After a week of warmer-than-usual mid-September weather, be prepared for the upcoming changes as the calendar soon turns to October when fall really settles in and the temperature may vary from the 30s to the 70s. We probably won’t see many more days in the 80s, but let’s hope that we have lots of dry, calm afternoons with temps in the 50s or 60s, with maybe about a dozen “Indian Summer” days in the low 70s sprinkled in during the middle of the month!
Recently, I saw the results of a favorite-season survey on WCCO TV after weekend news anchor LIz Collin (from Worthington with relatives in both Heron Lake and Brewster) was asked that question. After a bit of hesitation, Liz responded by saying, “I would have to go with summer.”
I tend to agree with Liz, but the winner — by a large margin — was fall. Yes, 61 percent of those in the survey, chose fall as their favorite season. Summer ranked second with 27 percent of the vote, while spring (just seven percent) and winter (four percent) were way behind. I was not surprised that fall — with its moderate temperatures and changing colors — was first, but by that high of a percentage? I was somewhat shocked that spring, coming on the heels of winter, wasn’t the favorite season for more of those surveyed.
For sports enthusiasts, October certainly has to rank near the top. Football season is in full swing at the professional, collegiate and high school levels, and the Major League Baseball playoffs are followed by the World Series — there’s lots of excitement in the air, especially with the Twins playing at least three games.
I saw a most interesting sports program on ESPN 2 last week. It was about the history and tradition of college football’s Southeastern Conference, known as the SEC. This particular episode was entitled: SEC Football, Part 2.
When I tuned in, the documentary was showing highlights of Paul “Bear” Bryant’s years as the head football coach at Kentucky (before he went to Texas A&M and later became a legend at Alabama). Bryant had good years coaching Wildcat football, but left because he was still “second fiddle” to basketball coach Adolph Rupp.
The program also showed a lot about Tennessee and all the success the Volunteers had under the coaching leadership of General Robert Neyland, for who the University’s football stadium is named after. Neyland was a great innovator, being the first to utilize sideline telephones and study game film on opponents.
Three of the best SEC players of the 50s were Tennessee’s Johnny Majors, LSU’s Billy Cannon and Georgia’s Fran Tarkenton.Highlights of all three were shown, including Cannon’s spectacular punt return for a touchdown against Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) on Halloween Night of ‘59, considered to be one of the greatest plays in college football history.
A flashy-running single wing tailback, Majors finished second to Notre Dame two-way star Paul Hornung for the Heisman Trophy in 1956. Hornung, a standout on both offense (quarterback) and defense (safety), won the award despite the Fighting Irish only winning two of 10 games that year with the “Golden Boy” being converted from halfback to quarterback.
Hornung went on to star as a running back and kicker for the Green Bay Packers, while Majors had a tremendous career as a collegiate football coach (Iowa State, 1968-1972; University of Pittsburgh, 1973-1976 and 1993-1996; and Tennessee, 1977-1992), winning 185 games and an undefeated national championship (12-0) with Pitt in ‘76 after a Sugar Bowl victory.
Cannon did everything for Louisiana State University in the 50s, including winning the Heisman in ‘59. He later starred as a running back for the AFL Houston OIlers and became a dentist after completing his days playing football.
After quarterbacking the Bulldogs to the 1959 SEC championship, the under-sized Tarkenton became an NFL star with the Vikings (‘61-66), New York Giants (‘67-71) and the Vikings again (‘72-78) for a total of 18 seasons. He passed for 47,003 yards (NFL all-time best when he retired, currently ranks eighth on the career list) and quarterbacked the Vikings in three Super Bowls (following the ‘73, ‘74 and ‘76 seasons).
Who was the Viking QB in their first Super Bowl loss (following the 1969 season)? Tarkenton was playing with the Giants that season.
As I mentioned, that was a most interesting program about SEC football — long before Nick Saban became the Alabama coach. He also coached at which SEC school earlier in his career?
Congratulations to Adrian, Heron Lake-Okabena / Fulda, and Murray County Central for each winning on the football field last weekend. The Dragons and Rebels are now both 3-1, while the Coyotes are 2-2, coming off a 42-28 win at Edgerton — the first victory for HL-O there since a dramatic 36-30 triumph between two powerhouse teams back in the fall of 2006.
