RAWRCATZ! v Toledo

So, you want a MAC game? After the scrimmage against Wofford you have to think that the RAWRCATZ! are ready to curb stomp their way through a Toledo team that is very good at just that, getting curb stomped. Last week Toledo put up the 2 spot on a tough, but decidedly not RAWRCATZian Arizona team. Is it possible that they have enough rocket fuel to power past our mighty green and white clad world beaters?

No. They do not.

I am Mitch Albom.

These lines are important.

Tuesdays With Morrie.

Blows.

Sorry for the shortness of this preview, but this is going to be murder.

ToLOLedo Rockettes

Strengths:

You can only go up... right?
The game is in Ohio, so they are closer to home than in the desert.
Hey, they got that safety last week.
Umm...

Weaknesses:

The offense
The defense
Rufus v a Rockette? Give me some Rufus.

As you can see, we here at RAWRCATZRAWR! don't believe in any hype that the Rockettes were slumping last weekend. We believe that Arizona is pretty overrated and will show that during the Pac 10 schedule. RAWRCATZ!, however, are never overrated. They are the best football team in the state of Ohio, and today is only the beginning.

Toledo, get some.

RAWRCATZ! - 35 Rockettes - 3

Boom goes the dynamite.

RAWRCATZ! vs. Wofford

I feel the picture above to be wholly inclusive of what this weekend's scrimmage against Wofford represents. Either Wofford comes in and puts on a frilly lace collar and we CATZhandle them like the green and white dream machine that we are. Or we get to look at Terrier naughty bits and our season is over before it starts. I could rant and rave about the stupidity of playing FCS teams but I won't. All I'll say is if we win, who cares. If we lose, ALL HOLY HELL THE SHIP IS SINKING, THE SHIP IS SINKING!

RAWRCATZ! should use this as an opportunity to sharpen their claws for when the MAC schedule starts off next week. Ideally, Boo Jackson spends the first half shaking off the rust and doesn't see the field in the second half. Ideally, King Solich death stares half of Wofford's team and you can get 'em all a body bag. Ideally... ehh, who am I kidding? You don't think the season starts this week either.

Alright, onto the prognosticating, because this scrimmage already feels like a fool's errand.

Wofford Strengths:
Who
Gives
Two
Farts?

Weaknesses:
Playing the RAWRCATZ!
No answers for rejuvenated Boo
Peden Stadium doesn't put up with this crap

Seeing as how the starters will probably only play 2 1/2ish quarters, I'm willing to bet that the score doesn't get too out of hand. With that being said, this will be over when Rufus takes the field.

RAWRCATZ! 38 - Wofford 10

Bring on the Rockettes.

Updates: In Which I Hypothesize Serial Killings

Pardon our rust while we yawn and stretch out after our hiatus. You see, RAWRCATZ!, if anything, enjoy a good nap. While slipping into a summer long coma was not in the cards, you'll forgive us if we take a little bit to get back into the face-clawing.

So, news of note since we've been AWOL:

- Taylor Price was drafted 90th overall by the New England Patriots after what is the culmination of one of the most decorated RAWRCATZ! careers of all time. He finishes 1st all time in receptions, 2nd in yards and 2nd in touchdowns. He'll probably displace Randy Moss as the go to guy in an offense that is full of them. By week 10 they'll be calling him "Touchdown Taylor Price" up in Beantown.


He'll look good in Foxborough, but not as good as he did rocking the dead sexy Green and White of his yesteryear.

- The mighty RAWRCATZ! basketball team won not only the MAC tournament title, but then eviscerated #3 seed Georgetown in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Nobody gave the hardcourt RAWRCATZ! much of a chance, but a pregame speech by none other than Frank Solich (we presume) spurred our claw-toed brethren to victory over the HoLOLyas.

- However, with his spate of legal trouble we are not surprised that Armon Bassett not only declared, but stayed in the draft, despite the fact that Chad Ford had him rated as the 93rd best prospect in the draft. Lesson, oh mighty RAWRCATZ! - Don't punch bouncers in the face. A) They are paid to hit back B) You know someone is going to catch it on their cellphone C) RAWRCATZ! are better than this. We prefer to think that Mr. Bassett was tainted by his time spent at Indiana, and that the more distance he gains from the incident, the better off he will become.

