Tony’s Take| Football America | Lie | Hot Takes | Cross Country Nut | Super 6 + 1 | Edition 112 

By Tony Duckworth, [email protected]

Football America.  There is no denying that America is football-crazed.  This past weekend was the first where fans began watching NFL on Wednesday, CFB and NFL on Thursday, CFB on Friday and Saturday, and NFL on Sunday and Monday.  Yes, many also found their way to middle school, JV, and high school games beginning midweek, culminating with Friday Night Lights.  

You could feel Falcons fans’ pessimism heading into the season given how disastrous their QB position is currently.  No organization wants to face the Steelers defense on the road with uncertainty at QB.  Falcons QB had the worst QBR in the NFL but kept the score respectable, losing 20 – 13. 

Then there were my Cowboys.  Optimism.  If only this year’s defense can be average.  New rookie Defensive Coordinator and eight new starters fresh off the 30th-ranked defense in the NFL last season.  It is hard to imagine there were two worse defenses in 2025.   Then the game started.   Following Dak’s terrible interception when the game was tied at seven near the end of the second quarter, there were three passing plays culminating in a TD at the end of the first half.  The Cowboys’ secondary wasn’t in the zip code of the receivers.  

Jim Harbaugh made his debut as the NY Football Giants head coach, and clearly wants to institute bully ball.  The G-men pushed the Cowboys around, gaining 165 yards on the ground while only allowing Dallas two possessions in the second half, keeping the high-flying Cowboys offense on the sideline for 37 minutes.  NYG won the season opener 28 – 20.   

Lie.  Week 1 in the NFL is a lie year in and year out.  Many times, teams are not as good, or as bad, as Week 1 shows.  Whether your team won or lost opening week, you will know more about your team once they play 4 games.      

Hot Takes.  Steve Sarkisian’s newly #1-ranked Texas team had a signature win against last week’s #1 Ohio State.  Why is he still blaming the loss against Ohio State as the reason UT didn’t make the CFP last season?  Give me a break.  Do better. 

Kirby and the #2 Dawgs will roll into Fayettville and dominate the 24.5-point-dog Razorbacks to the point of UA reconsidering rejoining the Big12 despite it being a high noon kick. 

While the Arch apology was the right business decision, the oversensitivity we are experiencing at this point makes me tired.  It was an AI video.  Nothing more – nothing less. 

Enough writing; ESPN is airing the E60 ~ The Many Lives of Kiffin.  I am a fan of Kiffin.  He is great for CFB.  He is the new version of the Ole’ Ball Coach Steve Spurrier.  Prediction – Kiffin will win a naty at LSU before we enter the next decade.   

Who do you have in the matchup of two coaches fighting to remain relevant?  UNC @ Clemson (-3.5) and Belichick versus Dabo.  I side with the home team and Vegas. 

Cross Country Nut.  I have been called many things over the years, but a fitting nickname recently is Cross Country Nut.   

The Albany Area YMCA recently hosted two major events for the first time.  At the end of August, 15 high schools participated in the YMCA Invitational at our 50-acre YMCA Sports Park.  In addition to our main campus, an 80,000-square-foot facility on Gillionville, we have a beautiful Sports Park across from Live Oak Elementary.  Approximately 700 spectators roamed the grounds to watch over 450 high school, and middle school athletes compete in this early-season event to showcase their strides to their coach, teammates, and spectators as they enter the heart of the fall running season.  With Kona Ice, EagleSportz, Albany Doughtery Search and Rescue, parents, and grandparents in attendance, high schoolers ran the pristine 1-mile trail 3 times to complete the professionally chip-timed 5K race.  MS’s ran a 2-mile + event.   

CheeHaw Park was the site of the 22nd Annual Nut Roll. The Albany Area YMCA took ownership of the Nut Roll, a Southwest Georgia cycling tradition, in 2025.  The Pecan City Pedalers spearheaded this event for years and turned over the Nut Roll to the Y. 

111 cyclists, as far as from Miami, joined cyclists from 5 states to enjoy a fully supported day of riding beautiful back roads, complete with hospitality, great food, and fun for cyclists of all levels.  Every participant felt a sense of accomplishment.  Some riders were training for triathlons and biathlons, while others were on a health journey to improve their lives.  Either way, every time the finish line bell rang, each cyclist was proud of their effort.   

Seasoned cyclists tackled the signature 100-mile route between start and stops between Cheehaw, Leesburg, Bronwood to Plains, while some enjoyed a shorter distance; the Nut Roll delivered scenic views, low traffic, and a fantastic atmosphere. 

YMCA Board members, staff, and volunteers proved that the non-profit established to serve our community in 1910 can execute new high-level events that showcase the Albany area. 

Super 6 + 1.  #2 UGA @ Arkansas | #7 LSU @ # 8 Ole Miss | #16 SMU @ # 23 Louisville | N Carolina @ CLEMSON | FL State @ #10 BAMA | Lions @ BILLS | Giants @ RAMS | Record 5 – 2 

Tony Duckworth is a native of Macon and is the President and CEO of the Albany Area YMCA. Tony worked in intercollegiate athletics for thirty-one years. He was an NCAA Division II Director of Athletics at three universities following ten years as a head men’s basketball coach at two colleges. Email Tony Duckworth at [email protected].