LSU Tigers Vs Alabama Crimson Tide: Bama’s Chase For The SEC Title

The PAC 12 and ACC were thrown into a state of chaos after the upset victories over Clemson, Louisville and Washington in Week Six.  LSU beat Florida in the Swamp 17-16 and the following week made history in Tiger Stadium coming back from a 20-0 deficit to stun Auburn 27-23.

Here’s a picture of the Auburn Tiger dressed as a Troy Trojan, ruthlessly mocking LSU’s shocking loss to Troy on September 30th:

The Auburn mascot dressed up as the Troy Trojan, then they blew a 20-0 lead pic.twitter.com/55GtUiSRf6

— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) October 15, 2017

You never, ever poke an LSU Tiger.  The genius who came up with that little idea has no doubt been cast into the Nine Circles of Hell. The Bayou Bengals travel to T-Town on Saturday after their bye week.  Like two gladiators waging battle in ancient Rome’s Coliseum, the heart and courage of these two teams is inestimable.  No number of stats, predictions or series history can determine the outcome of the game.  These warriors will leave their blood and sweat on the field of play.  They will show us their heart and courage. Usually my football posts are full of smack talk about the opponent Bama will be facing that week.  No can do this week.  You see, my friend and SEC sister Diogenes’ Middle Finger, is a dyed-in-the-wool LSU fan. One team is going to lose Saturday.  One of us will be left brokenhearted.  I will hope for the best and wish Diogenes good luck against my beloved boys from Tuscaloosa.  May the best team win. ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Living Your Life As A Champion

“An atheist is a man who watches a Notre Dame-Southern Methodist University game and doesn't care who wins.” ― President Dwight D. Eisenhower

In a sport where rivalry games serve as the lifeblood of college football fans, nobody does bitterness and contentious showdowns quite like the Southeastern Conference.  Grudge matches abound in college football:  Army-Navy, Alabama-Auburn, Michigan-Ohio State, Oklahoma-Texas, USC-Notre Dame, Georgia-Florida.

For the past ten seasons Alabama and LSU have carved their own niche in iconic college football history.

How did LSU overshadow Auburn as the biggest game on Alabama’s schedule?  Nick Saban left the LSU football program for the NFL after guiding the Tigers to the 2003 BCS National Championship against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.  After his stint with the Miami Dolphins, Saban returned to the college ranks at none other than SEC West rival Alabama.  The Tiger Nation has never forgotten the pain he caused.

I wish I loved anything as much as I hate Nick Saban #LSUvsBAMA

— Duty/ Doody (@EmboG) November 8, 2015

I have been a Bama fan since I was knee-high to a grasshopper; going all the way back to the Paul “Bear” Bryant era.  If I couldn’t be a Bama fan I would be an LSU fan.  Through adversity, triumph and defeat the LSU faithful are rabid, devoted fans.  I admire their heart.

A tradition that began three years ago between friend and SEC sister Diogenes’ Middle Finger involves a friendly wager on the slugfest between our two beloved schools.  For two years we made sizeable contributions to Wounded Warrior Project.  Last year we directed our donations to Shriners Hospitals for Children.  We have agreed to do so again this year.

It hurts when you lose to your most-hated rival.  Diogenes and I know one of us will face losing the ballgame on Saturday. Somehow, giving from the heart to a noble cause like Shriners Hospitals, we know we’ve helped make these children champions in their own right.

It’s all too easy to lose track of what matters in this world.  What could be better than helping a precious child become all God meant for him to be?  I hope you’ll join us in making a donation of whatever amount you can afford to Shriners Hospitals for Children.  The holiday season is right around the corner.  Your gift will help provide the highest quality care to children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries and other special healthcare needs. 

For almost 100 years, the Shriners Childrens Hospitals have helped more than 1.3 million children under the age of 18 and through the generosity of its donors turns patients back into kids.

Dear God, let Your grace and love fall on them like gentle breezes and give them inner strength and peace and patience for the journey ahead.

Please click here to make a donation.  Thank you.

