the Bedlam Bell after the game, the victor will also take home the crystal bowl. For the Sooners even more at stake as a seat at the College Football Playoff table hangs in the balance.  

So throw the series record out of the books(Oklahoma 84-17-7). It comes down to just one primetime game on ABC for all the Big 12 has to offer. So whether you wear Orange and Black or Crimson and Cream, whether you chant Orange Power or Boomer Sooner. There's one thing that will always stand the test of time...Oklahoma is and will always be The SOONER State!

Thanksgiving Weekend Football

Nothing beats sitting down with your family on that fourth Thursday in November and having some good ole bird(I prefer ham personally, but I hear smoked Jayhawk has been a trend of late). Anyways you'll sit down Thursday afternoon for Thanksgiving dinner number one. Once you get done stuffing your face full of mashed potatoes and canned yams you'll watch the Dallas Cowboys get lit up by the undefeated Carolina Panthers. After that it's time to head to the in-laws for dinner number two. You know what that means more food for you to devour as you watch the Texas Longhorns get obliterated by Mahomes and the Red Raiders(something you can truly be thankful for this holiday season). Then you'll sleep it off and prepare for what's going to be the best weekend of College Football yet. It all starts Friday too! So when you go to the fridge to grab some leftovers from that Thanksgiving feast here's some games you can watch as you prepare to add a new notch to your usual belt.

Friday games
11am ABC - 15 Navy (9-1) @ Houston (10-1)

230pm ABC - 4 Iowa (11-0) @ Nebraska (5-6)

630pm ESPN - 7 Baylor (9-1) @ 19 TCU (9-2)

Saturday games
11am ABC - 8 Ohio State (10-1) @ 10 Michigan (9-2)
11am ESPN - 1 Clemson (11-0) @ South Carolina (3-8)

230pm ESPN - Penn State (7-4) @ 5 Michigan State (10-1)
230pm ESPN2 - 14 North Carolina (10-1) @ NC State (7-4)
230pm CBS - 2 Alabama (10-1) @ Auburn (6-5)
230pm ABC - 22 UCLA (8-3) @ USC (7-4)

6:15pm ESPN2 - 18 Ole Miss (8-3) @ 21 Mississippi State (8-3)
630pm ESPN - 13 Florida State (9-2) @ 12 Florida (10-1)
630pm FOX - 6 Notre Dame (10-1) @ 9 Stanford (9-2)

7pm ABC - 3 Oklahoma (10-1) @ 11 Oklahoma State (10-1)

Enjoy that leftover Turkey and enjoy all of these great football games. Happy Thanksgiving!

College Football Playoff Scenarios

The football season is in the back stretch. Seniors are playing their final home games and for those who aren't going to a bowl game their last snaps of collegiate football are upon them. Tonight though the college football playoff committee will release it's third rankings. It'll be interesting to see where everyone ends up, but they'll still be controversy at the end of the day.

Four out of the 5 teams ranked 6-10 lost on Saturday basically eliminating themselves from playoff consideration. An a one loss Oklahoma looks to make it's move as they knocked off the number 6 undefeated Baylor Bears on the road last week. So there are still a lot of moving parts in all this. I wrote out how I think the playoffs are going to turn out at the end of the season. I didn't just the pick four teams I gave you eight teams that I think can make the final four at the end of the season and the scenarios needed. 

College Football Playoff

• Ohio State/Iowa 

    • As long as both these teams are undefeated when they play each for the Big Ten championship

    • Key Game: Big Ten Championship

• Alabama

    • As long as they win out

    • Key game: SEC Championship vs Florida

    • Florida gets in with a win over Alabama in the SEC Championship, a Notre Dame or a one loss Big Ten Champion, and finishing with only one loss. 

• Oklahoma/Oklahoma State

    • As long as the winner of this matchup wins out.

    • Key game: Bedlam

• Clemson 

    • has to go undefeated

    • Key game: ACC Championship vs North Carolina

    • If Clemson loses Notre Dame gets in as long as the Irish win out.

Thunder Take 11.5

The Oklahoma City Thunder lost their second straight game last night. After starting off the season with three straight wins coming against the Spurs, the Magic, the Nuggets they then lost on the road at Houston and at home last night to Toronto. The loss upset a lot of Thunder fans for the main fact that they were leading late and could not close the game out again for the second straight game. It's was only November 4th, but Thunder fans remember they missed the playoffs by only one game a season ago and that all 82 games do matter. Especially when you compete the NBA Western Conference.  

Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook were the high scorers for the Thunder with 27 and 22. Westbrook had 16 assists on the night and 10 in the first half. Enes Kanter came off the bench and had 15 points and 6 boards in 17 minutes. While Steven Adams the man who starts over Kanter had 10 points, 7 boards, and four blocks in 27 minutes. Here's a look at Westbrook highlights against the Raptors via the NBAHighlightsDaily youtube account.

Thunder couldn't stop Toronto guard DeMare DaRozan who lit up the Thunder for 28 points half of those coming from the free throw line. Following DaRozan in scoring was Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas with 17 points a piece. But it was DaRozan who came up clutch down the stretch willing his team to the victory and moving to 5-0 on the season as the Thunder fall 3-2. OKC returns to action tonight when they take on the Chicago Bulls in the Windy City as they wrap up this four games in five nights span.

What about Special Teams?

You hear all the time Offense wins games, but Defense wins championships. You know what you never hear about? SPECIAL TEAMS. No one ever says how important special team are. Why though? They're a huge part of the game, they can make or break you. Especially when you try do some trickery and fake that kick. Here are the top three Special Teams plays from this weekends football that effected the outcome of the football game.

Number Three

Patriots at Colts on Sunday Night Football

Colts try to run the swinging gate on a punt on fourth and three from their own thirty-seven yard line.

That was an epic fail and will more than likely make Fail Friday.

Number Two

#8 Florida @ #6 LSU for a night showdown in Death Valley.

In a tie ball game in the fourth quarter, Les Miles aka the Mad Hatter fakes a field goal and gets six. That play was the final scoring of the game and won LSU the football game.

  

Miles and the boys look like they might be on the path the College Football Playoff if they can keep it up.

Number One

#7 Michigan State @ #12 Michigan all for the Paul Bunyan Trophy

Michigan has this game won and it's over...all they have to do is punt the football away...

Words can not even begin to describe what America was thinking as they watched this play out. At least words that we're actually allowed to use on-air can't describe this outcome. For crying out loud just fall on the ball.

So Offense may win you games and your Defense may win you a championship, but without your Special Teams capitalizing you just got stunned and unhappy fans.

The Chute 10.6

On today's show an arguement broke out between Jake and I on if Kevin Durant spoke out too quickly against Steven A. Smith. Jake finds himself siding with Steven A. Smith while I side with KD on this. I personally feel that Smith's comments of "you don't want to make an enemy out of me" comes off as a threat even though that Smith says he was just stating a fact. Jake is under the impression that Durant was too eager to respond and that he mistook what Steven originally said, because he never said that he talked with Kevin. Just saying that's what he heard. This is the full reaction from Steven A. Smith on Durant calling him a liar on ESPN's First Take on October 5th take a look.

This clip was via the youtube account of ESPN's First Take. This was Jake and I's first big disagreement and we want to know who you side with. So let us know who you're siding with in our weekly poll question. Do you agree with Jake and Steven A. Smith or Jay and Kevin Durant? VOTE NOW! Also be sure to tune into the show Thursday at 11am as we discuss the outcomes of both wildcard games, a look at Thursday Night Football, and much more. All on The Chute Edmond's Premier Sports Show on 99.3 UCentral Radio.

The Chute 10.1

Happy Thursday to all you sports fans out there. On The Chute today we talked about it being the first day of October and what that means. It means it's time for some postseason baseball, football weather is in full swing, and NBA preseason games are starting up. Jake and I also talked some UCO sports this morning. The UCO football team looks to get it's first win of the season vs Nebraska-Kearney at Wantland on Saturday, the Soccer team travels up to Kansas for two matches this weekend, and Marla Souvannasing wins the MIAA Preview with a birdie on a playoff hole. Talk about clutch. 

Plus we played this clip over the air. It was the first time we were able to play a clip over the air for the listeners to hear. So I'm really proud of that. This is called Stoops on Stoops it's from the show Garbage Time with Katie Nolan on Fox Sports One. It shows a different side of Stoops that people don't usually get to see. Take a look 

Once again that video is from Garbage Time with Katie Nolan. You can catch Garbage Time on Wednesdays at 11pm CT on Fox Sports One. Also on Fox Sports One you can see OU as take on West Virginia in Norman on Saturday at 11am(feel free to moan).

