Personally, I found myself changing jobs, a move that was a long time coming. Around the same time, I saw my responsibilities change here at HLS as well. All of sudden, I’m helping with a total redesign, fighting through the issues that redesign caused, and being named editor-in-chief.

The next thing I know, I look up and the Irish are 12-0 with a shot at the title and joined in on a worthy effort to send a great kid to South Beach. And succeeding.

The whole year has seemed like a crazy dream.

When I watched NBC’s recap of our undefeated season, it was a surreal feeling. It was as if the entire show was a reminder that, yes, this all actually happened. Every ESPN promo for the title game has a similar function. Yes, the Irish are indeed number one. The lights on top of Grace Hall remain lit for a reason.

And then I look back on all that HLS has done. Not just in the stats department, but also what we’ve been able to give back.

2012 has simply been an incredible year all around and we get to start 2013 with the conclusion of this crazy ride.

If this is a dream, don’t wake me.

The Roundup

Not having such a great year: Matt Barkley. Remember when he was the Heisman favorite? Yeah, now he’s not even playing in his bowl game. Yikes.

If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, you’re Lane Kiffin. And yeah, I get your flight got delayed and it screwed up your schedule, but it doesn’t help when your players compare their host city to excrement in the same 24-hour time-span. Related, please never stop coaching USC, Lane.

Roll injuries? Here’s some Alabama injury news you might want to keep an eye on. In particular, if Barrett Jones remains out, Louis Nix could cause major havoc.

Speaking of Louis Nix…here are more reasons to love this kid.

Congrats, Denard Robinson you have NFL talent! At cornerback.

Jack Swarbrick is talking. You should listen.

Lou Holtz wants you to go back to church. Expect to see quite a few of these ads in the next week.

This has absolutely nothing to do with football. Seriously, it doesn’t, but this story is absolutely hilarious so I’m linking it anyways.

Put These Games on Your Radar

Same drill as last week. Below are all the bowl games until next Friday with my games of interest in bold. All times ET.

Friday, December 28

2:00 PM – Ohio vs Louisiana-Monroe (ESPN/WatchESPN)

5:30 PM – Rutgers vs Virginia Tech (ESPN/WatchESPN)

9:00 PM – Minnesota vs Texas Tech (ESPN/WatchESPN)

Saturday, December 29

11:45 AM – Rice vs Air Force (ESPN/WatchESPN)

3:15 PM – West Virginia vs Syracuse (ESPN/WatchESPN)

4:00 PM – Navy vs Arizona State (ESPN2/WatchESPN)

6:45 PM – #23 Texas vs #13 Oregon State (ESPN/WatchESPN)

10:15 PM – TCU vs Michigan State (ESPN/WatchESPN)

Monday, December 31

12:00 PM – North Carolina State vs Vanderbilt (ESPN/WatchESPN)

2:00 PM – USC vs Georgia Tech (CBS)

3:30 PM – Iowa State vs Tulsa (ESPN/WatchESPN)

7:30 PM – #8 LSU vs #14 Clemson (ESPN/WatchESPN)

Tuesday, January 1

12:00 PM – Notre Dame Football Marathon, includes Onward Notre Dame: South Bend to Soldier Field, Undefeated: 2012 Notre Dame Season in Review (NBC Sports Network – full schedule)

12:00 PM – Mississippi State vs #20 Northwestern (ESPN2/WatchESPN)

12:00 PM – Purdue vs Oklahoma State (ESPNU/WatchESPN)

1:00 PM – #7 Georgia vs #16 Nebraska (ABC)

1:00 PM – #10 South Carolina vs #18 Michigan (ESPN/WatchESPN)

5:00 PM – Wisconsin vs #6 Stanford (ESPN/WatchESPN)

8:30 PM – #15 Northern Illinois vs #12 Florida State (ESPN/WatchESPN) (call it morbid curiosity)

Wednesday, January 2

8:30 PM – #21 Louisville vs #3 Florida (ESPN/WatchESPN)

Thursday, January 3

8:30 PM – #4 Oregon vs #5 Kansas State (ESPN/WatchESPN)

The Beer

It’s New Year’s, so we need to bust out the champagne right? Let’s see, what’s the champagne of beers…

/ducks

The post Friday Roundup: The “What a Year” Edition appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.