Battle of the Bands: Cassidy

 With the passing of Bob Weir, I thought it would be fitting to use a Grateful Dead song associated with him.

The song is Cassidy. Here is the Grateful Dead version...

                                                

                                             Contender One:   Billy Strings

Contender Two: Suzanne Vega 

Who did you like better Billy or Suzanne? Let me know in the comments. I will announce a winner a week or so later. Hope you enjoy and have a Grateful Day!

My NCAA Football Rankings 2025-26: Final Rankings

The NCAA football season came to a climatic end with the Indiana Hoosiers winning the championship over the Miami Hurricanes. Indiana is my champion and here are my final rankings.

1) Indiana Hoosiers (16-0) beat Miami 27-21 to finish the season. Crushed Alabama 38-3 and Oregon 56-22.

2) Miami Hurricanes (13-3) lost the final 27-21. Knocked off Texas A&M 10-3, Ohio State 24-14, and Ole Miss 31-27 to reach the finals.

3) Ole Miss Rebels (13-2) lost their coach but crushed Tulane 41-10, beat Georgia 39-34, but fell to Miami 31-27.

4) Georgia Bulldogs (12-2) fell to Ole Miss 39-34.

5) Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2) lost to Miami 24-14 to end their season. Undefeated until falling to Indiana and Miami.

6) Oregon Ducks (13-2) crushed JMU 51-34, shut out Texas Tech 23-0, lost to Indiana 56-22.

7) Texas A&M Aggies (11-2) lost to Miami 10-3.

8) Notre Dame Fightin' Irish (10-2) did not play.

9) Texas Tech (12-2) season ended being shut down by Oregon 23-0.

10) BYU Cougars (12-2) beat Georgia Tech 25-21 in the Pop Tarts Bowl.

11) Alabama Crimson Tide (11-4) beat Oklahoma 34-24, got crushed by Indiana 38-3.

12) Utah Utes (11-2) doubled up Nebraska 44-22.

13) Texas Longhorns (10-3) beat Michigan 41-27.

14) Oklahoma Sooners (10-3) lost to Alabama 34-24.

15) Virginia Cavaliers (11-3) beat Missouri 13-7.

16) Iowa Hawkeyes (9-4) beat Vandy 34-27.

17) Vanderbilt Commodores (10-3) lost to Iowa 34-27.

18 Houston Cougars (10-3) beat LSU 38-35.

19) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-4) lost BYU 25-21.

20) James Madison Dukes (12-2) lost to Oregon 51-34.

21) SMU Mustangs (9-4) beat Arizona 24-19

22) TCU Horned Frogs (9-4) beat USC 30-27

23) Michigan Wolverines (9-4) lost to Texas 41-27.

24) USC Trojans (9-4) lost to TCU 30-27.

25) Illinois Fighting Illini (9-4) beat Tennessee 30-28.

December Battle of the Band Winner: Lindsey Stirling

 Lindsey Stirling one December's Battle of the Band 4 to nothing. She was the best Grinch keeping all the votes. Celebrating winners is what we do on these posts.

Here she is with "Roundtable Revival"...

"Crystallize"

I plan to count up January's results soon and have a new winner post later this month.

R.I.P Jim McBride

 You might not know his name but if you are a country music fan you know the songs Jim McBride wrote.

                                      His first hit by Conway Twitty "A Bridge that just won't Burn"

Johnny Lee's "Bet Your Heart on Me"

Keith Stegall "California"

Waylon Jennings "Rose in Paradise"

Alan Jackson "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow"

"Chattahoochee"

He wrote several other hits. His songs will live on in the recordings of some famous artist. Jim McBride will be missed by his friends and families.

R.I.P Bob Weir

Bob Weir and the Grateful Dead performing "The Last Time" in Landover, Maryland. On January 10, 2026, Bob Weir passed away. A founding member, the youngest member of the legendary band, a member of many Grateful Dead related projects and solo artist will be remembered as a remarkable rhythm guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and musician.

