A Quick Look at WVU's 2012 Schedule

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Here is a look at WVU's schedule for the upcoming year...the first in the Big 12!
Day, Date, Opponent, Time
Sat. Sept. 1 Marshall TBA
Note: Why?

Sat. Sept. 8 Open
Sat. Sept. 15 vs. James Madison + TBA
Note: Cash grab game in DC.
Sat. Sept. 22 Maryland TBA
Note: Is there anybody still playing for the Terps?
Sat. Sept. 29 Baylor # TBA
Note: Interesting homecoming game. And, the first Big 12 game ever for WVU.
Sat. Oct. 6 at Texas TBA
Note: First trip in the Big 12 is to take on the Legend of the conference.
Sat. Oct. 13 at Texas Tech TBA
Note: One of Dana's former stomping grounds. Defense optional.
Sat. Oct. 20 Kansas State TBA
Note: Huge matchup, as Kansas State looks to be one of the top teams.
Sat. Oct. 27 Open
Sat. Nov. 3 TCU ^ TBA
Note: The battle of former Big East teams? Kind-of?
Sat. Nov. 10 at Oklahoma State TBA
Note: Another former spot for Dana. Take the over.
Sat. Nov. 17 Oklahoma TBA
Note: Depending on how the season goes for both, could be a Gameday option.
Sat. Nov. 24 at Iowa State TBA
Note: I have been looking of forward to the first trip to Ames since October!
Sat. Dec. 1 Kansas TBA
Note: Charlie Weis has some serious work to do.

+-FedEx Field, Landover, MD#-Homecoming^-Mountaineer Day

You're On Candid Camera!

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Syracuse Athletics: It's always something, isn't it?

As has been widely reported in the Syracuse area, SU's former media director Roger Springfield appeared this morning in Onondaga County Court to be arraigned on an indictment charging him with felony unlawful surveillance. The indictment follows a month-long investigation by Syracuse Police and the Onondaga District Attorney's Office, in response to a disclosure directly from Syracuse University upon its discovery of some videotape evidence that seemed inappropriate. As is the tradition on this blog, we'll break down what the charge means, possible outcomes of the case, and the potential fallout for the Athletic Department.

Springfield, whose real name is evidently Roger Cahak, is charged with Unlawful Surveillance in the Second Degree, which in New York is a Class E felony. The crime is relatively new, becoming law in 2003 -- in response to evolving technology and the privacy concerns that follow. There are four potential theories upon which a person could be guilty of the crime, and based on reports I've seen at this point, it's unclear which of the four Springfield faces.

One theory is that when one acts for his own (or another's) amusement, entertainment, or profit, or to abuse or degrade a person, he intentionally uses an imaging device to secretly view, record, or broadcast a person dressing or undressing or shows his intimate parts at a time or place where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, without the person's consent.

The next theory is when one acts for his own (or another's) sexual gratification, he intentionally uses an imaging device to secretly view, record, or broadcast a person dressing or undressing or shows his intimate parts at a time or place where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, without the person's consent.

The third theory is when one acts with no legitimate purpose in using an imaging device to secretly view, record or broadcast a person in a bedroom, changing room, fitting room, restroom, toilet, bathroom, washroom, shower, or any room assigned to patrons or guests in a hotel, motel, or inn, without such person's knowledge or consent.

The final theory is when one acts to use an imaging device to secretly view, record, or broadcast, under the clothing being worn by the person, the sexual or other intimate parts of a person (i.e. "upskirting").

I could pretty certainly assume that theory number four doesn't apply here. So from there, the questions we will need to deal with include what Springfield's intent was, and whether there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in a college locker room. In the case of theory three, we know the "prohibited areas" or surveillance -- they're spelled out in the statute -- and the defendant charged under that theory would have to rebut the presuption that he acted with no legitimate purpose. In those instances, surveillance for crime or theft could be a legitimate purpose depending on the circumstances and the notice given to people entering those areas.

Whether there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in a college locker room seems to be an area of focus in this case, according to a statement made by Springfield's attorney. A quick search of NY cases doesn't turn up much concerning a reasonable expectation of privacy in locker rooms, so I'm not so sure why Springfield's attorney feels so confident. The way I see it, if I'm an athlete I have -- if nothing else -- an expectation that the only people who can see me change are my teammates, and maybe my coaches. A locker room is a large changing room -- with doors, no windows to the outside, and limited access. The people in the locker room are all in the same boat -- all exposed to each other, but only to each other. If that expectation did not exist, then the locker room itself would not exist -- the football players would take their pads and jock straps off right at the 50 yard line of Ernie Davis Legends Field, while the ESPN cameras are still rolling and the crowd is filing out the revolving doors.

And, of course, that's absurd.

And so, I have a feeling that Roger Springfield doesn't have much of a case. As an E felony, he faces a maximum of 4 years in state prison; however, he could get local jail time, or even probation. Possibly more damaging, however, is the possibility that a conviction for unlawful surveillance could require Springfield to register as a sex offender under New York's Sex Offender Registration Act.

To his credit, it appears Springfield fully cooperated with the investigation, and even provided additional evidence to the authorities. I'm still trying to get my head around that. So, assuming he has no criminal history, it seems likely that he'll escape having to serve any state prison or even local jail time. His attorney could even make a motion with the Court for this to not be treated as a sex offense, if the facts and circumstances of this case and of Springfield himself would make treatment as a sex offender unduly harsh to him.