- Sticking with the theme of bummers. Melvin Payne was suspended from the team in early June for reportedly breaking into a house and getting himself all cut up on a broken door. We wish to hold true to the old adage that all are innocent until proven guilty, and will reserve judgment until everything unfolds.


- Hey, let's end on a happy note, shall we? The Sporting News has named LaVon Brazill (the ball of dynamite seen above) to its 3rd team All-America. This is great news because you want to see RAWRCATZ! in these types of scenarios, and now I won't have to rip Phil Steele's heart out (2nd team AA from him) and send it to press release style to reporters like the Zodiac killer.

I know what you're wondering, and yes, I'm far too young to have actually been the Zodiac killer. Geesh, ye have little faith. Now shut up and get in the basement.

RAWRCATZRAWR - BACK FROM THE DEAD!

From the ashes RAWRCATZRAWR springs forth.

Sorry for the slacking, lack of news mixed with the ever burdensome graduate school makes posting a light affair. RAWRCATZRAWR will try its best to continue to fight for all that is Ohio University RAWRCATZ! Football.

So, to get back into the spirit, IT IS POSTING TIME!

1. The Marching 110 performed at the Rose Parade, which is no Detroit, but Pasadena was much nicer to us than Detroit this year, so let's get with the posting.



The Marching 110 is undefeated in its fight against all things that march and suck. Now if only we could get some of these dancers:



That's the Hampton University Ebony Fire, FTW. POW POW POW POW GET IT GET IT!

2. Adam Olesheski and Fort Knox Money Matt Weller are All-MAC Academics. RAWRCATZ! getting their knowledge on is even more important than getting their game on. Remember that junior RAWRCATZ!, academics is huge in these parts.

3. Thad Turner participated in the Shrine Bowl this past weekend, and Taylor Price will represent the RAWRCATZ! in the Senior Bowl on January 30th. Congrats to two seniors who not only embody the spirit of the RAWRCATZ, but have a chance to play at the next level.

4. Speaking of the next level, next Wednesday is national signing day for high school recruits. If you are interested in hearing about the next great class of the Solich Death Squad then you can head over to the Peden Stadium tower of power and get some analysis by the coaches on who the next fine young men to play for the greatest team in the state of Ohio will be.

5. We will be giving a slight profile of our recruiting class as it is announced next week.

And finally, a special thanks to the gentlemen over at MGoBlog for the link in today's recruiting post. Thankfully we don't have the rivalry that that other team in Ohio has with them, so we can enjoy their prose without looks of scorn coming from our friends and relatives. It isn't like they are RedHawks or anything. RedHawks are dirty, dirty creatures. They live in caves and eat the souls of rabbits. How is that a lifestyle that you'd want to lead?

That's all from us for now, but we promise to be more active, and as always KEEP RAWRing!

Post Season RAWRCATZ Brou-ha-ha

Some end of the season loveliness that we missed.

Congrats to the All-MAC RAWRCATZ!

First team:
Placekicker: Fort Knox Money Matt Weller
OLB: Lee Renfro
Kickoff Returner: Chris Garrett

Second Team:
WR: Taylor Price
WR: LaVon Brazill
ILB: Noah Keller
DB: Thad Turner
Punt Returner LaVon Brazill

Third Team:
OL: Joe Flading
OL: Chris Rogers
DL: Ernie Hodge
DB: Gerald Moore

In addition to these some RAWRCATZ! received some national attention:

Freshman All-American 2nd team - Matt Weller (collegefootballnews.com)
Freshman All-American 3rd team - Matt Weller (Phil Steele)
All-American 2nd Team Punt Returner - LaVon Brazill (Sporting News)
Freshman All-American - Gerald Moore (Sporting News)
Honorable Mention All-American - Noah Keller (Sports Illustrated)

And finally, which should come as no shock to anyone, in the world, ever:
Frank Solich - MAC Coach of the Year (Phil Steele)

This Phil Steele guy obviously knows who wears the pants in these parts.

Once again, congrats to all of the RAWRCATZ! who won awards after a fine season. Although, honestly, Noah Keller has 138 tackles and only gets an honorable mention? What's a RAWRCAT gotta do to get some love?

