Dublin University American Football Club

Dublin University American Football Club is an American football team at Trinity College In Dublin. It's a new team, established in 2008. They are the Thunderbolts.

Wikipedia says the Thunderbolts' head coach is Conor O'Shea, but I think Wikipedia actually had no idea who the head coach was so they just made up a stereotypically Irish-sounding name.


Thunderbolts are actually made out of lightning.
Photo: Paul Mayne via Flickr (CC)

Edward L. Keenan

Edward L. Keenan is a history professor at Harvard University. His focus is medieval Russia, especially the cultural and political history of Muscovy (1400 to 1600), as well as Ivan IV and Semen Shakhovskoi.

That guy's name is Semen. Can you believe that? Apparently, Semen was a Russian prince in the early 17th century. Can you imagine the abuse this guy must have taken in the schoolyard?

As for Professor Keenan, his claim to fame is his argument that many of the texts normally associated with the Russian medieval period are actually forgeries. This has totally shaken my impression of Russian history texts. While we're on the subject, one of my favorite songs of all time is about Russian history. And, as I've mentioned in Wikibloogia before, my Grandpa Eddie was born in Russia.

Russia will always have a special place in my heart.


Do not call him Semen.
Photo: Yury Cortés via Flickr (CC)

Bayou Bucket

Bayou Bucket is an award given to the winner of an annual football game between Rice University and the University of Houston. When I first read that the game is between "the Houston Cougars and the Rice Owls" for a moment I misunderstood and thought there was something called a rice owl, and I was very excited to hear that.

Rice is one of my favorite foods, and the owl is a great bird, and the idea that there was something called a rice owl made me very happy. I quickly realized that it was just the Owls from Rice University, but for about a half-second of my life I thought there was such thing as a rice owl, and no one can take that away from me.


Rice owls. Rice owls.
Photo: fossilmike via Flickr (CC)

Folarin Campbell

Folarin Campbell played basketball at George Mason University. Now he plays basketball in Italy.

I've never played basketball in either of those places. I once played basketball in France.


George Mason had to go pee.
Photo: inge87 via Flickr (CC)

1939 college football season

1939 college football season was the college football season that took place in 1939.

According to Wikipedia, the 1939 national champion was Texas A&M University, as voted by the Associated Press writers' poll. The Aggies were 10-0-0. That same year, World War II began in Europe. 1939 was a bad year for everyone except Texas A&M fans.


Men in hats stood and opened their mouths at the 1939 Rose Bowl.
Photo: Duke Yearlook via Flickr (CC)

John Faiman

John Faiman was a quarterback for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers from 1960-1962. He was born in Omaha, and was a two-time All-American at Omaha South High School. Since 1985, John has been the head football coach at Bellevue West High School in Bellevue.

According to Wikipedia, John was the starting QB in the first game of the 1962 season, his junior year, and he led the Cornhuskers to a 53-0 victory over the University of South Dakota. In early November of that year, as an extra-point kicker, he broke his leg in practice. He never played for Nebraska again. In this way, he reminds me of Moonlight Graham.


Nebraska corn huskers.
Photo: shannonpatrick17 via Flickr (CC)

University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila

University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila is considered one of the best engineering universities in Pakistan. It's in Taxila, in the Punjab province, about 35 km from Islamabad. It was established in 1975, the same year my brother was born.

According to Wikipedia, UET Taxila offers all types of engineering degrees, including civil, environmental, electrical, and aeronautical, among others. The campus is well-equipped; there are several libraries, several mosques, several dorms, and several student common rooms where students can play basketball.

On May 7 of this year, UETians celebrated their Spring Festival 2009.


This girl is thinking very deeply about visiting Pakistan.
Photo: wazari via Flickr (CC)