Vince Grippi

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Want to know how college football programs build winners? Recruiting. Enticing the best players to their campuses. Of course, there are different roads leading to TitleTown U. these days. Wednesday’s high school classes are less important on the journey than they have ever been.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Everyone needs a catch-all phrase. Something to latch on to in times of dire need. Like “live long and prosper” or “don’t have a cow, man.” Ours? “Recruiting never stops.” Today, it is actually relevant. Though not as relevant as it was only a short while ago.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Ya, when I looked outside this morning I uttered the “S” word. After all, there is about 2 inches of the stuff outside the house. Snow in early December? What a shock. Though what was shocking was how bad the roads were last night as I drove home from the North Side of Spokane. There were three or four times when I exclaimed “oh snow, oh snow” trying to stop.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • You know what’s lower than zero? Nothing. Not on a scoreboard anyway.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Did you know college football’s Rivalry Week – the capitalization courtesy of ESPN – just finished? How could you not, the way the self-proclaimed WorldWide Leader pounded you over the head with it for the past seven days? Did you buy in?

A GRIP ON SPORTS • I am sure you have plans for today. They probably include watching a lot of college football. It is rivalry Saturday after all. At least it is for traditional ones not decimated by realignment.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • When I crawled out of bed this morning halfway through the 5 a.m. hour, it hit me. There was a period of years when getting up at that time was de rigueur on the day after Thanksgiving. Black Friday. Standing in the cold, lined up at Walmart or Target or the White Elephant. All to save a bundle on that one toy needed to make Christmas complete. Good times.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The subject matter for this column is always clear the final Thursday of November. Thankfulness. Who am I to break tradition? Bend it, sure. Break it? No way.