While New York does its prosecution, it seems that other jurisdictions may not get involved. There are allegations that some of the surveillance could have occurred in Florida, but Florida seems content in letting New York deal with this. The possibility still exists that the Feds could get involved.

Today was merely the first step in the criminal process. Springfield was arraigned on the felony indictment handed up by the Grand Jury; he appeared in court, was apprised of the charges against him and had his rights explained to him, and the case now moves on to discovery and motions, as well as plea bargaining discussions between Springfield's attorney and the District Attorney's Office. Best case scenario, he gets probation with no sex offender registration. I guess time will tell.

I will say this: Syracuse University seems to have done everything right in this case. As evidenced in its official press release, SU discovered the problem, immediately reported it to authorities, and fully cooperated in the investigation. It also acted quickly in suspending, and then firing, Springfield. There was no cover-up, no referral to a law firm to investigate. So, you know, we've all learned a lot from the Bernie Fine thing.

St. John's - Syracuse Preview

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Syracuse students agree: NYC is STILL Syracuse country.Is James Southerland playing today? According to Twitter he is. And the Post-Standard has confirmed it. Either way, Syracuse takes on a St. John's team that is last in the Big East in rebounding. They also aren't very good at shooting the long ball with the exception of star D'Angelo Harrison. However Harrison is the definition of a streaky player. He could rattle off five unbelievably long or impossible shots and miss the next ten. If Harrison is on, and he can be as he leads the team with 18.5ppg, Syracuse will have to respond. But again the good news is that Syracuse is a far better rebounding team (2nd in the Big East) than St. John's. If St. John's starts missing shots the game could get out of hand for them quickly. Syracuse has played far better at home than on the road. SU outrebounded ND, the opposing team for the first time in four games, and that is with a guy named Jack Cooley on the roster. They also shot 48.9% in that game. While Harrison probably will get around 15 points, so will CJ Fair. And probably Southerland will add ten off the bench in the excitement of being back on the floor in a game. St. John's is not a team that can bust the zone so look for them to really struggle in the first half, with Syracuse gaining a modest lead. St. John's should get a run going in the second half to close the gap, but Syracuse's transition game will definitely keep them in the lead. Syracuse, playing at home, against a team they have dominated for a good stretch, will play well. I'm picking the Orange to win this one by 16. This game is available on ESPN nationally at 3:00pm.

St. John's - Syracuse Postgame Reactions OR Still The Best in New York

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There were only a few puzzling moments from Syracuse in this one.St. John's was in a tough position. They were playing a top ten opponent on the road in the Big East and without Steve Lavin on the bench. They gave it a good effort, but Syracuse could not be denied, especially with the return of key reserve player James Southerland, having had his eligibility restored. It was too much for the scrappy upstarts from Downstate. Syracuse beats the Red Storm 77 to 58.

• Once again, the leading scorer for Syracuse was CJ Fair who had 17 points on 7-13 shooting and 2-3 from beyond the arc, both from the corner. He also pulled down nine rebounds while playing 39 minutes. He also had a pretty serious dunk that was called an offensive foul.
• MCW also had 17 points on 6-9 shooting and 3-5 from behind the line. He had a really solid game overall including eight assists and six steals. It seems he has again struck a nice balance between scoring and assisting on scores. It helps with Southerland back in the lineup to take the pressure off him as well. He was also 2-2 from the free throw line.
• Brandon Triche also had a nice day with 16 points on 5-10 shooting (2-6 long range). Additionally, he added five rebounds, seven assists, and was 4-4 from the free throw line.
• James Southerland was a little shaky in his first half back after missing six games, but he made up for it in the second half and found his rhythm. He was 4-10 from the floor and 3-7 from behind the arc for a total of 13 points in 26 minutes of work. He also had two rebounds, assists, steals, and one block. Not a bad return for the team's leading scorer.
• Baye Moussa Keita had the game Syracuse fans were yearning for while Southerland was out. He was 4-4 from the floor in 22 minutes, earning eight points, four rebounds, and two blocks.
• Trevor Cooney was great defensively, but he still looks terrible on the offensive end. He played seven minutes and was 0-1 but had one steal.
• Jerami Grant took a step back from his last game's big performance but still had a solid day, yielding minutes in favor of Southerland. He had four points, shooting 2-5 from the floor in 15 minutes.
• Rakeem Christmas is still one of the best athletes on the floor but he also took a step back from his play in the Notre Dame game. He was 1-2 in 18 minutes, picking up two points, a rebound, steal, and block.
• Syracuse shot a gaudy 53.7% from the floor, 45.5% (10-22) from long range. They also shot 9-10 (90%) from the free throw line. St. John's only shot 41.8%, 22.7% (5-22), and 7-10 (70%) respectively.
• The referees let the kids play in this one, not calling anything ticky tacky or touch fouls. They only called actual body contact or charges. In reference to the charge on the Fair dunk, I do think CJ got beat to the position, but officials have to be weary of calling offensive fouls on players that are already in the air for a dunk. A defender should not be able to slip in and establish position when a player is going for a dunk already in the air to get a foul. Of course, this is the hardest call in basketball.
• Southerland had one of the prettiest plays on the day getting a long pass from MCW, then dishing it with no look to Triche to finished with a dunk at the other end to really put away any momentum St. John's had built.
• Syracuse had 12 turnovers in this game. That's a little high, led by three from Brandon Triche, but it is close to their average. St. John's had 16.

