The cover of Conversations’ guest, Al Pickett’s, sixth published book.
The last time I spoke with Al Pickett, the voice of so many sports in Abilene, TX, I was sitting in the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame – of which Al is the Chair – in the Mall of Abilene to learn about what makes Texas football, West Texas football in particular, so special.
In today’s episode, we give Al the full Conversations with Sports Fans treatment and discuss everything from his early years in Kansas to his moves to Arkansas and, ultimately, Texas.
We also dive into his sixth published book, It Must Be a Big Game: 50 Years of Covering Sports, that aims to take readers on a stroll through memorable moments of Al’s life in the pressbox or sideline. In addition to vignettes of those memorable moments, Al also provides readers with 1-paragraph biographies of all 251 inductees of the Big Country Athletic Hall.
I’m also happy to report that Al’s provided me with a signed copy of It Must Be a Big Game and I’d love to give it away. Simply email me at hilldouglast@gmail.com with your name and email contact by 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, January 25. I’ll conduct a random drawing of those entered and get it out to the winner post-haste.
Alternatively, if you’d like a personalized signed copy from Al, himself, you’re able to contact him at this email address – apickettc@sbcglobal.net – to set that up. Here’s hoping you support an independent author:-)
There have been plenty of epic finishes to NFL playoff games through the years, but few have been as improbable as the one known as the “Music City Miracle” which occurred in Nashville 26 years ago this weekend.
Buffalo Bills’ kicker, Steve Christie, gave the visitors a 16-15 lead when he nailed a 41-yard fourth quarter attempt with 16 seconds remaining.
The Bills chose to pooch kick and it was fielded short by Tennessee Titans running back, Lorenzo Neal. He got the ball to tight end Frank Wycheck who – per the designed play, known as “Home Run Throwback” – tossed it across the field to wide receiver Kevin Dyson who proceeded to scamper – untouched! – 75 yards for the score. Titans’ kicker Al Del Greco added the point after to make the final, 22-16.
Tennessee Titan tight end Frank Wycheck keeps the “Music City Miracle” alive during Wildcard Weekend against the Buffalo Bills on January 8, 2000. (Photo YouTube Screen Grab)
A few curiosities about the circumstances of this play:
First, despite having just achieved a first down and gotten out of bounds in so doing, the Bills chose to send Christie out for the field goal on first down with 20 seconds remaining.
Second, Dyson was not a Tennessee special teams member and had almost no familiarity with “Home Run Throwback.” As such, he received a tutorial from Titans head coach Jeff Fisher on the sidelines just beforehand. Dyson was only on the field because primary return man Derrick Mason was injured earlier in the game and backup returner, Anthony Dorsett, was dealing with cramps.
Third, the Bills had sustained quite a few injuries on defense and sought volunteers to cover the kick. Several players on the field for Buffalo had limited or no special teams experience during the season and failed to maintain their lane integrity during the kick coverage.
Fourth, Wycheck’s throwback to Dyson was deemed a lateral by officials on the field and was upheld during a replay review, though many in Buffalo likely still argue the ball went forward. What do you think? This video aims to prove it was a clean lateral.
And, as you’ve no doubt deduced, there’s no video this week because, well, the NFL locks their stuff down. The best I can do is offer a link to the play here with the Titans’ radio crew on the call.
Tennessee went on to defeat both the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl XXXIV where it lost to the St. Louis Rams, 23-16, when the Titans’ Dyson was stopped one yard short of the goal line the game’s final play in another fantastic finish known as “The Longest Yard.”
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 112th CFL Grey Cup logo adorns midfield at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium.
I grew up in a suburb of Detroit, MI, and – as such – benefitted from the ability to occasionally tune into Windsor, Ontario, television Channel 9, CBET.
It was, essentially, the same as the National Football League, but radically different all at the same time. There are 12 players on offense and defense, forward motion is allowed prior to the snap of the ball, the field includes a Center/55-yard-line meaning it’s 10-yards longer than the NFL, the goal posts sit on the goal line, the endzone is 20 yards deep instead of the 10 in the NFL, and the field is nearly 12 yards wider than an NFL field, the ability to score single points (aka rouges), and – oh yeah – the offense has only three downs to achieve a first down (e.g. failure to gain 10 yards in two downs usually led to a punt).