RAWRCATZ vs Marshall, nay, the World

When we first started this endeavor of a blog, it was our sublime hope that RAWRCATZRAWR would become your one stop shop for all your RAWRCATZ! needs. A sort of Meijer full of RAWRCATZ! paraphernalia and babby RAWRCATZ! that you could pick up and play with until they clawed your eyes out. That is our wish, and on the eve of the greatest victory in the long and illustrious history that is RAWRCATZ! football, we proceed.

The Motor City/Little Caesars/ Pizza Pizza Bowl is whatever you want it to be. We choose to believe that it is destiny. Some might say that it is weird that our destiny is financed by $5 pizzas, but if America runs on Dunkin Donuts, then the promised land can be sponsored by a pizza mogul. We're okay with corporations as long as Peden Stadium doesn't turn into Tampax With Wings Stadium. And that day will never come, Frank would never allow it.

Our opponents, the Marshall University Thundering Herd are what a playwright would call a foil, or an antagonist. They'll gallop in from Huntington, West Virgina like a bumbling assortment of carnival freaks, and they'll leave a huddled mass of body bags and broken limbs. This is the RAWRCATZ! way, don't hate us, we can't change, son. We could come up with some clever nicknames for Marshall: The Thunderlolling Herd, The Fighting McConaugheys, The We Would Be Extinct If People Didn't Find Out That We Make Tasty Burgers, But our favorite is the Thundering Nerds (photos, as always, courtesy of RAWRjuiceboxRAWR):

Look at them flee in terror from a rampaging gang of RAWRCATZ! R2D2 doesn't stand a chance, trust me RAWRCATZ! hate droids. Even the giant babby RAWRCATZ! are getting into the action:


Yes, these are the droids we're looking for.

So bring your manga, your Dungeons and Dragons and your Johnny Quest action figures. Bring your Warcraft guild, your level 60 Elven Ranger and your careers in science and math. But most of all bring your football team, because nothing suits the RAWRCATZ! better than finding a team on the brink of annihilation, and pushing them over the edge.

Strengths:
Darius Marshall going over 1000 yards despite not playing in 3 games
Favorable color scheme
Bison are tasty
Chad Pennington to Randy Moss is the most exciting QB/WR tandem in college football

Weaknesses:
Lackluster jerseys
West Virginia sucks
Matthew McConaughey has a rooting interest in your team
Chad Pennington has been dead for 3 years and Randy Moss goes poo poo up in Massachusetts.

Final Weakness: You're playing the RAWRCATZ! I wanted to be cordial, or look at this game through some rose-colored glasses, but seriously. Frank Solich is going to have a field day with your garbage flavored football team.

Cheer Loud and Long for Old Ohio, Cheer Loud and Long for RAWRCATZ!

RAWRCATZ! 34 - Marshall 17

Motown, Marshall and Mad-As-Hell RAWRCATZ!

When the dust settled on the MAC Championship game RAWRCATZ nation wept. We wept not for ourselves, because we are not the team. Let us make an important statement: This blog will never include itself in the matters of the team. We are lucky enough to be fans of a Frank Solich lead football juggernaut. That is all we ask, the ability to watch and cheer.

No, our tears were for these young men who have battled so valiantly in front of our eyes all season. They were for Boo Jackson and all the others who have been wounded along the way. They were for Theo Scott who stands in the fire better than most.

They were not for King Solich, if he knew we were crying we'd all be dead.

For a day we wept. We dried our tears on our sleeves and looked depressingly at our MAC East championship shirts. And then we recovered. In this season of thanks and counted blessings we counted high. We have Frank Solich. We have LaVon Brazill. We have the Marching 110. We have Rufus and Peden Stadium and the greatest jerseys in college football.

So now as the holiday quickly approaches we stand with vertebrae of steel and fistfuls of vigor. For on Saturday we breathe fire once more.

Marshall. Who is Marshall anyways? The Thundering Herd? As laughable a mascot as we here at RAWRCATZRAWR! have ever seen. The mascot of a should be extinct beast.

"We Are Marshall!" should be, "We Are About To Be Destroyed By RAWRCATZ!"

Not even Matthew McConaughey can save you.

This Saturday the Motor City welcomes us back once more, this time with open arms. The RAWRCATZ! juggernaut will not be satiated with tours of Greektown and the MGM Casino. These will not even peek our interest. While Marshall tours The Henry Ford Museum we will be hunting. Lurking in the shadows and stalking with a snarl and a sinister look that scares children and makes nuns poop their pants. This time we leave Motown with the head of the herd in our hands, and the first bowl victory in the school's history.

