Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
The results from a recent SportsPulse Poll. (Image courtesy of The SportsFan Poll)
It’s not often that I’m approached by someone I have no connection with about appearing as a guest on Conversations. And, in a crazy left turn you didn’t see coming, that was not the case for this episode.
But I was approached by this week’s guest, Ben Tolchinsky, about assisting with his passion project, The SportsPulse Poll app. As a general rule, my preference is not to do anything that might compromise the user experience of my website or podcast (thus no advertisements) or feel a sense of obligation to someone or something.
That said, I did extend an invitation to Ben to appear as a guest to speak about his life as a sports fan growing up in the greater Cleveland area and also share with Conversations’ listeners about what The SportsPulse Poll is all about. He kindly agreed, and I’m delighted that he did.
Ben’s spent the majority of his professional life in the market research field and has worked with some major corporations along the way. Like many of us, I suspect, he’s grown tired of the “hot take” concept in the sports fan world that seems to require elevated voices, finger-pointing, and creating conflict. As he tells me in this Conversation, he was looking for something that cut through the noise and allowed fans without loud voices – or the platform – to provide their input dispassionately.
He equated it to me sharing stories from sports fans via this podcast. He’s attempting to share stories from sports fans through their collective data.
The concept is straightforward: Download the app via Google Play or the App Store, use the code “PULSE,” answer a few demographic questions, and some static poll questions to get started. Users earn 10 cents per response for participating, and once their balance reaches $5, it can be redeemed for various gift cards. Alternatively, if you’d like to earn 50 cents and put 50 cents in my account, you can use code “2TXFAKQV,” and after completing four polls, an extra 50 cents will appear in both of our accounts.
Ultimately, results will appear on The SportsPulse Poll X/Twitter handle, but, as Ben himself noted, this is not his full-time job (yet;-) and he’s still working out some kinks but hopes to hit his (and the Poll’s) stride by the time the busy fall North American athletic season is in full swing come early September.
In addition to the basics, Ben also shares what the dream scenario would be for him and The SportsPulse Poll. I hope you enjoy getting to know Ben and his unique way of telling sports fans’ stories.
From left, Wayne, Todd, and I; our view during pregame warmups; the captains gather for the coin flip.
To the moment, I’ve attended 38 events on this wild journey Around the World in 80 Sporting Events. (And, really, as I write this post I’ve been to 59 … I’m a bit behind in my reflections;-)
I’m able to say, without question, none – of the 38 or the 59 – has proven to be as exciting as the NCAA FCS National Championship Game in Nashville, TN, between Illinois State and Montana State. Montana State won in walk-off fashion, 35-34, in overtime.
It was an electric atmosphere and an incredible game that featured the type of finish a fan with no dog in the fight loves. That is, one that ends on the final play.
I know it’s been a minute since the Bobcats and Redbirds took to FirstBank Stadium‘s field that first Monday in January so let’s recap how they got there:
Montana State was the No. 2 overall seed in the tournament, though I’m sure the majority of their fans weren’t thinking about that when the season began with a 59-13 shellacking at the hands of the B1G’s Oregon Ducks and then followed it up with a 30-24 double-overtime loss to then-second-ranked South Dakota State. Yes, the Bobcats began their season 0-2 before winning 12 straight – including a pair of victories over their in-state rivals the University of Montana Grizzlies – to reach Nashville.
In stark contrast, Illinois State rather limped into the playoffs. It lost its regular-season finale to Southern Illinois, 37-7 (at home!), to finish in a 3-way tie for third place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Red Birds received one of the final at-large bids to the tournament before turning into road warriors, knocking off Southeastern Louisiana, top-seeded North Dakota State, California-Davis, and Villanova to arrive on Vanderbilt’s campus.
I got there via Chattanooga, as my friend Wayne and I spent a couple of nights with his buddy, Todd, who was set to join us in Nashville for the game as well.
Room with a View
The view of FirstBank Stadium from our room in our hotel.