Be sure to tune into our show tomorrow at 1pm for at look at all the football this weekend. We'll also be joined by the Sports Editor of the Vista Mr. Bradley Jayroe who'll tell you who to play and sit this weekend in fantasy football. We hope to see ya tomorrow on The Chute Edmond's Premier Sports Show on 99.3 KZUC.

Loving Your Job

Anytime you wake up and love going into work you know you're in the right profession. Now I don't like getting up to begin with because I'm the type of person that loves to sleep the day away. Just ask Jake I showed up ten minutes before our show started today. I hadn't written the whole show for the most part...besides our leading segment oops. None the less that was written and got in before the show started. 

The thing that gets me is how much fun Jake and I are having with our Sports Show the Chute. We really enjoy it because it's always new and we love talking sports. We forget all together that there are people listening and just are talking to each other about sports. Our opening segment was over twenty minutes today because we just started talking sports losing track of time and it's crazy how that works out. We've only been doing this show for going on three weeks and it feels like we've been doing it forever. We have sort of a routine that we do. I produce the show for the most part. I pick the stories that we cover and try to come up with a new segment or game that we can play. 

Like today we did something new called "PROPS". All we did was each gave props to five different teams or people for an accomplishment or something they did that we thought was awesome. I thought it was a really good idea when I thought of it yesterday. I actually stole it from a thing that our fraternity does as a group. It turned out pretty well and I think we might make it a weekly thing. Every Tuesday we give PROPS to the weekenders.

It really has been great last Friday we are joined by the Sports Editor of the Vista Mr. Bradley Jayroe and it was a really fun show because it was a group of guys that were just talking sports with one another. The only thing that was missing was big screen to watch a game and some brews, but since the show is at one we'll settle for our computer screens and water. I got so caught up in the sports talk today that I forgot to press record and record our sound check. The boss probably is not going to be happy about that one. It's alright though because I'll be sure to press the button Thursday, but more importantly I can't wait to wake up Thursday morning knowing that I get to go talk some sports today.

EXPLORING ROCKY TOP (PART FOUR SUNDAY)

Sunday is that day of week you love because it's a day of rest or it should be that's what the good Lord attended it to be. You need that rest after a crazy Saturday too. I didn't get that rest though on Sunday. Instead I had a long day when I should of spent it at the airport thinking about what I'm going to have from Zio's when I land in OKC. That wasn't the case though because nothing about this trip was easy. The hike was difficult, the night on the town was fun, but having to take care of older people presents its challenges, the game was suspenseful but the right team came out on top. So why should Sunday be any different? It wasn't because I made a mistake. I didn't know that I had made a mistake but I did. Little did I know while I was sitting in Neyland Stadium that my return flight was heading home.

I've never claimed to be a genius but, I'd like to think that I have enough common sense to make sure I picked the right return date for our flight. So instead of leaving Knoxville at 4pm Sunday the plane left at 4pm Saturday.  So instead of my Dad and I leaving at 4pm via American Airlines, we left at 10 am via a Rav4. Due to high airlines prices we were not able to find a plane home for under a thousand bucks a seat which is unreal. After my dad spent hours on the phone with the airlines people we saw that our options were limited. By limited there was only one choice and that was to drive the over 12 hour drive back to OKC. So my peaceful day of relaxation now involves me in a car having to drive every two hours. I don't care what you say, but driving is exhausting and takes it out of you. Especially when you're doing it all day long. The worst part about that drive is just get out of the state of Tennessee. That takes forever. Just to Memphis alone it's almost six hours by car.

The whole time on the car ride back I kept thinking how much this car ride would have sucked if we had lost yesterday. Lucky for me I got to relish in the fact that we pulled out a double overtime thriller...for over 12 whole hours. we finally made it back to OKC before midnight and dropped the rental car off at the airport. I was home in my own bed by 1am.

In the end I loved the trip and it gave me lots of lasting memories. I'm so happy that I got to experience them with my dad and share them with you. That continues my trip of Exploring Rocky Top.

