But when he went home on May 19 last year, the Tigers were already 13-24 and falling.
The Tigers fell 12 short of that total.
As it is, the saddest part of their experience was that Tiger the cat fell overboard and was lost.
The Tigers fell behind by 3 points in the final minute, but with clutch free-throw shooting were able to hang on.
After claiming game 1 in the best-of-three series, the Tigers fell short to end their dream season at 38-19.
Hodson's two touchdown passes did not come until the fourth quarter, when the Tigers had already fallen behind by 24 points.
The Tigers fell to second place behind the Baltimore Orioles in 1969.
But before he could attack, there came an explosion, and Tiger suddenly fell over dead.
The Tigers fell to Florida 28-6, but would begin a streak of eight consecutive bowl appearances.
The Tigers squandered a 7-3 lead in the ninth inning, and fell behind, 8-7, in the 10th.