The Rundown: 5 Things To Know About The Heisman Trophy
On Saturday the Heisman Trophy will be awarded to the best player in college football. It’s similar to your Saturday where you'll have a chance at being named the best dancer of your work holiday party with your signature dance moves. We bet the Heisman winner doesn’t even know how to do the sprinkler.
Who’s winning now?
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS: Oklahoma City we’re in your neck of the woods today to introduce you to Last Night’s Game. If you can’t be at 1 Million Cups Oklahoma City, then you can watch us live at 9 am CST.
Five things to know about the Heisman Trophy
- The award is named after John Heisman who was an innovator and college football coach. He is best known for inventing the forward pass in 1906. (They didn’t really throw the ball before then – kind of like rugby. Weird right)?
- It’s not always easy being a Heisman winner. Reggie Bush (USC, 2005) had to give his back after an NCAA investigation found he seriously broke the rules by receiving impermissible benefits. O.J. Simpson (USC, 1968) sold his when times were tough. (They still are because he is in jail). Johnny Manziel, who was a freshman when he won the award (Texas A&M, 2012), is now a frequent subject of the tabloids and his football career went down the drain.
- The underachiever Marcus Allen (USC, 1981), is the only player to win the Heisman trophy, a College National Championship, a Super Bowl and be named the Super Bowl and regular season MVP.
- The Heisman pose is something every sports fan knows. Check it out and let’s see you replicate it on the dance floor this weekend. Hey it’ll fit right in with your sprinkler and shopping cart move.
- By the numbers:
- 45 pounds: the weight of the trophy
- $255,500: the winning bid at an auction for O.J. Simpson’s Heisman trophy. The winner bought it to “impress his girlfriend.”
- 5: the number of finalists, one of whom will be named the winner
- Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)
- Jabrill Peppers (Michigan)
- Dede Westbrook (Oklahoma)
- Deshaun Watson (Clemson)
- Lamar Jackson (Louisville) – who, according to the sports books, is the overwhelming favorite to win.
Overtime
- The last Navy player to win the Heisman was quarterback Roger Staubach in 1963. Navy unveiled their uniforms for their big rivalry game against Army this Saturday. The Navy uniforms are a throwback to the 1963 season in which Staubach led the Midshipmen to the Cotton Bowl. Side note, the only college football game this weekend is the storied Army vs. Navy game.
Sideline stat
- Oklahoma City Thunder’s (NBA – National Basketball Association) Russell Westbrook beat a milestone set by the man whose company sponsors him. Westbrook, who is sponsored by Jordan, secured his sixth consecutive triple-double. (Michael Jordan had five). Wilt Chamberlain holds the record with nine consecutive triple-doubles.
Coaches’ corner
- What is a triple-double? It’s not a cheeseburger but a basketball term. A triple-double is when a player scores double digits in three of the following categories in a game: points, total rebounds, assists, steals or blocks. Not an easy feat.
The Rundown: Hear Me Roar...Sports Talk
The playoff teams for college football were announced yesterday and unlike finding last year’s $20 bill in your coat pocket, there were no surprises here. Like spending your $20, the games are still going to be exciting.
Cha-ching!
The Last Night’s Game Team
NCAA Football (College)
- One step closer. Yesterday was “Selection Sunday.” It’s not another commercialized Hallmark holiday but where the College Football Playoff Selection Committee determines the final four teams as well as the teams who will play in the various bowl games.
- Bring it on. The final four teams will play each other and the winners of the two games below will play for the National Championship in January.
- Alabama (#1) will play Washington (#4) on 12/31 in the Peach Bowl (Atlanta)
- Clemson (#2) will play Ohio State (#3) on 12/31 in the Fiesta Bowl (Phoenix)
- FOMO. Penn State handed Ohio State their only loss and won the Big 10 Championship, but they were left out of the Final Four. The Nittany Lions will have to settle for a spot in the Rose Bowl against USC.
- Bowling for dollars. Here are the matchups for all 42 bowl games. Find your team and book your flights for an early holiday gift to yourself.
