The Southeastern Conference is home to some of the best college football teams in the country. The last three BCS National Championships have been won by SEC teams. Not only do SEC schools have competitive teams on the field, but the fans are just as fanatic in the stadium.

Tailgating, parades, and games are part of the gameday culture that brings an SEC college town to life on any Saturday during the season. RVs pour in from across the country filled with the best fans.

The job of a mascot is to rally the fans and keep them energetic during the game. Mascots lead the fans in team cheers, fight songs and even the classic “wave.” In today’s post I’m counting down the top 5 mascots in the SEC. Before you check my rankings, submit your vote!

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5. Big Al – University of Alabama

4. Hair Dawg - University of Georgia

3. Mike the Tiger - Louisiana State University

2. Aubie – Auburn University

1. Albert – University of Florida

It may be the dead of winter in most of the United States, but here in Florida we’re pushing 78 degrees today. The water is still chilly, but the sun is warm enough for surfers to hit the beach and ride some waves. There are so many surf spots across the country it would be impossible to name them all, so in today’s post I’ll give you the top 10 spots in the USA.

Note: I’ve included a spot from Puerto Rico because they’re a US territory and I tried to spread the love across several states.

	10. Tres Palmas, Puerto Rico
	9. Honolua Bay, Maui
	8. Rincon, California
	7. Mavericks, California
	6. Steamer Lane, California
	5. Sebastian Inlet, Florida
	4. Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
	3. Malibu, California
	2. Blacks Beach, California
	1. Pipeline, Hawaii

If you love our list, then you’ll definitely love some of the new surf products we have at Surf Fanatics. here’s a sample of what we just got in:

The Super Bowl is not only a time for football, but also a time for gatherings with family and friends. When everyone is together watching the game, there always has to be a nice platter of food! Mike from Football Fanatics talks to you about his famous tasty mini-burgers.

Super Bowl is a great time to throw an awesome themed party!  Here are some fun ideas that will surely score with your guests…

Decorations – Get your guests in the mood right away, with themed yard signs that they will see as soon as they drive up.  Team colored streamers and balloons are easy to pull off – twist and loop from one corner of the room to the other.  Be sure it’s not too low that your guests will have to duck when walking around.  Carry out the theme on the buffet table.  Get paper plates, napkins, and cups in your fav team colors also.  These decorations are easy to find at any party store. 

Go for two!  If there are fans from both teams attending, divide your TV room into two sides and decorate each side in team colors.  Be sure to arrange the furniture whereas all fans have great views from the angle they are sitting at.

Food – Create a buffet table with fun platters of chips and dip, nachos, wings, pizza, and cookies.

Go for two!  Buy team colored-coated M&M’s for snacks.

Drinks – Any football fan will appreciate beer…make sure you have lots of it!  For non-alcoholic drinks: soda, water, and sports drinks like PowerAde, to keep with the theme.   

Go for two!  Wow your guests with this specialty cocktail recipe:

Sweet Victory Whiskey

• 2 ounces whiskey

• splash of lemonade

• 2 tablespoons lemon-lime soda

• Cherry

Combine whiskey, lemonade and soda with 3 or 4 ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a glass. Garnish with cherry and serve.  Cheers!

Gifts – Distribute pom-poms as soon as they enter.  You can also put a few on the buffet table as decorations. 

Go for two!  Don’t just stop at the pom-poms.  Hand out team colored beads.  You can find beads and pom-poms at footballfanatics.com.

Games – Although your guest will be more focused on the Big Game, you can increase the competition throughout the night with superlatives – “Most Spirited” and “Most Likely To Be A Ref In Ten Years” are some examples.

Go for two!  Have mini size trophies for the winners and do an awards ceremony before the party ends.

Tennis isn’t the most popular sport in American. In fact, the only time you’ll know something is happening in the tennis world is if there is a Grand Slam. The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments held each year, during the month of January. We are currently about 2-3 days into the tournament.

The Australian Open is a very popular tennis tournament. It attracts over 600,000 visitors each year and awards over $1.3 million to the men’s and women’s singles champion. In honor of the tournament, I thought I’d post a couple pictures of Melbroune Park where the tennis matches are played.

