The Super Bowl

The Steelers and the Packers playing in the Super Bowl next weekend have more history than a lot of people know.  Both teams have rich traditions and have been two of the best teams when it comes to consistency game in and game out.  When it comes to players, there have been countless pro bowlers from both teams as well as MVP's.  The Packers are three time Super Bowl champions having won the first two Super Bowl's to have been played.  On the other hand, the Steelers are six time Super Bowl champions.  So when it comes down to it, both the Packers and the Steelers are no strangers to being in big games and coming out the winner.  Another good thing to watch dealing with this game is how many veterans each team has.  Both quarterbacks have been in the NFL for many years and therefor have the experience to win in big games.  Even though Aaron Rogers hasn't been a starter for that long, he still learned plenty as a backup to the great Brett Favre who has finally retired after about three years of saying he would.  I am going for the Packers in this game basically because I haven't really liked the Steelers in recent years but thats just me.  I really don't even follow either of the teams, but if I had to pick it would be the Packers.  Either way it's still going to be a great game to watch because of the players and the history that the two teams have.

The Growing Conference USA

If you asked me 5 years ago if Conference USA would have any teams in basketball in the Associated Press of the ESPN top 25, I would call you crazy.  When the polls came out this year, Memphis was in the top 15 and then once the Tigers slipped out of the rankings, University of Central Florida came into the mix.  With an undefeated record, UCF went as high in the rankings as the number 18th team in the country.  Even though other teams in the CUSA may not be in the top 25, several teams are certainly getting better.  Teams such as Houston, Tulsa, and UAB have made it to the NCAA tournament in the past couple of years and have won a couple of games.
This past year Houston snapped the Tigers 4 year reign as CUSA champions and thus earned themselves an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.  5 years ago, the Memphis Tigers were the only team sports announcers talked about in Conference USA, if they even mentioned the conference at all.  The past couple of years, those very teams have beaten the Tigers and earned themselves a name in the league that is growing very fast.  I expect there to be at least 3 teams representing CUSA in the NCAA tournament at the end of the year with Memphis being one of them of course.

Coach Josh Pastner

We all know Coach Josh Pastner is no John Calipari these days, but a lot can be said about his coaching tactics.  Calipari was one of those coaches that was extremely active during games and really seemed to know how to get his point across to his players.  He would scream in their faces if they messed up, which is why many agree made him so successful.  Coach Pastner on the other hand doesn't curse whatsoever and rarely screams directly to his players.  Many people believe that the reason why the Tigers have plummeted out of the rankings is because of the coaching my Pastner.  He is the kind of guy that high fives his players and feels that the way to establish that certain chemistry among his players is to be nice to them even when they screw something up.
I feel as if the reason why the Tigers haven't performed up to their preseason potential can be pointed towards Pastner, but has a lot to do with the players themselves.  If you recall in the losses we have had thus this far, our key players haven't "showed up" when needed.  Will Barton and Joe Jackson seem to get caught up in the moment and don't  perform like we all know they can.  Of course the fact that they are freshmen and shouldn't have to carry the team, but we have seen them have phenomenal games.  The Tigers need that upperclassman leadership from both Wesley Witherspoon and Will Coleman in order to make a decent run in the NCAA tournament at the end of the year.  I think if anything they should be the ones blamed for the Tigers poor start to the 2011 season.  So in the end, yes Coach Pastner has weird tactics towards his coaching, but shouldn't be blamed for everything.  I think the certain people who say he is a "pitiful coach" are the very ones who just watch the highlights and the Win or Loss column.

Memphis Basketball

University of Memphis sports have been what has interested me for basically my whole life.  With both my father and mother having attended Memphis, it was a given that I would grow up to love the Tigers.  Time goes by when I find myself thinking about how many home games I have missed since I was old enough to really understand what was going on.  Basketball in particular has been my main focus solely because of how good they have been over the past four years.  I was there when the Tigers were in the Pyramid downtown and was at the FedEx Forum for their home opener.
One of my fondest memories since I've been a Tigers fan was most definitely the entire 2007-08 season.  Watching Derrick Rose as a freshman lead our team to a number one ranking was huge for the city of Memphis.  That team had both leadership as well as talent in which they used to get them all the way to the National Championship.  I do not speak of that game against Kansas so that is all I will say about the final.  I was privileged enough to have gotten to go to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games against Michigan State and Texas.  When I say we "beat" them, that would be an understatement because we literally demolished both of those teams.  Being there to see the Tigers beat Texas in their own state was truly special.  Even though this season has not quite matched up to that special season, I still support them just as much and think we'll do pretty well in the NCAA tournament at the end of the season.