This time, we come for blood.

Frank Will Play His Game Beneath The Spin Light

"If looks could really kill, then my profession would be staring." Jesse Lacey sings it, but Frank Solich personifies it...

Look at those eyes, two vacuous black holes of carnage. When The Man stares beings die, and no one is exempt from his scorn. Even RAWRCATZ! faithful should be terrified of the wrath of King Solich. Thankfully he does not turn his gaze of annihilation our way.

Here's a list of just some of the things that Frank Solich has killed with his eyes:

Jesus
New Coke
Charlton Heston
Tara Reid's career
Bikini Atoll
The edible part of the Donner Party
Princess Diana...

Dresden, Germany
Boba Fett
EnRon
QPR's chances of ever being promoted to the EPL
Rock Hudson's heterosexuality
The Predator in Predator 2
(If you really think that Danny Glover is capable of killing a Predator then you are out of your mind)

Soon added to the list: Marshall.

RAWRCATZRAWR!

RAWRcap Looks To The Future

And so, it is with great honor that we accept an invitation to make a return trip to Detroit. The jewel of the Midwest shines brightly before our RAWRCATZian eyes, blinding us with its luster. We take on the Marshall Thunderlolling Herd, and we will beat them. We will stand triumphant on their carcass and let Rufus beat them with his meaty paws.

Not to dwell on past transgressions, but one thing to bring up from Friday's game. Did anyone catch Butch Jones's halftime interview? Rufus just rocketed up the cool scale. The only way he could have been any cooler is if he had given him a dutch rub and taken his hat.

In the following weeks you'll see some new types of content here on RAWRCATZRAWR. We are a new blog, so we'll be working out the kinks a bit. Any suggestions for content can be left in comments section, or emailed to us. We plan on taking a look at recruiting already, but outside of that we're in the dark.

Sidenote: Today is the last day of my semester, so with grad school quieting down for a month I'll be posting some seasonal panoramas of what was 2009, and what lies ahead.

As always, keep RAWRING!

The Wounding

I had a dream. Fort Knox Money, recovering from a disastrous output against Temple drives home a 43 yard field goal with no time left. Gatorade is spilled on King Solich and the perpetrators instantly regret it. Theo Scott climbs into the stands to hug his mother. Like they do in Europe the players trade jerseys. LaVon Brazill gets LeFevours and waves it in the air like he just don't care. It is unfortunate, the lives we lose while dedicating them to sports. My heart beats about 39 beats per minute slower this night. What once was bold and glorious is now a little less luminous. We'll cover it with tinsel in the coming months and tell people it is just as good, but we'll know.

On the flip side we have reason to smile. The RAWRCATZ! made it to the MAC Championship for the 2 time in 4 years. They played their hearts out and as fans and observers we should thank them. Every year under Frank Solich is a year that we should be thankful for. To think of the years we spent lost in the forest before his arrival is to shiver with an everlasting chill in our hearts. So now we will heal, we will move on, and we will await our sacred bowl game where once again our RAWRCATZ! can go RAWRing. It was beautiful and brilliant and I'll miss the warmth it gave me. But memories, like Frank Solich, never die.

Thank you RAWRCATZ! With one more game to go we can already say: It has been a season to remember.

Fire Down Below: A Mt. Pleasant Story

Central Michigan University is located in the most ironically named city in the world. Mt. Pleasant. If you've ever been there you will know that it is neither a Mount, nor pleasant. In fact, it is shitty. They've got a cool liquor store, and a La Seniorita's, but that's about it. And while we here at RAWRCATZRAWR! would much rather spend the night in Mt. Pleasant over Kalamazoo (just so we can weigh in on that debate) the town smells like port-a-potty and we don't like it.

But, perhaps we as RAWRCATZ! are blinded to the jewels of other cities. After all, we hail from Athens. A city of light, and culture, and RAWRing. Athens is about as blissful a city as one can come across.
Look at that sky? Beautiful. Athens has it all, and by all, we mean Frank Solich. Frank makes everything wonderful. He also leads RAWRCATZ! to victory. Friday will be no different. RAWRCATZRAWR! wants to make it perfectly clear, we aren't expecting annihilation. Although after the Temple game it looks like it is possible, we are simply rooting for a thrilling football game that concludes with the RAWRCATZ! marching triumphantly across the fieldturf clothed surface of Ford Field.

