Version 3.5

As I travel to Canada this week I'm leaving you with version 3.5.
By Monday I will be in Banff, Canada(see right pic): 75 Hi, 38 low.

I don't know what I am going to do when I get there but one thing is for sure, I will not be hot.

Concerns about Canada.. Oddly enough 7 unmatching human feet(in shoes) have been found in a body of water less than a couple hours away from my destination. The police say it's inconclusive. I would say it's rather obvious. The bears are making a statement: Under Armour make terrible shoes.. 

On another note: Banff officials have made a law that you must carry bear spray when hiking in Banff. As if Bear mace will stop them from whatever they want to do to you. I think I would just face it and feel the pinnacle of pain, you know, test my man worth.  I am lying...  I would set a new world record in the 100.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS HERE.
Two Things I hate about College Football Fans. College football is here and I need to clear the air.

1. Blatant disrespect of any college football players not at Texas, OU, Florida, etc. I get so tired of varsity football dad that says "at least he could play at Baylor or SMU, you know a small school like that". Heads up: Every D1 football player in the nation would probably be the best athlete you have ever seen. Even at Stephen F Austin and Sam Houston State. If you touch the field from D1 to D3 then you are a superstud. No question. Baylor has at minimum 85 1st Team all state players and probably half are state champions in track and or football. Even the weakest starter benches 300lbs and can dominate any high school football game at at least 3 different positions.
   Correct perspective on talent levels: If everyone you know doesn't think your son is going to the NFL; he is not good enough to play D1, PERIOD. I played DII and my roommate made it to the Broncos. Good players are everywhere in college football so respect the ball players in NCAA. They are all better than the guy that "Could have gone at least D2 but wanted to go to a big school so decided to just not play". False, you would have been recruited, scholarshiped, and convinced if you were infact good enough. DII is big boy football with DI dropouts and underrated high school football players. 25% of the NFL comes from under DI. D3 is made up of good players that did not meet the size, speed, strength parameters of D2, D3. Still great players. So there you go... now shush.
   
2. Expectations on Freshman. and.. Freshman Expectations. Ok your the best high school player in the nation. Now you are the 46th best on your team. BTW the other 4 guys at your position were also the best when they came in. Ease up on your expectations. Freshman should all have to redshirt. It is best for them and the fans. Average football fan has no idea what it takes to learn football at that level. Correct perspective: A freshman will learn more football in the first 3 days of college than all they have been taught by "varsity football dad" and the high school program. Fact,  you can ask any player that has played at that level. Meetings from 6AM to 10PM. Position meetings, Offense, defense, special team meetings, Weights, practice, team meeting. Repeat 6 days in a row. Here is a personal favorite of a Freshman with huge expectations.. enter Jamaal Charles former UT running back and current Pro Bowl RB. Credit Texas with teaching him english. I do not approve of the captions but this is hilarious.

Before I wrap up my negativity.. I will talk about what I hate the most...
10 reasons why I hate the OU FAN.
Let me preface by saying I am not a Texas fan.

1. You cannot define your mascot, period. Being "ahead of the curve" is ridiculous. If that was the case you would be the "innovators". A Sooner is a cheater. You cheated in a land claiming game and choose to make it a nickname for your wayward lifestyle. LAME
2. You are bandwagon U. Before 2001 you were virtually invincible. National championship then All of the sudden flags, cars, hats, belts. You make me sick.
3. Coach Bob Stoops took your program from a laughing stock to a power house. You disrespect him by calling him big game bob? Heads up: he leaves and you will suck again. He is top 5 coach in nation and should be the pride of your program.
4. Every year you are ranked top 5. Every year you get up to 2 losses and somehow stay in the national championship hunt. Players are overrated and your coach is not. 
5. You're snobby. Obnoxious. Entitled.
6. Your colors are like Alabama, Arkansas, and A&M but not as attractive. 
7. Boomer Sooner is elementary and annoying. It is playing in hell as we speak. 
8. Your roster is made up of players from Texas that didn't feel good about the chances of playing early at the University of Texas. Possible that they couldn't qualify academically.
9. You schedule nobody!!!
10. Sooner Schooner is like a demented circus bit. Stop it.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT COLLEGE FOOTBALL. 

•  Passion of the players, fans. 
• Gameday is an awesome atmosphere virtually anywhere you go. 
• The players are on a TEAM. You can see the difference from the NFL. 
• Unpredictable from year to year. New Players, great coaching, more games. 
• Uniforms. tradition, flash, It's all good if the kids like it. 
• I personally love watching my athletes play every week. Cannot explain the feeling of seeing these kids live their dream.

Health tips for the Holiday weekend/ Gameday. 
Don't want to be the awkward healthy guy that won't eat the gameday food?
Don't sweat it. Eat up and Follow these easy tips:

1. Be active. Horse shoes, washers, bocce ball. Mix these games in on your gameday slate to burn some calories and have a great time. The lasting effects of your gameday eating can be minimized and you will have a blast with your buddies. 
2. Start the day off with 50 narrow based body weight squats followed by burnout pushups. Hold bridge(plank) for 1 minute and repeat  50 body weight squats with wide base squats(toes pointed out) followed by burnout close grip pushups (and then finally bridge/plank burnout.  Why? A strength training in this circuit format is low impact and your body will need fuel to recover from this workout. Even with just 100 body weight squats your lower body will consume hundreds of calories as your body recovers during the day. Remember the size of your glutes/ quads/ hamstrings. Repeat up once more about half way through your game day binge if possible. Ditch Awkward and wipe out the damage with this simple 5 minute workout. 
3. Take a shot.... of grapefruit juice. One shot morning, afternoon, early evening. Research shows that grapefruit juice kicks your fat burning enzymes into overdrive. Keep those babies revved up as you crush frito pie, bacon and pudding... Whatever.  
4. Do cardio the day after. It you let it linger the food you eat will keep you down till Tuesday. Detox with a brisk 30-45 minute walk followed by stretching for 30 seconds a pop. You will sweat your tail off and feel great afterward. 
5. Win. It's always better when your team wins.
   
   
   Video of the week:
   If you think you do fun stuff on the weekend check this out. Put a 4x4 truck on one side of the lake, tube on the other. Connect with bungee cord/slip and slide and see what happens.
   
   
    

God Bless all my friends, family, co-workers, and athletes. See you when I return to the USA. 
 In the meantime Love Jesus, watch college football, and do something your scared of. 

Best, 
Bobby Stroupe