EXPLORING ROCKY TOP (PART THREE SATURDAY)

So it's Game-Day and I can't even wait. I wake up ready to go and the games not even till six. I go have breakfast with my Dad seeing a bunch of red everywhere I look continues to give me hope. I just have a feeling that today is going to be a special day. After breakfast I go back to be for a little bit and watch gamely in the room. Earlier that morning I'd seen OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione heading out the door. I thought to myself I wonder if Joe is feeling as optimistic as me today? I mean he has to tell people that he believes that we'll do well and pull out a victory, but does he really believe it? I mean for all I know his stomach could be turning circles right now like all Sooner fans. 

We get to time to leave for the game and we call Uber to come pick us up and David our driver was a good guy he took care of us. Even when my dad and his friends wanted him to make extra stops so they could get beer, ice, and cups. We finally make it down to Knoxville and David drops us off at Callahan's on the River. The place is packed and people are tailgating and having a good time. Vol fans take tailgating to the next level though with their "sailgating". Imagine all these boats tied together and people just walking from boat to boat in community singing Rocky Top. It was an truly an awesome sight to see. One of the boats was not a boat though it was a ship! It was huge and someone told me that it has two captains and a chef on it. Can you say impressive? None the less the beer has been drank and now it's time to head to the stadium.

As I walked up the ramped to my seats I'm pumped I can't wait for the game to begin. I'm standing in my seat as the Tennessee band forms that iconic T and the players come running out.

The game doesn't go well for the Sooners for three quarters, but something happens in fourth and it starts clicking. The Sooners offense gets a rolling and from there. They score two touchdowns in the fourth and go on to win the game in double overtime. 31-24

As Zack Sanchez picks off the pass to win the game imagine a hundred and five thousand screaming fans go to straight silence besides for the few thousand people in red. I can't believe what I've just witnessed and I pick my dad up and am jumping around we did it. We came all the way to Tennessee and conquered a checkered Neyland Stadium with one hundred and five thousand fans. It was an amazing sight.

After the game we go back to Callahan's on the River which is totally packed. We jump the fence sneak in have some beer and food. It's a great night to be Sooner as I stare out on the the beautiful Tennessee River.

The one thing I didn't know though at that time would lead to a long night and an even longer trip home Sunday. To be continued...

EXPLORING ROCKY TOP (PART TWO FRIDAY)

After a wild and wacky day of exploring yesterday we slept in. Not caring about the complimentary breakfast and only worried about what the inside of our eye lids looked like. By the time we did awake it was only the matter of time till my dad's fraternity brother and his biological brother join us in Tennessee for more adventure. I started noticing a lot of red while we were there knowing that it was getting closer to kick-off. 

We went to the Square Market and had lunch at the Stock and Barrel. The hamburgers there were delicious wish I would have tried their Elk burger that could have been interesting. We then did a little shopping then headed over to our new hotel for the next couple nights the Hilton which was attached to the Knoxville Airport. The Sooner football team ended up staying there as well so that was cool to see them. However I wasn't really big on getting the elevator with the whole starting offensive line. That was a little worrisome, but all good it didn't crash. 

Once we got checked in and met up with the guys it was off. We went out doing what men want to do DRINK. We searched out for a local brewery. We found a good one called SAWWORKS it was a cool place and I enjoyed learning about the beer making process. So after touring the place that just happened to have a cigar stand inside it(Lucky us) we sat out from had some Rocky Hop IPA and shot the breeze. The cigar stand owner came out talked to us told some great stories. One where he didn't imitate a police officer but didn't correct the guy who thought he was chief of police there in Knoxville. After that we got some more suggestions on where to have dinner and continued on our way. The people in Tennessee were so nice and gracious to us while we were there. I can't think of any nicer people that I've met before.

 We went back to the Square Market to another brewery my dad and I had the other day the Downtown Grill and Brewery. The place was packed it was Friday in downtown Knoxville the people were going out to celebrate. Orange and Red shirts having a good time every where you looked. We went out back on the patio the boys lit up a few cigars ordered around of IPAs and the let the good times roll. Met a local DJ on talk radio station while out there nicest guy and the man had a voice for radio(was really jealous). After dinner the guys still wanted to keep going continuing on this night life experience in downtown Knoxville. These guys are around sixty years old and still going strong I'm personally impressed figured past eleven o'clock they'd be ready to head back to the hotel. No I had Dan my dad's fraternity brother constantly asking, "Hey you want another beer?" or "You look like you need another beer." It was as adventurous as Thursday being lost in the mountains, but it's hard to complain about drinking the night away in Downton Knoxville

EXPLORING ROCKY TOP (PART ONE THURSDAY)

The Radio Clown found himself on a bit of an adventure last week. I went with my dad to Knoxville, Tennessee to watch the Sooners battle it out against the Vols. It was a trip I'll never forget for sure. The game was spectacular, but moments away from the football stadium are the ones that stick out the most. 