It was good fun to tune in on occasion, witness the exotic rules by which it operated, and swap stories about the legend of Dieter Brock and others with my neighbor Jim from down the street whenever a game of side yard football would break out on Junior Street.
So when I began charting my course for Around the World in 80 Sporting Events, the CFL Grey Cup (the league’s annual championship game) was not high atop it, but after tuning in to the 2024 final, won by the Argonauts over the Blue Bombers (41-24), it moved up … way up.
And when I found a willing travel partner in my friend Wayne, well, it was settled.
We planned to be in the Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium on Sunday, November 16, to see the CFL equivalent of the NFL’s Super Bowl … the 112th CFL Grey Cup.
The Journey North
It was a gorgeous day to travel from Fargo into Manitoba. (Photo by Wayne Wilson)
As noted in Event No. 31 (Where the Bison Run Free), flying from Detroit to Winnipeg and then staying in Winnipeg during Grey Cup weekend, was cost prohibitive.
That said, Wayne and I put on our cartography hats and began searching for relatively nearby that we could travel to and then drive to Winnipeg.
Fargo, ND, came back the hands down winner in terms of cost (under $300 round trip) and proximity (under three hours drive time), and a bonus event that was most assuredly not on my original list of 80 – a North Dakota State Bison home football game in the Fargodome!
So Sunday morning, following the Bison’s shellacking of the University of Northern Iowa, 48-16, Wayne and I climbed in our rental and began the journey straight up Interstate 29.
When I say there was not much to see along the way, I really mean there was not much to see along the way.
Once we passed Grand Forks, home to the University of North Dakota, it was pretty much prarie and farmland for as far as the eye could see.
It did dawn on me though – about halfway into our journey – that this plan to fly into Fargo and drive to Winnipeg could have gone sideways in a hurry had an early-season blizzard descended upon this part of the country. As with many highways throughout the Great Plains, I-29 featured gates on nearly every entrance ramp and even a few on the highway proper, to close it down in the event of unsafe traveling conditions.
Fortunately for us, we had bright sun and cloudless skies for our journey into Manitoba.
Speaking of Manitoba, shortly after we crossed the border near the community of West Lynne, MB, I spotted what appeared to be a Manitoba Welcome Center. To my eyes, at least, it appeared closed as no cars appeared out front, though upon circling the facility we found one in the back.
Wayne agreed to run in and see if it was open. He sent word that it was and ambled in.
Greg, the elder of two employees who were manning the operation, was delighted to engage us in conversation, give us his tips on Winnipeg, and who his favorite CFL team was (the Blue Bombers, naturally). He did let us know, however, that – unlike the American Super Bowl that prices many out of attending – we’d likely see fans of all nine teams and maybe even a few fans of the Baltimore Stallions (the only non-Canadian team to ever win the Grey Cup in 1995) who still make the annual pilgrimage to the event.
Before we parted ways, Greg handed us several pins (Canada, Manitoba, and Churchill, [home to the polar bears]) and even tossed in a custom-made key chain that Greg told us he fashions himself and wished us a safe journey.
The Forks
Clockwise from upper left, the we were gifted a sample of the cold lemon-pepper pickerel bites from Fergies Fish & Chips were delightful in the Market’s food hall; I did not return home with this fox hat; table tennis was an option for visitors off the food hall; the park offered terrific views of the Canadian National stage, museum, and Winnipeg sign; speaking of which, I am in this photo, though difficult to see; a look across the Red River at the grounds of Saint Boniface Cathedral.
We didn’t have much time to see central Winnipeg, but the handful of people I’d talked to who had visited prior, suggested a stop at The Forks as a sort of quick-hitter.
With limited time, we realized a worthwhile tour of the museum was out, so we focused our efforts on the park area and the market.
Though an overcast and generally grey day (I wonder why!?!) it was not terribly difficult to see how the park area would be lively in the summer months (and, presumably, winter too). It offered views of the Red River, plenty of pathways, and open spaces for picnics and the like.