This one is for Athens, it is for RAWRCATZ! and it is for the death of the Chippewa dynasty.

RAWRCATZRAWR! says let's start the Solich Dynasty, and let it reign for a thousand years.

CHIPPEWA HATE WEEK!

That's right Chips, you like you some RAWRCATZ! jizzum on your salty snacks. Extra protein.

*this and all other photoshop genius provided by loyal reader, and mighty RAWRer, RAWRjuiceboxRAWR*

If we were a Chippewa, and thank Solich we are not, we would be shivering in our timbers. Because come Friday night there will be nothing left to be chippy about. The Chips have a LeFevour, and he is mighty, but the RAWRCATZ! are the perfect prescription. (no, not cowbell).

Fire up? I think not.

Ooh - Ahh, it's great to be a Chippewa? Think again.

RAWRCATZ!

RAWRCATZ RAWRcap: Temple

And in the end, there were the RAWRCATZ! standing steadfast against the breeze. The owl, now slain, lay flaccid, a carcass and nothing more.

Yeah, we get deep here. RAWRCATZ! can run however they want.

So the game became a laugher. Theo Scott played out of his mind, and the stingy RAWRCATZ! defense stood up to all the failing and falling owls could muster. If you had turned in a script about a football movie and this was the climax I would have returned it because there was no drama. If you had said, "Hey RAWRCATZRAWR! Solich and co. are going to dirty work Temple." I would have replied, "I want your sex," and shimmied to the left. We are RAWRCATZ! after all. And from time to time, we like to get down.

Some notes:

Theo Scott impresses us at RAWRCATZRAWR! more and more every week. Normally he is competent, accurate, and doesn't do enough stupid things to let the big plays work their magic. This week he WAS the big play. I don't if this can be said enough. He was dynamite. And by dynamite I mean, "BOOM THEO'D!"

Injuries. There were a truckload of them. None more serious than the status of LaVon Brazill and Theo Scott. Without those two the Chips present a much more formidable foe than before. The key will be getting these kids healthy before Saturday.

Matt Weller: RAWRCATZRAWR! has been singing his praises since day one, but he had an off game versus the Owls. We know he'll be called upon versus Central Michigan, he needs to bring that Fort Knox Money stylings that we've grown to expect. But don't worry, we're still fans.

Onward to Detroit RAWRCATZ! The jewel of the Midwest awaits your sultry snarl and your punishing claws of victory.

Temple preview remains below or: here.

7 - 0 This fumble better get overturned.

RAWRCATZRAWR!

RAWRCATZ vs. Temple

We know posting has been light this week, with the holidays and a weekend hangover compounding our ability to write declarative sentences, we knew we'd be in trouble. But, in honor of tomorrow morning's battle for the MAC East title RAWRCATZRAWR! is ready to pull out all the stops. RAWRCATZ! GO!

So this weekend RAWRCATZ! play the Temple Owls. First, some fun facts about Temple.

1. Temple University is an Ivy League university with an enrollment of just under 20,000. They have an illustrious academic history in which they are one of the leading... Oh, wait. That is UPenn. The good school in Philadelphia. Temple smells like fish and their students are notoriously overweight.

2. If you are black, and under the age of 65, noted alumni Bill Cosby hates you and your youth culture.

3. Bob Saget and Tom Sizemore are both alumni. That is like going to the same preschool as the Olson twins, you know, before they were coked out. I mean...


So we've established that Temple has some shady alumni and has a smelly campus. Also, they don't have Frank Solich. Which is good, because only RAWRCATZ! can be lead by King Solich. If Temple somehow figured out how to clone Frank Solich and use him against us RAWRCATZRAWR! guarantees that the earth would fracture on the fifty yard line of Peden Stadium. And the destruction of Peden Stadium will not be allowed. Thankfully Temple does not have the knowledge or the resources to pull off such a coup. Nor do they have Bernard Pierce, their talented running back, because he's afraid of getting clawed to death by the RAWRCATZ!

