Hard to believe that 2025 has arrived! It will take me a few weeks to not put 2024 on the few checks I still write (those debit cards sure come in handy!), and even though technology has made great strides, we’re still not anywhere near where the Jetsons were envisioned back in the ‘70s! Here’s today’s first trivia question for those of you of a certain age—name the Jetson family members and their dog!
I’d like to echo the thoughts of my friend and compatriot Mike Stegall here at MyCountyLink regarding the “Night of Champions” held at Greenville High School the other night. It is always great for alumni to gather with old teammates and reminisce about days gone by but it’s even more important when they can provide some inspiration to present and future student-athletes that championships can be won if you are willing to dedicate yourself to improving your skills. Another memorable night for all concerned; past champions, current athletes, and fans alike to all share in remembering past glories!
“Of all the words of mice and men the saddest are, “it might have been”. I can’t think of any better way to describe the Bengals season as they fell short of making the NFL playoffs this year. A team that was picked by many to make it to the Super Bowl; that had three players having not only personal best seasons but also league bests (Joe Burrow, Ja’marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson); and with an offense that was the best in the AFC somehow failed to play on even after winning the last five games on the schedule. Two things immediately came to my mind; heads would have to roll from the coaching staff (and already have) and the teams in the playoffs all breathed a sigh of relief knowing they wouldn’t have to face Cincinnati!!
Were you aware that there is a Bowl Challenge Cup for the college conferences that have teams in bowl games? The title this year (with two remaining playoff games to be played) goes to the American Athletic Conference with member schools who posted a 6-2 (.750) record in postseason competition. The Mid-American Conference finished second with a 5-2 mark while the Big Ten is 9-5 with THE and Penn State still suiting up and the SEC stands at 8-6 with Texas still alive. The worst record you ask? How about the Atlantic Coast Conference with a pitiful 2-11 mark! Here’s today’s second trivia question—name four of the six AAC teams who won bowl games this year.
Patting myself on the back for just a second, I’ve correctly predicted the winners of all eight playoff games so far—not that big of a deal as I went with the oddsmakers on just about every game! Who do I think will advance to the national championship—THE has too much talent for Texas in the Cotton Bowl, and Notre Dame should survive Penn State (I don’t have much confidence in Nittany Lion head coach James Franklin when it comes to big games!).
Nothing prettier than a snowfall in West Central Ohio if you don’t absolutely have to be outside working or traveling in it. Thanks as always to those who keep the roadways open and passable and to first responders who still do magnificent work regardless of the conditions!
The Midwest Athletic Conference is not only a powerhouse in football but in other sports also, one of which is boys basketball. Fans of the MAC are already familiar with the name Elwer of Delphos St. John’s fame but many around the area are not. The Blue Jays are off to a 10-0 start to the season, coming off a win this weekend over a tough Lima Shawnee team from the Western Buckeye League. Coach Aaron Elwer has three sons playing for him this winter; freshman Easton, sophomore Andrew, and junior Cameron. Cameron has scored over 1,500 career points not quite halfway through his junior year; the 6’1” guard has been the district player of the year both of his first two varsity years as well as the unanimous MAC player of the year last season.
I first became familiar with the Elwers six years ago through the Ohio Elks Hoop Shoot competitions that are held yearly. My grandson Tripp won the state 8-9 year-old title while Cameron took the 10-11 year-old trophy; the other Elwers placed high in their age groups also, and in talking with Aaron, their father you just knew that a dynasty was coming to both Allen and Van Wert counties (Delphos is like Bradford in that it straddles two county lines). Look for the Elwers to cause problems for the rest of the MAC as league play comes into full force over the next month or so!
Here are the answers to those trivia questions! Who can forget George Jetson, his wife Jane, daughter Judy, and their boy Elroy, not to mention their dog Astro!!
The six AAC bowl game winners were Army, East Carolina, Memphis, Navy, South Florida, and University of Texas San Antonio. The AAC is one of the Power Four (you can’t count the two-team PAC-12 as a power conference anymore) and Group of Five leagues that defy geographic logic and confuse longtime fans of college football. Don’t bother learning all of the member schools of the different conferences, they’ll all probably change in the next year or two anyhow!!
Have a great week, don’t hurt yourself shoveling snow or slipping on the sidewalks!!
