I’m so very often reminded that I’m an unrealistic fan. I expect the Tigers to win every game. I think we’ve got a shot at running the table no matter the sport. I have an unconditional blind faith in my Tigers and other teams I like. Why? Because I leave realism for the real things in life. I will get to my thoughts on the Tigers but I owe her this small space. So bear with me.

I haven’t written a blog in over a week because the realism of life stepped in and let me know what’s important. Last Thursday morning, my mother-in-law passed away. She had battled lung cancer for 5 months. She was about to have to start fighting it in her bones. I think she thought she had fought enough and the fight was over. This was realism at its worse. This woman who essentially hated me for 20 years spent the last five trying to tell me how much she really loved me. I took her to every doctor appointment, every chemotherapy treatment and other medically related test. I became her taxi driver, and more importantly, she became my second mother.

She managed her last words to me last Wednesday. Her blood pressure had gone to zeros about 11:00 a.m. but she rebounded once again. I walked into the room and kidded with her that she shouldn’t scare us like that. I laughed and she managed a grin. I knew I had to get my wife and sister-in-law into the room so I kissed her and said I love you. As I reached for the door she beckoned me back saying she needed another kiss. She said I deserved it. Another I love you and I walked out the door. Those were the last words her and I ever exchanged. She became unable to speak within an hour and was gone the next morning. I know she’s better off but it damn sure hurts. Goodbye Norma, you will always be a big part of me.

The Tigers are important to me. I pour my heart and soul into the Memphis athletic programs but real life is where I put the realistic viewpoints. I’ll keep thinking the Tigers have a high cieling. They are welcome reliefs at times in life. Two and a half years ago I was at every C-USA tournament game while my mother was in ICU in her last days. My family encouraged me to use that 4 hours to ease my mind. The Tigers were a comfort in a difficult time. The helped me last Tuesday night when they pulled it out against USC.

I was really happy to see Taggart’s efforts in NYC. He was the difference in my opinion. He and Dorsey are going to be the reason the Tigers make a big run in the NCAA tournament.

8 days until I’m on the road to New Orleans. I am looking forward to loading up and making it another experience that I’ll never forget. 4 guys in a car doing things we shouldn’t do is what life is all about. We’ll go down on Thursday morning and return Friday night so we can see the Tigers take on the Hoyas Saturday.

I was glad to see another QB commit to the Tigers but…..I do think it only will make the battle for the starting job more intense. I think Matt Malouf and Will Hudgens are very capable of handling the job. I am a firm believer in the fact that competition creates better results in the long run.

Hats off to USC for that defense they threw at the Tigers. It was a good game plan, not good enough though. The final minutes of that game showed me why the Tigers will be just fine come tournament time. Good teams figure out how to win games on their bad nights. The Tigers did just that.

The Troy folks who talked about the New Orleans Bowl not being worth of their team now look kind of stupid don’t they.

Howard Schellenberger should be one of the most hated man in the hearts of Tigers fans. He was at the forefront of the push not to create a football conference in the early 80’s when he as at Louisville. That would have put our programs ahead of where they would have been. Speaking of Louisville, they’re sitting at home during the bowl season and that just puts a smile on my face.

I’m not normally in the prediction business but if the Tigers get through the OOC schedule unblemished then look for them to duplicate what the Patriots will accomplish.

I’m out of here.