Yes, I am taking liberties with one of my favorite Jimmy Buffett songs. As a matter of fact, after the firing this past week, I’m dedicating this weather forecast to Jimmy and references to his music. A great stress and frustration has been lifted from the collective shoulders of Tiger Nation and now we can all enjoy the rest of the season with the calmness and whimsy of the Caribbean.

TB, enjoy yourself wasting away in Margaritaville, er Panama City, or a Beach House on the Moon, I don’t care where. I just hope you stay Incommunicado (that still goes for Cullen’s mouth as well). You went to your Bank of Bad Habits one to many times. Fins were to the left, fins were to the right, and you and Spence were the targets in town.

As you travel in and prepare for some Boat Drinks, beer, whiskey, or whatever makes you God’s Own Drunk, watch out for Barefoot Children in the Rain. Showers should be moving out of the area overnight but if the system stalls at all a few lingering one may be around. Expect them for those coming from North Carolina Friday evening and early Saturday.
Highs will be in the upper 60′s and depending on cloud cover, may not get there until late in the afternoon, ala post game. Breezes should be out of the west, northwest at 5-10, so be sure to have sleeves if you are in the upper decks or the shade of the west end zone if you are prone to being cold. It will feel like a Change in Lattitude compared to the September home games, and there will definitely be a change in attitude on the field.
Look for the Clemson O to open up and go downfield. Hopefully the slant will be implemented though as GT’s D will be coming after Korn, especially from the ends. The GT O has been giving team fits, but if the D holds their responsibilities, it is stoppable and Dabo knows it.
The series has been tight for the last decade with most games being decided by less than a touchdown. This one won’t be much different but I’m afraid we come out on the bottom side. Either way, the fans can rejoice pre and post game, enjoy a Cheeseburger in Tiger Paradise , let the Jolly Mon Sing, or celebrate like it’s Christmas in the Caribbean. The afternoon will be prime for good times with good friends.

The song references have been Overkill, just like the Presidential news coverage and the talking heads of the sports world rambling on about our change. Regardless, There is one thing The Wino and I Know, with a little Love and Luck, we will get by.

This week’s forecast is short and sweet after taking a week off for an uninspiring home game and road trip to one of those other ACC games to see the Pack (and my darkhorse pick) upset the Pirates.
It’s gonna rain. Carolinas mired in the 60′s with rain most of Friday. Scattered showers with temps in the 70′s for the game.

On the field it will be all about the air attacks. Tigers continue to dink and dunk but finally find a way to go down field after the Fridge forces our hand by doing the same in the first half. Harper has most yardage of the season and Kelly get two TDs. This is a TV game with a lot of passing. Look for it to run at least 3.5 hours.

On the bright side, the temps should be nice and barring and afternoon thunderstorm, it should be pleasant. Gnomettes best bring some sleeves at least for the early tailgate. Layers recommended for the afternoon sun, and as always, coat up the sunscreen to be safe.

Welcome one and all to your kickoff weather forecast for the year. As you know, last week never happened. It was on the road and this gnome doesn’t recognize preseason actions and doesn’t prognosticate on geographic areas outside his expertise. Wow those were some big words.

Well, I’ve had the graphics specialist put up a nifty little pair of galoshes and umbrella but this week’s forecast has been very dynamic as our little witch of a weather system can’t decide what the hell she is going to do. Kinda reminds me of the team on the field. All kinds of expectations then screws around when it starts to matter and can’t seem to decide what they are going to do.
However, the recent weather and last week’s scrimmage break their parallel tracks. Starting Saturday, the Tigers put their foot down. They give the Citadel a backhand more like what I expect out of IKE! come early next week.

With the 3:30 start be prepared for a warm, and very muggy afternoon. Expect highs from now through the first of the week to hover around the 90 degree mark. Be sure to have your sunscreen handy or expect to look like a raccoon with a farmers tan come your Monday morning meeting. I expect a shower or two to move through off a rogue band associated with Hanna but nothing lasting or significant. Most would expect this to be a cooling and more comforting event but that won’t be the case. Think of the tailgating and game as a sauna that doesn’t require a health club membership. Stepping out of your car will cause the sweat to run so if this is a problem, bring an extra shirt.