The Forks Market was, primarily, food-based, with purveyors encircling a dining area to create a thriving food hall. As we peered into Fergies Fish & Chips display case, one of the employees graciously provided us with samples of the cold lemon-pepper pickerel bites: Delish! There were a handful of shops as well, but Wayne and I weren’t on the lookout for exotic fur hats, sundries, or any new books so it was a quick stroll through those areas.
Princess Auto Stadium
The exterior of Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.
While the campus was quiet when we arrived a few hours before what we thought was kickoff (5 p.m. CST), the area surrounding the stadium was hopping.
And, as our man Greg at the visitor’s center predicted, it didn’t take long to spot the colors of all nine CFL teams in the crowd as we queued up to get into the official tailgate area.
That’s when we really experienced the largese of the crowd.
As we stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a crush of people listening to a band we were unfamiliar with, we quickly abandoned the idea of those promised inexpensive drinks and hot dogs and began working our way to the upper level and the entry gates.
Clockwise from upper left, the entrance gate into Princess Auto Stadium; various views of the crowd at within the official CFL Tailgate area … and a selfie while waiting in line.
Countdown to Kickoff
We were in the upper reaches of Princess Auto Stadium which seats 32,343. I’m happy to report there were a few seats behind us … but not many.
As is, seemingly, the case with any major standalone event such as this, there was a pre-game on-field concert; this time by the Canadian band, Our Lady Peace (I was unfamiliar with the setlist). Likewise, there were plenty of dignataries introduced and, because Canadian sports leagues hold their trophies in high regard (see the NHL’s Stanley Cup, sports’ oldest trophy), a pair of Canadian Mounties stood sentry near a goal line with the Grey Cup (sports’ second oldest trophy).
Beyond that, and – of course – a ceremonial coin flip featuring Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (who, as is a global phenomenon apparently, was booed), there was a flyover featuring the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CF-18 fighters (which we could not see due to the stadium’s overhang), the run up to kickoff was not unlike the many other football games I’ve attended.
Some of the sites during pregame inside Princess Auto Stadium. From left, a Montreal Alouettes fan was ready for action as was this Saskatchewan Roughriders supporter; onfield fireworks highlighted the pregame introductions; and I discovered this jersey was not an homage to me, but rather for Winnipeg Blue Bomber linebacker, Adam Bighill.
Manitoba country music singer, Catie St. Germain, performs “O Canada” prior to kickoff.
The Game
Like I noted at the top, once the game began, it was not unlike the many other football games I’ve seen through the years … except I got to witness a rouge/single when Sakatchewan punter Jesse Mirco‘s 69-yard boomer was not returned, continued to marvel at the forward motion on a field that was both wider and longer than those found in the States, and had to keep reminding myself that second down acts like third down in America, which – combined with the other differences – makes for a more free-wheeling style of football.
Wayne and I were rooting for the Roughriders.
Similar to the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, the Roughriders are community-owned, that is, by community members and fans who are shareholders. Widely considered one of the most financially successful and stable CFL franchises, it was hard not to rally behind the ‘Riders.
About a 6-hour drive along the Trans-Canada Highway from Regina to Winnipeg, there was a strong presence in Princess Auto Stadium’s stands for Saskatchewan as well.
And if that wasn’t enough reason to get on board the Roughrider bandwagon, this was the franchise’s 20th appearance in the Grey Cup. It had only won four of the previous 19.
I’m pleased to report our team won.
After Montreal took a 7-1 lead near the end of the first quarter (remember those singles!), Saskatchewan scored the next 24 points before the Alouettes cut the deficit to 25-17 midway through the fourth quarter.
That’s the way it ended when the Roughriders’ defense stood firm on a final minute drive by Montreal that began at the Als’ own 23-yard-line with 57 seconds left and ended on a Hail Mary attempt from the Saskatchewan 53-yard-line as time expired.
