Your Fourth of July Open Thread

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. -- Preamble to the Declaration of Independence

We really don't have anything planned today, because, well, we can't drink and shoot off fireworks here in the open thread.

BUT IT WOULD BE SO AWESOME IF WE COULD BECAUSE NOITHING SAYS 'MERICA LIKE ALCOHOL AND FIREWORKS WHOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Except in Minnesota, because fireworks are illegal there. Except sparklers. Woo.

Consider this an open thread, and the rules of the road we posted a couple days ago apply, except you can talk about whatever you'd like. To give you some ideas, we've got links below. It's been an exciting couple of days here in out little corner of the Internet, so let's recap:

In honor of the 4th, Graham asked what the 4th of July means to us.

We had some new members join, so we thought it would be nice to give everyone a reminder about what our ground rules are, and how to navigate about OTE and SB Nation.

Rutgers week blew the hell up in a big and great way, and was sort of interrupted with the midweek holiday, but we'll be back with a Friday hate piece. Because you can't spell Big Ten without h-a-t-e. What's that? You can? Shaddup.

Elsewhere across the Big Ten within the nation:

The Champaign Room...the Illinois blog...is on board with Illinois not having nice things. This time, it's the football uniforms.

The Crimson Quarry talks about the highest rated CB in the state committing to the Hoosiers. Kevin WIlson, doin' work, and still not takin' shit from anyone.

Land Grant Holy Land is all over the latest story of Urban Meyer apparently being the devil incarnate. For, you know, reporting a recruiting violation. Or maybe not.

The folks over at Hammer and Rails are counting down to the start of the Darrell Hazell era. I would be, too. Great hire for that program and this conference.

Black Shoe Diaries tells us how Bill O'Brien is doing on the recruiting trail. I'd say pretty good, all things considered.

I don't know that I want to live in a world where a Wolverine writer defends an Ohio State coach regarding the Aaron Hernandez situation. But Zach Travis at Maize 'n Brew wrote a phenomenal piece. Read it.

The Only Colors talks some basketball and Keith Appling.

If TOC can talk basketball in July, The Daily Gopher can sure as hell discuss hockey.

Sippin' on Purple tries to make the case that someday soon, their attendance might not suck.

Finally, Corn Nation asks why coaches give their kids scholarships.

Finally, some video entertainment for your Fourth of July:

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more -- John Adams, in a letter to his wife, on the signing of the Declaration of Independence

Have a safe and happy 4th of July. See you tomorrow and we'll be back to business as usual.