As I woke up on Sunday morning, after my morning prayers to the great “Bear” in the sky, I realized I had much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving after an emotional and turbulent weekend of college football.

I am thankful for the Baylor Bears, who became the first team with a losing record in NCAA history to knock off the No. 1 ranked team. To say it was an improbable victory is an understatement, as Baylor’s 117th ranked defense shut down the former Heisman front-runner in Collin Klein. That’s right, the 117th ranked defense shut down arguably the best offensive player in the country.

I am thankful for the Stanford Cardinals who, by beating the Oregon Ducks, not only moved our beloved Crimson Tide up in the BCS, but also removed what would have been arguably the Tide’s toughest potential opponent in the national championship game. Instead, Alabama is on course to face Notre Dame – not only the weakest of the three undefeated teams heading into last weekend, but who oddsmaker Danny Sheridan said would currently be 10-point underdogs to the Tide.

I am thankful to the kicking gods for favoring Stanford kicker Jordan Williamson over Oregon kicker Alejandro Maldonado Saturday night. Williamson buried the game-winning 37-yard field goal in overtime, while Maldonado not only missed what would have been the winning field goal in regulation, but also clanged a field goal off the uprights in overtime. Alabama fans should know all too well how much it hurts to be on the losing side of missed field goals.

I am also thankful for the fumbling gods for favoring Stanford Saturday night. When Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan fumbled in overtime, it seemed for sure that one of Oregon’s three players in the area would pick up the ball. But somehow, through what seemed like some form of divine intervention, the ball squirted out of the Oregon player’s hands and into the hands of a diving Stanford player.

I am thankful for the absolute mediocrity of our two most hated rivals, Auburn and Tennessee. Not only have both teams underperformed to an unbelievably pathetic level this year, but the two teams are combined zero for 14 in SEC play. And both teams are under coaching carousals, with Derek Dooley being fired from Tennessee Sunday and Gene Chizik barely hanging onto his job at Auburn. While watching Alabama win is my greatest joy in college football, Auburn and Tennessee losing are easily my second and third.

I am thankful to be a part of such a passionate and amazing fan base we have here at Alabama. After Kansas State and Stanford lost Saturday night, thousands of students and fans went out to the Strip, screaming, singing and chanting in celebration. There were reports of wet floors causing people to slip in some of the dorms and apartments because of the number of students who ran through the fountain at the Ferg. Only at Alabama will you see that.

And most importantly, I am thankful for our Crimson Tide being back in control of its own destiny in making the national championship game. After a stressful and gloomy week in Tuscaloosa, we can all finally smile again; once more, the road to 15 is within our reach. Regardless of anything I eat during Thanksgiving this week, nothing will taste sweeter than that.