“THE SCOREBOARD”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
NO GAMES PLAYED-ALL-STAR BREAK
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
WNBA SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
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
COLTS TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26 – 10-11 A.M.
SATURDAY, AUG. 5 – 6-7:30 P.M.
SUNDAY, AUG. 6 – 2-3:45 P.M.
SATURDAY, AUG. 5 – 6-7:30 P.M.
SUNDAY, AUG. 6 – 2-3:45 P.M.
TUESDAY, AUG. 8 – 9-10:30 A.M.
THURSDAY, AUG. 10 – 9-10 A.M.
TUESDAY, AUG. 15 – 9-10 A.M.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16 – 6-8 P.M.
THURSDAY, AUG. 17 – 6-8 P.M.
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
TV NEXT WEEK
MONDAY, JULY 17
MLB BASEBALL
FS1 — MINNESOTA AT SEATTLE
NBA BASKETBALL
9 P.M.
ESPN — SUMMER LEAGUE: TBA
_____
TUESDAY, JULY 18
CYCLING
2 A.M. (WEDNESDAY)
USA — UCI: THE TOUR DE FRANCE, STAGE 16 – INDIVIDUAL TIME-TRIAL, 14 MILES, PASSY TO COMBLOUX, FRANCE (TAPED)
MLB BASEBALL
7 P.M.
TBS — LA DODGERS AT BALTIMORE
_____
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19
CYCLING
2 A.M. (THURSDAY)
USA — UCI: THE TOUR DE FRANCE, STAGE 17, 103 MILES, SAINT-GERVAIS MONT BLANC TO COURCHEVEL, FRANCE (TAPED)
GOLF
3 P.M.
GOLF — LPGA TOUR: THE DOW GREAT LAKES BAY INVITATIONAL, FIRST ROUND, MIDLAND COUNTRY CLUB, MIDLAND, TEXAS
4 A.M. (THURSDAY)
USA — DP WORLD/PGA TOUR: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, FIRST ROUND, ROYAL LIVERPOOL, HOYLAKE, ENGLAND
SOCCER (MEN’S)
8:30 A.M.
ESPN2 — INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY: TBA
7 P.M.
ESPN2 — USL: LOUISVILLE CITY FC AT DETROIT CITY FC
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
3 A.M. (THURSDAY)
FOX — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: NEW ZEALAND VS. NORWAY, GROUP A, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
6 A.M. (THURSDAY)
FOX — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: AUSTRALIA VS. IRELAND, GROUP B, SYDNEY
_____
THURSDAY, JULY 20
AUTO RACING
9 P.M.
ESPN — SRX: RACING SERIES
CYCLING
2 A.M. (FRIDAY)
USA — UCI: THE TOUR DE FRANCE, STAGE 18, 116 MILES, MOÛTIERS TO BOURG-EN-BRESSE, FRANCE (TAPED)
GOLF
4 A.M.
USA — DP WORLD/PGA TOUR: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, FIRST ROUND, ROYAL LIVERPOOL, HOYLAKE, ENGLAND
7 A.M.
GOLF — LEPGA TOUR: THE LA SELLA OPEN, FIRST ROUND, LA SELLA GOLF, ALICANTE, SPAIN
12 P.M.
GOLF — LPGA TOUR: THE DOW GREAT LAKES BAY INVITATIONAL, THIRD ROUND, MIDLAND COUNTRY CLUB, MIDLAND, TEXAS
5 P.M.
GOLF — PGA TOUR: THE BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP, FIRST ROUND, TAHOE MOUNTAIN CLUB, TRUCKEE, CALIF.
4 A.M. (FRIDAY)
USA — DP WORLD/PGA TOUR: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, SECOND ROUND, ROYAL LIVERPOOL, HOYLAKE, ENGLAND
LACROSSE (WOMEN’S)
5 P.M.
ESPNU — ATHLETES UNLIMITED: TBD
7:30 P.M.
ESPNU — ATHLETES UNLIMITED: TBD
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
3 A.M.
FOX — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: NEW ZEALAND VS. NORWAY, GROUP A, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
6 A.M.
FOX — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: AUSTRALIA VS. IRELAND, GROUP B, SYDNEY
10:30 P.M.
FOX — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: NIGERIA VS. CANADA, GROUP B, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
1 A.M. (FRIDAY)
FS1 — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: PHILIPPINES VS. SWITZERLAND, GROUP A, DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND
3:30 A.M. (FRIDAY)
FS1 — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: SPAIN VS. COSTA RICA, GROUP C, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
TBT BASKETBALL
7 P.M.
ESPN2 — TBT TOURNAMENT: DA GUYS STL VS. PURPLE & BLACK
9 P.M.
ESPN2 — TBT TOURNAMENT: B1 BALLERS VS. AFTER SHOCKS
WNBA BASKETBALL
8 P.M.
PRIME VIDEO — LOS ANGELES AT MINNESOTA
10 P.M.
PRIME VIDEO — LAS VEGAS AT SEATTLE
_____
FRIDAY, JULY 21
AUTO RACING
7:25 A.M.
ESPN2 — FORMULA 1: PRACTICE, HUNGARORING, MOGYORÓD, HUNGARY
10:55 A.M.
ESPN2 — FORMULA 1: PRACTICE, HUNGARORING, MOGYORÓD, HUNGARY
1:30 P.M.
FS1 — NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES: QUALIFYING, POCONO RACEWAY, LONG POND, PA.
3:30 P.M.
USA — NASCAR XFINITY SERIES: QUALIFYING, POCONO RACEWAY, LONG POND, PA.
6 P.M.
FS1 — NASCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES: THE POCONO ARCA 150, POCONO RACEWAY, LONG POND, PA.
CYCLING
2 A.M. (SATURDAY)
USA — UCI: THE TOUR DE FRANCE, STAGE 19, 107 MILES, MOIRANS-EN-MONTAGNE TO POLIGNY, FRANCE (TAPED)
GOLF
4 A.M.
USA — DP WORLD/PGA TOUR: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, SECOND ROUND, ROYAL LIVERPOOL, HOYLAKE, ENGLAND
7 A.M.
GOLF — LEPGA TOUR: THE LA SELLA OPEN, SECOND ROUND, LA SELLA GOLF, ALICANTE, SPAIN
1 P.M.
GOLF — LPGA TOUR: THE DOW GREAT LAKES BAY INVITATIONAL, THIRD ROUND, MIDLAND COUNTRY CLUB, MIDLAND, TEXAS
5 P.M.
GOLF — PGA TOUR: THE BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP, SECOND ROUND, TAHOE MOUNTAIN CLUB, TRUCKEE, CALIF.
5 A.M. (SATURDAY)
USA — DP WORLD/PGA TOUR: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, THIRD ROUND, ROYAL LIVERPOOL, HOYLAKE, ENGLAND
MLB BASEBALL
2:20 P.M.
APPLETV+ — ST. LOUIS AT CHICAGO CUBS
6:40 P.M.
APPLETV+ — SAN DIEGO AT DETROIT
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
3:30 A.M.
FS1 — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: SPAIN VS. COSTA RICA, GROUP C, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
9 P.M.
FOX — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: U.S. VS. VIETNAM, GROUP E, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
3 A.M. (SATURDAY)
FS1 — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: ZAMBIA VS. JAPAN, GROUP C, HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND
5:30 A.M. (SATURDAY)
FOX — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: ENGLAND VS. HAITI, GROUP D, BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
WNBA BASKETBALL
7 P.M.
ION — NEW YORK AT WASHINGTON
_____
SATURDAY, JULY 22
AUTO RACING
9:55 A.M.
ESPN — FORMULA 1: QUALIFYING, HUNGARORING, MOGYORÓD, HUNGARY
12 P.M.
FS1 — NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES: THE CRC BRAKLEEN 150, POCONO RACEWAY, LONG POND, PA.
USA — IMSA WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP: THE FCP EURO NORTHEAST GRAND PRIX, SALISBURY, CONN.
2 P.M.
FS1 — NHRA: QUALIFYING, PACIFIC RACEWAYS, KENT, WASH.
3 P.M.
NBC — NTT INDYCAR SERIES: THE HY-VEE INDYCAR 250, NEWTON, IOWA
USA — NASCAR CUP SERIES: QUALIFYING, POCONO RACEWAY, LONG POND, PA.
5:30 P.M.
USA — NASCAR XFINITY SERIES: THE POCONO 225, POCONO RACEWAY, LONG POND, PA.
CYCLING
2 A.M. (SUNDAY)
USA — UCI: THE TOUR DE FRANCE, STAGE 19, 94 MILES, SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES TO PARIS (CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES), FRANCE (TAPED)
GOLF
5 A.M.
USA — DP WORLD/PGA TOUR: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, THIRD ROUND, ROYAL LIVERPOOL, HOYLAKE, ENGLAND
7 A.M.
GOLF — LEPGA TOUR: THE LA SELLA OPEN, THIRD ROUND, LA SELLA GOLF, ALICANTE, SPAIN
NBC — DP WORLD/PGA TOUR: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, THIRD ROUND, ROYAL LIVERPOOL, HOYLAKE, ENGLAND
4 P.M.
CBS — LPGA TOUR: THE DOW GREAT LAKES BAY INVITATIONAL, FINAL ROUND, MIDLAND COUNTRY CLUB, MIDLAND, TEXAS
5 P.M.
GOLF — PGA TOUR: THE BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP, THIRD ROUND, TAHOE MOUNTAIN CLUB, TRUCKEE, CALIF.
6 A.M. (SUNDAY)
USA — DP WORLD/PGA TOUR: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, FINAL ROUND, ROYAL LIVERPOOL, HOYLAKE, ENGLAND
HORSE RACING
3 P.M.
FOX — NYRA: AMERICA’S DAY AT THE RACES
5 P.M.
NBC — BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES
MLB BASEBALL
4 P.M.
FS1 — NY METS AT BOSTON
7 P.M.
FOX — REGIONAL COVERAGE: ATLANTA AT MILWAUKEE OR CHICAGO WHITE SOX AT MINNESOTA
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
3 A.M.
FS1 — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: ZAMBIA VS. JAPAN, GROUP C, HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND
5:30 A.M.
FOX — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: ENGLAND VS. HAITI, GROUP D, BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
8 A.M.
FOX — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: DENMARK VS. CHINA, GROUP D, PERTH, AUSTRALIA
1 A.M. (SUNDAY)
FS1 — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: SWEDEN VS. SOUTH AFRICA, GROUP G, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
3:30 A.M. (SUNDAY)
FS1 — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: NETHERLANDS VS. PORTUGAL, GROUP E, DUNEDIN, AUSTRALIA
6 A.M. (SUNDAY)
FOX — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: FRANCE VS. JAMAICA, GROUP F, SYDNEY
WNBA BASKETBALL
1 P.M.
ESPN — CONNECTICUT AT ATLANTA
3 P.M.
ESPN — LAS VEGAS AT MINNESOTA
_____
SUNDAY, JULY 23
AUTO RACING
8:55 A.M.
ESPN — FORMULA 1: THE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX, HUNGARORING, MOGYORÓD, HUNGARY
1:30 P.M.
FS1 — NHRA: QUALIFYING, PACIFIC RACEWAYS, KENT, WASH.
2:30 P.M.
NBC — NTT INDYCAR SERIES: THE HY-VEE INDYCAR 250, NEWTON, IOWA
USA — NASCAR CUP SERIES: THE POCONO 400, POCONO RACEWAY, LONG POND, PA.
4 P.M.
FOX — NHRA: THE FLAV-R-PAC NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS, PACIFIC RACEWAYS, KENT, WASH.
BIG3 BASKETBALL
3 P.M.
CBS — WEEK 5: TRI-STATE VS. TRILOGY, TRIPLETS VS. ALIENS, POWER VS, GHOST BALLERS, KILLER 3’S VS. ENEMIES, 3 HEADED MONSTERS VS. BALL HOGS, BIVOUAC VS. 3’S COMPANY, MIAMI
CYCLING
2 A.M. (MONDAY)
USA — UCI: THE TOUR DE FRANCE, STAGE 20, 71 MILES, SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES TO PARIS (CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES), FRANCE (TAPED)
GOLF
6 A.M.
USA — DP WORLD/PGA TOUR: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, FINAL ROUND, ROYAL LIVERPOOL, HOYLAKE, ENGLAND
7 A.M.
GOLF — LEPGA TOUR: THE LA SELLA OPEN, FINAL ROUND, LA SELLA GOLF, ALICANTE, SPAIN
NBC — DP WORLD/PGA TOUR: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, FINAL ROUND, ROYAL LIVERPOOL, HOYLAKE, ENGLAND
5 P.M.
GOLF — PGA TOUR: THE BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP, FINAL ROUND, TAHOE MOUNTAIN CLUB, TRUCKEE, CALIF.
MLB BASEBALL
12:05 P.M.
PEACOCK — SAN DIEGO AT DETROIT
7 P.M.
ESPN — NY METS AT BOSTON
ESPN2 — NY METS AT BOSTON (KAYROD CAST)
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
3:30 A.M.
FS1 — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: NETHERLANDS VS. PORTUGAL, GROUP E, DUNEDIN, AUSTRALIA
6 A.M.
FOX — FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: FRANCE VS. JAMAICA, GROUP F, SYDNEY
WNBA BASKETBALL
1 P.M.
CBS — PHOENIX AT WASHINGTON
TOP NATIONAL RELEASES/HEADLINES
FOOTBALL NEWS
DAVID BRAUN ELEVATED TO INTERIM COACH AT NORTHWESTERN, AP SOURCE SAYS
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) David Braun has been elevated from defensive coordinator to interim coach at Northwestern for the upcoming season, replacing Pat Fitzgerald, who was fired this week due to a hazing scandal, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Braun’s promotion to interim coach had not been announced.
Braun was hired as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator six months ago. He spent the previous four seasons in the same position at North Dakota State, where he helped lead the Bison to FCS national championships in 2019 and 2021.
