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Loading...When I was a boy growing up in Missouri, every Thanksgiving we would round up the entire neighborhood for our annual Turkey Bowl Game. The weather was always crisp — sometimes with snow or rain, and occasionally with some sunshine, but always — yes always — with plenty of laughter, fun and excitement.
As years passed, my children soon gathered family and friends for their own version of this time-honored tradition. I’d sit and watch the game with funny flea flickers, gang tackles and chiding laughter, all in a good day’s fun. The sights, sounds and smells were all too familiar of years passed too soon — priceless memories of childhood in an ever changing world.
Over the last 12 years in Tooele County, I have enjoyed watching my children and yours, play in so many different sports — cheering when they would win and crying when they would lose. It’s been a true blessing to watch yours and ours, play so well and learn so such about life’s true values. These lasting memories provide plenty for us to be thankful for this time of year. Remember those times as you enjoy your family this Holiday season and be grateful for those precious moments — life seems so long when young — yet so fleeting now.
As always, there is plenty to enjoy today as well. After you’re stuffed with the great white bird, remember there’s lots of football to watch this Thanksgiving weekend. The NFL kicks off the day with the Detroit Lions hosting the Houston Texans at 10:30 a.m. on CBS. Then at 2:15 pm the Dallas Cowboys host the Washington Redskins on Fox. Then Tim Tebow and the New York Jets host the New England Patriots at 6:20 p.m on NBC.
College football also gets into the act, even though Texas A&M defected to the SEC. The University of Texas has vowed to continue its Thanksgiving Day tradition and will host the Horn Frogs of TCU at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Utah closes out its season on the road at Colorado tomorrow. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. on FX. It has been a season laced in disappointment for the 4-7 Utes, who have suffered through key injuries, controversial personnel changes and stiff PAC-12 competition. It will be the first time in 10 years the Utes have failed to go bowling during December or January, not to mention losing to Utah State. At least the Utes beat BYU.
Utah State will host Idaho this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Romney Stadium in Logan. With a victory over the Vandals at home, the Aggies will win the WAC Championship out-right and will be bowl bound to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise. This has been a great year for head coach Gary Anderson, who has finally directed his team to crack the AP at number 25 this week. It’s the first time Utah State has been national ranked in 51 years.
BYU closes its season at New Mexico State on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN3. The Aggies haven’t beaten an FBS team yet this season — it would be a shame if they started with BYU. If the Cougars blow this one, look for heads to roll as Cougar Athletic Director Tom Holmoe, is already honing his axe to start chopping if the things don’t improve offensively.
After last week’s loss to San Jose State, Holmoe’s twitter account was on fire, as fans deluged him with tweets expressing their dissatisfaction. The flames were so great, Holmoe tweeted early Sunday morning, “We all know — football must get better…” You think? A win at Las Cruces and a victory at BYU’s consolation prize San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl may ease the blows, but something tells me the axe will fall regardless.
Despite the sporting world’s chaos, the house should be smelling pretty good right now with homemade bread raising, pies baking and turkeys roasting. Family will soon be arriving from distant lands, while children return home from college. The chatter and laughter of loved ones is sweet music to my ears this time of year. As I sit in my soft chair, older now, with the pains of an aging and injured body from accidents and games long past, I can close my eyes and remember all that has been good in my life and then open them to see all things fine now, and with tearful happiness, be truly grateful for God’s sweet blessings.
From our hearts to yours, the Tooele Transcript Bulletin, our sports writing team and all of those who help us bring you the wonderful world of sports, we wish each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for the memories — I’ll see you from the sidelines.