Going hiking in the Smokey Mountains with my dad was a daring adventure with his herniated disk and the fact we took no water. We hiked two and half miles to Abrams Falls taking about two hours to get there. Stopped to take some photos then headed back. We started back and the trip was harder for my dad going back. It didn't help that we were losing sunlight before we got half way I was having to use my phone for light to see the way. We got to the halfway point a place that I called Mark's Rock(Mark is my dad). We stop to rest as my dad sits on his rock, not yet sure if we'd make it back the rest of way for now it is officially pitch dark. I can't see a foot in any direction without the cell phone light. As we continue back my dad trips I'm there to catch him, but he thinks he heard his knee pop and give out. By the grace off God it did not and we continued on. 

The whole time we're in the dark I can't stop thinking about this bear sign I saw at entrance about how it attacked someone on this path. Finally we come to a bridge and I know we've made it back to the beginning. We're only about a hundred and fifty yards from the rental car. We hopped in the car and were off heading back to Knoxville. 

When we get to the park entrance and the gate is locked. At this point I'm thirsty, hungry, and tired not necessarily in that order. So it looks like we're sleeping in the car tonight till an park ranger comes opens up the gate for us and ask if we knew the park closed at dark. I was too happy to be heading home for a snappy remark. So now we just have to head back towards our hotel. Wait that would be too easy for us to do. The roads aren't marked well and we end up in North Carolina. So I don't know how but we eventually find our way back to Knoxville and the Waffle House. I've never been so happy for below average breakfast food in my life. That all happened on a Thursday. So you know the rest of the week got crazy as well. So Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to be continued.

UCO vs Fort Hays State (running blog)

It's football time in Oklahoma. Been waiting to hear those words for months now. UCO comes in to todays contest looking to open up the 2015 campaign with a bang. As the Bronchos try to improve on last season's eight and three record. Broncos win the toss and defer to the second half. Hooves Up Broncho fans let's play some football.

7:15) The Tigers aren't able to do much besides picking up one first down and then punt on their first drive. Bronchos take over at their own thirty-four and march down to the goal line till a Jake Gandara fumble gives the ball back to FHSU

7:29) TOUCHDOWN BRONCHOS! UCO goes fifty-four yards on eleven plays. Chas Stallard finds Josh Crockett on a four yard out route to get the Bronchos on the board with less than six minutes remaining in the first. Seth Hiddink adds on the PAT which is his fifty straight extra point a new UCO record.
UCO 7 - FHSU 0 (5:12)

7:34) Deontay Wilson hits Tiger QB Treveon Albert who fumbles the ball recovered by UCO's La'Teze Clayton. Giving the Bronchos the ball at the 26 yard line. Broncho drive twenty six yards in three plays capped of by two yard Clay McKenzie run. Extra point blocked.
UCO 13 - FHSU 0 (1st 3:28)

7:51) END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: Fort Hays makes it pass the fifty yard line for the first time, but can't doing anything with and punts the ball back to the Bronchos.
UCO 13 - FHSU 0

8:00) A Clay McKenzie 25 yard gain helps the Bronchos move the ball all the way down to the goal line, but yet another Broncho turnover gives the ball back to the Tigers. Fumble by Chas Stallard recovered by Romello Burke at the one. Tigers ball on their own one yard line. Bronchos have looked extremely sloppy early in this one.


8:10) TOUCHDOWN BRONCHOS! A seven play drive by the Bronchos ends on a 21 yard pass from Stallard to Caden Locke on a crossing route makes it a 19-0 Broncho lead. Hiddink makes the PAT. That's the first touchdown reception of Locke's career.
UCO 20 - FHSU 0 (2nd 5:33)

8:19) Touchdown Tigers. Fort Hays State goes seven plays for 85 yards all capped off with nine yard strike from Treveon Albert to Andrew Flory. That puts the Tigers on the board for the first time this season. PAT is good
UCO 20 - FHSU 7 (2nd 3:44)

8:23) Bronchos are forced to punt for the first time tonight after going three and out. Fort Hays State ball with 1:52 remaining at their own 37 yard line.

