Troy Polamalu is one-for-one in Hall of Fame votes. Penn State's Robbie Gould is the most popular man in Chicago ... and he doesn't even kick there anymore. Robert Morris' goalie is standing out. And we may have seen the best shootout attempt ever.
Rub it in, why don't ya?
In the wake of being eliminated from the playoffs because of a missed field goal, the entire city of Chicago is probably longing for Penn State product Robbie Gould. The kicker spent the first 11 years of his career in the Windy City.
The Bears released Gould after 2015. Since leaving, Gould is 82 for 85 in field-goal attempts in one season with the New York Giants and two with the San Francisco 49ers. This season, the 36-year-old was 33 for 34 in field goals and 27 for 29 on extra points for the 49ers.
Meanwhile, Chicago kicker Cody Parkey kept hitting the upright during the year, missing 10 total kicks.
I bet many Bears fans were saying to themselves, "I wish Gould was here."
Guess what! He was! The deposed kicker was in the stands with his kids rooting for the Bears.
[embed width="350" height="450"] https://twitter.com/RobbieGould09/status/1082059139759640578 [/embed]
Unfortunately, he wasn't any closer to the field. Don't expect a return any time soon, though. He seems pretty happy in San Francisco.
Hall call
Many people in Pittsburgh are hoping Alan Faneca makes the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year.
For now, they can at least be satisfied that fellow Steelers alum Troy Polamalu has been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
At Southern Cal, Polamalu was a two-time All-American and a Jim Thorpe finalist for the best defensive back of the year in 2002.
The rest of the class includes Notre Dame's Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, Florida State's Terrell Buckley, Oklahoma's Rickey Dixon, John Carroll's London Fletcher, Texas A&M's Jacob Green, North Carolina State's Torry Holt, Arkansas' Darren McFadden, Arizona State's Jake Plummer, Wisconsin's Joe Thomas, Michigan State's Lorenzo White, Mississippi's Patrick Willis, and Texas' Vince Young.
Polamalu will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Gotcha, coach
How do you celebrate winning a National Championship? You give your head coach a wet willy, of course.
Clemson's Christian Wilkins got his coach, Dabo Swinney, on the victory stand.
[embed width="350" height="450"] https://twitter.com/YahooSports/status/1082503057479426048 [/embed]
I guess if you are a captain on a team that just beat Alabama, 44-16, in the title game, you can get away with that.
Missed this
Here's one we didn't get around to over the weekend.
The Buffalo Sabres held a skills competition outside for their fans. Jeff Skinner pulled off the best move of the day despite the fact he didn't even score.
[embed width="350" height="450"] https://twitter.com/BuffaloSabres/status/1081978551681929216 [/embed]
Skinner tapped into his figure skating roots for that one.
Marotte's moment
Robert Morris goalie Francis Marrotte was named Atlantic Hockey Association Goalie of the Month for December.
Marotte's .946 save percentage and 1.60 goals-against average were eye-popping. He posted those numbers in five December games, helping the Colonials to a 3-2 record over that span.
Marotte has allowed two or fewer goals in 11 of 14 Atlantic Hockey starts this year.