NOTE:  According to Charity Navigator, Shriners Hospitals for Children has an Overall Score and Rating of 93.58.  Their financial rating is 91.44 and accounting and transparency is 97.00.  All ratings are four stars.

For charities performing similar types of work, Shriners ranks highest over Interfaith Dental Clinic (87.17), Turner House Children’s Clinic (91.70), Doctors Care (90.67) and Mission of Mercy (93.62).

Alabama Crimson Tide Vs LSU Tigers

The weather guys in Alabama are forecasting 100% precipitation, 86% humidity and winds up to 11 MPH for the battle at Bryant-Denny Stadium.  Big hairy deal.  Remember the Rain Bowl against the Dawgs of Jawja?  A little rain and mud ain’t nothin’.

Kickoff is 8:00 PM ET.  The game will air on CBS.

No. 7 Alabama is going to put eleven warriors on the field against the No. 4 boys from Baton Rouge and no matter what the stats or series history says about the game, it’s the heart and courage, sweat and blood of the players that will determine the final outcome.  Both teams will leave everything they have on the field.

Ordinarily, I would be trash-talkin’ the opponent.  This is no ordinary game.  You see, my blogging sister Diogenes, is a dyed-in-wool LSU fan and a dear friend.  We made a deal, a wager if you will, a couple of years back that the loser would contribute to Wounded Warrior Project.  Somehow doing something wonderful for our brave service members reduces the sting of a loss.

Saturday night one war horse will bask in the glory of the victory; the other will languish in disappointment.

Diogenes, I love ya gurl, but I gotta say:

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

If you’d like to join us in supporting our wounded warriors, click here to give a one-time donation or here if you’d like to participate in the WWP Advanced Guard monthly giving program.

Is It Saturday Yet?

“An atheist is a man who watches a Notre Dame—Southern Methodist University game and doesn't care who wins.” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower

On Saturday two of the strongest teams in college football are set to collide.  LSU is undefeated.  Alabama has lost one game.  The game between these two powerhouses will determine who’s in for the College Football Playoffs.  November is wild, cruel and exhilarating.  November is about everything.

The Playoff Selection Committee unveiled its first rankings last night.  The top six teams in order of their rankings are:  Clemson, LSU, Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame and Baylor.

I don’t give a hoot about the "quality wins" controversy that surrounds the rankings. LSU or Alabama has represented the West Division in the SEC Championship Game in nine of the last 15 seasons.

Blogger sister Diogenes and I have waited a whole year for Saturday’s game.  To my mind you’d have a hard time finding two more ardent fans of college football or more devoted followers of the rivalry between our two schools.  She bleeds purple and gold and I crimson and white.

This post is not about a “chick fight”.  Instead it’s about the mutual respect we have for one another.  No matter how the game ends we have decided once again to make a charitable contribution to Wounded Warrior Project to honor our military service members.

On June 6, 1984 President Ronald Reagan stood on the spot where Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy to throw off the yoke of Nazi tyranny at Pointe du Hoc.

“Forty summers have passed since the battle that you fought here. You were young the day you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet, you risked everything here. Why? Why did you do it? What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow we know the answer. It was faith and belief; it was loyalty and love.”

I, like you, have seen the public service announcements that have aired for Wounded Warrior Project.  Each story is compelling.  There is one; however, that evokes the greatest degree of compassion.  It is the story of Dennis.  Army National Guard Sgt. Dennis Cabanting spends his days fighting battle-related Multiple Sclerosis, PTSD and traumatic brain injury.  This returning hero’s palsy-like tremors almost turned him into a tragic figure.  Through the assistance of Wounded Warrior Project’s Independence Program Dennis is learning to live life on his own terms.

From Iraq and Afghanistan our brave warriors are coming home wounded.  Some with wounds you can see, some with wounds you can’t see. Wounded Warrior Project was created to support our brave men and women coming off the battlefield.

Next Wednesday is Veterans Day.  What better way to honor their service than by giving whatever you can afford to Wounded Warrior Project?  Click here if you can give a one-time donation or here if you’d like to participate in the WWP Advanced Guard monthly giving program  On behalf of Diogenes, we thank you.  Please help carry these warriors the rest of the way home.