Runway Challenge: You know you're old when...

A few notes from Edsall's teleconference today:

• Steve Brouse will play on offense Saturday. Edsall said the Huskies' missed his hands and blocking ability while he was out because, "he's bigger and stronger than Martin (Bedard).
• Darius Butler hasn't practiced and won't play, but is jogging and feels much better.
• Edsall expects C.J. Marck to have his "personal issues" straighted out come bowl time.

*

That's it for UConn news. On to my personal blathering.

*

Every so often, something random occurs that makes you realize you're old. Part of my 14-month old son's morning routine is to open the cabinet doors under the television and pull out all the old VHS tapes one by one. When he's done I put them back, and the next morning he unloads them once again.

*

Anyway, today I decided to pop in an old high school basketball tape I hadn't watched in about 10 years. It hit me like a ton of bricks. The footage just seemed so.....dated. It was like watching the Zapruder film. Or a "Little Rascals" episode minus the grainy 1920's background music.

*

A few of the lowlights:

• Our team came out of the locker room for pre-game warmups to Queen's "We Will Rock You". Later, it was Boston's "More Than a Feeling" and then Guns 'N Roses "Welcome to the Jungle". We might as well have done layup drills in acid-washed jeans and work boots. I can assure you that the music wasn't my idea (although my playlist of Van Halen, Iron Maiden and Dio wouldn't have done much to improve that "dated" feel).
• We had new uniforms that year, and I remember thinking they were so cool at the time. The shorts, however, were still a little too short. It's looks like we're all playing in boxer shorts.
• My hair looks ridiculous. I was trying to emulate Jose Canseco that year. To be honest, it looks ridiculous to this day. The only difference now is I don't have a mullet.
• My dad filmed the games, and seemed to forget that our video camera had a microphone. He doesn't say much, but when he does, well, lets just say the Motion Picture Association of America would have given it an 'R' rating for language. Luckily, most of the swearing is in Italian.

It is entertaining, though. Maybe I'll watch it again in another 10 years.

My high school basketball portrait. Well, it feels like it after watching old film today.

On to the picks. It's the final week, and it seems to be a three-man race between Dougo, Caleb Mandrake and Vinny from East Haven. The college slate is limited this week. Even with every game, there's only 13 on the docket. So pick well. It may take an undefeated week to come from behind. Stay tuned for the third annual Bowl Challenge later this month.

Game 1: Navy (-11) over ARMY

Game 2: Pittsburgh (+2.5) over UCONN

Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA (-7) over South Florida

Game 4: Washington (+35.5) over CAL

Game 5: UCLA (+32.5) over Southern California

Game 6: ARIZONA (-10.5) over Arizona State

Game 7: HAWAII (+7.5) over Cincinnati

Game 8: TROY (-11) over Arkansas State

Game 9: FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (-7.5) over Western Kentucky

Game 10: East Carolina (+12) over TULSA

Game 11: Boston College (pick'em) over VIRGINIA TECH

Game 12: Alabama (+9.5) over FLORIDA

Game 13: OKLAHOMA (-16.5) over Missouri

Last week's results

1. kevin 8-3

ian 8-3

3. chip 7-4

caleb 7-4

wil 7-4

dougo 7-4

JZ 7-4

8. pete 6-5

sammy 6-5

donny 6-5

11. vinny 5-6

Standings

1. Dougo 89

Caleb Mandrake 89

3. Vinny from East Haven 86

4. Chip 84

JZ 84

6. Ian 83

Kevin 83

8. Pete 80

9. Sammy 74

10. Rich 73

11. Wil 67

12. Sean O 64

13. Den of Stupidity 63

14. DanO 56

Gary 56

16. uconnhuskies 86 55

17. Big Donny Bertolotti 35

18. Stretch 21

19. HuskyBarker 5

Get your picks in by clicking "comments" below.