The mystery surrounding Dan Hawkins' immediate future at Colorado has been resolved.

Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn announced Thursday morning that the embattled coach will return for his fifth season in 2010. Speculation had mounted in recent weeks as the Colorado Buffaloes spiral at 3-8 – their third non-bowl season in four years.

But Bohn and Colorado chancellor Dr. Phillips DiStefano met with Hawkins and his team Thursday morning to inform them of the plans to allow Hawkins to continue on.

On Wednesday night, New Jersey Devils broadcaster Sherry Ross made history when she became the first female broadcaster to provide play-by-play in English for an entire NHL game.

Ross, who is usually the color commentator on Devils radio broadcasts, took over the play-by-play when fourth-year New Jersey announcer Matt Loughlin took time to be with his family after the passing of his father-in-law. Ross called the game, with former Devils forward Rob Skrlac serving as analyst.

From the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime each Thursday.

Just because something is corny, doesn't mean it can't be done. Saying what you are thankful for on Thanksgiving is an American tradition. Sure, it may be a bit played out -- and some would even say lame -- to write a column about things we're thankful for in a given sport. But I'll be damned if I'm gonna spit in the face of all the great Americans before me who began the tradition and kept it alive for all these years. So, let's do it, baseball-style.

The six teams that will play on Thanksgiving are a combined 10-1 this season when their quarterbacks pass for at least 300 yards. Historically, that's unusual: in the past, 300-yard passing games have not corresponded to winning. That, however, is no longer the case.

ORLANDO -- Even when he struggles -- and he struggled badly Wednesday night -- Dwyane Wade will find a way to win games for the Miami Heat.

It's what the great ones do.

Wade rarely shoots this poorly -- six of 22 from the field -- but he still had the Orlando Magic defense on a string, reacting to his every move, opening the door again for his sometimes-forgotten, oft-maligned teammates.

"He just did it with his intelligence at the end,'' said Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra. "He's been in this situation so many times before.''

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After walking away from the Grizzlies and being rejected by the Knicks, Allen Iverson had nowhere to turn -- so, for the time being, he's decided to walk away from the game, announcing his plans to retire in a statement attributed to him on Stephen A. Smith's personal blog.

The statement expressed gratitude to his sponsors, fans and family for their support and inspiration -- as well as resentment for the lack of interest NBA teams have shown toward signing him as a starter.

"I would like to announce my plans to retire from the National Basketball Association. I always thought that when I left the game, it would be because I couldn't help my team the way that I was accustomed to. However, that is not the case. I still have tremendous love for the game, the desire to play, and a whole lot left in my tank. I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level."

With the Chicago Bears struggling through a season which began with such lofty expectations, many names are bound to be connected to the Bears. Most notably, people will start speculating about head coaches, defensive coordinators (to take pressure off Lovie Smith) and offensive coordinators who could replace the maligned Ron Turner.

A name that would make sense is Mike Martz -- who was head coach when Smith was the defensive coordinator in St. Louis for three seasons earlier this decade. Martz presently works as an analyst for the NFL Network, but -- according to the Chicago Sun-Times -- he would welcome being hired as the Bears' offensive coordinator.

(Update, Nov. 26: In a somewhat unlikely development, injured Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford will start Thursday, according to a report on MLive.com.)

The Lions would love nothing more than to trot their new franchise quarterback, Matthew Stafford, out for a national-television audience on Thanksgiving Day. But it looks like everyone will have to settle for Daunte Culpepper.

Stafford, who injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder one play prior to tossing a game-winning TD to beat Cleveland last Sunday, was listed as doubtful by the Lions for Thursday's game against Green Bay.

Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz did not sound optimistic about Stafford's playing status following the team's Tuesday practice, and apparently, nothing changed over 24 hours.

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So we gather again collectively, crammed into kitchens and living rooms, ready to feast on food and football. We consume the turkey, the ham, the stuffing and potatoes, the corn and green beans, the rolls and pie, the wine, the beer and anything else we can stuff into our screaming bellies. It satisfies us. It fattens us. Life is swell.

And then we look over to the television, where the most powerful and popular sport in the history of this country, if not the world, gives us the entertainment equivalent of take-out sliders and Spam.

Were it not for a small bit of friendly advice, the most excitable voice in college basketball might right now be the most excitable voice among masters candidates.

College basketball fans -- not to mention professors with sensitive ear drums -- have Scott Perry to thank for that.

"You know, [I] was getting ready to quit and go into coaching at the University of Detroit and go back to school, get my masters and coach basketball," says Gus Johnson, now one of college basketball's most recognizable voices and a March Madness mainstay. "Thank God Scott Perry [then director of player personnel with the Detroit Pistons] talked me out of it."

Gus Johnson, the announcer your cup of coffee would tune into if it felt a little sluggish in the morning, sitting quietly in a classroom? Maybe the day Tony Stewart teaches driver's ed.