Fitzgerald was fired Monday after a university investigation found allegations of hazing by 11 current or former players, including “forced participation, nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature,” Northwestern President Michael Schill wrote.
Fitzgerald, who led Northwestern for 17 seasons, has maintained he had no knowledge of the hazing. After Northwestern initially suspended but did not fire him, The Daily Northwestern published an article including allegations from a former player who described specific instances of hazing and abuse and suggested Fitzgerald may have been aware.
The elevation of Braun puts the program in the hands of someone who never shared the sideline with Fitzgerald during a game and was not part of the culture established by the longtime coach. The rest of Fitzgerald’s assistant coaches and support staff will remain in their jobs for 2023, the university has said.
JETS AGREE TO 4-YEAR, $96 MILLION CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH ALL-PRO QUINNEN WILLIAMS, AP SOURCE SAYS
(AP) — All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and the New York Jets agreed Thursday to a four-year contract extension worth $96 million, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
Williams is now the second-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL behind only the Rams’ Aaron Donald, who is making $31.7 million per year.
The deal for Williams includes $66 million in guaranteed salary, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t announce terms of the contract. The guarantee is the largest in Jets history, surpassing the $51 million linebacker C.J. Mosley got as a free agent in 2019.
“Quinnen is the epitome of a Jet,” owner Woody Johnson said in a statement issued by the team in announcing the agreement.
Williams will average $24 million per year on the contract that will keep him in New York through the 2027 season. The Titans’ Jeffery Simmons ($23.5 million), Commanders’ Daron Payne ($22.5 million) and Giants’ Dexter Lawrence ($22.5 million) all received new deals this offseason, but Williams surpassed them all.
“The success of this organization is beyond important to me and completing this deal allows me to turn all my attention to positively impacting that,” Williams said in a statement. “I am thrilled to put forth my best efforts alongside my brothers to get prepared for this season ahead of us.”
Williams did not attend the Jets’ voluntary workouts while waiting for his agent and the Jets to reach an agreement.
Jets coach Robert Saleh was optimistic throughout the offseason, maintaining his belief the sides would have a contract in place before the team opens training camp next week.
“I’ll let the business guys handle all that stuff, but it’s going to get done,” Saleh said last month. “He’ll be here for (training) camp, he’ll be ready to roll. And once he is, I’m sure he’ll be the same guy he was a year ago.”
Williams removed the Jets from his Twitter bio during the offseason, creating some skepticism as to whether he’d get a new deal. That turned to optimism Thursday when he restored “NEW YORK JETS” to his bio shortly before news of the contract extension began to leak.
The 25-year-old Williams had a breakout season after steadily improving the last few years. He was a first-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection and set career highs with 12 sacks, 28 quarterback hits and 12 tackles for loss while establishing himself as one of the game’s elite defensive tackles. He was also selected the Jets’ MVP by his teammates.
The third overall pick out of Alabama in 2019, Williams was entering the final year of his rookie contract and due to make a fully guaranteed $9.6 million after his fifth-year option was picked up by the Jets last offseason.
But he was looking for a much bigger payday after he thought he proved his worth to the Jets.
“I did everything right on and off the field,” Williams said after last season ended. “I want to be compensated for what I am.”
Williams becomes the first Jets first-round draft pick to sign a second contract with the team since Muhammad Wilkerson in 2016.
Williams is expected to again anchor a talented defensive line that is among New York’s top strengths this season as the Jets look to end a 12-year postseason drought with quarterback Aaron Rodgers leading the way.
Williams has 27 1/2 career sacks with 60 quarterback hits, 33 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his four NFL seasons.
“He embodies everything we look for in our players,” general manager Joe Douglas said in the team’s statement. “He is a leader on and off the field, who does everything asked of him and more. He is a young, ascending player who has shown a consistent ability to dominate the line of scrimmage and help this team win.”
The Jets also re-signed Williams’ older brother Quincy in March to a three-year deal worth $18 million that included $9 million in guarantees for the linebacker.
GEORGIA ATHLETICS, JALEN CARTER SUED BY PASSENGER IN FATAL CRASH OF BULLDOGS PLAYER AND STAFFER
ATLANTA (AP) A woman seriously injured in the January car crash that killed Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and an athletics staffer has sued the school’s athletics association and former Bulldogs defensive tackle Jalen Carter for damages.
Victoria S. Bowles was riding in the backseat of the rented Ford Expedition driven by fellow UGA recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy, who died in the Jan. 15 crash along with Willock while racing Carter at more than 104 mph following the Bulldogs’ College Football Playoff championship celebration.
Bowles’ lawsuit filed Wednesday in Gwinnett County State Court accuses the UGA Athletics Association of negligent entrustment of LeCroy and states that the association was aware that she had at least two “super speeder” violations among four speeding tickets prior to the crash.
Bowles sustained multiple serious injuries in the crash including lumbar and rib fractures, a spinal cord injury and lacerations to the kidney and liver, the lawsuit stated. She also sustained a closed head injury with neurological damage and severe eye pain.
Former Georgia offensive lineman Warren McClendon was also in the vehicle that crashed. He sustained minor injuries.
The lawsuit, which includes the estate of LeCroy as a defendant, requests at least $171,595 in general damages along with punitive damages. It accuses the athletic association, LeCroy and Carter of varying degrees of negligence.
The athletic association said in a statement that while it has supported Bowles during her recovery, it disputes her lawsuit and will “vigorously” defend itself in court. The statement added that staff members were to use rental vehicles for recruiting purposes only and not authorized for personal use on the night of the crash or any other time.
“Under no circumstances were recruiting staff authorized to use rental cars to drive at excessive speeds while intoxicated,” the statement added.
Rob Buck, one of Bowles’ lawyers, said in a statement that she is “deeply saddened” by the deaths of Willock and LeCroy and expressed appreciation for the support she has received during recovery.
“Tory is disappointed that the Association and its insurers have forced her to resort to litigation to address her life altering injuries,” the statement added.
Carter, who was selected ninth overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL draft in April, received 12 months’ probation and a $1,000 fine in March after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing.
Bowles’ lawsuit accuses him and LeCroy of “engaging in a grossly negligent joint enterprise-tandem driving/street racing.”
A representative for Carter wasn’t immediately able to be reached.
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL PREVIEW
2022 Record: 9-4
Head Coach: Marcus Freeman, 2nd year: 9-5
Okay, Notre Dame. You got the take-the-lumps season out of the way for the new guy – and it was still pretty good. Now it’s time to go to work.
Marcus Freeman was a fun hire. Young, energetic, and a sensational recruiter, let’s just say he was a palate cleanser for the program after Brian Kelly bailed for LSU.
However, Kelly was coming off a run of seven double-digit win seasons in his last eight with a few College Football playoff appearances. That’s where the bar is set for Notre Dame now, and Freeman is supposed to be the guy who can help clear it.
Oh, but it was rough. The era started out by gacking away the Fiesta Bowl to Oklahoma State at the end of the 2021 season. Losing a battle to open 2022 against Ohio State was fine, losing to Marshall at home wasn’t, and losing to Stanford 16-14 – and almost gagging against Cal – really wasn’t okay
But a funny thing happened on the way to everyone starting to think this was all too big for a guy in his first head coaching gig. Notre Dame won nine games and at times started to look really, really … good?
It won seven of the last eight with the lone loss coming to a hyped up USC looking to cement Caleb Williams the Heisman – no shame there – and beating South Carolina in the Gator Bowl mattered, if only to take away a whole lot of possible stress this offseason.
Freeman’s recruiting will start to kick in soon, but for now he has a loaded base of veterans on both sides of the ball, an interesting schedule with chances to make a whole lot of national noise, and he has that first year under his belt.
Sam Hartman is the right quarterback to make the offense take off. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees left to take the same gig at Alabama, and up comes Gerad Parker from coaching the tight ends to open it all up a bit more.
Tyler Buchner went with Rees to Bama, Drew Pyne left for Arizona State, and in comes Hartman from Wake Forest with close to 13,000 career passing yards, 110 touchdown passes, five seasons of experience, and he has …
A very young and potentially loaded receiving corps to work with. Star TE Michael Mayer is off being a Las Vegas Raider, but Jayden Thomas is a promising big target who can get down the field, and Tobias Merriweather has the skills to be a breakout star as soon as Hartman gets comfortable.
Throw in all the good looking freshman Freeman brought in, and the corps has the potential to grow into a strength. But …
It’ll be too tempting to not pound away with what should be another good ground game. Logan Diggs took off for LSU, but leading rusher Audric Estime is back after finishing with 920 yards and 11 scores, averaging close to six yards per pop.
There’s a good rotation behind Estime to work behind a line with – arguably – the best tackle combination in the country in Joe Alt on the left side and Blake Fisher on the right. The interior needs some reworking, but it’ll be more than fine around C Zeke Correll.
The defense held its own, but it should be far stronger this year. There were a few problems here and there, but overall the Irish allowed just 329 yards and 23 points per game. It’ll be more consistent with a loaded group coming back starting with a phenomenal linebacking corps.
JT Bertrand led the team with 82 tackles, Jack Kiser was second with 58 stops, and Marist Liufau was third, but has a world of upside as potential playmaker behind the line. It helps that …
Even with star pass rusher Isaiah Foskey working for the New Orleans Saints, the line will be terrific. Getting Javontae Jean-Baptiste from Ohio State will help on the end, there’s a good group on the nose led by Howard Cross, and Rylie Mills is a big veteran who can get behind the line. Just give the secondary a little bit of a pass rush and …
The corners will take care of the rest. Sophomore Benjamin Morrison picked off six passes and is destined for All-America honors, and Cam Hart – coming off a shoulder injury that limited him last season – is a very big all-around factor on the other side. The safeties are experienced and can hit, and adding even more of a veteran presence is Thomas Harper transferring in from Oklahoma State.
NFL PREVIEW: LA CHARGERS
When does the potential turn into results?
Chargers fans have been asking themselves this for the better part of a decade. From the end of Philip Rivers’ tenure to the dawn of Justin Herbert’s career, the franchise has been high on expectations and low on results.
While immensely talented, Los Angeles is still searching for its first playoff win of the Herbert era. Last year, a 10–7 season was marred by a needless back injury to star receiver Mike Williams in Week 18, leading to a debacle during the wild-card round that saw a 27–0 lead evaporate in the Florida heat against the Jaguars.
Going into 2023, the roster is largely unchanged, with the only notable addition being linebacker Eric Kendricks, signed to a two-year deal following his release by the Vikings. And fellow linebacker Drue Tranquill left in free agency for the Chiefs. Otherwise, it’s the same team trying to erase last year’s painful memories.
To do it, Los Angeles will need better health. In 2022, the Chargers watched Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater, edge rusher Joey Bosa, corner J.C. Jackson and receiver Keenan Allen miss a combined 45 games, while Herbert played most of the year with a rib ailment.
With health, the Chargers should be a playoff team. But so often, therein lies the problem.
Biggest gamble this offseason: Retaining Brandon Staley
Deciding not to fire Staley could propel the Chargers as they settle in for his third season … or haunt them for years to come.
Staley came under considerable fire after playing his starters in the aforementioned meaningless Week 18 game, during which Williams was lost for the playoffs. Then, in the wild-card round, Los Angeles blew a 27-point lead despite being +5 in the turnover ratio.
Many believed Staley would be fired in the aftermath, but he survived despite Sean Payton being available. Ultimately, Payton landed with the Broncos, perhaps partially because the Chargers would have needed to pay the coach an unapproachable amount.
Regardless, Staley remains the coach of a team with aspirations of a deep playoff run. If Los Angeles falls short of that goal, it’s likely the Chargers move on and look for Herbert’s third coach in his first five seasons.
Toughest stretch of the season: Weeks 6 to 9
Despite playing in a tough division and facing a second-place schedule, the Chargers have a reasonable slate ahead. However, things get tough in late October and early November, starting with hosting the Cowboys in Week 6 on Monday night.
After that, it’s a short rest and on to Arrowhead Stadium to see the Chiefs before returning to Los Angeles and drawing a winnable game against Justin Fields and the Bears. Finally, a cross-country jaunt to play the newfangled Jets.
If the Chargers can split these four games, they should be thrilled.
Breakout player to watch: CB Asante Samuel Jr.
Samuel is already recognized as a good player, but he has a chance to break into stardom entering his third season.
Over two years with the Chargers, the former second-round pick from Florida State notched four interceptions. Then, Samuel stole three passes from Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the first half of the wild-card game last season.
Playing in a star-studded secondary alongside safety Derwin James Jr. and Jackson, Samuel is sometimes overshadowed despite being a versatile corner with tremendous cover and ball skills.
Don’t be surprised if he ends up earning an accolade or two in 2023.
Position of strength: Skill positions
Few teams have the firepower the Chargers possess.
Los Angeles has a trio of weapons on the outside including Williams and Allen, alongside first-round receiver Quentin Johnston from TCU. In the backfield is running back Austin Ekeler, who has led the league in touchdowns each of the past two years.
With Herbert under center, and behind an offensive line that includes All-Pro center Corey Linsley and Slater, the pieces are there for a league-leading group. If Allen and Williams can stay healthy—they combined to miss 11 games last year—the Chargers will be a force.
Position of weakness: Linebacker
Losing Tranquill is a big hit for the second level of the Chargers’ defense.
Last year, Tranquill became a full-time starter and was fantastic, totaling 146 tackles, five sacks and an interception. However, general manager Tom Telesco let Tranquill and veteran Kyle Van Noy walk, replacing him with Kendricks. Now, Los Angeles has Kendricks and 2020 first-round pick Kenneth Murray, who saw his fifth-year option declined in the spring.
If Kendricks doesn’t return to his previous form after a down year with Minnesota, the Chargers could be very weak at the second level.
X-factor: Kellen Moore’s ability to unlock the offense
For the past two years, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi has essentially put handcuffs on Herbert. That’s expected to change with the dismissal of Lombardi and subsequent arrival of Moore.
