Previous Article: RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN (WGNS) – “Will he or won’t he?” That’s really all anyone in Middle Tennessee wants to know as we stumble out of a week filled with snow, ice, Arctic wind, and the kind of cold that makes you rethink every life choice that led you to step outside. The million‑dollar question now rests squarely on the tiny, furry shoulders of Rutherford Ralph—our own homegrown, locally sourced, regionally respected groundhog. And no, we’re not talking about that celebrity rodent up in Pennsylvania. This is Rutherford County. We have our own traditions, our own weather patterns, and apparently, our own meteorological marmot.
You never hear university scholars debating whether one groundhog can forecast for an entire nation. Probably because they already know the answer: of course he can’t. How could one rodent possibly speak for a country that ranges from desert heat to lake‑effect snow? That’s why WGNS wisely sticks with Rutherford Ralph and lets Punxsutawney Phil handle his own fan club up north.
Now, somewhere out there, someone is probably placing a friendly wager on Ralph’s big moment. I’m not saying that’s right or wrong—I’m just acknowledging human nature. If people can bet on how long the national anthem lasts at the Super Bowl, surely someone has created a spreadsheet for “shadow vs. no shadow” odds. Strictly for research purposes, of course…