Sportsman of the Week Ending 11/23/2025

In a bit of a "calm before the storm" week in college football, there were some surprising outcomes and performance that shaped the conference title races.  None more than the Pittsburgh Panthers upset of the previously ranked #16 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets sent shockwaves through the ACC standings.  The Panthers got a command performance from Ja'Kyrian Turner, a true freshman running back who is surging with experience.  Against the Jackets, "Boosie" Turner ran for a career high 201 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, nearly toting the ball 10 yards per carry.  The climax was a spectacular 56 yard run up the middle to put the Panthers ahead by more than a touchdown for good.  Pittsburgh doesn't have a great chance to make the ACC title game, but the future is bright with Turner, the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 11/16/2025

In a playoff deciding game, big players and leaders step up and that was the case for our Sportsman of the Week.  Georgia Quarterback Gunner Stockton was clutch in the second half for his Bulldogs against the Texas Longhorns for the second time in 12 months.  This time, he showed that Georgia may be the hottest team in the country.  The Junior had his best game of the year, throwing nothing but darts hitting 83% of his passes four 4 touchdowns, while running for a fifth as they pulled away from a Top 10 team.  Georgia seems to be the kind of team that is getting better with time and has a favorable schedule.  They may not make the SEC title game, but finishing 11-1 won't keep them out of the playoffs, hosting a game, then being a force to be reckoned with.  Stockton is the leader they need, and the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 11/9/2025

Sometimes a single play, in an amazingly surprise situation, in the clutch can get you Sportsman of the Week.  This is the week.  The Indiana Hoosiers football (that's right football, not basketball) program continues to astound experts.  "They're not that good, just easy schedule."  "Once they play the big boys they'll lose."  "Why are they ranked so high?".  They are 21-1 over the past two regular seasons.  Read that again.  Slowly.  21.  And.  1.  We usually make fun of a Boise State or Coastal Carolina for such numbers, but this is the Big 10.  Did they not play everyone?  No, they didn't.  You can't with an 18-team conference.  But they're winning and this week against Penn State.  The final winning drive was punctuated by what will be a finalist if not winner for catch of the year.  Heisman trophy short odds QB Fernando Mendoza through a piss missile to Omar Cooper Jr.  Who snagged it against all odds.  Cooper Jr. high pointed the ball and made an impossible toe touch on third and goal from the 7 under 40s.  To give Indiana a key win 27-24 over Penn State in their Big 10 title hopes.  Not all wins are perfectly pretty.  But going into Happy Valley against a desperate team deserves props and the catch by Cooper Jr. was in line with that.  A worthy Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 11/2/2025

A World Series for the ages.  The matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers had it all.  Back and forth wins.  Heroes stepping up from obscurity.  Extra innings. Walk off wins.  Close plays.  And a pitcher who won 3 of the 4 games for his team.  Yoshinobu Yamamoto took the ball in Game 2 with his team facing a potential debilitating 2-0 deficit and he took the ball.  For 9 innings.  Just 4 hits.  First complete game since 2015 as the Dodgers won.  Then he took the ball in Game 6.  One loss away from losing the series to the Jays.  6 innings of 1 run baseball.  Dodger win  Then THE NEXT DAY as an epic Game 7 was unfolding he took the ball with the game tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, one out.  Got out of it.  Two more innings.  And he won his third game.  Hero wore a cape.  And was a worthy World Series MVP and the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!