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billy_bats

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  1. https://theathletic.com/5074571/2023/11/19/texas-isu-bo-davis-steve-sarkisian/

     

    Spoiler

    AMES, Iowa — In the final minutes, Bo Davis relaxed on a folding chair near the bench, plenty comfortable in the cold. Texas’ offense was running out the clock on a 26-16 victory at Iowa State. His work here was done.

    The Longhorns’ defensive line coach has plenty of reasons to be proud. In its final road game as a member of the Big 12, Texas flexed its toughness and proved its progress. This team is 10-1. Two wins away from a Big 12 title and perhaps the College Football Playoff. And two years removed from a rock-bottom reckoning that infamously began here.

    A contingent of fans in burnt orange chanted Davis’ name inside Jack Trice Stadium as the victors ran to their locker room. None of them forget where this program was in 2021. The last time Texas came to town, Steve Sarkisian was in Year 1 and learning just how much rebuilding he needed to do.

    Iowa State rolled to an easy 30-7 blowout on that Nov. 6 night. Brock PurdyBreece Hall and the Cyclones delighted in defeating the Longhorns three years in a row. It was the ultimate validation of their mission: five-star culture beats five-star talent.

    “It felt ugly in the moment,” Sarkisian said with a chuckle. “We didn’t play very good, kinda got our butts kicked.”

    That Texas team had a 4-5 record when it boarded the bus to head home. The pent-up tension of a month-long stretch of losing in Sarkisian’s first season was disrupted by the unmistakable sound of laughter from the back of the bus. Davis heard it and snapped. We know this because someone on the bus hit record on their phone.

    “THIS S—’S REAL. SOME OF YOU MOTHERF—ERS NEED TO GET IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL. YOU WANNA GO? GET IN THE MOTHERF—ER. THIS S— AIN’T A GAME TO ME. IF YOU THINK IT’S A GAME, GET THE F— OFF OF THIS BUS. I GOT MY ASS KICKED AND YOU MOTHERF—ERS WERE LAUGHING. THIS S—’S F—ING REAL. YOU THINK IT’S A GODDAMN JOKE? AND SOME OF YOU MOTHERF—ERS DO, TRANSFER OUT OF THIS MOTHERF—ER. BECAUSE I’M TIRED OF THIS S—. THIS S—’S GODDAMN REAL. AND WE WANNA LAUGH AND JOKE? F— THAT.”

    The 46-second video of Davis’ profane rant is considered a canon event among diehard Texas fans. This was a necessary breaking point in the middle of a six-game losing streak. This was someone finally — and forcefully — saying what needed to be said. Someone who’d been at Texas before and came back from Alabama with Sarkisian. Someone who knows what championship football looks like and knows what embarrassing football looks like.

    For Sarkisian, that memory was made fresh by his return to the same visitor’s locker room on Saturday. He thought back to those somber nights when his debut season was falling apart.

    “This was a tough scene,” Sarkisian said. “I think that was a moment when the program started to change after that. That was a long week for us in that year. That was a tough night to endure. So to come back on our farewell tour and get some redemption here is a big one.”

    On Saturday night, 15 of Texas’ starters were players who were freshmen and sophomores back in 2021, sitting on that bus, hurting from that loss. They agree that Davis’ tirade ultimately became a turning point. “It had to be said,” safety Jerrin Thompson said. “I feel like it woke a lot of things up.” The program wasn’t instantly fixed from that day forward. In fact, Texas hit a new low the following week with a home loss to Kansas.

    But at the end of that brutal 5-7 campaign, the Longhorns cleaned house. They had 21 scholarship players — one-quarter of their roster — hit the (expletive) portal. The right ones stayed. But fixing this program didn’t just require stockpiling more top-five recruiting classes. It required continuity, consistency and an earnest attempt at a better culture. Ever since it put a stop to that six-game slide, Texas has the best record in the Big 12 at 19-6.

    Sarkisian admits that, in a strange way, he’s actually glad the video leaked. He’ll never apologize for Davis’ passion. “The fact that people remember that, I think, is a good thing,” he said. He nodded to Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte in the postgame press conference and said he jokes with Davis that Del Conte may soon have a statue of the assistant installed at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. It took a lot more tough love and hard coaching to get this program pointed in the right direction. And they now have definitive proof that, in Year 3, they’ve built up a veteran team that’s laudably tight-knit and legitimately tough.

