Bye bye, bye week. Hello, the second half of the season. (Okay, I'm ignoring the fact that Auburn has another bye week, but just go with it.)

It was a fun one, right? I know I enjoyed mine. I enjoyed it so much that, on Monday, I ordered a pizza, ate it and was promptly in bed by 7:30 p.m. It was glorious. I also knew I had an 11-day road trip coming up to do my duty of covering the Tigers for you, our beloved subscribers and readers. It's the first day of that trip, so I am refreshed and ready to go.

This will not be my first time in Columbia, Missouri, but it will be my first time at Faurot Field, where they claim that the tradition of homecoming started. Baylor fans are arguing that it began in Waco. I don't care. I just hope Mizzou alum Pat Forde, every Auburn fan's favorite writer, is there.

Let's get into some ramblings.

- Parking at ATL is currently a nightmare, so much so that both terminals were packed along with ATL West. To their credit, they are building more parking structures.Alsoto their credit? I got through security in five minutes. Not too shabby.

- I was unable to attend Tipoff at Toomer's, but the fact there were more than 10,000 people there shows where this program stands right now and how excited fans are about this year's squad. That dunk by Jahki Howard was incredible.Reminds me of myself back in the day.

- As part of my road trip, being the good son that I am, I am heading to my hometown in Northeastern Kentucky to visit my parents for three days. I think I've said this before, but my designated bedroom in their new house is in the basement with no windows. Waking me up will be difficult to do.

- While visiting my parents, I volunteered to speak to a journalism class at my high school alma mater, Greenup County High School. Those kids will either fall in love withjournalism,or they will be scared to death. Either way, I expect them to stand on their desk and declare me their captain, much like in Dead Poets Society.

- Clips of the show Suits constantly show up on my TikTok feed, and while I have only watched the pilot and thought it was very good, does the rest of the show just deal with the fact that the one guy didn't go to Harvard Law School? It seems like every clip is like, "We heard you didn't go to Harvard." These are the best legal minds in America? They can't do a little research and prove it? You know what? I don't want to know.

- Ed Hochuli started the trend, but it's funny now that every single NFL referee looks like they spend three hours a day in the gym and get their umpire shirts a size too small to prove it. They can't reach Hochuli status, though.

- Watching the Yankees-Guardians series brought tears to my eyes, seeing Anthony Rizzo back at Progressive Field, where he helped bring the Chicago Cubs its first World Series in 108 years. Was that one of the best days of my life? Yes. Definitely top three. The ending to that game last night was legendary as well. I don't know how the Yankees rebound.

- Tony Bennett suddenly retiring from his job as the head coach of Virginia basketball was shocking, but who cares? UVA double-dribbled.

- We all know that.I know my boss, Jay G. Tate, is big on Miles Kelly, the transfer from Georgia Tech. He might be the piece that this team needs to make a deep run.

- There's a new Matlock starring Kathy Bates, and I am furious. No one is Matlock except Andy Griffith. NO ONE! If they remake Murder, She Wrote, we riot.

- Speaking of TV series, can anyone recommend a good one for me to watch while on this road trip? Thanks in advance.

- TikTok of the Week: This Hot Wheels track is like a dream for every 8-year-old boy out there. It's magnificent.

- Finally, and I begrudgingly do this, but I promised I would, so congrats to my friend Shane Cornell for getting revenge against me on the golf course this past Sunday. Match No. 3 will be soon, and I am coming after him. I'll see everyone in Columbia and Lexington!