White Out @ MSU

Now that's a lot of fans dressed in white! Rainy morning on the way to campus.

On little sleep, we went to Starkville this morning for the MSU/LSU game and man what an awesome game to watch. It rained the whole way there just buckets and buckets. Luckily, where our seats are, we remained dry and it eventually stopped rain.

Solid Vegas Gold

In our guest bedroom for at least six months or better there is a box filled with Vegas Gold Jerseys. I was sworn to secrecy and this was to be a surprise for the Tigers before the Weir game.

Just before game time Friday, Paul and the other coaches presented the players with the jerseys and they were so shocked and excited. The came out of our ratty field house with a sense of pride. I don't know if anyone else noticed but I did.

We may have lost the game 48-16 but they fought hard and competed well.

Just a note -- As Weir's team left the field they were chanting "We're going to get messed up." I am proud to say that our team did not.

How much cookie dough does it take to feed a football team?

I decided last night that I would mix together three batches of chocolate chip cookies at one time.
171 Cookies later -- I still had dough left. I hope the boys enjoy them! They get cookies or something another on home games.

If you notice in the background, I have Paul's cough syrup and a calculator to figure out how to triple my recipe. Paul went to School Nurse Cynthia Dean and was tested for walking pneumonia but thankfully he just has an acute sinus infection. He's much better.

The Blind Side

Last night I was watching the much anticipated season premiere for Grey's Anatomy and during a commercial break, I saw the preview for "The Blind Side" – the story of Ole Miss and Baltimore Raven offensive tackle Micheal Oher. At first I didn't catch that the film was about him but I soon remembered about the first time I heard of "Big Mike." A couple from Pontotoc traveled to Ole Miss to watch a football game and began talking to a couple. The couple said they were watching their son, Micheal Oher. The Tuohys adopted Micheal and took him from have no home and no education to graduating high school and college, into the NFL and most importantly to have a family. It's an inspiring story even if the element of football was removed. There is a YouTube link on the right side for the movie trailer and a little about the book.

What day is it? Game Day.

When you take that field today, you've got to lay that heart on the line, men. From the souls of your feet, with every ounce of blood you've got in your body, lay it on the line until the final whistle blows. And if you do that, if you do that, we cannot lose.

–Matthew McConaughey as Coach Jack Lengyel in "We are Marshall"

That always gives me chills when I watch the movie.

I am sure the Ethel Tigers will be getting a motivational speech tonight before they play Weir. Weir is always a big game to the Tigers – We always want to beat them and have a time or two (So, I've been told). I am sure the Lions will be out for Tiger blood tonight because their former coach, Jim Wood, is now suited up in Ethel Black and Gold.

Like the saying goes....

When it rains, it pours. We didn't have actual showers during the football game against South Leake but we did take our first division loss (32-6) and arrive back at the high school to find the field house had been broken into. Money and a cell phone were taken. Several other minor events, led to it being a horrible night that didn't get the coaches home until after 2 a.m. Saturday morning.

Great job EHS Lady Tigers

Just a shout out to the Lady Tiger Softball team for remaining undefeated in district play. CONGRATS GIRLS!

Happy Birthday Kelley!

A Big Happy Birthday to Senior Cheerleader Kelley Watkins! Hope you are having a great day!

It's Game Day!!!!

With all the rain, it's been a slow moving week. Only two days of outside practice with the rest being in the gym. Rescheduling of Jr. High game due to the rainy weather and it looks like it will continue tonight! I will be rocking my polka-dot rubber boots for sure! We will be traveling to Walnut Grove to face South Leake! Go TIGERS!

Happy Birthday to my hubby!

A victorious Friday night is always a good way to start your birthday and Paul's is today. I am cooking supper and his favorite cake tonight. He has already gotten all his birthday presents. We are staying in to watch MSU and Auburn.

That's right 2-0 in division

A win is a win -- no matter if it's by one point or 15! The Ethel Tigers overcame some bogus calls and kept on driving toward victory even when the ball game was tied 21 to 21. I am very proud they kept their heads up. We are now 2-0 in division and 2-1 on the season and headed to another division game against South Leake Friday. GO TIGERS!

Our Two QBs

Starting Senior QB Hunter Dempsey, who I have affectionately nicknamed "Dumb" (It's a long story), sprung his ankle in the second quarter during the home game against the Edinburg Eagles. He is going to have it check out in Starkville this morning. Hopefully, it's just a bad sprain. He was doing a great job when he sustained the injury! Pray he gets better and fast!!!

So that made Connor Hill's debut at QB come a little earlier and he did great! Calm, cool and collected. I have watched Connor and the rest of his freshman teammates grow up over the last two years. They are young men now and not little boys. Now that they are on the high school team it makes me a little sad but mostly excited!

Yummy Yummy

Since Paul's birthday is Saturday and since I bake for the team on home games, they are getting birthday festive cupcakes this afternoon. Last year, we had an open date on his birthday so we had a little party at the field house with a large cake from Sunflower and cokes.

Early to the beach + Watching MSU game @ sports bar = Everyone happy

We were on the beach by 9 on Saturday morning because Paul wanted to make sure we saw the season opener of the MSU Bulldogs vs. Jackson State Tigers. He quickly found a sports bar and grill that had over 50 flat screen tvs. There were small ones in the booths. GO DAWGS!

Coach Dees' new fan

Paul thinks it's really funny that Sadie Kate, who is 16 months, likes him better than she does me. Of course, if I was the one that fed her Fig Newtons, then she would like me better too! She's a cutie pie and she's a big people watcher.

Relaxing Weekend @ the beach!

We had a lot of fun at Gulf Shores this weekend and on Saturday afternoon the Wood family finally arrived -- Halea and Sadie Kate didn't have any more fever! However, the nice school nurse decided to write Paul and I a prescription for TamiFlu in case we began to feel bad. We are all in the clear!

There was plenty of time for going to the beach, shopping for Under Armour in Destin, more time on the beach, eating a little seafood and more shopping in Foley, Ala., before heading home on Labor Day.

People say the nicest things....

Went on a photo assignment this morning at Kosciusko Lower Elementary and had a very brief conversation with Principal Michelle Brown. She told me she knew two of Ethel players, Antwon McCain and Corey McBride. They participated in a summer work program where she was their supervisor. She talked about what good kids they are and how she could tell that Ethel's football program had been turned around. She said she was going to try and make a game when Kosy played away to see them play.

Ironically, I am suppose to be off work today and still managed to do some work and hear something about the football team!

Vacation but it's football season

We are headed to Gulf Shores after school tomorrow, courtesy of a bye week during this football season. The plan was Paul and I were going with Coach Wood, his wife Jenny, and children, Halea, Hayes and Sadie Kate. However, Halea and Sadie Kate have the flu. Hayes was a little disappointed because he was looking forward to the beach and a trip to the under armour outlet in Destin. He and his Dad are going to Mossy Oak Saturday to do some shopping instead. I hope the girls get better soon!!!!!

A little rough around the edges

Our very first 10 seniors in 07. A little rough around the edges but all so unique. I am proud to say that at least half of them are in college two years later. One works construction, one got a football scholarship, one wants to be a coach and one moved to Texas.

Paul came home from painting the field and told me this story in 2007.

The coaches and a few players were preparing to paint the field and Paul was getting out the Tiger Paw for the center of the field.

One player asked, "Coach what are you doing?"

He replied, "I'm painting the field. What does it look like?"

The player replied "We put that out at homecoming and when we play Weir."

So, Coach responded -- "This is our home and our field and I want it to look good."

And that's how having pride in being Tiger began. . . .