Syracuse remains the best basketball team in New York State and continues their win streak against St. John's. Syracuse has a bit of a quick turnaround as they now head to Hartford Wednesday to take on Connecticut for the last time as Big East members. Especially sad as there is no possibility of these teams matching up in the Big East Tournament in New York. Either way it will be a fun one, but for now it's fun beating that other pesky team in New York once again

Syracuse - Marquette Preview

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Syracuse students agree: Syracuse isn't looking good lately.Syracuse had a short turnaround between a dreadful offensive performance for a Big Monday match against another leading team in Marquette. And yeah, Syracuse is going to be playing against a great defense in Marquette who is active and grinds other teams down by their pace of play and outside shooting. Syracuse must dominate the offensive and defensive glass to have a chance of beating Marquette in their building. All the guards will attack off the bounce and find gaps in the zone to not only shoot from, but also kick out to more than capable shooters. Honestly, I wish I had even a small bit of confidence for the Orange's offense lately, but how can you after you've seen not only how they performed in their last game, but on the road overall this season. Brandon Triche bouncing back will be the key to the game. If Syracuse can get production from him they have a chance. But right now the smart pick is Marquette by 12. This game is available nationally on ESPN at 7:00pm ET.

St. John's - Syracuse Preview

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Syracuse students agree: NYC is STILL Syracuse country.Is James Southerland playing today? According to Twitter he is. And the Post-Standard has confirmed it. Either way, Syracuse takes on a St. John's team that is last in the Big East in rebounding. They also aren't very good at shooting the long ball with the exception of star D'Angelo Harrison. However Harrison is the definition of a streaky player. He could rattle off five unbelievably long or impossible shots and miss the next ten. If Harrison is on, and he can be as he leads the team with 18.5ppg, Syracuse will have to respond. But again the good news is that Syracuse is a far better rebounding team (2nd in the Big East) than St. John's. If St. John's starts missing shots the game could get out of hand for them quickly. Syracuse has played far better at home than on the road. SU outrebounded ND, the opposing team for the first time in four games, and that is with a guy named Jack Cooley on the roster. They also shot 48.9% in that game. While Harrison probably will get around 15 points, so will CJ Fair. And probably Southerland will add ten off the bench in the excitement of being back on the floor in a game. St. John's is not a team that can bust the zone so look for them to really struggle in the first half, with Syracuse gaining a modest lead. St. John's should get a run going in the second half to close the gap, but Syracuse's transition game will definitely keep them in the lead. Syracuse, playing at home, against a team they have dominated for a good stretch, will play well. I'm picking the Orange to win this one by 16. This game is available on ESPN nationally at 3:00pm.

St. John's - Syracuse Postgame Reactions OR Still The Best in New York

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There were only a few puzzling moments from Syracuse in this one.St. John's was in a tough position. They were playing a top ten opponent on the road in the Big East and without Steve Lavin on the bench. They gave it a good effort, but Syracuse could not be denied, especially with the return of key reserve player James Southerland, having had his eligibility restored. It was too much for the scrappy upstarts from Downstate. Syracuse beats the Red Storm 77 to 58.

• Once again, the leading scorer for Syracuse was CJ Fair who had 17 points on 7-13 shooting and 2-3 from beyond the arc, both from the corner. He also pulled down nine rebounds while playing 39 minutes. He also had a pretty serious dunk that was called an offensive foul.
• MCW also had 17 points on 6-9 shooting and 3-5 from behind the line. He had a really solid game overall including eight assists and six steals. It seems he has again struck a nice balance between scoring and assisting on scores. It helps with Southerland back in the lineup to take the pressure off him as well. He was also 2-2 from the free throw line.
• Brandon Triche also had a nice day with 16 points on 5-10 shooting (2-6 long range). Additionally, he added five rebounds, seven assists, and was 4-4 from the free throw line.
• James Southerland was a little shaky in his first half back after missing six games, but he made up for it in the second half and found his rhythm. He was 4-10 from the floor and 3-7 from behind the arc for a total of 13 points in 26 minutes of work. He also had two rebounds, assists, steals, and one block. Not a bad return for the team's leading scorer.
• Baye Moussa Keita had the game Syracuse fans were yearning for while Southerland was out. He was 4-4 from the floor in 22 minutes, earning eight points, four rebounds, and two blocks.
• Trevor Cooney was great defensively, but he still looks terrible on the offensive end. He played seven minutes and was 0-1 but had one steal.
• Jerami Grant took a step back from his last game's big performance but still had a solid day, yielding minutes in favor of Southerland. He had four points, shooting 2-5 from the floor in 15 minutes.
• Rakeem Christmas is still one of the best athletes on the floor but he also took a step back from his play in the Notre Dame game. He was 1-2 in 18 minutes, picking up two points, a rebound, steal, and block.
• Syracuse shot a gaudy 53.7% from the floor, 45.5% (10-22) from long range. They also shot 9-10 (90%) from the free throw line. St. John's only shot 41.8%, 22.7% (5-22), and 7-10 (70%) respectively.
• The referees let the kids play in this one, not calling anything ticky tacky or touch fouls. They only called actual body contact or charges. In reference to the charge on the Fair dunk, I do think CJ got beat to the position, but officials have to be weary of calling offensive fouls on players that are already in the air for a dunk. A defender should not be able to slip in and establish position when a player is going for a dunk already in the air to get a foul. Of course, this is the hardest call in basketball.
• Southerland had one of the prettiest plays on the day getting a long pass from MCW, then dishing it with no look to Triche to finished with a dunk at the other end to really put away any momentum St. John's had built.
• Syracuse had 12 turnovers in this game. That's a little high, led by three from Brandon Triche, but it is close to their average. St. John's had 16.