With Staley being a defensive-minded coach, Moore should have full reign on the other side. Last year, Herbert tied for 31st with 6.4 air yards per attempt, despite having an excellent deep-ball target in Williams and the intermediate skills of Allen. Only Matt Ryan ranked lower of qualifying quarterbacks. In Dallas, Dak Prescott checked in at 10th (8.2 air yards) under Moore’s system.
Final record: 10–7, second in AFC West
OFFSEASON IN REVIEW: HOUSTON TEXANS
PRO FOOTBALL RUMORS
The Texans’ rebuild continues, and it now involves a third head coach in three years. Following in the footsteps of the 1970s and 2010s 49ers in seeing back-to-back one-and-done coaching tenures transpire, the Texans have been the league’s most anonymous on-field operation during the 2020s. GM Nick Caserio generated scrutiny as the losses piled up, but he convinced one of this year’s hottest head coaching candidates to sign up.
DeMeco Ryans is now in charge of this lengthy ascent attempt. The Texans turned to their former linebacker — who presumably will receive more than the one season David Culley and Lovie Smith did in the HC chair — and this offseason at least brought some big swings from an organization that kept the car in neutral in 2021 and ’22. The C.J. Stroud–Will Anderson Jr. pairing will go a long way toward determining if Caserio’s rebuild will work.
Trades:
Dealt WR Brandin Cooks to Cowboys for 2023 fifth-round pick, 2024 sixth-rounder
Sent Buccaneers 2023 No. 179 overall pick for G Shaq Mason, No. 230
Even though Cooks’ production fell off in 2022, the NFL’s active trade kingpin had long been destined to get off the Texans’ long rebuild runway. It did look strange to see Cooks sign a two-year, $39.5MM Texans extension in April and then want out by midseason. Cooks’ NBA-esque about-face did not result in a midseason trade. Instead, the veteran deep threat languished on a 3-13-1 Houston team, finishing the season with a career-low 699 receiving yards.
Cooks effectively boycotted the Texans’ first post-trade deadline game but returned to action soon after. Interest came from nearly a fourth of the league, and the Texans listened to offers before the 2022 trading cessation. The team is believed to have sought a second-round pick, which was an unrealistic ask for a ninth-year player with an $18MM guarantee for 2023.
The actual trade price came in far below the 2017, ’18 and ’20 Cooks deals (which collectively involved two first-rounders and a second). After the Cowboys renegotiated Cooks’ deal, the former Saints, Rams and Patriots pass catcher is now part of an exclusive NFL club, being traded four times. Two of Cooks’ six 1,000-yard seasons — for four different clubs — came in Houston, which looks to be without an upper-echelon receiver after this deal.
Extensions and restructures:
Gave LT Laremy Tunsil three-year extension worth $75MM ($50MM guaranteed)
Rewarded G Shaq Mason with three-year, $36MM extension ($22MM guaranteed)
Handed DT Maliek Collins two-year, $23MM extension ($18.5MM guaranteed)
Reached pay-cut agreement with S Eric Murray, whose salary drops to $2.5MM
Seemingly incongruent with the Texans’ timeline, Tunsil’s presence has offered high-end left tackle play and affected his position’s market. Few would label Tunsil (zero first- or second-team All-Pro nods) as the game’s best tackle, but he has managed his career well. This offseason marked the second time the Texans have made Tunsil the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman. The three-time Pro Bowler played a full season for the first time in his career last year, and while a Texans team that has shown no interest in contending (since at least 2020, that is) carrying a high-priced tackle has been a bit strange, checking off this key box has not been a problem thanks to a Bill O’Brien trade.
Months after trading two first-rounders and change to the Dolphins for Tunsil, O’Brien — during a short but eventful run wearing both HC and GM hats — signed off on a three-year, $66MM extension. That made Tunsil by far the NFL’s highest-paid O-lineman. Three years after Tunsil became the NFL’s first $20MM-per-year O-lineman, he is the only $25MM-AAV blocker.
The short-term contracts Tunsil has preferred have proven tremendously beneficial, as they have given him leverage of two contract years coming in his 20s. Tunsil also did not make any real guarantee concessions despite the medium-term deal; his $50MM guarantee figure trails only Ronnie Stanley‘s among tackles. After two seasons without a franchise quarterback to protect, Tunsil will be assigned to Stroud’s blind side. This extension also dropped Tunsil’s 2023 cap hit from $35MM to $26.6MM. Pro Football Focus has graded Tunsil as a top-30 tackle in each of his three non-injury-marred Texans seasons, with last year bringing a career-high placement (11th).
The Texans did authorize a $39MM-per-year Deshaun Watson extension in 2020, but beyond that and the disastrous Brock Osweiler deal they paid the Browns to take on, the franchise has kept QB costs low over the past 10 years. Building around Stroud’s will give the organization flexibility. With no big-ticket wideout, tight end or running back deal on the payroll, Caserio has invested up front. Mason is now signed through 2026 at $12MM per, and right tackle Tytus Howard — who may or may not be on the team’s extension radar — holds the team’s second-largest cap number ($13.98MM).
Mason, 29, joins Tunsil in signing a third contract. The Patriots gave the steady guard a five-year, $45MM deal in 2018, when Caserio remained Bill Belichick‘s right-hand man. Houston’s payroll now includes two eight-figure-AAV O-line deals. This brings a change from recent years, when the Texans opted to add bottom-tier or low-middle-class contracts around Tunsil’s.
In Mason, the Texans have one of the league’s most consistent players. PFF graded the former fourth-round find as a top-10 guard for six straight years (2016-21). After a Bucs one-off, which did feature 17 starts and a top-30 PFF grade, how long will Mason’s prime extend into his Texans years? He will be a key part of the team’s Stroud-years plan.
Caserio has inked numerous veterans to two-year deals during his time as Houston GM. Collins has now signed two of those. The former Cowboys draftee has signed a Texans contract in each of the past three years, coming over in 2021 (one year, $5MM), re-signing in 2022 (two years, $17MM) and now inking a player-friendly extension. Collins, 28, will shift back to a 4-3 scheme under Ryans, after playing two years in Smith’s system. Collins, who was a 4-3 D-tackle in Dallas and Las Vegas, totaled 18 tackles for loss over the past two seasons, representing one of the few Texans bright spots during this bleak period.
Free agency additions:
Robert Woods, WR: Two years, $14MM ($10MM guaranteed)
Jimmie Ward, S: Two years, $13MM ($8.5MM guaranteed)
Sheldon Rankins, DT: One year, $9.75MM ($8.5MM guaranteed)
Dalton Schultz, TE: One year, $9MM ($6MM guaranteed)
Andrew Beck, FB/TE: Two years, $6.25MM ($4MM guaranteed)
Case Keenum, QB: Two years, $6.25MM ($4MM guaranteed)
Shaquill Griffin, CB: One year, $3.5MM ($3MM guaranteed)
Hassan Ridgeway, DL: One year, $3.25MM ($3MM guaranteed)
Devin Singletary, RB: One year, $2.75MM ($2.5MM guaranteed)
Noah Brown, WR: One year, $2.6MM ($2.25MM guaranteed)
Chase Winovich, DE: One year, $2MM ($1.75MM guaranteed)
Jacob Martin, DE: One year, $2.5MM ($1MM guaranteed)
Cory Littleton, ILB: One year, $2.4MM ($600K guaranteed)
Denzel Perryman, ILB: One year, $2.6MM ($500K guaranteed)
Steven Sims, WR: One year, $1.5MM ($500K guaranteed)
Mike Boone, RB: Two years, $3.1MM ($300K guaranteed)
Michael Deiter, OL: One year, $1.23MM ($125K guaranteed)
Caserio’s preferred genre of veteran contract appeared often on the transaction wire this year. Middling talent floods this section, though the team did cut down on its volume of two-year deals compared to 2022. Still, the Texans added a host of veteran role players, stocking Ryans’ defense with potential starters alongside cornerstones Anderson and Derek Stingley and giving new OC Bobby Slowik some skill-position talent.
This contract is not what Schultz envisioned during his year on the franchise tag. The Cowboys are believed to have made their former tight end starter a long-term offer, but the preference for a shorter-term agreement — not a Cowboys specialty — helped lead to Schultz playing on the tag. After missing early-season time due to injury, Schultz still resided as one of Dak Prescott‘s top targets. But his overall and per-game yardage totals were down compared to 2021.
Schultz, 27, will join fellow 2022 tight end tag recipient Mike Gesicki in attempting to boost his value on a one-year deal. The Texans have struggled for nearly a decade to find a reliable pass-catching tight end. No Texan tight end has surpassed 600 receiving yards in a season since Owen Daniels in 2012. Schultz has done that in two of the past three seasons and should be a go-to player on a team likely to be without a No. 1-caliber wide receiver.
Was Woods’ down 2022 a sign of a decline, or was the 527-yard year due to a woeful Titans pass offense and being a year out from an ACL tear? The Texans paid a fairly surprising amount — adding the Titans cap casualty before the market opened — to find out. Woods, 31, did play in all 17 Titans games last season, and he resided as a consistent player (three 900-yard seasons) in Sean McVay‘s attack. With Cooks gone, Houston needs a reliable veteran to foster Stroud’s development. With Nico Collins the team’s top returning receiver, Woods looks to be that player.
As the contracts for Mark Ingram, Rex Burkhead, Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman showed, Caserio has not shied away from veteran backs during his tenure. Singletary will be tasked with supplementing Dameon Pierce this season. The former Florida Atlantic star worked as the most prominent Bills back during Josh Allen‘s career, eclipsing 150 carries in each of his four Buffalo seasons and surpassing 750 rushing yards in three of his four rookie-contract years. The Texans did not possess much behind Pierce last season. Singletary, 25, has not offered much in the passing game, but he is a proven ball-carrier who should have some use as a 1-B option.
Undoubtedly placing a premium on Ward’s leadership and system intel, Ryans had spoken to the nine-year 49ers safety about following him to his next destination before last season ended. Ward, 32 next week, toggled between safety and cornerback during his San Francisco stay. The former first-rounder expressed disappointment in being moved back to the nickel role last season, but while Ryans was leading the 49ers’ defense at that point, the Texans are planning to move Ward back to the safety spot at which he is more comfortable. Ward has battled injuries throughout his career but has made 79 starts. He profiles as a mentor to emerging safety Jalen Pitre.
The Texans also beefed up their defense using one-year contracts, most notably the Rankins agreement. The Jets pushed to keep the former first-round pick, with it turning into a free agency battle between the 49ers’ past two DCs. Rankins’ fit in Robert Saleh‘s Jets defense certainly points to a useful cog for Ryans. The inside pass rusher has not replicated his eight-sack 2018, but at worst, the 29-year-old defender can assist as a rotational option. Ridgeway, 28, has been a 4-3 D-tackle for most of his career, including a 2022 stopover in San Francisco.
With Jerry Hughes still here and the likes of Littleton and Perryman coming in, most of the Texans’ defense consists of second- or third-contract players, which is atypical for a team in Houston’s position. Most of Houston’s defensive two-deep stands to consist of veteran-contract performers, which partially highlights the void that came from the lack of first- and second-round picks in 2020 and ’21.
Draft investment dictates Stroud will be the Texans’ starter early in the season — perhaps in Week 1 — but the team brought back Keenum as insurance against the Ohio State product needing more developmental time. Keenum, 35, never disproved 2017 — when he ranked first in QB DVOA while leading the Vikings to the NFC championship game — was an outlier. Keenum’s Denver and Washington seasons returned him to the QB2 level. But the former Texans UDFA, who made 10 of his 64 starts with the franchise, has remained one of the better backup options.
Keenum’s arrival and $4MM guarantee leaves Davis Mills without an obvious role. The 2021 third-round pick has started the bulk of Houston’s games over the past two seasons and took first-team reps during the team’s offseason program. A May report indicated the Texans were not shopping Mills, and Keenum could conceivably serve as an expensive mentor-only option — rather than a true bridge QB — should Mills outplay him in training camp. Still, two years remaining on Mills’ rookie contract would make him an intriguing commodity for a team eyeing a better backup or a spot starter.
Re-signings:
M.J. Stewart, S: Two years, $6MM ($3MM guaranteed)
Tavierre Thomas, DB: One year, $2.25MM ($2MM guaranteed)
Scott Quessenberry, OL: One year, $2.1MM ($550K guaranteed)
Neville Hewitt, LB: One year, $1.7MM ($300K guaranteed)
Jon Weeks, LS: One year, $1.17MM ($153K guaranteed)
Greg Little, T: One year, $1.18MM ($100K guaranteed)
Houston’s DBs room is crowded compared to 2022, with Ward and Griffin in place. Still, the team restructured Eric Murray‘s deal and reached agreements to retain Stewart and Thomas. Between these two and Murray, the Texans have three ex-Browns positioned as second-string secondary options. Stewart and Thomas served as two of the Texans’ special teams regulars last season. With the Texans retaining ST coordinator Frank Ross — an ex-Patriots scout during Caserio’s time in Foxborough — despite changing HCs once again, it is unsurprising continuity will be prioritized on these units. Ditto Hewitt, who has been an ST mainstay during his two Texans years.
On the subject of Texans mainstays, Weeks is the only player in team history to play 13 seasons with the franchise. The long snapper is now in position for Year 14. This niche position can offer extreme longevity, and teams almost never stray far from the league minimum to staff it. Weeks, 37, has never missed a game, having played 210. The only player active in each Texans playoff contest, Weeks will look to bury the franchise’s games-played record.
Notable losses:
Mario Addison, OLB (released)
Jordan Akins, TE
Kyle Allen, QB
Justin Britt, C (released)
Rex Burkhead, RB
A.J. Cann, G (released)
Phillip Dorsett, WR
Jeff Driskel, QB
Royce Freeman, RB
Rasheem Green, DL
O.J. Howard, TE
Justin McCray, G
Chris Moore, WR
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB
Jonathan Owens, S
Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB (released)
Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB
Tremon Smith, CB
In place of Britt and Cann (16 starts last season), the Texans made bigger investments on their interior O-line this offseason. They also said goodbye to two more of their veteran running backs. After 122 carries in 2021, Burkhead saw his usage rate plummet last year. The departures of Okoronkwo (five sacks in the team’s final six games) and Green do leave some depth questions on the edge around Anderson, but Jonathan Greenard remains in the mix in a contract year. Addison, 35, recorded just one sack last season. While Hughes will turn 35 next month, he remains rostered after racking up nine sacks in 2022.