Soccer
- Bittersweet. Last week we saw the unthinkable, the plane that was carrying the Brazilian soccer team, Chapecoense, to their championship games crashed. Their opposition for the championship started a campaign to give the team the championship title, without playing the game. The South American Football Confederation agreed and will name the Brazilian club as 2016 Copa Sudamericana Champions.
NFL (National Football League)
- Homecoming. Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry calls Atlanta home and he returned home this week to play the Atlanta Falcons – nearly two years to the day he was diagnosed with cancer. Berry kicked cancer’s butt and he did the same thing to the Falcons’ offense during his homecoming.
F1 Racing (Formula One)
- Going out on top. Last week we reported that Nico Rosberg won the World Championship, the first of his career. Well it’s going to be his last because the 31-year-old shocked the racing community by announcing his retirement Friday.
Overtime
- This weekend the NFL allowed the players to pay tribute to their favorite charity on their cleats. The cleats will be auctioned off to benefit the players’ designated charity. Need a unique gift for under the tree? You can bid on your beloved player’s cleats here.
Sideline stat
- NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) announced a multiyear deal with Monster Energy as its Premier Series title sponsor. Monster is replacing Sprint (i.e. the Sprint Cup). The dollars and cents of the deal weren’t released but it was rumored that NASCAR wanted 10-years, $1 billion for this sponsorship level. We want to win the lottery too.
Coaches’ corner
- Penn State’s mascot is a Nittany Lion. We’ve never seen a Nittany Lion in the zoo, what is it? The Nittany Lion refers to the mountain lions that are thought to have once roamed Mount Nittany, a University Park (where Penn State is located) landmark.
The Rundown: Soccer, Football and Earthquakes! Oh my!
It’s Friday!
Mic drop,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS - Now that your Thanksgiving leftovers have been demolished, here's an easy Tailgate Treat to fill bellies at a football game or holiday party.
NCAA Football (College)
- Almost there. This weekend is when the College Football Conference Championships take place. This means conference teams play for the winning title and hopefully a better postseason bowl game. There are too many big games for us to cover so you can find out the scoop on each game here.
NFL (National Football League)
- I put a spell on you. New England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski is out for the season as he will undergo back surgery today. Fans believe his injury is due to the “Madden Curse” which refers to the Madden Football video game. In the history of the video game, a significant number of players who were featured on the cover of the game have suffered season ending injuries. Although this is Gronkowski’s third back surgery by the ripe old age of 27.
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- All hail King James. LeBron James has been named Sports Illustrated's "2016 Sportsperson of the Year.” He joins Tiger Woods as the only athlete to receive this honor twice. James was named not only for bringing the City of Cleveland its first major professional sports team championship in 52 years with the Cavaliers, but for his outstanding efforts in the community.
Soccer
- Futbol fun. The biggest rivalry in soccer takes place on Saturday between Spain’s top two teams - Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. These two teams are led by the biggest stars in soccer - Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) and Lionel Messi (Barcelona). The game, known as “El Classico,” is being played for the 114th year. Madrid currently holds a big lead over Barcelona in league standings. Want more? Click here.
MLB (Major League Baseball)
- Welcome home. Major League Baseball agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association to avoid a lockout (i.e. a strike). One of the main points in the agreement removed awarding World Series home-field advantage to the winning league in the All-Star Game. Now that will be decided by the team in the World Series with the best record.
Overtime
- There’s a new trend in football - tents on the sideline and no they aren’t for camping. During the Monday night game Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (NFL) mysteriously went inside the sideline tent. The tent is designed so team trainers can treat players’ injuries without TV cameras, fans or other teams seeing what’s wrong. That’s strategery. (SNL version of Bush…anyone)? The tent was introduced by University of Alabama who began using it at the beginning of the season and the idea spread like wildfire. Check it out.
Sideline stat
- Geologists measured the ground vibrations during last week’s Ohio State – Michigan football game. The two teams' fans we’re so rowdy and created so much seismic activity during the double overtime game that it registered as a 5.79 earthquake.
Coaches’ Corner
- Major League Baseball players have participated in a strike before. The last lockout in baseball was the 1994 season. Yes, the whole season was cancelled.