DAAAA BEARS

Well, the title of my blog is "Beers, Brats, and Beating the Bears" and the Packers will get the shot to do just that on opening weekend in the 2009 NFL season! The Packers have the featured Sunday night game on NBC for opening weekend as they play host to the Chicago Bears. Also, it was announced that they will face the Lions on Thanksgiving in the early afternoon game. That's two primetime games already for the Pack, which means that the powers that be in the NFL and in TV both think that they will be a big draw in 2009. Exciting. This also means I still have a 7 in 15 shot of them having a home game on October 18th! Very exciting!

FAN MEMORIES AND MY PLAN

This morning I was browsing through my normal assortment of Packers sources online. On the Packers official website, there was a link to a feature they will be running called Packer Fan Memories. It's self explanatory. Basically, fans can submit up to 100 words and a picture that tell of their best memories as a fan of the green and gold, and the organization (or the people who run the website) will choose a certain amount of submissions each week to feature on the page. I've only been to one Packers game, and that was at Giants Stadium in 2007 when Brett Favre broke John Elway's career wins record for quarterbacks. This section of the website, however, prompted me to submit my plan that will hopefully result in many memories, a plan that I came up with back in January. I will now share that plan with you, my readers (or lack there of).

Next year I will be finishing my undergraduate degree, so my time in the "not so real world" is coming to an end. I have always enjoyed traveling, especially driving. While I was back home in January I decided that I needed to do something crazy before I have to enter the real world. I've never made the typical college spring break trip, I haven't really made trips to visit friends from high school at the colleges they attend, and I have constantly wondered if I made the wrong decision by not going to a big time school with division one NCAA athletics, ie Wisconsin. My passion is for sports, and I want to work in the sport industry after graduation, and Ithaca, NY and Ithaca College's small-time division three athletics just have not filled my appetite for big time college sports. I knew what my "something crazy" during college would be: A roadtrip to Wisconsin over my four day weekend (Fall Break) in October, praying that both the Badgers and Packers have home games for me to attend in Camp Randall Stadium and Lambeau Field. How would an extremely poor college student like myself pull this trip off (considering I pay for all of tuition, rent, utilities, car insurance, repairs, etc. by myself)? Yes, that's right, piggy banks.

Over my winter break I realized that I had a collection coin banks that I have been accumulating since I was a baby (one was even actually a blue plastic pig with my name surrounded by stars in teal, clearly something I got when I was very young). Another was Mickey Mouse. Another, a Green Bay Packers helmet. I would break all of these piggy banks, count the change, and continue collecting as much change as possible in order to finance my planned trip the weekend of October 17th and 18th.

The next step, once I came up with this crazy idea, was to see if the plan would even work. My break begins on Wednesday the 14th after classes, and it would end on Monday the 19th when classes resume in the morning. I needed to check the team's schedules. Wisconsin's works out perfectly. The 17th is the Badgers homecoming against Iowa. What about the Packers? The NFL doesn't release schedules usually until some time in April, so unfortunately, going to Lambeau is still in question, but I pray every day that the NFL wants this trip to work for me.

So the trip to Madison is a definite, Lambeau is in question, but next was calculating how much the trip should cost and then counting the money I had in those banks.

According to Mapquest, the trip from Ithaca, NY to Madison to Green Bay and back to Ithaca is 1837.79 miles, so I figure about 1900 miles in traveling, through finding places to stay, hopefully with family. The calculated total estimated fuel cost, also according to mapquest, is $169.56 for the 1837 miles. However, I estimate about $225 to be safe (1900 miles, 23 mpg even though my car is supposed to get 25 highway, and gas at $2.75, while the national average is currently much lower). Because my best friend from college has agreed that this is something he wants to experience as well, splitting that in half means about $115 per person for gas. The next step is finding tickets to each game.

