With Midnight Madness just hours away I am reminded of the people who irritate me the most. They are the people who are Memphis basketball fans and football fans of other schools. College sports are supposed to be about supporting your school. That means you support all sports not just one. I’m even sure the SEC folks will agree with me on this one. Pick a school and stay with it. Don’t be a bandwagoner.

The stadium issue won’t be dying anytime soon. The fact of the matter is that it is the best thing for the University of Memphis. It may not be the best thing for the City of Memphis, the Liberty Bowl or the Southern Heritage Classic but it is the best thing for the University. For those of you who have said that the team doesn’t deserve it I quote someone who was one of those mentioned in the CA article earlier this week, “This isn’t about the past. It isn’t about the present. It is about the future.” We must do the things that are best for the future of Tigers athletics. Even Britton Banowsky, who I have an extreme dislike for, said something along the lines of if you’re not moving forward then you’re falling behind. That is cliché but oh so true. So let’s move forward.

Did you see where WKNO is moving to Cordova? Why do I bring this up? Because the school could tear down those buildings and expand its athletic complex. A new indoor practice facility would look really good where WKNO sits presently. R.C., give us some sort of plan for this to present to the Tigers supporters. I think most would be willing to help pay for things like this if you presented a plan. No plan normally means no money. It is like your kids asking for money. A parent is more likely to give it if the kid can tell them what they want it for. This is the biggest overall fundraising problem, the failure to present plans for needed improvements. Am I the only one who thinks they assume nobody will give for these projects so the simply don’t develop plans for them? Or are they just not interested in even trying?

Tomorrow night is the last night home game of the season. And it appears as if it is going to be a tad bit cool. Now we’re talking some good football weather.

Maybe I’m being too picky here but…..C-USA would you mind putting a little time into the C-USA basketball tournament commercial? They are using the same video footage and script from the last 3 tournaments. Oh well, so much for looking big time.

The Tigers have a very good shot at a bowl game again this year. There isn’t a team on the remaining schedule that strikes fear into me. Southern Miss has showed the propensity to turn the ball over and their defense is not up to their standards. East Carolina is going to be tough but playing this game at home can only help. Tulane, Rice, SMU and UAB are games the Tigers might even be favored to win. I believe in this so much that I have already talked to wife about budgeting for a bowl trip.

The Tigers being picked to win C-USA was the least surprising pre-season pick in any conference at any time in history of college sports.

I’ll preface this by saying I’m not an expert (insert joke here) of any kind. But as a fan I’d like to see a regular Tigers backfield of Will Hudgens and T.J. Pitts with the occasional Greg Hinds at FB. It is my belief that this would give the Tigers the best chance to win.

Finally, something you might not have known. The Tigers return ALL members of the defensive line corps next season. I really think that’s a very big positive. I am going to go out on a limb here but next season I think the Tigers will be one of the top 20 defenses in the country.