Clockwise from upper left, the Roughriders scrimmage from deep inside their own territory; this Saskatchewan fan was so stoked following the win he lost his shirt; this trio who sat next to me were three generations of Roughriders’ fans and they’d attended every home game this season; the names Dieter Brock and Bud Grant on the Blue Bombers’ ring of honor brought back some memories; Wayne was splitting his attention between the action on the field and the Detroit Lions’ game in Philadelphia on his phone; the formation just before Montreal’s final play of the game.
You can imagine our general indifference when it was announced about a month prior that MGK, formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly, was scheduled to appear.
Neither Wayne nor I were familiar with his body of work nor did we devote much time in studying up beforehand. I recognized one tune, “Lonely Road,” and I dare say that was only because the hook he samples on the track (which was recorded as a duet with Jelly Roll) is John Denver‘s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
A portion of MGK’s “Lonely Road” during the 112th CFL Grey Cup halftime performance.
Speaking of Lonely Roads
Once we cleared the crazy post-game traffic in and around the stadium and made our way onto Manitoba Highway 75, Wayne and I enjoyed a few hours of a lonely road.
Wayne watched the Lions’ game (another in a season-filled with frustrating losses) until the stream konked out on his phone and we enjoyed – thankfully – a worry free and relatively quiet drive the remainder of the way back to Fargo.
If I don’t make it to a Super Bowl (a real possibility due to the high-cost of tickets) I’ll walk away from my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project content that I did, in fact, experience a professional football championship game where it was accessible to fans from across the country at a price point that made it affordable for families to attend and experience the joy of seeing their team win in person, together.
A look at Gate City Bank Field in the Fargodome before November’s Northern Iowa-North Dakota State game.
My pants would be BLAZING if I tried to tell you with a straight face that when I sat down and began crafting a list of 80 of the most iconic sporting events and venues to experience during my journey Around the World in 80 Sporting Events, that a visit to the Fargodome for a North Dakota State Bison football game was on that list.
It was not!
In fact, until I began shopping airfares from Detroit to Winnipeg, Manitoba, with an eye toward attending the 112th CFL Grey Cup (which is Event No. 32) a trip to Fargo was never a consideration.
And then I saw the airfare to Winnipeg!
As I searched for nearby airports my options were, um, extremely limited. In fact, Fargo was pretty much the beginning and end of the list. Located a mere 3-hour drive from Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium where the Grey Cup was scheduled.
As a happy bonus, there was a flight out of Flint, MI, through O’Hare in Chicago to Fargo that was rougly a 67% discount on what it would be to fly directly into Winnipeg. Lodging costs, as one might expect for the Canadian equivalent of the Super Bowl, were considerably higher in Winnipeg that weekend than Fargo as well.
Having settled on flying to Fargo and renting a car then the curiosity in me checked to see what else might be occurring in North Dakota that weekend.
There were a couple of options that leapt off the page:
The defending FCS National Champion and top-ranked Bison had a mid-afternoon Saturday game against the University of Northern Iowa.
Now, I love college hockey – heck, covering it was one of my former jobs! – but the opportunity to see one of college football’s most successful programs, regardless of division, was too good an opportunity to pass up.
The Tipping Point
Erv Inniger, at right, was all too happy to play the role of host during my visit to NDSU.
Any lingering doubt about adding a NDSU football game to my 80 events was dismissed following a text exchange with Erv Inniger.
If the name Erv Inniger sounds familiar, there are several possible reasons for that:
Back in the early 1960s, Erv helped lead tiny Berne (IN) High School to three sectional titles, two regional championships, and a semi-state crown;
He played three years at Indiana University and was a captain on the 1966-67 Big Ten Champion Hoosiers’ squad;
He then coached at Golden Valley (MN) Lutheran College, Augsburg (MN) College, and NDSU, where he remains the career leader in coaching victories with 244;
He is a past-guest of Conversations with Sports Fans (S:1, E:30).
When I texted Erv to see if he might be able to help Wayne and I secure Bison tickets he seemed eager to assist. The fact that he’s a former schoolmate and longtime friend of my father, Jerry, might have greased the skids on my request, but after meeting Erv at the Fargodome prior to the NDSU-UNI game, I suspect he’d have assisted if I was some rando who stumbled upon his phone number.
