I doubt half of the student population in Tuscaloosa, Alabama could tell me who won the Men's Basketball National Championship last Monday night. Nor could they tell me who they played, or how many national championships they've accumulated, or for heaven's sake tell me at least one player who has committed to be a part of that tradition. That tradition is three states away and worships the hardwood. Here, the majority worship the grid-iron. And when I say worship, I mean it in the most non sac-religous way possible. But on the other hand, in these parts, football IS a religion.

That's why student ticket packages for the 2009 Crimson Tide Football Season sold out in nearly 30 minutes. That's why ESPN is televising "A-Day" and the events surrounding tomorrow's spring football game. Not even a game really, Coach Saban gets to stop play and march on the field and do his ever-so-haunting hazing to his team right there in front of everyone. Everyone = 94,000 people + the ones turned away from the gates as has been since Saban's arrival to 'T-Town" + the drunk ones in Galletes and The Houndstooth watching from booze-filled bars + the blank amount of people who will actually watch from ESPN's live broadcast nation-wide.

For once and for all, the whole world can see the deep south's football at it's finest. Alabama, referred to as "Dixie's Football Pride", will showcase their Spring training accomplishments and reveal the much talked about, very anticipated, answer to the question: "Who is going to be our Quarterback?" Star Jackson or Greg McElroy? Trust me, this has been a bigger question than McCain or Obama? In Alabama, since the graduation of former quarterback John Parker Wilson, this question remains first, closely followed by "Do I really need to do that homework assignment or should I go to the grand opening of 'The Booth'? The legendary bar re-opened it's doors 1 mile from where it used to adorn the corner of The Strip and Campus Way, just in time for the "A-Day" game's festive weekend.

Festive weekend, which to most students started Wednesday night and most definitely Thursday night when all went to check out the new-version of a bar's legacy. And tonight, students will fill into bars on The Strip paying overpriced cover charges just to sip a Yellow Hammer or a bourbon drink and take in the spring's only feeling of football season. Saturday, the boys from Alabama will kick off (playing one another obviously) at 2:00pm, but that's not to say that Bryant-Denny's gates don't open exactly at 11:00am - giving the loyal fans who have sold out hotel rooms and come to Tuscaloosa in normal RVing fashion, a good 3 hours of sulking in the sun, watching warm ups, and listening to The Million Dollar Band practice. Meanwhile, the "Walk of Fame" will bring crowds to Denny Chimes where last year's team captains - John Parker Wilson, Rashad Johnson, and Antoine Caldwell - will leave their lasting impression on the Tuscaloosa campus for generations and generations to admire by stamping their hand and cleat marks in the concrete foundation. A 7 on 7 game of former players will be admired by the typical 'Bama psycho-fan at noon, and at 1:55, five minutes before kickoff, all hell will break loose when Paul Bryant's voice speaks to the crowd. After the game is played, it will all be over. Until kick-off at the Georgia Dome against Virginia Tech at the end of August.

But need not forget, until we meet the Hokies for the season opener, most everyone in this town can recite the list of recruits that earned the No. 1 Recruiting class in the nation, they can rattle off statistics from the 1974 bowl game, and they'll forget anything other than Alabama football exists. I talk as if I'm not a part of 'they', 'them', and 'those guys'. I am - and I'll be in my sundress, Roll Tide buttons, and of course have my "shaker" (*that's pom-pom for the non-Alabama readers) in my hand that will tend to spazz every time the jumbo-tron shows clips of last year's perfect 12-0 regular season, and shows The Bear leaned upon the field goal post. Because that's what being a part of this school is all about........ acting like a total freak on a Saturday in April while prentending and wishing all too much that it were August and a game versus real opponents. But, "we're" happy enough just pretending, wishing, and hoping for now.

Especially for me, I'VE won a National Championship in last two weeks which was nothing pretend about it. So for now, I'm putting my Tar Heel obsession aside and enjoying the eerily similiar to Fall feelings that I'll feel tomorrow. The 2 or 3 'Denny Dogs' I'll shove down my throat, and the Yellowhammer to wash it down.

