It’s been a hell of a strange week-before-kickoff this year, and to be honest, it’s been difficult to get as fired up as usual here at the ole Bender household.

Gustav may not have turned out to be "the mother of all storms" (thankfully) but it sure was (and is) the mother of all distractions.

Visiting evacuees, nonstop WDSU hurricane coverage (thanks DirecTV), the GOP convention, a total lack of Sportstalk this week on WWL and Times-Picayune print coverage, all on top of what was already a busy week to begin with, have put quite the kibbosh on the crescendo of excitement and general-purpose mojo typical of the week before kickoff, even for an expat such as myself whose Gus-based ass pain has been comparatively negligible.