Syracuse remains the best basketball team in New York State and continues their win streak against St. John's. Syracuse has a bit of a quick turnaround as they now head to Hartford Wednesday to take on Connecticut for the last time as Big East members. Especially sad as there is no possibility of these teams matching up in the Big East Tournament in New York. Either way it will be a fun one, but for now it's fun beating that other pesky team in New York once again

Syracuse - Seton Hall Postgame Reactions OR The Hall is Closed

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A lot of fans looked like this during the last 10 minutes of this game.Syracuse, as expected, handled the Seton Hall Pirates, probably for the last time. It was even the biggest crowd Seton Hall has had at the Prudential Center all time (mostly due to Syracuse fans). And while The Hall gave it a good college try, Syracuse was just the better team.

• Obviously the star of the day ended up being Brandon Triche with a new career high 29 points on 10-18, 4-7 shooting, while being on the floor all 40 minutes. He recovered from several early missed shots to end u with a career day and keep Syracuse in the game when Seton Hall seemed to have momentum and close the first half defect Syracuse faced early.
• CJ Fair came in second with 19 points and leading the team with 11 rebounds for another double-double. Still the glue guy.
• MCW added 14 points, most of which came from the free throw line. He was 3-10 from the floor but 8-10 from the stripe. He also had nine rebounds but only three assists.
• James Southerland had 11 points off the bench on 3-9 shooting from behind the arc and 4-12 overall. Not the worst day, but he hit the big shots in the second half when Syracuse needed them.
• Keita, Grant, and Christmas might as well not have come off the bench. None of them really contributed that much, but Christmas added three points.
• Syracuse had a spectacular game in terms of turnovers. They only had four in the game and only one in the second half. Brilliant. Seton Hall had nine.
• While Syracuse was outshot from the floor by Seton Hall (43.2% to 38.7%), Syracuse did hit a better percentage from both the free throw line 69% to 58.6%) and the three point line (40% [8-20] to 28.5% [10-26]). Hall's three point shooting kept them in the game and gave them a nice early lead but Syracuse battled back.
• Seton Hall actually had more assists (14) than Syracuse (13). Syracuse had not won a game on the road when MCW had four or less assists. He had three but Syracuse won the game.

Syracuse puts the Hall away one last time. Now Syracuse returns to the Dome for a tough two game stretch. But first Syracuse takes on Providence, a team that they beat in Providence, but not by much.

Providence - Syracuse Postgame Reactions OR Farewell Friars

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[Insert your own caption here]

Wednesday night's game in the Carrier Dome between the visiting Providence Friars and the home Syracuse Orange had all the makings of a trap game. Providence is an annual cellar-dweller; Syracuse had already beaten the Friars on their home court; Providence has been playing well lately; all of Orange Nation was focused on the record-breaking crowd for the huge matchup Saturday against long-time rival Georgetown. Well luckily, not all of Orange Nation. You see, Jim Boeheim operates a game at a time, and he instills that in his coaching and the approach his players take. Boeheim I think did a great job coaching his squad for the Providence game, and it showed on the court. The Orange takes this one 84-59.

• For the first ten minutes of this game, neither Syracuse nor Providence looked impressive. And then Syracuse went on a huge offensive run: they were hitting shots -- including threes -- the defense shutting down Providence, and creating turnovers which led to more Orange points. By the time the Friars picked themselves up off the floor, they were losing 43-16 and walking back to the locker room for halftime.
• CJ Fair and James Southerland led the way for Syracuse with 20 points each. CJ was 6-10, 1-1 from three, and 7-8 from the free throw line. He also pulled down ten defensive rebounds for another double-double. James was 7-8, 3-3 from three, and 3-4 from the line. When you get players like CJ & James shooting that well, you know Syracuse will have a great game.
• Michael Carter-Williams also had a fantastic game: 15 points on 5-8 shooting, 5-6 from the line, 12 assists, and only two turnovers.
• Brandon Triche didn't have the monster game he had against Seton Hall the other night, but he still had a solid performance against the Friars: 14 points on 5-11 shooting, 1-3 from three.
• The other scholarship players weren't huge contributors on offense, but don't question their contributions to this win. In particular, Baye Moussa Keita's 19 minutes hardly scratched the box score, but he was active on defense. Keita seems to be the better defensive player over Rakeem Christmas, but each was a presence under the basket and often times left the Providence offense wondering what happened to the ball.
• Jerami Grant & Trevor Cooney both saw decent minutes, but this just wasn't their game. But that's fine, as this was a total team effort and everyone contributed in some way.
• Speaking of everyone, Boeheim was able to insert the walk-ons with just over a minute to go; once Taco Time had been reached, of course.
• That all said, Providence is a good team. They have good players and have won some games over some tough opponents this season. Wednesday night, four Friars scored in double digits. Of note, Vincent Council recorded seven assists and became the Big East's all-time assists leader. Not that Jim Boeheim cares, though...
• This was another game where we heard the whistle more often that anyone ever wanted. It was a very inconsistently called game, varying from half to half. I guess that's what to expect in a Karl Hess game these days. Tim Higgins retires, and someone has to take over I guess.
• The Carrier Dome crowd was rather small and rather quiet. Sure, they got loud and into the game during that first-half surge, and at the end when the walk-ons came in. It is what it is, but you'd like to see more than "23,717" at a Big East game.
• It really wasn't 23,717.

