Well it’s down to the big one for the SEC. The SEC Championship Game and I know it will all be over when you read this, but right now I’m getting ready to go to Atlanta.

And with this being basically a No. 1 vs. No. 2 game, we should set some records for viewer numbers. It will be huge for the SEC too. I’m thinking there will be a lot to tell so we’ll get into it next week.

Thanksgiving weekend and this year’s double-header didn’t go from one end of the SEC to the other like last year’s but it was enjoyable. The games weren’t anything good for TV but it really doesn’t matter when you have a job to do with great friends.

Plus having my oldest, Phillip, on the sidelines with me for the second week in a row was a real treat too. He even got to speak with Archie Manning before the game.

This year’s State – Ole Miss game, the Egg Bowl, was the last one for Raycom Sports network after seventeen years with the SEC.

They started the 11:30 a.m. games which became a staple of the SEC. With the huge TV contracts with CBS and ESPN starting next season there will be very few, if any, regional broadcasts of SEC football games anymore.

But it was really special to get to work their last with some long time friends of mine. I’m sure we’ll still hear from some and the rest of the crew next season in some of the games.

I didn’t leave the stadium with the crew as usual after the Egg Bowl and stayed and changed at the Indoor Practice Facility. Then Phillip and I went by the TV trucks and brought my good friend, Executive Producer Rob Reichley, his wife, Dave Archer and several of the production staff over to the family tents for some post-game refreshments and toasts. Then it was time for me to head on over to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl the next day.

I will say this game was somewhat interesting for the first half and the only other really good thing was the rain held off to just an occasional heavy mist.

The Iron Bowl is always a brutal affair with such a high intensity level causing some very hard hits throughout the game in spite of the score.

While there is a lot of dislike between Ole Miss and Mississippi State fans, there is a real hatred between most of the Auburn and Alabama faithful. Another reason to love what I get to do so much. I have twelve favorite teams and don’t have to worry about all the other.