The hemming & hawing over the quarterbacks life choices continued but were overshadowed by the long-anticipated release of Jeff Gladney after his grand jury indictment was announced. The M.O. of the team has been to prioritize good citizens for their roster but this was a line that they had not yet had to cross. They could have waited to let the legal process play out future but the move sends as definitive of a message as any single action could.
The week wasn't much better for the other first round pick last year, as Justin Jefferson is said to have sprained his AC joint during practice on Friday. Word is that he'll be good to go by Cincy with rest & treatment but it's still another blow for a team that's put so many chips in on this season.
An optimist could take the position that they're getting the issues all out of the way now so that the season is smooth sailing, but I'm not so new that I believe that.
The annual rite of camp beginning is the inclusion of several stars making preseason lists. This week it was an All-American team which included Hunter Luepke, Cordell Volson & Christian Watson on the "1st team" while Noah Gindorff, Spencer Waege & James Kaczor were with the twos. 6 out of a 120 is on the low end but allows for guys to prove they deserve to be considered among the best in the country.
Watson was also on the watch list for the Walter Payton award, along with 34 others - 7 total receivers. He's capable of top-10-in-the-country type play but we'll have to see what he does with the extra bright spotlight.
A third announcement from the athletics department focused on the now completed men's 🏀 schedule. The highest-profile dates came in the second half of November as they will be at Arizona & Creighton. Coming in third as a date to put on the calendar is December 30, when the Bunnies come to the SHAC. As the odds-on favorites to battle for the 1 seed yet again keep it in mind! Last year's Cinderella will be coming to town for the second-to-last home game, Feb 17. So if you want to possibly watch a guy score 40 that may be your best chance.
In #KeepingUpWithTheProfessionals news, Bennett Hostetler has already been mashing in the minors for Miami. Try saying that five times fast. With as long as he was productive for the Herd, it shouldn't come as a surprise but it's still a pleasant way for him to begin his pro career!
Which leaves the best for last
Otter Mountain threw his way into the shot put finals & finished 10th in Tokyo. If you're tempted to dismiss that, consider whether you are the 10th best in the world at anything. The best part is that his story seems like it's barely begun!
With campus move-ins near at hand Concordia announced it's next head men's 🎾 coach, Nate Young. The move separates the coaching duties for the first time since 2005 and has the markings of a beneficial change for the athletes.
After the offense propelled them to take two of three against Kansas City to start the week, the Birds put the pieces together for all three against Sioux City. In the opener Dylan Kelly & Leo Pina put balls in the seats to lift them 5 - 3. In the series clincher they got 10 Ks by Ryan Flores while putting up a touchdown. They clinched with one less run but only gave up two runs on nine hits by SC. Offense + pitching & defense. The simple formula that will get it done more often than not!
Even with the wins they're still behind Chicago & Milwaukee but the 5-win week has them within a good series of leapfrogging both of them. With the next 15 games against sub-.500 teams, including 12 at home, they won't have a better chance to throttle into first place in the North!
As a "hold my drink" to some of the other late announcements, Moorhead ⚽️'s Olivia Watson & Maria Zanotti were among the academic All-Americans. The standouts, bound for NDSU & Mankato State respectively, show that excellence on the field & in the classroom are still achievable!
The best for last also applies to the week in Legion action.
But before the end came the beginning, and that was stupendous as well!
West Fargo's 13U team punched their ticket to New York by taking the Midwest Plains region!
Then came the games in Sioux Falls
Post 400 squeaked out a 1 - 0 win against Hopkins, with Kobe Senn & Jake Jaroszewski commanding the mound. West Fargo also opened with a win, 6 - 4 over Osseo, as Casey Clemenson went the distance. They couldn't string together any offense in the second game as Renner pushed WF one game from elimination, 2 - 0. Hopkins finished their season Friday, 5 - 3.
in their next game Post 400 had to overcome a rain delay to defeat Sioux Falls 6 - 5. In the game Eli Mach drove in three of the runs with a double while being driven in by Easton Rerick as the go-ahead. They clinched a spot in Sunday's game with a 5 - 0 win over Renner as Caden Graf threw a complete game. A Saturday contest that was far more meaningful for De Pere (WI) finished 13 - 0 in favor of the other guys, who subsequently lost to Hopkins to set-up a rematch of the tourney opener.
It was Post 400's game from the first inning. Limited to three runs after 1 they continued to build on it until a grand slam in the fifth made it 10 - 1. Hopkins did a fair job limiting the 400's ability to convert scoring opportunities. It could have been a 20+ run game by the Stars.
After barely making it out of North Dakota they've managed a story that will be discussed for years to come, regardless of how the tournament goes for team!
Lance Oster made the All-Tournament team for West Fargo along with Caden Graf, Ethan Claus, Colten Alme & MVP Kobe Senn for the champs.
The three game round-robin will begin with Honolulu on Thursday. They'll go against Tupelo, Mississippi on Friday and conclude with Ridge, Maryland on Sunday. A top-2 finish would earn them a game on Monday to determine the championship matchup.
Don't bet against someone playing with house money!
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