Currently on StubHub, the least expensive ticket to Wisconsin's homecoming game against Iowa is $111, which is more than I'd like to spend, but I have vowed to make this trip. While I will work on trying to find someone within my family, or a friend of the family who can get these tickets for cheaper, I need to assume for my own purpose that I will pay around $125 for my ticket. That raises the cost to $240 for the trip. While the Packers haven't actually announced their schedule because the NFL is still sorting them out, if the Packers do play at Lambeau on October 18th, I have looked at the range of the lowest priced tickets for each home game on StubHub so far. They range from $127 to $234. This could therefore move the trip to potentially between $380 and $480. Just like with the game in Madison, I will try to find a less expensive way to find tickets to this game, although I know that will be hard. Adding in food and other assorted costs, the trip should be somewhere between $450 and $550 dollars if paying full price for tickets to both games. But how much do I have set aside so far?

As of the last time I counted the change, I had approximately $450 between the few coin banks I have had. So if I assume I can amass together $50 more through saving all change I get from all purchases I make and paychecks I receive this summer, I can account for $500 to put towards this trip. Here is my breakdown of potential costs of the trip, moving from least expensive to most expensive:

IF WE CAN FIND SOMEONE WITH TICKETS TO BOTH GAMES THAT WILL GRACIOUSLY GIVE THEM TO US: $185-$200.

IF WE CAN FIND SOMEONE WITH TICKETS TO THE PACKERS GAME THAT WILL GRACIOUSLY GIVE THEM TO US: $225-$325

IF WE CAN FIND SOMEONE WITH TICKETS TO THE PACKERS GAME THAT WILL GIVE THEM TO US FOR FACE VALUE: $285-$425

IF WE CAN FIND SOMEONE WITH TICKETS TO THE WISCONSIN GAME THAT WILL GIVE THEM TO US FOR FACE VALUE: $305-$355

IF WE CAN FIND SOMEONE WITH TICKETS TO THE WISCONSIN GAME THAT WILL GRACIOUSLY GIVE THEM TO US: $325-$425

IF WE SPEND FULL STUBHUB PRICE ON TICKETS TO BOTH GAMES: $450-$550

Ah, well, quite a post here. Maybe it will actually spark some interest and attract some readers! Or some help! I think it's an interesting story, but who knows. We'll see! What's most important is that the NFL makes the Packers play a home game on October 18th so this whole trip can come together! Please Roger Goodell, I'm begging you...

NICK COLLINS, TONY GONZALEZ, AND A "TO DO" LIST

So the word has already spread that Nick Collins hasn't shown up in Green Bay for the beginning of the offseason program. That is interesting considering he is currently under contract, and Tramon Williams, who has yet to sign his exclusive rights tender to remain with the team, is taking part in the strength portion of the program. Collins obviously wants the Packers to look into extending his contract now, after a Pro Bowl season in 2008, rather than risking his production going down in the new 3-4 and losing out on money. However, Aaron over at Cheesehead TV doesn't think that signing Collins should be in the top six (that's as far as he goes) of Ted Thompson's offseason priorities. I agree, but think that they should try to get it done at some point, but not rush and overpay because he still needs to prove he will be the same player in the new defense. Resigning Greg Jennings is the obvious choice at the top of Aaron's list, as well as Ted Thompson's according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

Moving down along CTV's list at number four is trading for Tony Gonzalez, which Packergeeks has also posted about today. The Packers have been talked about as one of the top possible destinations all along, since the rumors of a Gonzalez trade came about during the 2008 season. Packergeeks says that Thompson should be willing to give up a second rounder for Gonzalez, but I completely disagree. Gonzalez is still a top notch tight end, definitely still in the top 5 in the league. But he is 33 years old, and only has a few more years left in his career. While some help at the tight end position could benefit the offense, with the switch to the 3-4, the defense and bringing in players that fit the new mold is a much greater need. The offensive tackle spot needs to be figured out before we go out and trade a second rounder for a tight end. I wouldn't mind possibly a third rounder, because in the first two rounds we could go for a defensive front seven player and a tackle (or possibly two front seven-ers), but any earlier is paying too high of a price for a position that isn't nearly the glaring need that these others appear to be.

