Field Gulls won Football Outsiders "favorite team-specific website or blog" and I credit it all to you. Thanks everyone for voting for this site and being just awesome readers, posters and community members. I can't express how much this means to me.

I don't know how this slipped my mind until now; I guess I've just been crazy busy, but I'm going to take the next 5 days off because, well, because I'm getting married tomorrow. I'll eventually add some photos in the comments thread, but my wife to be and me are keeping this decidedly low key. That is no ceremony, no tux, no gown.

I should be back to daily or near daily posting by Monday. Thanks everyone.

Today's Veterans Day, the date that marked the end of Word War 1. I figure the end of a great war is about as unambiguously good a thing as can be known, so let's rejoice. I'm an odd fellow, with odd ideas, odd ethics and odd politics, but I'm happy to be an American. I love American Culture, our music, our movies, our writers - our preoccupation with independence. On day's like today, I think about how lucky I am to be born here.

I have nothing to do today but blog about the Hawks, that means I'll be working on game previews and midseason recaps for the entire day leading up to the game. I don't have ESPN, so I'm going to have to find somewhere to watch the game tonight (That also means I won't be able to tape the game - if anyone out there could possibly get me copy of the game it would be much appreciated.) After the game is over I will again be chatting with Joe Gura from KSTW, hopefully this time it won't be called off after 15 minutes of silence.  (What's the old parable about the opening of Disneyland?)

Jeff Eager sent me this scouting tidbit after watching Stewart and the Ducks face USC last week.

After trying, I think unsuccessfully, to decode the NFL combine last year I'm taking a different tack to talent evaluation for the 2008 draft: Community Scouting. Not unlike what Tango Tiger does here. Right now I have two hangups, one, I don't know how to program, and, two, I don't know how to create a poll without programming it myself. That should all be resolved before next year. For now, I'm attempting a trial run for tonight's Oregon State/USC game. In the diary section I will create a series of polls each evaluating an ability of Yvenson Bernard on a simple 5 point scale (from very bad to very good). It would be a great help to me if everyone who has seen Bernard play, or will watch Bernard tonight, to vote. This is just a trial run, so don't worry about being perfectly accurate, just vote what you think. Hopefully, I will be able to set up something for the top 100 prospects or so and be able to create a database of fan scouting. We'll see how tonight goes and work from there.

Thanks to everyone who votes.

Reciprocity may be the origin of all society--I think I learned that in an anthropology class at some point. I'm talking Seahawks over at KSTW.com, I don't get KSTW but do get the Portland equivalent, something I know only as the CW. It carried the few Mariners games I got to see this season, so that was pretty cool. Anyway, I'm talking Hawks with Joe Gura today sometime around 11. That's good for me and the site and all he asked for in return was a little hyping on my part. So go check it out, one hand washes the other--boy, I feel unclean just typing that.

Update: And then there was nothing. Looks like I'm not ready for primeti--eh, 11am Wednesday morning. We might try this again sometime, until then, I'll get back to the business of the blog. Second half reflections up later this afternoon.

I know those four words rarely mean anything good, but that's not the case today. Actually, I just wanted to solicit readers' opinions about what they like, what they don't like and what they'd like to see on Field Gulls. I'm especially interested in hearing from individuals who have never posted before. I know some bloggers are very autocratic, and given the origins of blogging that's understandable, but I'm not that way. I'm interested in everyone's opinions.

On a slightly separate note, I think I've figured out a manageable schedule for posts. I've decided for the sake of readability and my own time constraints I'm placing a soft cap of 800 words on my posts. That also gives me extra time to edit my posts, something I never do enough. It's a soft cap, so if something absolutely demands a longer post...

I would like to get back to doing Podcasts. To anyone who listened to my preseason Podcasts, what did you think?

Also I don't want this to turn into a kvetch fest. I don't mind complaints, but try and not rag on me or anyone else--I promise you I know my shortcomings better than most.

Dear Gulls,

This is one of those administrative announcements that really doesn't portend any gigantic changes to your lives but nonetheless feels like something I should say to the general public just to clear my own head. But if any of you happen to play violin you may wanna dust the sucker off and play some solo thing, just for dramatic effect:

When I started Field Gulls back in 1939 I had visions of creating a community for Seahawks fans, and hopefully their significant others, where we could all crack jokes while poring over statistics (or pouring our martinis). The blog has surpassed even those lofty expectations, as we not only have become a great community (which I can especially say now that I've met many of you face to face), but to my surprise and astonishment a first-rate source of news, commentary, analysis and jokes about Jerramy Stevens' open bar tabs. In our first year we garnered a whole lot of acclaim -- especially from other NFL blogs in the Sports Blog Nation, a fact which makes me prouder than you'd ever believe.

Field Gulls also attracted the writing talents of John Morgan in the last gasps of the 2006 season. He has blessed us as much as any non-Pope could, with smart writing, pinpoint analysis, and more skill at game breakdowns than the Mariner bullpen against the Angels in a crucial 3-game series.