Following his coaching days, Erv moved into the role of Associate Athletic Director for Development, which meant he, basically, worked the greater Fargo business community for donations to the athletic department.
That was evident as he took Wayne and I around the tailgate lot outside the Fargodome meeting folks such as Bison Bob, the Milkman, and myriad others who he grew to know during his 33 total years with the University.
Mid-November Tailgating in Fargo
The tailgating scene in Fargo mid-November was lively. Clockwise from upper left, some had buses, others had enclosed tents with plenty of weights or trailers to haul their supplies; the wind was stiff on this sunny November afternoon (check out those flags!); my buddy Wayne laughs with the locals.
The 40-degree temperature that day in Fargo was actually above average and the sunny skies only didn’t hurt either. What did hurt were steady winds that early afternoon in excess of 20 miles per hour. It certainly put a bit of a bite in the air as we sampled the fare at a few tailgates.
That got me to thinking about the conundrum that is dressing for the outdoor tailgating weather but also for attending a game indoors where the promised temperature is 70 degrees? I’m sure Detroit Lions’ fans and any other northern domed cities can help with this, but it was rather new to me.
Much like my time spent in Fairbanks, I found these Fargonians prepared for the elements. There were tents with plenty of weights to help anchor and prevent the wind from recreating scenes from The Wizard of Oz. Several set ups that we saw had some version of propane-fueled portable heaters and many had grills for the preparation of their protein of choice. And, yes, as you might have expected, there didn’t seem to be any problem keeping beverages chilled.
Easily the coolest cat we met during Erv’s tour was the previously mentioned, Bison Bob.
Bob Clark is a fan … a big fan … a rabid fan … a well-traveled fan.
When we met Bob, the sandwich board out front of his tailgate proudly announced that “Today was Bison Bob’s 560th consecutive game,” which means – as you read this – Bison Bob is at 561 consecutive games and holding because the Bison season has ended. The streak began in 1982 and he perservered through the COVID-19 pandemic and its wonky rules about fan allotments and who was allowed to attend.
That’s me and NDSU superfan, Bob Clark (aka Bison Bob), whose now witnessed 561 Bison games in person (Photos by Wayne Wilson).
A Visit to the Field
The view from the field, Wayne and I, a wide shot from the field, and a look at the pylon. (Photos by Troy Goergen and Wayne Wilson)
In his unofficial role as Hospitality Hank, Erv set up an opportunity for Wayne and I to get on the field pre-game with Senior Associate AD, Troy Goergen (my guest on a recent bonus Conversation about NDSU).
As Troy walked us down to field level we learned a bit of the history of the Fargodome.
Despite being built on the NDSU campus, it’s owned and operated by the City of Fargo;
It’s a multi-purpose venue and has hosted major concert acts, basketball games (including NBA exhibitions), commencement ceremonies, as well as football through the years;
The artificial turf is actually one continuous piece of turf that can be rolled up and housed inside one end of the facility, e.g. Magic Carpet system;
Due to static electricity potentially building up, groomers of the turf include some diluted fabric softener as they prep the field prior to games;
It’s purported to be the largest indoor event space between Minneapolis and Seattle.
From the outside, the facility is rather unassuming, and even once inside, it doesn’t seem all that large. However, from the field level, it’s a different perspective. Wayne and I are both veterans of many big stadiums and even we had to admit it was an impressive venue, especially when one considers its location … Fargo.
Equally impressive was watching Bison sophomore placekicker Eli Ozick go through his pre-game work. He was easily booming field goals from over 60 yards. If you’re an NFL general manager looking for your next kicker, you could do a lot worse than Eli.
Bison kicker Eli Ozick is about to nail a 46-yard field goal.
NDSU’s Storied History
Perhaps there’s not enough room to hang all of the banners? The Fargodome just includes years on existing banners (make room for 2025 for Conference Championships).
When I mentioned near the top that North Dakota State, historically, is one of college football’s most decorated programs I don’t believe I was exaggerating.
The school first fielded a football team in 1894 and, beginning in 1921, joined the now-defunct North Central Conference and played at the NCAA Division II level. During these 83 seasons, the Bison won eight national championships (1965, 1968, 1969, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1990). In 2003 they, along with South Dakota State University, made the athletic jump to the NCAA Division I level, though each play in the Football Championship Subdivision.