OFFENSIVE TACKLES

Both Cheesehead TV and Acme Packing Company have been talking about the offensive tackle positions today. CTV quotes a Pro Football Weekly article that talks about Mark Tauscher pretty much being out of the mix because of surgery, and that the coaching staff is looking at moving bodies around and putting them out of position again. I don't like how the team has moved around so many lineman to different positions in recent years rather than just trying to put a solid depth chart together. It appears, however, that will be the case again in 2009.

Acme talks about the line in a different approach, saying that the team should take care of the problem with the first round pick. I disagree with this, unless they plan on trading the pick away and moving down in the first round while also acquiring an additional pick. Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe will both be off the board by the #9 pick. Andre Smith is a complete headcase that I do not wish upon any NFL franchise right now, although I feel for him and hope he can get his act together because he is a great talent. Michael Oher is a solid possibility, but not at number 9 overall. If the team sticks with the ninth pick, they should go defense, preferably front seven. If they trade down, offensive tackle is a definite need and possibility, and there is the talent to take.

AN UPDATE ON GEORGE KOONCE

In an earlier post, I blogged about how former Packers linebacker George Koonce was one of the candidates for the athletic director position at my mother's alma mater, UW-Milwaukee. Yesterday, Koonce was named to the position, a job he has dreamed of having for a long time now. He had been working as senior associate AD at Marquette since 2007, but now he will be moving across town to become a Panther as of April 1st. Check out the Journal-Sentinel's article. Koonce really has a good head on his shoulders, and great things should be in the future for UWM.

A COUPLE MORE PRESENTS FOR ST. PATTY'S DAY

Mike Montgomery and Jason Hunter both resigned yesterday as well. Two more non invigorating moves. It adds depth to the front seven, something the Packers definitely need to work on, but only in the reserves. Neither will start barring a multitude of injuries, but Montgomery is a tweener and the coaching staff will have to decide whether he will play end or outside linebacker. Expect special teams to be Hunter's biggest contributions.

AND AS A PRESENT... WE GET...

Jarrett Bush. While he isn't an amazing player and keeping him isn't a very exciting move, I don't see how matching the Titans offer sheet can be knocked. He was second on the Packers in special teams tackles in '08, and special teams was obviously a weak spot. It can't hurt to keep your second best special teams tackler, even if his role changes. Bush is only 25, so there is still a ton of time for improvement, and while many people don't see much change in his future role, the kid gets it done on kick and punt coverages.

I mean, it's not a crazy rah-rah exciting present for St. Patrick's Day, like that Super Nintendo was for Christmas in the early 90's, but it's like that underwear that you opened after it. You weren't crazy about getting it, but you know it would definitely be of use. So while it's not a splash move that some Packers fans have been hoping for, it's something. I mean, it's not like Julius Peppers is now being shopped for a second round pick (reportedly).

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

According to a 2000 Census Report on the state of Wisconsin, 10.9% of the state's population is Irish. Behind German at 42.6%, that is the second highest percent of ethnic origin. That surprised me. I knew German would be number one, but I assumed that Polish and possibly Norwegian would both be ahead of Irish. Ah, but what a wonderful surprise!

I come from a pretty interesting Irish background, so it is the heritage that I celebrate and associate with most. So in honor of St. Patrick's Day, we shall celebrate the Irish and "Irish" members of the Green Bay Packers!

Matt Flynn - origin: Irish. shortened Anglicized of Gaelic O Floinn 'descendant of Flann', a byname meaning 'red(dish).' surprisingly to many has exceeded Brian Brohm's play through current times.
Ryan Grant - played at the University of Notre Dame.
Nick Collins - origin: Gaelic. From Cuilein, darling, a term of endearment applied to young animals, as Catulus, in Latin. 2008 Pro Bowler.
J.J. Jansen - played at the University of Notre Dame.

And again, thanks to my calendar, I will mention Carlyle Holiday, because he played at the University of Notre Dame. He was a quarterback with the Fighting Irish, but became a wide receiever in the NFL. He caught the pass from Brett Favre that broke Dan Marino's career completions record.