    Texas had lost three of its last four games in this stadium. Saturday was the 12-year anniversary of one of the greatest upsets in Big 12 history: Iowa State spoiling No. 2 Oklahoma State’s national championship hopes with a double-overtime stunner. The Longhorns weren’t going down like that.

    This game provided a few plays that would’ve totally derailed past Texas teams. An 85-yard punt return touchdown by Xavier Worthy was called back by a penalty. So was a 23-yard touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell. Worthy lost a fumble in the red zone to kill another drive. Texas only led 6-3 at halftime. There were injuries and officiating issues and all those little things that lesser Longhorn teams would’ve pointed to as reasons why they found a way to lose this game.

    Instead, this was another culture win for a Texas team that isn’t afraid to win close games. And on this night, it was Davis’ crew that powered the fight. His line, led by defensive tackles T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II, controlled the Cyclones from start to finish. Nine rushing yards allowed. Three sacks. A blocked extra point taken all the way back for a 3-point swing. They were just flat-out bigger and better.

    “When it comes to Coach Bo and the D-line, we’re stopping the run,” Murphy said. “We’re killing the run no matter what.”

    They were already motivated for this one after the beatdown in 2021. Then Iowa State guard Jarrod Hufford fired them up on Tuesday by telling reporters that the Longhorns are “just humans that have a high ego that needs to be checked” with one final loss before their move to the SEC. “I don’t think they really know what’s going to be coming for them,” Hufford declared. Sark responded by making Murphy and Sweat captains for the game. Why? So he could send them to midfield before kickoff.

    “I wanted them to look at No. 90 and No. 93,” he said.

    If you want to keep calling Texas soft, you’re going to have a problem with them. Hufford saw them in the backfield plenty over the next three hours. Davis has trained them to be not just disruptive rushers and run stoppers up front but also tone setters in Texas’ locker room. They refused to let this team lose.

    “Last time I was here, I got my butt kicked,” Murphy said. “I was just telling my teammates I didn’t come all the way back here to have that same feeling again. When we got here, we knew what we had to do.”

    Earlier this month, Sweat appeared on a podcast with former Longhorn Alex Okafor and was asked about that moment on the bus. He grinned and couldn’t resist finally confessing the truth: Sweat was the one who was laughing in the back of the bus.

    People cope with tough moments in different ways, he reasoned, and he was a sophomore backup who didn’t know better. A teammate said something funny. He laughed. “And I laughed hard, bro,” Sweat added. “I’m the one who got him fired up.”

    And now he’s all grown up, a 6-foot-4, 362-pound force and a program leader playing at an All-American level. After all they’ve gone through together and all they’ve proven so far this season, Sweat and his squad have earned the right to laugh as loud as they want.

    “Five-star culture vs. five-star players,” Sarkisian said. “Well, now we have both.”

     

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  2. 3 hours ago, Al_4_ISU said:

    Our beer scene is great.  Surprised to see a general negativity about Midwestern beer though.  Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Illinois all have some seriously excellent breweries.

    Not being negative about it, it's just more of a personal, regional preference. I think I was more shocked by the sheer number of breweries in Iowa. This is from the Iowa Taproom in Des Moines and I'm pretty sure every one of those handles is an Iowa based brewery.

    IMG_0406 (1).jpeg

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  3. 7 hours ago, texifornia said:

    Iowa State's fashion program graduates a surprising amount of pretty girls that move to Brooklyn. That is my entire exposure to ISU grads.

    I work with a ridiculous number of Iowa and Iowa State alumni and I'll just say that the state of Iowa produces an inordinate number of pretty women. They also do craft beer well up there for a state in the proper midwest.

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  4. 1 hour ago, Codaxx said:

    Social media is the down fall of society. You used to be able to be a teenage jack off. Worst thing that happened was you got made fun of for a week, until the next jack-off stepped up. Now morons either record someone being a jack off or the dumbass records himself and posts it. I can’t imagine growing up in a world where there is a picture or video of everything you do. 