All right, here are your:

Strengths:

-Philly is a cool city
-Brotherly Love
-Actually, Bob Saget is pretty funny
-Chester Stewart plays the role of rejuvenatory device

Weaknesses

-Philly is a cool city, if you like getting mugged
-Temple is not the best school in the city
-Bernard Pierce's shoulder
-Owls have nasty sleep habits

The Liberty Bell, much like Temple's defense, has a crack in it. The visual symbol of the city is in a constant state of broken. Temple is only a few years removed from complete and total mediocrity, and their strides over the last few years have been admirable, but Friday is not the day to start letting these nocturnal pederasts take that final step. In fact, it will never be time for them to ascend the steps of glory. Because once we take the MAC East within our claws, we will never relinquish it.

Okay RAWRCATZ! now is the time. One more game before we claim our RAWRCATZ! birthright, MAC East champions. With only a final step on the staircase to eternity, let us ascend.

It'll be close, but we're firing with both barrels.

RAWRCATZ - 28 Owls - 20

It's a RAWRCATZ! Thanksgiving

Since we are a website, and not so much a producer of perishable goods (I mean, we are RAWRCATZ! we kill our own food), we will hit you with some lovely visual goodness.

First, turkey is delicious, and we can't think of a world in which you don't at least get some visual poultry.


And since we here at RAWRCATZRAWR! fully support the spirit of this, a day of thanks, we say thank you to the Marching 110, because they are equal parts awesome and spectacular.



RAWRCATZ! aren't going to stop until they get enough MAC Championships. And even on Thanksgiving Frank Solich's hunger cannot be satiated.

Husky Hate Week: Day 4

Tonight the RAWRCATZ! sleep the slumber of titans. In their dens and caves and dorm rooms they dream of things innocent and gallant. What do our humble yet stoic RAWRCATZ! dream about? What images do future MAC East champions conjure while situated within the arms of sleep? Let us postulate.

Theo Scott dreams of throwing touchdowns. And not just easy touchdowns. Big play, precision bombs like laser-guided missiles that put points on the board and weaken the resolve of a relatively stout Husky defense.

LaVon Brazill sleeps silently but in his head dance fascinations of glorious effort and many receptions. In his mind the ball floats effortlessly over the hands of outstretched defenders and he cradles it with his arms and his soul. He crosses the goal line with no one around and casually flips the ball to the referee before being danced about by the multitudes of beautiful lady RAWRCATZ!

Matt Weller doesn't dream, he doesn't have to. He is the dream.

Chris Garrett takes the hand off and breaks instantly into the open. He trucks a husky (the dog, not the player) that has wandered aimlessly onto the field. It is mortally wounded but Chris shows no remorse. That pup should have known to stumble into his path. He pounds his chest, the universal symbol of one who is victorious, and spits an epithet of annihilation into the sky.

Taylor Price wakes up in a cave. He reaches in the darkness for anything he can grasp, but there is nothing. In the distance is a light. He rises and steers himself in that direction. He is cautious, but unafraid. As he nears the light a deafening roar fills his ears and he runs towards it with great anticipation. The lights of Peden Stadium welcome him with their warmth and as he burst through the RAWRCATZ! head he knows that Saturday will be a day he shall remember. This wasn't a dream. It really happened.

Go forth RAWRCATZ! Go forth and make war.

Husky Hate Week: Day 2

If you missed our introduction to Husky Hate Week see below or click here.

Moving on, as you know RAWRCATZRAWR! is dedicated towards bringing you the straight facts on the enemies of the divine RAWRCATZ! This week is no different. With that in mind we would like to spend some time elaborating on the lesser points of this week's opponent: Northern Illinois University.

1. They breed their huskies in puppy mills.

Just like the University of Connecticut and the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Northern Illinois University has a dog for a mascot. But unlike these and several other fine canine centric teams, NIU has an extensive puppy breeding program with which they raise their elegant, but ultimately flea riddled mascots.

Look at this people. DOGS IN CRATES. Dogs are one of the earth's most majestic and loyal creatures. At no point is a dog ever supposed to be stuffed in a crate. Except for pugs because they are stupid and breathe like they have emphysema. But all other dogs are to be kept out of crates at all time. They aren't cattle folks. Cattle are delicious and should be treated as thus. Dogs, however, are not delicious and should never be eaten or treated in this fashion. Someone get PETA over to DeKalb right away.