I was only at the FCS National Championship Game because its FBS brethren completely priced me out of the event the previous January.
If you recall, I was actually in Atlanta when The Ohio State University and Notre Dame University were set to play in the first 12-team playoff back in early 2025. Rather than coming down in the days prior to the game prices actually went up to levels only a Super Bowl could understand.
Because of this, I opted to pivot and make plans for the FCS Game which, as it turned out, would be in Nashville, a day’s drive from my home in Michigan.
That said, there was some surplus funds in the budget so I splurged on a room in the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University. Though not on a high enough floor to have a view of the field, we could see the scoreboard and, obviously, was within walking distance to the stadium.
Last One Out of Montana Turn the Lights Out
There was no shortage of fans – mainly Montana State fans! – trying to get into our section at FirstBank Stadium; I didn’t pack my overalls, but perhaps I should have!?! I also didn’t bring my guns with me either like the fella on the right;-)
I had no expectations when I decided to make the journey to Nashville.
Actually, that’s not necessarily true, I had a reasonable expectation to see the North Dakota State Bison – and Bison Bob, whom I met in Fargo at Event No. 31 in November – at the FCS Championship Game because, well, NDSU had played in 11 of the previous 15 FCS finales.
What I did experience was crazy. The announced attendance was 24,105 and I’m not exaggerating when I suggest that easily two-thirds of them were rooting for Montana State. Never mind that Illinois State’s campus in Normal, IL, was only about a six-and-a-half hour drive from Nashville. And, I might add, it seemed like the Bobcat fans all arrived at the same time and the same time as Todd and I who walked over ahead of Wayne. We were caught in the throng of fans on the concourse that rivaled the crush of people I’d experienced at venues multiple times larger.
Credit to the NCAA
Clockwise from upper left, this fan was pleased with the outcome of the game; hanging on the field after the game; a look at the stage where the trophy was presented; the ISU and MSU marching bands pregame; unironically, me holding the godforsaken media timeout placquard the red-vested fella stands on the field with that I’ve railed against for years.
I cannot believe I typed that heading, but I have to give credit where credit is due.
In addition to an ideal venue that’s relatively centrally located in the U.S. (Vanderbilt’s campus will serve as host for at least one more title tilt thanks to ongoing renovations at Frisco, TX, Toyota Stadium which hosted the previous 15), the NCAA made this as fan-friendly an event as possible.
There were fan zones prior to the game, a stadium that was small enough to provide excellent sight lines no matter where you were seated, a pregame performance featuring both marching bands, a halftime drone show, and, perhaps the coolest moment of the day, is that fans were invited onto the field 10 minutes following the game’s conclusion to celebrate with each other and be on the field for the trophy presentation. That, I can guarantee, does not occur following the FBS Championship Game.
A Fantastic Finish
From left, the overtime coin flip at midfield; Montana State celebrates postgame; a fireworks display ensued.
As alluded to at the top, I’m going to be hard-pressed to experience a more exciting event than this one.
It seemed for all the world like Montana State was going to cruise to victory. The Bobcats controlled the game from the outset, jumped out to a 14-0 lead 20 minutes in and Illinois State seemed adrift.
The Red Birds seemed to receive a spark with, just under a minute left in the first half, scored a touchdown to make it 14-7, only to allow MSU to score a touchdown with 18 seconds left before the break.
Illinois State cut it to 21-14 before MSU stretched it to 14 points again before the the start of the fourth quarter when the Red Birds scored on their next two possessions to tie it and then, with just under a minute remaining, had a 38-yard field goal attempt to take the lead.
Bobcat Jhase McMillan blocked the kick.
MSU failed to move the ball, Illinois State chose not to even try after receiving it back via punt, and it headed to overtime.
After losing the coin flip, the Red Birds scored on their second play from scrimmage and then had their point after attempt blocked.
Then, facing a fourth-and-10 from the ISU 14-yard-line, Bobcats’ quarterback Justin Lamson hit receiver Taco Dowler on a crossing pattern for a touchdown.
