But as fourth-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor prepares for its NCAA Division III second-round playoff game against No. 10 Wesley (Del.) on Saturday, some of the Crusaders took time Wednesday to share their holiday thoughts and there were a couple of common themes - football and food.
Dustin Davis
Soph., center, Harker Heights
Memories: “Everybody always came over to my grandparents’ house and it was a good time. It feels pretty weird to be practicing football on Thanksgiving. It really does.”
Football: “We always watched the Cowboys game, then we would go outside and play football at halftime. My older brother was always better than me, so I was just trying to compete with him.”
Food: “My favorite part of the meal has to be my mom’s corn casserole. I couldn’t even begin to tell you what’s in it, but it’s incredible and I can’t wait for it.”
David Danforth
Soph., tackle, Robinson
Memories: “It was the good old days. You had all the good food lying around and cousins and family members in from all over. It was very enjoyable.”
Football: “We always watched the Cowboys game, and my cousins and I played football out in the yard. I was always the youngest but the biggest. We would play for a while, then our parents would call us in for the second half. Then we would go back out after the game.”
Food: “The turkey and dressing are my favorite. But since we have a game coming up, I can’t eat as much as I’d want to. I have to contain myself. But I will enjoy it, though.”
Matt Hurst
Soph., tailback, Whitney
Memories: “All of the family came over and it was a big get together where everybody cooked. And everybody was always watching football, especially all of us guys.”
Food: “My papa did the turkey but my grandma made the dressing, and that was always my favorite part.”
Today: “I’m not going to be able to go home for Thanksgiving. But I’m going to spend the day with some people from my church, so I am going to have a dinner.”
Eric Henri
Sr., linebacker, Lake Dallas
Memories: “Early in the morning, everybody would already be at the house and you could smell the good food. I used to have to help cook - a little macaroni and cheese, and usually a couple of cheesecakes. My aunt’s a cheesecake master and she taught me how to make it.”
Football: “We would always watch the Cowboys game. Football was a big part of the day for my family.”
Food: “My grandma made some juicy turkey, not that dry turkey, but the good juicy turkey.”
Bryson Tucker
Jr., tailback, Caldwell
Memories: “There was always a lot of family - people that we didn’t get to see very often - and a lot of fun. We would always sit around and watch the Dallas game.”
Food: “My mom’s dressing and my grandma’s buttermilk pie were great. That buttermilk pie is rich and sweet.”
Today: “A lot of family is going to come here to my house, where my mom’s going to cook. And I’m not going to hold back. The game is Saturday, so I’m going to let loose Thursday. I’m going to enjoy it.”
