Three years ago, if you would have asked any remotely intelligent human being if they thought Indiana would be a college football power, let alone the National Champion, they would laugh in your face. The doormat of the Big Ten would have been the more logical prediction. Well, the perennial pumpkin at the ball has turned into Cinderella in a few short years.  It is quite unbelievable. Zero five star recruits and only seven (yes, seven!) four star recruits on the roster for this year’s Indiana team versus the 47-58 four or five star recruits on the teams they beat to get here.  It is hard not to be in awe of what they have accomplished. Good coaching goes a very long way.  I have never been a fan of Miami, and I still am not.  They have an edge to them that borders on unsportsmanlike but that is true to historical precedent (Think Catholics vs. Convicts). And, it does work for them.  I don’t mind their rise back to prominence because it makes for good theater. It is always good to have a villain, right Brian? Congratulations to the fandom of the Hoosiers.  Would have never thought this was possible. Good for you!

So,  let’s talk about our tournament! As I am sure all of you knew, if Indiana won the game, there would be a six-way tie at the top of the table.  While there was a part of me rooting for Miami to win so the charming Jemma Kelley would win out free and clear, the mayhem an Indiana win would bring was much more desirable when viewed from a Chairman’s lens. So the fates were aligned with our wishes and we indeed had an epic finish to our pool. I was even thinking well into the second half that Kelley Totten’s seemingly unrealistic tie breaker pick of 28 total points might just complete the awesome Hoosier story for the Indiana alumnus. But that was a bridge too far for our good Doctor though the effort was very worthy. Speaking of rising from the ashes, our own little phoenix, Peggy Schickler, winner of an unprecedented three Nana Prizes found herself flapping her wings at the top of the table only to be undone by a relatively low scoring game.  Going in to the game, I actually felt like she was the dark horse for the title. David Rubin also was a candidate for greatness but he was doomed simply by being sandwiched on the total points prediction. Still, a great run by the New York Times marketing genius. It is a joy to bring up the next dazzling duo entry of John and Linda Compisi.  My godparents have proven they are gifted in the picking department and it is quite apropos the fact that they happen to live in Nevada. Regardless of the Godly influence John and Linda have on me, the integrity of the Chairman and this pool cannot be compromised, even if Nevada is involved! So that brings us down to the top two and the money winners for the AHFP. What is fascinating about how this ended up is the fact that in the 30 years of the modern AHFP era, only once before have contestants from the same household (same address) won two prizes in the same year. And what is even better, when that happened in the 2010-2011 AHFP, the household was the same household who took the top two prizes this year. In the 2010 affair, the dynamic sibling duo of Devyn and Nicolas Compisi were 1 and 2 respectively with both residing in the fine hamlet of Riverwoods, IL. For 2025-26, papa Chris Compisi and daughter Devyn Compisi were the two standing atop the table at the end of our fair contest (now residing in Deerfield, IL). I might hear a little push back on the “same address” thing from the San Francisco Kelley clan because David J. and Catherine Kelley (nee Crisera at the time) took 1-2 in the 1999-2000 but they were not married yet and I don’t believe living together so while the story is a very good one and an argument MIGHT be made, it does not qualify in the eyes of the Chairman. At the end of the day, Chris Compisi, my recently retired drug lord of a brother (legal drugs!), with a very fortuitous tie breaking pick of 45 bested his docent of a daughter, Devyn who crept up above Kelley Totten with a pick of 30 to secure second place. Chris is the last of his siblings to win the title of Grand Champion (Kacey 2003-04, and me, your Chairman 2019-20).  About damn time brother. Your Nana Prize from 1997-98 got you a taste of PPP cash but nothing compares to the haul you are getting today: $318.75. Nice work!  Devyn, for your effort, you will be receiving a cool $85.  To the winners go the spoils!  

Then there is the other end of the spectrum. Yes, the cellar dwellers. We knew well ahead of time who was going to be duking it out for the title of the worst contestant in this year’s AHFP.  It was going to be a battle of ineptitude between a gaggle of Kelleys, a Levis and a McCreary. It’s hard to say that Kevin McCreary’s unfortunate pick (actually, quite prophetic) of 47 was waaaay to close to the mark so he got kicked out of the party.  It is a shame you were pretty horrible up until that one little detail. I am sure my sister Kacey will make you some cookies the next time you are over at the house in Frankfort to help you feel better after sucking so badly (but not bad enough!). The aforementioned David and Catherine Kelley, who shined so brightly at the turn of the century, have had their intrepid AHFP star burn out in a calamitous mess. Our winners individually tallied more points than the both of you combined. It may be time to request your Harvard and Yale tuition money back for your failure to thrive. If you are going to be that bad, could you just amp it up a little more and at least take home the Nana Prize? Adding to the mix is another well educated, normally bright consumer of more football than just about anyone, Mike Levis. If the name sounds vaguely familiar, Mike is the proud papa of fellow contestant Will Levis (NFL quarterback!). To say that the family does not know football would be like saying Einstein doesn’t know math. So it is always with such shock that normally erudite individuals flail at our contest. In reality, I do love the irony of it all. It is what makes this contest great.  Which brings us to the biggest loser than happens to be a tremendous winner. Mark Kelley, of the vainglorious Rochester North Clan, brought down the house with a dreadful performance in this year’s AHFP.  While all of the people mentioned in this last bit of prose all sold horribly, you my cousin and friend, take the cake for being the worst. Along with your fellow bottom feeders, mustering up 9 wins will rarely get you glory, yet here we are highlighting your football picking ineptitude and even giving you some money because of it!  Only in America, and only in the AHFP. Your tie breaking number of 57 put you farthest away from the actual total – as it relates to your colleagues at 9 wins. I guess I should say well done. Not only did you win the coveted Nana Prize and a few dollars ($21.25), but you will be enshrined in the hallowed halls of the AHFP for honoring the incredible Big Nana, Martha Kelley. Your grandmother would be so proud of you – and always remember, you may be awful at picking football games, but Nana will always love you!