Extreme College Football Fans

How far will people go to express their passion for college football? Long after they graduate from college, and many times even if they never attended college at all, serious college football fans of all ages pack university stadiums and hold tailgate parties year after year.  Some people go to extremes to support their favorite college football team.Here are just a few...

Famous fans

They are not known for their punting skills, they are not star linebackers, and they have never scored a touchdown in their life. Nonetheless, these fans enjoy a celebrity status alongside some of the most well-known football players.

Mike “Big Dawg” Woods is considered the ultimate Georgia Bulldogs fan. This popular Athens native does all the usual fan stuff like wear the team logos and colors. But his signature trademark is on his head. His wife paints a bulldog on his bald head for every game. In 2007, he won the Lincoln Financial "Super Fan" award. Big Dawg Woods has his own following with about 1000 fans on his facebook page.

Nathan Davis is an Alabama Crimson Tide fan who has the most college football tattoos ever documented. His entire body is inked with Crimson Tide pride including a large tattoo of Paul "Bear" Bryant stretched across his back.  Though he never attended the University of Alabama, he paints his face red, dons a kilt, wears white eye contacts, and proudly holds a flag at every game. Nathan Davis has gotten the attention of nationwide media for his dedication and appearance. 

Extreme tailgating fans

Tailgate parties are almost a required ritual for serious college football fans. Many fans prefer to conglomerate in parking lots and driveways rather than get a seat at the stadium during the game. Drinking, grilling meat and innovative displays of team loyalty is a tradition for fans at tailgate parties.

The most famous college tailgate party takes place each year in October in Jacksonville, Florida. The football match is between two notorious rivals; The Florida Gators and The Georgia Bulldogs. Dubbed “The the World's Largest Cocktail Party”, fans show up at the stadium parking lot as early as Wednesday for a Saturday game and continue to party as late as Sunday afternoon. This tailgate event is estimated to have a $25 million economic impact on the local economy.

On tailgating.com, a website devoted to the art of tailgating one fan describes the experience at the University of South Carolina;

“The University of South Carolina has the ultimate tailgating setting. A developer bought a large number of the cabooses from the railroad when they discontinued using them and parked them on a deserted track by Williams-Brice Stadium and formed the "Cock-A-Boose Railroad"! Supporters bought the "Cabooses" and lavishly restored them with plush carpet, marble trim wet bars, closed circuit TV of the games and sun decks on top. The party atmosphere is unbelievable and unequaled anywhere in college football.”

~Gene, a Gamecock Tailgater from South Carolina

Die hard college football fans

Sometimes the passion that college football fans have for their teams gets out of control. Fatal injuries and even death are the result of some unfortunate college football fanatics.

In November of 2006, James Walter Quick, 42 and Richard Allen Johnson, 43 drank beer all afternoon and watched the South Carolina -Clemson football game at Johnson's home. After a bitter argument over a $20 bet on the game, James Quick, a Clemson fan, fatally shot his friend with a high-powered rifle.

An argument between college football rivals Alabama and Louisiana State University turned deadly for a south Alabama couple at a game on November 8, 2008. Dennis and Donna Smith, Tigers fans, were shot to death following a heated dispute over the game. Michael Williams, a devoted Alabama Crimson Tide fan, was arrested and charged with murder.

Fans who take their college football pride to the grave

Photo by Collegiate Memorials

For some college football fans, living, eating and breathing the game is simply not enough. They want to die by the school's colors too. Extreme fans leave huge sums of money to the school’s football department in their will, their ashes get sprinkled on the playing fields, and some are loyally buried in logo-themed “shrines”.

In November, 2005 Christopher Noteboom, 33, of Tempe, Arizona claims he was only honoring his mother's last request when he ran onto the turf of Lincoln Financial Feild holding a plastic bag during Sunday's game. He left a cloud of ashes behind him as he ran toward the 30-yard line, dropped to his knees and made the sign of the cross before getting handcuffed and arrested. His mother was a life-long Eagles fan.

Spreading ashes on college football turf is (technically) not legal. But many people do it anyway. There are a few colleges that actually welcome ashes. Notre Dame University has Cedar Grove Cemetery where catholic fans of the college can be cremated and laid to rest.

Collegiate Memorials located in Macon, Ga, is the first and largest company to specialize in a line of college themed memorial products. College football fans can express their loyalty to their alma maters with an urn, a solid wood casket, or even a monument adorned with the logo of their favorite college football team.

