“THE SCOREBOARD”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
DETROIT 5 MIAMI 0
SAN FRANCISCO 3 BOSTON 2
OAKLAND 11 COLORADO 3
ARIZONA 4 SEATTLE 3
SAN DIEGO 4 TEXAS 0
TORONTO 6 LA ANGELS 1
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 7 CLEVELAND 2
KANSAS CITY 10 MINNESOTA 7
NY YANKEES 8 BALTIMORE 3
HOUSTON 17 TAMPA BAY 4
PITTSBURGH 7 PHILADELPHIA 6
WASHINGTON 11 NY METS 6
CHICAGO CUBS 5 ST. LOUIS 1
ATLANTA 11 MILWAUKEE 5
LA DODGERS 3 CINCINNATI 2
BOX SCORES: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/scoreboard.asp
STATS: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/index.asp
PLAYER NEWS: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/news.asp
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INDIANAPOLIS 6 LOUISVILLE 3
WEST MICHIGAN 8 FORT WAYNE 5
PEORIA 7 SOUTH BEND 2
WNBA
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
DC 1 MONTRÉAL 0
NEW YORK CITY 5 TORONTO 0
TRANSACTIONS
BASEBALL
Major League Baseball
MLB — Suspended Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin one game and fined him an undisclosed amount for his conduct following a game on July 28 against Toronto.
American League
BOSTON RED SOX — Activated RHP Mauricio Llovera. Optioned LHP Joe Jacques to Worcester (IL).
CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Reinstated RHP Mike Clevinger from the 15-day IL. Selected the contracts of RHPs Edgar Navarro and Bryan Shaw from Charlotte (IL).
DETROIT TIGERS — Optioned RHP Trey Wingenter to Toledo (IL). Recalled LHP Joey Wentz from Toledo.
HOUSTON ASTROS — Activated RHP Kendall Graveman. Optioned RHP Seth Martinez to Sugar Land (PCL).
TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Placed RHP Jordan Romano on the 15-day IL. Recalled RHP Nate Pearson from Buffalo (IL).
National League
COLORADO ROCKIES — Sent 3B Sean Bouchard to the Atlantic Coast League (ACL) Rockies on a rehab assignment.
MIAMI MARLINS — Activated RHP David Robertson. Optioned RHP Bryan Hoeing to Jacksonville (IL).
MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Activated 1B Carlos Santana. Optioned INF Jahmai Jones to Nashville (IL). Placed LHP Justin Wilson on the 15-day IL. Recalled RHP Trevor Megill from Nashville.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Reinstated RHP Noah Song from the 60-day IL and designated him for assignment.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Activated LHP Angel Perdomo.
FOOTBALL
National Football League
ARIZONA CARDINALS — Signed LB David Anenih. Released CB Dylan Mabin.
ATLANTA FALCONS — Placed DT Eddie Goldman on the exempt/left squad list. Released LB Dorian Etheridge. Signed DL Kemoko Turay.
CAROLINA PANTHERS — Signed QB Jake Luton.
CLEVELAND BROWNS — Waived CB BoPete Keyes with an injury designation.
MIAMI DOLPHINS — Signed CB Eli apple to a one-year contract.
Canadian Football
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS — Signed DE Tyjuan Garbutt to the practice squad.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
INTER MIAMI CF — Signed M Facundo Farias from Argentine side Club Atletico Colon to a contract through 2026 for an international roster slot after receiving his international transfer certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa.
NASHVILLE SC — Loaned F Tyler Freeman to USL Championship side Birmingham Legion FC.
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 1
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
| BOYLE COUNTY (KY.) | AT | GIBSON SOUTHERN | 6:00 PM | ||
| CENTER GROVE | VS. | ST. EDWARD (OHIO) | 12:05 AM | ||
| SOUTHSIDE HOMESCHOOL | AT | PHALEN ACADEMY | 5:00 PM |
BIG 10 WEEKLY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
WEEK 1
MINNESOTA VS. NEBRASKA
THURSDAY, AUG. 31
WISCONSIN VS. BUFFALO
MICHIGAN STATE VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN VS. EAST CAROLINA
PURDUE VS. FRESNO STATE
RUTGERS VS. NORTHWESTERN
INDIANA VS. OHIO STATE
ILLINOIS VS. TOLEDO
MARYLAND VS. TOWSON
IOWA VS. UTAH STATE
PENN STATE VS. WEST VIRGINIA
WEEK 2
MARYLAND VS. CHARLOTTE
PENN STATE VS. DELAWARE
MINNESOTA VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
ILLINOIS AT KANSAS
INDIANA VS. INDIANA STATE
IOWA AT IOWA STATE
NEBRASKA AT COLORADO
PURDUE AT VIRGINIA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. RICHMOND
RUTGERS VS. TEMPLE
MICHIGAN VS. UNLV
NORTHWESTERN VS. UTEP
WISCONSIN AT WASHINGTON STATE
OHIO STATE VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE
WEEK 3
MICHIGAN VS. BOWLING GREEN
WISCONSIN VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
INDIANA VS. LOUISVILLE (IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN)
MINNESOTA AT NORTH CAROLINA
NEBRASKA VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
NORTHWESTERN AT DUKE
ILLINOIS VS. PENN STATE
PURDUE VS. SYRACUSE
MARYLAND VS. VIRGINIA
RUTGERS VS. VIRGINIA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. WASHINGTON
IOWA VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN
OHIO STATE VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY
WEEK 4
INDIANA VS. AKRON
ILLINOIS VS. FLORIDA ATLANTIC
PENN STATE VS. IOWA
NEBRASKA VS. LOUISIANA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. MARYLAND
NORTHWESTERN VS. MINNESOTA
OHIO STATE AT NOTRE DAME
MICHIGAN VS. RUTGERS
PURDUE VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 5
PURDUE VS. ILLINOIS
MARYLAND VS. INDIANA
MINNESOTA VS. LOUISIANA
NEBRASKA VS. MICHIGAN
IOWA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
NORTHWESTERN VS. PENN STATE
RUTGERS VS. WAGNER
WEEK 6
NORTHWESTERN VS. HOWARD
OHIO STATE VS. MARYLAND
MINNESOTA VS. MICHIGAN
ILLINOIS VS. NEBRASKA
IOWA VS. PURDUE
WISCONSIN VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 7
MARYLAND VS. ILLINOIS
MICHIGAN VS. INDIANA
WISCONSIN VS. IOWA
RUTGERS VS. MICHIGAN STATE
PURDUE VS. OHIO STATE
PENN STATE VS. UMASS
WEEK 8
MICHIGAN STATE VS. MICHIGAN
IOWA VS. MINNESOTA
NEBRASKA VS. NORTHWESTERN
OHIO STATE VS. PENN STATE
INDIANA VS. RUTGERS
ILLINOIS VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 9
PENN STATE VS. INDIANA
NORTHWESTERN VS. MARYLAND
MINNESOTA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
WISCONSIN VS. OHIO STATE
NEBRASKA VS. PURDUE
WEEK 10
MINNESOTA VS. ILLINOIS
NORTHWESTERN VS. IOWA (IN CHICAGO, IL)
MICHIGAN STATE VS. NEBRASKA
RUTGERS VS. OHIO STATE
MARYLAND VS. PENN STATE
MICHIGAN VS. PURDUE
INDIANA VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 11
ILLINOIS VS. INDIANA
NEBRASKA VS. MARYLAND
PENN STATE VS. MICHIGAN
OHIO STATE VS. MICHIGAN STATE
PURDUE VS. MINNESOTA
WISCONSIN VS. NORTHWESTERN
IOWA VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 12
IOWA VS. ILLINOIS
MARYLAND VS. MICHIGAN
INDIANA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
OHIO STATE VS. MINNESOTA
WISCONSIN VS. NEBRASKA
NORTHWESTERN VS. PURDUE
PENN STATE VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 13
NEBRASKA VS. IOWA
FRIDAY, NOV. 24
PURDUE VS. INDIANA
RUTGERS VS. MARYLAND
ILLINOIS VS. NORTHWESTERN
MICHIGAN VS. OHIO STATE
MICHIGAN STATE VS. PENN STATE
MINNESOTA VS. WISCONSIN
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
WEEK 0
SATURDAY, AUG. 26
NOTRE DAME VS. NAVY (DUBLIN, IRELAND) | 2:30 P.M. | NBC
MERCER VS. NORTH ALABAMA (MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
JACKSONVILLE STATE VS. UTEP | 5:30 P.M. | CBSSN
NEW MEXICO STATE VS. UMASS | 7 P.M. | ESPN
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. OHIO | 7 P.M. | FS1
VANDERBILT VS. HAWAI’I | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
JACKSON STATE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (ATLANTA, GEORGIA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
USC VS. SAN JOSE STATE | 8 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
LOUISIANA TECH VS. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL | 9 P.M. | CBSSN
WEEK 1
THURSDAY, AUG. 31
WAKE FOREST VS. ELON | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
UCF VS. KENT STATE | 7 P.M. | FS1
GEORGIA STATE VS. RHODE ISLAND | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
WESTERN MICHIGAN VS. ST. FRANCIS (PA) | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
UCONN VS. NC STATE | 7:30 P.M. | CBSSN
MINNESOTA VS. NEBRASKA | 8 P.M. | FOX
MISSOURI VS. SOUTH DAKOTA | 8 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
UTAH VS. FLORIDA | 8 P.M. | ESPN
TULSA VS. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
UAB VS. NORTH CAROLINA A&T | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
ARIZONA STATE VS. SOUTHERN UTAH | 10 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
EASTERN MICHIGAN VS. HOWARD | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
MICHIGAN STATE VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 7 P.M. | FS1
MIAMI (FLA.) VS. MIAMI (OHIO) | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
GEORGIA TECH VS. LOUISVILLE (MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM IN ATLANTA) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
KANSAS VS. MISSOURI STATE | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
HAWAI’I VS. STANFORD | 11 P.M. | CBSSN
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2
IOWA VS. UTAH STATE | 12 P.M. | FS1
KENTUCKY VS. BALL STATE | 12 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
LIBERTY VS. BOWLING GREEN | 12 P.M. | CBSSN
MICHIGAN VS. EAST CAROLINA | 12 P.M. | PEACOCK
PURDUE VS. FRESNO STATE | 12 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SMU VS. LOUISIANA TECH | 12 P.M. | ESPNU
TENNESSEE VS. VIRGINIA (NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE) | 12 P.M. | ABC
TCU VS. COLORADO | 12 P.M. | FOX
BOSTON COLLEGE VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 12 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
OKLAHOMA VS. ARKANSAS STATE | 12 P.M. | ESPN
OLE MISS VS. MERCER | 2 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
IOWA STATE VS. UNI | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
TEMPLE VS. AKRON | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
OHIO VS. LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
AIR FORCE VS. ROBERT MORRIS | 2 P.M. | ALTITUDE SPORTS
OREGON VS. PORTLAND STATE | 3 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
INDIANA VS. OHIO STATE | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
AUBURN VS. UMASS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
MARYLAND VS. TOWSON | 3:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
WISCONSIN VS. BUFFALO | 3:30 P.M. | FS1
WESTERN KENTUCKY VS. SOUTH FLORIDA | 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN
WASHINGTON VS. BOISE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
NOTRE DAME VS. TENNESSEE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | NBC
PITT VS. WOFFORD | 3:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
CINCINNATI VS. EASTERN KENTUCKY | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
TEXAS VS. RICE | 3:30 P.M. | FOX
APPALACHIAN STATE VS. GARDNER-WEBB | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
ARKANSAS VS. WESTERN CAROLINA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. SE LOUISIANA | 4 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
NORTH TEXAS VS. CAL | 4 P.M. | ESPNU
SYRACUSE VS. COLGATE | 4 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCNX
GEORGIA VS. UT MARTIN | 6 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA ATLANTIC VS. MONMOUTH | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. THE CITADEL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
JAMES MADISON VS. BUCKNELL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
MARSHALL VS. ALBANY | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL VS. MAINE | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
USC VS. NEVADA | 6:30 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
TEXAS A&M VS. NEW MEXICO | 7 P.M. | ESPN
UL MONROE VS. ARMY | 7 P.M. | NFL NETWORK
VANDERBILT VS. ALABAMA A&M | 7 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
COLORADO STATE VS. WASHINGTON STATE | 7 P.M. | CBSSN
BAYLOR VS. TEXAS STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
HOUSTON VS. UTSA | 7 P.M. | FS1
KANSAS STATE VS. SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
OKLAHOMA STATE VS. CENTRAL ARKANSAS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
MEMPHIS VS. BETHUNE-COOKMAN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTHERN MISS VS. ALCORN STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
TROY VS. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
ALABAMA VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
ILLINOIS VS. TOLEDO | 7:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NORTH CAROLINA (CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
PENN STATE VS. WEST VIRGINIA | 7:30 P.M. | NBC
WYOMING VS. TEXAS TECH | 7:30 P.M. | CBS
LOUISIANA VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN+
VIRGINIA TECH VS. OLD DOMINION | 8 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
TULANE VS. SOUTH ALABAMA | 8 P.M. | ESPNU
NEW MEXICO STATE VS. WESTERN ILLINOIS | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
UTEP VS. UIW | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
ARIZONA VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA | 10 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
BYU VS. SAM HOUSTON | 10:15 P.M. | FS1
UCLA VS. COASTAL CAROLINA | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. IDAHO STATE | 10:30 P.M. | CBSSN
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3
RUTGERS VS. NORTHWESTERN | 12 P.M. | CBS
SAN JOSE STATE VS. OREGON STATE | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
FLORIDA STATE VS. LSU (ORLANDO, FLORIDA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
MONDAY, SEPT. 4
DUKE VS. CLEMSON | 8 P.M. | ESPN
NFL PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
NFL/HALL OF FAME GAME – AUGUST 3
N.Y. JETS VS. CLEVELAND (NBC), 8:00
WEEK 1
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
HOUSTON AT NEW ENGLAND, 7:00
MINNESOTA AT SEATTLE, 10:00
FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
N.Y. GIANTS AT DETROIT, 7:00
GREEN BAY AT CINCINNATI, 7:00
ATLANTA AT MIAMI, 7:00
PITTSBURGH AT TAMPA BAY, 7:00
WASHINGTON AT CLEVELAND, 7:30
DENVER AT ARIZONA, 10:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
INDIANAPOLIS AT BUFFALO, 1:00
TENNESSEE AT CHICAGO, 1:00
N.Y. JETS AT CAROLINA, 4:00
JACKSONVILLE AT DALLAS, 5:00
PHILADELPHIA AT BALTIMORE, 7:00
L.A. CHARGERS AT L.A. RAMS, 9:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 13
KANSAS CITY AT NEW ORLEANS, 1:00
SAN FRANCISCO AT LAS VEGAS, 4:00
WEEK 2
THURSDAY, AUGUST 17
CLEVELAND AT PHILADELPHIA, 7:30
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18
CAROLINA AT N.Y. GIANTS, 7:00
CINCINNATI AT ATLANTA, 7:30
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19
JACKSONVILLE AT DETROIT, 1:00
MIAMI AT HOUSTON, 4:00
BUFFALO AT PITTSBURGH, 6:30
CHICAGO AT INDIANAPOLIS, 7:00
TAMPA BAY AT N.Y. JETS, 7:30
KANSAS CITY AT ARIZONA, 8:00
NEW ENGLAND AT GREEN BAY, 8:00
TENNESSEE AT MINNESOTA, 8:00
DENVER AT SAN FRANCISCO, 8:30
LAS VEGAS AT L.A. RAMS, 9:00
DALLAS AT SEATTLE, 10:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20
NEW ORLEANS AT L.A. CHARGERS, 7:05
MONDAY, AUGUST 21
BALTIMORE AT WASHINGTON (ESPN), 8:00
WEEK 3
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24
PITTSBURGH AT ATLANTA, 7:30
INDIANAPOLIS AT PHILADELPHIA (PRIME VIDEO), 8:00
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25
DETROIT AT CAROLINA (CBS), 8:00
NEW ENGLAND AT TENNESSEE, 8:15
L.A. CHARGERS AT SAN FRANCISCO, 10:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26
BUFFALO AT CHICAGO, 1:00
SEATTLE AT GREEN BAY, 1:00
CLEVELAND AT KANSAS CITY, 1:00
ARIZONA AT MINNESOTA, 1:00
N.Y. JETS AT N.Y. GIANTS, 6:00
CINCINNATI AT WASHINGTON, 6:05
MIAMI AT JACKSONVILLE, 7:00
BALTIMORE AT TAMPA BAY, 7:00
LAS VEGAS AT DALLAS, 8:00
L.A. RAMS AT DENVER, 9:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27
HOUSTON AT NEW ORLEANS (FOX), 8:00
WEEK 1 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
DETROIT LIONS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (THU) 7:20P (CT) 8:20P NBC
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
HOUSTON TEXANS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
TENNESSEE TITANS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CHICAGO BEARS 3:25P (CT) 4:25P FOX
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS 2:25P (MT) 4:25P CBS
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P CBS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 4:25P (ET) 4:25P CBS
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P FOX
DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS 8:20P (ET) 8:20P NBC
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW YORK JETS (MON) 8:15P (ET) 8:15P ESPN/ABC
TOP NATIONAL RELEASES/HEADLINES
NFL NEWS
JIMMY GRAHAM IS GRATEFUL TO BE BACK WITH THE SAINTS AND CONFIDENT HE CAN STILL PLAY
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Jimmy Graham offered a few reasons why — at age 36 and without having played football last year — he could become a playmaker again for the New Orleans Saints.
