tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69094566809007145972024-02-07T11:50:59.256-08:00Snapping NecksKevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-45833071058497954572012-03-08T15:34:00.003-08:002012-03-08T15:46:07.478-08:00Pro Day #KevinBallingerForMrIrrelevantNow that I am student teaching, I have had less time to prepare for the upcoming pro day being held at Purdue. I have had to take a break from being my regular self, a real man's man; the type of man who lifts massive amounts of weight over his head, fights dragons or builds suspension bridges. Instead I have been spending my time shaping today's youth into <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT149"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT150">tomorrow</span></span>'s learned doctors one badminton lesson at a time. However, I have been able to hone my skills in several different areas, which I am really banking on helping me out for my workout at pro day. My soccer, badminton, basketball and kickball skills have never been at such a high level. During my prep you can find me in the gym shooting free throws with a woman's ball (because that's what I have tough guys and honestly its only 1 inch smaller in diameter so back off) preparing for my students inevitably to challenge me in a game of Tip-In-21 later in the day. I also have a couple of weights class but I elect not to lift with them so that I will not be sore for the big day. Have to be fresh when Jerry Jones and Zygi Wilf come breathing down my neck wanting a piece of this jelly.<br />
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Most guys trying to make it in the league play pretty hard during the season then elect to go away to a training facility to get right for the combine or their respective school's pro day. What I've always wondered was why don't these guys just work hard all the time instead of the few months they give themselves between the season and showtime? I'm trying a totally different approach to this pro day...<br />
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I will do the exact opposite of what everybody else does and not work at all between the end of the season and pro day. From what I've heard from nobody is that NFL teams really like guys who think outside of the box and one step ahead of his competition. All of my snaps from last season are well documented on film, so I see exactly zero reason to snap at pro day. These scouts are professionals, they know a good snapper when he walks in the door. 225 bench press max? Not for this guy. If they want to know how much I can bench they can just look at the record board for specialists as I currently hold the record for most reps at 225 and 1 rep max*. Vertical jump? Broad Jump? Look, if a long snapper needed to be able to jump high or long I wouldn't have made it this far. Wonderlic Test? They can just ask me, I'll tell them I got average grades. <br />
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But the one thing they haven't seen, the thing that is going to set me apart and be a game changer: The 40.<br />
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That's right folks, I plan on foregoing all tests and drills except for the 40. I haven't sprinted since bowl prep in December but I still feel I can produce a gentleman's sub 6 second dash and they will respect me for it. I already have my white tights laid out. No shirt or shorts necessary probably won't even wear socks (to cut down on wind resistance). Just me, my cleats and my fat gold rope chain that is going to look so baller bouncing on my chest when I set <a href="http://www.purduesports.com/facilities/mollenkopf-athletic-center.html">Mollenkopf</a> on fire.<br />
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I know I'm not a first round pick, I don't play a flashy enough position to be invited to Radio City Music Hall. That's fine. Like my pro day preparation, I am taking a different approach to this years NFL draft: I'm trying to be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Irrelevant">Mr. Irrelevant</a>. For those of you who don't know, Mr. Irrelevant is the last picked in the draft. Nobody really wants to be Mr. Irrelevant because if you are undrafted in the late rounds, you often have a choice of what team to go into camp with thus giving you a better chance to make the team. I want to be Mr. Irrelevant. Pick me. Just keep me long enough for the rookie show, trust me. Just trying to make my mark on Purdue by becoming the first from this great university to be Mr. Irrelevant. <br />
Give the people what they want. #KevinBallingerForMrIrrelevant<br />
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"PEACE IM OUT OF HERE" -BILLY MADISON<br />
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love you,<br />
Kevin "Hopefully the future Mr. Irrelevant" Ballinger<br />
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better blogs you should read:<br />
<a href="http://www.54balls.blogspot.com/">http://www.54balls.blogspot.com/</a> if you like sports and laughing<br />
<a href="http://www.charlieavocado.blogspot.com/">http://www.charlieavocado.blogspot.com/</a> if you like celebrities and laughing<br />
<a href="http://www.rubiosblog.com/">http://www.rubiosblog.com/</a> if you are into long snapping and/or snapping in college <br />
<br />
<a href="http://dballinger.com/Gallery/Gallery.html">http://dballinger.com/Gallery/Gallery.html</a> click here if you like awesome paintings and sports themed art and stuff <br />
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*Last summer was the first year Purdue started recording records. Therefore, a lot of records were broken last summer. Actually, all of them were set and broken at the same time.Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-42017000280720171012012-01-25T14:21:00.000-08:002012-01-25T15:00:21.210-08:00Workout UpdateI know what you all are wondering and yes, my pre-combine workouts have been going great. I decided to continue my studies and train here at Purdue instead of go to a training facility like my agent wanted (LOLZ JK). Thanks to my new personal trainer/roommate Spencer Dawson, I worked out 4 whole days in a row once. I haven't been on to check in a while, but I'm really banking on my hunch that the NFL hasn't passed out all of their invitations to the combine yet. I haven't physically received mine yet, although I'm sure it is lost in the mail somewhere (I live in apartment B, a lot of my mail goes to A. its a whole thing). Also, it is possible that they haven't called yet because I haven't updated my contact info with the league in quite some time. I did recently get a new phone number senior year of high school. <br />
At night, Dawson and myself (and sometimes our roommate Dan Barry) take to the CoRec weight room located on our lovely campus. In some ways, a weight room open to all students is a billion times more intimidating than the football weight room. It is always crowded and we never get the machines we want. Of course we could go to Mollenkopf, but who wakes up and works out before 4pm? Not this guy.<br />
The weight room is virtually silent except for the sound of treadmills and weights hitting together because everybody is listening to their iP3 players and concentrating, which makes people who do weird things stick out even more. The first day we were there two guys got out a huge rope and started slamming them making extremely loud noises with ever rep they did. Ropes are a great workout and would totally make sense to use them if you were going to like, wrestle or UFC fight or apparently work out in an otherwise quiet room. I don't know, maybe I'm just upset because it took everybody's focus off of my 95lb military press (yeah ladies, that's almost 100lbs.). Also, Trainer Dawson makes us do dumb stuff like pull ups. Here's the thing Dawson, if I wanted to tone up I'd get a shake weight. I'm trying to look like the guys at the gym who clearly only do curls; from the research I've done, that's the direction the NFL is going in anyways. When Barry and myself had to hold each others feet so we could complete one rep, I could physically feel my pride hurting. I'm here to tell you that is not a good feeling. The gym is also a great place to see extremely attractive girls you'll never talk to and kids wearing weight lifting gloves. Apparently the bars there make your hands extra callusy, I guess I haven't really noticed the difference yet.<br />
The rest of my training consists of watching movies and searching the interweb for funny pictures of cats. <br />
As for training for snapping, I figure that will probably just take care of itself. I've done it enough already. Strikes all day. LEETTSS GOOOOOOOO<br />
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NFL Combine: 27 days<br />
NFL Draft: 87 days<br />
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#KevinBallingerforMrIrrelevant<br />
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By the way, I'm not an NCAA athlete anymore. So feel free to send me free stuff. I'll wear it. Swear I will. Best decision your company has ever made.Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-37487966138583960192012-01-08T13:28:00.000-08:002012-01-08T13:28:37.856-08:00Bowl Champs!It feels great to bowl champions! I started my career as a Detroit bowl champion (180 lbs) and ended my career as a Detroit bowl champion (236ish lbs). Circle of Life.<br />
The days spent in Detroit were extremely fun and packed. Detroit itself, despite what you might have heard or seen on tv, is the most depressing city I have ever spent time in. Every third building is abandoned and boarded up, however the buildings that are not destroyed are beautiful. The streets are littered with spectacular artwork and architecture, but that is mostly due to the streets being deserted.<br />
As I mentioned earlier, our time in Detroit was full with meetings and events we were required to attend. LOL JK! The offense and defense had a bunch of meetings, the specialists spent our time playing video games in the players lounge. One of the events the team was scheduled to attend was a luncheon on Christmas day with the other team. Let me preface this by saying Lloyd Carr spoke and it was one of the greatest speeches I have ever heard; but, whoever thought it was a good idea to have the two teams sit across from each other during lunch vastly underestimated the awkwardness that would ensue. Neither team said a word to each other, because both teams are classier than that. However, every time you would look up to try to get a glimpse of your competition you would make eye contact with someone on the other team trying to do the same. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SULsR9-lbw">Awkward turtle</a>. But, it gets better!<br />
Later that night both teams met up at the legendary Thuderbowl Lanes of Detroit for a friendly roll on the hard wood. Prior to arriving, a challenge was equally accepted by both teams for the four best bowlers of each team to square off and assert their dominance in the Game of Kings. After bowling a gentleman's 76 on my first game, I took a stroll down to see how our boys were doing. Turns out, Western Michigan had four professional bowlers on hand for such an occasion. After the first couple of frames, the scoreboard read Western Michigan "X" Purdue "-". I'm no PE teacher (yet) but I think that means they were winning. After seeing the first of our bowlers I knew we were in trouble. Kawann Short aka KK aka Best of Both Worlds was bowling for us; I could have swore I watched KK bowl a 90 right beside me for a warm up game. The games ended and nobody even bothered to check the scores because it was obvious who had won; good thing bowling in no way translates to football! HEYY OOOHH. #nailedit. After watching a few more rolls, I went back to my lane and we started to see how many balls we could roll down the lane at one time. Because that is what you do with unlimited bowling and no adult supervision. BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!<br />
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Ford Field is a great place for a football game; also a great place to embarrass the quarterbacks (Sean Robinson) by beating them in their own game involving throwing a ball into a bucket and the AD watching and asking out loud how the specialists are better than the quarterbacks. The actual game against Western Michigan was definitely an exciting one. We were able to execute two (of the worst ever kicked) surprise onside kicks as well as return a kickoff for a touchdown. Its not that I place more of an importance on special teams, it's just that I have no idea whats going on on offense or defense aside from the kids who are playing them. Personally the game went well for me; I either ended up on my back or on my face at the end of every play AND I was credited with my first career tackle. There was a mix up in the booth and the announcer said "45 Kevin Ballinger with the tackle," which is weird because I could have sworn my number was 46 and I was sitting on the bench when the announcement was made. Not how I always dreamed it would happen, but I'll take it.<br />
It was great to get a quality win against a good team like WMU to cap off an amazing senior season that at one time I never even dreamed I would get the chance to have. I'm proud to have had this opportunity and to call these teammates my brothers; it was the time of my life.<br />
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I would also like to take this time to officially put my name into the 2012 NFL Draft. Uh oh, looks like somebody has thrown a wrench into the first round of the draft! Eat your heart out Mel Kiper!!!!<br />
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Hail Purdue!<br />
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NFL Draft: 108 days<br />
Christmas: 351 daysKevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-64825509052675782932011-12-23T21:34:00.000-08:002011-12-23T21:34:09.358-08:00Detroit - City of AngelsAh, yes. Detroit. The City of Brotherly Love. I cannot type to you how excited I am for this trip with the team. I feel like Detroit has been given a bad rap as of late and I could not disagree more. Let's think about his people, if Detroit didn't exist, where would we get cars? Space? I don't think so. So maybe think about that next time you're driving your shiny new Prius. Maybe throw out a thanks to the Windy City of Detroit, Michigan for all it has done for you and asked nothing in return.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">You're welcome, world. -Detroit</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am just going to come out and say it right now, I couldn't be more excited for the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl. I have had many $5 Hot and Readies from the local Little Caesar's and let me tell you something, they are most delicious. If the bowl is half as fun as their affordable pizza is delicious, we are in for a treat. </div><br />
ATTENTION EVERYBODY, I HAVE JUST BEEN PASSED A VERY URGENT AND DISTURBING BIT OF NEWS: THERE HAS BEEN A FORMAL CHALLENGE OF DANCE BETWEEN MYSELF AND WESTERN MICHIGAN SNAPPER NICK MONAGHAN.<br />
Christmas night, Thunderbowl Bowling Lanes, dance floor. LEEETTSSS GOOOOOOO!!<br />
This, folks, is sure to be a dance off of the ages. I have known Nick for about 2 years now through Chris Rubio Long Snapping Camps, and in a way I view him as the little brother I never had. Nick reminds me a lot of myself: young, attractive, debonair, humble, Physical Education major, long snapper, likes to have a good time. Having said this, I cannot wait to put him to shame in front of God and everybody. Video sure to come. <br />
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I am excited to have the opportunity to end my career like I started it, in Detroit Rock City with my teammates having the time of our lives. I am looking forward to the game and high fiving as many people as possible while I live up the last few days of being an "athlete!"<br />
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Hail Purdue<br />
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Western Michigan: 3 days<br />
