"My favorite college moment was my junior year," said Price. "We had a walk-on named Jason Cunningham. He walked-on my sophomore year. He would throw in inter-squad games and was out there eating up innings giving guys more looks and more at-bats in those type games. He didn't quit. He was not an SEC pitcher by any means. He is no longer playing baseball. Probably no scouts even talked to him.


"Jason was a guy that never gave up and got a chance to pitch in the SEC Tournament game against Mississippi State. He threw three innings for us. It was one of the first games he pitched with so much meaning. Jason went out and threw three zero's. I watched him come off that field and knew how much work he had put in. He never envisioned himself to be in that situation. That was probably my favorite moment in college."

Sugar, New Orleans, LA

Vanderbilt Commodores (24-10, SEC Champs) vs. No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks (27-6)

"There are times it's unhittable, just exploding, and really hard for hitters to lay off of," Johnson said. "It has late tilt, and he throws it with some hate. It looks like a fastball when it's right."

Guaranteed to be an upset: I think Kentucky has the nation's best roster, is the nation's best team and will win the national championship. Unless Anthony Davis' arms shrink before Selection Sunday, I'm picking the Wildcats to win it all. Write it down in blood. But John Calipari's team is going to lose Saturday night at Vanderbilt just like I watched Billy Donovan's second national championship team at Florida once lose at Vanderbilt. I don't know how it's going to happen or why, but it's going to happen. And then this Kentucky team is never going to lose again. You can write that down in blood too.

Will Kenny Boynton go back to shooting like John Jenkins -- which he did in non-conference play -- or Kenny Boynton -- which he's done for the entirety of the rest of his career.

You'll notice three teams in bold above. Indiana, Ohio State (to the delight of Bret Bielema) and Vanderbilt all find themselves on the "Recruiting Stock Improving" list and return a ton of starters in 2012. One can rather justifiably expect solid improvement from all three of them

What's good, coaches? I know you all won't be able to respond, but I'd like to say thanks for the opportunity and believing in me. There's no other coaching staff that I could say I'd rather send my talents to than you. I know you will bring the best out of me not only as a football player but as a student and a person. I just want to say thanks, and I can't wait to score a lot of touchdowns for you guys. I love you guys. You are all great. By the way, if you don't get anyone else's signature, you'll have mine. Anchor down.

-- Brian Freaking Kimbrow

So one thing we know for sure: The Tigers hired a guy who knows how to pull one out at the end. After this past season, isn't that a good thing?

Beyond that, it's perilous to say much about this stunning hire. For evidence, I take you to a message board called anchorofgold.com.

It's a gathering place for Vanderbilt fans. I went back to see what they were saying last December, after an anonymous Maryland assistant named James Franklin got the Commodores' coaching job.

@JStat7 Looks Like Were Liberty Bowl Bound...

"A lot of times people think it’s only about what we do. But we need to have people in the stadiums. We need to have people supporting the program. We’re fighting now in a situation of bowl picking, and I’ve been spending a lot of time with my staff this week trying to get different bowl people to understand the value of having Vanderbilt in their bowl. And one of the questions is, ‘Well, will a lot of people come?’ Those are all sort of things that need to be part of this equation. I can do a lot and Vanderbilt can do a lot, but I can’t come over to your house and pick you up and make you sit in the stands or make you go to one of the bowl sites. So we need the fans to join in and say, ‘OK.’