I know you hopped aboard this morning fully expecting me to weigh in on tonight's "Grandaddy of 'em all." The Rose Bowl. #2 Texas versus #1 USC. But first, a couple of scattered thoughts and observations.
I wonder how much time two famous Texas Exes have spent together in Pasadena, namely Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks and free agent superman Roger Clemens? Why have the last two BCS games ended around 1:00 A.M. Eastern time? Was anyone other than me totally shocked at the egg Georgia laid on the Sugar Bowl field Monday night? Seriously, congratulations to all you Mountaineers who visit here (on a side note, I still remember the privilege I had several years back when I was youth minister at Hurricane to sit beside Rich Rodriguez at the Hurricane High football banquet, when he was then coaching Glenville State).
Now onto the Rose Bowl prediction.
USC has won 34 straight. Texas 19 straight. Both teams combined to beat their opponents by just over 750 points. Both teams have explosive offenses. Texas has a decided edge on defense and special teams.
But USC has a former NFL defensive coordinator and head coach in Pete Carroll who has had a month to scheme against the Texas offense. Mack Brown is only 2-13 versus Top 5 teams in his career.
38-35 USC.
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I've lived through tornado warnings and winter storm warnings but the weather people in central Texas today have issued a "Fire Storm Warning." Never lived through one of those, but with an approaching front slated to bring 20 MPH winds, the fire danger today is very high.
"A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the fave of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything -- or destroy it!
It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony into chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.
This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue -- it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women He made in His image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth.
My friends, this can't go on" (James 3.3-10).
James's "Fire Warning" reminds us today to use our words to build up those around us. To bless those we come with whom we interact.