“I’m feeling better than ever. I’m still 6-(foot)-7 and I like the red zone,” the veteran tight end said Saturday in his first public comments since rejoining his first NFL team Tuesday. “I definitely came into this with a chip on my shoulder and with something to prove.”
Estimating he weighed as much as 285 pounds in his previous stint with the Saints, when he worked out like “a meathead,” Graham said he has been cycling “hundreds of miles a week” and has changed his workout and eating habits to suit to his age.
“I know I’m definitely in shape,” said Graham, now listed at 265 pounds. “That’s not a problem at all.”
Graham, who has caught at least eight touchdown passes in six of his 12 NFL seasons, was a favorite target of former star quarterback Drew Brees and among the most popular players in New Orleans before the club surprisingly traded him to Seattle in 2015.
Many fans were upset, including general manager Micky Loomis’ own daughter. So, too, was Graham.
“For me, it was pretty shocking,” Graham said. “I thought I would never leave this place. … I woke up to the part of the business that hurt.”
Alluding to a difficult childhood in which he sometimes lived in an orphanage, Graham added, “at first it was very difficult because of my connection with Drew as an ‘older brother’ and all the people in this building.”
“It was family, you know?” Graham continued. “So, for me, a guy who didn’t have a lot of family, it was definitely a difficult time.”
Graham played three seasons with the Seahawks — where he had a major knee injury 2015, but also his last 10-TD season in 2017 — before spending two seasons each at Green Bay and Chicago. He said he spent several of those seasons avoiding interviews because he “didn’t really have a lot to say that was positive.”
In recent years, Graham said, he longed for another chance to play in New Orleans.
“I’ve been trying to come home for a long time,” Graham said, adding that by last season, he didn’t want to play anywhere else. He said several teams reached out to him in 2022, but he told his agent, Jimmy Sexton, “that if I don’t retire as a Saint that I wasn’t going to play again.”
Sitting out last season was “extremely weird, especially after you spend a whole offseason preparing (to play), working out and making sure you’re in shape,” he said. “I think everything happens for a reason and I think it’ll be to my benefit.”
The Saints used a third-round pick to draft Graham in 2010, despite the fact that he’d played just one season of football at Miami after spending four seasons as a basketball power forward for the Hurricanes.
In just his second NFL season, Graham caught 99 passes for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns and was selected to his first of five Pro Bowls. He had another banner season in 2013, with 1,215 yards and a career-high 16 TDs receiving.
Around that time, current Saints tight end Foster Moreau was playing for Jesuit High School in New Orleans and had a signed No. 80 Graham Saints jersey in a shadow box in his room.
“Jimmy was a dog, and he still is. Honestly, he runs great,” Moreau said. “So, it’s just such a funny situation. You walk into the locker room and, ‘Oh my God! Jimmy Graham right there.’”
Graham’s production plummeted in his final season with the Bears in 2021, when he caught 14 passes for 167 yards and three TDs in 15 games.
And while the Saints cannot be sure how well he’ll play this season, they expressed confidence he’ll be a leader in the locker room. Graham sounded ready to embrace that role, noting that he, along with 13th-year defensive end Cameron Jordan, are the only players on the roster who’d once been teammates with most of the stars of the Saints’ 2009 championship team.
“I understand what that culture was like and what that looks like, the sacrifice that it takes and the brotherhood – that bond – that needs to be molded,” Graham said.
FALCONS DT EDDIE GOLDMAN PLACED ON EXEMPT/LEFT SQUAD LIST AND MAY BE HEADED BACK TO RETIREMENT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman has left the Atlanta Falcons’ training camp without taking the field after coming out of retirement.
Goldman was placed on the exempt/left squad list Saturday. Coach Arthur Smith said the player “is going through something personal” and may retire again.
Goldman signed with the Falcons a year ago, but announced his retirement before the season. He reversed that decision, rejoining the team during the offseason and reporting for training camp Tuesday.
But Goldman did not take part in any practices, raising doubts about how committed he was to a comeback.
The exempt/left squad list allows the Falcons to open up a roster spot without formally releasing Goldman. He can’t sign with another team but could return to Atlanta.
Also Saturday, the Falcons released inside linebacker Dorian Etheridge, who played seven games in 2021 and was on the practice squad for much of last season.
To fill two openings on the roster, the Falcons signed defensive linemen Justin Ellis and Kemoko Turay.
Ellis was a fourth-round pick of the Raiders in 2014 who has played in 117 games over nine seasons with three teams. He appeared in 17 games with four starts for the New York Giants in 2022, recording 22 tackles and one sack.
Turay has 12 sacks over 41 games with the Colts and 49ers. A second-round selection of Indianapolis in 2018, he appeared in three games for San Francisco a season ago.
NOTES: Smith said the MRI on LG Matt Hennessey’s apparent leg injury showed no major issues. Hennessey hobbled off the field Friday but is expected to miss only limited time, according to the coach. Hennessey entered camp with the first-team offense and faces competition for the starting job from rookie Matthew Bergeron, a second-round draft pick from Syracuse.
COMMANDERS BAN RADIO HOSTS AFTER ‘DISPARAGING’ COMMENTS
The Washington Commanders banned a pair of local radio hosts from training camp over remarks team officials termed as “sexually disparaging,” Yahoo Sports reported Saturday.
Don Geronimo and Crash Young, who work for station WBIG, made the on-air comments about local television sports anchor Sharla McBride on Thursday. They referred to her as “Barbie” and speculated more than once that she was a cheerleader after seeing her at camp in Ashburn, Va.
The Commanders, under previous owner Dan Snyder, were the subject of league and federal investigations into allegations of workplace misconduct and sexual harassment.
Snyder finalized the $6.05 billion sale of the team to a group led by Josh Harris on July 20.
The new ownership group took swift action in this latest incident.
“We have worked hard to ensure that everyone feels safe and respected in our workplace,” the Commanders said in a statement to WUSA9, which employs McBride. “And we took swift action when we learned that an employee of our partner iHeart made sexually disparaging remarks to and about a member of the media while she was broadcasting live from training camp yesterday.”
Yahoo reported the team has a three-year partnership deal with iHeartMedia, agreed to in 2022.
“We are taking this matter seriously and currently reviewing it internally,” Aaron Hyland, the D.C. region president for iHeartMedia, told WUSA9, according to Yahoo.
FALCONS SIGN DT JUSTIN ELLIS, LB KEMOKO TURAY
The Atlanta Falcons signed defensive tackle Justin Ellis and linebacker Kemoko Turay to contracts on Saturday.
Terms of the deals were not disclosed by the Falcons.
Ellis, 32, recorded 22 tackles and one sack in 17 games (four starts) last season with the New York Giants.
He has 182 tackles, 1.5 sacks and three passes defensed in 117 career games (54 starts) with the then-Oakland Raiders (2014-18), Baltimore Ravens (2019-21) and Giants (2022). He was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Turay, 28, played in just three games with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, one season after collecting a career-high 5.5 sacks in 13 games with the Indianapolis Colts.
He has collected 34 tackles, 12 sacks and two forced fumbles in 41 career games (three starts) since being selected by the Colts in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
LIONS’ C.J. GARDNER-JOHNSON BACK AT PRACTICE AFTER KNEE SCARE
Cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson was back in pads with his Detroit Lions teammates on Saturday, five days after he was carted off the field with what originally was feared to be a serious knee injury.
At the time of the non-contact injury to his right knee, Gardner-Johnson was visibly upset and comforted by teammates. On Saturday, he was the confident defensive leader the Lions hoped they were getting when they signed him to a one-year deal worth up to $8 million with incentives in March.
Gardner-Johnson told reporters after practice in Allen Park, Mich., that it’s important for him to be on the field.
“I’m contagious. I’m like the flu. I’m like the flu,” he said, per MLive.com. “It’s going to go through your body, and either you get it or don’t get it. And that’s not because I’m cocky. … It’s because I’m confident in my job. I’m confident in my coaches and my teammates and (what) my training (staff) and my strength guys are doing for me. That’s why, you know?”
Gardner-Johnson had an MRI following the injury on Monday, and it showed no structural damage. He was listed as day-to-day. On Tuesday, he was back at practice as a spectator.
“I was at practice every day,” he said. “I was mentally at practice. I don’t think you understand what type of guy you got here. I ain’t miss nothin’. I ain’t miss a practice, I ain’t miss a rep, I’m still out there. My teammates still see me. One thing people got to understand, this game of football, sometimes it ain’t being about the best physically. You got to be the best mentally. So as long as my teammates know I’m out there helping them and coaching them, I don’t really care what you have to say about being back.”
Gardner-Johnson, 25, is projected to start at cornerback for the Lions.
He shared the NFL lead with six interceptions and made a career-high 67 tackles in 12 starts with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. He missed five games with a lacerated kidney.
Prior to his lone season with the Eagles, Gardner-Johnson was with the Saints from 2019-21 after being selected by New Orleans in the fourth round of the 2019 draft.
In 55 career games (43 starts), Gardner-Johnson has 11 interceptions, 228 tackles, 36 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
REPORTS: RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT TO VISIT PATRIOTS
Free agent running back Ezekiel Elliott is scheduled to visit the New England Patriots on Saturday, multiple media outlets reported.
A two-time rushing champion, Elliott is making his first known visit with an NFL team since being released by the Dallas Cowboys on March 15.
Third-year pro Rhamondre Stevenson tops the running back depth chart for the Patriots, who released James Robinson last month. Fellow running back Ty Montgomery is nursing an undisclosed left leg/knee injury.
Second-year running backs Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris and third-year player J.J. Taylor also are on New England’s roster.
Elliott, 28, was slowed in the second half of last season by a knee injury and wasn’t fully healthy in 2021. He rushed for a career-low 876 yards and 3.8 yards per carry in 2022 in 15 games (14 starts) while backup Tony Pollard emerged as a 1,000-yard rusher and big-play threat.
Elliott led the NFL in rushing in 2016 and 2018 and registered four 1,000-yard seasons. The 2016 first-round pick (fourth overall) ranks third in Dallas history in rushing yards (8,262) and rushing touchdowns (68) behind Hall of Fame inductees Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.
CHIEFS’ KELCE AFTER TRAINING CAMP SCUFFLES: ‘GOTTA BE A BETTER LEADER’
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was involved in two tussles during Saturday’s training camp practice, including one with him throwing a punch.
Kelce punched teammate Jack Cochrane after hauling in a touchdown in the first incident. He appeared to take issue with Cochrane making contact with him late after the catch.
Kelce’s eventful day didn’t end there, as the tight end also got into it with cornerback Dicaprio Bootle.
Kelce seemingly owned up to his actions later Saturday.
“Gotta be a better teammate,” Kelce tweeted. “Gotta be a better leader … plain and simple.”
The eight-time Pro Bowler collected his second Super Bowl championship last season. Kelce pulled in a career-high 12 touchdown grabs in 2022 while adding 1,338 yards on 110 catches.
REPORT: VIKINGS OPEN TO TRADING HUNTER AMID CONTRACT DISPUTE
The Minnesota Vikings have made pass-rusher Danielle Hunter available for trade amid a contract standoff, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Hunter isn’t happy with his $4.9-million base salary for 2023, but the two sides haven’t found common ground on a resolution. Minnesota has tried working out a new long-term contract with Hunter but has failed to meet his asking price, Fowler adds.
The 28-year-old arrived for training camp after skipping mandatory minicamp, but he hasn’t taken the field.
Hunter made his first Pro Bowl since 2019 last season after generating 10.5 sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, and 22 quarterback hits. The three-time Pro Bowler combined for 29 sacks from 2018-19 but then played just seven games over the next two campaigns due to injuries.
TWO-TIME SUPER BOWL CHAMPION RB SONY MICHEL RETIRES EARLY IN RAMS CAMP
IRVINE, Calif. (AP) Two-time Super Bowl champion running back Sony Michel has decided to retire on the opening weekend of training camp with the Los Angeles Rams.
Coach Sean McVay announced Michel’s decision Saturday after the third practice of camp for the Rams, who re-signed Michel last month. McVay said they had a conversation on Saturday morning in which Michel informed the team of his decision.
“What a great career this guy has had,” McVay said. “The epitome of a pro, a great competitor, and his next chapter is going to be exciting. He’s got so many gifts that he can offer to people, and so we’ll wish him the best.”
The 28-year-old Michel was entering his sixth NFL season after a four-year college career at Georgia. He won a Super Bowl ring in his rookie season with the New England Patriots, and he earned a second championship with the Rams three years later.
Michel spent last season as a backup with the Los Angeles Chargers before re-signing with the Rams. He was expected to be the primary backup to Cam Akers this season, but McVay said the Rams will now look to sign another veteran running back to join Akers and young players Kyren Williams and Zach Evans.
“It’s a bummer, but his body is feeling like it’s talking to him, and I have nothing but respect and appreciation for the competitor that he is,” McVay said. “I love Sony and we’ll continue to stay in touch, but we’ll look to add somebody in that running back room.”
Michel was a first-round pick by the Patriots in 2018, and he scored the only touchdown in their 13-3 victory over the Rams in Super Bowl 53. He rushed for at least 900 yards in each of his first two seasons with New England, and he added 845 yards for the Rams in the 2021 regular season.
Michel rushed for 3,243 yards and 18 touchdowns in his five NFL seasons.
NFL PREVIEW: ATLANTA FALCONS
The Falcons play in a stadium named for a car company. It’s fitting, because for the last five years, they’ve been stuck in neutral.
Atlanta hasn’t made the playoffs since 2017 and in the ensuing campaigns has won exactly seven games four times. The Falcons are still trying to find their way, with third-year coach Arthur Smith looking to take the next step in a winnable NFC South.
The big question mark is quarterback Desmond Ridder. While the offensive line is respectable and the weapons are intriguing, Ridder is the great unknown. A third-round pick last year out of Cincinnati, the second-year signal-caller started only four games as a rookie, throwing for 708 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions.
If Ridder can play, Atlanta can soar. If he can’t, the onus will fall on a remade defense. General manager Terry Fontenot threw significant resources at the unit this winter, led by a $64 million deal for free-agent safety Jessie Bates III. The Falcons also signed veterans David Onyemata and Calais Campbell for the front four, while signing edge rusher Bud Dupree for $3 million this season.
Few teams have a wider range of outcomes in 2023 than Atlanta.
Biggest gamble this offseason: Not adding another proven wideout
If you’re going to bet big on a second-year quarterback, it’s wise to give him all possible help.
Instead, Fontenot stood pat outside of a small signing of Mack Hollins, who gives the Falcons a veteran depth piece on the perimeter. As things stand, only Drake London is a proven threat, and he’s played all of 17 games at the NFL level. Last year as a rookie, the USC product caught 72 passes for 866 yards and four touchdowns, including a 120-yard effort against the Buccaneers in Week 18.
While London and tight end Kyle Pitts are excellent targets, there’s little punch beyond them. Atlanta would have been well advised to find another capable talent, someone in the realm of Jakobi Meyers or JuJu Smith-Schuster. Instead, the Falcons are relying on Hollins, along with Scotty Miller and do-it-all first-year back Bijan Robinson.
It could all work out, but it could easily backfire as well.
Toughest stretch of the season: Weeks 12 to 15
The Falcons have one of the league’s most favorable schedules. For starters, they play only four games against teams who made the playoffs last year, and two of those are against the rebuilding Buccaneers.
Additionally, Atlanta doesn’t have the same big road stretch that most NFC teams do this year. The Falcons don’t have a single three-game trip or four road tilts in five weeks.