Christmas: 1 dayKevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-28480265306222100842011-12-08T15:54:00.000-08:002011-12-08T15:54:23.731-08:00Picture Slide Show of Past Five (5) Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I have asked people for blog idea's (by the way if you have them, send them my way. k thanks bai) and one keeps being requested, a picture show of how I have changed over the past 5 years. The idea of a picture-ography is mostly brought up by my closest friends who have seen me change. I never really noticed until I went through my Facebook pictures to get ideas for this post, I used to be super skinny. I would have cut me too if I was the coach. Know that these 60 lbs of man meat have not come easy, it has been a rough and delicious journey. As you take a look at these pictures, I want you to look at two things: 1. how much bigger my stomach gets. 2. how much my arms stay skinny and weak and wussy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS7sUDNtY8Op3dxRjEKhqh0yr_AP7VlmJg5BRSg7tthQohJLBQThWtGnRoBV5TwAg3_y9wJFxMcJm9SDUP-4PUIT-eLMWzfahQAwM0pqOLLeTLjGIa2s9YuZL1lRx-ayXItVZ72Fa-GQ/s1600/263076_10150205454776048_597236047_7141007_820826_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS7sUDNtY8Op3dxRjEKhqh0yr_AP7VlmJg5BRSg7tthQohJLBQThWtGnRoBV5TwAg3_y9wJFxMcJm9SDUP-4PUIT-eLMWzfahQAwM0pqOLLeTLjGIa2s9YuZL1lRx-ayXItVZ72Fa-GQ/s320/263076_10150205454776048_597236047_7141007_820826_n.jpg" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkm8Wj5IGJ1s2Xv4qNeN-XGdihoNSVKTdPHNlHPoMX6vmsRsN-JQRk9irMkqjI6OhpzsIYW3VTyHIUMBZhW1B3wrZE-pJf2fCjf5AIizdLXEU3UB5aHrOESeQFyaesx6V4xa5_Vu03Gko/s1600/215459_4339230521_535080521_191244_8859_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkm8Wj5IGJ1s2Xv4qNeN-XGdihoNSVKTdPHNlHPoMX6vmsRsN-JQRk9irMkqjI6OhpzsIYW3VTyHIUMBZhW1B3wrZE-pJf2fCjf5AIizdLXEU3UB5aHrOESeQFyaesx6V4xa5_Vu03Gko/s320/215459_4339230521_535080521_191244_8859_n.jpg" width="122" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngJSWoxaaPnwGJcLEYrfZOyL_ypbmVcDjaSOZ9dEV3dN5d8JjXNqHupSOdOHxKIKDs8JgazJtZb9HspZNRRsQDDfrkzkEhDiEOpQuNqpR4zOpa0-YRqLPta1uKThPnUQUEq8oHrwaLCE/s1600/228267_5203976047_597236047_172071_9902_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngJSWoxaaPnwGJcLEYrfZOyL_ypbmVcDjaSOZ9dEV3dN5d8JjXNqHupSOdOHxKIKDs8JgazJtZb9HspZNRRsQDDfrkzkEhDiEOpQuNqpR4zOpa0-YRqLPta1uKThPnUQUEq8oHrwaLCE/s320/228267_5203976047_597236047_172071_9902_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> These are a few pictures of me in high school, just to show how skinny I was. I threw in the picture of me with the painted face because people always ask about it and to show how badass I (thought) I was. Despite painting my face, we lost that game. I know, weird.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoDZUUgdtJsc-7pCeuEuFBAJudHfODroviWE3-cq6Q9PSyz_NawX4Km37VyFwu3Lx1h7kaG8dJhhwchnUJaQh7Lfs5B7lxEbkWT2D1U0taanJZBeIaI4uFfK0XoR_uOaDMvx8oDd3HWo/s1600/n1164480198_31256815_6196982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoDZUUgdtJsc-7pCeuEuFBAJudHfODroviWE3-cq6Q9PSyz_NawX4Km37VyFwu3Lx1h7kaG8dJhhwchnUJaQh7Lfs5B7lxEbkWT2D1U0taanJZBeIaI4uFfK0XoR_uOaDMvx8oDd3HWo/s320/n1164480198_31256815_6196982.jpg" width="161" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGDETLTxAQRiaEuVSsagApvumqfb0U4Zz-VpN3ckMycE60Bo5QBDv43rWiniR2dKihi78QYT67Zr7buTNjlPpWd9UqLSbOzaFUSahszc10ljLmKwL-ZuG95lHrRc6xQ2JBhld9okC04U/s1600/n13727649_42151235_9171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGDETLTxAQRiaEuVSsagApvumqfb0U4Zz-VpN3ckMycE60Bo5QBDv43rWiniR2dKihi78QYT67Zr7buTNjlPpWd9UqLSbOzaFUSahszc10ljLmKwL-ZuG95lHrRc6xQ2JBhld9okC04U/s320/n13727649_42151235_9171.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHU7-6V9wbGLED22UEf1WENwdvA-i0DD4v3kMjo4bsUstIX-6ov34GqxdDRA-iEheEIVYTS7hh1JeRuXBlZAtrNcKGL-UgrTX4l3OvTuCCvl8WDhQFqkeGaYFjgTgds9UYWPF6Xr_44E/s1600/206426_5228376269_685736269_194049_7419_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHU7-6V9wbGLED22UEf1WENwdvA-i0DD4v3kMjo4bsUstIX-6ov34GqxdDRA-iEheEIVYTS7hh1JeRuXBlZAtrNcKGL-UgrTX4l3OvTuCCvl8WDhQFqkeGaYFjgTgds9UYWPF6Xr_44E/s320/206426_5228376269_685736269_194049_7419_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These three pictures are of me my first or second year of college? Can't really be sure. 6'3" 185 lbs (maybe). </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4RjYLII3KayHmoTsHnuAgmEUrNZbvIoV-JSFkyQVBMNd0H8Tzx7hG-wiJDHn6lSt7PKbwNgWfYsaJ4owOMXrmyTmCEDIW7vh9SAtTV5e790d8xD2iw2G-Nrvrm1h5T-KAZODZ6SJHhw/s1600/17080_914473380988_13727649_51110528_7730859_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4RjYLII3KayHmoTsHnuAgmEUrNZbvIoV-JSFkyQVBMNd0H8Tzx7hG-wiJDHn6lSt7PKbwNgWfYsaJ4owOMXrmyTmCEDIW7vh9SAtTV5e790d8xD2iw2G-Nrvrm1h5T-KAZODZ6SJHhw/s320/17080_914473380988_13727649_51110528_7730859_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture is in here just to show a little bit of a progression of the ensuing gut coming on. These are baby rolls compared to today. 210 lbs.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AKMZ1u2biQF33jtAn5RE1k_7dIO7uX9KiXC5RD0gK5aXzgyEnNFX6LIQXroBPeKZFptm9Wra0LberTpy0HXxS3x599XrLuwvCdxGt-62m5g2Mow1UvkVlWSGB__WIagkwJSjmVJomIg/s1600/23574_968615305138_13727649_52733265_2407558_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AKMZ1u2biQF33jtAn5RE1k_7dIO7uX9KiXC5RD0gK5aXzgyEnNFX6LIQXroBPeKZFptm9Wra0LberTpy0HXxS3x599XrLuwvCdxGt-62m5g2Mow1UvkVlWSGB__WIagkwJSjmVJomIg/s320/23574_968615305138_13727649_52733265_2407558_n.jpg" width="243" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilw6urk9wlOovCo9XAQeJUj5B3rcg5D05FAyP42b4bqAcpS1rCEEJsBoukRSrvDFB0McSoDJNePkT3klyt_Mlt5eXyEG94nY37qRvBdPcpzc-39bo-151UQ9oVKOomzswMelOIcF5BQJ0/s1600/24728_946322694708_13746297_51990904_4487383_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilw6urk9wlOovCo9XAQeJUj5B3rcg5D05FAyP42b4bqAcpS1rCEEJsBoukRSrvDFB0McSoDJNePkT3klyt_Mlt5eXyEG94nY37qRvBdPcpzc-39bo-151UQ9oVKOomzswMelOIcF5BQJ0/s320/24728_946322694708_13746297_51990904_4487383_n.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIV6gMKYLoazKIoN406-J5yK2-croEP-K-A8coh4hrREEPn_zo1P8K7mt8Je3e0R3ZuPH6ujC0Xl3x_RpXv1EUxt-wmG3TTuWnWEZHrsbgSw_i7JGKJFGv-mvba047He1zbf16BfBvfg8/s1600/29040_1340047381690_1246343533_30892215_348938_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIV6gMKYLoazKIoN406-J5yK2-croEP-K-A8coh4hrREEPn_zo1P8K7mt8Je3e0R3ZuPH6ujC0Xl3x_RpXv1EUxt-wmG3TTuWnWEZHrsbgSw_i7JGKJFGv-mvba047He1zbf16BfBvfg8/s320/29040_1340047381690_1246343533_30892215_348938_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These three pictures were Junior year-ish? I went through a dumb phase of shaving my head. Although it is hard to tell, the stomach/thighs are slowly but surly growing. Fast. 215 lbs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHKC_1dTo2mmgucJmC_HCkIsxVeS0mas2MnIqTwowWsFDM5h1NMVE2zq2uR2LttHYDyNShF2xl_XAVpjl74-eE5Q9_5Sec4l15jyXzQYnD3B2OAEus_5baiGwQrOWE5VazIL3YC60IF0/s1600/36414_10100112211339508_13727649_54406992_365378_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHKC_1dTo2mmgucJmC_HCkIsxVeS0mas2MnIqTwowWsFDM5h1NMVE2zq2uR2LttHYDyNShF2xl_XAVpjl74-eE5Q9_5Sec4l15jyXzQYnD3B2OAEus_5baiGwQrOWE5VazIL3YC60IF0/s320/36414_10100112211339508_13727649_54406992_365378_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we go. Starting to put on that weight the ladies love. Stomach fat. 220 lbs. (I know the guy on the left looks great. That's D1 quarterback Spencer Dawson. And yes ladies, he is single)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0Ryz2HL4dHSJJb1Gm9sEBNuM_q6AGOOH5a6ivQm0lpeJTHauXfRMxVPON4UEOLEKYiRDnTQYGil4LmQViRcws8iM26rTWXv4SE4jAIhpAzeP6wdY0mUbHhHdk0R0EOYCZPL8opiFWzc/s1600/64966_1448392646873_1144890081_31071316_1645385_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0Ryz2HL4dHSJJb1Gm9sEBNuM_q6AGOOH5a6ivQm0lpeJTHauXfRMxVPON4UEOLEKYiRDnTQYGil4LmQViRcws8iM26rTWXv4SE4jAIhpAzeP6wdY0mUbHhHdk0R0EOYCZPL8opiFWzc/s320/64966_1448392646873_1144890081_31071316_1645385_n.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Party pouch in full force. I'm standing straight up and it is sticking out, that's when you know it's good. White jerseys are not the most flattering. Black is more slimming. Ask John Finch, he'll tell you. 220 lbs-ish.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN8uDum6G7dvFjFdVMOBmtugJRrN6CRlTns3a9AWpVt9eKsMXHNo4ZEAGUmxGCgvu1YDU-lq1Zwim-2z2BNzQxtVZHKNL6H9zZdb5CNe_VmfEBVcNN8n9hRVbE5kV0HoOaot8D8-DlSQ/s1600/188200_10150167909146613_506636612_8341850_1544304_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN8uDum6G7dvFjFdVMOBmtugJRrN6CRlTns3a9AWpVt9eKsMXHNo4ZEAGUmxGCgvu1YDU-lq1Zwim-2z2BNzQxtVZHKNL6H9zZdb5CNe_VmfEBVcNN8n9hRVbE5kV0HoOaot8D8-DlSQ/s320/188200_10150167909146613_506636612_8341850_1544304_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The picture is smashed and I don't know how to change it, but let me tell you it's not far off. I'm glad I had the extra weight for stomping on communism (pictured). I'm going to guess 225 lbs. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2MHcYs_FNLofvsftbsI6llb5mVV6f6Je9HbNZ-sNHVMrcNI4lHTKgcNBk6A96AS1lp0BC4BT61nV_C0cTyjbJ_a1KupA0kiNtZefOAQBT9jUK01Z_jNdxaXnz-mlMvgvXKRjXG5gx1c/s1600/268390_10150276364230572_604925571_9159444_3582980_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2MHcYs_FNLofvsftbsI6llb5mVV6f6Je9HbNZ-sNHVMrcNI4lHTKgcNBk6A96AS1lp0BC4BT61nV_C0cTyjbJ_a1KupA0kiNtZefOAQBT9jUK01Z_jNdxaXnz-mlMvgvXKRjXG5gx1c/s320/268390_10150276364230572_604925571_9159444_3582980_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At this point, I have been doing curls for about 15 years and this is what I have to show for it. Some people just got it, others blog. 230 lbs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaa_aaXUr-fFU6NniNgzjpdcNRwxtDZT7f1vIjADEIs4sfJyE54bLA-a__6kozDNqQhDfO3fP7mC8CBw2-KOBc5DBD5gD85t6cdztOkTJe1Nu95gQwB10kjibYnpL4l5W_iModesUYP8/s1600/302048_10150451353002040_616177039_10804329_1752023104_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaa_aaXUr-fFU6NniNgzjpdcNRwxtDZT7f1vIjADEIs4sfJyE54bLA-a__6kozDNqQhDfO3fP7mC8CBw2-KOBc5DBD5gD85t6cdztOkTJe1Nu95gQwB10kjibYnpL4l5W_iModesUYP8/s320/302048_10150451353002040_616177039_10804329_1752023104_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although the eyes go straight to my hair (as it should) be sure to meander down to the stomach. Another view of standing straight up/gut showing. LLFG (Ladies Love Fat Guts). 235 lbs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhweoSxrxLjqr_Sc8lD9ADDRYpC3kcw4QqG880V0U663SRFpLuidbq3s4jCCmA-Qz0f502Qh__pRoDPPJTPIXcyD1GR2OpHH6SoiB0A9eEL1DXhmoGmIdRwWyoN9n5GqptoBsGAyeHWQ/s1600/385004_2280238762506_1144890081_32010155_1616247008_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhweoSxrxLjqr_Sc8lD9ADDRYpC3kcw4QqG880V0U663SRFpLuidbq3s4jCCmA-Qz0f502Qh__pRoDPPJTPIXcyD1GR2OpHH6SoiB0A9eEL1DXhmoGmIdRwWyoN9n5GqptoBsGAyeHWQ/s320/385004_2280238762506_1144890081_32010155_1616247008_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard to see in this picture but those pants on me might as well be tights on my thighs. But hey, at least we have the bucket and mustaches. 237 lbs. </td></tr>
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Hope you enjoyed this stroll down memory lane as much as I did. You probably didn't. That's fine. I don't like looking at pictures of other people either. That goes along with reading. Woof.<br />
Like I said before, to both of my readers, if you want to read about something I will very much consider all suggestions. Any players you want on Booty's corner? I guess it doesn't have to be a football player? If there are enough questions directed at me I guess I could do an episode of Booty's corner on myself? What I'm saying here is, I am a man of the people and I'll give the people what they want. <br />
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Little Caesars Bowl: 18 Days<br />
Christmas: 16 Days<br />
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<3 Kevin<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-90946041263507023982011-12-06T11:19:00.000-08:002011-12-06T11:19:37.832-08:00Little Caesars Bowl? SOUNDS DELICIOUS!Purdue is going to a bowl and that totallyfreakingrules.com. Looks like Christmas has been moved to Detroit this year and I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to spend a few more weeks with some of my closest friends pretending I'm a real athlete! In the City of Lights no less!<br />
Because the regular season has ended, our coaching staff has given us a few extra days off; these few days got me thinking about my past five years at Purdue and I cannot help but smile and be thankful for my time here and memories made. I also cannot help but think about how this is a perfect time to drop some knowledge on you jabronis so you don't make the same mistakes I did. <br />
Here are some things I've learned/wish I would have done/done differently over the past 5 years (in no particular order):<br />
<ol><li>I wish I would have gotten into contact with <a href="http://chrissailerkicking.com/long-snapping/instruction.html">Chris Rubio</a> earlier. Like middle school. Rubio has been a huge help throughout these past few years in both snapping and life. He sends so many of his long snapping campers to D1 programs it's stupid. Maybe had I worked with him earlier I wouldn't be one of two 5th year walk-on's (Sup Spencer Dawson??!??). But then again, I probably wouldn't be at Purdue now. I take it back, I'm glad I'm mediocre and a 5th year walk on because I'm so happy at Purdue it should be illegal.</li>
<li>I absolutely should have carried a mini microphone around with me at all times to record conversations between John Finch and myself during practice (but not during games because he is waaayyy too focused for that, which I guess is in no way a bad thing). I don't mean to brag but we could have put those into a podcast and easily have acquired somewhere between 7-16 followers by now. TAKE THAT NPR!! </li>
<li>I should have started my blog earlier. Like when I thought how it would be a good idea about 3 years ago. </li>
<li>My mom asked me about 2 years ago if I wanted a meal plan at the dining court even though I lived off campus. I said no. HUGE mistake. </li>
<li>I wish I would have not been so shy my freshman year. People ask me how my freshman year was, I explain to them that I had no friends because I was shy (shocking) and didn't talk to anybody. 100% my fault. </li>
<li>I'm glad I gained weight to allow me to play, but maybe I should have gone with the muscle weight gain option as opposed to the quicker and tastier option of fat. C'est La Vie. </li>
<li>I should have definitely talked to at least A girl. </li>
<li>I should have never have cut my hair. A 5 year mane would have brought all the boys to the yard for sure.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l16Mx_bnj4">LARP</a>. I should have LARP'ed more. (Live Action Role Playing).</li>
<li>I've given out plenty of high 5's but I could have always given out more. </li>
</ol>I have the intention to blog more than once a week starting now. But I'm going to be real with you, that probs won't happen. Only time will tell!<br />
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Little Caesars Bowl vs. Western Michigan: 21 days<br />
Christmas: 19 Days<br />
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<3 Kevin Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-26162258985508465942011-11-24T19:52:00.000-08:002011-11-24T19:52:00.916-08:00SpanksgivingToday, currently, as I am writing this crappy blog, it is Thanksgiving 2011. The annual celebration of when America was freed from the <span style="background-color: black; color: white;">tyranny</span> of England. Probably.<br />
I was fortunate enough to see my family today and meet my new niece Eleanor (Ellie, El, Ella, we're still not sure. kinda feeling her out first.) who turned 7 days old today, even though my dad didn't want me to. Here is a rough idea of how the phone conversation went Wednesday night.<br />
Me: Hey dad, I think I am going to come home tomorrow.<br />
Dad: Weeeellll....you'll only be able to be home for a few hours...<br />
Me: Yeah, but it'll be worth it. I'll get to see everybody and I haven't met Ellie yet.<br />
Dad: You got any gas money?<br />
Me: Nope.<br />
Dad: Then how are you going to get home?<br />
So yeah, that got me pumped. Obviously my dad wanted me to be able to come home for Thanksgiving. He was just being practical. He was economical. I respect that. Still came home. BOOM. I DO WHAT I WANT!<br />
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The drive home got me thinking about all of the stuffs I have to be thankful for. The list is endless but I'll try to just hit some highlights:<br />
<ul><li>No more math classes. Ever. Not sure if you've heard but math is stupid and is very impractical to learn. At any level. Ever.</li>
<li>Long Snapping. This position gives people like me the ability to play pretend and act like athletes for a while, which is pretty awesome sauce.</li>
<li>Mustaches. What better way to get and keep the attention of the ladies? No better way. </li>
<li>Being born a man. Literally almost nothing to worry about but where our next meal is coming from. I took a Women's Health class this summer (required. perverts) and OH MY LANTA. Kudos to all the women out there. Mad respect.</li>
<li>Cars. Seriously where would we be without cars? Probably still in Europe fighting off the Mongols in the midst of the 46the Crusade.</li>
