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November 30.

“One of the first indications of the Christmas Season is the appearance of lights. Lights on trees, candles in windows, radiance everywhere–everything seems to be wrapped in millions and millions of stars. This is appropriate, because December 25 follows the darkest time of the year in the Mediterranean world and Europe, where Christmas celebrations took shape.”- Tim Keller HIDDEN CHRISTMAS

Lights here in Utah are shining bright across the valley as the first snowfall of the season lightly coats the rooftops and perfectly manicured gardens. It’s the first of many “magical” evenings, and right on time. There is something about seeing fresh snowfall with Christmas Lights shining in every direction. Each home decorated in its own way and this adds to the subtle magic that always comes with the first real snowfall of the year.

With the oblong game in its waning stages, it’s certainly nice to sit back and appreciate the little things that come with the first signs of the Christmas Season: Lights and Snow. Because both lights and snow, mean that the oblong game is coming to its end.

The Saturday Game’s regular season has concluded with some odd results, and we are approaching conference championship week along with awaiting the committee’s announcement of the Chosen 12 for the playoffs. If you are one that enjoys watching these games, savor every moment because just as quickly as the snowflake melts once it touches my charcoal grill, so will the 2025 College Football season as it evaporates into nothingness and becomes a distant memory.

Many fanbases may have already switched to next season due to their team finishing poorly. Tennessee comes to mind. Room to grow in Vol Country and thankfully, the seeds and nutrients required for that growth are already in their grasp. Massive commitments Knoxville bound and a squadron of youngsters that played meaningful minutes this year. Yes, many fanbases may have their sights on next season already, but none should look forward to their situation more than the Tennessee Volunteers. It can’t get worse than losing to Vandy. Tennessee, you lost to Vandy. At home. It can’t get worse. Massive recruit’s incoming with bright futures.

Yes, the oblong game is in its latter stages at the College level, but the Sunday Grown Man’s game and the Round Game are still approaching the apex. Indianapolis and New England have been bright spots from my vantage point in the NFL and Arsenal and Sunderland are shining in the Premier League.

In the present, Denver is in D.C. and just about to play on NBC and Peacock. THE Al Michaels as always will tell us the story as it unfolds.

There is plenty that has happened and plenty that will still happen. All we can do now is take a quick look back at the facts of what happened in the world of football this week–And watch the glow of the snowfall through the red and white Christmas lights.

With that–It’s time for this Week’s “General Update.” General Update.

What to Expect:

The Round Game
The Saturday Game
The Grown Man’s Sunday Game

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GENERAL UPDATE

“A short gain is better than a sack”- Gary Danielson

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THE ROUND GAME

ARSENAL

Bayern Munich 1 @ Arsenal 3

Big result for the Gunners in Champions League. Goals from Martinelli, Timber, and Madueke.

Arsenal 1 @ Chelsea 1
- Merino with the Goal!

Top of the league Arsenal worked hard and squeezed out a draw in front of a raucous Stanford Bridge crowd. A draw away from home is a fair result. We move on to the next one.

COYG!

vs Brentford 12/3 12:30
@ Aston Villa 12/6 5:30

SUNDERLAND

Bournemouth 2 @ Sunderland 3

An incredible showing by the Black Cats early on Saturday morning. Falling behind 2-0 at home meant nothing to the hearty fans inside the Stadium of Light. Fans drenched and beaming were as loud and vibrant as I’ve ever seen it on TV. A constant buzz, a constant energy, a constant wanting and desire to win such an important game in the Premier League Season.

It was 7th vs 8th entering the game with room at the top getting tight. Both of these teams needed to win this game. Sunderland prevailed and the cold, wet fans were sent home with a win. A well-earned win.

With the win, Sunderland moves up to sixth in the Premier League standings.

@Liverpool 12/3 1:15
@Man City 12/6 8:00

One of the toughest stretches for this North England squad incoming. These are two tougher than average games with a game against North England rivals Newcastle following these two.

