To start with, we used an app called Qik, available on the iPad, iPhone and Android, that lets your mobile device become a live, streaming webcam. This was so we could stream the press conference to our Websites. It worked pretty well, considering it was a 3G connection. For the actual signing itself, we had more than 1,600 readers watching live. I had to hold the iPad without a tripod since I also had a digital rolling, but I think it turned out OK. Two videos below of it below:
http://qik.com/video/47808089
http://qik.com/video/47807955

My Web Editor called me at 8:10 a.m. and wanted me to broadcast a live update using the iPad’s front camera at 8:15. Didn’t know it at the time, but had 1,000 people watching it (which is weird to think of when you’re a newspaper guy, rather than TV, and aren’t used to the live setting), but it went alright: http://qik.com/video/47807466

Also did post-event video about three minutes long. I just combined the highlights of the presser, why he chose Mizzou, how he fits with the offense, yadda, yadda …

A link to it on my employer’s site is here: http://www.nwaonline.com/xx/videos/2012/feb/01/5639/

Finally, I wrote an 18-inch story on the signing ceremony: DGB decides to ‘stay close’

In the summer of 2005, the school closed its doors and consolidated with nearby Greenland.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

It’s hard to believe the college bowl season is already here.

The month-long end to the best season in sports always brings plenty of crazy games, but it’s not every year we see something as wild as this from the officials … especially the replay officials.

During Ohio’s game-winning drive in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, sophomore quarterback Tyler Tettleton connected with senior wide receiver LaVon Brazill on fourth down and six with what was called a touchdown pass to tie the game at 23 with less than a minute remaining.

It was clear the call on the field was a touchdown, but it looked as if Brazill was a yard short. After multiple replays, the Southeastern Conference officiating crew finally got the call correct, but it wasn’t without a few hiccups along the way, including referring to the receiver (Brazill) as “the boy.”

Ultimately, the refs made the correct call, and that’s what really matters. Plus, isn’t that why we have video review? Ohio would convert the extra point and go on to win.

Congratulations to Frank Solich and the Ohio Bobcats for winning their first bowl game in school history.

Lou Holtz is the king of fashion

One of the great things about working at a newspaper is not only being able to tell people’s stories, but also getting to hear new ones everyday.

Another benefit is the archives you have access to, and more often than not the real gold mines don’t lie within the digital realm.

This afternoon at work, Vernon Tarver and myself were going through one of the sports photo file cabinets by my desk, searching for items to go with a video package I am working on. While we came up empty when it came to Winslow basketball, we did hit the jackpot when it comes to former Arkansas Razorbacks football coach, and current ESPN analyst, Lou Holtz.

Check out these photos we found from the late 1970s with Holtz not only rocking some serious plaid pants, but also giving an interview while reclining on tackling dummies with what looks to be a purse or satchel of some kind swung over his left shoulder. What happened to those days?

To some these up in one word … BEAUTIFUL!

STILLWATER — No matter where I’m living, it’s always been a tradition for my dad and me to attend the annual Bedlam football game between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. Proud to say I’ve made five of the last six, despite not living in the Sooner State for a single one.

On Dec. 3, I was blessed enough to witness one of the biggest wins in Cowboy football history as OSU defeated OU44-10, winning the school’s first Big 12 Conference championship.

After the game, the OSU students (and plenty others) rushed the field and took down both goal posts. I took this video on my phone and thought I would share.

Though I broke the family trend of not attending Oklahoma State or Oklahoma A&M, it’s still fun to wave the wheat every once in a while at Boone Pickens Stadium, though I have to admit I miss the rust at old Lewis Field.

It looked like quite the part down there. I think the last time I rushed the field in Stillwater was in 2002 after Oklahoma State defeated the Sooners for the second straight year, 38-28. Until Saturday night, it was the last time the Pokes had won in Bedlam. We also rushed the field earlier that season when OSU beat Nebraska for the first time since 1960.

Oh the crazy days of my freshman year of high school.

Graham has his own bio page, but it has yet to be updated. Kowalczyk’s bio page has not been deleted. It can still be accessed here.

Pete Thomas (right) and Garrett Grayson.

Thought this would be a fun project to start. With Colorado State sophomore quarterback Pete Thomas going down with an ankle injury, grayshirt freshman Garrett Grayson has stepped in as the starter and done a pretty good job.

I’ve decided to make a head-to-head chart to show how each CSU quarterback has fared through his first X full games. I plan to update this weekly.

I also look forward to doing this for other schools.

1. LSU2. Alabama3. Arkansas4. Oklahoma State5. Stanford6. Virginia Tech7. Houston8. Boise State9. Michigan State10. Oklahoma11. Oregon12. Georgia13. USC14. Kansas State15. South Carolina16. Baylor17. Wisconsin18. Michigan19. TCU20. Clemson21. Penn State22. Tulsa23. Notre Dame24. Georgia Tech25. Virginia

The Burlsworth Trophy

At the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club meeting this afternoon, I got to see the actual Burlsworth Trophy in person — the award given to the best college football player who began his career as a walk-on.