Top to bottom, Syracuse played one of its best games in a while. All aspects of the game were hitting on all cylinders and against a Big East team, you can never let your guard down. Especially with the epic tilt against the Hoyas looming. The Orange::44 staff will be among Saturday's 35,012, and we hope you will be as well.

Georgetown - Syracuse Preview

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Syracuse students agree: We're gonna be packed in for a great college basketball game.Georgetown versus Syracuse. 35,000 plus. Last conference game in the Carrier Dome. #11 versus #8. This has the makings of a classic. For 33 years these teams have hated each other. Tomorrow afternoon will be no different. Syracuse is coming off an impressive win over Providence, blowing them out at the Carrier Dome. Georgetown blew out Providence in DC. Something that isn't exactly impressive as it was against DePaul, but in the Big East any blowout is noteworthy. Syracuse will play zone and need to keep scoring against the Hoyas, who have some pretty tough defense. Syracuse will need steals and transition points to keep ahead of Georgetown. Since Syracuse is at home I anticipate a good shooting night for all involved in Orange, especially James Southerland, CJ Fair, and Brandon Triche. CJ Fair was again a solid scoring leader in the last game, Southerland was great shooting off the bench from way back, and MCW dished out the ball enough to earn a double-double. The real X-Factor in this game is Otto Porter. The leading scorer (15.1ppg) and rebounder (7.7rpg) for the Hoyas, he banged his knee recently. If he is 100% Syracuse could have trouble containing him. He can be a zone buster hitting mid-range shots in the gaps, or even drilling some big outside shots. If he is off however, Georgetown could have a very long day. Not like Nate Lubick is going to set the world on fire. That guy sucks. If he is playing well we should have a good game on our hands. If Porter is off, Georgetown will struggle late in the game and Syracuse will cruise to victory. Either way this should be a fun atmosphere, and electric crowd, and a very loud Dome. No way I'm picking against the Orange in this game, all things considered. Syracuse over the Hoyas by 14. This game will be available nationally on CBS at 4:00pm. If you're going to the game good luck with your phone and/or internet. Do some good and donate a caned good on your way to the game. This place is going to be bonkers. ... And Georgetown stills sucks!

want it, need it, have to have it | oxfords

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one | two | three | four | five | six
During the winter, I wear tall boots just about everyday. It's so boring, but they keep me warm and allow me to get use out of my extensive supply of dresses even during the coldest months. I'm hoping, wishing, praying that those days are soon coming to an end for the year and I can inject some variety into my footwear. Before I can joyously break out my sandals, I'm on the lookout for a closed toed option that's a little more interesting than ballet flats. I want a cute pair of oxfords that will go with pants and skirts/dresses. Here are a few options I've found so far. 
Which do you like best? I think two and five are my favorites. Any other shoe suggestions for between seasons?

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl 2012

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The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl pits the Arizona State University Sun Devils of the Pacific 12 Conference against the Navy Midshipmen (currently an independent school).  Here's some information using the NCAA FBS Production Model.

Arizona State is currently 7-5 playing against an average strength of schedule as compared to the rest of the "league".  Arizona State's best win was against in-state rival Arizona and their worst loss was to Missouri.  Arizona is currently the #31 most productive team in the FBS, with the #32 offense and the #31 defense.

Navy finished the regular season with a 17-13 victory over rival Army and a record of 8-4.  Navy's best game was a victory over #80 East Carolina.  All of Navy's victories have been over team currently ranked in the bottom quartile of the NCAA FBS production model.  Navy worst loss was to currently ranked #54 Troy.  Navy is currently ranked #53 in terms of overall productivity and is currently ranked #79 in terms of offense and #35 in terms of defense.

Given ASU's superior productivity, the model "predicts" that Arizona State will be victorious in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl today.

Cotton Bowl 2012

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The Cotton Bowl has the Oklahoma Sooners of the Big 12 Conference against the Texas A&M Aggies of the SEC.  Here is how each team stacks up using the NCAA FBS Production Model.

Oklahoma is currently 10-2 playing an average strength of schedule.  Oklahoma's best victory of the season was against currently ranked #43 TCU.  Both of the Sooner's losses were to currently ranked top 20 teams in the NCAA FBS Production model (#5 Notre Dame and #16 Kansas State).  Oklahoma is currently the #26 most productive team in the nation with the #19 most productive offense and the #42 most productive defense.

Texas A&M is also 10-2 and has also played an average strength of schedule.  Texas A&M's best win was against currently ranked #1 Alabama and their two losses were to teams ranked in the top 20 (#9 Florida and #14 LSU).  Texas A&M is currently the #13 most productive team in the FBS with the #6 most productive offense and the #43 most productive defense.