The Bobcats’ point after was good and pandemonium from the Montana State faithful ensued.
Pregame Eats
A few shots of Gabby’s, clockwise from upper left, my burger and sweet potato fries; the explanation why the accolades are displayed in the restroom; the quirky nature continues to the Take a Thought/Leave a Though area; the interior features a counter as well as a modest dining area; the exterior is not much to look at but the food is delicious; the aforementioned restroom with all the accolades.
We arrived pretty early in Nashville after commuting from Chattanooga. So early, in fact, that our hotel wasn’t ready to receive us yet and, serendipitously, it was around lunch time.
As fate would have it, I was traveling with Wayne who knows where to find some off-the-beaten-path grub that’s good, (usually) cheap, and in a memorable location.
Film (and baseball fans) will recall it’s a fictionalized story about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that began operation during World War II in 1943 and operated until 1954.
Madonna portrayed Mae Mordabito in the 1992 film “A League of Their Own,” director Penny Marshall’s tribute to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. (Photo from Columbia Pictures)
What’s lesser known is that the Columbia Pictures dramatization was based on a 1987 documentary of the same name that Kim Wilson Southerland and Kelly Candaele created. It depicted, in large part, the careers of Kelly’s mother and her sister, Helen and Margaret Callaghan, for whom Dottie and Kit from the theatrical version were based.
Baseball fans might recognize the Candaele name. That’s because Kelly’s brother, Casey, played nine seasons with three teams in Major League Baseball from 1986-97.
Baseball fans may have also figured out why this served as the #FanTeaser this week. This weekend, for the first time since the short-lived Ladies Baseball League (1997-98), a women’s professional baseball league begins play.
I know I stayed for the closing credits in the theater. If you’ve never seen them, do yourself a favor and press play. Madonna is on the vocals, and the footage of the women playing at Doubleday Field interspersed with cast photos is simply evocative.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
Mark Yeaton, second from right, and his brother, Doug, pose with members of Mark’s family, from left, grandchild Scout Fisher, wife Sherry Yeaton, daughter Courtney Fisher, and grandchild Noble Fisher. (Photo courtesy of the Yeaton Family)
Many regular readers know I recently had an opportunity to witness the Tour de France in person.
My wife, Carol, and I were about 50 meters from the Stage 7 Finish in Bordeaux earlier this month. It was simultaneously one of the coolest experiences I’ve had and one of the most challenging events to spectate because of its here-and-gone nature.
We parked ourselves on giant concrete slabs over an hour before the riders departed Hagetmau for their 109-mile ride through southwest France.
Having plenty of time sitting in the steamy shade allowed me to reach out to a potential guest recommendation from $80 for 80 Circle of Champion member, Jim Coleman. Jim thought I might like to speak to his former co-worker, Mark Yeaton, who, it turns out, rode his own version of Le Tour, departing each day for 21 straight days from his own driveway in Columbus, IN, riding a different daily route 100 miles at a time to roughly equal the 2,000-plus-mile overall distance of Le Tour.
Mark billed his ride as the Tour de IDES (International Disaster Emergency Services), a non-profit headquartered in Noblesville, IN, that hosts the charity Mark was riding for: Milk for Mothers, which supports young Haitian mothers.
Mark, who teaches sixth grade, strikes me as the type of teacher I’d have liked to have. With boundless energy and a positive outlook on everything, I’m fairly certain that will become evident during our Conversation.
To support Mark’s cause, Milk for Mothers, please visit the Donate page at IDES and scroll down to “Ride for IDES – Mark Yeaton.”
Unlike the other seven players mentioned, Jones has a unique distinction. He will be the first Curaçao-born player enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Longtime Atlanta Brave, Andruw Jones will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame today in Cooperstown, NY. He will become the first-ever Curaçao-born player so enshrined. (Photo from Atlanta Braves)
Andruw Jones flashes some serious leather in this compilation.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