<li>Smart Phones. How else am I supposed to play Euchre during class?</li>
<li>My readers. Both you guys make it all worth it! I am flabbergasted by how many people actually take time out of their schedules to read what I have written. Seriously. You rule. Yeah you. Right there. With the face and the eyes.</li>
<li>Star Wars. Taught me to dream big. Pretty self explanatory there.</li>
<li>All of the smart people out there. Sometimes I like to think about what the world would be like if I was the smartest person ever. We wouldn't have anything cool. I'm still not 100% sure how to write a blog let alone invent a computer. So thanks smart people. Thank you Leonardo Einstein. Thank you George Washington Carver. I would high-five both of you extremely hard if possible. </li>
<li>Last but not least, thank you to the athletes who give it all for the team and get no recognition from anybody for it. I'm talking about guys (and girls) like Colton McKey who have been unlucky with injuries almost their whole career. So much that they had to stop playing the games they love. Thanks dudes and dudettes. </li>
</ul>For the Ohio State game I decided to channel my inner Allen Iverson and cornrow my hair. Mom always said if you got it, flaunt it...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it is important to keep your hands perfectly moist during games, hence the towel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just puttin' out the vibe</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">awesome picture from after the game sent to me by @taryntaylor. i like it a lot so i made it the biggest. not a lot of people knew who i was after the game but i sure got a lot of awesome looks.</td></tr>
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As was explained in my last blog entry, last week was senior day at Ross-Ade Stadium. When I was announced I managed to further embarrass myself by attempting the Ray Lewis pre-game dance. He looks waaayyy more athletic when he does it. Shocking.<br />
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Indiana: 1 Day<br />
Christmas: 31 Days<br />
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Lets get the Bucket back! All Hail.Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-61362221728280046802011-11-17T18:37:00.000-08:002011-11-17T18:37:27.891-08:00Welcome To My Crib/Senior Week<div style="text-align: center;">You want to know how a long snapper lives? Feast your eyes on this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/SOT1AvO28b4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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I have watched my fellow 21 seniors grow up right before my eyes. I love all these guys and I have a different relationship with all of them which I will try to explain in the following sentences without getting too emotional... <br />
<br />
Austin Moret- Aside from being my only Jewish friend, we both love music and talking about girls we almost talked to. We have had many conversations on both topics.<br />
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Brad Neimeier- Easily the nicest human on Earth. I have heard a lot of complaining in my life but never from him. Not only is he one of my sideline buddies (guys I talk to on the sidelines) he makes the best pizza EVER. Great human. Better friend. Betterer beard.<br />
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Spencer Dawson- Roommate. It has been said that we have man-crushes on each other. He wishes. <br />
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Adam Brockman- Brock and I share a common love for everything manly. The only difference between us is he actually lives the life and I just like to act like I do.We sit beside each other in the team meetings AND we share a common former basketball coach. Small world.<br />
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DeVarro Greaves- I have learned so much from this kid in the locker room. Some things I wanted to know, others not so much. As I've said before, greatest smack talker I've ever met. The kid brings the wood every play, every practice.<br />
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Dan Berry- Another roommate. Possibly the dirtiest. Its hard not to love him and his hairy self.<br />
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James Shepherd- The Bruce and I have recently grown much closer. He's one of those guys who would do anything for anybody, especially if that something is play NCAA football on 360.<br />
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Charlton Williams- Al (Arms and Legs) sits accross from me in the locker room. He puts up with Dawson and myself asking him daily questions about being black. Great guy.<br />
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Joe Holland- By far the (book) smartest person on the team. Joe will always have a special place in my heart for his heroic play against Norwell in the 2006 Class 3A Football State Championship. Pretty sure we have discussed every possible scenario for anything that could ever happen ever during pre-practice stretch.<br />
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Robert Marve- Great leader. Unbelievable arm strength. Great guy to talk smack to because he'll always have a come back.<br />
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Justin Siller- Sill and I like to go back and forth and make fun of each other about who we look like. I say he looks like Terrell Owens, he says I look like Brad Pitt. Maybe.<br />
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Carson Wiggs- One of my best friends. This kid will be in my wedding some day. He can kick the ball good.<br />
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Chris Carlino- Hands down the best football player I have ever seen. Great hair. Great 'stache. <br />
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Kurt Lichtenberg- Always will hold a special place in my heart as a fellow Fall '07 walk on. Always high energy. Great musician. Awesome guy. We like to share stories about reporters asking us questions exclusively about someone else.<br />
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Jared Crank- Great guy to talk to, always has something funny to say. Body of a God.<br />
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Albert Evans- We had lockers beside each other for a winter/spring once. He never kept his stuff on his side. Other than that, great guy.<br />
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Gerald Gooden- Big. Strong. Always cool headed. Philosophical leader of the team.<br />
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Waynelle Gravesande- Best hands I have ever seen. I am at ease when he is returning punts. Always in an argument about Kobe vs. Lebron.<br />
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Nick Mondek- I think Nick has been in every class of mine for the past 2 years. Not mad about it. Nick knows a lot about me and I know a lot about Nick. Maybe too much...<br />
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Sean Matti- I think about Matti every day. Huge loss for the team and community. I know he loved his family and this team so much. He's with us all every day, especially this week. <br />
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Logan Link- Stretch buddy. Hair buddy. What I wouldn't do for that bod.<br />
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Dennis Kelly- Just a large chunk of man. Awesome guy to talk to, good friend. Also one of those guys who likes to pretend their NCAA '11 game on XBox is real life.<br />
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<br />
I was recently informed I was nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy which is awarded to the "most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk on." I know how hard the walk on's at Purdue work and I have no doubt it isn't any different around the country. I am honored to even be on the list. I also doubt the committee looked very hard into my list of football accomplishments. Still a huge honor. Thank you Burlsworth Trophy committee.<br />
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On Monday's the Coach Hope Radio Show is broadcast live from Fuzzy's Tacos in West Lafayette so my roommates and I went for the $1 tacos. I was fortunate enough for Coach to take my question during the show. Mrs. Hope was able to snap a few pictures of me and my 15 seconds of fame...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I was interested in his thoughts about shifting to a 3 QB system and giving Spencer Dawson a little more playing time. He said maybe next year. Dawson is a 5th year senior. </div><br />
Iowa: 1 Day<br />
Christmas: 37 DaysKevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-54106173927593878812011-11-11T07:48:00.000-08:002011-11-13T08:54:48.175-08:00The Art of Heckling<div style="text-align: justify;">Because of my extreme lack of being good at football, I have had the opportunity to view college football from both the stands and the field. Although it totally sucked working at Abercrombie and Fitch, I made some great friends there and it made earning a starting spot that much sweeter. Also, that year my friends and I had front row tickets behind the opposing team's bench, the perfect spot for letting the team know what we really thought of them. For example, there was a kid from Inglewood, California to which we yelled "Is it true Inglewood is, indeed, up to no good?" (a reference to 2 Pac's smash hit "California Love" for both of you older readers). He laughed, turned around and gave a hearty "yes!" Boom. New friend. Probably made the sting of Purdue beating his team a little less painful. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I always preferred heckling back-up offensive linemen. To me, they are the perfect target: slow, and unwilling to move more than they have to. For instance, if you notice a linemen wearing turf shoes at a place with grass, let him know; say something like "Are you wearing turf shoes because you knew you weren't going to play, and you wanted to be comfortable?" You got his attention, made him laugh, but also made him sad because he won't play. Perfect crime.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have always said heckling players from the other team is just as American as kicking the British's butt in the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, I am sad to report that things are not as great as they once were in the world of smack talking. Back in the day, fans put thought, time and effort into what they said to the opposing team. Opposing fans would do research and prepare all week, as if they were playing in the game along with their boys on the field. They would take great pride in what they would say to the players on the sideline.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nowadays, most people go straight to something racial, or to questioning the player's sexual preferences. These idiots are ruining the fun for everybody. Why does it always have to be about something mean? Why cant you just say something clever? In this age of smart phones, it would be very easy to pull up a team roster and get some inside information on a player before you go off and call them names.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It doesn't matter how much we (I say we, but I mean players who people actually take the time to yell at) ignore the fans, we can always hear them. Some take it too far and forget they could easily get beaten up by anybody on the sideline. Those (hopefully drunk) people are just embarrassing themselves and their little kids who are sitting beside them. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This week, I talked to some of my buddies who actually play on various teams, and asked for stories of people yelling at them that stuck. Here are a few highlights:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Zack Heiniger</b>, linebacker - while riding the bike on the sidelines to prepare for his epic battle on kickoff return he hears "HEY 36! You can ride that bike for as long as you want, you're still going to SUCK!" -thoughtful Wisconsin Fan</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Logan Link</b>, safety - "For every tackle you miss your hair will grow an inch!" -uncreative Michigan fan</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>KK Short</b>, defensive tackle - "Hey 93, you ain't tryin' to play! You just trying to find something to eat!" -Rice fan</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>James "Bruce" Sheppard</b>, offensive line - two years ago (when he was a back up) "Yeah take that drink of water, you deserve it! You've worked so hard today! - Oregon fan</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Kyle Adams</b>, tight end for Da Bears says he is often compared to Towlie from South Park, or my personal favorite, Jim Breuer.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kyle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPffSEK7-5Ggodd1ga3-QHGexKNIQs8CxtXmTJViHeri_j6VmcaqGMhZr16q-wVbXdtkh0iqcnm0mw0o5IgFEihae9i6uc0gFugo5IjaACE3k_6JSH0dPvWSVpg-ceddyFkWa5PEsJ48/s1600/original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPffSEK7-5Ggodd1ga3-QHGexKNIQs8CxtXmTJViHeri_j6VmcaqGMhZr16q-wVbXdtkh0iqcnm0mw0o5IgFEihae9i6uc0gFugo5IjaACE3k_6JSH0dPvWSVpg-ceddyFkWa5PEsJ48/s200/original.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>John Finch</b>, long snapper tells a story that goes like this. "One time, I was standing on the sidelines at IU minding my own biz and these two dime pieces from the stands start smiling and waving at me. As soon as I put the moves on and said "Hi!" they both simultaneously flipped me off."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Christian Yount</b>, long snapper for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - "Wait, you actually get paid to do that?" "My left nut could the same job you do." "If I quit my job and practiced snapping for a month I could beat you out." -San Francisco 49ers fans</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Specialists are usually the first people on the field to stretch and warm up, when we (3 kickers and 2 snappers) were coming out of the tunnel at Michigan this year a Wolverines fan said "That's cute you guys brought 5 kickers." You got me good sir, got me good.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Chris Carlino</b>, linebacker - "Apparently I wasn't paying enough attention to someone yelling at me at Michigan State last year so he threw a hot dog and it hit me in the helmet."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My personal all time favorite zing on an opposing team was when my brother, Adam, played basketball at Michigan State. Sunday afternoon game about halfway through the first half, score was about 65-10 in favor of MSU. Silence fell on the Breslin Center and one clever student out of the Izzone yelled "You guys need to work on scoring." Boom. Roasted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So this weekend, say something clever, but still kinda mean, and I guarantee you'll get a warm reception from the opposing team. Later they will thank you for the time and effort spent in your endeavor.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ohio State - 1 day</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Christmas - 44 days</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">P.S. Today is Veterans Day. I wish I could repay you for what you have done for me and my past/present/future family. A thank you isn't enough but it's all I've got. Thank you, heroes.</div>Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-44042947300120815952011-11-03T21:40:00.000-07:002011-11-04T05:02:29.325-07:00Sophie Grace Is A Thief.It has come to my attention that some little British girl has suddenly become famous for rapping Nicki Minaj's <i>Super Bass</i>. She even got to meet Nicki herself on Ellen. Hello, I love Ellen. What is worse is that she stole the idea from myself and Spencer Dawson. We did the exact same thing like 6 years ago...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/C7hTAp6KrGY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is Sophie living a lie.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xidIQ70HX7A?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">The real video.</div><br />
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Last week we played at Michigan and for their homecoming fly-over, they opted to go with a casual <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obHmcp24QHQ">MAN FLYING ON A JET PACK</a>. This literally blew my mind and it got me thinking about science and stuff. Long snappers are always looking for a short cut for any job. All we do is throw a ball between our legs and I am willing to bet 9 out of 10 snapper get winded doing so. Come on scientists, step your game up. Hello, it's 1998. Hoverboards should already be a thing of the past.<br />
