Everything is Bigger in Texas, or atleast that what they say… Texas Bowl 🥣 has Louisiana State University facing the Baylor Bears 🐻

Kinders is the title sponsor this season.

The World’s most expensive Storage Shed shares the parking lot. When the Houston Asterdome was built it was called the Eighth Wonder of the World 🌎.

The Astros moved on years ago but some influential people got together and prevented the destruction of the facility. Now what’s remaining is being used to store things…. not sure why this makes me smile but it does.

This week will conclude a five year journey that will become my next chase in regards to a book 📖. College Football 🏈🏈🏈 has changed a great deal over the past five years and there’s zero chance that its going back to what I like to call the Grand era of NCAAF.

On Saturday morning 🌄. I will (God Willing) enter the Stadium 🏟 in the Bahamas 🇧🇸 to conclude the journey to the 41 current Bowl 🥣 sites when the Chase began.

In between Houston and Nassau there will be a stopover in Jacksonville for Duke’s appearance in the Gator Bowl. That is a different Chase that I hope will last the duration of my time here on Earth. My beloved Blue Devils have only qualified for a Bowl 🥣 game 11 times now in my 61 years.

Back to today, LSU is playing like their lives depend upon winning. They are currently leading Baylor 28-7, mid second quarter.

NRG Stadium 🏟 is home to the NFL Houston Texans and is full of bells 🔔 and whistles. Six levels in all with a capacity that flexs between 71,000 & 80,000 depending on the event. The largest crowd in the 20 year history of the building involved a George Strait concert and a Rodeo event.

Down the road in El Paso, Louisville and the University of Washington are knotted up at 21-21 at the half. Our ACC is currently 1-9 with three left to play. I don’t like Duke’s chances with Ole Miss so its up to the Cards and the Hokies to save face 😐 for the league now.

The countdown to 2025 is officially underway so I will end this Post by saying Happy New Year to All…

Emotional moment as the entire LSU squad came off the bench to comfort a teammate after a serious leg issue.

Alyssa Ervin and Friends get it done at 🏡🏠🏡

15 minutes played, 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 Assists and 1 Steal..

My two favorite words are Thank You 🙏 because they mean someone did something they didn’t have to do !

If you enjoyed any part of our Basketball 🏀 coverage from Fort Chiswell yesterday, Please know that the following folks made it all possible :

Jason Stockner

Anthony Barnes

Kris Richardson

Kevin DeHaven

Kevin’s friend Sam

Marion Harris

Mama Smoot

Bill Gallimore

Allen Worrell

The goal that I try to accomplish everyday simply cannot happen if I’m acting as a One Man Band….

I think it was the Beatles that coined the Phrase – I will get by with a little help from My Friends…

Thank You Friends !

Let’s open Day #34/42 by checking in on Cavalier Hoops – The College Years

Alyssa Ervin and Elon University return from the Christmas 🎄 break here in a couple of hours.

Roanoke College split their games over the weekend while hosting their Susan Dunagan Holiday Classic in Salem.

Roanoke opened with a 70-59 victory over Maryville (TN) before falling short on Day 2 versus Oglethorpe by a score of 66-49. Lam appeared in both contests.

Randolph headed north up I-81 last night to play at Mary Baldwin in Staunton. The Wildcats fell 87-65 to the Squirrels with Cox finishing up with 2 points on the night 🌙.

We will swing back on this one later to add the results from the Elon contest.

Coach Anthony Barnes calls this season for his Cavaliers ” The Last Dance 💃” and by the looks of things his six Seniors are enjoying the Music 🎶

Photo 📷 Credit : Michelle Smoot

Fort Chiswell – Carroll County fought off a determined Pulaski County squad 50-46 Monday night in the Championship game of the Fort Chiswell Christmas tournament.

The victory allowed the Cavaliers (9-0) to defend their 2023-2024 Championship in addition to defeating PCHS for a third time this season.

The Varsity squad was not the only Cavalier unit to celebrate on Monday as the JV squad swept their way to a Championship as well by defeating the same three teams, Rural Retreat, Radford and finally Pulaski County.

While Carroll County was not able to deliver a knock out punch against the Cougars, they did lead from start to finish. Once again, Head Coach Anthony Barnes loved the effort that he received from his still undefeated team.

” What an awesome day to be a Cavalier, we go back to back and the Jv boys win for a sweep of the tournament, I told Coach Akers after the game if you didn’t get your moneys worth shame on ya, true physical gritty old fashioned (since I am lol ) high school game,” said Head Coach Anthony Barnes. ” We really started out of the gate with Cavalier train rolling and then we can’t buy a basket , had some foul trouble and were giving them multiple opportunities by not controlling the boards and securing the ball. Its tough to beat a team 3 times in a year on any level and you can’t give them multiple looks to score again and we did.”

The Championship game was a mirror image of the semifinals as the Cavaliers were facing a team intending to slow down the run and gun offense. The Cougars kept it close, cutting the lead down to a single possession late in the game but once again Bryce Smoot was straight Money 💰 from the Free Throw Line.

Bryce Smoot finished up with a team high 17 points after once again going four of four from the charity stripe with the game in the balance. Fellow Senior Cody Reece posted his second straight double – double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Junior Isaiah Easter joined Smoot and Reece in double figures with 11 points while Ethan Richardson rounded out the scoring with 7 points. While only four Cavaliers dented the scoring column, Barnes is still receiving quality minutes from a number of his players.

“Easter chipped in 11 and defensively they were very physical with him and he stayed focused and under control,” Barnes added. ” Again great minutes by (Landon) Puckett and(Trace) Reavis. I’m just full of emotions winning there,”

Winning at the Fort was the goal and thanks to some very gritty play and clutch Free Throws Carroll County went a collective 6-0 over the past four days. The Varsity team has managed to go a picture perfect 8-0 in the building over the past twelve months. If they keep this up for much longer The Fort might just become The Hill North.

Barnes continues to challenge his team and they continue to respond. The bonus being they are mixing in some blowouts with some nailbighters. The more one has to face pressure, the easier it becomes to deal with pressure.

” The last 2 games have been tough. We continue to fight and claw our way to have the opportunities to win, ” added Assistant Coach Kris Richardson. ” Fortunately, we have pulled a few wins off. Back to Back tournament championships are just the beginning of our goals. On to play Cave Spring on Saturday at the Chance Harmon Memorial at Floyd H.S.”

The team will have a few days to enjoy their Championship but they are well aware that the days of sneaking up on teams is a thing of the past. Opening the season with nine straight victories does not go unnoticed by many.

Blake Reed led the Junior Varsity team with 10 points as they avenged two losses early in the season to Pulaski County, defeating the Cougars 39-36 in their Championship game. Reed was just one of the younger Cavaliers to have a strong tournament as Colton Gravely, Hayden Jackson and Dane Leonard each took turns at leading the team for Head Coach Jason Stockner.