#SocialStudies V 2.1

September 13, 2012

By Andi Osters
Second Half social media guru

Welcome back, video mongers! A new school year has begun, and with it #SocialStudies 2.0.

Ready for your weekly dose of clips to peep? I hope so. 

A quick refresher on #SocialStudies – I give you a selection of video clips I spotted in my never-ending quest to find the end of the Internet (which I’m convinced involves a cat video of some sort). These videos will typically highlight the amazing, dazzling, funny or weird side of sports – some high school, some college, some pro… and some which defy categorization.

And sometimes, we’ll simply show you a clip that is interesting and/or unique enough to be worth sharing.

We welcome your submissions and ideas for this weekly feature, so feel free to email us a link or raw footage. Seriously: we love videos. That said, let’s get to the meat & potatoes.

1. Give him a hand (he needs only one)

Here’s a high school football player from South Carolina who apparently was born with mattress springs attached to his legs instead of feet.  The slo-mo replay of this interception (courtesy of PlayOn! Sports) is simply jaw-dropping.


2. Oh, Buddy ...

If Blake Griffin was at a gymnasium and I also happened to be in that very same gymnasium, I would absolutely tell my dignity to have a seat and allow that monster NBA dunk-master slam one over my head.  I’d probably react to the experience just like this guy did, too.


3. Swing, swing a song

And now, for something completely un-sporty. Well, almost. There’s definitely activity happening in this brief short about an art installation in Montreal. I’m always fascinated by the intersection of musical creation and physical motion. Enjoy this giant human-powered instrument.


4. Summer School

And file this last one under In-Case-You-Missed-It-Over-The-Summer – here’s a recap of our Student Advisory Council’s 2nd Annual camp retreat to Mystic Lake in June.  The 16-member council enjoyed time on the high ropes course, team building activities, bonfires and strategizing an action plan for the 2012-13 school year. 


That's enough for this school year's first lesson. See something over the weekend that caught your eye? Snag something at a pep assembly that we should see? Upload it to YouTube and send it on over.

You might just see it on Second Half’s #SocialStudies.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @MHSAA.

#SocialStudies v11.0

April 26, 2012

April is coming to a close and we're catapulting into the final full month of the 2012 sports year.

Let's dive right into a few video bits -- shall we?

1.Spring in his step

Spring college football doesn't involve a lot of technical tackling or hard-hitting, but that doesn't make this feat any less impressive.  When was the last time you saw a ball carrier run full tilt into a jump-stop and then front-flip over a defender? And stick the dismount ... errrrr "landing' ... well enough to keep gaining yards?

Prior to watching this clip from Lincoln (Mo.) University, my answer was never.


2. GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!

It's a bit out-of-season, but I had to share this clip between Saint-John and Chicoutimi (Quebec Junior Hockey League) -- won in OT by a player who needs some recognition for being, in my recollection, the first to celebrate a goal in such fashion.

The French announcers are a bit obnoxious, but trust me here: The Frozen Worm this kid busts out after the goal is epic. 


3. The agony of ...

Earlier this month, SB Nation online voters were tasked with selecting the best animated sports GIF of All-Time -- and it should be noted that a clip from the mitten made the Finals.

Wolverine fans, even you have to appreciate the sheer awesomeness of this mortified punter face. In his defense, I'm pretty sure this is exactly how I would look in the Big House if I was in his cleats. (Click on photo for link to clip.)


4. One more look at two of Michigan's finest

To finish off this week: we bring you the recently-compiled highlights from the 2011-12 Team Wrestling Finals in Battle Creek this winter. Clips include a close-up of Taylor Massa's championship win for St. Johns in Division 2 and Student Advisory Council member Kevin Beazley's pin in the Division 1 Final for Detroit Catholic Central.


As always, shoot us your favorite internet gems anytime -- you might just see them on #SocialStudies.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @MHSAA.