CFB AM: Santa Claus gave Western Michigan LB the best holiday gift

Published Dec. 25, 2014 10:45 a.m. ET

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Teddy Mitrosilis

Did Santa Claus come by the house last night?

He did for Western Michigan linebacker Grant DePalma.

The walk-on was rewarded with a scholarship from coach P.J. Fleck after finishing second on the team in 2014 with 54 tackles.

Fleck got a little assist from a very burly Santa, as DePalma was presented with a gift and told to unwrap it in front of the team. The room exploded when he showed his teammates what Santa brought.

Cool moment and a reminder of what this season of giving is all about. Here’s the video.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. We had two bowls on Christmas Eve and one that seemingly very few people watched – there was hardly anyone in the stands and it kicked off a noon ET – turned out to be excellent. Central Michigan and Western Kentucky traded touchdowns in the Bahamas Bowl, with 14 total scores, but there’s only one you need to see. Down 49-42, CMU scored on a wild Hail Mary that included a bunch of laterals after the catch, only to then go for two and the win and come up short. WKU 49, CMU 48. Heck of a game.

The other bowl game of the day was Rice-Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl, and the Owls stomped the Bulldogs, 30-6. Rice QB Driphus Jackson led the way with 318 yards and three TDs.

2. TCU’s Gary Patterson was named the Associated Press Coach of the Year for the second time since the award has been issued beginning in 1998. Patterson joins Nick Saban as the only coaches to win it twice. How TCU transformed itself under the guidance of new co-OCs Doug Meacham and Sonny Cumbie is one of the most fascinating stories of the year and credit to Patterson for being willing to question his approach and evolve. This honor is well deserved.

3. Florida State star freshman running back Dalvin Cook was named as an associate in a July 2014 assault case that is currently being investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department. The TPD released a statement saying the case involves two men allegedly brandishing a firearm at a neighbor. Everyone will insert their FSU/Tallahassee PD jokes here, but at some point it starts becoming ridiculous, right? It’s not that difficult to not show up in police reports.

THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

1. A furniture store in Ohio was trying to think of ways to get folks to buy its products during the Christmas season, a time when most aren’t shopping for sofas. Its solution: Guarantee free purchases if Ohio State wins the national championship. I would like an actual analysis on this business proposition. How much additional business was created with this stunt compared to the risk of the Buckeyes actually winning the title and the store being stuck with the bill? Remember when a Texas store did this in August, guaranteeing free purchases if the Aggies beat South Carolina the road to open the season? Yeah, that cost them more than $1 million.

2. In case you’re wondering about the latest mindless Harbaugh-Michigan update, Jim’s brother John, the coach of the Baltimore Ravens, said reports of the family encouraging Jim to take the Michigan job are “absolutely incorrect.”

3. Rice’s 4-foot-9 running back, Jayson Carter, got his second career carry in the bowl game. A former walk-on, Carter spent three years on the scout team before getting one carry last season.

THREE THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW

1. Still need a Christmas gift before a gathering later today? May I suggest this 2008 Florida national championship ring, which you can get on eBay for the small price of $4,000?

2. It looks like USC had a fun time at the zoo prior to Saturday’s Holiday Bowl against Nebraska.

3. An Ohio State Buckeye compared grocery shopping on Christmas Eve to the physicality of playing Michigan State. Then Spartans QB Connor Cook took this as a shot against his team. Fun times.

LASTLY

Katherine Webb and her fantastic onesie would like to wish you all a happy holiday season.

Merry Christmas, you filthy animals. Thanks for reading CFB AM.

Teddy Mitrosilis is an editor and writer for FOXSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TMitrosilis and email him at tmitrosilis@gmail.com.

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