I Pulled a Spartan out of a Hat

A while back my buddies and I decided it was time to spice up our college sports watching. What better way to do that than by drafting a new team for life? As "Mr. Texas Tech," Russell Putnam wrote on his blog, "the idea originated with a group of students at the University of Minnesota. While attending school, the group of students became fed up with the fact that all of their college sports teams were perennial losers. So the students remedied their problem by drafting a new team for life."

After much anticipation, last night was the big night. We put 103 colleges into a hat and were slated to draw two teams and then pick one to be our new "team for life." ( Note: almost all D1 schools that had a football (bowl subdivision) and basketball team were included - we eliminated a few teams due to the fact that we have friends that already support those teams.) We gathered at Houlihan's in Richfield with grandiose thoughts of being able to cheer our Connecticut Huskies to a Big East title or to usher our Seminoles of Florida State into the post Bobby Bowden era. While I was hoping I wouldn't have to pledge my allegiance to Lane Kiffin or Bob Stoops, I was ready to do just that if it was in the cards. I was actually ready for just about anything! Ultimately, I wasn't disappointed. While I can't say I expected to have to choose between the Zips of Akron and the Spartans of San Jose State, I couldn't be happier with my new team for life. Here's to the beginning of a life of servitude to my new team. Go Spartans!!!