Draft:
Round 1, No. 2: C.J. Stroud, QB (Ohio State)
Round 1, No. 3 (from Cardinals): Will Anderson Jr., LB (Alabama) (signed)
Round 2, No. 62: (from Eagles): Juice Scruggs, C (Penn State) (signed)
Round 3, No. 69 (from Rams): Nathaniel Dell, WR (Houston) (signed)
Round 4, No. 109 (from Raiders): Dylan Horton, DE (TCU) (signed)
Round 5, No. 167 (from Rams): Henry To’oTo’o, LB (Alabama) (signed)
Round 6, No. 201 (from Vikings): Jarrett Patterson, C (Notre Dame) (signed)
Round 6, No. 205 (from Bills): Xavier Hutchinson, WR (Iowa State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 248 (from Eagles): Brandon Hill, S (Pittsburgh) (signed)
For a few weeks, it seemed like the Texans were giving legitimate consideration to overlooking their quarterback need once again. Seeing as last year brought a down QB rookie class and the team trudged through a strange first year under Caserio — due to the Watson scandal/full-season deactivation — the Texans carried some cover for their previous delay. This year, they would not have been shielded from investment-based criticism.
The Texans were deep in talks with the Bears (and Panthers) about a deal that would have seen them move up a spot to No. 1, where Bryce Young awaited. Rumored to be iffy on this year’s non-Young QB crop, the Texans then became tied to taking Anderson or Tyree Wilson at No. 2 and then finding a way to add a passer through other avenues. It turned out to be the other way around, with Houston drafting Stroud and then moving up nine spots to acquire Anderson. Houston became the first team since Washington in 2000 to make two top-three selections in a draft.
It cost the Texans considerable capital to pry No. 3 from the Cardinals, however. The nine-spot vault required near-QB-level trade terms. The Texans sent No. 33 and 2024 first- and third-rounders to climb up for Anderson. It is surprising Caserio signed off on trading a 2024 first to make this leap. The past three Texans seasons have secured the team a top-three draft choice. Seeing as the AFC South team remains in rebuild mode in a stacked conference, the now-rebuilding Cardinals have a good chance of carrying two top-five choices into next year’s draft. This raises the stakes on the Anderson bet, and it could turn up the heat on Caserio, whose job security has come up on multiple occasions over the past several months. Caserio was loosely linked to leaving his current post after this draft, but he squashed that rumor quickly.
After backing out of talks with the Bears, the Texans will be tied to the Young-Stroud debate for a while. And considering how much buzz surfaced regarding Texans apathy toward Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis, it is worth wondering if ownership pushed for a quarterback. Cal McNair and Co. were believed to have more involvement in this year’s draft, though the second-generation owner denied having input in how the team proceeded at No. 2. A fairly decent Texans-Stroud smokescreen also may have occurred. Regardless of how the Texans ended up here, they now have a franchise-QB hopeful two years after their previous such investment both asked for a trade and disgraced his reputation as the subject of dozens of sexual assault/misconduct accusations.
The latest Ohio State-produced QB talent, Stroud graded as Scouts Inc.’s No. 5 overall prospect and shined in two seasons after Justin Fields‘ NFL exit. The Titans were viewed as Stroud suitors, via trade-up, and the Texans taking the 6-foot-3 signal-caller at 2 — rather than choosing Anderson there — prevented them from having to compete with Tennessee in terms of an offer for No. 3.
Stroud earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year acclaim in 2021 and 2022, totaling 8,123 yards and 85 touchdown passes in that span. His 348-yard, four-TD passing performance against Georgia in the semifinal round aged quite well, considering how a dominant Bulldogs defense fared in the championship game. Mills’ experience aside, it would be shocking if Stroud were not at the controls early in the season.
Texans-Anderson connections emerged in early April, and the team had not made a splashy move at edge rusher since Caserio’s arrival. Set to slide to defensive end in Ryans’ 4-3 scheme, Anderson will anchor Houston’s pass rush and serve as Ryans’ new Nick Bosa-like presence. A two-time recipient of the Nagurski award (given to the top Division I-FBS defender), the Alabama product hardly could have accomplished more in college. The Crimson Tide outside linebacker totaled 27.5 sacks and a whopping 48 tackles for loss from 2021-22. The Texans have more work to do in future offseasons to address their pass rush, but they made a big bet Anderson will be their cornerstone cog.
Considering the makeup of the Texans’ center position, it would surprise if Scruggs were not an early-season starter. A 2019 car accident nearly ended Scruggs’ career, but he recovered and grew into one of the top O-line prospects in this year’s draft. Scruggs has experience at both guard and center, finishing his career at the latter post. The Texans now have an O-line housing four first- or second-round picks and Mason, who has long outplayed his fourth-round slot.
A Texan for all of a day, Stroud lobbied for Dell, leading to a four-spot trade-up maneuver. Stroud worked with Dell at the Combine, and the ultra-productive Houston Cougars wideout will stay in town. Dell’s 5-8, 165-pound frame provides limitations, but he put together back-to-back 1,300-yard seasons in college and totaled 29 TD receptions from 2021-22. Dell should be expected to see most of his time in the slot; he also could offer his new Houston squad vertical and return-game capabilities.
Other:
Fired HC Lovie Smith; gave DeMeco Ryans six-year contract
Hired Cardinals D-line coach Matt Burke as defensive coordinator
Brought in 49ers pass-game coordinator Bobby Slowik as offensive coordinator
Hired Cory Undlin as secondary coach/pass-game coordinator, Shane Day, Bill Lazor as senior offensive assistants
Team fined, docked fifth-round pick for salary cap violation
WR John Metchie returns to team after recovery from leukemia
Agreed to terms with nine UDFAs
Smith delivered a knockdown body shot on his way out, going for a final-minute two-point conversion — after a Hail Mary touchdown set it up — to beat the Colts and deny the Texans the No. 1 pick. Neither Smith nor Culley were part of other teams’ HC searches when hired. While neither 60-something HC was given much to work with, it always seemed as if they were placeholders until Caserio — who admittedly oversaw two strange coaching searches — found his long-term leader. As his six-year contract shows, Ryans will be expected to be that coach.
This doubles as a nice homecoming effort for Ryans, a 2006 second-round linebacker who made 86 starts in six seasons with the Texans. Ryans, 39 this month, finished his career with the Eagles and later sued the Texans because of NRG Stadium’s playing surface (a 2014 injury led to Ryans’ career ending). The sides moved past that, and despite widespread interest, Ryans limited his interviews to the Texans and Broncos. While Denver looked close to offering Ryans the job, he preferred the Texans. With Houston, Ryans will have the opportunity to lead a rebuild.
Succeeding Saleh as San Francisco’s DC, Ryans landed on the HC radar early during his second season in that job. The 49ers’ defense led the NFL in points, yards and DVOA. The Bosa-powered unit gave Kyle Shanahan‘s offense, which had gone through three starting QBs by season’s end, a sturdy safety net that produced another NFC championship game berth. Long viewed as a fast-rising assistant, Ryans went 2-for-2 in NFC title game appearances as a coordinator.
Slowik, 36, worked with Ryans for six years on Shanahan’s staff. The new Texans OC is a second-generation coach, as the son of veteran DC Bob Slowik. While the younger Slowik did not rise up the 49ers chain as swiftly as Ryans did, he had worked under longtime Shanahan assistants Mike McDaniel and Mike LaFleur. Once they departed, Shanahan made Slowik his right-hand man on offense. The 49ers staying afloat despite Jimmy Garoppolo‘s injury clearly helped Slowik, who will be a first-time play-caller in Houston.
The team does have some experience behind Slowik on offense. Lazor is a two-time NFL OC, with the Bengals and Bears, while Day is a two-time QBs coach with 15 years’ experience in the NFL. On defense, both Burke and Undlin are previous coordinators.
Burke, 47, served in that role for the Dolphins under Adam Gase from 2017-18 but has bounced around since. Last season, he served as the Cardinals’ defensive line coach, overseeing a J.J. Watt bounce-back effort and Zach Allen‘s breakout. Undlin has been in the NFL since 2004, serving as DBs coach on Super Bowl-bound Broncos (2013) and Eagles (2017) teams and being Matt Patricia‘s final Lions DC. Undlin spent the past two years as a Ryans lieutenant in San Francisco, leading the 49ers’ DBs. That will make for a seamless transition.
Metchie participated in the Texans’ offseason program and is on track to make his NFL debut. The multiyear Alabama starter suffered an ACL tear late in his junior season and was then diagnosed with leukemia. Viewed as a strong route runner for the Crimson Tide, Metchie totaled 1,142 receiving yards during an abbreviated 2021, helping the SEC power compensate for the losses of DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. Metchie, who missed offseason time with a hamstring injury, looms as a Texans wild card. But with Cooks gone, the team needs all the help it can get as Stroud begins his development.
Top 10 cap charges for 2023:
Laremy Tunsil, LT: $26.57MM
Tytus Howard, RT: $13.98MM
Derek Stingley Jr., CB: $7.88MM
Maliek Collins, DT: $7.44MM
Will Anderson Jr., DE: $6.4MM
Jerry Hughes, DE: $6.25MM
Christian Kirksey, LB: $6.25MM
Ka’imi Fairbairn, K: $5.66MM
Steven Nelson, CB: $5.63MM
Robert Woods, WR: $5.5MM
With the AFC incredibly deep — though, the AFC South does not appear especially imposing — the Texans could make strides without their record improving by much. The team also added more building-block players, in Stroud and Anderson. Observing the first-rounders’ progress will be important for a team that made a stronger commitment to a head coach this offseason. It will probably take multiple successful offseasons before the playoffs are a realistic goal, but this should mark the team’s return to relevant on-field action. It has been a bit since Texans fans could enjoy that.
NEWS ON TITANS OL PETER SKORONSKI
Entering Week 1, the Titans will have four new offensive line starters. The team’s plan was only to make three changes up front, but Nicholas Petit-Frere‘s six-game gambling suspension will force a temporary change at right tackle.
Andre Dillard is expected to start at left tackle, seeing as the ex-Eagles first-round pick signed a three-year, $29MM deal. Tennessee will also return 17-game guard starter Aaron Brewer, but the fourth-year blocker — who received a second-round RFA tender — confirmed earlier this offseason the team is planning to slide him to center. This will leave three spots open, with two likely starters’ positions to be determined.
UFA addition Daniel Brunskill has experience at both guard and tackle, and TennesseeTitans.com’s Jim Wyatt notes the ex-49er starter/swingman will be an option to start the season at right tackle. First-round pick Peter Skoronski also fits this profile, though he has less experience at guard. But the acclaimed Northwestern tackle is also in the mix to fill in for Petit-Frere to start the season.
The plan for Skoronski appeared to be a shift to guard. The No. 11 overall pick spent most of his offseason working at guard, per Wyatt, though the Titans have also gave him tackle reps during their offseason program. A number of NFL evaluators viewed Skoronski as a clear-cut guard candidate, but the former Big Ten blocker did not play guard in college.
It would be an interesting assignment for Skoronski to start the season at right tackle before kicking inside. Tennessee might aim to simplify the top prospect’s rookie-year workload by stationing him at guard only during training camp, but for now, an O-line configuration with Dillard and Skoronski as the bookends remains in play. Regardless of where Skoronski lines up, the team expects him to start immediately.
Jamarco Jones, sixth-round pick Jaelyn Duncan and 2022 UDFA Andrew Rupcich as other options to fill in for the suspended Petit-Frere, per Wyatt. A former Seahawk, Jones has made seven NFL starts over his three-year career. He spent time at tackle in Seattle but did not play last season. After Jones lost the Titans’ left guard competition to Brewer, he spent most of last season on IR. Duncan spent most of his time in College Park at the Terrapins’ left tackle, while Rupcich would be a long shot here, as he joined Jones in not seeing any game action last season.
Tennessee has struggled to fill its right tackle post over the past few seasons. After not picking up Jack Conklin‘s fifth-year option and then letting him walk in 2020, the team has used three different primary starters there over the past three years. Isaiah Wilson became one of this era’s biggest draft busts, playing all of four career snaps, while 2021 second-round pick Dillon Radunz was unable to win the job during the 2021 or ’22 offseasons. (Dennis Kelly and David Quessenberry, respectively, were the Titans’ right tackle starters in 2020 and ’21.) Radunz, who has also spent time at guard with the Titans, would have seemingly been an option to step in for Petit-Frere. But the North Dakota State alum is still rehabbing the ACL tear he suffered in December. Radunz did not participate in the team’s offseason workouts, Wyatt adds.
The Titans released cornerstones Taylor Lewan and Ben Jones this offseason, doing so a year after cutting Rodger Saffold. Tennessee let four-year guard starter Nate Davis walk in free agency in March. Skoronski will be the linchpin of GM Ran Carthon‘s overhaul effort, though the team will not have a chance to see the unit at full strength until Petit-Frere’s October return.
MEN’S GOLF
MCILROY SAYS HE’D RETIRE IF LIV GOLF WAS THE ONLY PLACE TO PLAY
GULLANE, Scotland (AP) Rory McIlroy laughed off a Saudi-backed idea that he and Tiger Woods own LIV Golf teams, saying Thursday he would retire if playing for LIV was the only option.
The concept came from an April document titled, “The Best of Both Worlds,” provided to Congress ahead of a Senate subcommittee hearing Tuesday on the PGA Tour’s agreement to partner with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
“LIV is proposing that Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods would own teams and play in at least 10 LIV events. This and the participation of other leading players is subject to further discussions,” one item in the proposal said.