In the meantime, lots and lots of things have been happening in my non-cheerleading life. I turned the big 4-0 in March. I got another kid coming up right around Super Bowl XLII (I still got it, suckas!). I'm about to begin a new and challenging full-time job with lots of travel, and the last few months have seen the emergence of another blog which has also garnered some acclaim (and which has also ground to a halt lately, but that will change).

I have felt for awhile that for Field Gulls to continue in the manner in which I want it, I should relinquish some control, and let someone who's earned the right make the most out of this site for the sake of his portfolio.

You're probably way ahead of me, so let's let Taima out of the birdcage: As of now, I'm handing over primary administrative and editorial control of this blog to Coach Owens Mr. Morgan.

I'll still be writing for this blog from time to time, and handling much of the admin work for the 2007 season. I will still retain the all-important title of "Founder." But to keep Field Gulls a living, breathing entity, I think Morgan deserves to run the show -- he's got the energy and obviously the talent, and since I'm proud of having worked for you guys over the last year, I think you deserve a host that will keep pumping blood into the 12th Man with all the gusto of a crisp, clean can of Jones Soda. (I know -- that's a mixed metaphor. See how far I've fallen??)

Most of what I write will be generalized essays and occasional news updates. John will handle the meat. (Settle down, Senator Craig -- not that meat.) Plus, for at least awhile, I'll be tweaking most of the sidebar content. John and I will also be splitting administrative decisions for a bit. The rest of our agreement comprises private corporate details which are stricly between me, John, and Mr. Trump.

I feel you should all be apprised of this subtle behind-the-scenes shift because you all doth rocketh, and it's been my utmost pleasure to serve you. (Settle down, Senator Craig -- not that service.) I don't think you'll notice much change, but I did want to let you know there's been a change, that it's definitely for the best. Field Gulls has been immensely rewarding for me personally, and now I believe it's in the best position to continue rewarding the Seahawks Nation for years, nay, decades, to come.

Anyway, there you go. Let the Morgan era begin. Thank you all for being so kind to me and this site.

I still get the executive parking space.

Yrs,
Coach Hargrove Shrug

The idea of doing community projections was brought up a few months back, February I believe. With little else happening in Seahawks land, I thought we could finalize how we are going to do this over the next couple of days and start them early next week.

Here's how I think we should do it, but I am interested in everyone's ideas.

For skill positions we can do the normal counting stats plus PAR, VOA. Thus:

Shaun Alexander

1250 Rushing Yards
11 TDs
15 Rec
75 Reception Yards
2 Fumbles
4.4 Yard Per Carry

7.3% VOA
23.4 PAR

That's not meant to be a projection, just an example.

Then for the offensive line we could use:

Total Rushing Yards
Totals Sacks Allowed
Adjusted Line Yards
Power Success
Adjusted Sack Rate

and also
Injuries

I have a pretty good idea of how I want to do this, but before I unveil that, I want to see some discussion. Is there any stat we absolutely should include? How about one we should completely disregard (like tackles for DB, perhaps)?

We're one year old in human years. In blog years, that equals thirty, and we can fast-track the application process for the AARP.

Thank all of you for the support and the flowers.

A'ight, Gullers, if I ain't writin' too much for this blasted place lately (that will change, however), I'm at least doin' some killer social organizin'.

A local joint has been put on notice that we'd like to invade their establishment with some hardcore, not-to-be-F'd-with internet blogger types for the Field Gulls One-Year Anniversary Party.

After much rooting around to determine when it would fit my schedule, I've decided the best time to do this would be either the weekend of June 16-17, or June 23-24. June 16 is the actual one-year anniversary of FG, but the following weekend gives us more time to plan. Plus June 17 is Father's Day, so the next weekend would be free of any paternal conflicts you (or I) might have.

I've talked with the venue, and they'd like a heads-up, even if this is just an informal gathering. Personally I feel the best time for this would be a Sunday afternoon, maybe around 1 to 5 or something close. And for obvious reasons I strongly prefer June 24.

BTW, it's a bar. Sorry, fans of temperance. And you know who you are.

ANYWAY, so what I need from you, in semi-quick order (let's say Thursday or Friday) is: Can you get to the Fremont/Queen Anne area of Seattle on June 17 or 24? And, secondly, will you? I'd like to give them an approximate head count. Otherwise it should be very informal.

Let me know and I'll make the appropriate accommodations. Everyone is welcome, as long as you're over 21 or are willing to spend the entire time in the restaurant, away from our bad influence.

You can let me know in the comments. Let's bring football back to the middle of June where it belongs!

Side note to Josh Brown, aka Dreamboat: Come by and you can receive your official Field Gull Player of the Year certificate, which will be printed out on my old Ink Jet lovingly crafted by Bavarian calligraphers.