I told you it was going to be a good day.

For a contest like that, there has to be something there. That's my big 'GO!' sign. It just makes me feel like I really have something to do with my life. That this is it. This is what I'm meant to do.

I just always have to keep it simple in it's melodies. And make sure it's fun for people to sing. Because that's important, too. And I make sure everyone can find something to enjoy in their part. Just so that singers love to sing it and it's nice to listen to.

Definitely, [the win against Michigan] proved that on any given day we can beat anybody. Beating the number one team is a great feeling, and hopefully we're going to have a lot more of those great feelings this year. Michigan is an unbelievable team, but we are too.

Getting through it — when the good times in the day finally begin to outweigh the bad — takes three to four months before things really do turn around.

I come to the park every day and look at the lineup Tony [La Russa] puts up just like [the reporters do].