When Olivia first met Elsie (Della Reese) she asked if she is an angel with Elsie responding "Do I look like an angel?" Della Reese is well known for playing the angel "Tess" on Touched By An Angel.
The mother wears an LSU Tigers shirt while she mentions wanting to watch the Auburn Tigers game against Alabama Crimson Tide because, as the film establishes, LSU is her absolute favorite team but she will watch other games when they're not playing.