I’m typing most of this while traveling up I-24 somewhere in Illinois on my way to the College World Series. If you aren’t aware, the Auburn Tigers will appear after going to Corvallis and building a dam against the Oregon State Beavers’ hitting. Those guys will be seeing Blake Burkhalter in their nightmares for some time.

It’s been some time since the last edition of my ramblings, so I thought, “Hey, self! You’re in the passenger seat for the next several hours. So why don’t you crank out a column instead of playing that stupid game on your iPhone, you lazy bum?” Yeah, my brain is sometimes harsh to me. Maybe too many hard knocks to the head.

So, since I have nothing to do, here are some random thoughts as I make my way to Nebraska’s largest city.

- It will be fun to see the national media get to know Sonny DiChiara over the next few days. In my opinion, he’s one of the best stories of the college baseball season. You couldn’t find a better kid for it to happen to, either.

- Jason Caldwell and I are driving up to Omaha together, and I’m distraught as he wouldn’t stop for us to visit the National Quilt Museum. I’m sorry, but when near Paducah, Ky., you have to see quilts worthy of being in the frigging national museum. Maybe on the way back. Fingers crossed.

- Butch Thompson talking about DiChiara sometimes getting distracted at first base due to talking to each runner was pretty humorous. At least I chuckled.

- This is only my third-ever trip to the state of Nebraska, but for some reason, I have never eaten corn while there. I swear if the corn isn’t good, I will demand the University of Nebraska change its name from Cornhuskers and remove all mentions of corn. Pressure is on you extremely flat state.

- We aren’t sure who will take the mound to start Saturday’s game against Ole Miss, but my money is on Joseph Gonzalez for two reasons: he’s the ace, and the Rebels didn’t face him earlier this season. That’s a good combination right there.

- I watched my friends’ two dogs on Monday night, and they decided to sleep in the same bed as me. I started to think that maybe I should get a puppy, but that thought quickly faded when one of them woke me up at 5:30 a.m., licking my face and alerting me she needed to go to the restroom. I don’t need that every morning.

- The temperature for the first game on Monday is supposed to be 103º, which isn’t factoring in the heat index. That’s pretty hot, which brings me to the question: why do people live in Nebraska? You get the worst of both summer and winter.

- I just thought of something: Notre Dame might have more nuns at the ballpark. If a group of them sing the national anthem, only then will I get suspicious and start to think I'm in a live taping of Sister Act 3: Oma-hallelujah!

- Four SEC West teams making up half of the CWS field is impressive, and I bet it is killing every anti-SEC person. I wonder if Danny Kanell pays attention to college baseball? Actually, I don’t care.

- How nice will it be to not deal with the drunk uncle that is Tennessee fans or see Tony Vitello throw a hissy fit during the next 10 days? I don’t care what Rolaids commercials say; that spells relief.

- That bunt by Brody Moore for the fourth run on Monday night? Chef’s kiss. He’s also become the de facto spokesperson for the team, which he does well.

- I’m delighted the team chose a jersey from the original Bad News Bears, not the blasphemy that was the remake with Billy Bob Thornton. That’s almost as bad as having Johnny Depp take the role of Willy Wonka from Gene Wilder, but it’s close.

- Let’s all hope that the production value by ESPN is much better after a complete disaster during the Super Regional. Did they have actual beavers operating the cameras? I’m starting to wonder.

- We stopped and stayed in Columbia, Mo., on Wednesday night and I still can't believe it is a "SEC town" after a decade of the Tigers being in the conference.

- The sendoff for the team on Wednesday afternoon was terrific as you could hear Helmet Guy leading the cheers even during the media’s time with Thompson. It’s a shame he can’t make the trip.

- I wonder how many guys are like Tim Hudson, and both played in the College World Series and was a coach on a team that played in it? I need my crack research team on this.

- The Tigers received a commitment from Cooper McMurray, a first baseman who previously played for Kansas. But here is what’s important: He’s 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds and sort of looks like Sonny. Auburn can only hope he swings the bat just as well.

- Should I make the short drive to Lincoln to see how Scott Frost is doing? Nebraska football is like Indiana basketball: over.

- I’m just going to assume that if Auburn gets far in the tournament, we shall see an appearance from Bruce Pearl and Bryan Harsin at the stadium. If both show up shirtless, Auburn by 50 runs.

- Finally, if anyone is in Omaha and wants to meet up for a drink one day, send me a message. On both Friday and Sunday, I will likely be watching the U.S. Open while obviously working my butt off for you amazing subscribers simultaneously.