Tune in to ESPN tomorrow.... you may see some pretty interesting stuff! Because it's a whole different world in Bamaland!!

As always, Go Heels and ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Mommy, why is the sky blue?"
"Because God is a Tar Heel fan Baily, you know that."


Today is the day. The sky is blue. Carolina blue in fact. Why? Mama always said life is like a box of chocolates... just kidding, but seriously, Mama always said because God was a Carolina fan. I believer her now more than ever, because like I've annoyingly repeated in my previous posts, he sure has aligned the stars that way. Not only is the sky blue, but there's more....

In 2005, we lost in the ACC Tournament semi-finals. I also went to Key West that year, and Carolina took home the NCAA Championship Trophy from St. Louis, Missouri. People spit in the Mississippi River, as they had in 1993 and 1982 Championship years as to play their part in the Carolina superstituous tradition. We went through turmoil with Raymond Felton sitting out because of playing in an unsanctioned summer league, and poor little Rashad McCants had the flu at the most inconvenient time - the Tobacco Road Rivalry game. Hansbroughs sat through games on the injured list, and Ty Lawson has a faulty toe. Even more astonishing is the fact that Lawson was just awarded the Cousy Award in which Felton earned the same honors in 2005. Carolina beat Michigan State in the Final Four in 2005 to advance to the title game, and here we meet again, Mr. Izzo. But it hasn't been too long Tommy Boy, we met at Ford Field back in December for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, remember?

If the stars weren't aligned before, and they were slightly out of order, then right now those stars are as straight as the rafters that hold our already FIVE National Championship banners who anxiously await the arrival of their sixth.

So we all know about our semi-final tournament loss to Florida State, we all know where I sucked down raw oysters and slurped banana daiquiris on the beach last month, and Ty Lawson most deservingly follows the footsteps of Raymond Felton.

I'm talking, those stars are so stick and straight aligned that they may just stay that way and the weirdo astrologists of the world can name a whole new constellation. In which, every horoscope would read: Today you will win and accomplish greatness that adds to an already accomplished and great tradition, and at the end of today you will constantly sing the basketball lover's favorite song - "One Shining Moment."

Finally putting my superstition aside, I honestly think with the talent, depth, coaching, tradition, history, experience, freshness, and well, what doesn't Carolina have? That we need no new constellation, the star's alignment doesn't mean anything, and I've never been one to read a horoscope.

It's the truth that backs up my prediction that Carolina brings another one home to Chapel Hill tonight: 18 Final Fours, most tournament wins in history, a dynasty, and sending Michigan State back home from the same place five months ago.

My point this even is that in a matter of hours I, along with all my fellow Tar Heel faithful, will get to experience one of the greatest feelings of all time. It's my love, my passion, my heart that pumps Carolina blue blood, my pride and my glory, and my faith. They will all be exuberated in the highest fashion when I get to experience for the third time in my life (1993 and 2005 so far) the ultimate feeling of victory and prestige: winning the big dance.

Because without that feeling and without basketball, March wouldn't be mad. A Cinderella Story would just be a fairy tale. String music would just be part of a band. And pageantry would just be beauty queens and catwalks.

So this is it. It ends here for Psycho-T's college career, and I trust that he's leaving it ALL on the court tonight. He's already one of the all-time greatest players in Carolina history, but tonight on Ford Field, I believe he'll become one of the all-time greatest leaders. It's his last game in a white and blue #50 jersey. After tonight, it'll be blood-stain free amongst the jerseys of past greats, so no matter what the outcome of tonight is, we can all consider ourselves lucky for witnessing the testimonies of Roy Williams and his players that they portray each night on the hardwood.

As always, GO HEELS & Roll Tide!

P.S. I hope somewhere in Detroit, Michigan are two crazy middle-aged women in Ram's Head hats cheering on the Heels. For then, my superstition would amount to everything.