‘Tis the season to view the glass half full and be grateful you got to drink the other half. This applies whether you’re sipping eggnog, hot chocolate, or your favorite holiday cocktail. As you are celebrating this joyous season with family and friends, please check the political conversation and anything that may be perceived as instigating at the Merry Christmas mat before you walk in the door. This will help keep the spirit joyful and bright.
Now for my public service message that references those favorite holiday cocktails or maybe that eggnog, depending on what’s in it. There is so much going on this time of year in addition to all the holiday happenings featured within our paper. From the sports side of things, it includes a lot of at-home tailgate parties as you watch college football bowl games, the College Football Playoffs, and the NFL season, which now actually means something. Go Steelers and Fly Eagles Fly.
Please don’t drink and drive or drive impaired by some other substance. This is the quickest way to turn the holiday joy into pain and sorrow. Not just for you but for all those who love you and will be affected. Let’s make it an easy, work-free season for our emergency service and law enforcement folks. That’s the best way to say Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and thank you.
Now back to college football — and remember, I’m keeping the glass completely full of positivity.
I’ll start with the University of Connecticut football program. What an amazing season Millionaire footballer Joe Fagnano has had for the Huskies. He has been talked about nationally most of the year for his amazing play. UConn posted a 9-3 season while sitting on his shoulder pads and will play in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl versus Army later this month. If you remember, he was the most valuable player in this same bowl game last year — leading the Huskies to victory.
Joe has thrown 28 touchdowns, covered 3,441 yards through the air, and had only one interception. He has a great opportunity to play at the next level, and as I watch the shortage of good quarterbacks and most teams holding the rights to four, I believe he will find his way onto an NFL roster. Merry Christmas, Joe Fagnano, and thank you from all the football fans right here in the West Branch Valley! Especially from this one who understands how difficult it is to win and post those kinds of numbers at UConn.
In staying on the college gridiron and staying out of the mud in Happy Valley as I have done since the firing of James Franklin, Penn State made a great hire, getting Matt Campbell away from Iowa State, where he had been the most successful coach in program history. He will do a great job; his record against top 10 teams during his years with the Cyclones is evidence of that. He won 4 out of 10 against teams with much more talent than he had. Most importantly, he is a class act that will represent the Blue and White as that positive influence that is much needed. You will see a much-improved Lions team next year helped by the schedule they play. Be patient, Penn State fans, the return to National prominence is in the near future.
My last thought on the 2025 college season is that it’s going to be very difficult to keep that glass half full of Irish whiskey, but I’ll do my best. Notre Dame football is a big thing in our area and nationally. They definitely deserved the opportunity to play in the College Football Playoff. In case you missed it, they got snubbed and were not invited. My non-Irish eyes tell me, they’re one of the top five teams and had a legit shot at running the table for a national championship. I would have had them within that magical 12 teams without any trouble. The College Football Playoff committee completely failed at its job: inviting the best 12 teams. This could have been done simply by leaving Alabama out. They had absolutely no business being in, based on their play in the last month of the season, not just the beatdown they took in the SEC Championship game. Sorry, Bama fans, I know that glass isn’t half full; however, at least you’re still playing.
On the other side of the new year, I will have a column about the state of college football and the issues that could eventually completely empty the glass if not corrected. This was all created by money and power, as NCAA Division I college football has become a 265-team professional league.
A last-minute reminder, time is running out to get your donation into the Red Kettle at the front of our office. There’s a full cup of Christmas candy and positivity for you if you drop by. And we’ll double up your generosity.
God Bless America.