While it took the better part of a decade, the Bison became a major factor at the FCS level beginning in 2011. Since its first FCS Championship that year, its won nine more – including five in a row (’11-’15) and three in a row (’17-’19). Those 10 titles are the most in the history of FCS which begin in 1978 as NCAA I-AA. At one point during that stretch in mid-2010s run which included victory at Iowa, the Bison were receiving votes in the AP Top 25 polls and reached as high as No. 27.
Oh yeah, during its history, NDSU has won outright or shared 39 conference titles, including 12 of the past 15 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. It won the 2025 title by defeating intra-state rival, North Dakota, 15-10, the week prior to our visit.
As we heard plenty of times during our day at the Fargodome, NDSU fans are more-than-a-little spoiled by the success. That was evidenced by a less-than full house during our game (14,736 out of a possible 19,000) and a crowd that largely made its way to the exits following the halftime festivities with the Bison leading 31-2.
The Game
Clockwise from upper left, Thundar gives the fans the heart sign following the victory; the scoreboard says it all; the Bison take a knee post game at midfield.
As noted previously, this one was over pretty early.
North Dakota scored on two of its first three possessions, then crazily yielded a safety, before adding 17 more points before halftime for that 31-2 lead. It grew to 38-2 early in the third quarter when Bison quarterback Cole Payton busted off a 64-yard touchdown run.
By that time, NDSU began providing its bench players with plenty of opportunities to gain experience and showcase their wares en route to a 48-16 final score that really didn’t seem that close. The Bison outgained the Panthers 477-201 yards and had nearly twice as many first downs (24-13).
With the Canadian Football League‘s 112th Grey Cup scheduled for Sunday evening in Winnipeg, we figured, let’s take the #FanTeaser to the great white north.
A case has been made – and who are we to argue it!?! – that Boston College product Doug Flutie is the greatest players in the history of the CFL.
If Flutie, in fact, is the greatest to ever play north of the American border, it was a circuitous route to the that top spot.
A 4-year quarterback at BC, Flutie capped his career by winning both the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award his senior year. That was also the season he capped an improbable comeback against the Miami Hurricanes the Friday after Thanksgiving by launching a 48-year “Hail Mary” to Gerard Phelan in the game’s closing seconds to deliver the Eagles a 47-45 victory.
Flutie was selected in the 1985 territorial draft by the New Jersey Generals of the long-since-defunct USFL and wound up signing the most lucrative professional football contract at the time (five years/$7 million). The Los Angeles Rams later drafted him in the 11th round of the 1985 NFL Draft.
Flutie lasted but one season with the Generals because the league folded. The Rams traded his rights mid-season in 1986 to the Chicago Bears for a passel of draft picks. He played abley in place of an injured Jim McMahon. The Bears traded him to the New England Patriots prior to the start of the 1987 season.
Flutie crossed the picket line to but wound up only playing one game during this first season back in the northeast. He came off the bench a year later to lead New England to a 6-3 mark as starter before being benched himself. He saw limited action in 1989 and was released by the Patriots.
With no NFL takers, Flutie cast his gaze northward and signed with the CFL’s BC Lions in Vancouver. He spent two seasons in BC, the next four with the Calgary Stampeders, and his final two CFL seasons with the Toronto Argonauts.
Quarterback Doug Flutie amid the snowflakes for the Toronto Argonauts in Canadian Football League’s 84th Grey Cup in Hamilton, ON. (Photo by Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)
During those eight seasons he established the franchise record at each stop for single-season passing attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns. All but one (the completions in Toronto) still stand.
He won six Most Outstanding Players Awards (including four straight) during his eight seasons in Canada, he led his team to the CFL Grey Cup on fours occasions and won three of those (1992, 1996, and 1997). The Argonauts’ back-to-back titles is just one of two back-to-back winners since 1982 (the Montreal Alouettes turned the trick in 2009 and 2010). He was named the Grey Cup’s MVP in each of his three victories.
