By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

I find it easy to complain or bemoan most things. This is not one of those things. Sure, college football is played on Saturday’s 99% of the time, and then the most important game of all gets played on a Monday. A Monday I somehow managed to get food poisoning during. But, besides those factors, the national championship game played between Indiana and Miami was one I will remember for a lifetime.

Two years ago, Indiana University hired Curt Cignetti to run its historically terrible football program. If there was a college football program across the major conferences that had been as historically bad as Iowa State, it would have been Indiana. That did not discourage Cignetti. In his opening press conference in 2024, he dropped one of the best quotes from any college football coaches of all time: “It’s pretty simple, I win. Google me.”

And, he wasn’t lying. Cignetti has been a head coach since 2011, starting in NCAA DII. In that time, including his now two incredible years in Indiana, Cignetti is 146-37. That’s a 79.8% winning percentage. For reference, Nick Saban’s winning percentage is 80.6%.

So, they’ve got the head coach. But, what about the roster? Well, by all accounts, the roster didn’t seem very good. Even heading into this season, coming off of an 11-2 campaign the year prior, 247Sports had Indiana’s roster ranked 18th, dead last in the Big 10. They were also picked to finish sixth in the Big 10. Clearly, the experts thought they were a one-season wonder. But, the Hoosiers sure didn’t think so.

Indiana made plenty of moves in the transfer portal, most notably adding Fernando Mendoza to the roster. Mendoza, originally a two-star prospect from Miami, had spent the last three seasons at the University of California. Now, the Heisman Trophy winner, playing in his hometown, essentially sealed the national title game with one of the greatest plays the sport has ever seen. Fourth down, QB draw, breaking tackles, spinning, diving, scoring. Incredible. In the highlight, the camera cuts to his parents in the stands. His mother, bound to a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis, celebrates.

If that was not enough of a storybook moment, and to add even more context to the incredible run, Mendoza had played most of this Miami team the year before while at Cal. That game ended in part due to a Mendoza scramble when the Hurricane’s linebacker, Wesley Bissainthe, laid the boom, cracking Mendoza, effectively ending the game. Who did Mendoza steamroll and spin off of before heroically leaping into the endzone? Miami’s No. 31, Wesley Bissainthe. Hollywood couldn’t dream of a script this perfect.

I found some other fun facts about Indiana’s crazy two-season run. One month ago, Indiana’s most recent bowl win came in the 1991 Copper Bowl. Indiana had three bowl wins to its name in its entire history. They won three bowl games this January. Before 2025, Indiana’s record against AP top-10 teams was 6-116-1. In 2025, the Hoosiers went 6-0.

This was truly a remarkable turnaround of a program by Curt Cignetti, even if part of it was fueled by several, multi-million-dollar donations by alum Mark Cuban. All of the best teams are receiving some sort of major funding from one direction or the other. All the money in the world does not mean you make the right coaching hires or find the best diamonds in the rough. This team was clearly well-coached, found the talent no one else wanted or valued, and won one of the most improbable national titles in college football history.

Reach out with comments, complaints, story ideas and more to cyote@dmcityview.com.

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

If you are a football fan, you likely took part in the Wild Card Weekend (emphasis on wild) of NFL playoff games. For fans of teams inside and outside the playoffs, it was one to remember. For the first time in NFL history, three teams won opening playoff games by scoring a touchdown in the final three minutes. The Bills, Bears and Rams all won nailbiters. Memorable comebacks, highlights and lowlights will be remembered from this opening weekend for years. And, one press conference.

First year head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Liam Cohen, unintentionally found himself in one of the most talked about press conferences of the year following his heartbreaking loss to the Bills. Cohen and his Jags took the NFL by storm this season. Through his lead, he flipped the Jags record on its head. 4-13 last year, 13-4 this year.

A clearly dejected Cohen took to the microphones postgame, answering the typical hum-drum questions posed at these press conferences until Lynn Jones Turpin, a 25-year vet of the newspaper world and associate editor of the Jacksonville Free Press, spoke, not asking a question, but offering some encouragement.

“I’m going to tell you, congratulations on your success, young man. You hold your head up. You guys have had a most magnificent season. You did a great job out there today. You just hold your head up, OK? Ladies and gentlemen, Duval (referring to Duval county, a rallying cry for Jags fans), you keep it going,” Turpin said.