Even though it’s simply a bronze statue of former University of Arkansas offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth, seeing this, along with listening to former Tennessee head football coach Phil Fulmer speak, today was a cool experience.

Brandon Burlsworth

Other than the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma State, this is the first college football award of its kind I’ve actually seen in person … and of course, the first one I’ve touched.

First awarded by the Springdale, Ark., Rotary Club last season to Georgia Tech center Sean Bedford, this is a trophy that — at least this fall — really excites me since it’s a local group pushing it to become a big deal on the national stage, and Colorado State linebacker James Skelton is one of 50 finalists for the honor.

And let’s face it, most people who read my blog posts are somehow affiliated with my Alma mater of CSU.

This season, Skelton ranks third on CSU’s team with 68 tackles, has a sack and forced two fumbles.  In 2009 as a redshirt freshman, he was substituted into the game late in replacement of Rick Brewer against Weber State and had the key interception that allowed the Rams to come back and beat the Wildcats 24-23.

Skelton was also named the Rams scout team player of the year for the 2008 season, when CSU finished the year 7-6 with a victory in the New Mexico Bowl versus Fresno State.

All in all, I think this trophy is a terrific idea and am glad the local Rotary Club established it, along with The Burlsworth Foundation.

Here’s to a little hope that Skelton can take home the trophy at the end of the year. CSU sure could use something positive to take away from this disappointing season.

Mario isn't messing around

No one likes PETA.

The animal rights group that I like jokingly refer to as “People Eating Tasty Animals,” is one of those organizations that just love to complain. So much to the point these days, you wonder if it’s even about their cause anymore or if it’s all about being annoying?

Peronally, I rank PETA among the top three entities in the country that simply complain for attention because their life is so miserable due to so many people hating them — ranking right up there with Kanye West and Greenpeace.

With the Sunday’s release of Super Mario 3D Land on the Nintendo 3DS, bringing back the famed Tanooki Suit from Super Mario Bros. 3, PETA isn’t happy everyone’s favorite plumber is wearing animal skin.

For those who don’t know, the tanuki is a Japanese raccoon dog, hunted for its meat, fur and skin. In some cases, the animal is skinned alive — something both folks would agree is inhumane.

Mythological folklore says the tanuki is an animal with shapeshifting abilities known to cause chaos. It also is known for its giant, disproportional testicles. Seriously, I am not making this up.

In Super Mario Bros. 3 on the Nintendo Entertainment System, late in the game Mario or Luigi could don the Tanooki Suit, giving them both the ability to fly, like they could with the standard leaf power up, and transform into a statue to confuse enemies.

According to the Mario Wiki, in Super Mario 3D Land, it’s not a Tanooki Suit this time around, it’s simply a Tanooki Mario, but that hasn’t kept PETA from going all, “WTF?! Fur?!”

PETA has launched a campaign on its website on a page called “Mario Kills Tanooki,” spearheaded by a Super Mario clone titled “Super Tanooki Skin 2D” where you are a tanuki who has been skinned alive by Mario with one objective: get your fur back!

Game Screenshot

It’s a simple game. The screen automatically scrolls and you simply run through the blood filled streets of Satan’s version of the Mushroom Kingdom, pressing space bar to collect coins and avoid obstacles.

Eventually, you reach Mario, who’s wearing your fur, which is dripping blood, tackle him and take your skin back, shouting four-letter words at the plumber. PETA apparently thought it was better for kids to learn F-bombs than dare let a family-friendly video game by Nintendo somehow risk corrupting the way they treat animals that are indigenous to a country that makes up only a relatively small portion of the company’s market share.

PETA forgot the comma

It's a time trial

You can play over and over, just trying to beat our best time as demonic music plays in the background, but never will you understand how on Earth an animal, which apparently had just been forcefully held down by Mario, who skinned it alive with a knife, has the strength to run full speed, while not losing any more blood, and tackle the exact same person who did him wrong only moments prior.

Seems like gap in logic, if you ask me.

Seriously, is this really bugging PETA?

Is it unethical for a video game publisher to use a cartoon Tanooki Suit? If I had never looked at my SMB3 instruction manual as a kid, I would have just assumed it was a racoon suit, since that’s what it looks like (and that’s EXACTLY what kids today will think, too).

To my knowledge, this big issue didn’t come up in 1990 when Super Mario Bros. 3 was an 8-bit release on the NES. Nor did it when the game was remastered for 16-bit in Super Mario All-Stars on the SNES in 1993. So why now?

Is Mario just too realistic looking in 3D? Is that what it is?

PETA being pissed off because gamers could club seals in World of Warcraft was annoying, but somewhat understandable.

But this is just over the top and EXACTLY why people can’t stand PETA.