On the field I fully expect the Tigers to flex their athleticism and true skill (not experience) over a truly overmatched team with a week recent record. Tigers get their crap in gear and get tuned up for an ACC foe next week. Team roles by 30 and Tiger fans get their confidence up for the upcoming games while shedding a few pounds in the heat and humidity that comes with September games and tropical moisture.

As in Wake Weekend Weather. It may be a month late getting here but fall is upon us this second weekend of November. The leaves are turning and orange is everywhere. Expect this to be the same in Death Valley for the noon game this week. Nothing but sunshine, perfect temps, and clear skies for the days this weekend with crisp to cold nights. Lows in Tiger Town will hover around 40 Friday night. The tailgate fields will be cool to say the least for the throngs of hearty tailgaters getting out a few hours prior to the early kickoff Saturday. Don’t let the cool temps fool you though. Midday sun in the stadium will keep things plenty warm starting at kick off. Don’t forget the sunscreen on the face unless you are a fan of the half face burn and raccoon eye look. Kickoff will see temps around 60, warming to a high in the mid to upper 60’s…we’ll call it 66. If you are in the shade, any breeze will be on the cool side. Overnight lows will drop to the mid 30’s. Be sure you have your allotment of anti freeze if you plan on carousing around town following the game. The drive home will be more of the same, sun and 60’s.
The carousing comment is made as I see plenty of folks sticking around and celebrating a win over the proverbial thorn in our side. Expect lots of post game tailgate action on a near perfect football day. Last year was our turn to be the spoiler, in the rain, in an otherwise magical Wake season. This year, the boys in Orange know what’s on the line. Next weeks night game is big and will mean a lot with regards to divisional, conference, and possibly even national rankings. However, it only means these things with a Clemson and BC win THIS week. I think Bowden and company. Wake has a chance to up their bowl tier prospects while stealing our mid/late season momentum and foiling any chance the Tigers have of sneaking into the ACCCG, after the early/mid season slump. Most of the D has seen the quirks of the Wake Offense and Riley Skinner in the pocket. The Wake D is tough against the run (according to ESPN.com) but give up a deuce and a quarter, through the air each week. Look for a steady dose of Thunder and Lightning early to see if Wake’s stacking the box, like most teams, will hold back Davis and Spiller. If so, Kelly and Grisham figure to be game changers if the Tigers break recent trends of keeping things too close for comfort against the Deacs. Either way, look for these two and the TE’s to punch it in the end zone for three Cullen Harper TD passes. History says this will be something like a 20-16 game, which I don’t like the sounds of. Why? Because Sam Swank for Wake is one of the top kickers in the ACC if not the NCAA, though I feel we are much more competent than in years past. I think if the team comes out focused on this game alone, and doesn’t get caught looking ahead (GT), it will be more like 30-13 and I’m going against my gut, and recent history and giving Tommy the nod for keeping the team focused and getting them fired up for this Noon, ESPN2, nationally televised affair.

Though we smacked a team last week, and yes 70 points looks good on the boards, I am only bringing back the full blown forecast (light-saber map included) with an asterisk. Beating Sister of St. Mary’s High School D doesn’t prove anything so I am looking for the lines to take control, make some room for the runners, and make last week’s protection for Harper the norm, not the exception. On the D side, I would like to see a highlight reel worthy hit or sack, not chasing some fluttering pass that likely will not be a pick six and getting jammed on the line.

On to the weather. It’s not going to be a pretty commute. It’s never pretty heading into the Nation’s Capital on a Friday afternoon with traffic but the weather is going to be terrible to start the weekend. Look for temps in the mid to low 60’s with rain, rain, and more rain. Saturday isn’t going to be pretty for tailgating. Showers are expected to hang in the area until midday or even mid afternoon. With kickoff at 3:30 this isn’t helping the tailgate scene. However, this gnome has been warned that roaming alone in some of the areas not far from campus is not advised. I recommend finding a nice watering hole in another part of town and taking advantage of public transportation en-masse with other Tiger faithful with just enough time to get to the game, ala BC last year.