8:29) 1:02 remaining and Fort Hays State uses it's final timeout. Under thrown ball works out for the Tigers as a pass interference on LeVonte Douglas gives the Tigers a first down. Next play busted coverage lead to a touchdown pass from Albert to Shaquile Cooper. Extra point is good and the Tigers go sixty-three yards on five plays to make it 14 to 20. UCO is now looking sloppy on both sides of the football.
UCO 20 - FHSU 14 (2nd 0:50)

8:40) HALFTIME: Bronchos lead 20-14 but have looked extremely sloppy turning over the ball twice at the door of the end zone. Did a great job moving the ball for over three hundred total yards in the first half however only have 20 points to show. The Broncho defense looked strong early, but then gave up two straight scores late giving Fort Hays State the momentum going into half only trailing now by a single score.

Halftime Stats

UCO - FHSU
Score: 20 - 14
Plays: 47 - 35
First Downs: 15 - 11
Rushing Yards: 131 - 130
Passing Yards: 176 - 89
Turnovers: 2 - 1
Possession Time: 18:17 - 11:43
Third Down Conversions: 8 of 9 - 2 of 7
Red-Zone Score Chances: 2 for 4 - 1 for 1

8:58) Halftime comes to an end and UCO elects to receive to start the second half. Bronchos looking to come out early and steal the momentum that the Tigers had going into halftime after scoring fourteen unanswered points.

9:11) Bronchos open up the second half strong driving the ball all way down to the two, but have to settle for an eighteen yard field goal. Hiddink puts it right down the middle and puts UCO up by nine.
UCO 23 - FHSU 14 (8:12)

9:16) Tigers Shaqulie Cooper hits the whole hard and isn't touched as he is goes for 79 yards for the score. That's Cooper's second TD of the game and eclipses the hundred yard rushing mark on the day after that run. O'Brien knocks down the PAT.
UCO 23 - FHSU 21 (3rd 7:27)

9:19) Jake Gandara is helped off the field after being tackled on the kick-off return. No word on the possibility of return yet.

9:28) McKenzie is hit by Sie Doe of Fort Hays State causing fumble recovered by DeAndre James. The third Bronchos fumble of the day. Next play big 34 yard pass from Albert to Flory gets it down to the two yard line. Albert would eventaully find Cooper for a six yard TD reception. Cooper's 2nd TD catch and third total touchdown.
UCO 23 - FHSU 27


9:29) Crockett fumbles the kickoff and Fort Hays' kicker recovers the ball at the Bronchos 35. The Tigers can't do anything with it and give the ball back to the Bronchos on downs. That's the Bronchos fourth fumble of the day. According to SID only five fumbles all last season.
*Injury Note: Gandara still being looked at on the sideline.

9:40) END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: Costly turnovers cost the Bronchos as they now find themselves trailing 23-27. Four fumbles by four different Bronchos could lead to their first lost of the season. Fort Hays State has the ball to start the fourth at their own thirty-five yard line.

9:44) Bronchos get the ball at their own twenty-nine trailing by four with plenty of time in the fourth.

9:51) Third and long for the Bronchos, Stallard rolls out and can't hit his receiver. Bronchus go for it on fourth down hits Crocket for a first down and gains sixteen yards. Two plays later Stallard finds Connor Pulley for the nineteen yard TD.  It caps off a ten play seventy one yard drive and gives the Bronchos back the lead. Hiddink misses the PAT as it boinks off the goal post. Costly miss as a field goal could win it for the Tigers.
UCO 29 - FHSU 27 (4th 9:30)

10:01) Tigers go three and out and give the ball back to the Bronchos. They'll take over at their own twenty-nine yard line. Over eight minutes remaining in the game.

10:04) 3rd and 5 from the UCO forty-eight. Stallard runs to midfield and comes up short. Bronchos give the ball back to Tigers who'll takeover at their own thirteen with 5:01 remaining in the game.

10:09) A holding penalty on FHSU pushes the ball back to their own seven yard for 1st and 16 with 4:43 remaining in the game. Timeout Tigers only one remaining. 

10:12) Tigers have made it past midfield with less than four minutes remaining in the game. Still trailing by two.