If there’s a tough stretch, it’s after the bye week. Atlanta will emerge to face the Saints in Week 12 at home before traveling to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Jets. Then it’s a home date with Tampa Bay before a trip to Carolina. Again, an easy slate awaits Atlanta.
Breakout player to watch: Drake London
As mentioned above, London had a terrific rookie campaign, during which he pushed for almost 900 receiving yards. Now, with a full offseason and 819 NFL snaps to his name, the 2022 first-round pick could be primed to explode.
London has excellent size at 6’4″ and 213 pounds, and, while he never ran an official 40, it’s believed the time would have been around 4.5 seconds. The tools are there to become a Pro Bowl talent, and, if he can connect with Ridder and produce chemistry, there’s no limit to his game.
Atlanta will certainly give him the targets to make an impact. London simply needs to prove he’s the game-breaking star many believe he’ll become.
Position of strength: Front four
If there’s one thing we know about this Falcons team, it’s that they’ll rush the passer.
Atlanta spent real money upgrading its defense this offseason, and the additions of Campbell, Dupree and Onyemata are significant. Last year, Campbell posted 5.5 sacks in his age-36 season, while Onyemata had five in 17 games with the archrival Saints. Dupree was a disappointment in Tennessee over two years with only seven combined sacks, but when healthy, he’s capable of producing.
Of course, that trio will revolve around defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Jarrett is a two-time Pro Bowler who has 32.5 career sacks and, alongside Onyemata, should cave in a few pockets come fall.
Position of weakness: Quarterback
Ridder isn’t so much a weakness as he is an unknown. The Falcons are essentially betting their entire season on a player with four starts who they didn’t take until the No. 74 pick of last year’s draft.
While Fontenot did bring in veteran Taylor Heinicke as insurance, he’s more of a break-glass option than anything else. If the Falcons are truly going to do something meaningful in 2023, it’ll be due to a surprise performance under center. Otherwise, Atlanta remains stuck in football purgatory, hoping to find its next Matt Ryan.
X-factor: Can Kyle Pitts find another gear?
Pitts is arguably the most-hyped tight end coming out of college in recent memory. After dominating to the tune of 1,492 yards and 18 touchdowns at Florida, Pitts made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. However, he was limited to 10 games last year, totaling 28 catches for 356 yards and two scores.
The Falcons didn’t draft Pitts to be a good player—they drafted him to be special. So far, he’s shown glimpses but is yet to put the entire package together. For Atlanta to reach the playoffs, Pitts needs to be a driving force.
Sleeper/fantasy pick: QB Desmond Ridder
Ridder is more of a “deep sleeper,” as he’s not being selected in the majority of traditional, one-quarterback leagues. The second-year field general will have Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts at his disposal. Ridder will also face one of the five best schedules among quarterbacks in 2023. —Michael Fabiano, SI Fantasy
Best bet: Let’s take the over for 1100.5 rushing yards for Robinson
Tyler Allgeier logged 1,035 in this run-first Smith offense in 2022, and Robinson should have more opportunity than Allgeier in his first season after the Falcons took him as the eighth pick in the NFL draft. —Jennifer Piacenti, SI Betting
Final record: 7–10, third in NFC South
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
CHRIS HENRY JR., SON OF LATE NFL RECEIVER, COMMITS TO OHIO STATE
Chris Henry Jr., son of late Cincinnati Bengals player Chris Henry and one of the top overall prospects of the Class of 2026, committed to Ohio State.
Henry’s decision, announced Friday, makes him Ohio State’s first 2026 commitment.
“When I talked to coach (Ryan) Day, there was no point in waiting anymore,” Henry said, per the Columbus Dispatch. “It’s perfect for me. It fits me.
“It’s an amazing feeling to have a school like this have me as their priority.”
Henry already had offers from 24 schools, including elite programs such as Southern California, Notre Dame, Michigan and Tennessee. He also had an offer from his father’s alma mater, West Virginia.
An incoming sophomore at Cincinnati Withrow High School, Henry is listed as 6-foot-5, 185 pounds by 247sports.com.
At West Clermont High School in his freshman year, Henry caught 29 passes for 292 yards and five touchdowns and was named to the MaxPreps Freshman All-America team.
Henry’s father was a wide receiver who played in 55 games over five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He died at age 26 after suffering massive head injuries before he fell out of a truck in 2009. He was diagnosed posthumously with CTE.
2023 PRESEASON ALL-SEC TEAM
FIRST TEAM
QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
RB Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss
RB Raheim Sanders, Arkansas
WR Dominic Lovett, Georgia
WR Malik Nabers, LSU
WR Zakhari Franklin, Ole Miss
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
T Amarius Mims, Georgia
T J.C. Latham, Alabama
G Tate Ratledge, Georgia
G Beaux Limmer, Arkansas
C Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
DI Mekhi Wingo, LSU
DI Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia
Edge Dallas Turner, Alabama
Edge Princely Umanmielan, Florida
LB Harold Perkins, LSU
LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
CB Jason Marshall Jr., Florida
S Malaki Starks, Georgia
S Demani Richardson, Texas A&M
Flex Javon Bullard, Georgia
K Harrison Mevis, Missouri
P Nik Constantinou, Texas A&M
RS Lideatrick Griffin, Mississippi State
SECOND TEAM
QB Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
RB Kendall Milton, Georgia
RB Jase McClellan, Alabama
WR Moose Muhammad III, Texas A&M
WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia
WR Juice Wells, South Carolina
TE C.J. Dippre, Alabama
T Will Campbell, LSU
T Javon Foster, Missouri
G Tyler Booker, Alabama
G Brady Latham, Arkansas
C Bryce Foster, Texas A&M
DI Justin Rogers, Auburn
DI Walter Nolen, Texas A&M
Edge Mykel Williams, Georgia
Edge J.J. Weaver, Kentucky
LB Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri
LB Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
CB Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
CB Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas
S C.J. Taylor, Vanderbilt
S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
Flex Malachi Moore, Alabama
K Will Reichard, Alabama
P Kai Kroeger, South Carolina
RS Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
THIRD TEAM
QB K.J. Jefferson, Arkansas
RB Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
RB Trevor Etienne, Florida
WR Squirrel White, Tennessee
WR Evan Stewart, Texas A&M
WR Ja’Corey Brooks, Alabama
TE Mason Taylor, LSU
T Austin Barber, Florida
T Reuben Fatheree III, Texas A&M
G Jeremy James, Ole Miss
G Garrett Dellinger, LSU
C Seth McLaughlin, Alabama
DI Deone Walker, Kentucky
DI Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina
Edge Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss
Edge Chris Braswell, Alabama
LB Chad Bailey, Missouri
LB Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
CB D.J. James, Auburn
CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri
S Greg Brooks Jr., LSU
S Tykee Smith, Georgia
Flex Terrion Arnold, Alabama
K Mitch Jeter, South Carolina
P James Burnip, Alabama
RS Barion Brown, Kentucky
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: TOP 10 OFFENSIVE LINES IN THE COUNTRY
1. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Last season, Michigan became the first school to win two consecutive Joe Moore Awards, given to the nation’s best offensive line. The Wolverines should be the favorites to three-peat in 2023.
Zak Zinter is back at right guard and is my No. 3 interior offensive lineman in the country. The senior was the second-most-valuable Power Five guard last season, according to PFF’s wins above average metric. Drake Nugent transfers in from Stanford and is one of the best centers in the nation. His 84.1 run-blocking grade last year ranked third among FBS centers.
Michigan also returns another two starters in left guard Trevor Keegan and right tackle Karsen Barnhart. Meanwhile, Arizona State transfer LaDarius Henderson is the favorite to take over at left tackle for the departed Ryan Hayes. Over the past two seasons, Henderson’s 2.0% pressure rate allowed ranked fifth among Pac-12 guards.
As for depth, the Wolverines brought in Stanford tackle Myles Hinton, who placed fourth among Power Five tackles in 2022 with a 1.8% pressure rate allowed. Trente Jones also returns and ranked sixth among Big Ten tackles last season with a 78.1 grade.
2. GEORGIA BULLDOGS
The defending back-to-back champs return all three starters along the interior offensive line in Tate Ratledge, Sedrick Van Pran and Xavier Truss. Ratledge is my No. 7 interior offensive lineman in college football and earned an 85.6 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets in 2022, second among all FBS guards. Over the past two seasons, Van Pran has allowed a sack or hit on just 0.2% of his pass-blocking snaps, tied for seventh among Power Five centers. Truss is entering Year 2 as the starting left guard and tied for sixth among SEC guards with a 68.9 run-blocking grade last year.
Georgia will have two new tackles in Amarius Mims and Earnest Greene, although expectations for both are very high. Mims earned a 77.5 grade on 482 snaps last season and is currently a projected Day 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With another impressive season, he could have a Broderick Jones-esque leap into the first round. Meanwhile, Greene was a top-50 recruit in the 2022 class and is the favorite to start at left tackle.
3. OREGON STATE BEAVERS
Oregon State’s offensive line earned the best run-blocking grade (92.5) and the third-highest overall grade (85.9) in the nation last year. The Beavers return four starters from that unit, making it one of the safest bets to produce elite play once again.
Taliese Fuaga is one of the 10 best tackles in college football. Last year, he picked up 10 big-time blocks (PFF’s highest-graded blocks), which tied for fifth among all FBS tackles. Joshua Gray is entering his third season as Oregon State’s starting left tackle. His 90.2 run-blocking grade over the past two years trails only Joe Alt among returning Power Five tackles. Jake Levengood was one of the 10 highest-graded centers in the country last year, earning a 79.2 mark. Heneli Bloomfield returns at left guard and earned the sixth-best run-blocking grade among Power Five guards in 2022 (81.3).
The only spot where the Beavers don’t return a 2022 starter is at right guard, and that was only because Marco Brewer missed seven games due to injury. The year before, he led all Power Five guards with a 93.3 run-blocking grade and placed second with an 88.6 overall grade. Now healthy, he’ll try to return to his elite ways.
The Beavers also added Nevada’s Grant Starck via the transfer portal. His 80.3 pass-blocking grade last season ranked third among Mountain West tackles.
4. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
JC Latham returns at right tackle for the Crimson Tide and is my No. 3 offensive tackle in the country, as well as a projected top-15 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He earned an 84.5 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets last season, fourth among FBS tackles. Alabama also brings back Seth McLaughlin, whose 74.3 grade in 2022 ranked second among SEC centers.
While they’re the only returning starters for the Crimson Tide, there’s reason to still expect a lot out of the other three positions. Tyler Booker is projected to start at right guard and looked impressive in 2021 on 429 snaps. As a true freshman, the former five-star recruit earned an 89.0 pass-blocking grade, fourth among FBS guards. Darrian Dalcourt should take over at left guard and earned a 77.6 grade on 299 snaps last season. Elijah Pritchett is the favorite to start at left tackle and was a top-35 recruit in the 2022 class. He’s currently battling Kadyn Proctor, a top-10 recruit in the 2023 cycle, for that job.
5. USC TROJANS
When Caleb Williams won the Heisman Trophy last year, he made sure to bring his offensive line with him to the ceremony and recognize them. For good reason, too. USC’s line was the only unit in the country in 2022 that posted 85.0-plus grades both in pass blocking and run blocking.
Two starters from that unit return in Jonah Monheim and Justin Dedich. Monheim is a top-five offensive tackle in the nation and totaled the most pass-blocking snaps among FBS tackles last season without allowing a sack or hit (570). Dedich is a top-five interior offensive lineman in the nation and posted the highest pass-blocking grade among Power Five guards (90.0) last year. He’s likely moving to center in 2023.
No offensive line benefited from the transfer portal more than USC’s this offseason, as the Trojans acquired a projected three new starters. Washington State’s Jarrett Kingston should start at right guard and was third among Pac-12 tackles in 2022 with an 80.9 pass-blocking grade. Wyoming’s Emmanuel Pregnon will likely be the starter at left guard and placed third among Mountain West guards with a 73.9 grade last season. Michael Tarquin will likely protect Williams’ blindside, where he excelled last year for Florida, as he was one of only two SEC tackles who didn’t allow a sack or hit on at least 150 pass-blocking snaps.
6. NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Notre Dame features the best offensive tackle duo in the country, Joe Alt and Blake Fisher. As a sophomore last season, Alt was both the highest-graded (91.4) and most valuable tackle in college football, according to PFF’s wins above average metric. He is the best offensive lineman in college football and could be a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Fisher is a projected second-round pick in 2024 and earned an impressive 78.3 grade across the final 10 games of the season.
While the interior isn’t as star-studded, it should still be solid. Zeke Correll returns at center, where he earned a 64.6 grade last season. Notre Dame loses both of its starters at guard in Josh Lugg and Jarrett Patterson. Replacing them will likely be Andrew Kristofic and Billy Schrauth. Kristofic was actually a starter in 2021 and earned a 67.6 grade that season. Schrauth is coming off a redshirt year and was a top-10 interior offensive lineman in the 2022 recruiting class.
7. TEXAS LONGHORNS
Texas is the only school on this list that returns all five starters from a year ago. However, it was a unit that finished just 73rd in the country last season in PFF grade (61.6), so improvements are needed.
There are bright spots, though, particularly at offensive tackle. Kelvin Banks Jr. is a top-10 tackle in the country and was stellar as a true freshman in 2022. His 3.5% pressure rate allowed on true pass sets ranked sixth among Power Five tackles. Christian Jones will once again start on the right side and finished third among Big 12 tackles last year with a 2.7% pressure rate allowed.
Jake Majors is entering his third season as the Longhorns’ starting center and was seventh among Power Five ones last year with an 81.9 pass-blocking grade. The weakness of this group is at guard, as both Hayden Conner and Cole Hutson earned sub-55.0 grades in 2022. Hutson was just a true freshman, to be fair. If he and Conner don’t take a leap, though, Texas could turn to DJ Campbell, a five-star recruit in the 2022 class who earned an 83.1 pass-blocking grade on limited snaps last season.
8. LSU TIGERS
LSU started two true freshmen at offensive tackle in 2022, with varying results. Will Campbell thrived on the left side and earned an 85.6 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets, trailing only Peter Skoronski among Power Five tackles. He’s a top-10 tackle in the country heading into 2023 and is the early favorite to be No. 1 heading into 2024. Emery Jones, on the other hand, surrendered a pressure on 7.6% of his pass-blocking snaps, the worst rate among SEC tackles. If he doesn’t improve, the Tigers could give five-star true freshman Lance Heard a shot.
LSU also returns two starters on the interior in left guard Miles Frazier and center Charles Turner, who each posted 70.0-plus pass-blocking grades in 2022. The right guard spot will likely be occupied by Garrett Dellinger, whose 1.6% pressure rate allowed last year ranked sixth among Power Five guards. The Tigers also brought in Maryland transfer Mason Lunsford, who earned the third-best pass-blocking grade among Big Ten guards a year ago (79.8).
9. TEXAS A&M AGGIES
The only spot on the offensive line where Texas A&M doesn’t return a 2022 starter is at center, and that was only because Bryce Foster missed eight games with a knee injury. The year before, he led all true freshman centers with a 73.0 run-blocking grade. Next to him at right guard is Layden Robinson, whose best tape also came from the 2021 season. That year, his 85.0 run-blocking grade was a top-10 mark among Power Five guards. He’ll have to improve as a pass protector, though, earning just a 40.9 mark in that department this past season.
Kam Dewberry is back at left guard after earning a 63.4 grade as a true freshman in 2022. Reuben Fatheree II enters his third season as the starting right tackle and posted a 77.5 pass-blocking grade in 2022 — a top-10 mark among SEC tackles. The blindside will be protected once again by Trey Zuhn III, who earned a 69.3 grade last year as a redshirt freshman.
10. FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
Florida State has a bevy of options along the offensive line. The Seminoles return three starters from 2022 in left tackle Robert Scott Jr., center Maurice Smith and right guard D’Mitri Emmanuel. Smith was perhaps the most impressive last year, as he was one of only two ACC centers who didn’t allow a sack or a hit.
Florida State also hit the transfer portal hard this offseason, bringing in another three players. UTEP’s Jeremiah Byers was one of only five FBS tackles to earn top-20 grades as both a pass blocker (82.6) and run blocker (79.9) in 2022. He’s projected to start at right tackle for the Seminoles. Colorado’s Casey Roddick should be one of the starting guards and ranked second among Pac-12 players at the position last season with a 1.5% pressure rate allowed. Auburn’s Keiondre Jones provides depth along the interior and earned a 77.5 pass-blocking grade in 2021, fifth among SEC guards.