Here is a short list of things I am disappointed we do not have...YET.<br />
<ul><li>Jet Packs for the common folk: it can't be that hard. I want one and I want it now. flying to class would be so much easier than walking all 5 minutes it takes to get to campus.</li>
<li>Teleportation: I don't even need unlimited teleports. I'll take one per day and be happy. But let's get serious, there is a very high probability that I would use my one teleport of the day to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. You would too. </li>
<li>Hover Boards: Michael J. Fox had one. What makes him so special? I would even wear those weird hand brace/pads you used to get with your roller blades when it was still cool to roller blade because it was on the X-Games.</li>
<li>Healthy Desserts: I know it kind of defeats the purpose, but wouldn't it be nice if we could eat an entire cake and have it count towards our fruits and veggies for the day instead of going straight to our thighs? Am I right ladies? Am I right?</li>
<li>Flubber: Do you realize how <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJKI1IuPgC0">good at long snapping I could be if I had flubber</a>? Honestly, I'd probably be worse. Flubber is a hazardous material and there is no controlling it's power; it's like me when Party Rock comes over the air waves. I'm not gonna NOT shuffle. </li>
<li>A Working Two In One Shampoo/Conditioner: Goes without saying. Who wants to shampoo AND condition? Not this guy. </li>
<li>Erasible Pens: Not the crappy kind we have now. I want an erasable sharpie. Pretty sure someone could figure this out if they put minimal effort using the skills they learned in high school chemistry. Come on guys, you aren't even trying. Please.</li>
<li>Light Sabers: This one pretty much goes without saying. Can cut through anything with the exception of another light saber. Lucky for me I would be the only one in the universe to own one because I am the only human who has the skills necessary to wield such a powerful weapon. Kinda sucks for everybody else though.</li>
<li>Self Driving Cars: Lets face it, it would be safer and way more convenient if robots just did our work for us. I for one hope I live long enough to see a robot rebellion because that means I lived a life free of laundry, cooking, cleaning, smiling, walking, eating and folding clothes.</li>
</ul><br />
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Ok so here's the deal, J-Biebs has an apparent baby momma. I have no problem with what this girl is doing. Everybody is entitled to their 15 minutes of fame. At the very least Justin should give her the respect she deserves and meet her on Maury for a paternity test! I'd do the same thing if I knew it was going to get me a few more <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/ballinger">Twitte</a>r followers and maybe some free meals at TGI Fidays.<br />
Which brings me to my next point. I was sworn to secrecy but I cannot, and will not, hold it in any longer. Taylor Swift's mega hit <i>Teardrops On My Guitar</i> is actually about me. Taylor and I had a falling out which resulted in me birthing her child as a single father. Taylor, Baby Stella and I need you. Come home. We love you. <br />
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Also, can we all just agree that Kim is the 2nd hottest Kardashian? I'd care more about her marriage if she was Kourtney. Does anybody else feel bad for Kris Humphries? He's the one that doesn't get to hang out with Bruce Jenner anymore!<br />
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Wisconsin: 1 Day<br />
<a href="http://isitchristmas.com/">Is it Christmas yet?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1847472789"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/chick3ncrossing#p/a/u/2/tWjeYlnL2iw">Watch this video. It made me lol.</a><br />
then watch the rest of them. now.Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-50978720387020221982011-10-27T09:22:00.000-07:002011-10-27T16:53:30.085-07:00Kevin Ballinger: Long Snapper ForeverThanks to Dustin Smith, our team's video extraordinaire, I was able to take a few moving picture shots about what it is really like to be a long snapper. As I have mentioned before, long snapping has very little to do with actually snapping a ball; it has everything to do with everything else. I have said many times, snapping is 50% mental, 30% ball tricks, 10% snapping and another 30% talking about girls. This video displays a few of the skills necessary to be in the top 10% of all long snappers at Purdue University.<br />
I know what you are thinking, "Kevin, you stupid butt face, you just stole everything from all the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0WMd0Y6hIw">other </a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V6FCitvRUM">trick videos</a> that have been put out." Ok, you got me. Pobody's nerfect. Don't worry, I definitely did not ask permission to use their ideas so its fine. Probably. I hope you have a great rest of the day/night depending on when and where you got suckered into reading this. I love you.<br />
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In other news, for those of you who are early draft board enthusiasts (I'm talking to you, Mel Kiper), it is safe to say I will not be playing for the Falcon's next year. A Falcon's scout walked by me in practice the other day and this is about how our conversation went:<br />
Me: You guys looking for a long snapper?<br />
Scout: Everybody is always looking! Are you any good?<br />
Me: The best!<br />
Scout: Ok sounds good, I'll have to check you out.<br />
Me: Yeah, hit me up on MySpace.<br />
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Halloween is coming up, please plan/dress accordingly. Here are a few suggestions:<br />
<ol><li>90% of your costume is your attitude and how well you get into character</li>
<li>nobody is too cool to dress up for Halloween, if they refuse, they are no friend of mine and should be no friend of yours. </li>
<li>don't dress up like anybody from the Jersey Shore</li>
<li>face paint always seems like a good idea at the time</li>
<li>do not set your cup down. it will be drugged. you will get AIDS. and you will die.</li>
<li>throw down on the dance floor</li>
</ol>If you are still unsure of what to wear on this glorious occasion, view further for some past ideas of mine that went so well I had to burn the costumes immediately after:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQxEav5IbTcGFFrSowo6TEvBp4JR16OaDPD4Hrl3vSS6xxNKUKcqg61fGWpaqj2bXjgdg282UFuT4bhUZ3TL7C4PrcDY7PGq9QPcnDDPxFZh-INxovE4w2AWQlOsdIgqJ3Vn7a7nDqpE/s1600/72421_171311889551690_100000186407710_596161_8382333_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQxEav5IbTcGFFrSowo6TEvBp4JR16OaDPD4Hrl3vSS6xxNKUKcqg61fGWpaqj2bXjgdg282UFuT4bhUZ3TL7C4PrcDY7PGq9QPcnDDPxFZh-INxovE4w2AWQlOsdIgqJ3Vn7a7nDqpE/s200/72421_171311889551690_100000186407710_596161_8382333_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Finch and myself as Daryl Hall and John Oates</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEm5-qXhSKtDQccnoVLJ52BL2kNZ62zXVXTEcrwC8UWpAI02zLvYqmAM7mA_Ag7Apm4IlgE_doORhBW9qzK68wTtB8MRDGmxFEzugeTxTya8TdFywUTcLLxQZvpKkJntAOq3EUeDQ_G0/s1600/618C-YwJXnL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEm5-qXhSKtDQccnoVLJ52BL2kNZ62zXVXTEcrwC8UWpAI02zLvYqmAM7mA_Ag7Apm4IlgE_doORhBW9qzK68wTtB8MRDGmxFEzugeTxTya8TdFywUTcLLxQZvpKkJntAOq3EUeDQ_G0/s200/618C-YwJXnL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The real Daryl Hall and John Oates</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYIuyjmW1_cREkUs5ek4-hz3lbGDMyftFPpexxDlNcB-30g4XSGbP2dO2PXm7YZKTYG-Tnj6VeZ2rUwx0vrt3Lv-C-cWOkrB_Lo6Isii4CwBO8Sou0nhB_EK2liGu6L0g7eksNqVMsqQ/s1600/15743_192242305738_521390738_3881866_4167097_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYIuyjmW1_cREkUs5ek4-hz3lbGDMyftFPpexxDlNcB-30g4XSGbP2dO2PXm7YZKTYG-Tnj6VeZ2rUwx0vrt3Lv-C-cWOkrB_Lo6Isii4CwBO8Sou0nhB_EK2liGu6L0g7eksNqVMsqQ/s200/15743_192242305738_521390738_3881866_4167097_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me as a single lady. Take note of the heels</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5nwfbnV9OfD1HbWvVTWjDp1QnTm0cG5cafb8OhCZkc9m4m29aebPZ7qUMV1Heb-bt0EFA2EIqe7GDq9D7sLHp3NmhtecjEMFvNg6D8ZVeVbJAl3uc7xuLgBGiFqoNKg_AwEegOZVlsM/s1600/225648_6027111047_597236047_251524_3119_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5nwfbnV9OfD1HbWvVTWjDp1QnTm0cG5cafb8OhCZkc9m4m29aebPZ7qUMV1Heb-bt0EFA2EIqe7GDq9D7sLHp3NmhtecjEMFvNg6D8ZVeVbJAl3uc7xuLgBGiFqoNKg_AwEegOZVlsM/s200/225648_6027111047_597236047_251524_3119_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me dressed a shovel.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAK9ApONbxmPIksIj3qgRpVhzzgXSmxHY-Ev5J25wyRfzrUqzu-8M5pXNOkEEHacGqPfqg-wXgjZGBsJhB1f1CLsjyk3ptz-IJwYLrhQOsufyXZYZ34YzNxtgXdGLcXC-kgo9mOFa4y7o/s1600/n1159680430_30291716_4712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAK9ApONbxmPIksIj3qgRpVhzzgXSmxHY-Ev5J25wyRfzrUqzu-8M5pXNOkEEHacGqPfqg-wXgjZGBsJhB1f1CLsjyk3ptz-IJwYLrhQOsufyXZYZ34YzNxtgXdGLcXC-kgo9mOFa4y7o/s200/n1159680430_30291716_4712.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura Croft</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hzFdsTk0jiE6Kt98nBUD2stdW-suXk0EmMqJS5N6twjVDU50ObMqiip8AYdJxZWoUwiTPNHnzUns1PHkkNlhSHMu7RGIY8lPYQUpR_3t3egqegTTpJGrzXNUiw0_77rH7y6RcotDNYg/s1600/226737_10100512999741338_13727649_59868980_1466782_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hzFdsTk0jiE6Kt98nBUD2stdW-suXk0EmMqJS5N6twjVDU50ObMqiip8AYdJxZWoUwiTPNHnzUns1PHkkNlhSHMu7RGIY8lPYQUpR_3t3egqegTTpJGrzXNUiw0_77rH7y6RcotDNYg/s200/226737_10100512999741338_13727649_59868980_1466782_n.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me pretending to be a football player</td></tr>
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Michigan: 2 Days<br />
Christmas: 59 Days<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday to our Special Teams manager Sarah Lim!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5zK0U5EfYOiVC5eW4dTxuF4EG6TT7SH2rstvRh8UAMEU3T7xh0O3-nuFgQtZrcnaHZKkRZpiulGt4Y3GbCRNU0GufMgyzDzvx8nq9e2QZKbjYX090R32efVHaSk2HMVIjwfnT-424ts/s1600/166965_10150334885105353_693390352_8578587_1874391490_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5zK0U5EfYOiVC5eW4dTxuF4EG6TT7SH2rstvRh8UAMEU3T7xh0O3-nuFgQtZrcnaHZKkRZpiulGt4Y3GbCRNU0GufMgyzDzvx8nq9e2QZKbjYX090R32efVHaSk2HMVIjwfnT-424ts/s320/166965_10150334885105353_693390352_8578587_1874391490_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-84670716222267157902011-10-20T18:56:00.000-07:002011-10-25T18:22:51.757-07:00DANCING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have sworn I would never lie too you many times but I must admit, last week I straight up lied to your face. Confidence is not a long snapper's #1 weapon; dancing is. Dancing can take a snapper to the next level on and off the field. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Any long snapper dreams of somehow falling on a loose ball in the end zone and for once scoring themselves instead of throwing a ball so the kicker can take all the glory. Having been said, any snapper who is worth anything should already have a pre-planned touchdown dance. Mine is way too awesome to even show before it actually happens, mostly because it will get me kicked out of the game and bring shame upon my family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week, I have dedicated my post to dancing and have chosen to show a few options to those struggling long snappers/people in the club who have the desire to be great but need that little nudge to get their ish together and start dancing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will be rating the following dances on a scale of 1-46. A score of 1 means you should probably just stop because if I see you doing this move in public I will push you down and call you names in front of your family and friends. A lucid score of 46 means you clearly know what you are doing and I would like to spend the rest of my life in your dancing presence.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/HePijWIg1zU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we have receiver TJ Barbarette displaying his finest Douglas dance. He is pretty fluent in the language of dancing and if you do this dance correctly in dancing situations, you can quickly gain the mad respect you deserve from your peers. However, if you mess up everybody will laugh at you and you will spend the rest of eternity wishing you hadn't tried to Dougie. I give TJ a 39 for this performance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/uhZ-Jz9ITBA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">Next up on our list of dancers is Chuck Torwudzo breaking it down doing a move I've never seen but that doesn't mean I don't like it. He is innovative with the wind-up camera move, not seen enough if you ask me. Chuck T gets a solid 35.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_jNZBWu1fnU/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_jNZBWu1fnU?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_jNZBWu1fnU?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we have Akeem "The Dream" Shavers and Brandon Cottom kicking it old school. Literally the dance move they performed involved kicking. Although they missed on the timing, the colabo move is rarely seen in this day in age of individuals trying to get paper and such. The pair scored a 37.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZOzAxQq0SYk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kawaan Short aka The Beast aka The Freak aka KK is getting down to a little move we in the biz call, the chicken head. Shout out to KK for the creative name/willingness to stick himself out there and dance for all you beautiful people. KK scores a 38 for his chicken dance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/d5KRN_INT-4/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/d5KRN_INT-4?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/d5KRN_INT-4?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we have a poser who thinks he can dance but he really just wanted to be like everybody else and look cool. I think he is trying to "Drop It Low." Instead he ends up dropping it stupid and looks like a fool because this is his best dance move. 6.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Nd1rpbXrjg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ahh yes, The Jerk. Carson Wiggs and Justin Sinz proudly display their best Jerk and simultaneously break the hearts of many, many women. These two fine young men know how to get down on the dance floor and for that I commend them. Simple yet effective; 40 for the Jerk. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XBlEoEupKDQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">White boys will Bernie to anything. 46's all around for this display of sexual excellence!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I apologize for the crappy video quality. Kind of. Working on a walk on's budget here and I'm not tech savvy enough to figure it out. I love you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 day until Illinois</div><div style="text-align: left;">65 days until Christmas</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">ps. if you want to laugh you should probably watch <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DnH-yn4l1U&feature=related">THIS VIDEO</a> and the rest of their videos because Stone Cold said so. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-16354173960445378282011-10-13T20:12:00.000-07:002011-10-13T20:12:15.624-07:00Confidence/Kurt Freytag Interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <link href="file://localhost/Users/kevinballinger/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>365</o:Words> <o:Characters>1571</o:Characters> <o:Lines>28</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>2557</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>11.773</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:DoNotShowRevisions/> <w:DoNotPrintRevisions/> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <style>