Good luck to the Black Cats. May the energy of the Stadium of Light be carried with you on the road against two of the most elite clubs in England.

OTHER SOCCER:

COMO 1907

Como 5 @ Torino 1 11/24

Big win out of the International break for the Cesc Fabregas side. This win moved Como temporarily into 6th in Serie A.

It was 1-1 at the break off Jayden Addai’s 36th minute volley from six yards out. Jesus Rodriguez set him up beautifully on a cross from the left side of the 18 yard box and Addai smoothly clipped it into the back of the net….Torino scored from a Penalty in the 2nd minute of stoppage time.

The second half was all about Como. Addai scored a second goal in the 52nd to make it 2-1 and then three goals came late by way of Nico Paz, Baturina, and Ramon. A dominant 5-1 win on the road.

Sassuolo 0 @ Como 2 11/28

Back to back big wins for Cesc Fabregas this week and his club remain firmly in 6th in the Serie A standings. Big test next week.

@Inter Milan 12/6 10:00

WREXHAM

vs Bristol City 11/26 (2-0 Win)
vs Blackburn 11/29 (1-1 Draw)

@Preston 12/6 8:00

Wrexham up to 9th in the Championship Standings.

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The Round Game continues to be entertaining.

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THE SATURDAY GAME

“One did survive the Wreck”

Hometown Tigers

Navy 28 @ Memphis 17

Fun season Hometown Tigers!

See you in Boise!

I wonder–who will be the next coach for the Hometown team?

GO Tigers, Go!

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A Word:

I was wrong on BYU in the preseason. Projected at 5-7. The loss of Retzlaff, starting a freshman at QB, Parker Kingston being the go-to guy on the offense, and a competitive Big12 left room for belief that the team down in Provo would struggle. They haven’t, but you didn’t need me to tell you that. The Cougars are now 11-1 and destined for a top10 position.

Perhaps, I was also wrong on the Big12 conference. Maybe they do get a second team in the playoffs. Still much to unfold, but the fact remains–I was wrong on BYU. Do well in the Big12 title game and BYU deserves a chance in the playoffs. I like them as the 5, 7, or 10 seed potentially depending on how the conference champions are decided.

A win over Texas Tech and the Cougars could be in the Top5. We’ll see. Well done, Cougs.

“What would life be without surprises.”- Mr. Brooks

–Let’s dive into the action.

TOP GAMES:

Texas A&M 17- Texas 27
Ohio St 27 – Michigan 9
Vandy 45 – Tenn 24
- Pavia 433 Total Yards, two Td’s

OTHER CFB Results:

Georgia 16- Gt 9
Indiana 56- Purdue 3
Alabama 27 – Auburn 20
Notre Dame 49 – Stanford 20
Oregon 26- Washington 14
Miami 38- Pitt 7
BYU 41- UCF 21
Utah 31- Kansas 21
Arizona 23- ASU 7
Mississippi 38 – MSU 19
Oklahoma 17- LSU 13
Troy 28- USM 18
- Troy Sun Belt West Champs!
Duke 49 – Wake Forest 32
- (7-5) Duke to the ACC Championship game
Cal 38 – SMU 35
Hawaii 27 – Wyoming 7
- KICKER 1 Kansei Matsuzawa went 2/3 in the game
  - entered 23/23 on field goals for the season.

FCS PLAYOFF UPDATE:

Yale with a big comeback over Youngstown St moves on to face Montana St next week.
South Dakota St throttled New Hampshire and will face Montana in Missoula next week.

Montana has only one loss this season and that was to cross-state rival Montana St who they will potentially face in a rematch in the semi-finals. To make things more difficult for the Grizzlies, South Dakota St has eliminated Montana from the playoffs the past two seasons including when they beat them in the 2023 Championship game.

Montana has a tough road. Michael Wortham and Co need to be on their A game against the incoming Jackrabbits who seemingly have their number.

