#branding
[Upchurch]
I knew exactly who I wanted to talk to when I saw the list of players available Monday. It was the perfect confluence of events: a great overhead angle of a Michigan touchdown run, Poggi mashing two guys at once on said run, and a question stem using The Big Lebowski that popped into my head after watching the replay just once. It seemed related enough to ask. This is a very professional website.
What were you expecting from them at that point and what did you get?
“Yeah, I think we were down at what, the five- or six-yard line? Not sure what exact front they were in but we knew they were going to be heavy run there. We were I think in like a wing, pretty much just a regular Power play. Down, down, guard pulls, and I have everything off the edge—Ty [Isaac] made a great cut—and just fitting right up off of that edge.”
Once you do engage the safety you’ve got that corner behind him. Are you trying to turn him so you can block two at once or is that just the way timing worked out on this play?
“Yeah, just kind of hit ‘em how you see ‘em.”
Walk me through the finer points of a goal-line kickout.
“I think just the most important thing is you can’t let much penetration and you’ve got to win inside and upfield, so you want to go attacking at his outside shoulder and just kick him out and push him upfield. Kind of create that running room.”
I can’t let a one-on-one go by without a Big Lebowski question. Who were you trying to channel on that play? Was it Walter and the red Corvette, because it seemed like Walter and the red Corvette.
“Definitely Walter. Had to let #2 know that he’s entering a world of pain.”
The tradition continues. See previous for Why.
: I am trying to surprise my husband with a bowl trip this year but I don’t know how to communicate where we’re going. I thought we were going to the Orange Bowl, but then I looked it up and it said some sort of credit card company.
: Why yes, you need COMMON LANGUAGE!
: Language! I use it all the time! It’s a body of words—and the systems for their use—that are common to a people who are of the same linguistic community. Here’s how it works:
Words are used to convey meanings that the listener is already conditioned to understand. The words enter the ear canal and are interpreted by the brain into cognitive thoughts.
: But I’ve tried that. What if, like, some credit card company pays to replace the words for a bowl game with their name?
: Silly April, you can’t BUY language! All you have to do is use words that your listener will comprehend.
For example here’s how you refer to all of this year’s bowl games in English:
(bold are the ones where they’ve done away with the real names. All times are EST. Click each logo to get the full size. Use however you like.)
* semi-final games.
: So I’m a bit less confused, but why is the bowl in Jerryworld called the “Cotton Bowl” when the one played at the Cotton Bowl is called “Heart of Dallas”?
: I guess that’s why they added “Classic” to it, but yeah, words can’t fix everything. They can assist in communication, not guarantee clarity.
: So I can actually use these names to convey meaning to other people who speak the same language as me! Tell me, is this legal?
: Have you entered into a contract with any of the sponsors above where they pay you to replace words in your speech with their names?
: Well, no, that actually sounds kind of...
: …fizzly. Flupped even. Totally flupped beyond wizzly fizzy.
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