That was brought to McIlroy’s attention after his opening round of the Scottish Open, and he looked bemused.
“If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on earth, I would retire. That’s how I feel about it,” McIlroy said. “I’d play the majors. I’d be pretty comfortable.”
That was part of several pie-in-the-sky proposals in the eight-page presentation geared toward finding a compromise between the golf circuits. It was produced by Amanda Staveley of British-based PCP Capital Partners. She helped broker the Public Investment Fund acquiring Newcastle United of the English Premier League and is advising the Saudis in golf.
Other proposals included LIV players being able to have PGA Tour playing rights restored, world ranking points from LIV events applied retroactively and for Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of PIF, to have an Augusta National membership.
McIlroy has left little doubt how he feels about the rival league, even before LIV Golf was formed. He was the first top player to declare loyalty to the PGA Tour in early 2020. A month ago, after the surprise announcement about the deal, McIlroy said, “I still hate LIV. Like, I hate LIV. Like, I hope it goes away.”
McIlroy said he watched only a little of the Senate hearing because there wasn’t much information he didn’t already know.
“There was going to be some new information for other people,” he said. “As I said, I’ve almost been too close the last year and a bit. So nice to be able to try to distance myself a bit.”
McIlroy had said he learned of the agreement from Jimmy Dunne, a PGA Tour board member involved in the negotiations, about four hours before the June 6 announcement.
One email in the trove of documents released Tuesday indicated McIlroy had met in November with Al-Rumayyan in Dubai for a conversation described as “cordial and constructive.”
He did not indicate how much he knew about the tour talking with the Saudi group. One complaint from PGA Tour players was being left in the dark, particularly because the tour is a member organization. McIlroy is among five players on the PGA Tour board. None was involved, along with three independent board directors.
Xander Schauffele said on Wednesday that PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan had lost some of his trust, while Jordan Spieth said Monahan had “quite a bit” of trust issues to navigate when he returns to work next week.
McIlroy said trust issues with Monahan were not as serious for him.
“Because I sort of knew what was going on, so I wasn’t quite as in the dark as some of the other guys,” McIlroy said. “But yeah, people felt blindsided by it, and I can obviously understand why Jordan and Xander and a lot of other guys would feel that way.”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
CUBS-RANGERS HIGHLIGHT OPENING DAY MATCHUPS ON MARCH 28 AS MLB ANNOUNCES 2024 SCHEDULE
NEW YORK (AP) — The Chicago Cubs will be at Texas in the only interleague matchup on Major League Baseball’s traditional opening day on March 28 in the second season of the balanced schedule.
MLB released its 2024 schedule on Thursday, seven weeks earlier than the 2023 announcement.
All 30 teams are slated to play on March 28, a week after the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres meet in a two-game series at Seoul on March 20-21, MLB’s first regular-season games in South Korea.
AL openers include the Los Angeles Angels at Baltimore, Detroit at the Chicago White Sox, the New York Yankees at Houston, Minnesota at Kansas City, Cleveland at Oakland, Boston at Seattle and Toronto at Tampa Bay.
The Athletics could be playing their last opener in Oakland. Their lease at the Coliseum expires at the end of the 2024 season and the team hopes to move to a new ballpark to built in Las Vegas.
NL games on March 28 have Colorado at Arizona, Washington at Cincinnati, St. Louis at the Dodgers, Pittsburgh at Miami, Milwaukee at the New York Mets, Atlanta at Philadelphia and San Francisco at San Diego.
This season marked the first time since 1968 that every team played on opening day. Next year’s regular start on March 28 matches 2019 as the earliest opening day, not including international games.
Games outside the U.S. and Canada include Houston and Colorado on April 27 and 28 in Mexico City, and the Mets and Phillies on June 8 and 9 in London.
The Cardinals and Giants are scheduled to play at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, on June 20 in a tribute to the Negro Leagues and Willie Mays.
The All-Star Game is July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The regular season is scheduled to end on Sept. 29.
Intercity matchups have the Yankees and Mets playing on June 25-26 at Citi Field and July 23-24 in the Bronx; and the Cubs and White Sox meeting June 4-5 at Wrigley Field and Aug. 9-10 at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Dodgers host the Angels on June 21-22 and are at Anaheim on Sept. 3-4. The Giants host the A’s on July 30-31 and are at Oakland on Aug. 17-18.
In the season’s only scheduled doubleheaders, Oakland hosts Texas on May 8 and the Giants are home against the Rockies on July 27.
Houston makes its first visit to Wrigley Field since 2013 (April 23-25), the Dodgers play at Yankee Stadium for the first time since 2016 (June 7-9) and San Diego plays at Fenway Park for the first time since 2013 (June 28-30).
COLLEGE BASEBALL
NORTHWESTERN FIRES BASEBALL COACH JIM FOSTER AMID MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) Northwestern baseball coach Jim Foster was fired Thursday amid allegations of misconduct, three days after football coach Pat Fitzgerald was dismissed because of a hazing scandal.
Foster spent just one season as the Wildcats’ coach. The move was announced in a brief statement from athletic director Derrick Gragg.
“Nothing will ever be more important to Northwestern than providing its students a place that allows them to develop in the classroom, in the community, and in competition at the absolute highest level, and building a culture which allows our staff to thrive,” Gragg said.
“This has been an ongoing situation and many factors were considered before reaching this resolution. As the director of athletics, I take ownership of our head coaching hires and we will share our next steps as they unfold.”
The Chicago Tribune and WSCR-AM reported this week that Foster led a toxic culture that prompted several assistant coaches to quit, and that his bullying and verbally abusive behavior prompted a human resources investigation by the university.
Northwestern went 10-40 under Foster. Assistant Brian Anderson, a former major leaguer who won a World Series ring with the Chicago White Sox in 2005, will take over as interim coach.
Fitzgerald was fired after a university investigation found allegations of hazing by 11 current or former players, including “forced participation, nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature,” Northwestern President Michael Schill wrote.
Fitzgerald has maintained he was unaware of the hazing.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
MARCH MADNESS EXPANSION DISCUSSED BY NCAA COMMITTEE BUT NO DEAL IMMINENT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The NCAA Division I men’s basketball committee discussed possible expansion of March Madness at its meetings this week but said no moves were imminent to increase the field beyond the current 68 teams.
“Whether the tournament expands or not remains to be seen,” sad Dan Gavitt, the NCAA’s senior vice president of basketball.
Earlier this year, the NCAA Division I board of directors approved recommendations by the DI transformation committee that included allowing one quarter of teams in bigger sports to compete in championship events. That could mean expanding the fields in both men’s and women’s basketball up to 90 teams.
There are many in the sport who believe the 68-team fields and three weekends of play are ideal. In 2016, the NCAA signed an eight-year extension of its TV deal for $8.8 billion that now runs through 2032.
Gavitt said the men’s basketball committee is “studying options and gathering feedback from various constituents” about possible expansion.
“The committee must be good stewards for the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship,” he said. “They are committed to doing their due diligence looking at a few different models to make an informed decision that’s in the best interests of the championship, and that may very well include deciding against expansion.”
Also at its three-day meeting, the committee selected North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham as vice-chair. Cunningham will take over as chair in 2024-25 for Southwestern Athletic Conference commissioner Charles McClelland.
WNBA
LAS VEGAS IS THE CENTER OF THE BASKETBALL WORLD AHEAD OF THE WNBA ALL-STAR GAME
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The timing and location of the WNBA All-Star Game couldn’t be much better.
Just in the past week, 19-year-old phenom Victor Wembanyama made his NBA debut in the Summer League to sold-out crowds at the nearby Thomas & Mack Center, league commissioner Adam Silver spoke openly about Las Vegas as a potential expansion candidate, and the Aces continued to roll through opponents to move to 19-2 as they seek a second straight WNBA title.
That’s a lot of basketball momentum ahead of the All-Star Game at Michelob Ultra Arena. The 3-point shooting contest and skills competitions take place Friday, and the game Saturday has been declared a sellout.
Team Wilson is captained by Aces star and two-time MVP A’ja Wilson, and she will be joined by three of her Las Vegas teammates when they take on Team Stewart, led by 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty.
Aces coach Becky Hammon, who will lead Team Wilson, noted that Las Vegas has a history as a basketball city. UNLV won the 1990 national championship and appeared in three other Final Fours, making Runnin’ Rebels games must-see events even in this entertainment-driven city.
“We just have the privilege and honor to be its first professional basketball team,” Hammon said. “But you go back to those early UNLV games, I think this town has always loved basketball. I played in conference tournaments here. But to have a product like this, a women’s team like this, I think people are excited to come visit. I think we’ve played our way into the conversation of being one of the best shows here.”
Hammon spoke after Tuesday night’s 98-72 victory over the Phoenix Mercury, which was played before a franchise-record crowd of 10,281 and was the team’s third sellout this season. Paul George, Donovan Mitchell and Bam Adebayo were among the NBA players watching, joined by former Duke and USA Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas.
“The birth of Vegas sports outside of boxing has been amazing,” Thomas said. “It truly is becoming a hub of sports and entertainment, and the WNBA and the Vegas Aces are driving that.”
The NBA could be next. Silver has often referred to Las Vegas as the “31st franchise” because of the presence of all 30 teams at the Summer League each year.
And that relationship is growing with the NBA playing the final four games of its first in-season tournament in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 and 9.
“I like to believe the tournament games being held here next year has something to do with the NBA flirting with the idea of having a team,” George said. “Hopefully, that goes well. A heck of an NBA fan base here.”
Silver, when addressing the Associated Press Sports Editors convention in Las Vegas on Monday, didn’t tamp down speculation of the city as a potential expansion candidate. Once the NBA secures its multimedia contracts within the next couple of years, Silver said the league would consider adding teams.
“We will look at this market,” Silver said. “There’s no doubt there is (also) enormous interest in Seattle. It’s not a secret.”
For now, at least, the world’s best women’s players will call Las Vegas home for a couple of days, going through All-Star Game festivities and trying to put on a show for the fans.
“I think it’s great having it in Vegas,” said Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who will play in her third All-Star Game. “They’ve always done a really great job in the past, and having Summer League, there are extra people there who are interested in basketball. So I think it’s a great opportunity to convert even more women’s basketball fans.”
NBA
REPORTS: JAMES HARDEN PUSHING FOR TRADE TO CLIPPERS
James Harden prefers to play next season with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to multiple reports.
Harden triggered a $35.6 million player option for 2023-24 designed to make it easier for the Philadelphia 76ers to find a trade.
Teammate Joel Embiid said last week after attending a party in Las Vegas with Harden that he remained hopeful Harden would change his mind and stay in Philadelphia.
ESPN reported, however, that Harden is still “determined” to land with the Clippers.
The Clippers, New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns are the teams reported to be interested in Harden.
Harden, 33, averaged 21.0 points, 10.7 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 58 games for the Sixers this past season.
The 10-time All-Star owns career averages of 24.7 points, 7.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds in 1,000 games (786 starts) with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and 76ers.
Harden came to the Sixers in the deal that sent Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond to the Brooklyn Nets.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
ONS JABEUR REACHES HER SECOND CONSECUTIVE WIMBLEDON FINAL AND WILL FACE MARKETA VONDROUSOVA
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) – There was a time – a year ago; six months ago, even – that Ons Jabeur might not have recovered from the deficit she found herself in during the Wimbledon semifinals. Down a set. Down a break in the second set. So close to being just a game from defeat.
She credits a sports psychologist with helping her understand how to deal with those on-court situations, with managing to keep her focus, keep her strokes on-target. Thanks in part to that, and a steadiness down the stretch at Centre Court on Thursday, Jabeur is on her way to a second consecutive final at the All England Club and her third title match in the past five Grand Slam tournaments.
Now she wants to win a trophy. The sixth-seeded Jabeur earned the right to play for one again by beating big-hitting Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3.
“I’m very proud of myself, because maybe old me would have lost the match today and went back home already. But I’m glad that I kept digging very deep and finding the strength,” said Jabeur, a 28-year-old from Tunisia who already was the only Arab woman and only North African woman to reach a major final.
“I’m learning to transform the bad energy into a good one,” Jabeur said, explaining that she was able to get over the anger she felt after the first set. “Some things I have no control over: She can ace any time. She can hit the big serve, even if I have a break point. That’s frustrating a bit. But I’m glad that I’m accepting it and I’m digging deep to just go and win this match – and, hopefully, this tournament.”
To do that, Jabeur will need to get past Marketa Vondrousova, a left-hander from the Czech Republic, on Saturday. Vondrousova became the first unseeded women’s finalist at Wimbledon since Billie Jean King in 1963 by eliminating Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-3.
Like Jabeur, Vondrousova has been to a major final before. Like Jabeur, she’s never won one, having been the runner-up at the 2019 French Open as a teen.
“We’re both hungry,” Jabeur said.
So far, Jabeur is 0-2 in Slam finals. She lost to Elena Rybakina at the All England Club last July and to Iga Swiatek at the U.S. Open last September.
Jabeur’s win over No. 2 Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion in January, followed victories against three other major title winners: No. 3 Rybakina, No. 9 Petra Kvitova and Bianca Andreescu.
“I want to make my path worth it,” Jabeur said.
Thursday’s triumph, which came by collecting 10 of the last 13 games, prevented Sabalenka from replacing Swiatek at No. 1 in the rankings.
“I had so many opportunities,” said Sabalenka, a 25-year-old from Belarus who was not allowed to compete at Wimbledon last year because all players from her country and from Russia were banned over the war in Ukraine. “Overall, I didn’t play my best tennis today. It was just, like, a combo of everything. A little bit of nerves, a little bit of luck for her at some points.”
Jabeur trailed 4-2 in the second set when she began to turn things around. But not before Sabalenka came within a point from leading 5-3 after Jabeur put a forehand into the net and fell onto her back on the grass of Centre Court.
She dusted herself off and broke to take that game and begin the comeback. When she delivered a backhand return winner to force the match to a third set, Jabeur held her right index finger to her ear, then raised it and wagged it as she strutted to the changeover.