Given that Texas A&M is more productive than Oklahoma, the model "predicts" that Texas A&M will win tonight's Cotton Bowl.

BBVA Compass Bowl 2012

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The BBVA Compass Bowl today has the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels of the Southeastern Conference playing against the Pittsburgh Panthers of the Big East Conference.  Here is how each team compares using the NCAA FBS Production Model.

Mississippi is currently 6-6 playing against an average strength of schedule as compared to the rest of the "league".  Mississippi's best win of the season came against currently ranked #41 Mississippi State in order to become bowl eligible; all other five wins were against teams currently ranked 90 or higher.  Mississippi's worst loss was to currently ranked #55 Texas.  Mississippi is currently ranked as the #50 team in overall production with the #58 ranked offense and the #40 ranked defense.

Pittsburgh is also currently 6-6 playing against an average strength of schedule.  Pittsburgh's best win this season was against currently ranked #15 Rutgers and their worst loss was to Youngstown State (a non-FBS team), which in my measure of strength of schedule is equal to 125.  Pittsburgh is currently ranked as the #30 most productive team in the "league", with the #61 most productive offense and the #13 most productive defense.

Given that Pittsburgh is more productive than Mississippi, the model "predicts" that Pittsburgh will win the BBVA Compass Bowl today.

Gary Bettman's 20th Year as NHL Commissioner

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Scott Burnside has a nice piece on the 20th year anniversary of Gary Bettman taking over as NHL Commissioner.  (Some comments by yours truly in the middle).

Here are some more of the financial growth details not included in the article:

From 1994 to 2012 NHL average franchise values have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 8.85%.

From 1994 to 2011 (latest data I have) NHL average team total revenues have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 7.23%; average player costs have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 9.28%; and average team operating income has increased at a compound annual growth rate of 0.58%.

Finally, from 1995 to 2012 NHL average ticket prices have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 3.23% and the average of the Fan Cost Index (provided by Team Marketing Report) has increased at a compound annual growth rate of 3.10%.

GoDaddy Bowl 2012

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In the GoDaddy Bowl we have the Arkansas State Red Wolves of the Sun Belt Conference playing against the Kent State Golden Flashes of the Mid American Conference.  Here is how each team compares using the NCAA FBS Production Model.

Arkansas State is currently 9-3 playing against an average strength of schedule.  The Red Wolves best game of the season was 50-27 victory against currently ranked #42 Louisiana-Lafayette and their worst performance of the season was a loss to currently ranked #51 Western Kentucky.  Arkansas State is currently ranked as the #23 most productive team in the football bowl subdivision with the #21 most productive offense and the #39 most productive defense.

Kent State is currently 11-2 playing against an easier strength of schedule as compare to the rest of the league.  Kent State's best win this season was over currently ranked #15 Rutgers and their worst loss was to currently ranked #113 Kentucky.  Kent State is currently ranked as the #36 most productive team in the "league", with the #24 most productive offense and the #48 most productive defense.

Given that Arkansas State is more productive than Kent State, the model "predicts" that Arkansas State will be victorious in today's GoDaddy Bowl.

BCS Title Game 2012

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Tonight we have the Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish who are only one of four independent NCAA FBS teams playing for the BCS title.  As I have done for the other 34 bowl games this season, here is how each team looks in terms of productivity over this season using the NCAA FBS Production Model.

Alabama is currently 12-1 while playing against an average strength of schedule.   Alabama's strength of schedule equals 61.54 which is slightly less than the average overall (as of the end of the regular season) of 66.73, but is still within one standard deviation of the mean, and thus still similar in a statistical sense to most of the other teams in the football bowl subdivision.  As of the end of the regular season Alabama and 82 of the 124 FBS schools (including the four new teams that are playing basically an FBS schedule) played a similar schedule in terms of overall strength.  If you quote that Alabama played Georgia, Texas A&M and LSU (all top 40 teams), I will respond with Arkansas, Florida Atlantic, Missouri, Auburn and Western Carolina (all bottom 40 teams).  That said, Alabama's best win was against currently ranked #7 Georgia in the SEC championship game and their only loss was to currently ranked #13 Texas A&M.  Alabama is currently ranked as the #1 team overall in terms of productivity in the NCAA FBS Production Model with the #5 most productive offense and the #3 most productive defense.

Notre Dame is currently 12-0 while playing against a tougher strength of schedule as compared to the rest of the "league".  Notre Dame's best win was against currently ranked #18 Stanford.  Notre Dame is currently ranked as the #5 most productive team in the football bowl subdivision with the #50 ranked offense and the #1 ranked defense in the nation.

Given that Alabama is more productive than Notre Dame, the model "predicts" that Alabama will be declared the national champion by winning this game.

2012 Final Top 25

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Now that the NCAA FBS season is finally over, with Alabama defeating Notre Dame in the "Title" game, here is the final Top 25 for the season.  Note that the model and experts agree (at least on who is #1), with some very different rankings from #2 on down.  Here is the final Top 25 using the NCAA FBS Production Model.