I, like many others, truly loved this moment. And, throughout her comments, you can see the light return to Cohen’s eyes and a smile cross his face. However, plenty of reporters took to social media to complain. Phil Lewis did a great job finding some of the tweets and outcry from journalists bemoaning Turpin’s words. I’ll summarize a few here.

“Nothing ‘awesome’ about fans/fake media doing stuff like that,’ Mark Long, Jags reporter for the Associated Press, said. “That person shouldn’t even have a credential,” Mike Harrington from Buffalo News said. “I don’t think people realize… how few chances you have to ask Qs in this specific setting. Reporters get 10-15 minutes with Coen to dissect a playoff loss for stories on deadline. Every Q is valuable,” Jimmy Watkins, Cleavland.com, said.

Some of those groundbreaking questions asked by reporters before Turpin’s comments? Three people asked the same exact question. One asked Cohen about Josh Allen, the Bills quarterback, and wanted him to elaborate on his toughness. Following several seconds of silence, Turpin added her comments, which were, by far, the most memorable and impactful part of an otherwise forgettable press conference.

Now, look, as a reporter, I understand that press conferences are not the place for plaudits and pats on the back. They are meant to ask questions and get insight. Could those comments have come a few minutes later following the press conference? Probably. Would it have meant as much? I don’t think so. One thing these big, oh-so-serious sports writers are forgetting is that sports are inherently emotional. Happiness. Anger. Sadness. Jubilation. It’s part of why people play, and it’s part of why we all watch.

Should something like this happen at every press conference from here until the end of time? No. But, sometimes, even in our oh-so-serious press conferences, human moments are permissible, if not good and necessary. If the reporters in the room did not want someone changing the vibe of the entire press conference, perhaps they should have asked some better questions.

Reach out with comments, complaints, story ideas and more to cyote@dmcityview.com.

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

I’ve found plenty to complain about lately. Gambling advertisements. NIL. Matt Campbell. The list goes on. But, thanks to a study I recently found, I have something positive to write about, and it directly relates to the athletes of ACGC and Panorama. So, I’ll sideline the complaints and focus on the positive.

I have always felt that with youth sports, the less specialization, the better. Kids, even all the way through high school, should participate in multiple sports rather than just one. The stress put on the same ligaments and muscles by doing the same throws, kicks, jumps, etc., far outweighs the good in what extra skill a young athlete might be honing. The more that athletes are able to work different muscles and learn different skills, the better.

An Analytical Review by Arne Güllich on science.org proved this. The review, titled “Recent discoveries on the acquisition of the highest levels of human performance,” actually goes beyond athletics and looks at academics as well.

“From athletes like Simone Biles and Michael Phelps to scientists like Marie Curie and Albert Einstein, identifying exceptional talent is essential in the science of innovation. But how does talent originate? Did the most talented athletes, scientists, and musicians reach peak performance relatively early or late in their career? Did they forgo mastering multiple sports, academic subjects, and musical instruments to reach world-class performance in only one?”

The review looked at published research in science, music, chess and sports and found two patterns: “Exceptional young performers reached their peak quickly but narrowly mastered only one interest (e.g., one sport). By contrast, exceptional adults reached peak performance gradually with broader, multidisciplinary practice. However, elite programs are designed to nurture younger talent,” Ekeoma Uzogara, the associate editor of education, said.

A chart within summarizes those findings well. The X axis is age, and the Y axis is human performance. In the early years, those with “intensive disciplined-specific practice” reached a high level at younger age but then plateaued. The other line, those with “extensive multi-disciplinary practice,” had a slow rise but eventually rose above the other once reaching “peak performance age.” The research found this to be consistent across Nobel laureates, world class chess players, classical musicians and Olympic champions.

Looking at Panorama and ACGC sports, there is a similar and common theme. The schools’ athletes consistently play multiple sports or have “extensive multi-disciplinary practice.” Now, are the athletes at these schools Olympic champions? Not yet, but, across both schools, in several sports, several individuals find themselves among the best in the state. Could that be a coincidence? Maybe — but it’s a scientific coincidence.

Besides making better athletes across the board, playing multiple sports lends itself to the entire point of youth sports: to have fun. It’s fun to play multiple sports, to make new friends and to continue to build community with one another. We should all do what we can to support this. 

