I hand Santa the candy canes (hard for him to reach into the basket and pull them out with his gloves on) and he gives them to the excited, although sometimes fearful, children.
This little tradition of mine may soon stop.
This year, as I stopped into one of the classes to help out kindergarten teacher Jean Starr as she was passing out treats to the children for their Christmas party, one of the little children stopped me and had a question.
As I leaned down he peered into my eyes and asked me, "Are you an Alabama fan?"
"What?" I asked in surprise and dismay.
"Are you an Alabama fan," he asked me again, as his innocent little face looked into my dismayed and horrified eyes.
"Did Mrs. Starr ask you to ask me that question?" I asked the little guy.
By this time Mrs. Starr had come over to my side of the room and hearing the question the little tyke asked me she (being an avid Tide fan and knowing I wasn't) squealed with delight and gave her little pupil two high fives (and I'm sure an extra helping of treats!)
Yes, from now on when I help Santa I will be in my blue and orange!
Speaking of which, I have done a lot of research on the Heisman Trophy award of late, wondering just how my blue and orange clad Gator with the initials of T.T. didn't get the votes he needed and just exactly what went into the voting process.
I've learned a lot.
Going to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia on the Internet, I found that the voting is done in the following way.
The 50 states are split into six regions, Far West, Mid Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, South and Southwest.
Six regional reps appoint voters in their states.
Each region has 145, or 870, media votes. Hmmm, media votes.
I'm media. I wonder why I haven't been selected? I will have to get to know the regional rep.
Anyway, in addition to the media votes, of which I have been excluded, all previous Heisman Trophy winners can vote and one vote is through public balloting.
The ballots have a 3-2-1 point system and the voters vote for their top three choices with the top choice getting three points, second, two, etc.
As all of you Alabama fans are well aware, and as all of us non-Alabama fans are made to be well aware, Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy, the first ever winner for the University of Alabama. And (I have to swallow hard and take a deep breath to say this) Ingram is well-deserving.
The Heisman Trophy has been awarded 75 times with one recipient, Ohio State's Archie Griffin, winning the award twice.
The award was named after John Heisman, and here's a fact some of you might not know, Heisman coached at Auburn University for five years (wonder how he felt about Ingram winning the award?)
Heisman also coached at Clemson and Georgia Tech and while at Georgia Tech he coached football and baseball and was paid $2,250 and 30 per cent of attendance fees. Despite the relatively small salary, pocket change to today's coaches, he put together 16 fantastic seasons to include three undefeated seasons and a 32-game undefeated streak.
I find it interesting that he is known for originating the "Hike" or "Hep" that quarterbacks use today to start each play. He originated that, together with many more technical things that go on in football.
Just some interesting facts that I thought you should know.
A very avid volleyball fan has asked that I be sure to include in my column this week the fact that Penn State University won their third straight national championship over the weekend, a feat that has never been accomplished.
Penn State had to come from behind to beat second-ranked Texas, which had taken a 2-0 lead in the match.
Penn State has two undefeated seasons under their belt to include 102-straight matches.
Now that is something to write about.
I'm always happy to please my readers (even if you are for Alabama!)
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