Funny how winning games and going to bowls makes me more talkative. My wife is complaining so I have to write it out here.

Here’s an interesting little tid bit that will make you Memphis Tigers fans smile. The rest of the regional fans not so much. Thanks to my good friend JH, I found out that University of Memphis is one of seven schools to see their baseball team play in the NCAA baseball regionals; basketball team play in the NCAA mens basketball regionals; and have their football team play in a bowl game. Mississippi can’t say it. The folks in knoxville can’t say that. In fact, no one else in the country can say it except Ohio State, Texas A&M, Texas, UCLA, Arkansas, Louisville and we little ole Tigers. Hahahahahahahaha

I really like the new New Orleans Bowl shirts Champion Awards put out. Their recent use of a pumped up Tiger looks good to me. He was on the football season schedule shirt and now he’s blowing a sax on the bowl shirt. I think he’s a much better alternative logo idea than the blob.

Maybe I’m enjoying this a little too much but every time I look at this season’s schedule and see 25-9 over UAB, I just smile really big. I think I’m enjoying that more than beating Southern Miss twice in a row down there.

Speaking of Southern Miss, they may be the dumbest people in all of college football. Jeff Bower is a great college football coach. His success at Southern is second to none in our conference and one of the most consistent in the country. Bower’s record was 119-82-1 while he was the head man in Hattiesburg. The Golden Eagles are currently on an 11-consecutive bowl game streak and won 4 C-USA championships. He has turned down higher paying and more prestigious jobs to remain loyal to his alma mater. It is a sad day in college football when winning isn’t good enough. Bower will end up with another job and soon if he so chooses. My guess is he will take one of the open C-USA jobs and make Southern Miss regret letting him go. My only hope is that the folks in Oxford aren’t smart enough to hire him.

I always get excited about the basketball team this time of year. Under Cal they have gotten so much better between December 1st and January 31st every year. And as good as this team is look out come February. There is a reason many expect them to play the first Monday in April.

Shawn Taggart had his coming out party in the APSU game. His ability to hit that little 4-8 foot jumper combined with his all out hustle impressed me the other night. You gotta love a big man that dives on the floor for a loose ball.

I am going to do the New Orleans Hustle next month. Me and my guys will leave Thursday morning so we can have a little fun on Bourbon Street Thursday night. I will sleep in Friday morning. Go to the pep rally and game Friday night. When the clock hits zeros we’ll do what we do. Then we’ll head back to Memphis in what is sure to be a convoy a couple of miles long. And you’ll find us in the FEF come Saturday morning to watch the Tiger and Hoyas. Now that’s going to be some big fun and surely will produce stories that will be told for decades.

I will wrap this babbling up with one word of encouragement. If you are a Tigers fan go to the bowl. Even if you’ve got tickets to the Tigers basketball game the next day you won’t be alone driving back from The Big Easy. For those with no possible way to go then purchase a ticket through the school (678-2331 or 1-888-867-UofM) and tell them to pass it along to a student. The school makes its money by selling their allotment and then some. So get over there and buy the ticket even if you can’t go so that a student can or you just support the school.

I swear I’ll get to the rest of the wrap-ups soon.