Sabalenka’s shots missed the mark repeatedly. She finished with far more unforced errors than Jabeur: The margins were 14-5 in the last set and 45-15 for the match.
“I was little bit emotionally down, then she was up,” said Sabalenka, who hit 10 aces but also double-faulted five times.
A break put Jabeur up 4-2 in the third, but there was still some work to be done. Sabalenka, as powerful a ball-striker as there is on tour, erased four match points before Jabeur converted her fifth with a 103 mph ace.
In the first semifinal, the 43rd-ranked Vondrousova reeled off seven consecutive games in one stretch against the 76th-ranked Svitolina, who returned from maternity leave just three months ago. After surprisingly beating Swiatek in the quarterfinals, she was trying to become the first woman from Ukraine to make it to the title match at a major tennis tournament.
Svitolina received loud support from thousands in the crowd at the main stadium – Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain was in the Royal Box – as applause and yells echoed off the closed roof.
Svitolina says she plays more calmly nowadays, something she attributed to the dual motivations of playing for her baby daughter, who was born in October, and of playing for her home country, where the ongoing war began in February 2022, when Russia invaded with help from Belarus.
“It’s a lot of responsibility, a lot of tension. I try to balance it as much as I can. Sometimes it gets maybe too much,” Svitolina said. “But I don’t want to (make it) an excuse.”
Vondrousova missed about six months last season because of two operations on her left wrist. She visited England last year with a cast on that arm to enjoy London as a tourist and to watch her best friend and doubles partner, Miriam Kolodziejova, try to qualify for Wimbledon.
“It’s not always easy to come back. You don’t know if you can play at this level and if you can be back at the top and back at these tournaments,” Vondrousova said. “I just feel like I’m just grateful to be on a court again, to play without pain.”
NHL
COYOTES CUTTING TIES WITH NEW FREE AGENT GALCHENYUK FOLLOWING ARREST ON MULTIPLE CHARGES
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Coyotes have placed newly signed free agent forward Alex Galchenyuk on unconditional waivers and plan to terminate his contract following his arrest on multiple charges over the weekend.
A Scottsdale Police Department spokesperson said Thursday that Galchenyuk was arrested Sunday on charges of private property hit and run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest and threatening or intimidating. The spokesperson said the hit and run was only property damage and no injuries occurred.
Galchenyuk was booked into the Scottsdale city jail on misdemeanor charges and released the next day on his own recognizance.
“The Arizona Coyotes have placed forward Alex Galchenyuk on unconditional waivers for purposes of terminating his contract,” the team said in a statement Thursday. “The Club will have no further comment at this time.”
The NHL Players Association said it is reviewing the matter.
The Coyotes signed Galchenyuk to a one-year, $775,000 contract July 1, the opening of free agency, for his third stint with the team.
The 29-year-old had 19 goals and 22 assists with the Coyotes in 2018-19 and returned in 2021-22, finishing with six goals and 15 assists in 60 games.
Montreal selected Galchenyuk with the third overall pick of the 2012 NHL draft and he played his first six seasons with the Canadiens, starting in 2012. He had 30 goals and 26 assists in 2015-16, but has been more of a journeyman the past few years, playing in Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Ottawa, Toronto and Colorado.
Galchenyuk played 11 games for the Avalanche last season, spending most of the season in the AHL.
MEN’S GOLF
STEVE STRICKER, HARRISON FRAZAR TIED FOR MAJOR LEAD IN AKRON
Steve Stricker and Harrison Frazar are tied for the lead at 5-under 65 after one round of the Kaulig Companies Championship, the fourth major of the PGA Tour Champions season, on Thursday in Akron, Ohio.
Stricker, who won two majors in May and has four tournament victories overall this season, is attempting to run away with the Charles Schwab Cup title. His round Thursday featured an eagle, four birdies and a single bogey.
Formerly known as the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship, the annual event at Firestone Country Club produced a leaderboard full of recognizable names in the first round.
Stewart Cink is alone in third after a 4-under 66. South Korean major champion Y.E. Yang is tied for fourth with Germany’s Alex Cejka, a two-time senior major winner. Former World No. 1 Ernie Els of South Africa shot a 2-under 68, and John Daly is not far back in a tie for 12th at even-par 70.
For now, they’re all looking up at Stricker and Frazar, a 51-year-old vet whose last professional victory came in 2011.
Stricker went out on the back nine and birdied Nos. 10 and 13. The eagle came at the par-5, 526-yard second hole, where his hybrid approach rolled to just a few feet of the pin.
More important to Stricker than the holes he scored on were the holes he scrambled to save par.
“It was a combination of everything, right, and this is what this course makes you do,” said Stricker, who won this event in 2021. “You have to scramble going around here, take advantage of the good shots that you have. Tough to get in the fairway at times, and when you don’t, you’re scrambling to just to make a par, try to get it on the green. The rough isn’t horrible so you can play out of it, but it doesn’t lend itself to being able to attack a pin from the rough.”
Frazar also started on the back nine, but his big move came at the turn when he birdied Nos. 1, 2 and 3.
“Sometimes you’re not as far off as you think you are,” Frazar said, “but like I said, attitude was getting in the way more than anything. Just trying to stay level.”
Cink turned 50 in May and just began playing the PGA Tour Champions. This was his second start; in his first, the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, he shot four rounds in the 60s for third place.
After a 1-over 36 on the back nine, Cink rolled in five birdies on the front for a 5-under 30.
“I wasn’t really getting any results on my opening nine,” Cink said. “I had two three-putts and just a lot of grazed edges. I was playing OK. Then on the back I made about a 20-footer on the first hole with a big break. You know, the kind of putts that you don’t expect to make. From then on out, the hole looked bigger and it just felt more relaxing.”
Defending champion Jerry Kelly opened with a 1-over 71, as did Germany’s Bernhard Langer, who won the U.S. Senior Open earlier this month to become the winningest player in tour history (46 titles).
BYEONG HUN AN SHOOTS 61, STROLLS TO SCOTTISH OPEN LEAD
South Korea’s Byeong Hun An carded nine birdies for a first-round 61 to grab the outright lead by three strokes at the Scottish Open on Thursday.
Hun An, a three-time runner up who has zero PGA Tour wins in 175 career starts, began play on the 10th and with five birdies, hit the turn with a 30. His final putt for birdie on the ninth, his 18th hole of the day, left him a 61, three better than Irishman Rory McIlroy and Belgian Thomas Detry at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland.
McIlroy held the lead for part of the first round on Thursday, surging to the top of the leaderboard on his 12th hole of the day — No. 3 — with an eagle on the 630-yard par 5.
Hun An missed an ace at the 14th and tapped in during a stretch of four consecutive birdies on his opening nine. He grabbed the lead for good with a chip to within a three feet and the ensuing putt on the par-5 3rd to get to 7 under.
WOMEN’S GOLF
LINN GRANT, JARAVEE BOONCHANT SHARE FIRST-ROUND LEAD AT DANA OPEN
Linn Grant of Sweden and Jaravee Boonchant of Thailand are tied for the lead after one round of the Dana Open on Thursday in Sylvania, Ohio.
Grant and Boonchant shot 7-under 64 at Highland Meadows Golf Club to eke in front of the pack, with Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen at 6-under 65, and Rose Zhang among a host of players at 5-under 66.
Grant poured in seven birdies amid a bogey-free round, while Boonchant kicked off her round with an eagle and had two bogeys to go with seven birdies.
Grant, 24, was an LPGA rookie last season and had a breakthrough performance this past May with a third-place showing at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play.
She began her round on the back nine and made all pars until the par-4 16th. She took advantage there and the next two holes, both of them par-5s, for a three-birdie run before adding four more on the front nine.
“I was striking the ball really well both off the tee and into the greens,” Grant said. “Just felt very comfortable with my swing and didn’t have to force anything. I was just having great tempo, so just try and keep that for tomorrow.”
Boonchant, meanwhile, is also 24 and in her rookie year on tour. She couldn’t have gotten off to a better start to the tournament when she holed out for eagle from 128 yards at the par-4 10th hole, her first hole of the day.
“I never thought I would, like, hole out. I was just trying to hit the green,” Boonchant said. “I had 128 to the pin I believe and I was just like on the first cut and I was like, ‘OK, this shot, just anywhere on the green.’ … and the ball just happened to hit one bounce and hop in the hole.”
Boonchant had missed four cuts in a row entering the week and has one top-10 finish this season.
Jutanugarn turned in a clean card with six birdies, while Pedersen had seven birdies and one bogey. Pedersen, who was the clubhouse leader for a length of time before Grant and Boonchant finished, has won five times on the Ladies European Tour but never on American soil.
“Just try to do the same things (the rest of the week),” Pedersen said. “I was just trying to stay patient. I’ve not been hitting the ball great with my irons, so I was kind of prepared for whenever I wasn’t going to hit a good one, I would just have to go over and get it up and down. That kind of mindset kept me very calm all day.”
Zhang, the 20-year-old former Stanford star who won in her professional debut in June, also went bogey-free with three birdies on the back nine (her first nine) and two more on the front.
“I am in the beginning of Month 2 of my professional career,” Zhang said. “Just pretty insane. I feel like I’ve just started my professional career, but it also felt like forever just because I had so many obligations and so many different things that happened.”
Zhang is one of nine players tied for fifth at 66. Also among that group are China’s Xiyu Lin, the No. 10 player in the world rankings who contended at the past two majors, and Bailey Tardy, who was a surprise contender at last week’s U.S. Women’s Open and tied for fourth.
Allisen Corpuz, after winning the U.S. Women’s Open, opened this tournament with a 4-under 67. Thirteen players are tied at that score, including Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Minjee Lee of Australia and Sei Young Kim of South Korea.
AUTO RACING
WEEKEND PREVIEW: NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
While drivers may not openly admit to any uptick in NASCAR Cup Series competitive intensity, with only seven races remaining to set the 16-driver 2023 Playoff field, each upcoming summer race at this point represents a crucial marker in the season.
With his season-best — and single-season career-high — fourth victory last week, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron leads the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings and will make his 200th career series start Sunday with a decidedly less pressure-filled trip to the Northeast for the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
That breathing room is also palpable for 11 other race winners. But the pressure is definitely there for the other drivers still trying to guarantee one of the five remaining secured positions during this Playoff push.
Kevin Harvick, a four-time New Hampshire race winner, is currently tops in the points standings among those who have not won a race in 2023. He holds a healthy 126-point edge over the postseason cutoff. The driver of the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Ford and 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion has been especially strong at the 1.058-mile oval — hoisting the live lobster that winners receive at the track more than any other active driver. His four-victory total is tied for most all-time with Jeff Burton, and Harvick would love nothing more than to top the all-time wins chart in this, his final season of competition.
“It’s definitely a racetrack that we’re looking forward to going to and I can’t wait to finally, hopefully, get to Victory Lane,” said Harvick, who has had an impressive nine top-five finishes in the last 12 New Hampshire races.
“My guys are doing a great job of putting fast cars on the racetrack,” he continued. “And Loudon is one of those places that checks a lot of boxes for us to go up there and have a good weekend.”
On the other end of the Playoff cutline, Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez and Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell are 15th and 16th in the standings, tied in points — a slight three-points to the good.
23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace trails them by three points. Kaulig Racing veteran A.J. Allmendinger is 13 points back. Joe Gibbs Racing rookie Ty Gibbs is only 26 points back trying to earn a Playoff position in his first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season and join his three JGR teammates: Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and defending New Hampshire winner Christopher Bell, who already have secured their Playoff run with a win. Gibbs won the 2019 ARCA Menards Series West race at “The Magic Mile,” as New Hampshire is known.
Among drivers with a previous New Hampshire victory — Harvick, Brad Keselowski (a two-time winner in both the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series) and 2021 winner Aric Almirola are still racing for their first victories of this season.
Like Harvick, the RFK Racing driver Keselowski has a solid lead (plus-100 points) inside the Playoff standings, but the Stewart-Haas Racing driver Almirola is 90 points back and ranked 27th heading into Sunday’s race. He will need a win to race for the championship.
Also in an unusually precarious situation is 2020 series champion Chase Elliott, who is ranked 23rd in the standings (60 points behind the cutoff mark) after missing seven races — six because of injury and the other to serve a suspension. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate and perennial Playoff competitor Alex Bowman is similarly in unfamiliar ground coming into New Hampshire, ranked 22nd (44 points back) having missed three races with injury. Neither have won at New Hampshire before.
Stewart-Haas Racing driver Ryan Preece is another who has had this New Hampshire weekend circled on his calendar. The Connecticut native goes into the race ranked 25th — 81 points out of Playoff contention — and is hoping to score a dramatic, season-defining win for his hometown crowd. Five drivers have scored their first career win at New Hampshire, including another Connecticut native, reigning series champion Joey Logano.
“I always say it’s my favorite race weekend of the year,” Preece said. “I grew up going to the track with my father and grandfather. I had a lot of success here in the modifieds, and it’s just a place I’m comfortable at. Driving in and out of the track each day still brings back a lot of memories. It’s a racer’s track, there’s really no place like it. Someone like me, I’ve had to fight to get where I am, and I don’t take any of it for granted and this is a place that helped me achieve my goals.”
Defending race winner Bell must be considered a favorite to earn back-to-back race trophies to join four of the sport’s greats (Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Harvick) to accomplish the feat at New Hampshire. Bell and Kyle Busch are the only two drivers to have won in every NASCAR national series at the track. Bell has a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win in 2017 and joins Busch as the only drivers to win three consecutive NASCAR Xfinity Series races for a grand total of five New Hampshire victories.
Busch, a three-time 2023 race winner in the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, has three NASCAR Cup Series victories at New Hampshire, a record six NASCAR Xfinity Series wins, and three Truck Series wins — a consecutive streak from 2009-11.
