What the Abilene Reporter-News liked and disliked: Headed to Arlington, hall

Our view
·4 min read
Beckett Wuertzer, 3, dances to live music for his parents Ryan and Roxxanne at Tuesday's H-E-B Feast of Sharing in the Abilene Convention Center.
Beckett Wuertzer, 3, dances to live music for his parents Ryan and Roxxanne at Tuesday's H-E-B Feast of Sharing in the Abilene Convention Center.
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LIKES

  1. The holiday season and all that's going on to lift our spirits. Oh, and $2.45 gas.

  2. On to state. The Abilene area will be represented by five teams at the state football showcase next week in Arlington. In fact, our teams will play in the first four games: Benjamin and Loraine start us off Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the six-man opener; defending champ Westbrook follows at 2 p.m. in the other six-man game; Albany vs. Mart at 7 p.m. and then 2021 runnerup Hawley the next morning against Refugio at 11 a.m. Think about this: Loraine and Benjamin played in Loraine before a few hundred fans this season for Loraine's homecoming; they meet again for the state championship at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Players, coaches ands fans never will forget this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

  3. Feast of Sharing. Brisket and sausage were served this year in the return of the in-person Feast at the Abilene Convention Center. Lines were out the door at times; 5,900 people were served, H-E-B reported. And here's this: While a turkey dinner is tasty and 'tis the season. many folks who ate Tuesday don't often get brisket. Certainly not for free. So, maybe this becomes a new H-E-B tradition. And getting around to building another location in Abilene.

  4. Frogs in Final Four Congrats to TCU for making the college football playoff, sweating it out after a 31-28 overtime loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 title game. New coach Sonny Dykes is the son of West Texas legend Spike Dykes. Sonny Dykes was born in Big Spring. So we won't be rooting for Michigan.

  5. Free wash. Shout-out to Laundry Luv for its four hours of free clothes washing Wednesday. The folks who came needed a break financially, and certainly took LL up on its offer. And folks, some honestly looking down and out, were treated politely and with respect. It was uplifting to see and the business certainly earned its name.

  6. Diversity. That seemed to be the right word to describe last weekend's holiday concerts by the Abilene Philharmonic. The music program was diverse, ranging from two selections from "The Nutcracker" to two pieces written by conductor David Itkin and heard for the first time here. The Phil also performed "Light One Candle," a Hanukkah song by Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary fame), and a Celtic piece as a prelude to next year's holiday concert featuring the group Irish Christmas in America. Finally, there were the vocalists - Abilene Chamber singers, Broadway star Niki Scalera and Abilene's own Samuel Cook. Scalera and Cook dueted on "The Prayer," some of which was sung in Italian. What a night of music.

  7. Headed to the Hall. Congrats to those chosen for the Class of 2023 for the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame. The class includes former longtime Wylie coach Hugh Sandifer, a statue of whom is on display at the football field now named for him, and Rick Meyers, who once drove a VW painted to resemble a tennis ball while a student at Cooper High School. Props to those guys.

  8. Cruising Cowboys The Cowboys are keeping pace with the leaders in NFC, standing 9-3 on the season. Only Philadelphia (11-1) and Minnesota (10-2) have better records. But Dallas already whomped the Vikings 40-3 and get a rematch with the Eagles on the night before Christmas. Even the mice will be stirring for that one.

The first time Loraine played Benjamin, for Loraine's homecoming, it was at the Bulldogs' small football field. This week, they face each other game at massive AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the state championship.
The first time Loraine played Benjamin, for Loraine's homecoming, it was at the Bulldogs' small football field. This week, they face each other game at massive AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the state championship.

DISLIKES

  1. For this week during the Christmas season, let's just Like.

HMMM

  1. More than a little Rusty. Interesting that Abilene Christian is building a state-of-the-art nuclear research facility, soon to be shiny and new. Yet, two programs leaders are named Rusty. Rusty Towell is director of the Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Lab, while Rusty Kuzelock is vice president for research. No one on staff named Green ...

  2. The Color Orange. It probably has happened before, but, boy, is there going to be a lot of orange at the Orange Bowl this year. Clemson is Clemson Orange and Regalia Purple (but have you seen a purple Tiger?) while Tennessee is Tennessee Orange and something gray called "Smokey." Of course, oranges are orange. So, if you don't like orange, don't watch. If you do, maybe a tequila sunrise is your drink.

  3. Fair trade? Oh boy, folks lined up on opposite sides about the deal to trade a Russian arms dealer, nicknamed "Merchant of Death," for imprisoned WNBA star Brittney Griner. A retired Marine held there, Paul Whelan, remains imprisoned there.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: What the ARN liked and disliked: Headed to Arlington, Hall of Fame