Update: Florida State’s Jared Verse is lauded below for trusting that his team’s perfect record on the field this season would merit an invitation to the College Football Playoff. It did not. Sometimes we do everything we can do and it is not enough. Throughout the history of college football, thousands of players have won their conference and never had a chance to compete for the “national” crown. For all of them, know you’re champions in this corny corner.
🏈 Quote
Florida State defensive end Jared Verse, confident his undefeated ACC Champion Seminoles will be selected today to play in the College Football Playoff:
“The committee's going to do what needs to be done. We're a Power 5 champion. We just showed we have a defense that can play lights out with anybody in the country. What needs to be done, will be done.”
With 10 conference champions, but just four spots in the College Football Playoff, every year deserving teams are denied a chance to compete for the NCAA championship. With Michigan (13-0), Washington (13-0), Texas (12-1), Alabama (12-1) and Georgia (12-1) all making strong cases this year, some say 13-0 FSU may be left out. Can you imagine that? Verse cannot. “What needs to be done, will be done.” Word.
Next year the playoff field expands to 12 teams. Thank goodness. Give us Liberty (13-0)!
⚾️ Story
‘Can you believe it!?’ Joe Castiglione’s four decades of improbable, unbelievable moments
By Steve Buckley, The Athletic
Boston’s legendary radio broadcaster is up for Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award. Castiglione’s career has been full of remarkable stories, captured by Buckley. Just one example…
For NBC’s The Today Show in 1975, Castiglione covered the 15-round heavyweight championship bout between Muhammad Ali and longshot Chuck Wepner. This was the fight that inspired the movie Rocky. Castiglione asked a blood-covered Wepner just after losing if it was worth it. “Yeahhhhh, it was worth it,” Wepner replied.
But Castiglione never filed his big story. His wife went into labor that night so he skipped The Today Show for the birth of his son.
⚽️ Highlight
Last Sunday Manchester United’s 19-year-old Alejandro Garnacho turned the football world upside down with this kick. This reel has it from every conceivable angle. Check out the fans’ reaction at the 3:02 mark. They flipped out!
🏀 Stat
700: career coaching victories for Kim Mulkey, after #7 Louisiana State turned back #9 Virgina Tech Thursday
In her 24th season, Mulkey reached 700 quicker than any men’s or women’s college coach. She’s won two national championships as a player, four as a coach, and has won 86.1% of her games. Opponents say she’s wearing them out.
🏈 Groaner
Why did a family of strangers give Arizona linebacker Jesse Luketa a ride to the stadium last Sunday?
To ignore him in his time of need would have been a Cardinal sin!
Luketa got a flat on the way to the game. He made it to a convenience store and tried to fill the tire. When that failed, he noticed a family all wearing Cardinals gear and asked for help.
“At first, they didn’t believe I was a player,” Luketa said. “And I was like, ‘yeah, I’m a player; I need to get to the stadium.’”
So J.W. Phillips & Family gave him a ride. And got to know Luketa along the way.
Said Phillips: “Honestly, at the end of the day, we were just trying to help somebody out. It wasn’t the fact that he played football, or didn’t, or whatever it was. We were just truly trying to help somebody out.”
🏈 Song
Flowers by Miley Cyrus
Zay Flowers had reason to celebrate. The rookie receiver scored two touchdowns last Sunday to help Baltimore (9-3) beat the LA Chargers and take the top spot in the AFC. After the first TD, he tossed the football to teammates like a bride tossing wedding flowers. After the second, he acted out a soccer penalty kick.
To celebrate Flowers and his joy, we give you Flowers from Miley Cyrus. After a breakup, she remembers, “I can buy myself flowers.” Both Flowers and Flowers remind us to have fun and be good to ourselves. And they make me wanna move!
🏈 Trivia
Why is Utah State QB Levi Williams skipping his senior season next year?
To apply for Navy SEAL training
To start a signature jeans company
To be a real Aggie & work on his family’s farm
A fortune teller warned him of a brain hemorrhage if he returned
After the Aggies’ upcoming bowl game, Williams will work on becoming a SEAL.
“I just want to be in a spot where I can protect this great country where we get to play football with the freedom to do that,” Williams told KSL 97.5 FM. “I think this is the best country in the world, so I’d like to keep it that way and protect it as long as I can.”
For more trivia, take the weekly Corny Sports Quiz.
Aw shucks 🌽. That’s it for now. Be good to yourself this week. I’m going skiing. What will you do?