'Za and Beers!
The 2018 edition of the Quicklane Bowl was a much less vomity affair with Mike son-in-laws staying in GR and Mike and Bone returning to their routine of Pizza and Beers pregame then "Ubering" downtown where they made it to the Stadium around 4:00 for Pre-Game.
Team Background: Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech (7-5, 5-3 in ACC). The Yellow Jackets (or more fondly known as "The Rambling Wreck") were heavily favored in the match up with it being their Coaches Paul Johnson's last game. Tech has settled into a predictable existence under Paul Johnson, the influential coach who’s going to retire right after leading his team in this bowl game. Pretty much every year under Johnson, the Jackets made a bowl (as they just did for the ninth time in 11 years), and they’ve run the Johnson flexbone, and they’ve win seven-ish games with occasional dips and jumps. Johnson has built a frustrating team to play against, and it’ll be fun to watch him work one last time. Once he leaves, Tech might take on a drastically different look.
Team Background: Minnesoaota!
The Ski Yoo Mah Fleckian Golden Gophers (6-6, 3-6 in Big Ten) The Gophers were hard to figure out. They had a couple of brutal performances, most notably road losses to Maryland and Nebraska. But they also beat Fresno State in September, a win that looks great at end of the year. They gave Ohio State a hard time into the second half in Columbus. In the last three weeks of the season, they both destroyed the Purdue team that had previously destroyed Ohio State and beat Wisconsin for the first time since 2003. For a team that started the year with (and gave a lot of snaps to) the first true freshman walk-on QB since Baker Mayfield, but still limped into the Quicklane Bowl vastly under achieved under second year head coach, the charismatic PJ Fleck. While they fought hard in many games, the young Gophers could not keep up with upper class teams in the Big 14 to the disappointed fellow rodents.
The Georgia Tech "Rambling Wreck Band!"
Its,,,,,,,,, Gopher Time!!
Now the Yellow jackets making a Beeline!!
Game On !!
A 13 - 3 lead for "Minny" at the Half
Both Teams appeared to start fairly evenly in the first quarter with both sides moving the ball. The Gophers were not really fooled on defense by Johnson's Flexbone. As the game ( and the beers) wore on two things were apparent. The Gophers had figured out how to stop GT's Flexbone, and GT's players were very unmotivated.
A 24 - 7 Beat down in the Second Half!
Did Georgia Tech have any half time adjustments for the ole' coach? Nope !! Or at least it certainly did not seem like it. It was apparent as the second half wore on that Minnesota became stronger on offense as GT's defense truly became a "ramblin' wreck"
"Those who will stay will be champions"?
When the ESPN Reporter was talking to PJ Fleck about the number of players that bought into Fleck's new system and stayed in Minnesota, PJ stated "Bo Schembechler said those who stay will be champions", which is very appropriate for a bowl only 50 minutes from Ann Arbor. While any football game with beer is fun, these Bowl games tend to be close, this game was not!
Post Game: Loving the New Detroit!!
Mike and Bone first started at the amazing new Shinola Hotel on Woodward with a craft IPA and marvelled at how wonderful the old city looked, they then move to a new steakhouse at Griswald and Congress called Prime and Proper that iis maybe the best Steakhouse in the State! However wanting to return to their roots they headed over to Hamy Tramy!!
Painting the Town Red at the Painting Lady!
The Painted Lady in Hamtramck is a step 30 years back in time to when it was the pre-eminent Punk Bar in Detroit, hosting the likes of the Rolling Stone, Ramones, Iggy Pop, to state a few. In addition to still allowing smoking (choke! choke!) It now serves .,... Strohs !!!! Strohs has returned to the Motor City and still tastes awesome. While the Boys enjoyed the ambience, after a few minutes they abandoned the bar, for fresh bars and air!!!
New Times at the Old Miami !
In the old days (8 years ago!) Cass Corridor was the place for pimps, prostitutes, junkies, and Mike and Bone. Now it is a Millenial paradise, but the Old Miami still has that Vietnam Vet, Wayne State feel about it. Its funky couches and great music on the weekends is still a great place to hand out. After their obligatory 2 beers the Boys headed to an old Downtown favorite, Jacobys!!
Finishing up at Jacobys!!
The cool thing about Jacobys is that it is eternal, just a truly great bar with nothing but an awesome beer selection. The Boys sucked in the ambience and a few more beers, by now it was pushing 1:00 and time for the Uber-Man! A great end to a great day of The Big "D," looking awesome, football, and new memories in old places!