Reach out with comments, complaints, story ideas and more to cyote@dmcityview.com.

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

College football programs have been experiencing issues with the transfer portal and a mass exodus from their programs for the past few seasons. FCS and junior college programs get ransacked for their talent at the end of each season, forcing them to be in a constant state of rebuilding. When lesser-known programs at the D1 level do find diamonds in the rough, they do not stay in the rough for long, as the big names across the college football landscape throw large amounts of NIL money around to attract them.

Iowa State is currently being subjected to the most thorough cleaning of cabinets the NIL era has seen, with 40-plus players entering the portal since Matt Campbell’s departure. As of a few days ago, the Cyclones only had 17 players remaining on their roster — a far cry from the 105 roster limit.

College basketball has been experiencing similar problems. Yes, these programs are better-equipped to handle constant roster changes, as transfers are more prevalent in college basketball than college football before NIL. Overseas players also come and go, and younger players declare for the draft earlier than college football players. However, college basketball is facing a much different problem now. Players who have NBA experience or overseas professional experience are joining college basketball programs MIDSEASON.

In 2023, James Nnaji was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the NBA Draft as the 31^st overall pick, one pick shy of being a first-rounder. He spent time with FC Barcelona, Girona (Spain) and Merkezefendi (Turkey). After a trade, the New York Knicks own his draft rights. But, just last week on Christmas Eve, Nnaji was cleared by the NCAA to sign with Baylor.

What? A guy who was drafted into the NBA, spent several years playing professionally overseas, and whose draft rights are still owned by an NBA franchise is able to join a college basketball program midseason? Yes. And, oddly enough, Baylor and Nnaji are not breaking any rules to do so.

Another example: Theirry Darlan was playing with G-League Ignite for two seasons. Now, he is playing for Santa Clara University. He was not a midseason addition like Nnaji, but how is he allowed to go backwards? Darlan and Nnaji are not technically breaking any rules, but it doesn’t feel right. London Johnson, three seasons in the G-League, now with Louisville. Abdullah Ahmed, two seasons in the G-League, now with BYU. Players who are literally a phone call away from being on an NBA roster are now in college basketball.

And, who can blame them? Coaches and players alike. For coaches, if the team across from you is pulling guys from the G-League, why not do the same? If you’re playing in the G-League and a high-level college basketball program offers you a million dollars to play basketball, and, of course, get an education, why would you say no?

So, I ask, who is currently worse off? College football teams who get gutted for talent the moment a bigger NIL deal comes along or a coach leaves? Or college basketball teams, which are now facing midseason additions of players with professional basketball experience? Legendary coach John Calipari went on a great rant about the current state of college basketball’s rules. It seems each week a different coach is calling for the NCAA to do something — anything — to protect their programs. These coaches, football and basketball alike, often have good — even great — solutions. The NCAA should start listening to them.

Reach out with comments, complaints or story ideas to cyote@dmcityview.com.

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

It was announced on Monday that the Kansas City Chiefs will be relocating from Missouri to Kansas, with it coming a brand new, $3 billion, domed stadium. I, like many others, have some issues with this.

For one, Arrowhead is an iconic venue, and its eventual demise once the lease expires in 2030 will be tragic. It is possible some of you reading this attended Arrowhead as Chiefs fans, and if not, made the trip to Kansas City because your favorite team was visiting the AFC’s oldest stadium. The two-and-a half-hour drive is more palatable than four hours to Minneapolis, six hours to Chicago, or eight hours to Green Bay. According to local reporting, Kansas made more of a united front approach between the city, county and state, to attract the NFL’s most recent dynasty away from its current home.

For two, the stadium is going to be largely funded with taxpayer money. Of the $3 billion price tag, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly says the state will pay for 60%. In other words, $1.8 billion. The other 40%, or less than half, for those of you counting at home, will be paid for by members of the Hunt family, who own the Chiefs. According to profootballnetwork.com, the Hunt family, worth $24.8 billion, are the second-richest owners in the NFL. I understand why the state of Kansas would want to spend money to attract an NFL team, as it will undoubtably be an economic boost for the area, but why the second-wealthiest owners in American professional sports can’t pay for their own stadium is beyond me.