AUTHOR INFO

April Lentini writes for apartmentguide.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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5 Makeshift Furniture Pieces for Your College Apartment

Do you need some cheap furniture to create a living space in your college dwelling?  Here are 5 creative things you can do in order to have the essentials cheaply and sometimes free. These furniture alternatives are super easy to install, versatile, and even simpler for breaking down, transporting, and re-using!

The file cabinet & door desk

Most important, is the desk. You will be spending copious amounts of time hunched over your desk studying and doing homework. It should be a big, sturdy piece of furniture to stack loads of books on. The cheapest way to achieve this is the filing cabinet & door desk.  It’s simple: Get two filing cabinets and a door from Home Depot or Lowes.  Stack the door on top of the filing cabinets and presto, you have spacious desk!

Estimated cost:

$ 20 for an unfinished door

$ 50 for two file cabinets

The exercise ball computer chair

You can’t have a desk without a chair. An exercise ball is not only very affordable; it may be the most comfortable computer chair that you have ever owned –especially for your back. Forcing you to balance and engage your abdominals, an exercise ball is ergonomically correct for your body. Just make sure you get the right size (the size recommendation is on the box and usually goes by your height). Exercise balls are also a great way to multi-task. When not used for a chair, they are excellent for body toning and conditioning.

Estimated cost:

$15 for one exercise ball

The milk crate bed frame

Make sure you get commercial strength milk crates. Don’t rely on cheap retail imitations. You can order them online for relatively cheap. If you can get them at grocery stores for free -even better! All you need is one mattress. Simply align the milk crates on the ground and slap the mattress on top. The milk crates make it easy to store stuff under your bed. They are also very versatile. If you decide to get another type of bed, you can always use the milk crates for other furniture like side tables, stools or book shelves. They are also great for moving!

Estimated cost:

$ Free! (or relatively cheap)

The cinder block book case

Cinder blocks and slats of wood are cheap and easy to come by. One trip to a hardware store will provide you with the two things you will need to create this trusty old piece of furniture.  The amount of cinder blocks and slats of wood to get depend on how large you want your bookcase. For a bookcase with three shelves, 6 cinder blocks and 3 pieces of wood will do the trick. Simply layer the wood on top of 2 cinder blocks at a time.

Estimated cost:  (depends on the size)

3 Slats of wood: $ 15

6 cinder blocks:  $12

The trunk coffee table

An old trunk has lots of character. Not only does it make a vintage, eclectic piece to add to your apartment, it is also practical. Store blankets and other items you are no using inside. If you have an old trunk sitting around, perfect! But even if you have to buy one, they are not that hard to find. Keep your eyes open in thrift stores, or grandma’s closet. Old tea crates also make nice coffee tables. But they are increasingly hard to find.

Estimated cost:

$ Free! (or thrift-store prices)

AUTHOR INFO

April Lentini likes to repurpose furniture and you will rarely find her shopping at traditional, “buy the whole room” type of furniture stores. She writes for http://San-antonio.apartmentguide.com

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10 iPhone Apps For Fashionistas

If you are a slave to fashion and style, you may already know that looks don’t just fall together naturally. It can be a real science to coordinate outfits, style hair, and apply makeup to fit any given occasion. If you need some help keeping your looks together, here are 10 iPhone apps for keeping your style up-to-date & organized.

 

Photos by: Minako Bracken on Flickr Creative Commons

#1 Lookz -$59.00
This app includes video tutorials, and up-to-date cosmetic advice from some of the web’s most famous make up experts Learn tricks of the trade, gossip and news on the latest trends. Lookz helps you obtain new skills and techniques anywhere.

#2 Chanel –Free
Get news, photos, videos, and product information from one of the biggest leaders in fashion. With this app, you can watch fashion shows and see the latest offerings from Coco Chanel.

#3 Fashion Sense -$.99
Fashion Sense is a simple application that will teach you how to dress for the shape of your body using the same time tested rules celebrity stylists. You will be provided expert advice on the nine classic wardrobe pieces every woman should own.

#4 Style.com –Free
Style.com has tailored its web site content, including fashion show photos, Style File blogs, reviews, couture shows and video feeds, to take full advantage of the features of iPhone and iPod Touch. With this app, you have the latest news for style trends at your fingertips.

#5 Pocket Closet -$.99
The Pocket Closet was designed for the obsessive compulsive fashionista. How would you like to document and catalog your clothing, shoes and accessories by going through your closet and taking pictures of your clothes with your phone, then add them into categories to your fashion database? You’ll never wear the same outfit twice!

