Bits and Pieces—NFL Conference Championship weekend
Bits and Pieces—NFL Conference Championship weekend
A retired coach who disappeared for a few months has resurfaced, and some new college sports signings have been announced. Oh, and the NFL Conference finals.
The well-traveled Tom Smythe has returned to the States
After returning to Oregon last September, only to abruptly go back to Europe for three months, former McNary football coach Tom Smythe has returned to Oregon—at least for the moment.
Smythe has endured a roller coaster series of events. He came back to Oregon in September to catch up with former players and friends both in Keizer and Lake Oswego—where he coached Lakeridge High to the first of his three gridiron crowns in the 1980s. He directed McNary to championships in 1997 and 2001.
After dealing with issues with a leaky heart valve later in the fall, the coach got medical clearance to return to Europe to coach American football again—this time in Romania. But the contract fell through, and Smythe dealt with more heart issues, with several emergency room visits and encouragement from physicians to return to the US.
Smythe has consulted with his doctors in the Portland area, and it appears he will have to replace a mechanical aortic value originally installed thirty years ago. He meets with his cardiologist to discuss options this week.
Ever the upbeat optimist, Smythe declared to me that he feels ok, not great, and that for him it is currently “balance issues” that he is dealing with.
More on Tom’s situation will be shared as additional details become available.
Get well, Coach.
Tini Tinitali commits to Portland State football
One of the Salem area’s most exciting players this past prep football season is headed to Portland to play college football.
Senior Tini Tinitali—a second team all-district wide receiver—has committed to play at Portland State for the Vikings. Tinitali had over 700 receiving yards for South Salem on 45 catches this past fall—while also scoring 11 touchdowns. He also had three interceptions as a defensive back, and recorded one kickoff return for a TD. Tini is joining PSU as a walk-on player.
Tinitali is the third player from the Salem-Keizer School District to join up with Portland State this year. Fellow Saxon wide out Zach Wusstigg and North Salem running back Josiah Davis had already signed on with the Vikings. The trio joins former West Salem QB Brooks Ferguson on the PSU roster. Ferguson joined the team last year.
Saxon baseballer will play at Oregon
A South Salem baseball player with two more seasons to play for the Saxons has announced he will be playing for the Oregon Ducks at the end of his prep career in 2024.
Junior infielder and right-handed pitcher Carter Nelson is prepared to become the third Saxon in the last decade to play college baseball in Eugene.
South graduates Aaron Zavala and Gabe Matthews both had outstanding careers for the Ducks.
Zavala—an outfielder—was drafted In the second round by the Texas Rangers in 2021. Fellow South and Oregon standout Gabe Matthews was signed to a free agent contract by the LA Angels.
“We’re pumped to be blessed with two more high school seasons of Carter in a Saxons uniform,” says South baseball coach Max Price.
“We’re equally excited to cheer him on at PK Park!”
NFL Conference Championships
Not a local story, but still worth a mention. Four teams remain in the running for this year’s Super Bowl. And the battles should—if the season stats are any indicator—be very tight.
In the AFC, Kansas City hosts Cincinnati. K-C is my cousin Scott’s hometown favorite squad, and he hopes that their all-world quarterback Patrick Mahomes can heal up adequately from a high ankle sprain to guide the Chiefs to a home victory over the Cincinnati Bengals and their strong-armed signal caller—Joe Burrow. If Mahomes is not hobbled much, the nod goes to the home team. Otherwise, the Bengals will have the edge with a very strong receiving corps.
In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles entertain my favorite team going back to 1969—the San Francisco 49ers. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has had an outstanding season running and passing the ball, despite sitting out a handful of games late.
The Niners have the number-one defense in the NFL, led by edge rusher Nick Bosa. And the offense has been magic. Rookie quarterback and the last player drafted in April—Brock Purdy out of Iowa State—has calmly guided San Francisco to seven straight wins as the Cinderella athlete of the season. San Francisco lost first and second string QBs in Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, but have hardly missed a beat with Purdy at the helm.
Add in the outstanding talent of Niner offensive stars like tight end George Kittle, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and the premiere mid-season trade acquisition—running back Christian McCaffrey—and you have a team that has won twelve games straight. The NFC game is going to be a nail biter, and oddsmakers are looking for a lower scoring contest due to strong defenses. I have the Niners by ten.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend. My anemic writing production should return to normal levels in coming days. Thanks again for reading.