The turkey has been stuffed, football is in its prime, Christmas is just around the corner and the Titans can suck my eggnog. For anyone who knows me, reads me, disputes me, or is just entertained by my writing, well, you know my heart lies with the sport of football; I love it, study it and respect it. I have spoken of the finer things in life in my articles and simply define them as the 5 F’s, in this order: Faith, Family, Football, Food and Friends. With the Christmas holiday just around the corner, it is the time of year that the 5 F’s, well, they are alive and well in my home.

So, last month’s issue and story on predicting the Titans’ remaining season was a bust. Hey, I’m not perfect. The Titans gave the Jacksonville Jags their first victory of the season—the Jags’ first victory since Nov. 25 of last season, when their opponent was also the Titans. “Come on, man!”

The Titans also managed to go 0-2 versus the Colts this season, and with a new owner and disgruntled fans, the future looks bleak for the Titans’ current staff. That’s enough Titans talk for now; let’s talk about something a little more positive, like Coach Stockstill and the MTSU football squad. The Blue Raiders finished the month of November with a perfect record, and on Senior Night finished their season with a 8-4 record for the second year in a row. Big Blue will have to wait ’til after the Conference USA title game to know their future, but with a solid season, they have become bowl-eligible for the third time in the past four years.

I love seeing MTSU moving in the right direction, they have a coach who turned down more money, and decided to stay in the ‘Boro, and players and fans who believe in his system. What will it take to make Murfreesboro MTSU football-crazy? We have the stadium, the alumni, a large student body and plenty of history. I am very happy for the program, but I have attended some games with a lot of empty seats. This season was a step in the right direction, but I want to see growth every year; I want to see Murfreesboro crazy for MTSU football! I know I am far from a marketing genius, but imagine Murfreesboro being Saturday-crazy, MTSU apparel flying off the shelves, and fans who don’t take no crap. Freedom! That’s all I have to say about that; now, let’s make fun of some Alabama fans who still have sore butts.

Auburn’s Chris Davis takes a failed field goal attempt to the house for an incredible walk-off TD.

I love SEC football, I love the fact that no one can argue its power, no one can argue its talent, and it is just a fact that it is the toughest conference in college football. Alabama has been riding its high horse for way too long, and finally someone has shot and killed that horse: the Auburn Tigers. On a 109-yard field goal return, a two-time defending national champion had its three-peat hopes destroyed, on a play we rarely see. Auburn will play Missouri in the SEC championship game, and that should be a reminder to ‘Bama fans, greatness doesn’t last forever. I will say this just in case: Alabama’s hopes were essentially destroyed at Auburn, but not killed. Alabama would need a few favorites to lose their respective conference championships, to maybe sneak into the National Title game, but it is very improbable. In 2011 ‘Bama did move from No. 3 to No. 2 when Oklahoma State was stunned at Iowa State, so you never know. There is one thing I know, Alabama lost a heartbreaker that should have gone into overtime, and that loss is on the shoulders of Nick Saban. I respect what Alabama has done over the years, but someone always slays the giant, and I am rooting for the demise of this program, at least for a few years! Maybe it makes me feel better making fun of Alabama blowing such a big game, because I remind myself of how many jabs I have taken from ‘Bama fans over the years. Being a true Volunteer fan, I have every right to smile; it’s a rivalry from way back, and Tennessee has been, well, not good.

And the crowd goes nuts

Let the best teams play for a national title, that’s all I ask for! The SEC champion vs. Florida State, that’s the game that fans deserve. It would be a dandy!

So why do the Titans suck right now? A word that has been floating around the Titans locker room is finish; Well, it is sad for me to say, but the Titans are finished. Jake “the Snake” Locker getting injured was the start to this tumbleweed, topped off with a lack of passion at the head coach position. I realized the Titans had taken a step back after the Thursday Night match-up versus the Colts. It was fresh off a miserable loss to the Jags and then you blow away a win to the Colts at home. The Colts have won 11 of the last 12 and 5 straight against the Titans . . . yuck! Someone has to fix this. I love the play of Justin Hunter, and the receivers. My man Delanie Walker has been killing people, taking helmets to the face . . . he is a beast. Chris Johnson has even been running hard, but Fitzy Patrick, as I call him, has grit, but not enough. If Jake stays healthy, the sky’s the limit, but Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the future, we all know that. Hopefully injury-prone Locker can make a comeback, but the Titans should look to adding another piece to the board at the quarterback position for next season.

Sorry Titans fans, if that wasn’t what you wanted to hear. I am a true Code Blue-bleeding fan who reports my thoughts on the team. I know you see what I see on Sundays, a bunch of woulda, coulda, shoulda stuff that makes you yell at the television. I hope they can turn it around, but with some tough losses and unhappy fans, change is a must.

I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas. Enjoy your family and friends’ company; there is nothing better than watching a game with family and friends. This is the Z-Train, out the station, choo-choo!