#6 Seventeen’s Fashion Finder –Free
Seventeen’s iPhone app lets teen girls shop for a range of items and styles on their phones and even locate and reserve apparel at their local stores. The Fashion Finder app uses a database to query nearby stores about the actual availability of an item in specific sizes and colors.

#7 Mardo Fashion Quiz -$1.99
Think you are the Ultimate Fashionista? Test your style knowledge with Lady Mardo’s Ultimate Fashion Trivia on your iPhone or iPod. With Questions from over 10 genres of the fashion industry, this iPhone trivia game is fun for anyone who has an interest in Fashion.

#8 Net-a-Porter –Free
If price is no concern in your fashion budget, get the Net-a-Porter.com app. The high-end online fashion retailer, allows shoppers to buy couture dresses, shoes, and other luxury goods from their cell phones. There is simply no reason to be bound to your computer in order to buy $1,000 shoes or $8,000 gowns.

#9 Fashion Idea Generator -$.99
Fashion designers, are you looking for a muse? The next time you're experiencing “designer block”, bring this app up and shake: it'll randomly provide you with three fashion keywords, like color, fabric, and technique. "Hot Pink" + "Bias Cut" + "Trench Coat"? Perfect.

#10 Cool Guy –Free
Finally, there is something for the metro sexual men. The Cool Guy app will help fashion-conscious guys categorize their closet, create new outfits, remember to shop for new stuff, and pack for trips. This app also lets men share their outfits with friends (or girlfriends) in order to get “fashion consultant” feedback.  

AUTHOR INFO

April Lentini writes for Apartmentguide.com

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10 Most Affordable Apartments Near the University of Texas

If you are a student at the University of Texas in Austin, you are probably watching your budget. One way to save money is to share an apartment with a roommate instead of opting for fancy meal plans and over-rated college dorms. Here are Apartment Guide’s top 10 most affordable apartments near the University of Texas.

Photo credit: Falashad Flickr Creative Commons

UT students can save money living in one of these affordable apartments!

#1 Travis Station Apartments –as low as $375
Enjoy a beautifully landscaped community in the heart of Austin. Travis station is a quick 15 minute commute to the University of Texas, plus Austin nightlife is right at your fingertips. Travis Station, with apartments starting at a low $375 offers residents poolside Wi-Fi and a free gourmet coffee bar!

#2 The Village at Riverside –as low as $405
This community is a student oriented community offering resort-style amenities. Not only is this apartment complex within biking distance to the university, you get large private bathrooms and free tanning!

#3 Mission James Place –as low as $429
This apartment complex is just a 15 minute drive to the University of Texas.  With seven floor plans to choose from you can live in a trendy, urban setting in downtown Austin. No need to go to the laundry mat. Each unit comes equipped with a washer and dryer!

#4 Lafayette Landing/English Aire –as low as $452
9 minutes away from the college’s campus, Lafayette Landing accepts pets, offers public transportation, and has on-site laundry facilities. The most affordable unit is the efficiency starting as $452 per month.

#5 Montecito Apartments –as low as $499
How would you like to study near a wood-burning fireplace or do your homework on your private balconies or patio? Covered carports protect your vehicle in this apartment complex, only 10 minutes away from the University of Texas.

#6 Salado at Walnut Creek –as low as $499
Designed to live like homes, Salado at Walnut Creek features two pools, a lighted sports court, sand volleyball, and a community laundry center. The studios start a $499. It takes only 13 minutes to get the University of Texas.

#7 Forest Hills –as low as $499
Only 4 and half miles from the University of Texas, a Forest Hills apartment is best described as an “oasis in the midst of a thriving city.” One bedroom apartments start at $499. Need to organize a study group? Take advantage of the two beautiful club houses on the property.

#8 Bainbridge Villas –as low as $500
For  500 dollars a month, you get a pet-friendly apartment complex with large closets, a pool and a playground. It will take you a mere 13 minutes to get to class and for your shopping convenience; you will be located within a stone’s throw of the Southwood mall.

#9 Cameron Greens –as low as $500
For 500 dollars you get a one bedroom, one bath apartment. Location is everything. Within walking distance to shopping centers, restaurants and bars, Cameron Greens Apartments is only a 9 minute drive to the University of Texas.

#10 Promontory Point –as low as $509
Located minutes from the UT shuttle, Promontory Point features apartments with vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, and large patios.  Not only will you be close to campus, but you will also be located near major employers such as Applied Materials, Motorola, Apple, Samsung, USPS and UPS. You may not even have to move after getting a job after college!