That’s not even mentioning offensive guard Darius Washington and offensive tackle Bless Harris, who many feel could push for starting roles this season.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: KANSAS STATE
2022 Record: 10-4 overall, 7-2 in Big 12
Head Coach: Chris Klieman, 5th year: 30-20, 11th year overall: 102-33
In case you forgot, Kansas State is the reigning Big 12 champ.
Yeah, TCU got all the love and affection as the first Big 12 program to play for the College Football Playoff National Championship – making it the Year of the Horned Frogs in the conference – but …
31-28. TCU might have won the first meeting between the two, but Kansas State got to wear the Big 12 Champion t-shirts.
Now it’s about sustaining the success under Chris Klieman, and he just got a nice new reworking of his deal – roughly $5.5 million a year until 2030 – to try ensuring a measure of stability. The timing is perfect as Kansas State appears ready to build off of 2022 and position itself as one of the Big 12’s standard-bearers post Oklahoma/Texas secession.
No, Kansas State isn’t on the verge of becoming another Georgia, and they’re always going to hit a hard-ceiling talent-wise at some point, but when it comes to the programs that continue to do the most with what they have – that’s not a slight in any way; it’s not like there’s a parade of Johnny Five-Stars coming through Manhattan – few have been more successful.
Kansas State has won eight games or more in six of the nine seasons in the College Football Playoff era. Texas hit the eight-win mark three times during that span. Klieman has won eight games three times in the last four seasons, and 2020 was the outlier.
The program knows what it is, it has its systems, it has its style, and if 2022 happened in 2024, Kansas State would’ve been in the College Football Playoff. The momentum can absolutely continue even if the conference is going to be deeper and stronger than ever going forward.
Great play on the lines. An effective running game. Keep down the turnovers. Limit the penalties. Blocking, tackling, solid special teams, third down stops – it all sounds so basic that everyone can do it. But there’s a reason Klieman is a national championship-level head coach with four FCS national championships in five seasons at North Dakota State.
This isn’t going to be easy, though. There’s no week off in the Big 12 this season, going to Missouri is difficult – forget what happened last year in the 40-12 K-State win – and home against Troy is one of those games the school biffs every once in a while like Tulane 2022, Arkansas State 2020, North Dakota State 2013, Louisiana 2009, and Fresno State 2004. But …
Kansas State is going to be good enough to get back to the Big 12 Championship, which means it’s going to be good enough to win it again.
Kansas State Wildcats Preview: Offense
The offense wasn’t anything amazing, but it was rock-steady, didn’t make mistakes, and was almost perfectly balanced – 2,947 passing yards, 2,916 rushing yards – with the ability to adapt on the fly. Expect more of the same with a wee bit more emphasis on the ground attack because …
The offensive line is a bear. Great last year, it was terrific at keeping defenses out of the backfield and paved the way for 208 rushing yards per game – only Oklahoma ran for more. OG Cooper Beebe has first round potential, C Haden Gillum and OT KT Leveston are all-stars, and the right side returns with Handley Panzer at guard and Christian Duffie at center. There’s depth, too, on what should be among the Big 12’s best front fives, but …
Deuce Vaughn is done after running for close to 1,600 yards and nine touchdowns. QB Adrian Martinez was second on the team in rushing and led the way with ten scores, and now he’s trying to find a spot with the Detroit Lions. DJ Giddens is a big back who ran for almost six yards per carry with six scores, but the spotlight is on Florida State transfer Treshaun Ward to be the next star of the show. More on him in a bit.
With Martinez gone, Will Howard gets the quarterback gig all to himself. He’s a decent runner, but the 6-5, 235-pound senior is a downfield passer throwing 15 touchdown passes and limiting his mistakes with just four picks – two in the bowl loss to Alabama – over his seven games of work. He loses leading receiver Malik Knowles, but he’s got a great group of targets to throw to starting with
Phillip Brooks. The shifty 5-7 return man also makes plenty of plays in the slot finishing second on the team with 587 yards and four scores on 45 grabs. He’s back, TE Ben Sinnott is able to stretch the field, and coming in from Iowa is Keagan Johnson, a deep threat talent who struggled to break out in the painful Hawkeye passing game.
Kansas State Wildcats Preview: Defense
The Kansas State defense was sort of like the offense – it was steady, didn’t make a ton of mistakes, and it usually found a way to come through at just the right time. It picked off passes, generated two or more takeaways nine times, and was just good enough to get behind the line to be a bother. Unlike the offense, though, there are plenty of big losses, starting with …
The secondary that generated so many big plays has to come up with a few new stars with second-leading tackler Drake Cheatum, third-leading tackler Josh Hayes, and leading pick guy Julius Brents all gone. Fortunately, Kobe Savage is back and should be among the best safeties in the Big 12. The rest of the group is a bit young, but the transfer portal is helping with Marques Sigle coming in from North Dakota State. The corners should be okay in time, but it’s a new rotation around veteran Jordan Wright at one spot.
The front three is the other area with some reworking to do, but there’s little reason for concern. It’s Kansas State so it’s a plug-and-go situation, but losing first round pass rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah to the Kansas City Chiefs is a hit. Mississippi State transfer Jevon Banks is a decent option on the nose in a rotation with 340-pound Usa Seumalo, and hybrid Khalid Duke and end Brendan Mott should be fine now that they get more work.
Kansas State has itself some linebackers. Austin Moore is a whale of an undersized all-around outside force with a team-leading 87 tackles with ten for loss. 6-3, 245-pound Daniel Green provides the size on the inside, 6-4, 246-pound hybrid Khalid Duke can line up as a pure pass rusher or handle himself just fine in a traditional linebacker role. Throw in big tackling JUCO transfer Terry Kirksey and promising sophomore Jake Clifton, and this is a strong situation.
Kansas State Wildcats Key to the Season
No turnovers, no turnovers, no turnovers. Few teams are good at overcoming mistakes, but the margin for error between being good and Big 12 Championship great is razor-thin for the Wildcats. They thrive on not screwing up and doing all of the little things right, and that goes up a few notches with turnovers.
This was hardly an issue last year. The offense gave it up a mere 12 times – the fewest in the Big 12 – never turned it over more than twice, and only did that in three games.
One problem – it lost all three games with multiple giveaways. 0-3 with two turnovers, 10-1 when just one or none. In the Chris Klieman era the team is 3-12 against FBS teams when turning it over two or more times.
Kansas State Wildcats Top Transfer, Biggest Loss
RB Treshaun Ward in from Florida State, OT Jalen Klemm gone to Washington. The Wildcats didn’t have too many big losses through the transfer portal – enough to be annoying, but no real killers. Klemm is still a projection, but the talent is there to be a key part of the line by 2025 – he fits how K-State puts together its lines. But now he’s a Washington Husky.
Florida State has a crowded backfield, but Ward would’ve been a great fit after running for over 1,100 yards and 11 scores averaging 6.5 yards per carry over the last two seasons. Now he’s about to blow up as a speed back who can catch a bit in the Wildcat attack.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
RANGERS TO ACQUIRE SCHERZER FROM METS IN BLOCKBUSTER FROM SURPRISE AL WEST LEADERS, AP SOURCE SAYS
(AP) — The Texas Rangers agreed to acquire three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in a blockbuster trade with the New York Mets on Saturday night, an all-in move for the surprise leaders in the AL West, a person with knowledge of the deal said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced.
The Rangers will be adding the 39-year-old Scherzer with another former Mets pitcher with Cy Young credentials, two-time winner Jacob deGrom, sidelined by Tommy John elbow surgery, possibly all the way through the end of next season.
According to multiple reports, the deal nets New York one of the top Texas prospects in infielder Luisangel Acuña, the younger brother of Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr.
As part of the deal, Scherzer agreed to opt in on the final year of his contract in 2024 at $43 million, according to reports that also said the Mets were paying about $35 million of the remaining $58 million on the right-hander’s contract.
The Mets, one of baseball’s biggest disappointments, unloaded Scherzer two days after sending closer David Robertson to Miami for two minor leaguers.
New York began the season with the highest payroll in baseball at $353 million but started the day 17 games behind Atlanta in the NL East and 6 1/2 games back in the wild-card race.
The next question is what the Mets will do with Justin Verlander, another three-time Cy Young winner signed through next season. There should be plenty of suitors for the 40-year-old right-hander.
Texas has emerged from six consecutive losing seasons to lead the AL West all but one day in three-time World Series champion Bruce Bochy’s first season as manager.
The Rangers made the first notable move of this trading season by getting once-dominant closer Aroldis Chapman from Kansas City in June. Chapman has stayed in a setup role with Will Smith handling most of the closing duties.
Now Texas has bolstered the rotation knowing deGrom might be out until Scherzer’s contract expires at the end of next season.
The trade for Scherzer came on the same day the Rangers said they were again bumping back the next start for All-Star right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. Bochy said Eovaldi had a sore elbow, but the club doesn’t think it’s serious.
The Rangers added deGrom in the offseason on a $185 million, five-year contract, knowing there was risk in signing the oft-injured right-hander.
He lasted just six starts – all Texas wins – before elbow issues sidelined deGrom for a month. It took multiple MRIs to determine the extent of the damage to his elbow, and the Tommy John procedure in June was the second of his career. The other was in rookie ball with the Mets in 2010.
“I think we need to improve as a starting rotation,” Bochy said before the Rangers’ game at San Diego on Saturday night, as reports of the trade were circulating. “I think that’s fair to say.”
Scherzer (9-4) was leading the Mets in victories but had his highest ERA (4.01) since 2011 with Detroit. The eight-time All-Star started Friday at home against Washington, allowing one run in seven innings in a 5-1 New York victory.
With 210 career victories, Scherzer is third among active pitchers behind Verlander and Kansas City’s Zack Greinke.
MLB ROUNDUP: GIANTS’ J.D. DAVIS BELTS WALK-OFF HR
J.D. Davis belted Kenley Jansen’s first pitch of the bottom of the ninth inning over the left field wall, giving the host San Francisco Giants a walk-off, 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
Davis’ homer, his 14th of the season, came shortly after the Red Sox had scored twice off Giants closer Camilo Doval in the top of the ninth, drawing even on a two-run single by Justin Turner.
Despite suffering his third blown save of the season, Doval (3-3) was credited with the win. Jansen (2-5) took the loss.
The dramatic ending came after Sean Manaea had combined with opener Ryan Walker and set-up reliever Tyler Rogers to take a 2-0 lead into the ninth.
Dodgers 3, Reds 2
Max Muncy hit a pair home runs for Los Angeles’ only two hits and right-hander Joe Kelly stranded the bases loaded in the sixth in his return to the Dodgers in a victory over visiting Cincinnati.
Rookie right-hander Emmet Sheehan gave up two hits over five scoreless innings as the National League West-leading Dodgers. Right-hander Evan Phillips recorded the final four outs for his 13th save.
Reds right-hander Luke Weaver (2-3) gave up the two Muncy home runs and was effective over six innings. Cincinnati rookie Elly De La Cruz doubled and scored a run as the Reds still maintained a winning record over the Dodgers this season at 3-2 despite the loss.
Padres 4, Rangers 0
Yu Darvish pitched six shutout innings and Ha-Seong Kim capped a four-run second with a two-run single as San Diego blanked visiting Texas.
Darvish gave up three hits and two walks with nine strikeouts to improve to 8-7. Luis Campuano had two hits and drove in a run, and Gary Sanchez also had an RBI.
Rangers starter Martin Perez (8-4) gave up four runs on eight hits and three walks with a strikeout in 5 2/3 innings.
Braves 11, Brewers 5
Ronald Acuna Jr. stole a base to help ignite a six-run first inning, setting a record in the process, as Atlanta cruised past visiting Milwaukee.
When Acuna stole second after a leadoff single, he became the first player in major league history to collect at least 20 home runs and 50 steals before August. The Braves’ opening deluge was capped when Eddie Rosario hit a two-run home run — the first of the team’s four homers in the game.
Milwaukee starter Julio Teheran (2-5) was tagged for nine runs in his five innings. Braves starter Bryce Elder (8-2) gave up just one run in seven innings and struck out three.
Athletics 11, Rockies 3
Brent Rooker homered and drove in three runs and Zack Gelof homered and scored three times to help Oakland to a win against Colorado in the second game of their three-game series in Denver.
Seth Brown had three hits and two RBIs, Tyler Soderstrom delivered two hits and an RBI and Ramon Laureano contributed two RBIs for Oakland, which will try for its second sweep of the season on Sunday.
A’s starter Paul Blackburn (2-2) allowed two runs and nine hits in six innings. He struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter. Rockies starter Chris Flexen (0-5) had six walks, a hit batter and a run-scoring wild pitch in 3 2/3 innings. He was tagged for six runs (five earned) and four hits, two of which left the park.
Astros 17, Rays 4
Hunter Brown carried a shutout bid into the seventh inning and benefited from ample run support as Houston recorded nine extra-base hits and rolled to a victory over visiting Tampa Bay.
Yainer Diaz, Jose Abreu, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez all homered for the Astros, the latter three doing so in the bottom of the seventh inning off Rays reserve catcher Rene Pinto. But Houston held a nine-run lead before things got silly in that frame, as Chas McCormick, Diaz and Jake Meyers all posted multi-hit games from the bottom third of the order.
Rays rookie right-hander Taj Bradley (5-7) allowed five runs on three hits and four walks with four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.
Blue Jays 6, Angels 1
Alejandro Kirk hit two home runs and had three RBIs, Santiago Espinal added a two-run shot and Toronto defeated visiting Los Angeles.
Toronto right-hander Alek Manoah struck out six and allowed one run, four hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. He left after hitting Taylor Ward in the face with a pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Ward appeared to be bleeding from the face and was removed from the field on a cart.
Angels left-hander Reid Detmers (2-8) allowed two runs, three hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five.
Tigers 5, Marlins 0
Akil Baddoo slugged a three-run homer to lead Detroit to a win over host Miami.
Riley Greene added a solo blast to power the Tigers. Five Detroit pitchers combined on the shutout, with Joey Wentz (2-9) earning the win with 4 2/3 innings of relief.
Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez, who leads the major leagues with a .381 batting average, was a Miami bright spot, going 2-for-4. Johnny Cueto (0-2) took the loss, allowing four hits, one walk and four runs in six innings.
White Sox 7, Guardians 2
Mike Clevinger pitched five shutout innings in his return from the injured list while Tim Anderson and Andrew Vaughn homered to spark Chicago to a win against visiting Cleveland.
Chicago has won two straight on the heels of a six-game losing streak after seizing control of Saturday’s contest in the early going. Anderson connected for a leadoff home run against Guardians starter Logan Allen. It was the first of 12 hits for Chicago, which assured at least a split of the four-game weekend series.
Activated from the IL before the game, Clevinger picked up the victory in his first start since June 14. The right-hander scattered two hits and three strikeouts without issuing a walk to improve to 4-4. Allen (4-4) took the loss, yielding five runs and eight hits in six innings with three walks and four strikeouts.
Yankees 8, Orioles 3
Aaron Judge hit his first home run since June 3 to help New York pick up a victory against host Baltimore.
Giancarlo Stanton and Kyle Higashioka also homered and Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove in three runs. Judge came off the injured list on Friday and played for the first time since that June 3 game in Los Angeles. His 20th home run of the season marked his first hit in the series. Judge, who played as the right fielder, finished 3-for-5 and scored two runs. Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt (7-6) pitched five innings and allowed three runs.
Baltimore starter Tyler Wells (7-6) was gone after 2 2/3 innings in his third straight short outing. He gave up three runs, three hits and three walks on the way to dropping to 0-5 all-time versus the Yankees.
Royals 10, Twins 7
Bobby Witt Jr. homered and drove in three runs to lead Kansas City past visiting Minnesota.
In his first at-bat, Witt picked up where he left off following Friday’s walk-off grand slam. He hit his 18th homer in his first at-bat. Michael Massey’s leadoff homer into the right field bullpen began a three-run second inning, capped by Witt’s RBI single for a 4-0 advantage. Witt added an RBI triple in the seventh, collecting his eighth hit and ninth RBI of the series.
Bailey Ober (6-5) surrendered six runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts and no walks in four innings for the Twins.
Cubs 5, Cardinals 1
Ian Happ and Yan Gomes hit two-run homers as visiting Chicago defeated St. Louis for its eighth straight victory.
The Cubs have won 10 of their last 12 games to surge into the playoff race. The Cardinals have lost seven of their last nine games with trade speculation swirling around them. Chicago starter Jameson Taillon (5-6) allowed one run on two hits and four walks in six innings. Relievers Michael Fulmer, Mark Leiter Jr., Javier Assad and Daniel Palencia closed out the last three innings for the Cubs.
Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (3-5) remained stuck on 198 career victories. He induced three double-play grounders, but he allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings.
Pirates 7, Phillies 6
Endy Rodriguez hit a three-run triple in a four-run fifth inning and had an earlier RBI double as host Pittsburgh downed Philadelphia.
Liover Peguero added a homer and RBI single and Alika Williams had an RBI single for the Pirates. Starter Quinn Priester (2-1) allowed five runs and five hits in five-plus innings, with seven strikeouts and six walks. David Bednar earned a five-out save, his 21st.
Brandon Marsh hit a three-run double, Jake Cave an RBI double and Johan Rojas an RBI single for the Phillies, who had won three straight. Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola (9-7) gave up seven runs, five earned, and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings, with six strikeouts and three walks.
Nationals 11, Mets 6
Riley Adams had three RBIs as Washington beat host New York during a game in which the Mets dealt Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers.
Dominic Smith, Joey Meneses and Stone Garrett finished with two RBIs apiece for the Nationals. Patrick Corbin (7-11) allowed four runs on six hits and no walks while striking out two over 5 2/3 innings.
Mark Vientos hit a homer and had two RBIs for the Mets. Francisco Lindor hit a two-run homer while Tommy Pham and Francisco Alvarez had a solo shot apiece. Carlos Carrasco (3-5) gave up eight runs (six earned) on eight hits and one walk while striking out two over 2 1/3 innings.
Diamondbacks 4, Mariners 3
Dominic Canzone singled in the tiebreaking run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Arizona rallied to defeat Seattle in Phoenix.
Canzone had two hits and two RBIs as the Diamondbacks recovered from a 3-0 deficit. Scott McGough struck out Julio Rodriguez with runners on the corners in the ninth to end it as Arizona improved to 4-10 since the All-Star break and won for just the sixth time in the past 21 games. Arizona’s Kevin Ginkel (4-0) struck out the side in the eighth.
Tom Murphy homered and drove in two runs for the Mariners. Corbin Carroll set up the decisive run by walking against Andres Munoz (2-4), moving to second on a balk and then stealing third. After a groundout to third, Canzone hit a high-chopping single to center to score Carroll.
ANGELS MANAGER PHIL NEVIN SUSPENDED 1 GAME FOR OUTBURST AT UMPIRE
TORONTO (AP) — Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Saturday for a postgame outburst at an umpire following a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays a night earlier.
Bench coach Ray Montgomery managed the Angels during the second game of the three-game series as Nevin served his suspension.
Nevin was seen holding up a tablet computer and yelling at plate umpire Mike Estabrook as the crew left the field after the 4-1 loss Friday night.
The umpires access their locker room through the tunnel at the end of the visitor’s dugout on the first base side of Rogers Centre.
A Toronto police officer accompanied the umpire crew as it descended the dugout steps. Montgomery had to restrain Nevin as the umpires passed through the end of the dugout.
Nevin was angry about the game-ending called third strike against pinch hitter Michael Stefanic, who entered in the ninth inning with the bases loaded after Shohei Ohtani left because of cramping in both of his calves.
“I just explained to him that I thought the pitch to Stefanic was outside,” Nevin later told reporters.
Ohtani hit his major league-leading 39th home run in the series opener — part of a streak of three homers in three at-bats over two games — before exiting early.
NBA NEWS
NBA ISSUES DISCIPLINE MEMO ON DAMIAN LILLARD TRADE REQUEST
Damian Lillard and his agent were warned in an NBA memo that any comments suggesting that the Portland Trail Blazers star guard wants a trade only to the Miami Heat will be subject to league discipline, as will any similar behavior from other players, according to multiple reports.
The NBA issued the memo Friday to all 30 teams, stating that the league had met with Lillard and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, to discuss comments regarding Lillard’s July 1 request to be traded only to the Miami Heat.
Goodwin recently told The Oregonian that negotiating with a team on a trade that may be “futile in the end” is “not fair.”
He also told the Miami Herald, “I do what I should for my client. Some teams I did call. Other teams have called me. It’s a respectful relationship with most teams. Truthfully, he wants to play in Miami. Period.”
Goodwin also was accused of warning other teams against bidding for Lillard because he only wanted to play for the Heat and would not give full percent effort to another team. Goodwin reportedly denied issuing such a warning.
“Goodwin and Lillard affirmed to us that Lillard would fully perform the services called for under his player contract in any trade scenario,” the statement reads, in part.
The NBA memo also said the National Basketball Players Association had been cautioned the message applies to all players.
“We have advised Goodwin and Lillard that any future comments, made privately to teams or publicly, suggesting Lillard will not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade will subject Lillard to discipline by the NBA,” the memo said. “We also have advised the Players Association that any similar comments by players or their agents will be subject to discipline going forward.”
Lillard, a seven-time All-Star, finished last season with career-highs in points per game (32.2), field goal percentage (46.3), free throws attempted per game (9.6), 3-pointers made (4.2) and attempted (11.3) per game. He also averaged 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds through 58 games.
Lillard, 33, has spent his entire career with Portland since being drafted with the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
The full text of the memo is below, per multiple reports:
“Recent media reports stated that Damian Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, called multiple NBA teams to warn them against trading for Lillard because Lillard’s only desired trade destination is Miami. Goodwin also made public comments indicating that Lillard would not fully perform the services called for under his player contract if traded to another team.
“We interviewed Goodwin and Lillard and also spoke with several NBA teams to whom Goodwin spoke. Goodwin denied stating or indicating to any team that Lillard would refuse to play for them. Goodwin and Lillard affirmed to us that Lillard would fully perform the services called for under his player contract in any trade scenario. The relevant teams provided descriptions of their communications with Goodwin that were mostly, though not entirely, consistent with Goodwin’s statements to us.
“We have advised Goodwin and Lillard that any future comments, made privately to teams or publicly, suggesting Lillard will not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade will subject Lillard to discipline by the NBA. We also have advised the Players Association that any similar comments by players or their agents will be subject to discipline going forward.”
AUTO RACING
REDDICK WINS POLE AT RICHMOND; POINTS LEADER TRUEX TO START 10TH
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Tyler Reddick won the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.
Reddick turned a fast lap and 113.689 mph on the 0.75-mile oval Saturday to win his first pole position of the season and the fifth of his career. The midday session was held in sunshine that pushed the temperature to nearly 100 degrees.
Kyle Busch, the leader among active drivers with six career victories at Richmond, will also start on the front row after qualifying second, with Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace completing the top five.
“We’ve been really strong when we’ve had the opportunities to qualify this year, and it is nice to get that first pole as a team,” Reddick said.
Points leader Martin Truex Jr. will start 10th. William Byron who trails Truex by 30 points, will start sixth.
The race is the first of five remaining in the regular season before the 10-race playoffs.
UNAPOLOGETIC HAMLIN SAYS NASCAR’S POINT SYSTEM ENCOURAGES IN-RACE URGENCY AND AGGRESSION
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Denny Hamlin is not offering any apologies for the move he made last weekend at Pocono that caused Kyle Larson to hit the wall and let Hamlin sail on to victory.
Truth be told, it’s what NASCAR was hoping to see more of when it established the system that divides races into three stages, rewards drivers with points for doing well in those stages and allows them to accrue playoff points, Hamlin said.
“That is what it was geared to do — give us the sense of urgency to ramp up and that regular season performance matters to get to the final four with a shot,” he said at Richmond Raceway. “The system is doing what it was designed to do.”
Hamlin also has changed, he said, after getting spun several times while leading.
“If you have one person willing to be aggressive and one person not, aggressive will win every time,” he said.
Larson, who said things are “fine” between he and Hamlin after they exchanged text messages Friday night, agreed that the point system encourages the aggressive approach Hamlin took, but added that it “makes the guys on the receiving end more mad as well just because of what’s at stake and what’s taken.”
Larson said four or five restart battles with Kyle Busch at World Wide Technology Raceway in June showed how cleanly he tries to race other drivers.
“I respect Kyle and that’s why I raced him with respect at Gateway, and I respect Denny every bit as much, if not more, or I did,” he said.
“I tend to blow things over pretty quickly,” Larson said. “This time, I probably have let it linger on my attitude a little bit this week just because it’s happened more often with him than any other driver in my career and also a win was taken.”
Larson won the first Richmond race this season in April.
POINTS RACE
William Byron has dropped 30 points behind Martin Truex Jr. in the points race with five races remaining before the playoffs begin. The regular season champion gets a 15-point bonus, but Byron doesn’t expect to make any changes to the way he’s racing while trying to secure that top spot and bonus.
“It’s really important but we can’t get too focused on the result of the regular season points,” he said. “We obviously want those points, but our process has been like it is to this point, and if we start focusing on that carrot out in front of us too much, it’s going to get us off-track.”
CHASING SPEED
Chase Elliott said Richmond is “such a weird place” where his car never feels good, but he was pleased to make the second round of qualifying. He’ll start fourth.
“Any position you can gain is good ahead of 10th,” Elliott said. “I also know this is a place where you can qualify really good and be really bad.”
Elliott missed six races with an injury and another while serving a suspension. He hasn’t won yet and likely will need to win to make the playoffs. He’s 21st in points.
“There’s a few guys that I feel like have been consistently good at this track and the rest of us are kind of hit or miss,” Elliott said. “Hopefully we can hit it tomorrow and just put together a solid day, try to get some stage points and just get up in the mix.”
HEAT CHECK
The temperature was near 100 degrees when the cars went out for qualifying, and the heat index made it feel even hotter. It’s expected to be about 90 on Sunday.
“There’s less grip and more emphasis on tire management,” Brad Keselowski said. “It will be a different race here than it was in the spring, for sure.”
ODDS AND ENDS
Truex and Larson are the betting favorites Sunday, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
TOP INDIANA NEWS/RELEASES FROM ORGANIZATIONS
COLTS NEWS
JONATHAN TAYLOR REQUESTS TRADE AFTER MEETING WITH OWNER JIM IRSAY AT COLTS PRACTICE, SOURCE SAYS
WESTFIELD, Ind. (AP) Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has requested a trade, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday night.
Taylor, the 2021 NFL rushing champ, has been seeking a contract extension before his rookie contract expires at the end of this season and he’s been one of several running backs to publicly air their grievances throughout the offseason.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the request hadn’t been made public. NFL Network first reported Taylor’s request to be traded.
It came shortly after Taylor left team owner Jim Irsay’s motorhome after a meeting that lasted nearly an hour as the Colts conducted a night practice.
“It was just a good conversation and, you know, hopeful going forward,” Irsay told reporters after practice. “We’re looking forward to a great season, hoping that Jonathan’s a big part of that and I think we had a good conversation.”
Taylor has not spoken with reporters since being placed on the physically unable to perform list Tuesday. General manager Chris Ballard said then the Colts wanted to wait for a new deal until they could see how a healthy Taylor fit the new offense installed by first-year coach Shane Steichen.
Taylor topped the 2,000-yard mark twice in college at Wisconsin and rushed for 2,980 yards and 29 TDs in his first two NFL seasons. He was a unanimous All-Pro selection in 2021, when he led the league with 2,171 total yards and tied for the league lead in total touchdowns with 20.
Last year, he rushed for 861 yards despite missing six games with an ankle injury that required offseason surgery. Indy also struggled, finishing the season 4-11-1.
Irsay posted on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday suggesting some player agents were acting in bad faith by complaining about how much running backs earned with a franchise tag designation after the collective bargaining agreement was negotiated in good faith. The $10.1 million price tag is the lowest of any position other than kickers or punters.
On Saturday, in front of a capacity crowd at Grand Park in Westfield a staff member took Taylor to the nearby motorhome. Irsay did not divulge details of the meeting afterward, but did talk about two other former Colts star runners – Marshall Faulk, who was traded after Peyton Manning’s rookie season in 1998, and Edgerrin James, who left as a free agent between the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
“I’m responsible for everyone on the team and to look at the cap money as you go forward,” Irsay said. “It’s a great responsibility and you try to be as fair as you possibly can be with the whole football team. So again, I’m hopeful.”
Now the Colts may be looking to move Taylor before he even gets a chance to team up rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in April.
“We need to make sure he (Taylor) is healthy, and we expect he should have an outstanding year,” Irsay said. “(Linebacker) E.J. Speed had the same surgery and is doing well, but it’s early in the process and we want to make sure Jonathan is 100%.”
INDIANS BASEBALL
ORTIZ SHINES AS INDY HOMERS PAST LOUISVILLE
INDIANAPOLIS – Luis Ortiz tossed 5.0 one-run innings and the Indianapolis Indians offense blasted three home runs to defeat the Louisville Bats on Saturday night at Victory Field, 6-3.
Rodolfo Castro broke a 1-1 tie with his first home run of the season for the Indians off Ryan Meisinger (L, 0-1), a three-run blast in the fifth to open a lead that proved insurmountable for Louisville. Castro’s dinger was sandwiched between a pair of solo homers, Miguel Andújar’s 13th of the season in the fourth and Domingo Leyba’s first home run with Indy in the sixth inning.
Louisville (53-46, 13-13) quickly countered after Andújar’s home run in the bottom of the fourth. Michael Siani peppered a leadoff single before Alejo Lopez drove him in on an RBI double into the right-field gap. The run-scoring double was the lone blemish for starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (W, 3-4), who fanned a season-high eight batters in 5.0 innings of work.
Following back-to-back walks to Chris Owings and Grant Koch, Castro singled home Owings with his third hit of the night, driving in the Indians (47-53, 14-12) last run of the contest. The Bats showed signs of life with a TJ Hopkins two-run home run in the eighth, cutting the deficit to three runs. Colin Selby (S, 5) retired Louisville in order with a pair of strikeouts to slam the door and earn his team-leading fifth save of the season.
Indianapolis’ offense homered three times for the second time this week against Louisville, also in Tuesday night’s win. Indy has homered in 15 of its last 16 games with 30 total blasts.
The Indians and Bats meet in the series finale on Sunday with first pitch slated for 1:35 PM ET. LHP Cam Alldred (6-3, 5.05) will toe the rubber for Indy against RHP Randy Wynne (3-2, 5.20).
INDY ELEVEN RECAP
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, July 29) – Traveling to Kentucky for the second game of a two-game road trip, Indy Eleven played at Louisville City FC for the second and final meeting between the two teams this season. A 28th-minute goal by Elijah Wynder would prove to be the difference as Louisville City FC would go on to earn all three points at home.
In the 28th minute, a pass from Oscar Jimenez found an open Elijah Wynder who dribbled it just under the glove of Yannik Oettl, giving Louisville a 1-0 lead.
Indy had the chance to equalize in the 37th minute, when a shot by Sebastian Velasquez just inside the box steered left of the net in what was Indy’s first shot of the half.
Despite Indy dominating the possession battle (71%-29%), Louisville outshot the Boys in Blue 7-1 in the first half.
In the 65th minute, a Jimenez corner kick found Cameron Lancaster in the box, who delivered a header that found the back of the net, giving Louisville a 2-0 lead.
Yannik Oettl made an impressive save on a Sean Totsch header in the 71st minute to keep the deficit to two.
For the match, Indy controlled the possession battle (68%-32%) but was outshot by Louisville City 14-7 and 5-0 in shots on goal.
Next up, the Boys in Blue head home to host Memphis 901 FC for a 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday, August 5. Single-game tickets for all home games at IUPUI Carroll Stadium and specially-priced group tickets and an increased portfolio of hospitality options are available for purchase now via indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours (Mon.-Fri., 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.).
USL Championship Regular Season
Louisville City FC 2:0 Indy Eleven
Saturday, July 29
Lynn Family Stadium – Louisville, Ky.
Louisville City FC: 9W-7L-5D, 32 pts.
Indy Eleven: 6W-8L-7D, 25 pts.
Scoring Summary
LOU – Elijah Wynder (Oscar Jimenez) 28’
LOU – Cameron Lancaster (Oscar Jimenez) 65’
Discipline Summary
IND – Robby Dambrot (caution) 61’
IND – Aodhan Quinn (caution) 67’
IND – Adrian Diz Pe (caution) 86’
IND – Younes Boudadi (caution) 90+4’
Louisville City FC line-up (3-4-3): Oliver Semmle, Sean Totsch, Rasmus Thellufsen (Niall McCabe 90’), Wes Charpie, Brian Ownby (Ray Serrano 90’), Tyler Gibson, Amadou Dia, Cameron Lancaster (Wilson Harris 85’), Oscar Jimenez (Manny Perez 85’), Elijah Wynder, Kyle Adams
Louisville Subs: Carlos Moguel Jr., Danny Faundez, Maarten Pouwels
Indy Eleven line-up (3-4-3): Yannik Oettl, Macaulay King, Callum Chapman-Page (Mechack Jerome 59’), Adrian Diz Pe, Robby Dambrot (Harrison Robledo 70’), Aodhan Quinn, Jack Blake (Roberto Molina 85’), Sebastian Velasquez (Solomon Asante 70’), Douglas Martinez, Sebastian Guenzatti (captain), Stefano Pinho (Younes Boudadi 59’)
Indy Subs: Tim Trilk, Diego Sanchez
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
IRISH EMBARK ON FOREIGN TOUR TO GREECE, CROATIA
After a jam-packed summer of classes, practices and international tournaments, the Notre Dame women’s basketball team will head overseas on Saturday for an 11-day foreign tour to Greece and Croatia.