2. NIU are a band of gypsies.

After the Chernobyl fiasco forced their relocation from DeKalb, the board of directors over at NIU decided that instead of spending millions of dollars on a new campus, they would set up shop wherever they pleased. Now I know what you're thinking, Brad Pitt played a gypsy in Snatch, and that movie was awesome. But we're not talking bare knuckle boxing, alcohol swilling gypsies full of awesomeness. Regular gypsies kick ass. These are faux-gypsies, and they missed the boat on what the gypsy lifestyle is all about. Come to think of it, they are to gypsies what Cher is to gypsies. An abomination. Then again, Cher is an abomination in any scenario.


3. NIU was built on an Indian burial ground

NIU's first president, who's name is completely forgettable and insignificant, was quite the bigot. After the board of trustees was created to pave the way for the new establishment, this man, whoever he was, went on a tour, asking the local Indian population of their most sacred spots. The one that they pointed out the most was a sacred burial ground where their most honored warrior chiefs were buried. This guy, who is not mentioned because his descendants have connections, built is residence on that very site. Ever since then NIU has been condemned to mediocrity. I mean, their football team has 1 MAC title ever, and this is the school that produced Garrett Wolfe and Michael Turner. How do you not win the MAC with Michael Turner? Answer: Your school is built on an Indian burial ground. That's the kind of karma you don't want to mess with.

As we have illustrated Northern Illinois University is a total and thorough abomination of an institution. The fact that they are allowed to grant degrees is appalling. However, their football team will prove to be quite a test for our RAWRCATZ! Hopefully the Honorable Coach Solich will take these facts, and use them as motivation. For this surely is a fight of good vs. evil.

RAWRCATZ! are always GOOD and never EVIL.

RAWRCATZ! Across America

These days the RAWRCATZ are RAWRing everywhere. From Galveston to Athens we can hear the mighty RAWR echo across the hills and plains of America. This picture was sent to us by a loyal reader from Chicago's Crossroads Bar and Grill. Which I hear serves fried Husky with an extra side of whimper.

For all of you fellow RAWRCATZ! out there on this lovely planet we call home, if you've got any great RAWRCATZ! pictures send them to rawrcatzrawr at gmail dot com and we'll post them.

For those who missed it, the RAWRCATZ extinguished the glittering flame of bowl eligibility for Buffalo on Tuesday. Unfortunately, since we played early in the week we have no game to talk about for Saturday. Rest assured that the RAWRCATZ will not sleep on the rest of this week. Sure they might take a day off to ruminate on the glorious satisfaction that was the Buffalo Beatdown, and hell, they probably stopped and got some hot wings, but their eyes and claws will be as sharp as ever come next Saturday when the Huskies come to town. And be certain, RAWRCATZRAWR! will bring you the full report.

By the cane of John C. Baker, we prowl onward!

RAWRCATZ RAWRCAP: Buffalo

It was a tale of two teams. Or, two RAWRCATZ! tails. We came out RAWRing, and looked to start the game off with a bang, but a Theo Scott fumble in the endzone stifled that dream. Still, we persevered and came back home to the lovely Athens with the victory.

We still control our own destiny. We still have a chance at RAWRCATZ! glory, and we still lead the charge with our heads high. And didn't Frank Solich look terrifying. Did you see the way the refs leaned away from him while he spit vitriol? Frank commands the loyalty of RAWRCATZ! nation, and we are menacing.

Key performers:

Theo Scott - Yes, he fumbled the ball into the endzone, and yes he threw a pick. But he also put up 22/28 for 221. He was steady and in control.

LaVon Brazill - When the man comes around, he scorches earth. Hopefully Brazill can keep this momentum up for the rest of the season and carry it through to 2010. Final stat line 10 receptions for 99 yards and a 48 yard TD pass.

Matt Weller - Like I said, this kid is Fort Knox Money. He proved it once again.

Clearly Frank's Mortal Kombat victory from earlier propelled us to new heights. We took the opening drive and stuffed it down their throats. Sure, it was upended, but the tide was set for the night as the RAWRCATZ! powered through BuffaLOLo all game.

Last night was a night where we stood tall on national television. We can be proud, and hopefully keep this going because the next two will be tough. Thankfully we now have almost 2 weeks to prepare for a Huskies team that will look to soil the glorious and sanctified lawn of Peden Stadium.

But until then we should savor this triumph, for it brings us one step closer to our goal of MAC champions.

Stand up and Cheer, for we are the RAWRCATZ!