Yesterday, I attended my first graduation as a faculty member, and it was the most I have ever enjoyed a graduation ceremony. It was wonderful to see so many of my students being celebrated. On my way out, as I passed a student who was in my Comm and Sport class, I asked: “What do …
Thank you to everyone who filled in this year’s survey. I always enjoy getting new recommendations, and I look forward to listening to each and every song listed by you. Here are my favorite songs and albums of the year. Previous Music Survey Results: 2010 2011 In previous years, I listed songs in order of …
Read more “2012 Music Survey Results – DON’T Call Me Maybe, Apparently”
NOTE: On Friday, I’ll release the results of the 2012 Music Survey. Today, here are my favorites of the year. This has been an eventful year for me and my family. In retrospect, it seems like we experienced 4 big events: I got a job in California, we had a baby, I defended my dissertation, …
I got two messages today asking me some form of: “WHERE ARE YOUR COLLEGE FOOTBALL RATINGS, ANDREW? I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT THEM!” (I may be exaggerating tone) I actually forgot to do it. Sunday is when I usually do it and I was busy. Then I just plum forgot. There’s not much controversy this …
Read more “Final College Football Ratings – We’re Missing An Eight-Team Playoff Next Saturday”
As we enter the last week of the season, let’s take a look at all the conference championship games that will affect the BCS national championship: SEC – #2 Alabama vs. #3 Georgia – winner goes to the national championship. And let’s also look at the conference championship’s that have no effect whatsoever on the …
Read more “College Football Ratings Week 13 – Making the Championships Mean Something”
The big story of the weekend in college football is, of course, Kent State’s rise to #18 in the rankings. Oh! Also, the thing about the top 2 teams in the country getting upset. That was a big deal, too. On a side note, I always go to a big academic conference the weekend before Thanksgiving, …
I have 6 SEC teams in my top 10. SIX. That is crazy. But that’s what my numbers tell me are the teams that deserve to be at the top of the ratings, and it’s because of their conference strength of schedule. They play tough teams week in and week out, and the numbers bear …
Read more “College Football Week 11 Ratings – Who’s Still In It?”
Notes from the weekend: That was a great game between LSU and Alabama. The 9-6 affair last year could have used some offense–I don’t care how great SEC defenses are. No. That wasn’t a good game. It was a snoozefest. I don’t want to pretend like I like games with no touchdowns just because that’s …
Read more “College Football Week 10 Ratings – Now THAT Was A Good SEC Game.”
Two notes about this college football rating system: 1. AccuDrew is designed as a reward-based system: did you win, did you lose, and who did you beat? This system is not designed to predict who will win a hypothetical game between two teams or to rank teams by strength. Think about it: if college rating systems were …
Read more “College Football Week 9 Ratings – What to do with Independents?”
First, I apologize for changing the name of the rating system every year. Second, I apologize for thinking anyone cares. I am happy that the college football powers have decided to go to a 4 team playoff. It’s a step forward. A very small step forward, but the first step is the hardest. It’s a …
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”] I have taught for the last five years at The University of Texas at Austin, and as this semester ends, so does that chapter of my career. It’s been a time full of …
Dissertation related: An article in today’s New York Times about a drug bust gone wrong. An officer shot an unarmed suspect without waiting for special forces to come do their job: The Police Department has acknowledged that the officer who shot Mr. Graham, Richard Haste, had never received the classroom instruction required of officers in …
You might know that I’m currently working on my dissertation on emergency response teams. I’m particularly interested to know how much emphasis is placed on structure vs. flexibility in training. Here’s a good quote from Participant #9, a firefighter in Central Texas: No matter how organized it is, there’s always a little bit of chaos. …
I ran my first half-marathon this weekend in Austin. My goals were to finish and not get injured; I’m happy to say I accomplished both and finished under 2 hours. From 2001 to 2010, I had probably run a total of 150 miles willingly. I like team sports and am not much for athletic activities …
Navy pilots, that’s who. There’s a great article in the New York Times today about simulation training for survival. Navy pilots are placed in controlled situations involving underwater, overturned aircrafts. And apparently they don’t like it so much: “I hate it with a passion,” (Lt. Farley) said. “But if you are in a bad situation …
Read more “Who Doesn’t Love Being Strapped in and Dunked Underwater?”