College football notes: Octopus, long debut, and a three-year tackle pursuit
A new column from Emily Van Buskirk highlights unusual game notes, including a player with an octopus, a 58-yard debut, and a three-year quest for a single tackle. The piece focuses on Charlotte 49ers running back Khamani Alexander, who warmed up before a game against The Citadel. These anecdotes capture the quirky side of college football.
Van Buskirk's "For the Record" column, published September 23, 2026, gathers offbeat moments from American Athletic Conference play. The centerpiece features Charlotte 49ers running back Khamani Alexander, photographed during pregame warmups at Jerry Richardson Stadium on September 5 against The Citadel. The image captures the routine preparation that precedes game-day unpredictability.
The column also chronicles a 58-yard debut and a player's three-year effort to record a single tackle, alongside an octopus reference. These anecdotes reflect the broader texture of college football, where individual stories and odd occurrences often rival the final score in memorability. Van Buskirk's approach highlights the sport's human dimension beyond statistics.
This column could appeal to casual sports fans who find traditional game coverage dense, offering a lighter entry point into college football culture. By spotlighting individual stories and quirks, it may humanize athletes and broaden the sport's appeal beyond dedicated followers. Such features could also influence how media outlets approach college sports coverage, potentially shifting toward narrative-driven journalism that attracts wider, more diverse audiences.