For three, the early renderings of the proposed stadium are flat and boring. And, compare it to the other new, multi-billion dollar sports stadiums that have been built in recent years. Now, yes, 2031 is several years ahead and gives plenty of time for this rendering to change, so I’m being a bit of a Grinch. According to a Chiefs beat writer, Chiefs Charmain and CEO Clark Hunt says an architect and contractor will be selected in the months ahead. Why Kansas would agree to use $1.8 billion for a project that does not even have an architect is also beyond me, but that’s why I live in Iowa (where we have challenges getting a $20 million soccer stadium built, which is finally over the last spending hump, maybe).

For four, it signals the death of another outdoor stadium. The Chiefs leaving Arrowhead, and in a few years, the Chicago Bears leaving Soldier Field, are both seeking domed stadiums. The Bears are currently in a fight with the city of Chicago and are even threatening to build the stadium in northern Indiana. As a Packers fan, I find that hilarious. But, the person on the inside hates the idea that we could no longer see games like the ice bowl or the mud bowl, or a field blanketed in snow or rain, all in favor of a synthetic turf field inside a cookie-cutter dome, because it sells more tickets and it makes the game easier to watch on TV.

Currently, there are 20 “open-air” stadiums in the NFL. We know that number will change to 18 in the coming years because of the Chiefs and Bears. The Buffalo Bills, whose stadium almost always seems to fill with snow once a season, will have a massive canopy roof by next season, and the Tennessee Titans are aiming to have their domed stadium finished in Nashville by 2027. Plus, the Jacksonville Jaguars are getting a major renovation that will include a new roof, planned for 2028, and the Washington Commanders are planning for a potentially domed stadium in 2030. Add those in, and the country’s most popular sport will have more closed stadiums than not, and that’s a darn shame.

Reach out with comments, complaints, story ideas and more to cyote@dmcityview.com.

It’s rivalry week in Guthrie County. Not only are the boys and girls basketball teams for Panorama and ACGC facing off against each other on the hardwood at ACGC tonight, but last night saw the schools’ wrestling programs hit the mats against each other, with ACGC coming away victorious in a close 39-30 win.

It has been interesting to watch how these rivalry contests pan out between the schools separated by just a few miles. For example, when it comes to girls basketball, the Panthers squad made it all the way to state final two years ago and has, historically, been a dominant program. That pendulum has now started to swing ACGC’s way. The Charger girls are once again firing on all cylinders and have started the season hot. Panorama had won 32 straight games against ACGC before the Chargers swept the series last season. Not all of those games were blowouts, but 30-plus straight victories is impressive, regardless of the margins. I’m not sure if ACGC is going to rattle off another 28 in a row, but this series should be a fun one to continue to follow.

On the boys basketball side, Panorama has led the series 23-17 since 2006. But the record is in favor of ACGC since 2021 with ACGC going 7-4 since the start of that year and dominating the two contests last season. Both teams have fallen on some tough times this season, with the Chargers losing some major talent and the Panthers trying to develop their own. Both teams have suffered several close losses this year and will have some extra fuel to get back on track against their cross-county rival.

For boys wrestling, both squads sent school-record numbers to the state meet last year — ACGC with six qualifiers and Panorama with five. That’s a whole lot of wrestling talent just 10 minutes apart from one another. The two teams had one dual matchup last season with ACGC coming away victorious, 46-33. The result from last night put another W in ACGC’s dual column over the Panthers.

Big high school rivalries for me, being a Des Moines Lincoln High School graduate, were naturally against all of the other city schools: Roosevelt, Hoover, North and, especially, East. Whether it was soccer or basketball, I certainly had some intense times playing against those teams. Hard fouls, red cards, swear words, pushes, shoves, even a punch once (not thrown by me) made the games intense but just that much more fun to participate in. Oddly enough, even though we were all rivals, whenever I saw any of them matched up against a suburban school (e.g., Johnston, Waukee, Ankeny, Norwalk, etc.), you can believe I was rooting for my Des Moines faithful.

For those playing in these rivalry games, have fun and compete hard. The wins feel twice as nice when they come against your greatest opponents. For those of you with strong memories of playing in ACGC vs. Panorama sporting events, feel free to reach out to me at cyote@dmcityview.com and share the stories. If you don’t have one between those two schools, tell me about your own alma mater and the times that stick out to you.

Reach out with comments, complaints, story ideas and more at cyote@dmcityview.com.