A possible rival emerged around the turn of the 21st Century in the form of fellow quarterback Anthony Calvillo who, over 19 CFL seasons, threw for nearly 80,000 yards, 455 touchdowns, and led the Alouettes to three Grey Cup titles and won three CFL Most Outstanding Player Awards.
For his part, Flutie returned to the NFL where he played nine more seasons for the Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers, and, again, with the Patriots. He earned Comeback Player of the Year honors in 1998 with the Bills, leading them to a 7-3 record as a starter.
The condensed version of 1996’s 84th CFL Grey Cup aka the “Snow Bowl.”
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.
An ultra-talented prep star at Indianapolis Warren Central, George was named the first-ever recipient of the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award following his senior season in 1985. He matriculated to Purdue University just up I-65 in West Lafayette where he played all 11 games as a freshman, posting a 3-8 record and throwing a Big Ten-high 15 interceptions against only four touchdowns.
Boilermakers head coach Leon Burtnett resigned following the season and George was trying to move to the University of Miami but then-Coach Jimmie Johnson would not guarantee him the starting spot. Instead, he transferred to the University of Illinois and played a total of 22 games over his two seasons in Champaign-Urbana where he led the Fighting Illini to a 10-2 record and a Citrus Bowl victory over the University of Virginia. The Illini finished the season ranked No. 10 in the nation.
Jeff George spent three seasons quarterbacking Big Ten football teams. He played at Purdue University as a freshman before transferring to the University of Illinois for his final two seasons. (Purdue photo by George Gojkovich/Getting Images; Illinois photo by Bernstein Associates/Getty Images)
After learning he was guaranteed to be a top five draft selection, George gave up his final year of eligibility and was the first overall draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 1990. The Colts traded two draft picks, offensive tackle Chris Hinton and wide receiver Andre Rison to Atlanta for the right to draft George first overall. Indianapolis signed him to a then-record $15 million deal.
From there, it was an adventure for George. He lasted four seasons in Indianapolis before the Colts moved him – ironically – to Atlanta in a trade for three draft picks including one that became Marvin Harrison. Before his 12-year career ended, he also took snaps for the Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, and Washington Redskins and also spent time on the rosters of the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears.
He had a dynamite arm but the head did not always seem to be calibrated accordingly.
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.
Latin anyone? Does pater familia mean anything? There are few families that have had the same impact on a sport that the Manning Family has had on football.
The patriarch (e.g. pater familia) was Archie Manning, a 3-year starter for the Ole Miss Rebels in the rugged Southeastern Conference. While there, Manning finished fourth and third in the Heisman Trophy voting his junior and senior seasons’ respectively (Oklahoma’s Steve Owens in 1969 and Stanford’s Jim Plunkett in 1970).
After an 8-3 finish and Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas in 1969, Manning – entering his senior season – was the Sports Illustrated coverboy for its annual college football edition. The cover photo (taken by Art Shay) was from the previous November when the Rebels waxed rival Tennessee, 38-0, in a game played in Jackson, MS.
Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning was a Sports Illustrated coverboy 55 years ago in this image captured during a game with Tennessee the previous November in Jackson, MS. (Photo by Art Shay/Sports Illustrated)
Now, in a full-circle moment of sorts, Archie’s namesake and grandson, Arch Manning, is Sports Illustrated‘s 2025 digital college football preview edition coverboy. (You’re able to read SI writer Michael Rosenberg’s feature on him here. ) And, like his granddad 55 years earlier, Arch is a pre-season Heisman favorite. Though, quite unlike Archie the elder, he’s only started two college games at this point.
Archie Manning’s grandson, Arch, is set to take the helm of the Texas Longhorns offense this season. (Photo by Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
For those wondering, the Manning family tree finds Archie at the top, his oldest son, Cooper, is followed by Peyton, and then Eli. Arch is the son of Cooper who was never able to play football as a wide receiver at his dad’s alma mater because of a spinal stenosis diagnosis.
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.
A fixture at New York’s WNBC for over 25 years, Berman won mutliple Emmy Awards and New York Sportcaster of the Year accolades during this career that also found him doing studio work for World Series and Super Bowls.