AUTHOR INFO

April Lentini writes for http://austin.apartmentguide.com

 

 

 

 

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The Princeton Review Reveals Top 5 Luxury College Dorms

College students are trading in ramen noodles and futons for posh college amenities. Why not live like a rock star in college? You can always cram some roommates together in an apartment after you graduate and start making your student loan payments. Princeton Review’s The Best 371 Colleges 2010 rates colleges based on dorm comfort. If you want to study in style, here are the top 5 college dorms that made the “Dorms Like Palaces” list by the Princeton Review.

Photo by: Ed Brambley from Flickr's Creative Commons

# 1 Smith College Dorms (Northampton, Mass.)
Tuition & Fees:  $37,758 / yr
Room & Board: $12,622 /yr
Weekly tea parties & Candle-lit dinners with teachers: Priceless

As an all-girls college, it makes perfect sense to focus on romance and creature comforts.  This liberal arts college woos the ladies with intimate housing arrangements. Students live in spacious wood-frame or brick houses on a beautifully landscaped campus – “complete with a pond and a waterfall”.  It is a tradition at this school to have weekly tea party socials and candle-lit dinners with faculty served in the comfort of their homey dorms.

#2  Loyola University in Maryland Dorms (Baltimore,MD)
Tuition & Fees: $36,240 / yr
Room & Board: $9,740 /yr
Food catering service: Priceless

As with most universities, there is no such thing as a “school cafeteria”. Students get “dining services.” Perhaps what makes these dorms special -aside from the unusually large walk-in closets, is the dining options. There are over 10 full-blown restaurants spread out on this campus. Students can chose between Sushi, Indian, Italian, or southwestern cuisine along with American delis. This Jesuit-based college offers catering services if you would like to host a study group.

#3 Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering Dorms (Needham, MA)
Tuition & Fees: $37,900 / yr
Room & Board: $13,485 /yr
Required to live on campus: Pricey

In addition to high-tech data ready connectivity of their residences, there is a homey feel too. Students enjoy fireplaces in the residence hall lounges, private baths, air conditioning, and cable. This college also features "Just-In-Time Cooking,” a service where dining faculty prepares food to order. The eclectic and varied menu in the dining hall includes vegetarian, vegan, and healthy choice selections. Unless given an exception from the Dean of student life, all students are required to live on campus.

#4 Scripps College Dorms (Claremont, CA)
Tuition & Fees: $37,950
Room & Board: $12,600
Sea foam graduation gowns: Priceless

According to their website, #4 on their “Top Ten Reasons to Attend Scripps College” is the designer chimney tops on the campus buildings. Designed by architect Gordon Kaufmann, the chimney tops were crafted “with individuality in mind”. Their top ten list of reasons to attend this all-female college also include: the secret gardens (#7), fresh baked cookies (#9), and the sea foam graduation gowns (#10).  As far as dorms go, Students enjoy rooms with balconies, walk-in closets, private bathrooms and community living rooms with a grand piano and fireplace.

#5 Bennington College Dorms (Bennington, VT)
Tuition & Fees: $39.760/year
Room & Board: $11,100 /year
A weekly dose of chocolate-covered strawberries: Priceless

This campus resembles nothing less than a beautiful country club retreat. At Bennington, “dorms” are referred to as “houses”. Students can choose a house based on its architectural style - from modern to traditional New England. Most houses have a kitchen and living room complete with fireplaces.  As with many of the colleges on this list, the dining hall serves entrees from Thai to Cajun to Italian with a wide range of options, including vegetarian and vegan selections.

AUTHOR INFO
April Lentini writes for http://austin.apartmentguide.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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10 iPhone Apps For Goofing Off

There are many useful iPhone apps out there. But sometimes you just need to kill time. Whether you are waiting in an airport or you are stuck in a mind-numbing meeting or lecture, these iPhone apps will make the time you spend in boredom purgatory a little more entertaining.

#1 Rag Doll Blaster
This game is simple in concept, but not so easy to master. Superbly designed by Backflip Studios, you’ll be astounded with the real physics used to measure the distance, power, and angle to shoot rag dolls across various obstacles. There is a free version called Rag Doll Blaster Lite ($2)

#2 iStooges
Includes 72 motion-activated sound effects and voice clips from your three favorite knuckleheads, Larry, Moe and Curley. Amuse yourself a “nyuk nyuk”, a “slap Ooh”, or a “soitenly.” (Coming soon in the app store)

#3 Trace
What a time-killer! With this quarky iPhone app, you can draw your own paths and erase lines you made by mistake in order to get through moving obstacles and reach the destination.  It’s really easy to play but gets tricky and keeps you playing for hours –and if not, at least several minutes.  (free)