While abroad, the Irish will play a pair of games against club teams. The scrimmages will serve as a first look at the four newcomers on the roster — Anna DeWolfe, Hannah Hidalgo, Becky Obinma and Emma Risch — and will allow the team to put its summer work to the test.
The rest of the time abroad will be spent exploring and embracing the culture on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. The team will start in Athens, where everyone will take tours of the Acropolis and Parthenon as well as a boat cruise around islands off of the coast.
The second half of the tour will be spent in Croatia, in both Split and Dubrovnik. There is another island cruise on the docket, this time to the famous Blue Lagoon. The day will end with an evening in Trogir, an island off of the Croatian coast. During the week, time will also be spent in the ancient Croatian cities, seeing sights like the Split Center, Mestrovic Gallery and Walls of Dubrovnik.
Day-by-day updates and photos will be added to the website throughout the trip. Check in to see what the team is up to!
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
TRIO OF VETERAN LINEBACKERS HOPES TO LEAVE LEGACY THAT LASTS FAR BEYOND 2023
By John Brice
Special Contributor
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Five years ago, there was a lone goal: get on the offense’s nerves.
Today, they’re the central nervous system of Notre Dame’s defense – if not the entire Fighting Irish football program.
Linebackers JD Bertrand, Jack Kiser and Marist Liufau are, collectively, entering the 13th, 14th and 15th seasons of their collegiate careers; they own more than 100 games of experience as Notre Dame churns through its steamy opening week of preseason camp in advance of next month’s season-opener against Navy in Dublin, Ireland.
They vividly recall toiling on scout teams upon their arrivals to Notre Dame in 2019.
“I remember that every day our goal was to mess up the offense and just be irritating,” said Liufau, the versatile graduate student entering this fall on the heels of a 51-tackle campaign. “Which, we were. The offense told us that every day.
“Just taking it as an opportunity to get better was really our mindset then. I know a lot of people can see being on the scout team as a negative because you’re not with the 1s and 2s, but we used that opportunity to get better. We made it fun.”
In hindsight, Kiser knows those formative camp and fall sessions put him in his current position.
“At the time, we were just trying to make plays and make names for ourselves,” said Kiser, whose arrival to Notre Dame came on the heels of a stalwart Indiana prep career featuring more than 11,000 yards of offense and 198 touchdowns.”It’s a pretty unique situation, though, if you look at it: the offensive line that we were going against, all five of them are in the NFL. We got so much better just playing with our hands, physically. We had no idea how much that was creating for us developmentally. I think without those days playing ball together, not even playing a real defense, really made us so much closer and at the same time made us a lot better football players.”
The work then is the foundation of now, which sees the trio anchoring a veteran Irish defense and serving in capacities far beyond Xs and Os.
“To me, I think right away of the example it sets for the younger kids, both in our room and on the defensive side,” said Notre Dame graduate assistant Max Bullough, who works with the linebackers. “Every time I talk about our room, I start with, ‘Listen, we have three guys that have played a lot of ball for us. They know what they’re doing, and they do things the right way.’ That allows us to expect more out of them, in terms of communication and things we can put on their plate. It gives us flexibility on the field.
“I know when we coach the linebackers, we like to think of it as the age-old days, the linebacker is the quarterback of the defense. That energy, attitude and communication stems from our spot. It starts in our room.”
The players are, perhaps, a step beyond finishing each other’s sentences; they’re calling out one another’s checks to the rest of the Irish defense.
“Just that time spent together, we really understand each other,” said Bertrand, 10 tackles shy of 200 in his career. “Most times, it’s like we’re trying to beat each other to the checks. Like Jack sees this coming, but I’m checking it while he’s looking. Having that right-perspective view, and he has the other perspective view, I think that’s a really cool thing.”
What isn’t solved pre-snap usually is an instantaneous learning point, be it before the ensuing play or as soon as the players reach the sidelines.
“We’ll be on the field and something will happen that maybe we didn’t play right. It takes us two seconds on the sideline,” said Kiser, whose innate ability to track the ball sees him with three career interceptions and just as many forced fumbles. “Like, ‘Oh, you saw this.’ ‘Yep.’ ‘Yep.’ ‘We’re good.’
“It’s great. It allows you to play so much faster and fix things with urgency to play better the next snap. It is special to have three fifth-year guys who each have their own journey, but at the same time we all three started on the scout team together, grew together, and made it up the depth chart together. It’s been unique.”
It’s also affording Al Golden, noted defensive mind and a former Power 5 head coach, to entrust his linebackers with more responsibilities – mentally and physically.
“One of the cool things is that Coach Golden can put a lot of load on us, and we can be the calming voice for the rest of the defense,” Bertrand said. “When a check comes or even before the check comes, we can start anticipating it so that when that check comes, the guys with their hands in the ground that can’t see everything, they feel calm, they know what they have, and they have their feet in the ground ready to play.
“Same with the secondary. We can make those checks that they’re making, but we can help make sure that we’re looking at them and have that communication piece.”
The charge now for the group is to leave an on-field legacy in 2023 while preparing their understudies for the future.
“I’ve sat down with all of the linebackers, but specifically I’ve had a couple meetings with (Nolan) Ziegler and (Jaylen) Sneed. I taught them what I did and quizzed them as we went,” Bertrand said. “Then I can say, ‘OK, now it’s your turn to sit down with the freshmen guys.’
“If they can teach it, it means they know it. We’re just preparing those guys so that they’re ready when we leave.”
NOTRE DAME SWIMMING
MENKHAUS WINS UNDER ARMOUR 25 X 25 COLLEGIATE CHALLENGE
After an offseason filled with giving back, rising junior Madeline Menkhaus is being recognized on a national stage.
This week, Menkhaus was honored as the spring winner of the Under Armour 25 X 25 Collegiate Challenge, which is a community engagement contest amongst student-athletes at the following universities: Auburn, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Texas Tech and Utah.
Throughout the season, the student-athletes sign up for and record their service hours through an app called Helper Helper, which includes the option to upload photos, goals, surveys, event management, messaging, service transcripts and reporting. The app provides regular updates to the schools and student-athletes throughout the service period.
Menkhaus did a chunk of her community service over spring break. As a member of the Notre Dame chapter of Global Medical Brigades, which is part of an international movement of students and medical professionals who travel to rural areas to deliver health to those with limited or no access, the then-sophomore traveled to a remote area of Panama. Menkhaus helped set up health clinics in a local school that provide physicals to people of all ages and access to certain pharmaceuticals. Additionally, Menkhaus helped with an informational center where the group educated the people of Panama on potentially life-saving hygiene practices like clean water safety.
The trip was funded entirely by donations and numerous fundraising efforts.
“For many, this was their first time receiving medical attention,” Menkhaus said while reflecting on the experience. “As a result of the trip, I have had the opportunity to see the real-life impact that student volunteers can make in someone’s life, and it has inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare.”
As a result of her efforts, Menkhaus will receive a $1,000 scholarship for this upcoming school year.
U OF INDY FOOTBALL
REIGNING CHAMPS TOP GLVC PRESEASON FOOTBALL POLL
LEBANON, Ill. – The 2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference Preseason Football Coaches Poll was released Friday afternoon, with the University of Indianapolis voted as the preseason favorite. The announcement was made in conjunction with the annual GLVC Football Kickoff event, held on the campus of McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill.
The poll featured the league’s eight football-playing schools, with UIndy receiving 49 points and the maximum seven first-place votes (coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team). The Greyhounds return 15 starters – eight offensive, seven defensive – from last year’s conference champion and NCAA playoff team.
Truman garnered the remaining first-place nod, with its 43 points good for second in the poll. Southwest Baptist (34 pts) and Missouri S&T (27) rounded out the top half of the ledger. The league also welcomes Upper Iowa University as an associate member with fall, with the Peacocks landing at seventh in the preseason poll.
Overall, the Greyhounds have captured a league-best eight conference titles since the GLVC first began sponsoring football in 2012. The 2023 football schedule gets underway Sept. 2 when the Hounds host non-conference and former-GLIAC-rival Hillsdale under the lights at Key Stadium.
2023 GLVC PRESEASON POLL
RK SCHOOL (1st-place votes) PTS
1. UIndy (7) 49
2. Truman (1) 43
3. Southwest Baptist 34
4. Missouri S&T 27
5. McKendree 24
6. Quincy 19
7. Upper Iowa 17
8. William Jewell 11
MARIAN FOOTBALL
MARIAN FOOTBALL 2023 PREVIEW: A NEW ERA OF KNIGHTS FOOTBALL BEGINS
INDIANAPOLIS – With under two weeks until the Marian football team reports for duty in the 2023 season, it’s time to take a look at Ted Karras Jr.’s team in his return to the Marian sidelines. Marian enters the season coming off of a 9-2 record in 2022, where the Knights reached the NAIA FCS Quarterfinals.
REVAMPED COACHING STAFF
Coach Ted Karras Jr. is entering his seventh season as the head coach of the Marian football team, returning to take over the Knights for the first time since 2012. Coach Karras posted 48 wins as the first head coach in program history, ending his first stint as head coach as a national champion following Marian’s win over Morningside in the 2012 NAIA Championship game.
As Coach Karras makes his return to the Knights’ sidelines, he brings with him a new staff, comprising of three members from the 2022 staff and a few members of the original Marian football staff. B.J. Coad will lead the offense as he was retained from 2022, elevating to the offensive coordinator role while taking over coaching the quarterbacks. Dan Smith, who joined the Knights staff in 2022, changed sides of the ball, coaching the offensive line in 2023. Henry Brown will continue to coach the running backs in the 2023 season, while recent hire, Matt King, will coach the wide receivers along with Sean Wilson.
Defensively, new defensive coordinator Justin Robinson will lead the Knights defensive efforts. Robinson, in his first season at Marian after coaching at UT-Martin, will lead the defensive line as well. Rodney Deckard, the program’s first defensive coordinator from the 2007-2012 teams, has returned to Marian after spending the last 10 years coaching at the high school level. Deckard will coach the linebackers in his return to Marian. Steve Tutsie is also back with the Marian football staff in 2023, returning to coach the corner backs and serve as the special teams coordinator. Leodis Moore rounds out the top staff members, as he will coach the safeties and nickel linebackers.
KEY DEPARTURES
Graduation impacted the Marian football team with several familiar names leaving the program after last season. NAIA All-Americans Ben Stevens and Logan Blake highlight some of the key pieces from both sides of the ball that graduated. Stevens is currently in pursuit of a professional career, while Blake enrolled as a graduate-transfer at Eastern Kentucky, where he is in line to earn significat playing time this fall. Offensively, Darren Dillon, Jacob Pressler, Hunter Hankins, and Will Meyer join Stevens as key members who graduated, while on the defensive side of the ball, Chauncey Mays (graduate transfer to North Alabama), Diomoni Small, Ricky Kwak, and Trevor Adler are some of the lead names to leave from graduation. Punter Taylor Soper also graduated from both the Marian football and baseball programs after a successful run with each team.
OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Quarterback
For the first time since 2018, the Marian offense looks to be led by the same field general for a third consecutive season, as Zach Bundalo enters the season as the incumbent at the position. Bundalo (2391 yards, 25 TD) will aim to be the opening day starter for a third consecutive season, something Knights fans have not seen since Luke Johnston was the game-one starter in 2016-18. Bundalo has an opportunity to end the season as the program’s all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, and games played from the quarterback position this season, entering the year 1140 yards behind Hayden Northern, and 14touchdowns behind Johnston. Bundalo also has a chance to pass former teammate Ethan Darter for most games played by a quarterback at Marian, needing 10 to tie his mark. Tristan Polk enters the season as the backup, and will challenge the fifth-year senior for the right of QB1 during camp.
Running Back
In the backfield, Marian returns their top-three rushers from the 2022 season, with Baron Huebler and Christian Hunter looking to make an impact in the new offensive scheme. Huebler (702 yards, 7 TD), is already a member of Marian’s top-10 rushers of all-time through two seasons on the team, and will be on pace to crack the top-three rushers of all-time by the end of the season. Hunter (501 yards, 4 TD), had a productive season for Marian after transferring from Colorado State, and will aim to have a more focal point in Coach Coad’s scheme. Joining the two lead backs are William Gibson (senior) and Keagan La Belle (sophomore), who will look to add into the mix this season.
Wide Receiver
With the likes of Ben Stevens and Jacob Pressler now graduated (1596 combined yards, 17 TD), Marian will have a new core of receivers in 2023, led by seniors CJ Young, Jalen Jennings and Tirae Spence. Young (194 yards, 3 TD) by far carries the most experience in the receiving room, logging 28 games through three years at Marian, with last season hauling in a career-high three touchdowns. Jennings (9 rec., 181 yards, 2 TD), the all-time leader at Marian in kick return yards, will look to be more involved in the passing game, while Spence (8 rec., 86 yards, 2 TD), should prove to have a more prominent role in the offense. Dual-threat weapon Jake Reichard (140 all-purpose yards, 5 TD), will aim to have a more featured game in the passing attack after last season’s run as the wildcat quarterback. Seniors Brandon Price and Jared Prater should also look to make push for playing time this season.
Offensive Line/Tight End
One of the more steadiest groups for the Knights in 2023 is their offensive line, as a strong group in the trenches returns. Led by senior offensive tackles Zach Sibila (2023 NAIA All-American and MSFA Offensive Lineman of the Year) and Austin Jones, Marian’s line will be a strength. Quade Popp, who started 10 of the 11 games at guard, is also back on the line, while experienced swing-players such as Adam Warren and Connor Young return. Young will push for the starting center role along side second-year player Razhaun Wells, with Trevor Kahre and Ethan Waters expected to fight for playing time.
Defensive Breakdown
Defensive Line
Marian’s defensive line in the upcoming season will be anchored by three familiar faces, as Deon Pettiford, Tyler Bukur, and Tyler Majors are all returning to fight for top playing time. Pettiford (52 tackles, 8.5 sacks) was the third-leading tackler for Marian last season, and led the team in sacks a season ago. Pettiford is the favorite to start opposite Tyler Bukur, who made 33 stops one season ago, as the fourth-year Knight will aim to add to his 13.5 career sacks. Majors (39 tackles, 11 TFL) is Marian’s lone player using a COVID-19 exemption and playing in his sixth year as a Knight, and will look to continue to be a force in the middle of the defensive line. Rotational pieces from last season that will fight for additional playing include Brach Carrington, Joe Apata, and Dekari Kenney, while Tony Alo returns to action after being sidelined with an injury in 2022.
Linebackers
Jake Paris had a strong season in 2022 opposite his All-American teammate Logan Blake, and will aim to make a bigger role on the defense in his absence. Paris (55 tackles, 2 INT), was the second-leading tackler on the Knights roster a season ago, and will aim to break the 100-career tackle threshold this season. Joe Owens and Alex Griffith, who have both made their presence felt as rotational linebackers and special teams, will be in the fight for more playing time in Robinson’s multiple defensive system. Lucas Hines is among one of the underclassmen who played on special teams a season ago, and are going to look to make a name for themselves in camp.
Secondary
The secondary for Marian returns multiple pieces from 2022, including both starting safeties Nate Frey and Clay Campbell. Frey (41 tackles, 2 forced turnovers) was the fifth leader in tackles a season ago, while Campbell (35 tackles) will look to lock in his starting spot for a second consecutive season. Both Adrian Cuevas, Marshall Flaig, and Peyton Trexler will be in the mix on the back end, with Trexler and Cuevas combining for three interceptions a season ago, while all three made plays on special teams. At corner, returning starter Jayshawn Underwood (43 tackles, 7 breakups) aims to be one of the top leaders at the position. Danny Lewis, T.Y. Thomas, and Dwight Lewis III are among the upperclassmen to be in the mix to play opposite Underwood, with Thomas holding the most starting experience of the three. Both D. Lewis and Dw. Lewis III have made several contributions on special teams units in their careers.
