The Replay: Marian Knights, Dan Dakich, Jim Irsay, and Pat McAfee

Every Friday, we post up The Replay: where hot shots and airballs collide. It’s your weekly roster of the most entertaining sports stories playing out in arenas local, statewide, and national. The Replay will reappear on Jan. 9. See you then.

 
» Big Day for Knights: Marian University looks for an NAIA Football National Championship today against Southern Oregon. WTHR’s Bob Kravitz reveals one of the team’s sources of inspiration: a cancer-stricken boy from Bedford, Indiana. Kravitz’s column on Cole Winnefeld and his family generated an outpouring of support, including generous offers from Colts owner Jim Irsay and 1070 The Fan’s Dan Dakich:

 
» Killing Them Softly: Andrew Luck has an interesting way of disarming opposing defenders. According to a Wall Street Journal article, he praises them.
 
» Working Blue: Some in the Colts organization, however, employ different tactics:

 
 
» The Deepest Cut-ler: After losing his starting job to Jimmy Clausen, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, a Santa Claus, Indiana, native, is finally wondering if his days in Chicago are numbered. Bears fans have more faith than that:

 
» Man-of-the-Year a Mano: Just a few days after being named the Colts “Man of the Year,” punter Pat McAfee got into a Twitter dust-up with 1070 The Fan’s Dakich. The two shared opposing views on the state of the NCAA after Oliver Luck, father of the Colts QB and athletic director at McAfee’s alma mater (West Virginia), was named to the organization’s No. 2 post. But, thank goodness, they made up:

 
» Now Read This: Longreads published its list of the best sports stories of 2014.