5. I spent the best five years of my life at Penn State, so I have an appreciation for dairy products, pasty women and smashmouth football.



6. I went to Towson for grad school, so I have an appreciation for hair gel, "Jersey Shore" and smashmouth binge-drinking.



7. At least 70 percent of my popular culture references come from the 1990s, so brace yourself for some N.K.O.T.B., "Legends of the Hidden Temple" and "Bio-Dome" allusions. Hell, there's two of them in my blog banner.



8. I'm the guy constantly checking on his four or five fantasy football teams in the press box at Ravens games. I think I have a problem. (Shameless plug alert: Look for my faux football column in August.)