Of note, Ryan Newman — a three-race winner who holds the pole position record (seven) at New Hampshire — will be making his second start of the season, driving for Rick Ware Racing this weekend. He will team with Xfinity Series championship contender Cole Custer this weekend.
Practice for the Crayon 301 is Saturday at 12:05 p.m. ET, followed immediately by Busch Light Pole Qualifying at 12:50 p.m. — both sessions aired live on USA Network.
Xfinity Series set for some magic at New Hampshire
Although John Hunter Nemechek earned his season-best third victory last week in a dramatic overtime finish in Atlanta, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver was still only able to separate himself from fellow three-race winner, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill, by 16 points atop the points standings in what has been a thrilling and tight contention for the 2023 regular-season championship.
The series arrives at the 1.058-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway for Saturday’s Ambetter Health 200 (3 p.m. on USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) where the competition has historically been wide open for the Xfinity Series championship regulars.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series there has featured a wide range of race winners — 27 different trophy-winners in the event’s 35-race history.
JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier, the defending race winner, is the only series full-timer to have hoisted the lobster after a Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire. In fact, he’s been particularly good at the track with eight top-10 finishes in 11 starts, highlighted by that victory last year.
He is currently fourth in the series’ tight championship battle, 54 points behind Nemechek but only nine points behind third-place driver Cole Custer.
The Stewart-Haas Racing driver Custer has a similarly positive track record at The Magic Mile with top-10 finishes in all three of his previous starts, and he won pole position for the 2019 race.
New Hampshire is a significant place for Custer’s career. He earned his first national series win in the 2014 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race there, becoming the youngest winner in series history at the age of 16 years, 4 months and 22 days. He’ll get two chances at the traditional lobster hoist in Loudon, as he also will compete in the NASCAR Cup Series race for Rick Ware Racing on Sunday.
With nine races still remaining to set the 12-driver Playoff field, not only is the regular-season championship is still very much up for grabs, but that Playoff list remains hotly contested. There have been seven race winners to secure their postseason bid, leaving five more positions still to be decided in the next two-month run.
Custer’s SHR teammate Riley Herbst is currently in the 12th position in the standings — only six points ahead of Parker Kligerman, a Connecticut native who is making his first Xfinity Series start at New Hampshire since 2013, when he finished 20th in his debut there.
Of note, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular Rajah Caruth will drive the No. 44 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet this weekend — his fifth start in the series.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series gets underway with practice at 5:05 p.m. on Friday followed by qualifying at 5:35 p.m. — both sessions air live on USA Network and will be streamed on the NBC Sports App.
TOP INDIANA NEWS/RELEASES FROM ORGANIZATIONS
INDIANA HS BASKETBALL
CATCHINGS LEAVING BROWNSBURG
Brownsburg basketball player and Purdue recruit Kanon Catchings is leaving the Bulldogs program and plans to play at Overtime Elite, an elite basketball league in Atlanta.
Catchings averaged 17.5 points and 4.8 rebounds as a junior and is rated as a five-star prospect.
Catchings is the nephew of former Tennessee and Indiana Fever great Tamika Catchings.
Amen and Ausar Thompson, drafted No. 4 and No. 5 in the first round of the NBA draft last month by the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons, respectively, were part of Overtime Elite’s inaugural class
COLTS FOOTBALL
ONE BIG COLTS TRAINING CAMP QUESTION, LINEBACKERS: WHAT’S SHAQUILLE LEONARD’S STATUS?
The Colts fielded a solid defense in 2022, Gus Bradley’s first year as defensive coordinator in Indianapolis. Prior to their bye week, the Colts had some strong underlying rankings and metrics on defense:
Yards per play allowed: 8th (5.1)
Scoring drive percentage allowed: 12th (34.5 percent)
Average offense plays per drive faced: 4th (5.5)
Plays of 10+ yards allowed: T-6th (142)
Tackles for a loss/no gain: 86 (1st)
EPA per play allowed: 12th (-.008)
The Colts’ defense limited explosive plays and made it difficult for opponents to sustain long drives. But something that held the defense back was this:
Turnovers forced: T-25th (11)
There’s some nuance behind that number – prior to their bye week, the Colts’ defense was on the field with a lead to start only 37 drives, the second-lowest total in the league behind the Houston Texans (33). Opposing offenses didn’t have to take as many risks – the kind of plays that lead to more turnover opportunities for a defense – because they were leading.
(Also, we’re using prior to Week 14 here not because the final four games of the season didn’t matter, but because it’s a better representation of how solid the Colts’ defense was for most of the 2022 season.)
But not having Shaquille Leonard for most of the season had perhaps the biggest impact on the Colts’ takeaway total.
From 2018-2021, Leonard earned three first-team AP All Pro nods and three Pro Bowl spots; he picked off 11 passes and forced 17 fumbles, making him the only player in the NFL in that span to have both double-digit interceptions and forced fumbles. Leonard’s preternatural ability to take the ball away is the kind of thing that can push a solid defense to be a great defense, and the Colts missed it in 2022.
So with that backdrop, Leonard’s status will be closely watched when training camp kicks off July 26 at Grand Park in Westfield.
Leonard underwent a pair of procedures in 2022 – in June and November – to address a nerve issue that had been impacting him for years. While he didn’t participate in on-field work during OTAs and minicamp this spring, Leonard has been doing everything in his power behind the scenes to give himself the best chance of being ready for the 2023 season.
“Feeling a whole lot better than what I did at any point of the year last year,” Leonard said in April. “Moving around a whole lot better, I’ve got more power in the calf. It’s still not where I want to be. Still taking it one day at a time, one step at a time and just maintaining the focus and trying to get one percent better each day.”
INDIANA SWIMMING
INDIANA SWIMMING AND DIVING SENDS 15 PARTICIPANTS TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Fifteen individuals with ties to the Indiana swimming and diving program will compete or coach at the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships beginning Friday (July 14).
Eleven athletes and four coaches will represent IU on the world stage this month in three different disciplines: pool swimming, open water swimming and diving. IU’s participants will also represent five countries, and 10 Hoosiers will compete or coach for Team USA; six with USA Swimming and four with USA Diving.
Indiana head diving coach Drew Johansen will serve as the head coach for USA Diving as competition begins Friday. Indiana diving alums and Olympians Andrew Capobianco and Jess Parratto as well as sophomore Maxwell Weinrich are slated to compete over the next week.
Open water swimming also kicks off Friday. Junior Mariah Denigan will represent USA Swimming in the women’s 10K and 5K races. Indiana associate head coach Cory Chitwood will serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. open water swimmers.
Pool swimming will begin next Saturday, July 22. Seven Hoosiers will compete in the pool, while Indiana head swimming coach Ray Looze will once again serve as an assistant coach for Team USA. IU assistant coach Luke Ryan will be a member of the Tunisian Swimming Federation’s coaching staff.
Comprehensive coverage of the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships will stream on Peacock.
PURDUE SWIMMING
SWIM-DIVE WELL REPRESENTED AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
By: Ben Turner
WEST LAYAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue swimming & diving is set to be well represented with seven Boilermakers competing in as many as 15 events at the top international showcase of the year, the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Three current student-athletes and four alumni are slated to represent their countries. Associate head coach for diving David Boudia (2009-11) – a five-time medalist at the World Championships during his decorated career – is on the coaching staff for USA Diving. Alumnus Steven LoBue (2004-07), a two-time World Championships medalist, is also serving as the coach of the U.S. high divers.
Divers Jordan Rzepka, Brandon Loschiavo (2017-21), Greg Duncan (2019-22) and David Colturi (2008-10) are all slated to represent the United States. Kate Beavon’s open water success earned her a berth for South Africa. Fresh off winning a pair of diving medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games, Maycey Vieta returns to Worlds for Puerto Rico. Two-time Olympian Jinq En Phee (2017-20) is slated to race in the breaststroke events at her third World Championships for Malaysia.
Beavon and Vieta are both slated to return to Purdue’s active roster this fall as fifth-year student-athletes.
Formerly known as the FINA World Championships, the biennial international showcase became the World Aquatics Championships after FINA was rebranded as World Aquatics in December 2022. It’s also being held in consecutive years – Budapest hosted in June 2022 – due to the Olympic Games being postponed a year until 2021.
Headlined by diving, for many sports the World Championships serves as an opportunity for countries to earn quota spots for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games. As USA Diving’s reigning national champion and World Championships entry in 10-meter synchro, Loschiavo and Rzepka will be aiming to assure the U.S. competes in the event again at the Olympics. Steele Johnson and Boudia won silver together in the event at the 2016 Olympic Games but the U.S. did not qualify for the event in Tokyo.
Loschiavo swept the 10-meter individual and synchro events at the USA Diving National Championships in May. He’s slated to compete at the World Championships for the third time (2017, 2019) but was not part of USA Diving’s roster last year in Budapest. Duncan, Rzepka and Colturi are all veterans of the World Championships, although an injury hours before his event prevented Duncan from competing last year.
Beavon won silver the open water 5K at the African Beach Games in Tunisia in June. During spring break, she was victorious in the same race at the South African Open Water Nationals.
Since the Tokyo Olympics, Phee has won three medals in the Southeast Asian Games. She has set Malaysian records in the 50- and 100-meter breaststroke during her career.
Colturi is set to compete at his fourth career World Championships. High diving was not part of the program last year in Budapest. He finished fourth in 2015. Colturi remains active on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, representing the U.S. on the international tour since 2012.
BOILERMAKERS AT 2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
• Kate Beavon (South Africa) – 5K Open Water, Mixed 4x1500m Open Water Team Relay
• Jordan Rzepka (USA) – 10-Meter Synchro
• Maycey Vieta (Puerto Rico) – 10-Meter Diving, 3-Meter Synchro, 10-Meter Synchro, Mixed 3-Meter Synchro, Mixed 10 Meter Synchro
• David Colturi (Alum, USA) – 27-Meter High Diving
• Greg Duncan (Alum, USA) – 3-Meter Synchro
• Brandon Loschiavo (Alum, USA) – 10-Meter Diving, 10-Meter Synchro, Mixed 3M & 10M Team Diving
• Jinq En Phee (Alum, Malaysia) – 50m, 100m, 200m Breaststroke
• David Boudia (Alum, USA) – Coach for USA Diving
• Steven LoBue (Alum, USA) – Coach for U.S. High Divers
EVENT SCHEDULES
All Days/Times Converted to Eastern Time (13-Hour Time Difference)
Results from Fukuoka will be added as they become available
DIVING
Friday, July 14
• Men’s 3-Meter Synchro Prelim at 8 p.m. – Greg Duncan
• Mixed 10-Meter Synchro Final at 11:30 p.m. – Maycey Vieta
Saturday, July 15
• Men’s 3-Meter Synchro Final at 5 a.m. – Greg Duncan
• Women’s 10-Meter Synchro Prelim at 9 p.m. – Maycey Vieta
Sunday, July 16
• Women’s 10-Meter Synchro Prelim at 5 a.m. – Maycey Vieta
• Women’s 3-Meter Synchro Prelim at 8 p.m. – Maycey Vieta
• Men’s 10-Meter Synchro Prelim at 11:30 p.m. – Brandon Loschiavo & Jordan Rzepka
Monday, July 17
• Women’s 3-Meter Synchro Final at 2:30 a.m. – Maycey Vieta
• Men’s 10-Meter Synchro Final at 5 a.m. – Brandon Loschiavo & Jordan Rzepka
• Women’s 10-Meter Prelim at 9 p.m. – Maycey Vieta
Tuesday, July 18
• Mixed 3M & 10M Team Diving Final at 5 a.m. – Brandon Loschiavo
• Women’s 10-Meter Semifinal at 1:30 a.m. – Maycey Vieta
Wednesday, July 19
• Women’s 10-Meter Final at 5 a.m. – Maycey Vieta
Thursday, July 20
• Men’s 10-Meter Prelim at 8 p.m. – Brandon Loschiavo
Friday, July 21
• Men’s 10-Meter Semifinal at 2:30 a.m. – Brandon Loschiavo
Saturday, July 22
• Mixed 3-Meter Final at 2:30 a.m. – Maycey Vieta
• Men’s 10-Meter Final at 5:30 a.m. – Brandon Loschiavo
Tuesday, July 25
• Men’s High Diving Rounds 1 & 2 at 1 a.m. – David Colturi
Wednesday, July 26
• Men’s High Diving Rounds 3 & 4 at 11 p.m. – David Colturi
SWIMMING
Monday, July 17
• Women’s 5K Open Water at 7 p.m. – Kate Beavon
Wednesday, July 19
• Mixed 6K Open Water Relay at 7 p.m. – Kate Beavon
Sunday, July 23
• Women’s 100m Breaststroke Prelims at 9:30 p.m. – Jinq En Phee
Monday, July 24
• Women’s 100m Breaststroke Semifinals at 7 a.m. – Jinq En Phee
Tuesday, July 25
• Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final at 7 a.m. – Jinq En Phee
Wednesday, July 26
• Women’s 200m Breaststroke Prelims at 9:30 p.m. – Jinq En Phee
Thursday, July 27
• Women’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinals at 7 a.m. – Jinq En Phee
Friday, July 28
• Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final at 7 a.m. – Jinq En Phee
• Women’s 50m Breaststroke Prelim at 9:30 p.m. – Jinq En Phee
Saturday, July 29
• Women’s 50m Breaststroke Semifinals at 7 a.m. – Jinq En Phee
Sunday, July 30
• Women’s 50m Breaststroke Final at 7 a.m. – Jinq En Phee
BOILERMAKERS AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Among those in attendance this year
• 2022 in Hungary: Jordan Rzepka, Greg Duncan, Maycey Vieta
• 2019 in South Korea: David Boudia, Brandon Loschiavo, Jinq En Phee, David Colturi, Steven LoBue
• 2017 in Hungary: Brandon Loschiavo, David Colturi, Steven LoBue
• 2015 in Russia: David Boudia, Jinq En Phee, David Colturi, Steven LoBue
IUPUI MEN’S BASKETBALL
OSTEN INKS PROFESSIONAL DEAL TO PLAY IN MACEDONIA
INDIANAPOLIS – Coming off a strong final collegiate campaign in 2022-23, former IUPUI standout Chris Osten recently inked a deal with KK Gostivar to begin his professional playing career in Macedonia. Osten, who is represented by VM Hoops Agency, will join the KK Gostivar team that competes in the Macedonian First League.