Special Teams
Marian’s special teams unit will be led by two of three faces who have led the kicking units in previous seasons, as senior long snapper Peyton Knight will continue his duties for a fourth season, while Marlon Pomili is back as the team’s kicker. Pomili, entering his third year as the team’s placekicker, converted a career-high 52 PAT’s last season, while making seven field goals. Pomili is pacing the second most PAT’s made in Marian history, and will have an opportunity to earn that mark in 2023. The favorite to take over the punting duties voided by Taylor Soper is Mason Miller, who appeared in just one game last season. Miller took all reps as the top punter in the spring, and will also be a candidate to be Pomili’s holder.
Newcomers
The Knights roster in 2023 will be the largest in program history, with the Knights roster currently sitting at 157 players prior to the beginning of preseason. This number includes over 45 new pieces, with a slew of freshman and some transfers joining the program. A handful of these new faces could be in the mix to earn playing time for Coach Karras and his staff, as positional battles are open.
Marian reports for fall camp on August 7, with the first practice of the season coming on August 8. Later in August, an announcement will be made on MUKnights.com for the broadcast schedule of the 2023 Marian football season.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
MLB STANDINGS
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Baltimore | 63 | 41 | .606 | – | 31 – 21 | 32 – 20 | 20 – 13 | 18 – 7 | 10 – 7 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Tampa Bay | 63 | 44 | .589 | 1.5 | 37 – 19 | 26 – 25 | 18 – 13 | 16 – 4 | 10 – 11 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| Toronto | 59 | 46 | .562 | 4.5 | 29 – 20 | 30 – 26 | 7 – 20 | 16 – 6 | 14 – 10 | 6 – 4 | W 3 |
| Boston | 56 | 48 | .538 | 7 | 30 – 23 | 26 – 25 | 16 – 11 | 11 – 8 | 11 – 8 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| NY Yankees | 55 | 49 | .529 | 8 | 32 – 24 | 23 – 25 | 14 – 18 | 11 – 8 | 14 – 11 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 54 | 52 | .509 | – | 30 – 24 | 24 – 28 | 12 – 17 | 21 – 14 | 11 – 8 | 5 – 5 | L 4 |
| Cleveland | 52 | 53 | .495 | 1.5 | 28 – 24 | 24 – 29 | 7 – 8 | 16 – 16 | 13 – 9 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Detroit | 47 | 58 | .448 | 6.5 | 22 – 30 | 25 – 28 | 3 – 16 | 18 – 12 | 9 – 13 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Chi White Sox | 43 | 63 | .406 | 11 | 23 – 28 | 20 – 35 | 6 – 16 | 17 – 15 | 9 – 14 | 3 – 7 | W 2 |
| Kansas City | 31 | 75 | .292 | 23 | 17 – 36 | 14 – 39 | 5 – 15 | 12 – 27 | 4 – 11 | 3 – 7 | W 2 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Texas | 60 | 45 | .571 | – | 34 – 20 | 26 – 25 | 14 – 11 | 14 – 5 | 17 – 13 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| Houston | 59 | 46 | .562 | 1 | 28 – 24 | 31 – 22 | 6 – 6 | 8 – 11 | 24 – 13 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| LA Angels | 54 | 51 | .514 | 6 | 29 – 23 | 25 – 28 | 11 – 11 | 14 – 8 | 16 – 14 | 7 – 3 | L 2 |
| Seattle | 53 | 51 | .510 | 6.5 | 29 – 25 | 24 – 26 | 9 – 12 | 12 – 11 | 15 – 11 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Oakland | 30 | 76 | .283 | 30.5 | 15 – 39 | 15 – 37 | 7 – 19 | 7 – 11 | 5 – 26 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 66 | 36 | .647 | – | 34 – 19 | 32 – 17 | 22 – 6 | 12 – 2 | 11 – 9 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Philadelphia | 56 | 48 | .538 | 11 | 28 – 20 | 28 – 28 | 9 – 15 | 11 – 7 | 14 – 13 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Miami | 56 | 49 | .533 | 11.5 | 32 – 21 | 24 – 28 | 13 – 16 | 11 – 9 | 10 – 12 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| NY Mets | 49 | 55 | .471 | 18 | 25 – 23 | 24 – 32 | 15 – 14 | 5 – 14 | 15 – 13 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Washington | 44 | 61 | .419 | 23.5 | 20 – 33 | 24 – 28 | 10 – 18 | 7 – 13 | 14 – 14 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Milwaukee | 57 | 48 | .543 | – | 29 – 24 | 28 – 24 | 9 – 6 | 22 – 10 | 8 – 15 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Cincinnati | 57 | 49 | .538 | 0.5 | 28 – 26 | 29 – 23 | 12 – 11 | 13 – 19 | 15 – 9 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| Chi Cubs | 53 | 51 | .510 | 3.5 | 27 – 26 | 26 – 25 | 8 – 14 | 18 – 12 | 9 – 8 | 9 – 1 | W 8 |
| Pittsburgh | 46 | 58 | .442 | 10.5 | 24 – 27 | 22 – 31 | 6 – 6 | 11 – 15 | 16 – 15 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| St. Louis | 46 | 60 | .434 | 11.5 | 22 – 29 | 24 – 31 | 10 – 9 | 12 – 20 | 9 – 14 | 3 – 7 | L 3 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| LA Dodgers | 59 | 44 | .573 | – | 31 – 19 | 28 – 25 | 11 – 7 | 16 – 13 | 14 – 11 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| San Francisco | 57 | 48 | .543 | 3 | 29 – 23 | 28 – 25 | 10 – 12 | 18 – 9 | 15 – 10 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Arizona | 56 | 49 | .533 | 4 | 28 – 27 | 28 – 22 | 13 – 15 | 11 – 10 | 17 – 11 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| San Diego | 51 | 54 | .486 | 9 | 28 – 25 | 23 – 29 | 13 – 13 | 8 – 15 | 12 – 13 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| Colorado | 40 | 64 | .385 | 19.5 | 23 – 28 | 17 – 36 | 14 – 17 | 8 – 10 | 6 – 19 | 4 – 6 | L 4 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1913 Ivey Wingo swipes second, third, and home in the Cardinals’ 9-1 rout of Boston at Robison Field in St. Louis. The Redbirds’ catcher accomplishes the stolen base cycle in the same frame, stealing all three bases in the bottom of the second inning.
1917 The Tigers collect 21 hits during a 16-4 rout of Washington at At Griffith Stadium. Ty Cobb, Bobby Veach, and Ossie Vitt, batting second, third, and fourth in the lineup, all enjoy a 5-for-5 day at the plate.
1930 In the first night game ever played by a major league team, the American Association’s Indianapolis Indians defeat the Reds in an exhibition game, 17-5. The big floodlights illuminating West Washington Street Park make it difficult for the players to judge distances when fielding balls in play.
1933 Dizzy Dean sets a modern major league record when he strikes out 17 in the Cardinals’ 8-2 victory over the Cubs. Batterymate Jimmie Wilson also sets a new mark by recording 18 putouts in the Sportsman’s Park contest.
1947 Ewell Blackwell’s 16-game winning streak ends when the Giants defeat the Reds in ten innings, 6-5. During his run, ‘the Whip’ completes every game and throws five shutouts, including a no-hitter.
1951 Retired Hall of Famer Ty Cobb testifies in front of Emanuel Celler’s Congressional committee in Washington, D.C. The ‘Georgia Peach’ denies the reserve clause makes ‘peons’ out of baseball players and says it is necessary to keep the competitive balance in the game.
1959 Willie McCovey collects four hits, including two triples, in four at-bats at Seals Stadium in his major league debut. The Giant freshman first baseman, who will be selected the league’s Rookie of the Year despite his late call-up, will hit 13 home runs in just 52 games.
1960 “Most people my age are dead at the present time.” – CASEY STENGEL, quipping about being a septuagenarian. Despite the rainout at Yankee Stadium, Yankee manager Casey Stengel celebrates his 70th birthday in the Bronx ballpark, with his wife Edna and GM George Weiss enjoying the festivities. The ‘Old Professor’ and Connie Mack will be the only two skippers to manage into their seventies until being joined by Jack McKeon, who pilots the Marlins to a World Championship in 2003, as well as Frank Robinson (2002-2006) and Davey Johnson (2011-2013), both leading the Nationals.
1962 After leaving the team bus to find a restroom three days ago and trying to fly to Israel, pitcher Gene Conley returns to the Red Sox after sending a telegram yesterday to manager Mike Higgins explaining he was tired and had other plans. Boston owner Tom Yawkey fines the AWOL player $2000, refunding the money at the end of the season when the right-hander keeps his promise to rededicate himself to the team.
1966 In the fifth season of the franchise’s existence, the Mets experience their first winning month when they beat Chicago at Shea Stadium, 6-3. With another victory tomorrow, the Amazins will finish July with an 18-14 record.
1968 In a 10-1 loss to the Indians, Senator shortstop Ron Hansen becomes the eighth major leaguer and the first since 1927 to execute an unassisted triple play. All five American League unassisted triple killings have included a Cleveland player.
1969 Mets manager Gil Hodges, with his team trailing 8-0 in the third inning of the nightcap against the Astros, walks past Nolan Ryan on the mound and continues into the Shea Stadium outfield, where he asks Cleon Jones to leave the game after a brief conversation with the left fielder. At the time, reports indicate the star player suffered a leg injury fielding Johnny Edwards’ double, with many believing the skipper demonstrating he would not tolerate a lack of hustle on his team.
1969 Braves catcher Bob Tilllman hits three consecutive home runs, going deep in the second, fourth, and sixth inning, off southpaw starter Grant Jackson. The 32-year-old light-hitting backstop’s offensive output helps Atlanta beat the Phillies in the opener of a twin bill at Connie Mack Stadium, 6-3.
1969 The Astros, nursing a slim two-run lead starting the top of the ninth, rout the Mets,16-3, scoring 11 runs thanks to seven hits, four walks, and one passed ball. Houston becomes the third major league team to hit two grand slams in one inning when Denis Menke and Jimmy Wynn go deep in the first game of a Shea Stadium twin bill. (Ed. Note: Jimmy Wynn and Norm Miller score on each bases-loaded home run -LP.)
1971 John Kennedy comments, ‘Looks like we’ve got our own spaceman,’ when he cannot get to his locker through the crowd of reporters talking with southpaw Bill Lee about the Apollo 15 moon landing. The Red Sox utility infielder’s nickname Spaceman sticks, a moniker his eccentric teammate never fully embraces, claiming Mother Earth has always been his priority.
1973 Freshman Ranger right-hander Jim Bibby, a Vietnam veteran, becomes the 14th rookie to throw a no-hitter and the first hurler in franchise history to accomplish the feat. The 28-year-old right-hander, obtained in a June 6th trade with the Cardinals, strikes out 13 batters while holding the World Champions A’s hitless in a 3-0 Texas victory at the Oakland Coliseum. *
1975 Jose Sosa becomes the first Astros player in the 14-year history of the franchise to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. The relief pitcher belts a three-run homer off Danny Frisella during an 8-4 victory over the Padres at San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium.
1975 Pat Darcy goes the distance, beating San Francisco at Riverfront Stadium, 6-1. The contest is the first complete game thrown by a Reds pitcher in 45 consecutive starts by the Cincinnati staff, snapping their record streak without one.
1980 During a workout at the Astrodome, Houston hurler J.R. Richard, who had complained about a dead feeling in his arm on several occasions, suffers a stroke attempting to throw for the first time since being hospitalized for tests. Emergency surgery removes a blood clot behind his right collarbone, but the Astros’ fireballer will never pitch in the major leagues again.
1982 The first-place Braves remove Chief Noc-A-Homa’s tipi from the unoccupied section of the bleachers so that the team can make more seats available during sellouts. After the team blows a 10.5 game lead, losing 19 out of its next 21 games, the fans will pressure the management to reinstate the mascot’s home, a move that appears to end the skid for the eventual division champs.
1987 Although Bulova promised a watch to any player hitting the clock high above the Ebbets Field scoreboard, Bama Rowell of the Braves didn’t receive the timepiece, whose 1946 blast inspired the glass-shattering homer by Roy Hobbs, Bernard Malamud’s hero in The Natural. The company corrects the injustice more than 40 years later when the former outfielder receives his wristwatch on ‘Bama Rowell’ Day in Citronella (AL), the honoree’s hometown.
1988 John Franco establishes the major league record for the most saves in the month when he records the final two outs in Cincinnati’s 2-0 victory over San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium. The Reds’ reliever, who retires future Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar and Tony Gwynn to record his 13th save in June, betters the mark he had shared with Sparky Lyle, Bruce Sutter, and Bob Stanley.
1990 In a stunning decision by George Steinbrenner, the Yankee owner agrees to go on the permanent ineligible list, amounting to a virtual lifetime ban from the team’s day-to-day operation. ‘The Boss,’ reinstated in 1993, agrees to the dire consequences of the “agreement,” not wanting to jeopardize his relationship with U.S. Olympic Committee if he were to be “suspended” from the game.
1990 As word begins to circulate at Yankee Stadium about the permanent removal of George Steinbrenner as the owner of the team, many of the 24,037 fans in attendance start chanting, “No More George! No More George!” After a long day of turmoil, the ‘Boss’ learns of the fans’ glee, much to his chagrin, when he watches the 11 p.m. local television news.
1996 The Giants trade starting pitcher Mark Leiter to the Expos in exchange for Kirk Rueter. ‘Woody’ will compile a 105-70 record during his ten-year tenure with San Francisco, while Al’s right-handed brother will post a 4-2 mark during his one season playing north of the border.
1999 Paul Byrd of the Phillies plunks Braves catcher Eddie Perez on the back, precipitating a bench-clearing brawl between the two unfriendly ball clubs. With the battle raging on, the angry batter overhears the two instigators praying together when the pitcher’s prayer for forgiveness.
2001 The Twins get Mets starter Rick Reed for outfielder and leadoff batter Matt Lawton. The 36-year-old right-hander, an All-Star this season, had compiled an 8-6 record with a 3.86 ERA with New York before the deal.
2003 Battling a 5-for-36 slump, Jose Valentin hits three home runs in a 15-4 victory over the Royals. The White Sox shortstop becomes the first switch-hitter in baseball history to have three-homer games in both the American and National Leagues, having accomplished the feat with the Brewers in 1998.
2003 The Cubs obtain center fielder Doug Glanville from the Rangers in exchange for cash and outfielder/first baseman prospect Jason Fransz, who will not appear in a major league game. The Chicago flychaser will play in only 28 games, hitting just .235 for his new ball club.
2004 In a blockbuster trade, the Marlins deal Brad Penny, Hee Seop Choi, and southpaw prospect Bill Murphy to the Dodgers for backstop Paul Lo Duca, relief pitcher Guillermo Mota, and much-traveled outfielder Juan Encarnacion.
2006 The Yankees trade four minor leaguers (shortstop C.J. Henry, southpaw Matt Smith, catcher Jesus Sanchez, and right-hander Carlos Monasterios) to the Phillies for outfielder Bobby Abreu and right-hander Cory Lidle. New York assumes the responsibility of Abreu’s contract, which includes the remaining portion of the $13.5 million for this season, $15.5 million for next year, and a $16 million option for 2008 with a $2 million buyout.
2006 Eighteen individuals, the largest number ever selected, are inducted into the Hall of Fame. The group consists of 17 persons who had participated in the pre-Negro Leagues or Negro Leagues, including Effa Manley, the first woman to enter the Hall, and Bruce Sutter, the fourth reliever enshrined in Cooperstown.
2007 The Hall of Fame induction of Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn takes in front of a record crowd of an estimated 75,000 fans and an unprecedented number of 53 Hall of Famers. Joining the ballplayers on the dais are longtime radio voice of the Royals Denny Matthews, the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award given to outstanding broadcasters, and Post-Dispatch beat writer Rick Hummel, the J.G. Taylor Spink Award honoree for his exceptional coverage of the Cardinals.
2008 The Yankees, in need of a catcher due to Jorge Posada’s season-ending surgery, obtain 13-time Gold Glove winner Ivan Rodriguez from the Tigers in exchange for reliever Kyle Farnsworth. The 36-year-old All-Star backstop waives his no-trade clause to go to New York, which completes the deal a day before the trading deadline.
2008 The Royals, with a 4-3 victory at McAfee Coliseum, sweep the A’s in Oakland for the first time in two decades. The last time Kansas City broke out the broom in O-town was in June of 1988.