Rank	Team
1	Alabama
2	Florida State
3	Oregon
4	Georgia
5	Utah State
6	Northern Illinois
7	Texas A&M
8	Cincinnati
9	Notre Dame
10	Boise State
11	Fresno State
12	San Jose State
13	Florida
14	LSU
15	Ohio State
16	Rutgers
17	Kansas State
18	Clemson
19	UCF
20	South Carolina
21	Oklahoma State
22	BYU
23	Oklahoma
24	Arizona State
25	Tulsa

Here are this year's Top 25 for the previous weeks:
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #15
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #14
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #13
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #12
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #11
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #10
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #9
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #8
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #7
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #6
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #5
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #4
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #3
2012 NCAA FBS Top 25 for Week #2

Competitive Balance in the NFL

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With the NFL regular season over, let's take a look at how competitively balanced the NFL was this past season.  As a reminder, I am using the Noll-Scully measure of competitive balance which statistically measures the actual performance from the ideal performance.  An ideal level of competitive balance using the Noll-Scully measure would equal 1.000, and levels above 1.000 means that the league has some competitive imbalance, with higher Noll-Scully numbers meaning more competitive imbalance.

So here is the Noll-Scully measure of competitive balance for the 2012 NFL regular season.  Using the standard deviation of a population yields a Noll-Scully = 1.524 and using the standard deviation of a sample yields a Noll-Scully of 1.549.  So is this good or bad?  That depends on how competitive the NFL has been in prior years.  So I looked at the regular season standings from 1981 to 2011 and as you can see below the 2012 NFL regular season is very similar in terms of competitive balance to prior seasons.  For those interested, here is my step-by-step guide to calculating the Noll-Scully measure of competitive balance.

Here is the Noll-Scully competitive balance measures using both the population and sample standard deviations from the NFL's 1981 regular season to the 2012 regular season.  As you can see in the table below that the 2012 regular season is not much different than the average during this time period.  Average NS (population) from 1981 to 2012 = 1.505 and Average NS (sample) from 1981 to 2012 = 1.531.

Season		NS Population		NS Sample
1981		1.364		1.389
1982		1.677		1.708
1983		1.370		1.395
1984		1.651		1.681
1985		1.540		1.569
1986		1.639		1.669
1987		1.372		1.397
1988		1.320		1.344
1989		1.415		1.441
1990		1.591		1.620
1991		1.710		1.742
1992		1.625		1.655
1993		1.260		1.283
1994		1.375		1.400
1995		1.204		1.224
1996		1.448		1.473
1997		1.429		1.453
1998		1.682		1.711
1999		1.470		1.494
2000		1.549		1.575
2001		1.600		1.627
2002		1.300		1.320
2003		1.509		1.533
2004		1.515		1.539
2005		1.668		1.694
2006		1.425		1.447
2007		1.634		1.660
2008		1.631		1.657
2009		1.585		1.611
2010		1.474		1.497
2011		1.610		1.636
2012		1.524		1.549

Gary Bettman's 20th Year as NHL Commissioner

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Scott Burnside has a nice piece on the 20th year anniversary of Gary Bettman taking over as NHL Commissioner.  (Some comments by yours truly in the middle).

Here are some more of the financial growth details not included in the article:

From 1994 to 2012 NHL average franchise values have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 8.85%.

From 1994 to 2011 (latest data I have) NHL average team total revenues have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 7.23%; average player costs have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 9.28%; and average team operating income has increased at a compound annual growth rate of 0.58%.

Finally, from 1995 to 2012 NHL average ticket prices have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 3.23% and the average of the Fan Cost Index (provided by Team Marketing Report) has increased at a compound annual growth rate of 3.10%.

weekend recap

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This weekend I learned that you can get so much done when you don't sleep in until outrageous hours on Saturday and Sunday. It's true: awake me is much more productive than sleeping me. Who knew? I'm not sure I'll be springing out of bed on my regular workday schedule, but I'm going to make an effort to squeeze as many waking hours into my free days as I can. Kurt is thrilled :)
Our friend Christian had the brilliant idea to participate in the National Day of Service on Saturday, so he, Kurt, and I signed up to help with the Sandy Relief Kitchen's Canned Food Drive. Our "dream team" was stationed in front of a nearby grocery store taking food donations. It was freeeezing and super early but I was astounded by the community support.  Read more »

ladies night

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Earlier this week, Jenn and I had a little "ladies night" after work. No, there was no skeezy club involved. We just happened to hit up a couple lady-centric events and enjoyed a couple glasses of prosecco along the way. Not bad for a Wednesday night!

First, we attended a Women in Architecture happy hour at the Bisazza showroom in SoHo. 

Bisazza makes these incredibly intricate and flashy glass tile mosaics. I love their showroom. Who doesn't need a skull and cross bone motif on their bathroom walls? I'm sold.
Then we made our way to our first bi-weekly GIRLS viewing party of the year. We're only a couple episodes in and I am already pretty excited about this season! If you don't watch, you should start immediately. It's that good. Thanks for hosting us, Andrea!
Other thoughts this week: 
It's terribly cold in New York. 10 degrees is the lowest I've experienced yet. I have no desire to see what single digits are like. This about sums up my attitude from now until March.
Anyone else wish they were at Alt Summit this week? It sounds like a lot of fun. Luckily, they are having a mini conference in NYC this summer (that weather is more my speed anyway). I'm hoping it's not too expensive because it would be fun to check out. Who's with me?
Have a great weekend!

the weather report | more than just cold

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After over a week of sub-sub-freezing temperatures, we finally got some snow! I don't know why this makes the cold more bearable. It's just as frigid (if not more) and now wet and slippery, but a dusting of white on the ground gets everyone a little excited and warmed from the inside out. Somehow the cold is justified/vindicated by it. Regardless, I'm glad January is almost over.