    What's even more ridiculous is that half the time the dumb fucks are filming themselves doing stupid shit.

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  5. 35 minutes ago, Al_4_ISU said:

    Toppling Goliath makes great beer, but there’s a lot more to Iowa beer than them.

    Which is why I said that Iowa has a surprising number of good craft breweries. Did a pub crawl through downtown Des Moines a couple of years ago and finished at the Iowa Tap Room. Every handle in this pic is local Iowa beer.

     

    49 minutes ago, Al_4_ISU said:

    Des Moines is awesome and has far more to offer but I’d recommend anyone going to Jack Trice to do the Ames thing. You get a much stronger read and appreciation for ISU.

    I attended the Texas game at Jack Trice in 2019 with several of the hundreds of ISU grads that I work with. Despite the loss, it was a good time for sure.

    IMG_0406.jpeg

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  6. 1 hour ago, Al_4_ISU said:

    Ames with Kids isn't something I'm super familiar with, as we didn't go there that often when I was a kid (being as my dad farmed) but I'll give it a shot.

    Golf courses: 

    -Homewood is the muni course.  Very reasonably priced, very family friendly.  Also popular with drunk college kids due to low cost. 

    -Veenker is the University course.  I'm not a big golfer, and I love the Venk. 

    -Coldwater is a links course that's right next to the Jack Trice tailgating area.  It's pretty highly regarded by golfers in the area and would make for a solid pre-game round on Saturday.

    Bars (keeping this to places I would take a kid): 

    -I don't know their kid policy, but Welch Ave Station in Campustown is in the basement of Pizza Pit, which is definitely kid friendly.  It's a venerable ISU sports bar that's been around forever, has great memorabilia on the wall, games on TV, good beer selection, and you can order in from Pizza Pit (get the Inferno Wings - pure deep fried deliciousness).

    -Es Tas is a Campustown sports bar as well.  It's tacos, while not authentic Mexican clearly, are fucking delicious.  They also have great fried cheese curds.  Whole menu is solid, but these are my favorites.  They have a very good beer list.

    -West Towne Pub:  if you're staying out in west Ames, this is a solid neighborhood option.  They do nothing exceptionally well, but everything is good.

    Ames bars just aren't really that kid friendly in general.  It's mostly wildly drunk college kids and/or alumni recreating their college years for a day.  If you want more bar recs, I can pass them on, but these are legitimately about the only bars I could think of off the top of my head that I'd be fine taking a kid to.

    Breweries (all kid friendly):

    -Alluvial is the premiere brewery in Ames, and legitimately one of the Top 5 or 10 in Iowa, which you may scoff at, but we legitimately punch above our weight on beer.  It's located on the north edge of town and has a beautiful taproom that sets on the edge of 40 acres of restored native prairie.  It's a really beautiful and uniquely Iowan setting, and their beer is fantastic.

    -Torrent is located in downtown Ames (a completely different neighborhood) from Campustown.  It's not an elite brewery, but it's got a fun tap room with lots of games that will keep a kid having a good time, and their beer is in the good-to-very good range.

    Restaurants:

    -Hickory Park.  I would almost never recommend this to anyone, but kids love it.  It's an iconic Ames spot that people used to call BBQ before they actually had BBQ.  It's main draw is having very reasonably priced decent food (their idea of BBQ is limited to ribs and smoked chicken, both are ok, but not worth your time).  The burgers are actually pretty good here, and the real draw for the kids is an extensive ice cream menu and the old school ice cream parlor within the place.  I avoid it because the food is just decent at best, it doesn't have a full bar, and it's just got a bit of a cattle shed vibe to the waiting room and seating.  Other people are going to tell you to go here, and they're going to rave about it because they don't know better.  I just want you making an informed decision.

    -Jethro's.  Across the road from Hickory Park.  Calls itself BBQ.  Don't order off the BBQ menu, it's very average.  Everything else (extensive salad, burger, sandwich, etc menu) is quite good, and their wings are exceptional.  Usually has a good beer selection, good mixed drinks, tons of games on, and is generally a fun atmosphere.  Their apps and sides are great and seem to go over well with kids.

