» sports landonhowell.com

227 days until college football season.
posted on Jan 16 2012

But who’s counting?

[via IWDRM]






Good ESPN segment on college football oversigning
posted on Jan 12 2012

Les Miles looks bad in this. Can his week get any worse?






Ellis Johnson looking like he’s about to suggest we all storm the SEC headquarters and demand an invitation. He’s a stud. I will follow.
posted on Dec 22 2011






Combat veteran aspires to play college football
posted on Dec 19 2011

I will cheer for this buy, even if he plays for Alabama.






A story about UAB athletics that I never knew
posted on Nov 28 2011

Pulled from this forum, so you know… I’m sure it’s mostly true.


“Ok so in 1976 Arnold was in Birmingham filming the movie “Stay Hungry”. While he was here, he was working out for his movie and was given a UAB shirt, which at the time had no athletic program. Then when Arnold went back to LA/Hollywood, he frequently worked out at UCLA’s gym. There Coach Bartow who was the men’s basketball coach saw the shirt and was interested about this so called “UAB”, then in 1977 Coach Bartow leaves UCLA where he had a cush job and starts an athletic program at UAB. So Arnold is the reason we have UAB sports.”






When one looks at the conference reallignment that has actually taken place over the couple of years, it all seems much less dramatic
posted on Nov 2 2011

Note that Mizzou and the 3 CUSA-to-Big East moves haven’t actually been executed yet, though comment below if I missed one.

    BYU – From MWC to Independent
    Texas A&M – From Big 12 to SEC
    Boise State – From WAC to MWC
    Nebraska – From Big 12 to Big 10
    Utah – from MWC to PAC-12
    Colorada – From Big 12 to PAC-12
    Pittsburgh – From Big East to ACC
    Syracuse – From Big East to ACC
    WVU – From Big East to Big 12
    Fresno – From WAC to MWC
    Hawaii – From WAC to MWC
    Nevada Reno – From WAC to WMC
    University of Denver to the WAC
    Seattle University to the WAC
    Texas at Arlington to the WAC
    Texas at San Antonio to the WAC
    Texas State University–San Marcos to the WAC





Volume 3 or 4 of the 2011 Edition of “Hey Guys! We’re down here!”
posted on Oct 9 2011






If you are not watching soccer I just feel sorry for you
posted on Oct 6 2011






EPL 2011-2012 Kit Reviews In One Word
posted on Jul 20 2011

The Premiership kicks off in a matter of weeks with many teams in purdy new kits. To be fair, a few of these are simply ‘keeper kits… but still, I mean, c’mon.

Arsenal: Sure.

Aston Villa: Pawn.

Blackburn: Seriously?

Bolton: LOL.

Chelsea: Same-y.

Everton: Stop.

Fulham: Slick.

Liverpool: Slicker.

Manchester City: Truedat.

Manchester United: Nice.

Newcastle: Pfffft.

Norwich: Brazil?

Stoke: Tradition-y.

Sunderland: Yessir.

Swansea: Blah.

Tottenham: MehNawYep.

West Brom: Bodon’t.

Wolves: YES.






“What is Seattle?”
posted on Jun 20 2011






The greatest goalie mask, ever
posted on Feb 20 2011

+ enlarge

[Kudos as always to 30fps.]






Oh yeah… War Eagle!
posted on Jan 17 2011

+ enlarge

I was on a cruise ship during the BCS Championship Game. I couldn’t watch. Literally.

The satellite feed wasn’t working, so 30 Auburn and Oregon fans all gathered round a computer (paying $0.75 per minute) to watch a bootlegged feed which froze every 30 seconds. It was like being handed a grainy photograph of an event with no explanation whatsoever about what happened before, after, or even when it happened.

I’m sure many of you didn’t mind my absence. Lord knows your Twitter feeds were a lot less full.

People always ask me who I cheer for when it comes to college football. Southern Miss is the obvious answer. Referring my following of the Golden Eagles as an “obsession” would be a major understatement. But in the state of Alabama, you are Alabama or you are Auburn. I grew up Auburn and followed them with a passion greater than many who actually attended the university. I joke that if I was married to Southern Miss, Auburn would be “the other woman”.

So, to Auburn, War Eagle! What an incredibly memorable year.

Now… let’s be honest and admit that next year you’ll be lucky to go 9-3. (luv u Newton & Fairley)






Dig Tim’s style
posted on Nov 2 2010

Tim Lincecum showed up for Game 7 in style.
Some poke fun, but I dig, man. I dig.






Walker vs Curry. On TV. Best thing ever.
posted on Oct 27 2010

So there’s this thing in Alabama called Thursday Night Lights. I never knew about it until last week. Each Thursday during high school football season, the local My-whatever channel broadcasts a game.

It’s awesome.

The week I was home was Walker vs. Curry. Yes, the greatest rivalry in Walker County was broadcast through the majority of the greatest state in America on the only weekend I’ve been home this year.

Walker won… very easily, mind you. If you don’t want to read the article, the image above and video below pretty much sum up the game.

There’s highlights, too.






ChampionsChampionsChampions
posted on Oct 6 2010

Winning a championship is fun. Watching your team win a championship in person is even better.

Soccer doesn’t mean much to most of you. It didn’t mean anything until I moved to Seattle and experienced the first MLS Sounders match.

It’s a huge deal in Seattle. So huge, it still freaks me out.

Seattle won its 2nd straight US Open Cup last night in front of a US Open Cup record crowd of 31,311.

The record attendance smashed the old mark of 21,583 set in 1929. Dating back to 1914, the U.S. Open Cup is the oldest cup competition in United States soccer and is among the oldest in the world.

It was amazing.






2 Days
posted on Aug 30 2010






CCL 2010-2011
posted on Aug 10 2010

For those of you getting in to soccer, the CONCACAF Champions League is soon to be in full effect. I know that you’re all devout (or becoming devout) Sounders fans. My goodness… look at these attendance stats.

Rave green, my friends.

Get the schedule here.






Oh, soccer. You are a welcome sight.
posted on Aug 8 2010

Though less than 4 of you are excited about the English Premiere League beginning this weekend, most of you love our US Men’s National Team boys. And guess what? They’re back in action tomorrow night.

If any of you NYC blog readers will be in attendance, do tell. We’re legitimately jealous.

Relive one of the greatest moments in US sports. If it doesn’t (continue) to get your blood pumping, move to Canada:

Howard gratefully claims it. Distribution, brilliant. Landon Donovan. Are things on here for the USA? Can they do it here? Cross! And Dempsey is denied again! AND DONOVAN HAS SCORED!

OH, CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!

GO! GO! USA!

CERTAINLY THROUGH!

OH, IT’S INCREDIBLE!

YOU COULD NOT WRITE A SCRIPT LIKE THIS!’






Happy Friday
posted on Aug 6 2010

We lost 13-3 in indoor soccer last night. 13-3.






Branded electricity
posted on Aug 1 2010

If you’re reading this post from home, it means you have power. Only a “bojo” would try to access the internet without power.

But do you have… Longhorn power?

No? Would you like some? If you live in Texas, now you can.

Via AdAge:

The passion of college sports fans to buy almost anything with their favorite school’s emblem attached to it will certainly be tested with a new partnership in which the University of Texas and Texas A&M will both be selling … energy.

Yes, energy. Branded energy.

Crimson Tide fans would love this idea. Too bad most of them don’t have electricity. (I kid!)