We took these photos after work on Friday night. The city only got an inch or two, but it stuck around for most of the weekend since it is still pretty cold. If this is going to be a typical Northeast winter, I'm going to have to invest in a thicker jacket. My Southern skin can't take this wind!
Our social outings tend to revolve around the seasons. In the summer, we are great explorers on bike all over Brooklyn and even a couple other boroughs. But once those temperatures drop, we limit ourselves to places comfortably and quickly reached by foot, bus, and train. And when it's 15 degrees and snowing, my world shrinks to a two block radius. Dinner, drinks, and quick stop at the wine shop were all in view of my apartment. I could get used to this convenience, but I will NEVER get used to this cold.
P.S. - I hope you all like the new look of the blog! (Inspired by this tumblr because everyone knows I am SO hard core :) )

valentine's day

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I hope you all had a great weekend! Besides an awesome 90s dance party at the Bell House and a lovely ladies brunch at Jenn's house, my weekend was pretty low key. Kurt is on his annual ski trip with the guys, so I've been catching up on sleep and watching lots and lots of TV (currently burning through the latest New Girl episodes...hilarious!). So instead of a weekend recap, here's a VALENTINE'S DAY RECAP!



For some reason, I wasn't too excited about V-day this year. It could be my chronic winter blahs or the constant bombardment of pink and red for months, but the day sort of snuck up on me. I didn't even pick out a cute dress to wear! To make matters worse, I had a late client meeting and didn't get out of the office until after seven. Thankfully, Kurt was on the ball and suggested we try a new place in Sunset Park. We landed on this Turkish place, Kofte Piyaz, which is byob and had a special Valentine's Day four course prix fix menu. The food was great and we had a lovely evening, curing my Scroog-iness about the day of love.
Kurt got me some beautiful flowers. I do love lillies, especially when stored in a stolen beer pitcher. I got Kurt a couple ties to add to begin his collection and a new Ohio State key chain. I've gotten pretty good at fashioning office supplies into acceptable wrapping presentations, don't you think?
One V-day activity I was excited about was the Valentine's Day City Swap put on by Allie of Be Up & Doing. I was so so so excited to receive a package from Candis of Lady Lee & Drew Jones in Columbus, Ohio. I already have a necklace from her shop and looooove it, like inappropriately so. Kurt thinks I wear it too much but it goes with everything! Now I have a new one to add to my collection. Thanks, Candis!

As part of the swap, I put together a package of Brooklyn items to send to Shannon in Washington DC. I got her a tote bag from Maptote, caramels from Liddabit Sweets, a card from Pepper Press, and a "No Sleep Till  Brooklyn" pencil, all from a local shop called By Brooklyn. Like that fancy wrapping job again? I've got mad craft paper skillz :)
Did you all have a good Valentine's Day?

westminster kennel club dog show

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While preparing this post, I've been singing Lady Gaga's "Boys, Boys, Boys" in my head. However, instead of the regular chorus, I've changed it to "Dogs, Dogs, Dogs". This should give you some indication of my level of crazy (in general but mainly about dogs). I love them. I plan runs through the park based on the max amount of puppies I can see. I'm that girl that awkwardly sticks my hand down as I pass your dog on the sidewalk, so I can pet it nonchalantly. TMI? Anyway, I am counting down the days until it makes sense for me to have a dear sweet pup of my own.
Ever since I moved to NYC, I've wanted to go see the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden and this year I finally broke down and got tickets! And dragged Kurt along! Prepare yourself for a photo overload!!!!!


To begin the evening, we went the benching area where they groom and prepare the dogs to hit the stage. I had such high hopes of getting up close and personal with the pups, but it was absolutely slammed. This is where we encountered packs of crazy dog ladies. They are pushy and weird and are moved to tears at the mere sight of their favorite breed. I saw my future and it was scary. 
Look at that crowd! I'm not pushy enough to overcome the crazies and didn't want to mess up anyone's freshly groomed coat, so I didn't pet many dogs, but we did get lots of pictures. Kurt was better at pushing his way into the action than I was, so thanks to him for the good shots.



Boob hair dryer
These dogs have more products and styling tools than I could imagine ever using.






This little guy was one of my favorites!

When the dogs weren't being groomed, they were taking naps. Being cute (and pampered) is hard work!




The groomers were sleepy too.
Then it was almost showtime!





Once in our seats we were able to see the Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding groups compete.
This little Affenpinscher won the Best in Show.
I normally like bigger dogs but would take this Boston Terrier home in an instant.
Tank Bulldog
-It's a Chinese Crested, of course.-So, it's like a dog, right?[name that movie!]
Dalmation
Long coat Chihuahua
Poodle (can't remember which one...maybe standard?)
Shiba Inu
Shar-Pei
Silky Terrier
Kurt and me!
So now I've got a bad case of Puppy Fever. I'm not really in the position to get a dog at the moment, but that doesn't stop me from looking. If you know of any hypoallergenic dogs (Labradoodle or Portuguese Water Dog would be great) that need a good home, send them my way!