Other notable Irish Packers:
Curly Lambeau - Notre Dame. He chose blue and gold as the Packers original colors after wearing them at ND and playing for Knute Rockne.
Hugh Devore - Notre Dame.
Dan Devine - coached at Notre Dame.
Paul Hornung - Notre Dame. NFL Hall of Famer.
Jimmy Crowley - one of Notre Dame's famed four horsemen. Played at Green Bay East High School and after Notre Dame played for the Pack in 1925.
John McNally - Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an Fhailghigh ‘son of the poor man’. NFL Hall of Famer.

Interesting Irish Packers facts:
The jersey colors as mentioned above.
Three of eleven of the Packers starters in their first game played at Notre Dame.
After playing for the Packers, Jimmy Crowley became a coach and coached Vince Lombardi at Fordham.
The Packers have drafted 27 players from Notre Dame, and 51 players from South Bend have played for Green Bay, the most of any college.

FAN FEST

While most people are talking about how the attendance of Fan Fest was down this year, and about how it did not sell out, it has brought about another reason while I love the Packers. What other team would have their coaches sit down and talk X's and O's with fans? The relationship between franchise and community in Green Bay is like no other in professional sports, and while I'm many miles away, I appreciate it and it keeps my love affair with the green and gold in tact year after year.

WHAT A GREAT CALENDAR

I flip my calendar every day hoping to learn something interesting about the Packers. Most times, I know the fact or the answer to the trivia question. This morning, I learned something new, and something that could be very important to the Packers defensive success in 2009. Aaron Kampman's move from defensive end to outside lineback might not be as big of a transition as most people think. He was a linebacker for his first two seasons at Iowa before being switched to end for his last two. This came as a surprise to me; I thought that I would have read it somewhere else a long time ago when the switch to the 3-4, and Kampman's move to OLB, was announced back in January. As far as my memory can recall, I don't think that anyone has talked about this or brought it up.

So I did a little bit of searching of the internet to try to find some statistics of Kampman's first two years at Iowa. Unfortunately, the only thing I could come up with was on wikipedia. So, while we cannot trust that it is true, this is what is said about his first two seasons as a Hawkeye:

"Kampman played nine games as a true freshman in 1998, recording 49 tackles... As a sophomore, Kampman started all 11 games for Iowa at linebacker, and he finished second on the team with 103 tackles. He had five games with ten or more tackles in 1999."

Those are some pretty good years for a kid playing as a freshman and sophomore in the Big Ten. While he has been lined up with his hand down for the last nine years of his football career, I find it hard to believe that an athlete of his ability, and who has made it to his level, has forgotten how to play a position that he has played in the past. Especially if he played it well enough to attain the numbers stated above. Ah, now if only Ted Thompson can find a some quality helps on the market who he won't be forced to overpay for, things can definitely be looking up in 2009.

BUS COOK DOES IT AGAIN

Ahhh, and it's back to blogging for me. And while this story doesn't directly link to the Packers, Jay Cutler wants to be traded out of Denver. He and Broncos' rookie head coach Josh McDaniels have not gotten along ever since Cutler found out that he was being shopped around for Matt Cassel. Today, Cutler did not attend the first team meeting since McDaniels has taken over or participate in activities with the team. Why does this have any business being on a Packers blog? Bus Cook is Cutler's agent. Yes, that Bus Cook. Brett Favre's agent. And while I love Brett, this is another quarterback client of Cook who seems to feel that he is bigger than his organization, and that just can't keep happening. I understand Cutler is upset that McDaniels wanted to acquire Cassel, whom he coached in New England, but the NFL is a business, and not every player is going to agree with every business decision it's organization makes or looks into.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE

Ok so it's been a while... Things have been hectic lately. Last week was midterms week. I had a test, paper, and a big project I was working on for ESPN so I was busy out of my mind. This week I've been picking up some work so I haven't been around the computer much. I have a couple more days of busy-ness but I hope to get back on the blogging train by the end of this week. If there are any readers out there (I have no idea if there are), I apologize and I'll be back at it soon.