Tradition's Finest Episode 112 - "The Rivalrous Episode"

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 112 - The "Rivalrous Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Week Thirteen Analysis & Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss the major topics/storylines, analyze & review the in-game stats & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 13 slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following games & topics which are included in this week's College Football Analysis & Review segment: No.22 Missouri Tigers at No.8 Oklahoma Sooners Arkansas Razorbacks at No.17 Texas Longhorns No.15 USC Trojans at No.7 Oregon Ducks Pittsburgh Panthers at No.16 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Kansas State Wildcats at No.12 Utah Utes NCAA College Football Week Fourteen or "Rivalry Week" Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week Fourteen preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for a few of the most notable Rivalry Week matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection, and also discuss the historical significance of each matchup: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!!                    "Egg Bowl:"No.6 Ole Miss (-7.5) at Mississippi State   O/U62.5      "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate:" No.4 Georgia (-12.5) vs. No.16 Georgia Tech O/U59.5 Cotton Holdings "Lone Star Showdown:"No.3 Texas A&M (-2.5) at No.17 Texas O/U51.5 "The Game:" No.1 Ohio State (-9.5) at No.18 Michigan O/U45.5 No.14 Vanderbilt at No.20 Tennessee (-2.5) O/U64.5 "The Iron Bowl:" No.10 Alabama (-5.5) at Auburn O/U48.5     NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - "Kiffin Drama:" Lane Kiffin's decision on his coaching future feels like it's holding the sport of college football hostage, however, Ole Miss confirmed on Friday that Kiffin will announce the "final verdict" regarding his future on November 29th - just one day after the Rebels meet the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the 2025 edition of the "Egg Bowl," - leaving Florida, LSU & even his own program, Ole Miss, stuck in an uncomfortable position - - The uncertainty intensified late Friday night, when reports surfaced that LSU officials were preparing to make an aggressive push to pry Kiffin from Oxford - - According to multiple reports, key decision-makers are preparing a formal offer that could reach seven years and upwards of $90M, which would place Kiffin among the highest-paid coaches in college football - - While Florida is reportedly still in the mix for Kiffin's services, LSU's surge has instantly reshaped the financial landscape, while Ole Miss is stuck navigating the fallout - - The Rebels currently sit at No.6 in the most current CFP rankings, and are tracking toward the program's first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, yet Kiffin's indecisiveness looms over an otherwise historic season - - Q: Solely based on your gut, where do you think Lane Kiffin lands: does he remain at Ole Miss and continue building upon the success that he has already established in Oxford? Although he has indicated that it's "not about the money," does he chase the paper trail to Baton Rouge? Or, does he follow the palm tree pathway to the Gainesville to lead the Florida Gators?. . .Florida State HC Mike Norvell will return for a seventh season with the Seminoles, pledging to make the much-needed structural changes within the program to enhance performance, the school announced Sunday - - Questions that had been mounting about Norvell's job security reached a boiling point after a 21-11 loss to NC State on Friday night that dropped the Seminoles to 5-6 overall - - Florida State must win on the road at Florida on Saturday just to reach bowl eligibility - - Over the past two years, Florida State is 7-16 (3-13 in ACC Conference play) & winless on the road - - Norvell, however, did win an ACC title in 2023 and has maintained his optimism to reinvigorate the program towards a successful future - - Q: What are your thoughts on Florida State's announcement on Sunday that head football coach Mike Norvell will return next season?. . .Per On3 Sports' Pete Thamel, North Texas HC Eric Morris has been hired to become the next HC at Oklahoma State - - Morris will reportedly coach out UNT's remaining games, including both a potential American Conference title game appearance and CFP bid, announced on Tuesday - - Statistically, Morris' Mean Green have the No.1 offense in the country, averaging 503.3 total yards of offense per game - The Mean Green are also the only D-I team in the country to score at least 50 points in six games this season, and they are the only team to score at least 30 points in every game throughout the regular season - - Morris is 21-15 in three years at UNT, and went 24-18 at Incarnate Word with two FCS playoff appearances - - Q: What are your thoughts on the hire by Oklahoma State? Do you expect UNT Mean Green redshirt freshman QB Drew Mestemaker to follow HC Eric Morris to Oklahoma State?. . . NFL - - NFL Week 12 Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games from Week 12 of the regular season - - **Be sure to tune in for an in-depth review, a highlight and discussion of the following game(s) from this past weekend's slate of games: Thursday Night Football: Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans Pittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears (**Steelers' T.J. Watt surpasses older brother J.J. Watt in career sacks) . . .And This Week's Tradition's Finest "Most Badass Celly of the Week" Award goes to. . the Green Bay Packers' Evan Williams with the "SKOL celly," a TD celebration where he & his teammates performed the Minnesota Vikings' "SKOL" chant after picking off QB J.J. McCarthy, who now has nine INTs in six games played - as the Packers went on to defeat the Vikings 23-6. . . New York Giants at Detroit Lions (**Lions' RB Jahmyr Gibbs has a career day) Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (**The Cowboys score 24 unanswered points to defeat the Eagles/QB Dak Prescott tops Tony Romo for the career franchise record for yards passing) Cleveland Browns at Las Vegas Raiders (**Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders' NFL starting debut/Raiders fire OC Chip Kelly just 11 games into his first season with the franchise) NBA - - Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul is retiring after this season, his 21st NBA campaign, sources told ESPN on Saturday - - Paul, 40, is a 12-time All-Star, an 11-time member of All-NBA teams, a nine-time All-Defensive teams member, the 2006 Rookie of the Year, and a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team - - It was believed that this was likely Paul's final season in the league, and on Saturday morning, he posted on social media: "What a ride. . .Still so much left. . .GRATEFUL for this last one," - - Nicknamed "The Point God," Paul is the NBA's active leader in assists & steals, and is second all-time in both behind John Stockton - - He has led the league in assists per game five times and in steals per game in six seasons - and he has averaged double-digit assists in seven seasons - - Paul & LeBron James are the only two players in NBA history to reach both 30,000 career points and 10,000 career assists milestones - - Paul spent six years with the New Orleans Hornets after being drafted with the No.4 overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, prior to the famously voided trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, which ultimately landed him with the Clippers, where he teamed up with Blake Griffin & DeAndre Jordan - which birthed the "Lob City" era of the franchise - leading to its' longest sustained run of success - - After six years with the Clippers, Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets & paired with superstar James Harden, but they failed to have a postseason breakthrough - - Paul would go on to play for the OKC Thunder as well as a short stint for the Golden State Warriors prior to reuniting with the Clippers in the offseason, and to date, Paul - who will turn 41 in May - has appeared in eleven games this season with Los Angeles - - Q: Would you consider Chris Paul to be the second-best assist facilitator in the history of the NBA? Without an NBA championship, does it somewhat tarnish Paul's career & overall accomplishments?. . . Thanks for Listening & Happy Thanksgiving!