*Note: This week's episode of Sports, Old School Pro, was recorded on Wednesday, November 5 -- a day before the tragic passing of Cowboys second-year defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. While we do not have any content in this episode that would be considered insensitive or inappropriate, we did want to make that clear as to the timing of our podcast today.

As for the episode, we discuss the state of the Cowboys prior to Thursday's events, which includes a really demoralizing loss to the Cardinals on MNF followed by a whirlwind of trades on Tuesday. We also discuss some NBA and have a World Series segment that includes the loud whispers of a potential work stoppage in the future. It's all here, and more, on this week's episode of Sports, Old School Pro on The Write Team Podcast!

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This week was monumental in the world of big-time college athletics, with the initial release of the 2025 College Football Playoff rankings AND the tip off of the 2025-2026 college basketball season! We cover it ALL here on Sports, Old School, here on The Write Team Podcast! Matt and David will share their opinions (of course) on the rankings, and maybe take a little look toward the future as the playoff is coming up fast!

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The calendar may say next week is the bi-district round of the 2025 Texas High School Football playoffs, but nope...THIS WEEK is effectively a playoff week for many teams in and around East Texas!

Matt and David get you caught up on the playoff scenarios entering the final week of the regular season with updates from District 10-5A, District 7-5A, District 9-5A, District 7-5A, District 9-4A, District 7-4A, District 8-4A, District 8-3A, District 10-3A, District 11-3A, and District 10-2A. Wow, that's a LOT of districts, and every single one of them has games with playoff implications this week -- most of which are win-or-go-home showdowns. Get ready for another wild Friday Night Lights here in bEASTtexas, Old School style!

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#WeTellYourStory

In today's episode of Sports, Old School here on The Write Team Podcast, David and Matt discuss the season floundering for the Dallas Cowboys, the recent rise of the Houston Texans, and the first week of the NBA season. We also touch on the World Series as it heads now to Game 7. Then, the big one -- what happens when you play with snakes? The NBA -- and many other pro sports -- have partnered with gambling entities and are now seeing the results of playing with snakes. Eventually, yes, the snake will bite. All this, and more, on Sports, Old School, here on The Write Team Podcast!

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In this week's episode of Sports, Old School: On Campus, David and Matt get you ready for the upcoming weekend of action in college football, with some key matchups with playoff implications on the slate. Can Texas take down Vandy and Diego Pavia? Can Penn State be Penn State again in Columbus? Is Neyland Stadium at night a last stand for Oklahoma? All this and much more, including our Heisman hopefuls, playoff predictor, and weekly coaching carousel on Sports, Old School: On Campus!

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Hosts David Weaver and Matt Paul break down the various district playoff scenarios as we enter the stretch run for the 2025 high school football season here in East Texas! Outside of a couple of settled district championships, everything else is pretty much up for grabs with several top matchups scheduled this week including the annual border battle between Elysian Fields and Waskom; another Harrison County rivalry when Marshall visits Hallsville; and the showdown for the District 8-3A crown when Gladewater visits Atlanta. These, and many more classic games are on the slate for the next-to-last Friday night of the regular season. Join Matt and David as we break down all the action here on SOS: Prep on The Write Team Podcast!

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News, notes, and upcoming events from all of our official Write Team members! Get caught up with what's happening in Elysian Fields, Hallsville, Karnack, Smackover, Ark., and East Texas Baptist University! We also break down everything you need to know about Write Team Services, our podcast sponsor. Check out this new weekly feature only available here on The Write Team Podcast!

For nearly forty years, Jack Stallard has chronicled the triumphs, heartbreaks, and unforgettable moments that define our local teams and communities. From Friday night lights to state championships, from hometown heroes to unforgettable rivalries, Jack has seen it all — and told it all — with the insight, humor, and heart that make him a cornerstone of East Texas sports journalism.

In this conversation, Jack and I swap stories from press boxes, sidelines, and long nights on deadline — the kind of memories that remind us why we fell in love with this work in the first place. It’s a trip through time, filled with laughter, lessons, and a deep appreciation for the games — and the people — that bring our communities together.

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Hosts David Weaver and Matt Paul are back after Fall Break, ready to catch up on the last two weeks of gridiron action locally and around the nation. The local high school district races are coming down to the wire, with some elimination-type games happening this week around East Texas. We also debut our SOS Top 10 Area Rankings! We'll preview college football's Top 25 slate this week, as well as an update of our SOS Playoff Predictor. And, there's a lot to discuss in the NFL and oh yeah -- the NBA is in full swing! All this and much more on Sports, Old School here on The Write Team Podcast!

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Brandon “NuNu” Kennedy, senior quarterback for the Elysian Fields Yellowjackets, is the kind of player who does it all — and then some. This season alone, he’s rushed for over 800 yards and 17 touchdowns, thrown for nearly 500 yards and six more scores, and even lined up as a receiver, catching three passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. On defense, he’s a force, with 66 tackles, an interception, and two fumble recoveries — one taken all the way back for six.

But football is just part of the story. NuNu’s a multi-sport standout, competing in baseball, basketball, cross country, track, and tennis — a rare combination of talent, toughness, and tenacity that defines East Texas athletics.

Welcome to “bEASTtexas Conversations” on The Write Team Podcast, where we shine a light on the athletes, coaches, and personalities who make East Texas sports the best in Texas. Around here, the games are big, but the stories are even bigger.

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