    -Cornbred.  Legit BBQ based menu.  Kind of a higher end menu overall, excellent local beer selection, nice bar, family friendly, and cool downtown location in the old depot building right in downtown Ames.  Wife and I hit this place up nearly every visit to Ames.  Even a Texan will enjoy this meal.

    -Cafe Beaudelaire.  Brazilian place in Campustown.  Unique menu with some excellent burger options.  The Long Islands are legendary.  They've won Iowa's best burger before.  For good reason.

    -Brick City.  Standard American fare, good beer list, nice/newer part of town north of Campus.  They've also won Iowa's best burger before.  For good reason.

    -Great Plains Sauce & Dough.  Pizza joint downtown.  It was never my favorite, but most ISUers absolutely love it.  It's an iconic local spot and everyone dips the wheat crust in honey.

    -Grove Cafe.  Old school breakfast joint downtown.

    -West Street Deli.  Neighborhood sandwich joint in West Ames.  I lived 2 blocks from here my last year in Ames and probably survived because of it.  Damn delicious, perfect for lunch.

    Stuff to check out:

    -Reiman Gardens:  beautiful botanical garden adjacent to Jack Trice.  Big hit with the kids, and just a really cool place in general.  Worth your time to wander around and take in.

    -Central Campus:  Iowa State's campus is absolutely gorgeous.  The central part in particular has a park-like feel with the large open lawn and campanile between 2 of the older buildings on campus.  The south end is framed by the Memorial Union and Lake LaVerne.  Go hassle the swans.  You will be behind peak leaf season, but early November is still usually fantastic weather.  The Jack Trice statue and memorial are here.  Very worth your time.  The Memorial Union is kind of an ISU museum/gathering space.  Kick around there a bit.

    -Tornado simulator:  Exactly what it sounds like.  The tornado simulator is located on campus in Howe Hall.  Apparently you can make an appointment to see it.  "Access is by appointment only. Call (515) 294-5666 or email aere-info@iastate.edu." per websit

    -Tailgating.  Our tailgating scene is awesome.  Just wander around.  People will feed you and give you alcohol.  There might be a couple of "horns down" but it will almost assuredly be in jest.  We generally have no beef with Texas.

    -Ledges State Park:  about 15 miles west of town, Ledges is situated around a canyon that dumps into the Des Moines river.  Lots of beautiful sandstone bluffs and small streams.  It's a great place to go for a hike and explore.

     

    This is what I'd suggest for doing with kids in tow.  

    I didn't go to school at ISU, and I'm not from there, but I spend an inordinate amount of time in Ames. I'd say, in general, you're better off spending time in the Des Moines and Ankeny areas, but if you must . . . 

     

    Hickory Park is fucking awful - don't eat there. Same for Jethro's. I haven't been to Cornbred, but there's a little place in a town called Luther about 30 minutes outside of Ames called Whatcha Smokin' that's pretty legit BBQ.

    Brick City does have good hamburgers.

    Best restaurant in town is Provisions Lot F, hands down. There are very few good restaurants in Ames and there are much better choices in Des Moines or even Ankeny.

    Iowa has a surprising number of good craft breweries. If you're going to drink anything, get something from Toppling Goliath.

  7. 1 hour ago, Butch Had Not said:

    She had the Rona a month ago. No issues at that time. 

    If she’s been diagnosed as type 1 diabetic, which seems likely, there is no cure or recovery. They’re not sure what causes it, but it’s believed that it is triggered by the body’s attempt to fight off a virus.

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  8. 1 hour ago, markstanco said:

    I was at the Rose bowl vs michigan. My (now) wife and i went alone, and pre partied with about 10ish Michigan fans parked next to us. They were awesome. Also, post game, we were parked on the golf course way up north and knew it would take some time to get out. Partied with them some more.

    Michigan fans, from my brief encounter, seem like actual humans.

    The wife and I had a similar experience at the Fiesta Bowl in ‘09. Two drunk Michigan fans next to us and OSU fans in front of us. Ended up partnering up with the Michigan dudes to bank a shit ton of beers for when they stopped selling at the beginning of the fourth quarter and then started shit with the OSU fans the moment Quan hit the end zone. I saw those guys on the way out propping each other up. Pretty likely that they went to jail that night.

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