Life is full of signs telling you where to go; how to get there; what you can do; what you can’t do, but very seldom is there a clear cut sign that will navigate you through the really tough decisions you make in life. Nathan Thornhill thought he had made the perfect decision. Nathan was injured on the football practice field last year, came back from injury and because a dominate pitcher for the Cedar Park Timberwolves and caught the eyes of college coaches everywhere. The one college Nathan had his eye on, The University of Texas, happened to be looking back at him. The UT baseball program offered and Nathan verbally committed to become a longhorn. Now that your caught up, this is the point in life that I met Nathan at the Austin High track training for baseball and leaving football behind. Push ups, sit ups, medicine ball, running cones, backward, forward, you name it and his trainer was making him do it all in an effort to get in tip top physical condition for the upcoming baseball season. I knew his trainer and so we chatted for a while and leaving football behind was at the time what everyone thought was the best decision. the chances of injury go down and he would be able to concentrate full time on baseball and maybe even catch the eyes of pro scouts. I mean every young talented player dreams of playing in the bigs on day and Nathan was no different. The ‘decision’ then started to weigh on him and the tought of watching from the stands on Friday nights got Nathan to thinking — I need a sign. he prayed about it and asked God for a sign — should he play or really what was the best path for him to follow. One of his summer coaches JD Smart had told him if he didn’t want to get injured to lock himself in a room because anything can happen at any time, after all, his football injury came on the sidelines and had never been hurt “playing” football. His freak accident happened on the concrete that ironically as we did this interview today, thwere removing from the Cedar Park practice fields. So, all of these decisions and not a single true sign of what to do — until he was sitting in Church on Sunday. I will let him tell you the true sign because since that sign, and our first meeting way back in August, you can tell how much he loves the game. The old saying of you never know how much you liked something until it was gone — well, these hot summer days are nothing for Nathan. he almost didn’t get to experience it and says he would’ve regretted it the rest of his life. I don’t want to spoil the interview attached but I would say that of all the signs Nathan has received from the sideline coaches calling plays to the catcher calling the next pitch — the ultimate sign came in the form of a blessing. A blessing that was just a nudge from upstairs saying “go for it” cause you only live once. I told him today that Mother Teresa had a good saying for times like this…..may you have faith that the path you have taken is exactly what God had in mind for you……whether this path takes him to a state championship ring like his Dad remains to be seen, but he will never have to ask himself……what if? Nathan’s first game is this friday night against Westlake and he officially signs with UT on November 11th.

The Texas Premier Football camp at St. Michae’s in Southwest Austin was a great chance for kids to meet former UT football players and talk football. it was also a great chance to see guys I’ve covered for years only to see them leave the UT campus and go on to be successful. It was also a great day to see life at work. The 200 or so kids who came to learn about how to play the game also had questions about life of their own. They heard Selvin Young talk about how important grades were — and after having to leave college and go to a Junior College, he came back to Texas and made the Dean’s list 4 semesters in a row not to mention then make it in the NFL . Roy Williams talking about the death of his grandmother. Eeriely similar to the death of my grandfather in that when I heard of his illness, I flew back to Texas from kentucky and the moment I landed in Dallas I felt the loss and he died almos to the minute I landed in Dallas. Roy went to Las Vegas and something told him to come home, he landed back in Texas at 3:23pm, his grandmother died at 3:23pm, as Roy said “she waited unitl I got back to Texas to die”. What an aweosome moment for those kids to share in a life experience with a member of the Dallas Cowbosy. Corey Redding told the kids to have respect and make the most of life and don’t waste getting involved with the wrong group. it was a break from the normal questions we ask about football. it was fun to sit and listen and well, learn more about life from the Texas football players I respect.

It was also a chance for me to say hello and give a hug to a group of athletes who are really making a difference, the names you might not hear everyday…like Tony Jeffries, Sloan Thomas, BJ Johnson and many many more.

I also ran into Michael Huff, and since my first name is Michael, why not talk to another Michael. We both find it kind of funny that I was doing an interview with my phone when he’s used to seeing my “big boy” camera.

Enjoy, cause it was a wonderful day to see all of the guys who are taking the time to shape the future and to see their maturity and if your son or daughter was out there today — they are in good hands.

It’s great to be back in Omaha for the College World Series. There are a few things that make this one of the best sporting events ever and the CWS Statue is one of the reasons for this. I’ve seen more families take pictures here than any other place at any other sporting event that i’ve been to. I wanted to give you a sneak peak of where it is and how ESPN gets all of those cool shots.

ONe of the reasons I simply love this statue is because it represents the joy of the game. Not one single person or thing, but the emotion of winning, the joy of being number 1, the start of the dog pile…it’s awesome and if you can, you should get a picture taken in front of the CWS statue.

they will blog about it…

Roger and I have a question. We need to know the fastest route to Austin from Atlanta. The North Route which takes you down IH20 cutting down thru Tyler and the back roads (which Rick Barnes says is the fastest) or the South route, driving IH85 to IH12 bypassing New Orleans and then taking IH 10 to Hwy. 71 to Austin (this is the route we took to Greensboro at the suggestion of Texas Longhorn Color Analyst Keith Moreland).

