Bloom where you are planted

BRRRR!!!! It is terrible weather in Minneapolis. Although it isn't that cold out (about 20 degrees), it is very windy, and the roads are extremely icy. Friday night was kind of a let-down. In the biggest basketball game of the year for me, the annual Iowa State vs. Iowa showdown, the Hawk Eyes ended up winning big. I went over to Nick Willson's house for the game and we had a good time drinking Budweiser, eating chips, and talking about life. Saturday, I woke up, went for a run outside (it was almost 40 degrees), and then picked up my Grandma. She is a really good artist and some of her work was entered into an artshow at the Hopkins Center for Arts. Unfortunately, none of her genes were passed on down to me. Saturday night was pretty quiet. Earlier in the year, I bought my parent's a $50 gift certificate to a new Italian place, Viva Italia, and we all went out there Saturday night. For some reason, I was really tired Saturday night and I ended up going to bed about 9:30. I didn't do much today. I watched the Vikings win, and then tonight I rented the movie Hancock. I give it a B-. It's not bad. I really liked the idea of a kind of a drunk, lazy, superman type of character who reforms himself. But it was too simple of a movie.

1. I see that Sam Bradford one the Heisman vote. Bradford clearly had the most impressive stats out of the three finalists and will likely be the best NFL player. However, if I am starting a college team this year, I am taking Tim Tebow #1.

2. I cannot believe we still do not know who won the senate seat in Minnesota. Now the votes have all been re-counted but the question now is what about the questionable absentee ballots. For instance, under Minnesota law, if you did everything correct, but you filled out your zipcode wrong (or forgot to put it on the ballot), then your ballot has to be discarded. The absentee ballots are now in the hands of the Minnesota Supreme Court to determine if those type of small details - like zipcode issues - should stop a ballot from counting.

3. The Politico has an interesting piece on Obama's selections for his cabinet. There are men, women, Whites, Blacks, Asian-Americans, Hispanics, but there is one demographic missing... There is nobody from the South. I don't think this is intentional but it is a mistake.

4. The Des Moines Register has a very nice article in today's paper on who they think should be the next Iowa State football coach after ours left yesterday for Auburn. I really really want Turner Gill, the current University of Buffalo coach. Here is who the Register likes:

DAVID BAILIFF, Rice: Houston Bowl-bound Owls went 9-3 in Bailiff's second season after going 3-9 in 2007. Averaged 41.6 points and 327.8 passing yards a game.

BILL CUBIT, Western Michigan: Upset Iowa last season and Illinois this season. 29-19 in four seasons. Passing focus this season featured QB Tim Hiller, who threw for 3,527 yards and 34 TDs.

BOB ELLIOTT: Former associate head coach under Dan McCarney at ISU. Resume also includes defensive coordinator at Iowa, Kansas State, San Diego State and Ball State. Former Iowa player.

MARK FARLEY, Northern Iowa: Eight seasons with the Panthers, where he has a 75-28 record after losing Saturday's semifinal game against Richmond 21-20.

TURNER GILL, Buffalo: Former Nebraska QB led the Bulls to a win against Ball State in the Mid-American Conference title game. His 8-5 team meets Connecticut in the Jan. 3 International Bowl.

TODD GRAHAM, Tulsa: 18-6 in two seasons with the Hurricane. His team averaged 47.4 points during a 10-2 season. Former head coach at Rice. Also former assistant at West Virginia.

BRADY HOKE, Ball State: Led the Cardinals to a 12-0 record before losing against Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference championship game. MAC coach of the year.

STEVE LONEY, St. Louis Rams: Six years as an offensive line coach in the NFL. Marshalltown native and Iowa State graduate. Former Cyclone offensive coordinator and interim Drake coach.

PAUL RHOADS, Auburn defensive coordinator: Former Iowa State assistant and former Ankeny resident, Rhoads' resume also includes assistant jobs at Pittsburgh and Pacific.

ED WARINNER, Kansas offensive coordinator: In 2007, the Jayhawks were the nation's No. 2-scoring team. Passing offense, led by Todd Reesing, averaged 302.3 yards a game.

SHAWN WATSON, Neb. offensive coordinator: Four seasons with the Cornhuskers and second as OC and QBs coach. Nebraska averaged 36.2 points and 284.8 passing yards behind Joe Ganz.