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</style> <!--StartFragment--> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Confidence is a long snapper's #1 weapon; due to our extreme lack of strength, size, power, speed, agility and favorable body composition it has to be. Every single long snapper, if he (or she, I don't like to discriminate. however, girl long snappers are extremely rare) is worth anything, borders on cocky and believes they are the best snapper to ever lace up the boots. The sad thing is, all of those self-absorbent a-holes are wrong; I am the best long snapper ever.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Clearly a long snapper's confidence does not come from anything than means anything to anybody else. I am willing to go on record to say that no long snapper has ever won a foot race (against real humans, beating another long snapper comes with the same bragging rights as being able to not wear the same sweat pants for 2 consecutive weeks. yeah its awesome and I'm proud of you, but nobody really cares.). It definitely is not going to come in the weight room so little things like not getting food ourselves as we destroy anything that is placed in front of us, or remembering to brush our teeth before class can really spark a streak of confidence we cannot (are unable) find anywhere else in life. Personally, I am also a fan of when I can find a clean pair socks. Clean sock days are perfect snap days.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">October is upon us, with that brings the only time I care about baseball. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Brewers every day of the year but I could probably only name about 7 guys on the team. All I know is that your team sucks and the Brewers will win it all, 2011 is the Year of the Beer.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Also, basketball is in a lockout. Doesn’t matter, the NBA hasn’t been relevant since 1992 when Bird retired.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As most of you know, the Purdue football team will not be tweeting for the remainder of the season. Probably for the better, my fart jokes are getting old.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This week’s edition of Booty’s Corner features running back Kurt Freytag. Kurt makes FDR seem like a Commie and George Clooney look like The Candy Man. He’s what we in the biz call the total package.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9KKdtHLNRQE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Penn State: 2 days</div><div class="MsoNormal">Christmas: 72 days</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Special shout out to my neighbor <a href="http://www.purduesports.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/phillips_kellie00.html">Kellie Phillips</a> for her hat trick against IU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div class="MsoNormal">Also, Purdue won the game 8-2 and any time Purdue beats IU, or anybody beats IU, rules.</div><!--EndFragment-->Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-74442778417711082942011-09-30T10:35:00.000-07:002011-09-30T10:36:56.227-07:00The Perfect Long Snapper/ Zack Heiniger InterviewFirst, I would like to thank everybody for their support of my blog and the #getkevinmicdup campaign, I was shocked at the amount of people who actually wanted to listen to my nonsense and fart jokes during the Notre Dame game Saturday! If endorsements from two current NFL players (rookie of the month, Ryan Kerrigan and real life pro long snapper Christian Yount) and World Champion NBA phenom Brian Cardinal (along with many other real life humans) isn't enough to get me mic'd up, then maybe the world will have to wait until I get on the Real World to get inside my head.<br />
<br />
Now lets get down to brass tax, today we need to talk about building the perfect long snapper. Now, the easy and short answer would be me. But that would also be a lie and I would never lie to you because I love you. I am going to work from the top down to create my perfect super human Long Snapper:<br />
<br />
<b>Hair:</b> Fabio. Flowing locks are essential to a perfect snap. If you don't believe me, ask the dishes! (WHAT UP BEAUTY AND THE BEAST REFERENCE??!?!??)<br />
<b>Facial Hair: </b>Another important factor in a long snap. Obviously, the cut would be a mustache. No question. But who's mustache provides the best environment for success? <a href="http://snappingnecks.blogspot.com/2011/08/haters-gonna-hate-mustaches.html">My dad's, circa 1975</a>. Perfectly groomed, slight hint of handlebarness. Many people do not realize my Dad was once a great long snapper himself, started on the Mississinewa 9th grade team for the Indians.<br />
<b>Mentality:</b> Long snappers must play with a chip on their shoulder; I'm not talking about going out there and wanting to prove someone wrong, I am talking about a literal chip because chips are delicious. Chris Carlino has the mentality of a walk on with the ability of a scholarship player (rare). He knows what every player on every special team's role is on every play, he would make a great long snapper because he always performs and also likes to party. <b> </b><br />
<b>Physique:</b> Big, bulky muscles can get in the way of long snapping (which is why I have gone with a more Average Joe build and chosen to gain excessive weight in other areas such as my thighs and stomach). Physique-wise, I'm taking <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=uncle+jesse&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=Htg&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=S-2FTpFQzcOxApTt6I0P&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1440&bih=723">Uncle Jesse</a> from the Full House. Always smooth. Leather jackets.<br />
<b>Game Swag: </b>It is true, you can be a good long snapper without game day swag; Jesse Schmitt embodies the swagless long snapper. Jesse wears no wrist bands, pulls his socks as high as possible (even though it looks stupid), wears dirty old gross cleats and still performs. My selection for game swag when building the perfect long snapper would be Brad "The Big Pizza" Niemeier; two wristbands, simple yet very effective. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTAOLRn0KOEwMIPyD4NJPkM1VbkQK1J8rS1-9gBCN-BMpttcQWApMcjbBeTj_EXOFHW_QTrbetruLIxdm52q2pE8E-1ungx34mW1101pBpqWzUqIkpWNacDrMQDLCl9P80XA0uOVEVUE/s1600/299764_232428556805952_100001164272356_595493_675771027_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTAOLRn0KOEwMIPyD4NJPkM1VbkQK1J8rS1-9gBCN-BMpttcQWApMcjbBeTj_EXOFHW_QTrbetruLIxdm52q2pE8E-1ungx34mW1101pBpqWzUqIkpWNacDrMQDLCl9P80XA0uOVEVUE/s200/299764_232428556805952_100001164272356_595493_675771027_n.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pizza kissing his girlfriend</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Shoes: </b>Yes, I agree that shoes could be considered part of the aforementioned swag, but in a perfect world, a snapper would be able to wear whatever he wanted and felt comfortable in to snap. Having been said, my perfect snapper would have the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL1DmI5AxqQ&feature=related">Latrell Sprewell's</a> ( complete with spinning rims on the side!) strapped to his feet. <br />
<br />
For the record, I tried to photoshop a picture of the perfect long snapper but Zoolander is on TV and I ran out of time. deeply sorry. <br />
<br />
Today is a very special day, here we have the first installment of "Booty's Corner" where I interview other players who get less media attention than they deserve so the public can know the awesomeness that is the men of the Purdue Football team. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rTOsKdG5yck?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">not enough awkward leg touches if you ask me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Notre Dame: 1 Day</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday to my stretching partner and hair extraordinaire, Logan Link</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiG38Cil_GzxBpaYB5vYnvBAarXiftwi12fYuqsCILweK8ghEE7AHUX9YlqLwdkZO5ecfzC1Wujd450Y_zU0EjkDsmzBzOOkVOg8Px7ZMYD_bGCRribYgq0xF1fuP5Y7mj5WN70E6SAI/s1600/207063_10150213586841159_667966158_8579612_2744460_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiG38Cil_GzxBpaYB5vYnvBAarXiftwi12fYuqsCILweK8ghEE7AHUX9YlqLwdkZO5ecfzC1Wujd450Y_zU0EjkDsmzBzOOkVOg8Px7ZMYD_bGCRribYgq0xF1fuP5Y7mj5WN70E6SAI/s200/207063_10150213586841159_667966158_8579612_2744460_n.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pictured right</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-63094880451876320872011-09-15T18:50:00.000-07:002011-09-16T07:47:47.033-07:00Purdue vs. WWF<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I spend more time with my teammates than anyone else on this planet. We are a tight team and we've gotten to know each other pretty well over the past few years. These guys are some of my best friends on this Earth, and some of them have striking resemblances to WWF/WWE wrestlers. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Adam Brockman - "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJ7lIUBritMLzsQjFcOXgTYKUoUM6kS13wKpDlWLjefYCE_WzJprxq0B0yR0KGHvHqH3G__WDWSAk2y6vwKnkblz4e1sWAGFBJ3QPfLZccoAz9cHQEm7c1xx1xiJpEzYBsnl2qmK4LZs/s1600/27176_1234153611601_1161991190_31028254_7454577_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJ7lIUBritMLzsQjFcOXgTYKUoUM6kS13wKpDlWLjefYCE_WzJprxq0B0yR0KGHvHqH3G__WDWSAk2y6vwKnkblz4e1sWAGFBJ3QPfLZccoAz9cHQEm7c1xx1xiJpEzYBsnl2qmK4LZs/s200/27176_1234153611601_1161991190_31028254_7454577_n.jpg" width="113" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZMNOACXybTbs1xAdvDL4-N2z_KDfrt4nkAFPcN1chu9J09TU-p3G9jrKH-vlTUZOwYjwJqpUf97pS1dOugfMmMwkXZLLYQyj3rrjevtdJAMdj2bD3oRO0pWHVQBaPcUmVGheTrqVE-c/s1600/4541886302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZMNOACXybTbs1xAdvDL4-N2z_KDfrt4nkAFPcN1chu9J09TU-p3G9jrKH-vlTUZOwYjwJqpUf97pS1dOugfMmMwkXZLLYQyj3rrjevtdJAMdj2bD3oRO0pWHVQBaPcUmVGheTrqVE-c/s200/4541886302.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Adam Brockman/Hacksaw Jim Duggan comparison is a no-brainer. Not only do they look alike, they both have an insatiable love for the Red, White and Blue. Both men are known for their total lack of brains and "hit now, concussion later" attitude on their respective playing field/ring.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Carson Wiggs - Bret "The Hitman" Hart</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprtrvB5yyM20B4GSYx9Avd2xEDvlGb0FVBQQT75EGEwj5-zhSRQ4ZlAiZaNF2r5RqjGCJY1gxIZGnG0b7nzmufZyePfdmHxUYV3m1nNczkJO6pvaYQai8UiPUYzj1n9AIm_Hj42X72Jc/s1600/27735_419733660738_521390738_5274165_5402979_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprtrvB5yyM20B4GSYx9Avd2xEDvlGb0FVBQQT75EGEwj5-zhSRQ4ZlAiZaNF2r5RqjGCJY1gxIZGnG0b7nzmufZyePfdmHxUYV3m1nNczkJO6pvaYQai8UiPUYzj1n9AIm_Hj42X72Jc/s200/27735_419733660738_521390738_5274165_5402979_n.jpg" width="191" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5qYsNllCC4XMQMlGg1qr0QJpCZA96sI4G817i2Yip3eB5ESYMK-AVkAuqfOiFNUTmThnRiFDXKGjFNZgYGX-0XXr_68z8U4k52R4OhMyc55T_H07cWDQgT01d65n8570T3yR-ReezFA/s1600/bret_hart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5qYsNllCC4XMQMlGg1qr0QJpCZA96sI4G817i2Yip3eB5ESYMK-AVkAuqfOiFNUTmThnRiFDXKGjFNZgYGX-0XXr_68z8U4k52R4OhMyc55T_H07cWDQgT01d65n8570T3yR-ReezFA/s200/bret_hart.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be." Carson and The Hitman are both fierce competitors and fiercely good looking, which makes for a devastating attack when kicking butt. The Hitman was also known as "The Excellence of Execution" and I have never met anybody who is as technically sound as Carson. Match made in Heaven.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Logan Link - Sting </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMXrSgOs6D-S40IzG-NwJqPfCJgVJqh93s7NXMfgrTQPYhFBrfj-hMKb6ZlXgU9zSQqmwmqXeZ4fbJF1f2qTAwApfcv1I1HVTufGnnQHqV-f1JZmxPuv2U5Zq0BZxOvwicqAQh5wrOmc/s1600/72313_1641498003969_1432380031_31681648_5035992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMXrSgOs6D-S40IzG-NwJqPfCJgVJqh93s7NXMfgrTQPYhFBrfj-hMKb6ZlXgU9zSQqmwmqXeZ4fbJF1f2qTAwApfcv1I1HVTufGnnQHqV-f1JZmxPuv2U5Zq0BZxOvwicqAQh5wrOmc/s200/72313_1641498003969_1432380031_31681648_5035992_n.jpg" width="120" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpmCZ7eIcZNEiVV21EgAn0xv7YmLWzFHggYJK8IrKCBpO4UM2mAFUa9KMPSTpCjzMUUyd4cpA44TH-DpIqreDOIh9GSnkhzOJmsq6Lk5Ml-msGOHstcfHPwdFpeL7Bg1djStyQGNun5c/s1600/Sting-tna-superstar-84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpmCZ7eIcZNEiVV21EgAn0xv7YmLWzFHggYJK8IrKCBpO4UM2mAFUa9KMPSTpCjzMUUyd4cpA44TH-DpIqreDOIh9GSnkhzOJmsq6Lk5Ml-msGOHstcfHPwdFpeL7Bg1djStyQGNun5c/s200/Sting-tna-superstar-84.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hard hitting, exciting to watch, huge muscles, face paint. What else do you want? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> James "Bruce" Shepherd - "Macho Man" Randy Savage </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC9IMlXgZr_8LxTTA-I0BB22R88XhAQrzMcpvXvNiYJyjmw2xdvCvk67YNvwavYtCFkB_rkzZyFLbWV4LMXKdBOujPq_5ta6_T1daroFhqm9DFJLvo9AFYovJso649AKYNPTax29nuJU/s1600/216148_1749666339185_1164630131_31677977_2199224_n+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC9IMlXgZr_8LxTTA-I0BB22R88XhAQrzMcpvXvNiYJyjmw2xdvCvk67YNvwavYtCFkB_rkzZyFLbWV4LMXKdBOujPq_5ta6_T1daroFhqm9DFJLvo9AFYovJso649AKYNPTax29nuJU/s1600/216148_1749666339185_1164630131_31677977_2199224_n+copy.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3QcgYE5qz7j7T9-tbNlOE5q_cEa5owWM21dtMPMTC3my7E1wxrXj74srpTz9jfNc4OG8Z59xJLT6B1huUl80-QJQdQhMjr3VrHs28zRJL6e3CdMj4V9pUM_Rp3Fc0QWb6nMMsj_5GKg/s1600/macho-man-randy-savage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3QcgYE5qz7j7T9-tbNlOE5q_cEa5owWM21dtMPMTC3my7E1wxrXj74srpTz9jfNc4OG8Z59xJLT6B1huUl80-QJQdQhMjr3VrHs28zRJL6e3CdMj4V9pUM_Rp3Fc0QWb6nMMsj_5GKg/s200/macho-man-randy-savage.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It has always been said that "The Bruce comes out at night!" Not only does Shep dress up as Macho Man, his play on the field emulates that of a young Macho Man; devastating moves and exquisite, colorful showmanship. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Kevin "Booty" Ballinger - Hulk Hogan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2mFTvb8Nl_kVN25VnbV_PdYGBhFqzC_H8cqiLh_ScN_DQyf4v_IOlTGqtNSH8H6j8s64B7GDy4GMl11yBs9Z04Z299hdDqIS00r8xvuGJXNm4eUtULlhCj6L6oXNQrzfmPNCQoED-j8/s1600/268390_10150276364230572_604925571_9159444_3582980_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2mFTvb8Nl_kVN25VnbV_PdYGBhFqzC_H8cqiLh_ScN_DQyf4v_IOlTGqtNSH8H6j8s64B7GDy4GMl11yBs9Z04Z299hdDqIS00r8xvuGJXNm4eUtULlhCj6L6oXNQrzfmPNCQoED-j8/s200/268390_10150276364230572_604925571_9159444_3582980_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5kLvKe7X2QrnyENNft0voSOIBzO7NpSPyC-f6XZfKy8aJQE7S6KGYaNKNFxn6PJcS6xw_aP4FDohvvuVrgmzWI3U0rggER2TV6UOoBCfwWx2Jm_kfKA9iNBFkYtmxKq-0NN1zJPloWE/s1600/hulk-hogan-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5kLvKe7X2QrnyENNft0voSOIBzO7NpSPyC-f6XZfKy8aJQE7S6KGYaNKNFxn6PJcS6xw_aP4FDohvvuVrgmzWI3U0rggER2TV6UOoBCfwWx2Jm_kfKA9iNBFkYtmxKq-0NN1zJPloWE/s200/hulk-hogan-image.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am comparing myself to The Hulkster for two reasons: 1. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGuhZvO1DKg">his intro song</a>, 2. it's my blog and I wanted to. I would say I am a mixture of young Hulk and NWO Hulk because I love America and I hang out with <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=dennis+rodman+nwo&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1294&bih=686&tbm=isch&tbnid=WocT6TQXPrxCxM:&imgrefurl=http://raven01.tripod.com/nwopix.htm&docid=AfxOYJZrpmR-kM&w=320&h=240&ei=fptyTqHKJqf-sQLYrZnWCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=400&vpy=155&dur=553&hovh=192&hovw=256&tx=145&ty=123&page=1&tbnh=144&tbnw=205&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0">Dennis Rodman</a>. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Chris "Killer" Carlino - Jake "The Snake" Roberts </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigih2vG49wi2uKive5xw9Fj4_qL70gjK0MQfsuo96jyEeaakIRTpNZIrljkNAg7rLVlsCH2snbr2KQhfQW8vYZp00KHOeqH9J-UXg8-Ih8PltJ601KWnRERNoi4ppp8zW6kICFZwhBqAk/s1600/6829750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigih2vG49wi2uKive5xw9Fj4_qL70gjK0MQfsuo96jyEeaakIRTpNZIrljkNAg7rLVlsCH2snbr2KQhfQW8vYZp00KHOeqH9J-UXg8-Ih8PltJ601KWnRERNoi4ppp8zW6kICFZwhBqAk/s200/6829750.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRxWcg2VnQ14rOD4U_Hz9OcYS70DPjP2Ov2q3FF-8RuYm81rSIH-85-tpeS2b-jS8CYGA6QQ5w8UPnXvuynf5muVk55shvfVJhPi3ryarpVG1AM5hhjVRUq1sZHBgj9Pfl-WUqOdNNbc/s1600/jake-the-snake-roberts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRxWcg2VnQ14rOD4U_Hz9OcYS70DPjP2Ov2q3FF-8RuYm81rSIH-85-tpeS2b-jS8CYGA6QQ5w8UPnXvuynf5muVk55shvfVJhPi3ryarpVG1AM5hhjVRUq1sZHBgj9Pfl-WUqOdNNbc/s200/jake-the-snake-roberts.