Any thoughts?

Okay, so March Madness is awesome and my favorite time of the year….with the exception of the College World Series when Texas is playing…and while most of you think I get the good seats…let me show you where exactly I get to watch the games. I’m not going to lie, I do sneak out past securtity and get onto the floor or in the stands occasionaly…okay, so maybe the entire game, but here’s a look at our work space. My good luck charm for this trip is a “TEXAS SWIMMING” t-shirt for the Women who are competing at the NCAA’s this week and doing very well and next week for the Men who can hopefully bring home a National Championship.

Trust me, a lot of decisions go into game day. None more important than how you look and for Rick Barnes, arguably one of the best dressed coaches in the country, the tie decision seems to be the easiest. I mean you wonder about zone and man to man and protecting the paint..but few decisions seem to be easier for Rick than his tie selection.

I’m just recovering from the two day — 21 hour drive here to Greensboro North Carolina. The Horns had a fun practive at the Arena yesterday and did a little policiticing…throwing out Texas t-shirts…I mean who doesn’t want a free t-shirt and Texas is hopeing they will wear them here in Carolina Country.

It’s been awesome so far, in one bracket I have North Carolina and theby other Memphis winning it all.

I am officially a twitter…4toddbynum is where you’ll find me.

I’m guessing the first upset is today. Watch for my behind the scenes look at my “awesome” set up later today.

Indeed, bright and early tomorrow Roger and I are headed to Greensboro, North Carolina. That’s 1,111 miles according to google and might be the longest road trip we have ever taken in a car for the NCAA TOURNAMANT. We’ve driving to Denver, Atlanta, Birmingham but never past Atlanta. Crazy you say, well yes it is but for us it’s really cost effective and if you can beleive it, convienent.

try going to the Airport and taking all of the necessary gear thru luggage ( and all the extra baggage charges ) security and not to mention having to carry everything. This way we put all of our gear in the car and test out our new Ford Hyrid.

It is as they say, just part of the Madness that is March.

The bi-annual road trip to Lubbock is one of adventure and a travel through some familiar territory. You never know what to expect from the game and you always expect the unexpected and go in with blind faith that the Horns will come through the storm. I always enjoyed this trip because it meant a trip to my Grandmothers house and a chance to visit some family friends and go back to my roots so to speak. It was also the opportunity to visit my brother’s gravesite and reflect on his life and how much I truly miss him. This year I will also visit my Grandmother’s gravesite for the first time since her death. I’m not sure how it will be, I remember the last time we traveled through Loraine Texas, Brandon, John and I got a home cooked meal, then it was off to see Texas play the Red Raiders. We do have a few Red Raider graduates in the family, but I’m sure that Grannie always pulled for Texas.

There have been disappointments in this game, great victories and the occasional excape by the closest of margins. The game itself is truly unpedicatable, especially the night games. I know that Texas fans are nervous but confident at the same time. I really love this game and the stories that go with it.

This year will be no different. The only difference being that long before the kick off, I will stand at the grave site of my brother and grandmother who are buried right next to each other and everything will be brought into perspective. The game will last 4-8 hours (hey, it’s possible) but the memories along the way represent a lifetime and this time, instead of feeling the incredible comforting touch of my grannie, it will be the comfort of her presence. I am fortunate that my Mother is just like her and I KNOW she’s a die hard Texas fan, so what a weekend it will be.

Have a safe trip to Lubbock and gather some of your own memories along the way. GO HORNS!

This morning we relieved our first Hurrican crew of Thomas Costley, Manuel Montana and Shannon Wolfson with myself and Ben Frieberg, Mark Batchelder and Matt Flener reporting. We traveled through Houston that had no cell service and IH 10 was completely shut down. It took a while but we made it to a tiny town called Fannett. we are sitting in the dark parking lot of a gas station that has now been demolished twice, the first time being Hurricane Rita.

Matt and Mark went out on a swamp boat looking for folks who might be trapped with some of the great citizens of this county. This is truly a community that is pulling together and even though his gas station got blown away, the owner donated all of the water and other goodies to the folks down the road at the Volunteer Fire Station to pass out to citizens who lost everything. We even grabbed a few chips and peanuts to pass out to folks who might just need a little pick me up.

The spirit of helping your neighbors is alive and well. Folks here are still amazed at just how bad the damage is. You know the stories of “it’s never been this bad” and i “aint never seen that before” are abundant. Young and old, they were all at the Volunteer Fire Station passing out water and ice and some great BBQ.

Our plans are to head to Port Arthur tonight and then try to give everyone a sense of the severity. it’s one thing to see it on TV, but another to actually feel it and see it in person. I’m always amazed at the strenght of people in the toughest times.

we have several video’s to show you and will try to get them on as soon as possible but right now the wireless internet card is a little slow, but stay tuned to our YouTube channel