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Small Talk Saves The Day

While hard work helps you land the corner office, so does small talk. Tackle your future by joining the sports conversation.

The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition - Pumpkin Fatigue

Fall is in the air and the flavor of pumpkin is everywhere. May your pumpkin spice latte bring you as much joy as today’s Rundown.

Non-fat please,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS – This weekend’s tailgate treat is not made of pumpkin but liquid gold - Kristen’s chorizo queso. Pop that Lipitor and enjoy.  


NCAA football (College)

  • Don’t hold your breath. ESPN’s College GameDay will broadcast from Knoxville, TN ahead of the matchup between University of Florida Gators (#19) and Tennessee Volunteers (#14). Tennessee has been unsuccessful in beating Florida in their last 12 attempts. In sports, there’s always hope. Will this be the year the Vols beat the Gators?
  • Beak not included. The University of Oregon Ducks are known for having a plethora of uniforms because of their close relationship with Nike. This weekend they’ll be sporting uniforms that look like their mascot, The Fighting Duck.  

Need to schedule your Saturday around your team? Here’s the schedule.

NFL (National Football League)

  • I got this coach. New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick coached third-string rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett to a stellar shutout game last night against the Texans. Brissett replaces Tom Brady and back up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
  • Viking strong. After losing their starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the preseason, the Minnesota Vikings have also lost their star Adrian Peterson to knee surgery. Peterson is likely out for the season. Although if anyone can return it is Peterson. He returned to the field nine months after ACL surgery (which typically requires a least a year recovery).  
  • Rivalry. Bragging rights for the Keystone State are on the line this weekend when Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles face off. Both teams are undefeated this season. The matchup is led by two quarterbacks who are on opposite ends of their careers – Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger is a veteran with hall of fame-type credentials and Eagles’ quarterback is rookie Carson Wentz from North Dakota State who was the second pick in the NFL draft. 
  • Commitment. What kind of dedication does it take to go from North Dakota State’s quarterback last season to the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles this year? Sacrifices have to be made. Carson Wentz’s girlfriend said she has caught him watching game film under the table on their dates. We’ll have the chicken with a side of touchdown.  

When is your team playing? Here’s the schedule.

Overtime

  • Former NBA player and current Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, was at a charity event when a protestor smashed a pie in his face. (It was coconut cream in case you were curious). Johnson reacted quickly and punched the pie thrower in the face. The pie assaulter ended up with stitches, a trip to the hospital and then to jail, where he faces a felony charge for assaulting a public official.  

Sideline stat

  • The final stop on the PGA FedExCup Tour (i.e. the end of the PGA - golf - season) is this weekend in Georgia. The golfer with the most points at the end of the season wins bragging rights along with a $10 million check. Dustin Johnson is leading in FedExCup points and is currently tied in the Georgia tournament. Come Sunday Johnson could be in a higher tax bracket. (Johnson is also the husband of Paulina Gretzky, daughter of famed hockey player Wayne Gretzky).   

Coaches’ corner

  • What do you mean by third-string? A player, such as Patriots’ Jacoby Brissett, is considered a third-string player for his position. That means there are two other players ahead of him who will play before he does. In the Patriots’ situation, starting quarterback Tom Brady is suspended and back up Jimmy Garoppolo is injured.

The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition - Tailgate Treat

With an action packed weekend of sports and Labor Day BBQ’s ahead, we have all you need to know to celebrate the unofficial last weekend of the summer.

Pass the sunscreen please,

The Last Night’s Game Team

Ps - Every Friday during football season we’ll feature a favorite tailgate recipe to try over the weekend. Today’s is one that’ll be nice to your waistline - roasted red pepper hummus. Have a recipe you’d like us to feature? Submit it here.


NCAA Football (College)

  • Controversial choice. Penn State is set to honor former head coach Joe Paterno on the 50-year anniversary of his coaching debut - September 17. Paterno's storied career ended because of his part in a vile scandal involving Jerry Sandusky. Paterno, who passed away in 2012, was the winningest coach in FBS (division one) history.
  • Inspired for sure. Heading into the fourth quarter the Tennessee Volunteers (#9) were down against an unranked Appalachian State. Known for pulling off upset games, Appalachian State couldn’t hold on and the Vols took home the win. No doubt the team was inspired by the late, great Pat Summitt. The team is honoring the former Vols coach with a sticker on their helmets this season. Summitt, who passed away earlier this year, is the winningest coach in all of division one college basketball, men or women’s.
  • For the full weekend schedule, click here

NFL (National Football League)

  • The need for speed. Reminiscent of when Goose and Maverick staged a tower flyby in Top Gun, four pilots buzzed the Carolina Panthers practice field. The pilots are under investigation for being awesome. Okay, not really but they are under investigation.  
  • Funny guy. Peyton Manning is staying busy in retirement. Manning is a roaster in “The Roast of Rob Lowe” on Comedy Central. You can see him burn Lowe on Monday, September 5th at 10 pm.

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)

  • Always a silver lining. The qualifying race leading into Sunday’s big race has been cancelled due to Hurricane Hermine. The good news is that the forecast looks clear for the race on Sunday, where the field will be set by points (since there was no qualifying). The even better news is that during the race NBC will be celebrating the 1975-1984 era of racing with old school race cars and the announcers’ will dress accordingly. Bring on the mullets, big mustaches and short shorts.

Overtime

  • NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley recently had hip replacement surgery and was ordered not to travel. Barkley ignored those orders when he heard that NBA sideline reporter Craig Sager’s wife came down with the flu and could not be in the hospital during Sager’s third bone marrow transplant in his battle with leukemia. Barkley, not one to care what anyone thinks, flew to Houston to show support for the ailing Sager.

Sideline stat

  • Sunday’s F1 race comes to us from the famed Monza racetrack in Italy, where the competition for the top driver has become a two-man race between leader Lewis Hamilton and teammate Nico Rosberg (who trails in the standings by nine points). Another driver to watch - Like most 18-year-old drivers, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has come under fire for his driving style after a collision on the first lap of last week’s race.

Coaches' corner

  • Why are there so many coaches on the sideline during a football game? While it may look like a lot of people in polo shirts standing around watching a game, they all serve a purpose. All teams have a head coach and a coach for offense, defense and special teams. Some have one for every position on the field.  

You’ll also see graduate assistants, trainers, analysts and strength coaches who all have a role in helping the team win. If you think there are a lot of people on the field, there are also coaches in the press box coordinating the game from above.