10:13) Tigers down to the twelve yard line. Bronchos need to force a turnover as the Tigers are well in field goal range.
Under 2 mins remaining.

10:15) Tigers taking their time try score with no time left 3rd and three from the seven yard line. Cooper picks up the first down to the three yard line. Three seconds remaining in the game and Fort Hays State to attempt a Three for the win.

10:19) 19 yard field goal by O'Brien is good and Fort Hays State wins 30-29.

10:20) FINAL: UCO 29 - Fort Hays State 30

10:21) UCO blows a twenty point lead with the help of four turnovers to start off the season with a loss.

The Night Before College Football

I laid in bed last night feeling like a little kid on Christmas Eve having the hardest time of falling asleep. Instead of visions of sugarplums dancing in my head I saw big hits and new tricks forming from my bed. Finally when my eyes were closed they were all too soon opened but ready to go. With the thought of this evening on my mind I couldn't help but start counting down to five. With Spurrier on one end and Fedora on the other it'll be a contest of who can out smart one another. Then at six we will all watch to see if Gundy and his boys are ready to play on TV. I'll be here at Wantland to watch it all as my Bronchos can't be stopped from running the ball. At seven thirty you''ll head out to the west where Michigan plans to give it's best. Next at eight TCU is looking for a fight as they try to blow Minnesota right out of sight. Then at nine Arizona will be the final wrap as they try to avoid that Alamo trap. So to all a good day do enjoy it but remember its only the beginning of September. 

Problems of Starting a Radio Show

Starting a new project is rarely ever easy. Especially when you're starting from scratch or have no idea what you're doing. There's always going to be complications and that's why you have practices or run throughs so you can workout all the bugs. The Chute had it's second run through of the show today and it was rough to say the least. The problems aren't totally because of Jake or myself some of them are, but not all of them all. We simply don't know what buttons we're suppose to push on the audio board. We've had very little instruction too and have kind of been thrown into all of this. Which we're excited about the opportunity because it's new, exciting and different from anything we've ever done before. So imagine you have this great idea for a radio show and you can't even figure out how to turn on the mic to broadcast it out for people to listen. It's extremely overwhelming because I'm looking at the board pressing the buttons I think I should be pressing and it's doing nothing. When I'm looking at the audio board I feel like a kid in the cockpit of the plane looking at all the buttons wondering what each one does, but has no idea. The show could begin any week now and I don't know if when we go live for the first time if people are going here Jake and I or just static from there being nothing on air. It's not like there's a big red button to push that says on-air. I wish there was even though we might find a way to mess that up as well.

We also just have a lot of other work that needs to get done. You got have a social media page via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram if not all three and we haven't even started on those. What we really need is a logo to use for our show. So if you know of a good cheap(preferably someone who works for free) graphic designer comment with their information below. We need one ASAP. We also have to put sounds together for various situations so if we need that sound press a button and the audience here's that sound over the radio(also I don't know what button that would be either). Also need a cool intro that plays in and we have a pretty clever idea just finding the time to execute it is the problem. It's alright though because college football is back this week. Jake and I can't wait we'll be possibly hosting a pregame show before the UCO game out in front of Wantland Stadium. Which will be awesome because what better way to kick-off a show then going live from a remote that'll be rocking. I still need to go pick up the press passes today or tomorrow because we get to kick it up in the press box for the game. BOOYAH! Can't wait for Thursday. Football season is here and I'm so thankful for that

Who is The Radio Clown?

The Radio Clown is the official blog and website for The Chute on 99.3 KZUC Edmond's Premier Sports Show. My name is Jay and I'm definitely the clown of this wacky duo. Don't get me confused with my cohost Jake the "serious one". We'll be bringing you the top stories in sports every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. So you won't want to miss a single second of action as we breakdown everything from UCO sports to the Oklahoma City Thunder and everything in between. Oklahoma sports are our passion, but we don't discriminate we'll talk about anything and everything sports. We'll even try to bring in a guest or two to join in on all the fun. Every Friday we'll be joined by Brad Jayroe the Sports Director of the Vista who'll breakdown the Bronchos and even talk some fantasy football. So you'll want to tune in from 11am-12pm Tuesday, Thursday, and from 1pm-2pm on Friday. Be sure to also keep up with this blog where you can see all the clips from our show and participate in our weekly sports poll.