His final performance with Dead & Company "Touch of Grey." Below what might have been his final interview.

To me I saw him several times with the Grateful Dead and I saw him with his Campfire Band and lastly with an orchestra. 

A tiny desk concert from NPR. He will be missed but the music he left behind will fill the air for generations to come.

Battle of the Bands: Good Rockin' Tonight

 Starting the New Year's with a new Battle of Bands. This month I am featuring a Rockabilly tune called "Good Rockin' Tonight." Sometimes it goes by other names. 

Here is the original version for your pleasure: Roy Brown who did the song as a jump blues.

                                                             ROY BROWN "Rockin' at Midnight

Contender One: Elvis "Good Rockin' Tonight"

Contender Two: Link Wray

A legendary song covered by two legends Elvis versus Link Wray. The songs been covered a lot. Let me know which one you like the best in the comments, and I will be back with a new post on the winner in a week or so. In the meantime enjoy the good rocking!

My NCAA Football Rankings 2025-26 After Week Fifteen

 After Week 15 only one undefeated team remain. A new number one. A limited schedule, but one full of meaningful games. A revolving bottom and the teams in between fighting for their spots. Playoffs, bowl games and protest are up next. The final ranking will be in January.

1) Indiana Hoosiers (13-0) topped Ohio State 13-10 for a Big Ten Championship. Current number one seed in the playoffs.

2) Georgia Bulldogs (12-1) avenged their only loss by beating Alabama 28-7 in the SEC Championship game. Current third seed in the playoffs.

3) Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1) beat Michigan 27-9. Faces Indiana next in the Big 10 Championship.

4) Oregon Ducks (11-1) did not play. Number 5 seed face JMU on 12.20.25 in the playoffs.

5) Texas Tech (12-1) crushed BYU 34-7. Number 4 seed in the playoffs.

6) Texas A&M Aggies (11-1) did not play. 7th seed in the playoffs meet Miami on 12.20.25

7) Ole Miss Rebels (11-1) did not play but lost their coach. 6th seed in the playoffs tangle with Tulane on 12.20.25

8) Notre Dame Fightin' Irish (10-2) did not play. Felt slighted for not making the playoffs. Turned down Bowl Games season over.

9) Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) did not play. Meets Alabama on December 19th in the playoffs.

10) BYU Cougars (11-2) lost to Texas Tech 34-7. Faces Georgia Tech in the Pop Tarts Bowl 12.27.25.

11) Miami Hurricanes (10-2) did not play. Meets Texas A&M in the playoffs 12.20.25.

12) Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3) lost to Georgia 28-7. In the playoffs anyway. Meets Oklahoma on 12.19.25

13) Vanderbilt Commodores (10-2) did not play. Will meet Iowa 12.31.25 in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

14) Utah Utes (10-2) meets Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl 12.31.25.

15) Texas Longhorns (9-3) did not play. Meets Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.

16) Michigan Wolverines (9-3) did not play. Meets Texas in the Citrus Bowl.

17) James Madison Dukes (12-1) beat Troy 31-14. Meet Oregon in the playoffs next.

18) USC Trojans (9-3) did not play. Meets TCU in the Alamo Bowl.

19) Tulane Green Wave (11-2) beat North Texas 34-21. Meet Ole Miss in the playoffs.

20) Virginia Cavaliers (10-3) lost to Duke 27-20 in OT meets Missouri in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

21) Tennessee Volunteers (8-4) did not play. Faces Illinois in the Music City Bowl.

22) Houston Cougars (9-3) did not play. Meets LSU in the Kinder's Texas Bowl.

23) Arizona Wildcats (9-3) did not play. Meets SMU in the Holiday Bowl.

24) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-3) did not play. Faces BYU in the Pop tarts Bowl.

25) Missouri Tigers (8-4) did not play. Tangles with Virginia in the Gator Bowl.