Single High Sports 12 Team Playoff:

Ohio St
Georgia
Indiana
Oregon
Oklahoma
Mississippi
Alabama
Notre Dame
Texas Tech
Texas A&M
Miami?
Tulane

–I’ll still take Ohio St and Georgia to meet in the end somehow, someway. I’m as confused as I’ve ever been regarding who will be the exact 12 and in the exact order.

I do Know at least one thing.

Oklahoma is 100% battle tested and proven and should be no lower than a 5 seed considering what they have accomplished this season.

That’s the list of things that I’m sure of this year. UGA/ OSU in the final would be the perfect cap, but maybe a perfect cap is not what this season deserves. Maybe this is the season that deserves an ending like Indiana losing to BYU or Oregon beating Virginia. I’d much prefer a perfect ending like the Bulldogs and Buckeyes, but I think by the end, things might not be so buttoned up nice and neat.

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It’s like Melville wrote, “one did survive the wreck.” Which one will survive the wreck?

Perfection rarely rises from the wreckage. It’s what has survived. Oklahoma would make a proper candidate.

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“We need to focus in on what happened at Ohio St last year when they lost to Michigan. They won four straight and won it all certainly, so that’s what we’re going to focus on.”- Coach Bobby Hauck Montana Grizzlies

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THE SUNDAY GROWN MANS GAME

UPDATE from Nashville:

Jacksonville 25 @ Tennessee 3

Another loss closer to the back-to-back number one picks. Titans now 1-11. Next year. Just keep losing until next year.

OTHER NFL Scores:

Houston 20 @ Indianapolis 16
- Colts are still good. They’ll be around later in the year.
New England vs NYG MNF
- Vrabel is 10-2!
- Jaxson Dart first game back

Tomorrow night may be worth a look at some point. I’ll take Jaxson to score three touchdowns or so and New England to win by 6. Maybe.

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“The secret to success is to understand the point of view of others.”- Henry Ford

The orange glow of the late afternoon sun burned through the overcast conditions and created quite the array of colors across the western Tennessee sky as the tiniest of tykes competed in flag football. The play of the game:

A long-legged lad wearing Hometown Tiger blue was lined up at tight end. Not in the traditional three-point stance TE position but standing up just off the right guard in the slot like a Brock Bowers or Trey McBride.

On the snap, he exploded off the line on a three-yard hitch which is Sixteen strides or so for the tykes of this height. The QB was completely alone and had all day to throw. He looked off the running back, his favorite target who was wide open on the wheel route four yards to his right. He instead launched the ball across the middle, and it soared in the air all the way to the wide-open TE who corralled the pass into his breadbasket with both arms.

After a brief pause perhaps from shock, the youngster turned inside towards the Linebacker attempting to grab his flag. The two collided and as any Tight End would do, he bounced off and accelerated up the field both flags in-tact. A key downfield block was laid by the receiver who was perfectly in the way of the play.

The Tight End smiled with glowing red cheeks and audibly laughed most of the way down the field. TOUCHDOWN! BLUE TEAM!

Football. It’s about fun. The most fun when it’s the matinee played by the tiniest of tykes. Some will certainly grow up to play Friday Night Lights.

“Happy is the man whose year is well spent, who looks before with hope, back with content.”- John Askham

THE END

Another “General Update” will be out this same time next Sunday. The content is dwindling in the oblong game and will continue to dwindle for the next few months.

For this reason, I’ll be featuring my first ever College Basketball Post this week along with a segment in each General Update up until March Madness has concluded. There was a day when the “College Game” would’ve been a driving force in my life and I was just as passionate about it as I am the oblong game today.

Nearly every person from Memphis would say the same thing. Basketball is culture in my old Hometown and at one point was the heartbeat of the city. Maybe we’ll get to those stories as the year unfolds.

Until then,

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.

Thank you for reading.

General Update: 11/30