(Originally posted on Bleacher Report October 8th, 2010):
I moved to Asheville, North Carolina, following my husband
and his current job. From Monday through
Friday I am a soccer mom. Saturday
morning, around 8 o'clock, I transform into a Tiger.
I wake up and begin my morning by planning a menu for a day
filled with college football and then I get dressed so I can head to the store,
fulfilling the needs of that menu.
Most of the women I know diet for the holiday season, but
not me. I prepare for football season,
by working out and half-starving myself all spring and summer.
I look to my closet for Purple & Gold. T-shirts, shorts, or sweatshirts, right down
to my shoes, I am covered in LSU gear.
It's always a different combination, but what never wavers are the plush
tiger ears headband that I don before heading out.
The first few trips out of the house the only people who
really noticed were about three feet tall.
Now, I can't go anywhere without heated discussions about LSU. The first week of this season we played
against North Carolina, and I thought for sure there would be a fight in the
checkout lane.
I am proud to be a Tiger fan and will not waver, no matter
how embarrassing to my spouse or son, from wearing my ears. Just last weekend, while my husband parked
the car, I spent the extra time arguing with a Tennessee Volunteer in the vegetable
section.
Jordan Jefferson is young and lightly seasoned, but I argue
heatedly about our defense and the ability to hold our opponents. I have fought with people from the drive-thru
to emails from Afghanistan and so far have been left with my head held high.
There will only be one Mike the Tiger, so my stuffed tiger I
insist on seating in front of the big screen, Mickey T, is always present. I have vehemently fought friends from
thinking they may have this coveted seat right up front in the living
room. He is a member of the family in my
eyes and will keep his place.
I have volunteered on a committee with the head of the
Florida Gators local fan club chapter, but little did they know at the time, I
was sizing up the competition. How
dedicated a fan was I looking at?
This Saturday's game will be another great one. Although we will not be playing in Death
Valley, Florida is coming off of a loss with Alabama and we are coming from a
near loss against Tennessee. Both teams
are closely ranked, but I believe a tiger can take down a gator any day!
Win or lose, if you look around hard enough, you can spot a
Tiger in the foothills of the Smokies every Saturday morning during college
football. Come Sunday, I turn into a
Saint and Monday I'll be just plain old Mom again.
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