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chris Carlino is hands down the baddest man on the field every time he's in. I would highly recommend watching only Chris on every special teams play we have; he's not near the tackle on return teams because he is way too busy embarrassing someone else on the other team in front of the poor kid's friends and family 30 yards down field. Whats that you say? It's just special teams? Tell that to Greg Jones, who Chris pancaked. Twice. Jake "The Snake" and Chris both have exquisite mustaches, pet snakes, and devastating finishing moves (the DDT and the pancake respectively).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> DeVarro "The General" Greaves - The Rock</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmnHbt7T_TuYxTr6jVcmKlzuMefBltJS47Byw7lAZh40di-2eaktCn9D1wl7Shbqi-VOUpoMZc5vrBHCrYIi6I_cIT8-qPSwbRD8oDNTfd43VnOyibtnkUqq8pBWaBulO6IgB9yqsJVk/s1600/6830305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmnHbt7T_TuYxTr6jVcmKlzuMefBltJS47Byw7lAZh40di-2eaktCn9D1wl7Shbqi-VOUpoMZc5vrBHCrYIi6I_cIT8-qPSwbRD8oDNTfd43VnOyibtnkUqq8pBWaBulO6IgB9yqsJVk/s200/6830305.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirForXsF4kVD5OG5Mlk2SjnuybY0g58xZ-10FyPPKU8TWUA2qfIABpDPk4C4JZ2RMccfCLONYTxl-M0HqqQe2qrmcjaYMx1y49Jl1zCItgUlsew_J5cPsaH2tHuXoCbsWu_K8qqBDyYKA/s1600/rock-bull-dwayne-the-rock-johnson-775398_1178_1319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirForXsF4kVD5OG5Mlk2SjnuybY0g58xZ-10FyPPKU8TWUA2qfIABpDPk4C4JZ2RMccfCLONYTxl-M0HqqQe2qrmcjaYMx1y49Jl1zCItgUlsew_J5cPsaH2tHuXoCbsWu_K8qqBDyYKA/s200/rock-bull-dwayne-the-rock-johnson-775398_1178_1319.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Rock is widely known as one of the best smack talkers to ever grace the ring, The General is one of the best smack talkers to ever put on the Old Gold and Black. The General would talk smack to King Kong and never back down. He makes me want to rip someone's face off; which I would do if I played something other than field goal snapper. And we didn't wear face masks. And I had the ability.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Nick Mondek - Kane</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9r9gS4NH0g1gGpp3Wb2xOc3ckRfNg0zn3VPuN12b1u-hkYm_0pdbI_sa3YzShEyM6W1ZyBHhoEGKsMAUCpEIq-Z0ZbiuX5RX6U8YsCFftki9OqOmG3yxO23DiaR62_CbiShxpj4OmYk/s1600/kane-wallpapers-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9r9gS4NH0g1gGpp3Wb2xOc3ckRfNg0zn3VPuN12b1u-hkYm_0pdbI_sa3YzShEyM6W1ZyBHhoEGKsMAUCpEIq-Z0ZbiuX5RX6U8YsCFftki9OqOmG3yxO23DiaR62_CbiShxpj4OmYk/s200/kane-wallpapers-8.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TMQmNn86PC7cX_pYdSCLGFGCt8JIhNAxqy8ixAZ1CPGJWza1w1wj1GAjAHr-JzXPeS0Nfv__V82x7BOTAYHVE_K4IbssfAgg_73ncrhiV9isQI2oSdywGsupdJNnW46zwaiKVDNdV3U/s1600/6831210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TMQmNn86PC7cX_pYdSCLGFGCt8JIhNAxqy8ixAZ1CPGJWza1w1wj1GAjAHr-JzXPeS0Nfv__V82x7BOTAYHVE_K4IbssfAgg_73ncrhiV9isQI2oSdywGsupdJNnW46zwaiKVDNdV3U/s200/6831210.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two massive men who's only wish is to rip your heart out and feed it to you when they perform. Once these guys get their hands on you it is game over. The only difference I see is I could beat up Nick.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Dennis Kelly - The Undertaker</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2uA5pptPsa_meTGam_yCGfIIrYmERM-jebopwRxahNAVi6dhyu92-HYinf5SfTLMJP_pFJTEX5NQgq5Y7SUdxaNq0ig3ujZU4xat4SJSEe6_3Z3ur2M278llm3jvhWzynEEPN3ks7LM/s1600/Undertaker%252BPhoto%252B7.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2uA5pptPsa_meTGam_yCGfIIrYmERM-jebopwRxahNAVi6dhyu92-HYinf5SfTLMJP_pFJTEX5NQgq5Y7SUdxaNq0ig3ujZU4xat4SJSEe6_3Z3ur2M278llm3jvhWzynEEPN3ks7LM/s320/Undertaker%252BPhoto%252B7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcfF6fdcrRb69g69BX3riNGg3HEFd7z1HEeqJGAl-NQaTFAR0bw-HiYBLE3L_0cmanbWa3Es2CoG5oh0Op-4fl2eFqhiReCsbPwqhme96-iMOjufpI0ulcW6fiMrc68583luowSqQJa8/s1600/216148_1749666339185_1164630131_31677977_2199224_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcfF6fdcrRb69g69BX3riNGg3HEFd7z1HEeqJGAl-NQaTFAR0bw-HiYBLE3L_0cmanbWa3Es2CoG5oh0Op-4fl2eFqhiReCsbPwqhme96-iMOjufpI0ulcW6fiMrc68583luowSqQJa8/s1600/216148_1749666339185_1164630131_31677977_2199224_n.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> If you can't see and feel the resemblance from this picture than there is something wrong with you. Dennis Kelly's favorite wrestler is The Undertaker and The Undertaker's favorite football player is Dennis Kelly. Many say The Undertaker is the greatest of all time, Dennis won the team MVP award last year; coincidence? I think not. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Zack Heiniger, Crosby Wright, Brad "The Big Pizza" Niemeier - The Nasty Boys</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuPa-QxD4ytN2PKFq-wDIlSlURgnU7YcRW5uA4UA8Th0TOh_lu3g5KvvTMaYid3ycSzDYONi0aViqYTNonVZbGO9W1BVKYnC03oGWWp41m5y9g0Bu_cyLf0N8Ff5HIJXKBJ_OdjZzV-I/s1600/FotoFlexer_Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuPa-QxD4ytN2PKFq-wDIlSlURgnU7YcRW5uA4UA8Th0TOh_lu3g5KvvTMaYid3ycSzDYONi0aViqYTNonVZbGO9W1BVKYnC03oGWWp41m5y9g0Bu_cyLf0N8Ff5HIJXKBJ_OdjZzV-I/s200/FotoFlexer_Photo.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YJ13CzVVl64nRn67FJt8RMnYG1s9neMkqa27re0bsHhh3ochJNJb7b5M-pUpFocwYjUPjvi5v9A2NUtlwhyQNDpTKaXuza3CzCpnatUs01mCAVwQ7SVKgmJur9FwTE1R4UV0EnmMxgU/s1600/nastyboys_1213946868.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YJ13CzVVl64nRn67FJt8RMnYG1s9neMkqa27re0bsHhh3ochJNJb7b5M-pUpFocwYjUPjvi5v9A2NUtlwhyQNDpTKaXuza3CzCpnatUs01mCAVwQ7SVKgmJur9FwTE1R4UV0EnmMxgU/s320/nastyboys_1213946868.jpg" width="165" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Zero regard for authority. Lock up your daughters. Six (including manager, Jimmy Hart) men who only care about one thing, nothing. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*This comparison couldn't be farther from reality.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Kawann "KK" Short - Kurt Angle</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM8oqyx2XiIKBWjlTc8ciCuseOTNiLZn2_dEFxmStZQRg1QQmZKRr9Sh6BeqWP0P10yLFo6DklFWCfwXXKtZgbFWtBPY2_tU8vV_0DOM2nDUh0zVsBCe1u8Qn5m3A2lFZaqExaWpzp-A/s1600/img_5350c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM8oqyx2XiIKBWjlTc8ciCuseOTNiLZn2_dEFxmStZQRg1QQmZKRr9Sh6BeqWP0P10yLFo6DklFWCfwXXKtZgbFWtBPY2_tU8vV_0DOM2nDUh0zVsBCe1u8Qn5m3A2lFZaqExaWpzp-A/s200/img_5350c.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweX9jaf7qbKZYnkvXbEkfleoUCIjnlOkGCYBqlfPov-RShPzO5-kM9IU4vKeRJIslYcB9di-ZGDOu3PDmBNfeKrN1uB8hKpw5dMfDZoAttc5LM4sV8tfsdjQXCEZcMa-LF0K85uaoqC0/s1600/kurt-angle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweX9jaf7qbKZYnkvXbEkfleoUCIjnlOkGCYBqlfPov-RShPzO5-kM9IU4vKeRJIslYcB9di-ZGDOu3PDmBNfeKrN1uB8hKpw5dMfDZoAttc5LM4sV8tfsdjQXCEZcMa-LF0K85uaoqC0/s200/kurt-angle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Two freak athletes. KK can bench 500 lbs, squat another 700, run a 4.5 40 AND 360 dunk. Kurt Angle won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics. These men strike fear in their opponents by their resume and do nothing but back it up when they play.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Honorable Mention</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dan Dierking - Scott "Big Pappa Pump" Steiner</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wV_4ApLE5rYMFCJx6Dhuk-7Gc4Wu9DqOEx8rSin-ccI5f3I_F38jur8wLod8XJ_T0zx0nhrYnlWnu_DFh30PVLgVktW14dXD2JFDfLXhGuFuQ8EcEVqfhcMNq0riudYxPdPCJvYHPSM/s1600/18069_271157150538_642920538_4888839_4823080_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wV_4ApLE5rYMFCJx6Dhuk-7Gc4Wu9DqOEx8rSin-ccI5f3I_F38jur8wLod8XJ_T0zx0nhrYnlWnu_DFh30PVLgVktW14dXD2JFDfLXhGuFuQ8EcEVqfhcMNq0riudYxPdPCJvYHPSM/s200/18069_271157150538_642920538_4888839_4823080_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH24KTGR8DlvuqGdtA5a-11gpeZ8Z5SPgeMiBCWORxyGBm7je3QhHvjxAdWmcLALJfVw_kK8GHI2Gtld4QUYBY4K2KpUU7erxKydhBCOoUBpdrLmmgmQb7PFyKGW0I8_47EIk_KVH7vpo/s1600/Steiner2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH24KTGR8DlvuqGdtA5a-11gpeZ8Z5SPgeMiBCWORxyGBm7je3QhHvjxAdWmcLALJfVw_kK8GHI2Gtld4QUYBY4K2KpUU7erxKydhBCOoUBpdrLmmgmQb7PFyKGW0I8_47EIk_KVH7vpo/s200/Steiner2.gif" width="176" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dan graduated, but the comparison is way too good to pass up. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Coach Hope - Vince McMahon<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcK_jyFqnnLPJz2L5rhcXjL-fqLODSaQFHC5E1QX67iR-hUysExKCFmiJRHRW-aKreykaSbsuXbWOiJPNuFQl1XLXnQLG-X5NvJRwLawXGubcI4ff-SEDCrqg9wORf2oYkxTRleD1WtQ/s1600/Danny-Hope-2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcK_jyFqnnLPJz2L5rhcXjL-fqLODSaQFHC5E1QX67iR-hUysExKCFmiJRHRW-aKreykaSbsuXbWOiJPNuFQl1XLXnQLG-X5NvJRwLawXGubcI4ff-SEDCrqg9wORf2oYkxTRleD1WtQ/s200/Danny-Hope-2009.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpDNAQePtKAzYknuzVX4QtGWXDJldzqSQhfgs3dlY-n8l3l3MVFdQsm3VQqSCOPfwf_2PggHnJ7MkNKkphw5iXlmCbmZRmVGuZXOOG7JYCqKBDd_FcZiNlpgLm_r2UOJWNq8RrAg7Pac/s1600/vince-mcmahon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpDNAQePtKAzYknuzVX4QtGWXDJldzqSQhfgs3dlY-n8l3l3MVFdQsm3VQqSCOPfwf_2PggHnJ7MkNKkphw5iXlmCbmZRmVGuZXOOG7JYCqKBDd_FcZiNlpgLm_r2UOJWNq8RrAg7Pac/s200/vince-mcmahon.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Toughest CEO's on the planet.<br />
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Joe Holland - Sheamus O'Shaunessy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwAlz0kWoTZTBknfLgFcSzsp6GNy8MYjpk7j40WF8Nt6BurGubt5Z8YRLJ6t6fms3ixhIruB95MllxVlRHrMXzZ-0AlQ9vSL3ZSaIrbjz99zJo0HNLSyAK_7B2tT9QhpuatnIDwmIpI8/s1600/102343fe3792bb450845b4d2c572caef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwAlz0kWoTZTBknfLgFcSzsp6GNy8MYjpk7j40WF8Nt6BurGubt5Z8YRLJ6t6fms3ixhIruB95MllxVlRHrMXzZ-0AlQ9vSL3ZSaIrbjz99zJo0HNLSyAK_7B2tT9QhpuatnIDwmIpI8/s200/102343fe3792bb450845b4d2c572caef.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEM3VdAGmn7kmlizfYBsNyEe3mIHO-iRVEgn-YLjukmLwug9PoSQWVHS47Ysy6qGR7Np74oyrq8168B8jq4OlroNMznLEb9GGbLqNzZEMXWXM79YriZGEdIwz_mjEMYIjNPq_-Hq6Czw/s1600/sheamus.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEM3VdAGmn7kmlizfYBsNyEe3mIHO-iRVEgn-YLjukmLwug9PoSQWVHS47Ysy6qGR7Np74oyrq8168B8jq4OlroNMznLEb9GGbLqNzZEMXWXM79YriZGEdIwz_mjEMYIjNPq_-Hq6Czw/s200/sheamus.png" width="161" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Gingers.</div><br />
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</div>Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-45720010906872368902011-09-08T09:37:00.000-07:002011-09-08T09:37:00.592-07:00TexasThis week we are playing Rice; for those of you who don't own a globe, Rice is in Houston, Texas. Going to Texas can only mean one thing, cowboys. I have wanted to be a cowboy for all 23 years of my life and I do not see that changing any time soon.<br />
Texas has always sparked my interest because I am big into tradition, and the Texas people have always been known as a proud people. I have been to Texas (San Antonio) once before to watch my brother, <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=adam+ballinger&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=irN&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=b-5oTqahNpSBsgLvzeGLDg&ved=0CCIQsAQ&biw=1440&bih=723">Adam</a>, play in the Sweet 16/Elite 8 for Michigan State in 2003. Sadly, from what I could see San Antonio was exceptionally modern for Texas. I imagine Houston to be like the Old West in the movies full of saloons, general stores and hitchin' posts. If this is not what present day Houston, Texas is like then I have been lied to and I'm glad we are only there for one night. If Houston is anything like what I described, there is a 100% chance I will elect to stay and get back to my wranglin' roots. I belong in boots, hat, skinny jeans, a duster and two six shooters. <br />
I do have some questions of concern about our game in the great state of Texas:<br />
<ol><li>Texas is pretty dry, is there going to be enough water for us? I've heard it is supposed to be hot.</li>
<li>What are the chances of a group of outlaws storming the field and looting the fans? If it is anything above 75% I'm out.</li>
<li>If everything really is bigger in Texas, shouldn't we be practicing with bigger balls this week? Is the field going to be any bigger? Hope not.</li>
<li>Why do horses wear shoes? Do horses wear socks? Is anybody listening to me?</li>
</ol>Go ahead and act like you've never worried about this stuff.Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-23895625783171489542011-08-31T17:03:00.000-07:002011-08-31T17:03:31.673-07:00Haters Gonna Hate: Mustaches<div style="text-align: center;"></div>My affinity for mustaches and mustache culture is no secret; I love everything about them. There are so many different styles and emotions that jolt through the body like the Hammer of Thor when in contact with a mustache. Mustaches are not only funny, they are functional. Although I have been known to use performance enhancing drugs (I dye my 'stache "Dark Mahogany" Brown using only the finest $3 Revlon products), one thing has become blatantly obvious to me when I am sporting a mustache: men want them and women love them. That is just simple physics in its purest form. Think about it, every great man in the history of the world has rocked a flavor saver at one point in their life.<br />
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My mustache journey began at a young age, I remember it like it was yesterday. In all of my 5 or 6 years of life I only knew the best dad in the world, a mustachioed Ken Ballinger. One weekend we were on a camping trip with some family friends, I was minding my own business playing Cowboys and Native Americans with all of my imaginary friends. Out of nowhere my dad walked up to me to see how things were going sans mustache. My dad's upper lip was as white as the loin clothe of Zeus due to the extreme lack of sunlight. I immediately forgot about the task at hand of saving the world and asked where he put his mustache. He gave a hearty laugh and said "I put it in my pocket." I spent the rest of the trip begging him to put his mouth brow back on. I'm probably one of the few people in this world who have actually cried over a mustache. If you have a problem with that, name the time and place.<br />
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Personally, I like to sport a womb broom at least twice a year. Once during <a href="http://us.movember.com/">Movember</a> to raise prostate cancer awareness and once whenever I feel it is necessary. I will tell you it is not easy to wear a mustache in this day in age. There are haters literally everywhere you go (I don't want to name any names but known haters include, but are not limited to: <a href="http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mondek_nick00.html">Nick Mondek</a>, <a href="http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/serrato_barrett00.html">Barrett Seratto</a>, <a href="http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/bridges_ryan00.html">Ryan Bridges</a>, and every boyfriend everywhere). They say it looks stupid. Oh yeah? Do four MySpace friend requests look stupid to you? Didn't think so tough guy.<br />
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Here is a list of my top 5 mustaches in the history of men.<br />
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5. Sam Elliott <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyiuIHxHXOCCLtGROT-0k_8FdCmCT4yMt0Ti9tgq2LShGnN2cnogf7BG1K7JmbWp4IN1dAAeXmzvmC1gAJKfp5EHJ0xMQnuY_1MB9HXrK_2kbHU81hsOc5pSvrq0gKFWjakpGXFBgLaQ/s1600/061208-samlebowski.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyiuIHxHXOCCLtGROT-0k_8FdCmCT4yMt0Ti9tgq2LShGnN2cnogf7BG1K7JmbWp4IN1dAAeXmzvmC1gAJKfp5EHJ0xMQnuY_1MB9HXrK_2kbHU81hsOc5pSvrq0gKFWjakpGXFBgLaQ/s320/061208-samlebowski.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Also known as the Cowboy/narrator from the Big Lebowski. Not only does he have a great 'stache, he gives off great words of wisdom to a man in need.<br />
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4. Burt Reynolds<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgfF42TNEW7XITqmt9U4JBEq5v7upeHkevqAxM3y5GyxG2QmF5WfqHyaHc1FO1lLBi6tDD9x_YHEem-1cycSGMntjAE3kGpksUaOwd472KQaCQ87QSdrH80teJsn3JO_NIGeCjYdxeFw/s1600/Burt-Reynolds-Smokey-And-The-Ba-465059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgfF42TNEW7XITqmt9U4JBEq5v7upeHkevqAxM3y5GyxG2QmF5WfqHyaHc1FO1lLBi6tDD9x_YHEem-1cycSGMntjAE3kGpksUaOwd472KQaCQ87QSdrH80teJsn3JO_NIGeCjYdxeFw/s320/Burt-Reynolds-Smokey-And-The-Ba-465059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smokey and the Bandit. Enough Said. </div><br />