Game conditions should be good in the stands though bringing the jacket or poncho along to sit on is recommended as the seats will be wet. Storms have been known to be late as well so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Highs projected to be around 70 at game time but I wouldn’t bet on anything higher than 65. Saturday evening will provide a good chance to cool off after another cardiac cats game. Lows around 50 should be a nice change for those traveling north in search of a dose of fall. Hopefully the boozing around town will be in celebration over what I project to be a close win, and not a heartbreaking loss. Conditions will favor the stronger ground game. Rain itself shouldn’t affect the air attack with grip but I project a slick track keeping the sharp cuts and pinpoint routes to a minimum. We need a big game out of the big uglies up front. Let Spiller and Davis run through some big holes with open field straight ahead. The speed and power will take over in the secondary at that point and things should be good. I recommend not leaving things on the foot of the kicking game either. Footing won’t be good in the center of the field late in the day so punching it in and getting the job done inside the red zone (or from downfield) will be key. Watch for the fat man on the other sideline to put on a coaching show in the second half. I would like to say we jump out early and cruise but I foresee this game being very reminiscent of FSU last year, requiring a big run play or two late in the game to secure a Tiger victory. Much closer than need be but with a little help from VT, it puts us right back in the race in the Atlantic and that much closer to not being in the Champs Sports/Car Care/Emerald Nut/Humanitarian Bowl carousel.

NOTE: Sorry about the light saber, not much time on my hands right now. Did what I could. Clem.

Modified Gnome weather map in the continuation: Read the rest of this entry »

The weather gnome is on pseudo-strike until the team shows a modicum of desire to kick someone’s ass up and down the field.
It will be about 80 by the half and sunny all day. Gametime is NOON for those that didn’t get the memo. For those rolling in early, expect a little dampness and some clouds this (Friday) evening. Central Michigan sucks this year, as the coach that brought them out of Directional Michigan Bottom 10 status the past season or so is now resurrecting Cincy. Sadly, highlights will probably be the floats on my field. Hopefully more than three will be worth a damn this year because I’m gonna be pissed if they dug a bunch of holes to put pure crap on display.

Oh, and no light saber for you!

Though we are officially in the Fall season the weekend weather in Raleigh won’t feel like it. Moderate temps and occasional showers for those rolling in or living in the RTP are for Friday. AM showers are expected but should be out of the area by kick off. Hope those going to tailgate have a tent. Temps are supposed to jump to the mid to upper 80’s that afternoon. Expect Carter Finley to feel a bit like a sauna for most of the afternoon. Remember, this game is on TV, so you’ll be in the stadium for a bit longer than the past two home games. If you are staying in the area through Sunday, expect a hot one. Highs will be back to the summer time 90’s. Note – Gnome weather forecasts are guaranteed, even on the road. We travel for a reason.
On the field, expect Spiller and Davis to scorch the Pack D. This should keep their ends from putting too much pressure on Harper who stays cool as a cucumber. Should their D keep our boys in check, watch for this game to be a low scoring grudge match with our revamped FG squad pulling at the W. Score guestimate using what’s under the pointy hat. Tigers 31- Pack 20 . Gut feeling Tigers 17 – Pack 13 padded with a late Tiger field goal.

Here it is folks, your weekly football weather forecast. Light-saber sold separately.
Wel begin to trend towards what we typically expect during the grid iron season, with Saturday being the warmest of the three days anyone heading to Tiger Town will experience. It’s still going to be hot. Projected high around 85 but it may not be until late in the afternoon. However, due to the overnight and early morning showers that have been projected, it could be a steam bath. We may get a good dose of “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” At least we won’t be wilting under the sun with temps in the mid 90′s in the tailgates and pushing 100+ in the stadium. When the sun pops though, be sure to have that sunscreen out, especially if your plans include pre and post game fun. The days may be getting a little shorter but the flaming ball in the sky will still leave you with quite sunglass and farmer tan line.
Look for the Paladins to get knocked off their horse early and often. It should be another great game for Harper and back field tandem to build stats. At the same time, expect to get another dose of Korn to keep the heat on Furman and hope for a better performance from the late game D.
Weather on Friday and Sunday should be about the same with highs around 80 and a decent chance of rain (Rain, what is rain?) on Friday. It should be great overall weather in God’s Country for man and gnome alike. Hopefully so as we celebrate eldest gnome’s two hundred and 30th birthday. Happy Birthday Clem!