Gophers capture Floyd

Earlier this season the University of Minnesota football team defeated the team from the University of Michigan to capture something called "The Little Brown Jug".  I guess it was kind of a big deal for some older folks being as over the last half century or so (hey, anyone can have a bad half century) this has become an increasingly rare occurrence.  Minnesota won in '65 and '67 then this is the fourth time since then.

Personally I prefer the pig.  The local squad and the team representing the University of Iowa have an actual pretty competitive rivalry for "Floyd of Rosedale".  The Gophers captured the pig today (by a record setting 51-14).  What makes this noteworthy is that this is the first time the Gophers have held both of these two ancient trophies at the same time since 1967.

So, pardon all of us while we all give a hearty Ski-U-Mah and sing the Rouser a couple of times.

But wait, there is more.

In DePere, Wisconsin, Macalester has defeated St. Norbert College (TOPWLH inquires there's a saint named Norbert?) to capture the Northern Division championship of something called the Midwest Conference.  Stop and savor, a conference championship for the pumpkin heads, truly unimaginable just a few years ago, certainly unimaginable towards the end of the still NCAA Division III record 50 games losing streak from '74 to '80.  Those were the days.  Side note:  we were at the game at Macalester Stadium on September 22, 1980 when a late field goal pushed Macalester past Mount Senario (I know, I know, even more obscure that St. Norbert) by a score of 17-14.

In other football news SM Caen 1:2 FC Nantes.  Nantes secures another away three pointer to continue their fine early season form.  Les Canaries sit an impressive and quite unexpected 5th in the table with one third of the schedule now having been played.

Winter precipitation is forecast for tonight and tomorrow.  The heads think that enough may accumulate and that the conditions for next week may remain cool enough that the white stuff will stick around.  With this in mind it seems apparent that I won't be getting over to our favorite of the trees we have ever planted.  Further more, it is an ash, an ash is not at its most attractive stage right now.

Here is the most recent picture I have of Emily's tree, taken summer of '13.

Excuse me for now, I have to go off and lead a ceremonial singing of Minnesota March.