Oh, what a Holy year it has been!

Don't get excited, Mom. I haven't become an evangellical christian just yet.

While my family and I have been incredibly blessed this past year, this blog entry is devoted to the 2006 - 2007 triumphs of LSU and the Saints.

I began this season with the hopes of LSU making a run for the National Title, and in the beginning, it seemed my hopes may be realized. But after the referrees gave the game to the home team Auburn Tigers, and the Florida Gators gave us an undeniable butt-whippin', I had to redifine my definition of a great season. In the end, I decided that the Tigers really did me proud, based on three points:

1. One of our two losses was to the eventual National Champions.

2. In a BCS game, on national t.v., in front of an exclusive audience, we got on Notre Dame like a hobo on a ham sandwich.

3. We finished third in the national polls, greatly boosting our recruiting for next year. (More importantly, we finished in front of those dorks from that wanna-be conference out west...USC!)

I have been reading up on the off season literature about LSU. In spite of losing Jimbo Fisher, I have great expectations for the 2007 season. Crowton, Fishers replacement, has a similar style and a cockiness that will fit in well at LSU. Also, the return of Dorsey and the addition of some big-ass kid from West Monroe has our front four on defense looking scary. Also, we just got confirmation on some hot quarterback from Texas. I read an article that said the AP pollsters early placement of USC at no. 1 over LSU may have been premature. Anyway, there's only one way to determine who is the better team, and that is to have LSU and USC meet at some point between September and January. I thought it might happen this year. So did 44,000 Rose Bowl ticket holders from Louisiana. (Wouldn't that have been a sight for 44,000 beer swilling , crwfish eatin', LSU fans to stream into the "Grandaddy of them all" . Those pompous USC dorks wouldn't know what hit 'em!) Anyway, there's always next year!

And how 'bout dem Saints?!

I have to admit, I didn't pay much attention to the Saints early in the season. Probably because I was still pissed at Benson for trying to move away from New Orleans. Anyway, I started to notice the difference in attitude of the players and coaches as they appeared on local news broadcasts. They really seemed to take an active role in the rebuild of the city. Now I am not so naive to assume that this could not be ordered by Benson in an effort to save his reputation in New Orleans. (Kind of an "If we can't leave 'em, join 'em" play.) But no matter what you feel about the owner, the players and coaches are very endearing. Drew Brees bought a house in New Orleans, very unusual for a professional player these days. In fact, Reggie Bush surprised me with how much he has embraced the city. I never saw that coming from a guy who spent his college days at THAT university.

But at the end of this year, I wonder why the Saints find themselves playing for an NFC championship. Some say it is because the city has embraced the Saints as a symbol of the city's rebuild and hope for a better day. Some say it is simply because of Sean Payton's upheaval of the past losing attitude and demands that anyone playing for the Saints will be resposible for their mistakes, learn from them, and build a better team.

Me....I think it is because last year they hit rock bottom so hard that the city, the coaches, the players and even Benson had had enough. Someone else who had enough was a good friend of mine and Saints uberfan, Bailey Hankins.

I can remember when Bailey lived behind us when I was a kid. On gameday, my dad and I would go to Bailey's house to watch the game. My dad and Bailey would scream and throw things at the t.v. and I would steal sips of their beers when they weren't looking. Because the Saints victories were so few and far between, their occurence called for great celebration. And when they lost, Bailey would always find the good in the game. He would say, "You know, they were ahead at the half" or "They did show some promise in a few of their running plays."

It always amazed me at how loyal Bailey could be when the 'Aints were so horrible. That's why last year, I was so surprised to hear Bailey say that he was considering not watching the Saints play anymore. He said, "I'm getting too old, and it's just too hard on my heart." Well Bailey, I think somehow that statement from such a longtime, loyal fan is the reason for their success this year. I think your words, through some unknown cosmic miracle, were heard by the football gods. They must have looked through their cosmic database and determined that, in fact, you had suffered long enough. That your failure in loyalty was so serious that it threatened the fabric of our universe. So, thank you, Bailey for stating those words. Someone listened.

No matter what the reason for the 3-13 'Aints transforming themselves into the NFC title contender "Bless You Boys", and no matter what the outcome in Chicago, it has been an amazing year. I have to say, though, that Angie is justifiably ecstatic that the season is almost over. She has not seen me much since September.