Sportsman of the Week Ending 11/25/2018

One of the most fun weekends on the college football calendar is rivalry weekend, typically Thanksgiving.  And the main dish this year was Ohio State vs. Michigan, both teams 10-1, playing for a division title and a chance to make the college football playoff.  Michigan favored, but traveling to Ohio State.  And it was an unlikely hero that derailed the Wolverines title hopes.  Freshman Chris Olave came into the game with 5 catches for 70 yards on the season.  And left this biggest game of his career with 3 TDs.  All in critical spots.  His first TD catch started off the scoring giving the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead.  His second catch (also a TD) boosted Ohio State to a 14-6 lead.  But it was his blocked punt in the third quarter that put Ohio State up by more than 2 TD.  It would never get close again.  Ogave has a bright future in Columbus and in football, and is our Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 11/18/2018

The 2018 NASCAR season would down with an exciting finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway among four drivers who had earned the finalist berth.  Or as Joey Logano called it, "The Big 3, and me".  Well "me" showed the Big 3 that he was bigger.  Or faster.  At or near the front during most of the race, Logano feasted on "short runs" (e.g. small periods of green flags between cautions) to run away from the field in the final 20 laps.  Logano's #22 Penske Pennzoil car continually raced ahead of the others in the first few dozen laps of a run, and that was all it took after the final caution came with under 30 laps to go.  He pegged each of the drivers in front of him and then opened a several second gap not only beating the others, but winning the race.  It was Logano's first Monster Energy Cup Series title for his strong career.  There might be many more, but he is our Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 11/11/2018

The Chicago Bears seem to have finally got past rebuild mode to compete mode, and it started with what appears to be a smart draft pick at the QB position.  Mitch Trubisky is growing into the role of superstar QB, and he might have made a big leap on Sunday.  Trubisky is leading the NFC North Division leaders to a 6-3 record, including an impressive victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.  Trubisky accounted for four of the Bears TD's, 3 through the air and one with his legs.  His 76.7% completion percentage and 355 yards were season highs as the Bears throttled the Lions 34-22.  For the season, Trubisky is sporting a 19/7 TD to INT ratio, including 17-4 in his last six games.  Huge games left with Minnesota (2) and Green Bay (at home) will decide the North, but Trubisky is finally reaching that point of being mentioned with the elite QBs.  And is our Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 11/4/2018

It's getting to be the part of the NFL season where the men separate from the boys, and when two men battle, you put the women and children to bed and go looking for dinner.  The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams have emerged as the best two teams in the NFC and the schedule gods had them square off in Week 9.  And it did not disappoint.  Two prolific offenses went toe to toe for 80 points and 970 yards.  There were only 6 penalties and 3 punts.  And there was a 200 yard receiver.  The Saints Michael Thomas torched the Rams seeping secondary for 211 yards on 12 catches, including a back-breaking 72 yard TD from 3x Sportsman of the Week Drew Brees with 3:52 that put the Saints up for good.  Will we see a rematch in January?  If so, the Rams better come up with a better game plan to stop Michael Thomas, the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!