The first picture is an aerial shot

The following are various shots from the tennis courts, including one of Rod Laver Arena where the Finals are usually held.

Are you a fan of tennis? Represent your college with a new tennis tee.

Ready or not, here it comes!  2009 will be here in a couple of days.  Here are some traditions across the globe that will be taking place at the stroke of midnight on (or around) December 31^st.  They are all believed to bring good fortune and prosperity in the coming year.

Take a look, and then let us know some traditions in your culture.

AUSTRIA

In Austria, folks will be feasting on the suckling pig.  It is the symbol for good luck for the New Year.  Afterwards, green peppermint ice cream in the shape of a four-leaf clover is served for desert.

BELGIUM

The people of Belgium call New Year’s Eve “Saint Sylvester Eve”.  At family parties, kisses are shared, good luck greetings are exchanged, and toasts to absent relatives and friends are recited.   

The cities, cafés, and restaurants are crowded with people who bid farewell to the Old Year. New Year’s Day is called Nieuwjaarsdag at this time of the year the children save money to buy decorated paper for writing holiday greetings to parents and god parents.

DENMARK

A pile of broken dishes are found at the door as a symbol that you have many friends.  In Denmark, old dishes are saved year round to throw them at the homes where their friends live on New Year’s Eve. 

Respectively the monarch’s New Year Speech and the striking of midnight by the Town Hall Clock in Copenhagen are two important items broadcast on television and radio. 

CHINA

“Yuan Tan” or the Chinese New Year is celebrated between January 21^st and February 20^th.  The exact date is determined by the lunar calendar, a new moon marks the beginning of each month.

Because red is the symbol of good luck and happiness in their culture, the Chinese paints their front doors red for the coming year.  Families prepare a huge feast for the New Year without any knives.  The knives are put away for 24 hours to keep anyone from cutting themselves, but not for their safety.  It is thought that if someone gets cut so will the family’s good luck.

WALES

At the first toll of midnight, the back door is opened and then shut to kick out the old year and all of its bad luck. Then at the twelfth stroke of the clock, the front door is opened to welcome the New Year with all its luck.

SPAIN

The Spanish grabs a bunch of grapes as the clock nears midnight.  They eat 12 grapes, one with every toll, to bring good luck for the 12 months ahead.

Say “Happy New Year” in other languages (or at least attempt)

French – bonne année

Chinese – xin nian hao

Spanish – feliz año nuevo

Greek – eutichismenos o kainourgios chronos (we wish you a happy new year)

Hawaiian – hauoli makahiki hou

Italian – felice anno nuovo

Latin – felix sit annus novus

Swedish – gott nytt år

Vietamese – yangi yilingiz qutlug’ bo’lsin

Yiddish – a gut yohr

Russian – S novim godom

The Super Bowl is always the most watched television event every year. It’s a time for friends and family to get together, enjoy great food and watch football. The daily festivities have almost become an American holiday. The Super Bowl could feature two of the smallest market teams, yet the entire world will still be watching… even our troops stationed in Iraq.

General Order No. 1 banned U.S. forces from drinking alcohol in Iraq since troops deployed to the Middle East. However, and exception will be made for Super Bowl XLIII.

Multi-National Division–Baghdad has received permission to let its units enjoy an honest-to-goodness beer on game day instead of the near-beer soldiers usually quaff in downrange DFACs. The approval comes with plenty of time for the beer to be shipped into theater. Soldiers will be limited to two beers and are only allowed in the dining hall… where the soldiers can watch the game.

“You can relax more,” Spc. Chris Davis, a soldier with the 300th Military Police Company, said. “You can just relax with your comrades. Usually, we’re so stressed out not being able to do the stuff we get to do back in the States.”

It’s important to note that combat arms units will not be drinking – they can be called out at any time. The policy is intended for support units.

This news shows just how big the Super Bowl is becoming. It is no longer a single game played at the end of the season, but now a week-long event hyped up at the beginning of September. All sports fans look forward to the Super Bowl regardless if their team is playing.