This past weekend of college football was outstanding and featured some very exciting games. It was badly needed after the previous weekend had some abysmal match-ups. It’s crazy to think the season is already over a quarter of the way finished. How does this happen so quickly? I can’t take it. It’s another reminder for us to appreciate the college football season for the short time of year we’ve got it. Today’s Top 3 Tuesdays post looks at some of the best from this past weekend.

1. Georgia vs. LSU
As a UGA fan, I’m thrilled the Dawgs came out on the winning side of what was the game of the year in college football thus far. The two quarterbacks, Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray, battled back-and-forth in an incredible shootout that saw both teams torch the opposing secondaries. For the casual observer looking for an entertaining game, you can’t beat what LSU and Georgia did between the hedges this past Saturday.

2. Lane Kiffin Getting Fired
I’m typically indifferent toward USC football. I put it in the category of people constantly talking about New York or L.A. professional teams. USC gets attention because it’s in a major media market, regardless of whether the team is good or not. That said, I loved hearing that Lane Kiffin got fired in the middle of the night when the team was returning from a loss to Arizona State. Considering the way Kiffin tried to sneak away from his job at Tennessee, it was an appropriate way for his coaching tenure to end at his “dream job.”

3. Stanford
Stanford played Washington State in one of the later games on Saturday night, so I’m guessing many people on the East Coast didn’t stay up to watch the Cardinal. If you didn’t see them play, you missed an incredibly dominant performance. Stanford’s defense looked extremely physical and imposing and the offensive line completely controlled the line of scrimmage. Washington State isn’t a bad team, but Stanford was at an entirely different level. It was the most complete performance I’ve seen from any team this season.

As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, I’m not nearly as in to NFL football as I am college football. It seems to be a Southern thing that you identify with your college team more than a professional team, and it doesn’t help that I grew up in a region without a local NFL team. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t follow the NFL. There are certain players I love to watch and root for. Today’s Top 3 Tuesdays post looks at my three favorite NFL players.

1. Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona Cardinals
I’ve been a huge fan of Larry Fitzgerald since he was in college at Pittsburgh. I remember watching him destroy college secondaries and playing the game with class and respect. Despite dominating everyone else on the field, he always acts like a professional and never brings attention to himself. He’s conducted himself the same way off the field and seems to be a great role model for young players.

2. Peyton Manning - Denver Broncos
Watching Peyton Manning is unlike watching any other quarterback in football. His ability to manage an offense and dissect a defensive scheme is truly remarkable. He appears to have a better understanding of a defense than the actual defensive players on the field and he makes the game look incredibly easy. Manning is one of the few players in sports who literally makes everyone around him so much better.

3. Patrick Willis - San Francisco 49ers
Patrick Willis is a guy who’s had to work for everything in his career. He wasn’t highly recruited out of high school but worked to become the best linebacker in the country when he was at Ole Miss. Then, he worked to become one of the best linebackers in the NFL with the 49ers. I love watching guys who are fundamentally sound, and that’s a huge part of Willis’ game. He’s always in the right spot and he hardly ever makes mistakes.

Do you ever have a conversation with friends about which fast food restaurant has the best fries? Is it weird that I do? Is it weird that it happens on a rather frequent basis? This is one of those topics that gets responses across the board. One person might love fries from a particular place, like Wendy’s. Others would happily substitute a side salad instead of eating Wendy’s fries. Seriously? A salad? Thanks, Obama.

Today’s top three Tuesdays post looks at my favorite fast food fries. Vote for your favorite in the poll below. If you don’t see your favorite listed, leave your vote in the comments section!

Chick-fil-A - Waffle Fries
For being a company that’s known for Christian values, I’m not sure how Chick-fil-A can justify putting crack cocaine in their waffle fries. They’re addictive. And they can be dipped in a variety of things - ketchup, Chick-fil-A sauce, house dressing (true CFA fans know what I’m talking about), even vanilla ice cream! Don’t believe me? Try it. You’re welcome.

Checkers
Is Checkers even still around? I hope so. Based on their website, it appears they are. We don’t have a Checkers in Roanoke so it’s been a while since I’ve had them  but there were many nights in college when I’d make a midnight run to get a giant cup of Checkers’ fries. They’re extra crispy and seasoned and make for the perfect greasy, late-night snack.

Arby’s - Curly Fries
I hardly ever eat at Arby’s. I don’t have a ton of confidence in the Roanoke locations and I have no desire to eat anything remotely healthy when I go. A big part of that is because I know I’ll get the biggest possible order of curly fries any time I visit an Arby’s. The seasoning reminds me of the fries at Checkers, but they’re not quite as greasy while still having plenty of flavor and texture.