#4 Paper Toss
This is the iPhone version of the original office game of tossing the scrunched up paper into the basket. This version throws some extras in the mix to make it interesting such as fans and other interfering objects. (free)

#5 Madlibs
Just like the game you used to play when you were a kid. Type in a series of adjectives and nouns and you get a crazy story cranked out with the words you used. (Free)

#6 Dream Dictionary
Interpret what your dreams mean with the dream dictionary. If you and your friends have a lot of crazy, random dreams, you will be sure to get a lot of use from this application. If not, at least a lot of laughs. ($1)

#7 Chimp Adventure
In this game, you have to memorize numbers and several humorous missions that appear only for a few seconds then press them in the right order after they get hidden. This is a productive time killer as it trains your memory. ($1)

#8 Face Melter
Morph your photos into freaky works of art. By dragging your finger across the screen, you can elongate exaggerate, and warp your friend’s faces. ($2)

 #9 The Moron Test
This game features a collection of more than 100 brain-teasing puzzles that challenge you to see how many you can solve in record-breaking time. Scores range from moron to genius. ($1)

#10 iDoodle
This simple drawing tool allows you to draw any number of lines, polygons, circles, and squares in an array of colors. The iDoodle app also lets you to set up an online gallery where you can share your mini-masterpieces with the world. ($2)

AUTHOR INFO
April Lentini writes for http://San-antonio.apartmentguide.com

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Top 5 Luxury Apartments in San Antonio, Texas

With tangerine sunsets and a rich urban culture, Living in San Antonio can be a luxury in itself. But why settle for a less-than-perfect residence when you can have it all? From laundry services to wet bars and full-blown spas, here are some of the top luxury apartments in San Antonio. Photo by: Corey Leopold (Flickr Creative Commons)

Photo by: Corey Leopold (Flickr Creative Commons)

#1 St. Benedict’s Loft Apartments
Located in the heart of the hip downtown center of San Antonio, St. Benedict’s loft apartments are modern airy dwellings with bright, clean, versatile spaces. Kitchens are as beautiful as they are efficient, featuring top-of-the-line Bosch appliances nestled in Thermofoil cabinetry. Whether you choose a unit with a more structured multi-bedroom floor plan or consider an entirely open studio, each apartment is a blank canvas for elegant individual expression. St. Benedict’s Loft has two pools, a lobby and a courtyard.

#2 Artessa At Quarry Village Apartments
Located within walking distance of Austin’s exciting urban scene and penthouse views of the award winning Quarry Golf Course, Artessa gives you the best balance of tranquility and stimulation.  Whether you want to feed off the energy of the Quarry Village main street or you just want to relax in one of four courtyards Artessa gives you space for your sense of place. Enjoy two pools, a wine tasting room with private wine lockers, a gym, and wi-fi in all common areas. Luxury amenities include a wet bar, designer appliances, crown molding, spacious kitchens, fireplaces, large bathrooms with separate wardrobes and walk-in closets.

#3 The Mansions at Canyon Springs Apartments
This luxury apartment community offers units with 1-5 bedroom and also has separate cottages with attached garages. Residents enjoy a massive health club which includes a pool, Jacuzzi, dry sauna, and private tanning room. This incredible country club residence is adjacent to the award-winning PGA Canyon Springs Golf Club.  The “M” Spa allows tenants to pamper themselves from the comfort of their own home. Get top-of-the-line treatment from expert skincare specialists, makeup artists, hair stylists, massage therapists, nail technicians and personal trainers.

#4 Verde Braun Station Apartments
When you live at Verde Braun Station you feel like you are being spoiled at a luxury hotel.  Set in the midst of a private, heavily wooded area, you can be proud to have friends visit your apartment which has 9-ft. ceilings, crown molding, and designer color schemes.  There is free wi-fi in the common area, a heated spa, a surround sound media room, a swimming pool with fountain and lap lanes, and covered parking available. This luxury apartment community also provides 24 hour emergency maintenance to its residents along with laundry services.

#5 The Crescent Apartments
Lush landscaping and a cozy, secluded neighborhood give these luxury apartments a distinguished style that you can be proud of. Relax with your neighbors under the gazebo in the courtyard area. Enjoy the large open floor plans, spacious oversized closets and oval garden tubs. With your best interest in mind, The Crescent provides its residents with limited access gates and intrusion alarms. Tired of taking the trash out? Enjoy the first class door-to-door trash pick-up!

AUTHOR INFO
April Lentini writes for San-antonio.apartmentguide.com

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