3. Rollie Fingers<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRCRdkXAue0aWH4q2ZGbGrz0Ph1Eghw43uK-y4axAEpZWs4Sbyi8hL_25odjBvEGC_5kuOhHZp9I34cFM1_4ihRpOwuX_UqCCSpeDdHxrVEfgO-5YLpl31_VqnuGmO6hByXQh2c2n8HQ/s1600/0316_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRCRdkXAue0aWH4q2ZGbGrz0Ph1Eghw43uK-y4axAEpZWs4Sbyi8hL_25odjBvEGC_5kuOhHZp9I34cFM1_4ihRpOwuX_UqCCSpeDdHxrVEfgO-5YLpl31_VqnuGmO6hByXQh2c2n8HQ/s320/0316_large.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>Pitcher for the Brewers 1981-1985. Fingers has one of the all time great baseball names and even greater dedication to his mustache. His curled style may not be for everyone, but it should be.<br />
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2. Larry Bird<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7rU2SdCy9Mi-FVJwa3CUTYkPLjML44WEPe2hCo09cqLU2o348aZMYQjqG5t0LeNRBfon4lNbo9t7uhyElCy9RhHs9CBezASXANnAZKhGw6POdK-r1Ti3O_LZSEwu05uhUbYvVr_SWsk/s1600/bird_10247681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7rU2SdCy9Mi-FVJwa3CUTYkPLjML44WEPe2hCo09cqLU2o348aZMYQjqG5t0LeNRBfon4lNbo9t7uhyElCy9RhHs9CBezASXANnAZKhGw6POdK-r1Ti3O_LZSEwu05uhUbYvVr_SWsk/s320/bird_10247681.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Greatest basketball player to ever lace up the Cons. His hustle was second to none and his mustache only fueled the fire.<br />
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1. Ken Ballinger<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi323TLm5i0AV3uX3e4AsIB8sr9fIscr9fZEFskB8vVjeBwPimGvqOcVcocgsJsGXCRs00nJPXDVkXm2XyguyJ1LOPtOOOUrOCevqeFdG0iU67mH-xfg1JT7dvHzr-8YStkjhQBvoSsmB4/s1600/0831011838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi323TLm5i0AV3uX3e4AsIB8sr9fIscr9fZEFskB8vVjeBwPimGvqOcVcocgsJsGXCRs00nJPXDVkXm2XyguyJ1LOPtOOOUrOCevqeFdG0iU67mH-xfg1JT7dvHzr-8YStkjhQBvoSsmB4/s320/0831011838.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> Mustache aside, this man has done more for me than I will ever know. A selfless man who has never asked for anything but has given everything. Mustache inside, how is this guy not on the cover of every issue of GQ?<br />
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Great Mustache Honorable Mentions:<br />
- Tom Selleck<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSko0ZbX58xKTB6QAWbQ5AUcr1s1uyzmhlqFQpflVAlwuXgPNYd7370-32jm1iBf8HV3GcF8QvCk_jEMNmDcE6iwa3Hev2dDNpZPhrtoOfo-aXm6VGQ9iBL_fV59Mc3dNLvnbvsYw9FdA/s1600/tom_selleck_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSko0ZbX58xKTB6QAWbQ5AUcr1s1uyzmhlqFQpflVAlwuXgPNYd7370-32jm1iBf8HV3GcF8QvCk_jEMNmDcE6iwa3Hev2dDNpZPhrtoOfo-aXm6VGQ9iBL_fV59Mc3dNLvnbvsYw9FdA/s200/tom_selleck_01.jpg" width="157" /></a></div>-Lando Calrissian<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EnRoyl2S-_t3gAL1LhLQq6_EOj75v9gF6eSMOKUTVgNilTxaYNwot0uugFSG-w1J1ha8pcNXviYL7SDuvt3-2duEaP1KyXYWxnjH8zov0d3DFRVPGM5fgmSU4TJqRBYi4MUaTkt5UMI/s1600/Lando6-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EnRoyl2S-_t3gAL1LhLQq6_EOj75v9gF6eSMOKUTVgNilTxaYNwot0uugFSG-w1J1ha8pcNXviYL7SDuvt3-2duEaP1KyXYWxnjH8zov0d3DFRVPGM5fgmSU4TJqRBYi4MUaTkt5UMI/s320/Lando6-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>-Lanny McDonald<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGEb4xs4KQ-voQBF8muq2ZmRz1wl0T9LhGn3afjb29gneglzPUGDI0oNsxB82BZu6T4bc5k2pj06WdNWIpRaHj-rVjvNNLBJugpLW5pfh1QpnoSsOoXwfgEIDDQ44ILznXpK8GB4ZhnA/s1600/LannyMcDonald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGEb4xs4KQ-voQBF8muq2ZmRz1wl0T9LhGn3afjb29gneglzPUGDI0oNsxB82BZu6T4bc5k2pj06WdNWIpRaHj-rVjvNNLBJugpLW5pfh1QpnoSsOoXwfgEIDDQ44ILznXpK8GB4ZhnA/s1600/LannyMcDonald.jpg" /></a></div>-Richard Petty<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzS7smCi0KBMURDbHEVFN6JQWSsh9sLaeT1I70ScmnC6oO9skbmFiSs48L0Diz_Yv-y3EVCnlja6xGmuOkXaBHPPZI0JEaTwRCm9NZCEn6Dwv7C6saRIbiOp3m5p6UlJz6rEdJXfhDh0/s1600/RPRR07%257ERichard-Petty-Posters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzS7smCi0KBMURDbHEVFN6JQWSsh9sLaeT1I70ScmnC6oO9skbmFiSs48L0Diz_Yv-y3EVCnlja6xGmuOkXaBHPPZI0JEaTwRCm9NZCEn6Dwv7C6saRIbiOp3m5p6UlJz6rEdJXfhDh0/s200/RPRR07%257ERichard-Petty-Posters.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>-Brian Dawson <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26xpr1TgCibM8vCW1pQ0MkKaIq0WiTuDGjzLV6VfhxrbzJTkMhW-4EHz2ErODlYUPQP334QDpB-N8SOaF81fnOfwLbde0ta38seS9zCpnmJoOuSz80CwXbwWaNmuMQ2rLWesPEsWoxbI/s1600/bri-man.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26xpr1TgCibM8vCW1pQ0MkKaIq0WiTuDGjzLV6VfhxrbzJTkMhW-4EHz2ErODlYUPQP334QDpB-N8SOaF81fnOfwLbde0ta38seS9zCpnmJoOuSz80CwXbwWaNmuMQ2rLWesPEsWoxbI/s320/bri-man.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
You may be asking yourself, what do mustaches have to do with long snapping? Everything.<br />
3 Days! Beat Middle! <br />
<br />
If you or anybody you know is suffering from mustache discrimination, please visit the following website:<br />
http://www.americanmustacheinstitute.org/<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBM9rLrMlv1-GWNsvNiOV9mAgHyxzm48UX7oX5IRo0sazyk58VUZHIKRTwrDK47OO6wznr5jknVf_mDo91q5V7iRtD5jh2MQfU17s9ECnR8L5dOlqV2gQzutGVGLFgb7s6VFJWHGs89Q/s1600/Ballinger+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBM9rLrMlv1-GWNsvNiOV9mAgHyxzm48UX7oX5IRo0sazyk58VUZHIKRTwrDK47OO6wznr5jknVf_mDo91q5V7iRtD5jh2MQfU17s9ECnR8L5dOlqV2gQzutGVGLFgb7s6VFJWHGs89Q/s320/Ballinger+2.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-31592950993969479612011-08-27T15:37:00.000-07:002011-08-27T15:37:25.289-07:00Camp And Back To School WeekWe wrapped up camp a last week and have been on our regular season practice schedule for a week now and I feel like now is a great time to talk about some things.<br />
First off, camp was a blast. We not only got better as a team, I learned more about my teammates than I ever cared to know. Camp can turn the cleanest and well kept humans into some of the most disgusting neanderthals that walk this earth. If you don't brush your teeth and wear the same shorts for the two week duration, you are probably among the top 10 cleanest guys in the team meeting room.<br />
Keeping your sanity is crucial to getting yourself through camp. One way we (Joe Holland, Carson Wiggs, Cody Webster and a reluctant Kurt Lichtenberg) passed time was Mario Kart 64. To all of the guys I played with; I am sorry for stomping on all of your racing dreams with my boy Bowser, but we are just too good for you. Camp also does a great job of making the outside world seem like a complete wonderland full of possibilities and <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=falcor+the+flying+luck+dragon&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=Tm7&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1440&bih=723&tbm=isch&tbnid=XfW62Mz5Dwwl2M:&imgrefurl=http://141.24.37.187/paulchen/prod/creat/e_creat.htm&docid=3ZyQb2aYH4g14M&w=246&h=160&ei=MHFZTuKsB47E0AH_6P2JDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1045&vpy=274&dur=2939&hovh=128&hovw=196&tx=72&ty=79&page=1&tbnh=127&tbnw=189&start=0&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0">Falcor, the flying luck dragon</a>. For example, did anybody know there were girls on this campus? The first couple of times a football player lays eyes on a female outside of football, it might as well be Christmas morning 1992.<br />
Which brings me to my next talking point, the first week of school. As a seasoned vet, I have mastered the first week of school, mostly because I've had 5 of them. I know what you are thinking, "Hey Kevin (or Booty, whatever you prefer), how in the hail (see what I did there?) does somebody go about doing that?" Here are a few lesson's I've learned the hard way...<br />
<ol><li>It is going to be hot so don't try to be a hero and wear a shirt that shows any sweat, even if it is a sweet new Ed Hardy dragon tee. I would recommend a nice black or white shirt, just make sure that white shirt isn't already yellow in the pits. You can even go v-neck as long has the v doesn't pass the nipple line.</li>
<li>Sit in the front row. It looks like you are there to learn and that you care, even if you aren't and don't. The professor never calls on the front row because they are under the impression that you are one of those kids who try hard and already know everything. It's the perfect crime. </li>
<li>Sit by the actual smart kids. Get into their groups for group projects. Should go without saying.</li>
<li>Try not to wear all of the new fashions on the first day. A fresh snap back, plastic neon sunglasses, paired with a tank top and high tops Nikes might sound good but make no mistake, it's not.</li>
<li>Go to some call outs and eat the free pizza. What else are you going to do, get ahead on your math studies? Yeah right. While we are on the subject, a lot of area food establishments have great deals for students the first couple of weeks; I know for a fact nobody is above a half off burrito. Nobody. Not even <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=iceman+top+gun&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=mxm&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1440&bih=723&tbm=isch&prmd=ivns&tbnid=FxceV0oCAHJCMM:&imgrefurl=http://tippnews.com/feature/top-gun-turns-25/&docid=wFZtXDAXGPOE7M&w=720&h=540&ei=6m5ZTu30Mobq0gGo1KXaDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=347&vpy=123&dur=4&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=118&ty=94&page=1&tbnh=125&tbnw=164&start=0&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0">Tom "Iceman" Kazanski</a>.</li>
</ol>Today We had our meet and greet with the fans, it was a great turn out and we were excited to see all of the fans come out and show their support, young and old! But seriously nothing is more awkward when somebody asks you to sign their poster and you already have. I double signed at least 10 posters today just to avoid that painfully awkward moment. <br />
Just seven short days until kickoff against Middle Tennessee State! Thank you for your continued support and we hope to see you out at Ross-Ade Stadium next Saturday, Hail Purdue and Boiler Up and stuff!Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-4826856619044706642011-08-01T15:26:00.000-07:002011-08-01T15:26:19.930-07:00Strength and Speed Testing<div class="MsoNormal">Recently the team partook in our yearly strength and speed which is a series of tests used at the NFL combine and what pro scouts look at in terms of stats off of the field for potential draft picks and free agent pick ups, of which I am neither. I am, however, part of the team so I was voluntarily required to participate. Our team has been working with a great staff headed by the very over qualified, <a href="http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/021011aaa.html">Coach Carlisle</a>. So after three months of hard, arduous work, it all came to a head with two weeks of testing. Here is how it went…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pro Agility: (line up perpendicular to the 5 yard line, run 5 yards to the right, ten yards to the left and finally 5 yards through the original starting line) Sounds easy enough right? I turned in a time that Pre-Subway Jared would have been ashamed of. I knew my running tests were going to be the worst so I just made a joke about it, lied to some people and told them I didn’t care, and went on with my day.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">3 Cone: (run 5 yards and touch with your right hand, turn around run 5 yards and touch with your right hand, run the same 5 yards you’ve already run twice and make a 90 degree turn and run 5 more yards, run around a cone as fast as possible, run back towards the 90 degree turn, make the turn and run the original 5 yards for the 4<sup>th</sup> time.) After my first two attempts I decided my clothes were obviously to blame and had to get the boot. Before I lined up for the 3<sup>rd</sup> attempt I shed my shirt and my shorts to run in only my compression shorts and to cut down on wind resistance. Wouldn’t you know it, I ran my fastest time. From that point on I knew that if I was going to perform, it was going to be without the unnecessary shirt and shorts weighing me down.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">40: (run 40 yards) Let me preface by saying, if long snappers were supposed to be fast then I wouldn’t have made it this far. Honestly though, if we need me to run a fast 40 then we have bigger problems. This is how I look at it because it makes me feel better. But running a 40 is a weird thing, no matter how slow you run it, you feel fast. For those 5.3 seconds I might as well have been Bruce Jenner. You get tunnel vision, you cant hear anything, all you can focus is on is the finish line and how stupid you look wearing only compression shorts and the finish line being 10 yards away from the women’s soccer team practicing. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Broad Jump: (jump out as far as you can off of two feet) This one is confusing, you watch other people do it and think, “Hey that looks easy.” But then you get up to the line and its like, “Hey this isn’t easy.” The only time I would ever use this motion in a game is in a potential Easter-Themed touchdown dance in which case, we should practice it more often. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Vertical Jump: (jump as high as you can off of two feet) Pretty sure I didn’t even touch 10 feet. Stupid. Don’t need it. Moving on.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 Rep Max Bench Press: I blacked out and was fortunate enough to, theoretically, press a large offensive lineman off of my chest. My roommates and I were able to press a combined 1,115 lbs (<a href="http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/barry_dan00.html">Dan Barry</a> at an impressive 395, <a href="http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/dawson_spencer00.html">Spencer Dawson</a> 375, which leaves me with benching something around one billion pounds); not bad for 3 walk-ons.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hang Clean: The weight for a hang clean is measured in kilograms and if I learned anything in history class it is that the only people who use kilograms to measure weight are communists; ergo, if you did well you = a red. I’m sorry, that’s not me, that’s science. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Squat: After seeing our kicker <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-PtbRt7KLQ">Carson Wiggs</a> do 405 lbs I knew I couldn’t get anything less. So I put 405 on the bar, squatted down, took about 30 seconds to stand up, racked the weight and called it a day.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">225 Rep Max: The goal is simple; push 225 lbs off of your chest as many times as possible. Turns out, I can’t do it very many times (I did it more than 12 but less than 14 times) but I was super good at cheering on the rest of the team during their rep max tests. MVP probably. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Moral of the story, I didn’t need to test to know I was slow and weak, I could have just asked my mother. Or as Tommy Callahan put it, “I could get a good look at a t-bone by sticking my head up a butcher’s ass, but I’d rather take the bull’s word for it.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Just short 33 days until Middle Tennessee! BTFU!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">*other notable dates coming up</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">-145 days until Christmas -- www.isitchristmas.com</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">-337 days until 4<sup>th</sup> of July</div>Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-47082714751478193632011-07-26T18:17:00.000-07:002011-07-26T18:17:42.283-07:00How to Party Like A Long Snapper: The John Finch Story<div style="font-family: inherit;">Today's post is a special guest entry from none other than Purdue great, John Finch For those of you who do not know, Finch has been the starter at long snapper for the Boilermakers for the last three seasons; he has also been my mentor, life coach and good friend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjau2WKrY72VD5Pho44tkqms-lj4o10YxALFAScozeAhUifaAFNswJzlNKEOOCGzFIyJjzW_KKM7jMu3Uf11TtBJc93_fGn91rv0JMNjU_nkOOqmKYVJaa0C_ZFtCYLGfpnass_61fBKwo/s1600/n13748985_39621636_5694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjau2WKrY72VD5Pho44tkqms-lj4o10YxALFAScozeAhUifaAFNswJzlNKEOOCGzFIyJjzW_KKM7jMu3Uf11TtBJc93_fGn91rv0JMNjU_nkOOqmKYVJaa0C_ZFtCYLGfpnass_61fBKwo/s1600/n13748985_39621636_5694.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;">John's accomplishments on and off the field are extensive; they are, but not limited to:</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"></div><ul><li>Degree in something about management from Purdue </li>
<li>first long snapper in the history of the game to be double teamed on punt coverage (Notre Dame last season)</li>
<li>2.0 lifetime kill-to-death ratio on Call of Duty: Black Ops</li>
<li>self proclaimed "king of Totinos pizza"</li>
<li>has a great party pouch (for those who do not know, the party pouch is the layer of fat on the lower abdomen) </li>