2008 In a slugfest at Progressive Field, the Tigers defeat the Indians in 13 innings, 14-12. Cleveland catcher Kelly Shoppach’s two home runs and three doubles, giving five extra-base hits in one game, ties a major league record.
2010 The Rockies establish a major league mark by banging out 11 consecutive hits, four singles, four doubles, two homers, and a triple, in the team’s 17-2 clobbering of the Cubs at Coors Field. Colorado sends 18 batters to the plate in their twelve-run eighth inning, collecting 13 hits to set a franchise record in a single frame.
2011 The Orioles trade Derrek Lee to the Pirates in exchange for minor-leaguer Aaron Baker, who will report to Class A Frederick. The Bucs hope their new good-fielding first baseman can provide some pop to the lineup as the team tries to stay in contention in the competitive NL Central Division race.
2011 The Indians announced the team has completed the trade with the Rockies for Ubaldo Jimenez. The deal sends highly-touted minor league pitchers Alex White and Drew Pomeranz, right-handed prospect Joe Gardner, and utility player Matt McBride to Colorado for the Dominican ace that the Tribe hopes will anchor their rotation down the stretch.
2011 The Indians trade veteran infielder Orlando Cabrera (.244, 4, 38) to the Giants for minor league prospect Thomas Neal. In 60 games with Triple-A Fresno, the Tribe’s newest outfielder hit .295, along with two homers, and drove in 25 runs.
2013 In a three-team, seven-player deal, the Red Sox obtain Jake Peavy from the White Sox, with third baseman Jose Iglesias sent to the Tigers as part of the transaction that includes Avisail Garcia, the player the Red Sox acquired from Detroit, going to Chicago. Boston’s new right-hander gives the eventual World Champs another proven starting pitcher in their rotation, helping to fill the void created by the injury suffered by Clay Buchholz.
2014 Felix Hernandez becomes the first pitcher in major league history to make 14 consecutive starts of at least seven innings while allowing two runs or less. The Mariners right-hander, known as ‘King Felix,’ breaks the record previously held by Tom Seaver, who established the mark in 1971 while pitching for the Mets.
2016 In front of 2,000 fans at Fayetteville’s JP Riddle Stadium, the Coastal Plain League’s SwampDogs became the first team to play nine starters at nine different positions when the team rotates the players during the nine-inning game. The exhibition game against the Carolina-Virginia Collegiate League’s Kernersville Bulldogs ends in a 5-5 ten-inning deadlock when both sides run out of players.
2016 At Progressive Field, the Indians induct Jim Thome, Albert Belle, 1920 World Series contributor Charlie Jamieson, and baseball’s first African-American manager, Frank Robinson, into the team’s Hall of Fame. Over 13 seasons with Cleveland, Thome established a franchise record, hitting 337 home runs and provided much of the offense, along with Belle, during the Tribe’s success in the mid 1990s
2016 “With all due respect to Tom Hanks, there is crying in baseball.” – MIKE PIAZZA, responding to his emotional state about being inducted into the Hall of Fame and having his number retired by the Mets. Mike Piazza, considered by many the greatest-hitting catcher in baseball history, has his number retired by the Mets, a team he played with for eight seasons, batting .296 and slugging 220 home runs. The 2016 Hall of Fame inductee is the second person, along with right-hander Tom Seaver (41), honored for what he accomplished as a player for the team, joining managers Gil Hodges (14) and Casey Stengel (37) and baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson’s (42).
2016 The Indians induct Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Frank Robinson, and Charlie Jamieson into the team’s Hall of Fame, bringing the number of honorees enshrined to 44. Thome, the team’s all-time home run leader; Belle, the first 50-50 major leaguer; Robinson, the first black manager in baseball history; and Jamieson, a .303 hitter during his 18 years with the Tribe, are feted during a ceremony at Progressive Field.
2017 Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre collects his 3000th hit when he doubles in the fourth inning in the Rangers’ 10-6 loss to the Orioles at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The twenty-year veteran, who has also spent time with the Dodgers, Mariners, and the Red Sox, is the first-ever Dominican-born player to reach the coveted milestone.
2017 Ryan Zimmerman becomes Washington D.C.’s all-time home run leader with his 238th career round-tripper, surpassing former Senator outfielder and first baseman Frank Howard. The Nationals’ first baseman’s third-inning 341-foot dinger, a three-run shot, ties the score in the team’s eventual 10-6 loss to the visiting Rockies in the first game of a twin bill.
2020 Indian right-hander Shane Bieber matches a major league mark for strikeouts through two starts in a season, equaling Dodger Karl Spooner’s record, who fanned 27 batters in consecutive games at the beginning of his rookie season in 1954. The 25-year-old Cleveland hurler, who whiffed 14 batters on Opening Day, punches out another 13 batters en route to throwing eight shutout innings in the team’s 2-0 victory over the Twins at Target Field.
2021 The Western-Division leading Giants acquire Kris Bryant from the Cubs for minor league prospects, outfielder Alexander Canario and right-hander Caleb Kilian. The 29-year-old All-Star third baseman, the 2016 NL MVP who helped Chicago capture their first World Series title in 108 years, becomes emotional in the visitors’ dugout in Washington upon learning of the deal.
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
SAM THOMPSON
Right Fielder
“No one ever quarreled with Sam. No one ever knew him with all his strength to be rough or brutal. He was always even-tempered, simple and plain.” – Charlie Bennett
During a time when the play was rough and so were many of the players, being recognized as “plain” was complimentary, and only reserved for true gentlemen. Samuel “Big Sam” Thompson spent time over 15 seasons in the big leagues protecting that reputation while also building a name for himself at the plate.
The right fielder’s most impressive numbers may have been in the RBI category. In 1887, Thompson had 166 runs batted in, a record that stood until Babe Ruth broke it 34 years later. Thompson was the only player in the 19th century to drive in more than 150 runs in a season, and he did it two times (1887 and 1895). He holds the mark for the most RBI in a month with 61, which he accomplished in August of 1895 for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Thompson broke into the big leagues in 1885 with the NL’s Detroit Wolverines. In just his second full season in 1887, Thompson led the Wolverines to the National League pennant and a postseason series win over the American Association’s St. Louis Browns. Thompson batted .372, scored 118 runs and his 203 hits marked the first time any player had reached 200 in a season. Also included in the record 203 hits were a league-leading 23 triples.
From 1889 to 1896, Thompson failed to reach 100 or more RBI only once when he had 90 in 1891, and he reached the 100-run plateau every year in that time. Thompson became the first player to ever have 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season when he did it in 1889.
The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Thompson batted a career-high .415 in 1894, even though he missed a month with an injury that required the amputation of his fingertip.
Back problems took Thompson out of the game early in 1898. But after a near decade-long hiatus he made a comeback attempt, playing in eight games for the Detroit Tigers in 1906. Though he had been gone for nearly 10 years, his return allowed him enough time to become one of the oldest players to ever hit a triple, doing so at age 46.
Thompson retired with a lifetime average of .331 with 126 home runs, 1,308 RBI and 232 stolen bases.
Thompson passed away on Nov. 7, 1922. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
July 30, 1928 – From his home in Rochester, NY; film and camera innovator of Kodak fame, George Eastman, first demonstrates his color motion pictures to a group that includes famous inventor Thomas Edison. The first color home movie night! Eastman and Edison both had major contributions that allow us to see color video, including football related items to this day.
July 30, 1971 – The NFL Champion Baltimore Colts overcame the College team 24-17 in front of 52,289 of paid attendance at the Chicago College All-Star game at Chicago’s Soldier Field. The MVP award, always given to the college player team, happened to be Richard Harris the defensive end from Grambling State.
July 30, 1988 – Arena Bowl II is played at All State Arena in Rosemont, Illinois as the Detroit Drive outlasts the Chicago Bruisers 24-13. Steve Griffin is voted as the games’ MVP. The Arena Football League was founded in 1987 and operated as a league in one form or fashion until 2019, making it the third longest running North American football league of all time behind only the CFL & the NFL. The fast paced, pass happy style of play provided an avenue for fans to enjoy the game of football in doors out of the throws of winter weather.
July 30, 1977 – Three big stars of mid-century football were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Bart Starr, Frank Gifford & Gale Sayers were all deservedly represented with bronze busts placed in the Canton, Ohio’s famous Gridiron museum of legends.
Hall of Fame Birthdays for July 30
July 30, 1903 – Sacramento, California – Vic Hanson was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973 as he excelled at End for Syracuse University per the NFF. He was such a good athlete that he not only played football, baseball and basketball for Syracuse but he was the captain of each team! In fact he is the only person to be in both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial
BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME!
July 30, 1924 – New York, New York – George Savitsky was a two way tackle from the University of Pennsylvania who was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in the class of 1991 by the National Football Foundation. George was unique too as he became a four-time All-America selection in 1945, the first player to do so since 1901. Savitski played in the East-West Shrine Game as a freshman, sophomore and senior becoming the only player ever chosen for the game three times, and he was named to the all-time Shrine team. He later played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles. Many experts consider Mr. Savitsky to be one of the best tackles to play both sides of the ball in the history of college football.
July 30, 1948 – Cleveland, Ohio – Jim Mandich was a tight end out of the University of Michigan that ended up being selected to enter the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. According to the FootballFoundation.org, unanimous First Team All-America and team captain in 1969, Mandich was named the team’s Most Valuable Player while leading the Wolverines to a Big Ten Conference Co-Championship and Rose Bowl appearance. A two-time First Team All-Conference pick, he twice led Michigan in receptions and yardage. After graduation Mandich ended up playing on Sunday’s for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and later for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
HOBEY BAKER
Position: Quarterback
Years: 1911-1913
Place of Birth: Bala-Cynwyd, PA
Date of Birth: Jan 15, 1892
Place of Death: Tours, France
Date of Death: Dec 21, 1918
Height: 5-10
Weight: 161
High School: Concord, NH (St. Paul HS)
Hobart (Hobey) Baker was a great football player and the finest amateur hockey player this country has ever known. He was the first American-born player elected to the International Hockey Hall of Fame. He was fast and elusive skating on ice or running on a football field. As a punt return specialist, Hobey Baker would watch the ball in flight and time himself so he caught it on the dead run. He never fumbled a punt, and he had runs up to 88 yards. In 1911 Princeton had an 8-0-2 record. Baker returned 13 punts, a school record, against Yale. In 1912 he scored 92 points as Princeton went 7-1-1. In 1913 Baker was captain and his team was 5-2-1. Princeton tied Yale 6-6 in 1912, 3-3 in 1913, and all Princeton points in those games were Hobey Baker field goals. The longest was 41 yards. He learned drop kicking from a Princeton immortal, Snake Ames. The hockey team was 27-7 in his time. He was captain as a junior and declined re-election. He was the most popular man on campus and moved to New York as a stockbroker. He continued to play amateur hockey and also excelled in golf, tennis, baseball, and polo. He learned to fly a plane and in 1917 joined the US forces fighting in Europe. He was captain and commander of the 141st Pursuit Group. Baker downed three German planes. On Dec. 21, 1918, a month after the war ended, Hobey Baker took a plane on a test run. The plane crashed. Baker, age 26, was killed. His name is preserved in many ways. Princeton dedicated the Hobart Baker Rink. There is the Hobey Baker Award, established in 1979 for college hockey’s best player. At Tours, France, where his plane crashed, a sports complex is named for him.
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
41 – 47 – 33 – 44 – 10 – 4 – 11 – 24 – 22 – 31 -18 –
July 30, 1937 – Philadelphia Phillies Dolph Camilli, played 1st base and did not register any put outs for the entire game, Dolph would wear the Number 41 in just a few short years from then.
July 30, 1947 – Cincinnati Reds’ pitcher Ewell Blackwell, Number 47 had his record-breaking 16 game winning streak ends, losing to NY Giants 5-4
July 30, 1954 – Bob Kennedy, Number 33 hit the first grand slam for the new Baltimore Orioles franchise, The New version of the Orioles started operations in 1954 when the St Louis Browns moved to Baltimore and assumed the name vacated in the early twentieth century when the original Orioles folded and were moved to New York to become the Highlanders.
July 30, 1959 – In his MLB debut, SF Giants future Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman wearing Number 44, Willie McCovey went 4-for-4 in a 7-2 win over Philadelphia Phillies at Seal Stadium
July 30, 1966 – In FIFA World Cup Final action at Wembley Stadium, London, England. British Striker Geoff Hurst, wearing the celebrated Number 10 jersey scored a hat trick as England beats West Germany, 4-2 after extra time was added to the contest.
July 30, 1968 – Washington Senator shortstop Ron Hansen, Number 4 made the 8th unassisted triple-play in MLB history and first in 41 years as Senators lose, 10-1 to Cleveland Indians
July 30, 1969 – Houston Astros Denis Menke, Number 11 and Jim Wynn, wearing Number 24 each hit grandslam homeruns in 9th inning vs the New York Mets
July 30, 1973 – Texas Rangers Jim Bibby, Number 22 no-hit the first-place Oakland A’s, and supported a Rangers 6-0 victory
July 30, 1988 – Cincinnati Reds pitcher John Franco, Number 31 set a record of 13 saves in just a 1 month period
July 30, 1991 – Boston Red Sox Carlos Quintana, Number 18 was 11th MLB player in history to reach 6 RBIs in a single inning. It was his 3rd inning performance against the Texas Rangers in a Sox 11-6 victory. Most of the damage was done with a grand slam off of baseball legend Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd.
July 30, 1995 – Richie Ashburn, Number 1 and long-time Number 20, Mike Schmidt were enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame
TV SPORTS SUNDAY
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| LPGA Tour: Amundi Evian Championship | 5:30am | GOLF |
| Senior British Open | 7:00am | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: 3M Open | 1:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: 3M Open | 3:00pm | CBS |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| LA Angels at Toronto | 12:05pm | Peacock Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Milwaukee at Atlanta | 1:30pm | MLBN Bally Sports |
| NY Yankees at Baltimore | 1:35pm | MASN/2 YES |
| Philadelphia at Pittsburgh | 1:35pm | MLBN NBCS-PHI ATTSN-PIT |
| Detroit at Miami | 1:40pm | Bally Sports |
| Washington at NY Mets | 1:40pm | MASN/2 SNY |
| Cleveland at Chi. White Sox | 2:10pm | Bally Sports NBCS-CHI |
| Minnesota at Kansas City | 2:10pm | Bally Sports |
| Tampa Bay at Houston | 2:10pm | Bally Sports ATTSN-SW |
| Chi. Cubs at St. Louis | 2:15pm | Bally Sports MARQ |
| Oakland at Colorado | 3:10pm | NBCS-CA ATTSN-RM |
| Boston at San Francisco | 4:05pm | NESN NBCS-BAY |
| Seattle at Arizona | 4:10pm | Bally Sports Root Sports |
| Texas at San Diego | 4:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports |
| Cincinnati at LA Dodgers | 4:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports Spectrum |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| Formula One: Belgian Grand Prix | 9:00am | ESPN |
| NASCAR Cup: Cook Out 400 | 3:00pm | USA |
| NHRA: Sonoma Nationals | 4:00pm | FS1 |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Korea Republic vs Morocco | 12:30am | FOX |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Switzerland vs New Zealand | 3:00am | FOX |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Norway vs Philippines | 3:00am | FS1 |
| Club Friendly: Liverpool vs Leicester City | 5:00am | Paramount+ |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Germany vs Colombia | 5:30am | FS1 |
| Club Friendly: Atlético Madrid vs Manchester City | 7:00am | CBSSN |
| Brasileirão: São Paulo vs Bahia | 10:00am | Paramount+ |
| Club Friendly: Chelsea vs Fulham | 2:45pm | NBC |
| Brasileirão: Botafogo vs Coritiba | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: América Mineiro vs Palmeiras | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Leagues Cup: DC United vs Pumas UNAM | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| Leagues Cup: Tijuana vs Querétaro | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| Leagues Cup: Atlas vs Toronto FC | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| Leagues Cup: New York RB vs Atlético San Luis | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| Leagues Cup: Seattle Sounders FC vs Monterrey | 9:00pm | FS1 |
| Leagues Cup: Tigres UANL vs SJ Earthquakes | 11:00pm | Apple TV |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Minnesota vs Connecticut | 1:00pm | CBSSN |
| Washington vs Atlanta | 3:00pm | ESPN3 |
| New York vs Los Angeles | 4:00pm | ESPN |
| Phoenix vs Chicago | 4:00pm | ESPN3 |
| Seattle vs Indiana | 4:00pm | ESPN3 |
| Dallas vs Las Vegas | 6:00pm | CBSSN |