Joe Buck "All Carolina"

Twenty one years now the Carolina Panthers has been the pro football team of the Carolina's .  They have won 166 regular season games while losing 169.  They have won the NFL South division three straight years and for the second time in their history they are the champions of the NFC.  This was their ninth all time playoff win while losing only only six.  The  Panthers are heading to their second Super Bowl after a   49-15 Victory over The Arizona Cardinals.

The game started as if the Panthers were going to repeat last Sunday's 31-0 halftime lead as they had a 17-0 lead at the end of the first.  The Cardinals cut the lead to ten before Cam and  Company took a 24-7 halftime lead.  The Panther D forced four first half turnovers.

However the Panthers were determined that this would not be a last Sunday repeat getting shutout in the second half.  The Panthers put ten more on the board and shutout the Cardinals.  First minute of fourth quarter the Cards scored and that was enough motivation to spark Carolina to score again.  Then the defense put the final touches on this Carolina stomping.

Cam was 19-28 for 335 yards and enjoyed the last five minutes celebrating on the sidelines.    The Panthers rushed for an additional 157 yards

Waiting in two weeks in the Super Bowl  is Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos who survive a two point conversion and beat the the New England Patiots 20-18.  The Denver D all season long carried the offense.

Tom Brady passed for 310 yards but it took 56 tosses to get that on only 27 completions.  Brady' s only touchdown pass came on their final drive to get them to 18 while he was picked twice in the second quarter.  The Pats ran for only 44 yards.

Manning threw for only 172 yards but two were for touchdowns on 17-32 passing.  Denver rushed for 99 yards for the game.  The Pats out gained the Bronc's 354 to 271 but lose.

The Tar Heels were in Blacksburg this afternoon playing in the daylight in order For  fans who filled  Cassell Coliseum be on the highway before dark and refreezing  roads.  Tech has proven to be better than anyone thought in preseason and had the Heels sweating but in the end the Tar Heels go to 7-0 with 75-70 win over Virginia Tech.

The NC Wesleyan women play Monday night tonight at 5:30.  This is the game that was scheduled Saturday against William Peace  but was moved because of the weather.

Hunkered Down

I have reached the age that I no longer cheer when the first flake falls with the anticipation that there will be no school.  Many of us punch a clock where we work and once we go home early the pay Check will be smaller the next time pay day arrives.

Having worked a half a day Friday like many I made a last minute run to the grocery store for the third time since Wednesday.  Once home I found my recliner where I have been since.  Whenever we have special weather Like a hurricane or in this case ice and snow I enjoy perched in my recliner to watch how life is all around us.

I am thankful that part of the modern world we can sit in one spot and have communications that can let me see what is happening all over the state.  If it is snowing in Durham  the storm is heading east then it is not stopping here anytime soon.  Have you ever looked at a map and realized that even though Highway 64 heads to Raleigh, Raleigh is southeast of Rocky Mount Durham is due west of Rocky Mount.

Around eight pm Friday night we were shook when one of the big limbs from the tree in our front yard came crashing down on our stoop and a few feet of our roof.  It is a rather large limb  but it snapped off from the base of the tree and split which it did not break Cleanly off.  We could not however go out our front door.We are thankful for neighbors who helped me drag it off the house Saturday.  We will be needing a chain saw on Monday to cut the limb down and get it cut up to find out if we have roof damage still cover with ice/snow.

Thank goodness for a good supply of movies once you tire of seeing the same scene for a break.  We either watched Chanel five or Say yes to the dress.  I can only take so much of that.  Funny thing about snow coverage.  Basketball and football coverage seem to be the biggest questions when people call their favorite station.  Is the Duke/State game still on?

Today we have Carolina basketball and two football games to watch and church is cancelled due to icy parking lots and sidewalks.  Even though I no longer like having to get out in ice or drive on the slick roads I do enjoy the change.  We get up go to work, when we get home most nights  have some place to be until bedtime.  I love the change of the routine.  About two days is all I can stand of this  sit around look out the window.  Sure will be glad to get back in the routine!