<li>played 2 plays against Toledo in 2008 at tight end</li>
<li>4.96 40 yard speed</li>
<li>lazer rocket arm</li>
<li>lots of other stuff too probably</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: inherit;">John has taught me many life lessons on and off the field, including how to party...</div> <div class="MsoNormal"><b>HOW TO PARTY LIKE A LONGSNAPPER<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s astonishing how many people come up to Kevin (Booty) and I and say things like “man you guys are so cool” or “I wanna be like you when I grow up.” In most case we will respond by saying “yeah we like to have a good time” or “you’re older than us how can you be like us when you grow up?” </div><div class="MsoNormal">Chances are that you will probably never quite get to the level that Booty and I are on but here is a basic rundown of what it takes to party like a longsnapper. For readability purposes this will be presented in a timeline. You’re welcome.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Saturday Afternoon:<o:p></o:p></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>2 p.m </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">It’s about time to roll out of bed for another afternoon of lounging and recovering from the night before. It is highly unlikely that you will be wearing all your clothes and underwear certainly does not need to be put on until around 9 p.m.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>3:30 p.m. </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">After an hour and half of laying on your couch and thinking about what to make for your meal today you finally decide to make your way to Chipotle. A lot of you readers might be confused as to how this relates to partying but it’s crucial to put something heavy in your stomach because this will be the last meal you have until 3 in the morning.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>8 p.m. </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">The time has finally come to make the biggest decision of the night. What are you going to drink tonight? Well you’re a longsnapper so you don’t have much money because you were never put on scholarship. Don’t worry people; that’s why you drink Steel Reserve. Granted this nectar of the gods requires you to bite down the first few drinks but it puts hair on your chest. More importantly, it only costs $ 2.50 for 40 ounces of just enough to push you to the limit. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>9 p.m. </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">After a really eventful afternoon on the couch where you probably lounged hard enough to sweat you can finally shower now. After showering make sure you select your style carefully. Mix it up a little. Maybe go out without wearing underwear. That’s always a good time. I tend to rock the standard navy blue polo shirt while Kevin mixes it up and where’s a shirt with an animal on it that he saw attacking humans on TV that day. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6909456680900714597" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>10-12 p.m. </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">This is a crucial time of the night where you polish off your Steel Reserves and play a lot of Call of Duty. My parents always told me that nothing good happens after midnight. That’s not true in college. Nothing good happens until midnight in college. It’s time to head to the bars at midnight</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">After midnight you are on your own when it comes to partying. Just make sure that you don’t talk to girls and dance your ass off. So what if Kevin and I have been found grinding on each other in public? It makes girls laugh granted we don’t talk to them afterwards. Here’s the thing: If you’re a longsnapper and you’re good at talking to the babes I don’t trust you, and neither does Kevin. And if we don’t trust you, we don’t like you and no one wants that.</div> Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-44598398929486678882011-06-26T18:05:00.000-07:002011-06-26T18:05:58.044-07:00i got skillzzzThis weekend I was at a family function and my cousin Jason said something along the lines of "Kevin, why is it every time I read something that you write you make a comment about how unskilled you are? You are the long snapper for Purdue University, you've gotta have some skill."<br />
I was quickly humbled that he, or anybody, would take the time to read my stuff but I instantly responded with something like "Woah woah woah, buddy. First off, I'm <u>A</u> long snapper at Purdue, get it right. Secondly, I have many useful skills, just not very many athletically."<br />
During my drive back to Purdue from my home town of Bluffton, Indiana I started to think about all of my skills, and they are as follows:<br />
<ul><li>eating skills</li>
<li>facebook creeping skills</li>
<li>chop stick skills</li>
<li>hat wearing skills </li>
<li>sandwich making skills</li>
<li>sword fighting skills</li>
<li>long hair skills</li>
<li>afraid to talk to girls skills </li>
<li>mustache skills</li>
<li>American pride skills</li>
<li>immature skills </li>
<li>ability to read for long periods of time in the bathroom skills</li>
<li>fanny pack skills</li>
<li>ability to avoid doing the dishes skills</li>
<li>getting parking ticket skills </li>
<li>memorizing songs skills</li>
<li>Jedi skills, and various other Star Wars skills (pod racing, droid building, etc.)</li>
<li>driving safely skills</li>
<li>dancing skills </li>
<li>being awkward skills</li>
<li>comic book reading skills </li>
<li>beer drinking skills</li>
<li>hand-eye coordination skills </li>
<li>sarcasm skills</li>
</ul>As you can see, like most long snappers, I got skillz. We never get a fair chance to display them for the public because we aren't "play makers" <i>per se</i>. Next time you see long snapper (whether you recently saw him snap a football or not) lie to him and tell him you saw his great snap, tell him he's got skillzzz. Guaranteed to make his day.<br />
<br />
69 (haha) days until kick off, BEAT MIDDLE!Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-89835975837454766622011-06-07T09:31:00.001-07:002011-06-07T09:31:11.462-07:00A Long Snapper's Guide To Swag<div class="MsoNormal">It is important for Long Snappers to find their niche; whether it be on the field domination or off the field antics, you’ve got to have something else going for you other than .7 seconds it takes to Long Snap. Lets be honest, if you are a Long Snapper, you are probably also a walk-on. For those of you who do not know, a walk on is somebody who was super average in high school and tried out for the football team on a whim (the best players have their choice to go wherever they please, the next tier of players usually go somewhere small and often find great success at their respective schools, a walk-on is someone who is usually only good at one thing (Long Snapping) and probably got a few letters from schools but nothing hand written and nothing to <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/ballinger">tweet</a> about ((unless, of course, you are a <a href="http://www.chrissailerkicking.com/long-snapping/instruction.html">Rubio</a> student. And to you I say, I know you are probably getting your college paid for and I know you are only 17, but at this moment, I am better than you at Long Snapping. Maybe not in a couple of years or even months, but right now, I am.)) "Preferred" walk-ons also exist, but they are usually good at sports. There is no shame in being a walk-on, many a great men are former walk-ons: <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/finchmachine">John</a> <a href="http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/finch_john00.html">Finch</a>, <a href="http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/staats_kris00.html">Kris Staats</a>, <a href="http://www.chargers.com/team/roster/Nick-Hardwick/681bbcc9-53c2-4995-be3e-a170ebeac512">Nick Hardwick</a> (I think) and I’m about 90% sure <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://dimemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/larry-bird.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dimemag.com/2009/11/dr-j-larry-bird-fight/&usg=__cWGrpfyVL6lu6JkYLXoZdUdFRLw=&h=318&w=400&sz=31&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=mZWfL1YxzvCfeM:&tbnh=141&tbnw=163&ei=TlDuTZWAF8btOcyuoZcI&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dlarry%2Bbird%2Bdunk%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3Dnxz%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D723%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=465&vpy=86&dur=1292&hovh=200&hovw=252&tx=171&ty=122&page=1&ndsp=37&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0&biw=1440&bih=723">Larry Bird</a> probably hung out with walk-ons in college (worth it). </div><div class="MsoNormal">One of the best ways to set yourself apart on the team and make yourself noticed by both teammates and fans alike is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Three-Wolf-Short-Sleeve/dp/B002HJ377A">swag</a>. More specifically, game-day <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=swag">swag</a>. Walk-ons have to learn how to capitalize on opportunities for free ANYTHING. Wrist bands are free on game day. Wear them. Wear as many as you can fit on your skinny little arms. 1. They look awesome, 2. You can take them off and give them to little kids after the game and for a second you will feel like a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AXCAjoXp5E&feature=related">real athlete</a>. Your cleats should look like they have been warn, but not too dirty, need to keep them bad boys fresh. Snappers usually don’t wear gloves, but if you are lucky enough to get a pair or find a pair in the lost and found, wear those and say it is to keep your hands warm. If it is muddy out, smear a little mud on your pants or jersey just to make it look like you at least warmed up (make sure you rub it around and don’t just have a mud hand-print, that’s a dead give away). If it is cold, I recommend wearing a hand warmer; effective in both the looks and functionality departments (also, great place to hide stuff, such as candy. My friends in I would go through bags of candy on the sideline freshman year of high school). Everything else is regulated by the NCAA, so there is not much else you can change. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Only 88 short days until Middle Tennessee State. Stay Classy.</div>Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-59393647940737682772011-05-26T16:31:00.001-07:002011-05-26T16:31:15.850-07:00Time On Our Side<div class="MsoNormal">A lot of what a Long Snapper does is behind the scenes. Countless hours of work are put in during the summer in extra snapping workouts and pre practice perfecting our technique and fixing the finest details and movements. Because we (the specialists) do most of our work outside of the allotted practice time, we have a lot of “free time” at actual practice. Don’t get me wrong, when we work, we work hard; but we work hard for a 7 second rep and then stand on the sideline for 40 minutes. </div><div class="MsoNormal">A specialist must be educated on the following topics to keep the conversation up for the 20 some practice hours we are at football a week:</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"> Current events (Who the picture was of on the sports page in the school paper)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Classic movies (Dumb and Dumber, Anchorman, etc.)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">New movies</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Reality TV (this is a big one, but more on that in future posts)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Girls (90% of conversation)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Whats happening on Facebook</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Whats happening on Twitter</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">What other positions on the field we would not be good at (turns out its all of them)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Celebrity gossip </li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Your text conversations with Rubio (“the #1 authority in Long Snapping”)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Touch down dances we will never get to perform</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The girls in your classes</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">How bad it sucks that we are only Long Snappers</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">How much it rules that we are only Long Snappers</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Call of Duty</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The reasons why we need to be famous</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Where we are going for the specialist dinner on Thursday night after practice</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">High school glory days of sports (long gone)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Weekend plans </li>
<li class="MsoNormal">What happened over the weekend </li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Why we need to be on The Real World, Bachelorette, Bachelor, Coach Hope's TV show</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Random facts (for example: what is the state bird of Texas?)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Wondering if people know the tattoos they get now will last forever</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The girls that looked at you during that day</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal">During down time, I recommend trying to become more versatile. And by that I mean, try some kicking, punting and holding. Why not? We’ve got the time. Aside from being the Long Snapper, I’ve also got my eyes on the back up onside kicking job. </div>Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909456680900714597.post-44156151999640009762011-05-17T15:16:00.000-07:002011-05-17T15:39:12.745-07:00The Life Of A Long SnapperThe life of a Long Snapper is not an easy one; there are many draining and arduous tasks. If you were to combine the life of Jedi, the walk across Middle Earth to Mordor and Odysseus' Odyssey, you would then be able to get a sense of what a Long Snapper goes through. Being a long snapper is a lot more than snapping balls, it is a way of life. Most of us are, by no measure, D1, D2 or D3 athletes; we just have an incredible knack for snapping balls backwards between our legs, backwards and upside down. Having been said we need to rely on more than our athletic ability to get by in our daily "grind" (as the kids are calling it). We, as Long Snappers, are not going to be the players in the weight room that are repping out 405 on the bench; we are the guys at the team picnic that are impossibly good at Corn Hole. We are the guys at the city gym draining 3's but barely slapping the backboard in two line layups before the game.<br />
Confidence is a Long Snapper's #1 weapon. We have to know that we are going to put the ball on the correct hip laces up 15 yards back in .75 seconds then painfully try to run down the field and hopefully get there in time to slap our teammates helmet who made the tackle before they run off the field (not because we just made a great play, but because the TV cameras are on the play makers. Long Snappers, especially walk-on Long Snappers need to learn how to maximize their TV time). Here is another tip for all of you Long Snappers out there, if you get the chance to down the football in a game, do it. The camera follows the ball, just sayin.<br />
A little bit about me for both of the people who are going to read this:<br />
I was born Kevin Bernard Ballinger. I am the youngest of 5 kids and only Ballinger (besides my mom) to not have their picture hanging in the halls of Bluffton High School for athletic achievement. I am 6'3" 230lbs and wildly unahtletic. I have never beat my brother Adam in a game of basketball and I've only beaten my brother Dave once (10-3). If I were a professional baseball player, my at-bat song would be <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf8hfZuzw_A">this magical song</a> and if I were a relief pitcher, I would sprint from the bullpen to the mound with the crowd singing along to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVBMthLuC_g&feature=fvst">this litte diddy.</a> I enjoy a good mustache and will take anyone to school when arguing the fact that Larry Bird is the greatest to ever lace up.Kevin Ballingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000775849765070825noreply@blogger.com2