“We’re all excited for Chris to have this opportunity to continue his playing career,” head coach Matt Crenshaw said. “He’s one that made the most of his opportunity to play extensive minutes as a graduate transfer, showcase his skills and ultimately reach that goal of playing professionally.
“His hard work and perseverance has paid off and now we’re excited to see what he can do at the next level.”
Osten, a 6-foot-9 forward, appeared in 31 games in his lone season as a Jaguar, averaging 9.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting a school record 69.1 percent from the field. He ranked second on the team with 22 blocked shots and scored in double-digits 15 times with four double-doubles. His most impressive performance of the year was a 21-point, five rebound night at Robert Morris on Jan. 9. He also had back-to-back double-doubles at the Big Easy Classic in New Orleans, hitting Denver for 14 points and 10 rebounds on Nov. 23, followed by a 14-point, 10-rebound effort against UNO on Nov. 24.
In addition, he was named to IUPUI’s Academic Advisor’s List both semesters, earning a 3.0 grade point average in both the fall and spring.
BALL STATE BASEBALL
WEATHERLY SIGNS WITH BALTIMORE
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State pitcher Ty Weatherly signed a free agent deal with the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.
Weatherly finished the season with 74 strikeouts, which was second on the staff. He had a 6.82 ERA in 67 1/3 innings of work. He produced a 2-4 record. His best outing of the season came against Miami on May 13, where he struck out a career-high 11 batters.
Weatherly moves the list to four Cardinals moving on to professional baseball.
INDIANA STATE CROSS COUNTRY
INDIANA STATE UNVEILS 2023 CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Head Cross Country Coach Brad Butler and Cross Country/Track and Field Program Director Angela Martin announced the Sycamores’ 2023 schedule Thursday afternoon, which includes two meets at LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.
“We are really looking forward to the 2023 cross country season,” Butler said. “The team is putting in solid work this summer to get prepared for the great competition we will see throughout the fall. Both men and women have good veteran leadership to help guide our newcomers. We have a large group of freshmen, so starting out with a couple smaller meets will help with their transition to college cross country. The big regular season meets at Louisville and Bradley should be good tests for our top returners on both sides. Our schedule is set up for us to compete against a variety of schools from multiple regions. Each meet should provide us with good experience for the postseason.”
The Sycamores open their season September 1, heading just across the state line for the EIU Walt Crawford Open in Charleston, Illinois. The first of two meets in Terre Haute follows September 16, as the Sycamores welcome teams to LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course for the John McNichols Invitational.
“We love hosting meets at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course,” Martin said. “Many members of our team competed here in high school and it is great to see how they improve on the challenging course. The John McNichols meet always brings great competition to the Wabash Valley.”
Indiana State closes the month of September at the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic September 30 in Louisville, Kentucky. The Sycamores are also likely to send athletes to the Nike XC Town Twilight meet in Terre Haute September 29. Indiana State’s final regular season meet sees the Sycamores travel to fellow MVC member Bradley October 13 for the Bradley Pink Classic in Peoria, Illinois.
The 2023 MVC Cross Country Championships will take place October 27 in Nashville, Tennessee, while the NCAA Great Lakes Regional is slated for November 10 in Madison, Wisconsin. The 2023 NCAA National Championships will be November 18 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Indiana State returns nearly all of its cross country team on both the men’s and women’s side. Cael Light was named Honorable Mention All-MVC during the 2022 cross country season, while Jackson Krieg, Logan Pietrzak and Jason Dworak all cracked the top 10 in program history in the 8k during the season. Erica Barker looks to lead the way for the Sycamore women after cracking the top 10 in program history in the 6k last season and scoring points in both the 5000m and 10,000m at the 2023 MVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL
LUCAS SCROGGINS JOINS VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM
The Valparaiso University men’s basketball program and head coach Roger Powell Jr. have announced the addition of Lucas Scroggins, a 6-foot-9 forward from Woodbridge, Va. who joins the program as a freshman for the 2023-24 season.
Scroggins comes to the Beacons after spending the 2022-23 season at Bosco Institute in Crown Point. He graduated from Hylton High School in Virginia in 2022.
“I would definitely say that the coaching staff and their energy was a factor in my college decision,” Scroggins said. “During the recruiting process, they stuck with me and stayed in contact throughout. Coach Powell has a vision and expects a lot from us. He wants to win. I love that winning mentality; that is something that stood out to me from the beginning.”
Scroggins averaged 15.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game during his senior year of high school before averaging 12.6 points and 8.0 boards during his prep year at Bosco Institute.
“I would describe myself as a young guy with a lot of potential,” Scroggins said. “I’m a hard worker and a very versatile player. At 6-9, I can jump, shoot and dribble and I’m a great passer. I want to come in and be the best version of myself that I can. I want to continue to grow and help the team out in any way that I can so that we can win.”
Scroggins is undecided upon his major but is leaning toward an art-related academic pursuit. He loves to draw and hopes to pursue graphic design. He also plays video games in his free time.
Scroggins listed his most memorable basketball moment as a game to go to districts in high school when he hit the game-winning free throw after being fouled on a putback attempt with the game tied in the fourth quarter.
“Lucas is another addition from Bosco Institute, a program that we’ve developed an awesome relationship with and had great success with,” Powell said. “He has tons of potential and has a chance to make a great impact and really develop into an awesome player here at Valpo.”
Officially signing with Valpo culminates years of hard work on the basketball court as he has earned the opportunity to play at the Division-I level in the Missouri Valley Conference.
“It’s very relieving,” Scroggins said. “It feels great knowing that all the work that I put in was for a reason. It’s even better to be under a new coaching staff with Coach Powell returning to Valpo as head coach. I just want to win.”
Scroggins becomes the eighth newcomer announced by Powell this summer, joining Central Michigan transfer Ola Ajiboye, junior college transfer Isaiah Stafford, Murray State transfer Jaxon Edwards, freshman Cooper Schwieger, Hofstra transfer Lual Manyang, freshman Kaspar Sepp and freshman Sherman Weatherspoon IV.
VALPO MEN’S GOLF
DELISANTI WINS U.S. AMATEUR QUALIFIER, VANARRAGON CAPTURES MINNESOTA STATE OPEN
A successful college season may be in the rearview mirror, but the victories just keep coming for the Valparaiso University men’s golf team.
Rising fifth-year senior Caleb VanArragon (Blaine, Minn. / Blaine) won the Minnesota State Open, while rising junior Anthony Delisanti (Sanborn, N.Y. / Niagara Wheatfield) won his U.S. Amateur Qualifier, with both victories coming in resounding fashion.
VanArragon finished at -13 in the Minnesota State Open including a Round-3 score of six strokes under par. He outdid the runner-up score by nine strokes. The event took place July 10-12 at Oak Ridge Country Club in Hopkins, Minn.
Delisanti finished at -10 at the U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifier at Seven Oaks Golf Club in Hamilton, N.Y. to garner a spot in the U.S. Amateur Championship, which will take place at Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado from Aug. 14-20. The two-time Missouri Valley Conference champion won medalist honors in this event by shooting rounds of 67-67. He made seven birdies in each of his two rounds at the Colgate University course. Delisanti is now competing in the Porter Cup, which began on Wednesday and runs through Saturday at Niagara Falls Country Club.
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 |
| Tampa Bay | 58 | 35 | .624 | – | 35 – 15 | 23 – 20 | 17 – 10 | 14 – 3 | 9 – 7 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Baltimore | 54 | 35 | .607 | 2 | 26 – 18 | 28 – 17 | 16 – 11 | 18 – 7 | 10 – 7 | 6 – 4 | W 5 |
| Toronto | 50 | 41 | .549 | 7 | 23 – 18 | 27 – 23 | 7 – 20 | 16 – 6 | 11 – 8 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| NY Yankees | 49 | 42 | .538 | 8 | 28 – 23 | 21 – 19 | 13 – 17 | 8 – 8 | 14 – 8 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Boston | 48 | 43 | .527 | 9 | 26 – 22 | 22 – 21 | 16 – 11 | 11 – 8 | 10 – 6 | 8 – 2 | W 5 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Cleveland | 45 | 45 | .500 | – | 24 – 22 | 21 – 23 | 7 – 8 | 13 – 13 | 13 – 6 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Minnesota | 45 | 46 | .495 | 0.5 | 26 – 22 | 19 – 24 | 12 – 17 | 18 – 12 | 5 – 4 | 5 – 5 | L 3 |
| Detroit | 39 | 50 | .438 | 5.5 | 20 – 25 | 19 – 25 | 3 – 16 | 15 – 11 | 7 – 9 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Chi White Sox | 38 | 54 | .413 | 8 | 21 – 25 | 17 – 29 | 6 – 16 | 15 – 11 | 9 – 14 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| Kansas City | 26 | 65 | .286 | 19.5 | 13 – 31 | 13 – 34 | 4 – 10 | 8 – 22 | 4 – 11 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Texas | 52 | 39 | .571 | – | 27 – 18 | 25 – 21 | 11 – 11 | 11 – 5 | 16 – 11 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| Houston | 50 | 41 | .549 | 2 | 25 – 22 | 25 – 19 | 5 – 5 | 8 – 11 | 17 – 10 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Seattle | 45 | 44 | .506 | 6 | 24 – 20 | 21 – 24 | 7 – 11 | 7 – 6 | 15 – 11 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| LA Angels | 45 | 46 | .495 | 7 | 23 – 20 | 22 – 26 | 8 – 9 | 11 – 8 | 15 – 12 | 1 – 9 | L 5 |
| Oakland | 25 | 67 | .272 | 27.5 | 12 – 32 | 13 – 35 | 5 – 18 | 7 – 8 | 4 – 23 | 4 – 6 | L 4 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 60 | 29 | .674 | – | 30 – 15 | 30 – 14 | 22 – 6 | 8 – 1 | 10 – 7 | 8 – 2 | L 1 |
| Miami | 53 | 39 | .576 | 8.5 | 30 – 18 | 23 – 21 | 13 – 16 | 11 – 6 | 9 – 10 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Philadelphia | 48 | 41 | .539 | 12 | 22 – 16 | 26 – 25 | 9 – 15 | 9 – 4 | 11 – 12 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| NY Mets | 42 | 48 | .467 | 18.5 | 20 – 19 | 22 – 29 | 13 – 13 | 5 – 14 | 14 – 11 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| Washington | 36 | 54 | .400 | 24.5 | 15 – 32 | 21 – 22 | 9 – 16 | 5 – 9 | 9 – 13 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Cincinnati | 50 | 41 | .549 | – | 23 – 21 | 27 – 20 | 12 – 11 | 12 – 14 | 9 – 6 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| Milwaukee | 49 | 42 | .538 | 1 | 26 – 21 | 23 – 21 | 6 – 1 | 17 – 9 | 8 – 15 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Chi Cubs | 42 | 47 | .472 | 7 | 21 – 22 | 21 – 25 | 6 – 13 | 12 – 11 | 9 – 8 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Pittsburgh | 41 | 49 | .456 | 8.5 | 22 – 21 | 19 – 28 | 5 – 5 | 11 – 15 | 14 – 11 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| St. Louis | 38 | 52 | .422 | 11.5 | 17 – 25 | 21 – 27 | 5 – 8 | 11 – 14 | 7 – 13 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| LA Dodgers | 51 | 38 | .573 | – | 29 – 16 | 22 – 22 | 9 – 6 | 15 – 12 | 14 – 11 | 7 – 3 | W 4 |
| Arizona | 52 | 39 | .571 | – | 26 – 24 | 26 – 15 | 11 – 14 | 10 – 5 | 17 – 11 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| San Francisco | 49 | 41 | .544 | 2.5 | 26 – 22 | 23 – 19 | 10 – 9 | 13 – 7 | 15 – 10 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| San Diego | 43 | 47 | .478 | 8.5 | 25 – 23 | 18 – 24 | 12 – 10 | 7 – 13 | 12 – 13 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| Colorado | 34 | 57 | .374 | 18 | 20 – 24 | 14 – 33 | 11 – 14 | 8 – 10 | 6 – 19 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1916 Browns’ hurler Ernie Koob pitches a complete game, going all 17 innings of the scoreless tie. Carl Mays pitches the first 15 innings for the Red Sox, with Dutch Leonard finishing the 0-0 game.
1934 At Detroit’s Navin Field, the Yankees have lumbago-stricken Lou Gehrig bat leadoff, listing him as the team’s shortstop. After singling in the first inning, the ‘Iron Horse’ leaves the game without fielding as the Tigers bang out 11 doubles to edge the Yankees, 12-11.
1934 In the opener of a twin bill, the Phillies score 11 runs in the second inning, coasting to an 18-0 rout of the Reds at the Baker Bowl. Philadelphia will sweep the doubleheader with a 5-4 victory in the nightcap.
1938 In Toledo, the American Association All-Star squad becomes the first team to experiment with uniforms designed for wear during night games. The design of red, white, and blue shiny satin uniforms may reflect the light during the evening contests.
1946 Despite a home run and a quartet of doubles by Lou Boudreau, the Indians still lose to the Red Sox 11-10 thanks to Ted Williams’ three round-trippers and eight RBIs. In the nightcap of the twin bill, player-manager Boudreau will become the first skipper to employ the ‘Williams’ Shift,’ which puts all of the infielders and two outfielders on the right side of the field. The ‘Splendid Splinter,’ amused by the unusual alignment, doubles in his first at-bat against the new defense.
1948 The Indians host the Brooklyn Dodgers in the second half of a home-and-home exhibition series to raise funds for the Cleveland Baseball Federation. The 64,877 fans attending the Tribe’s 4-3 victory in 11 innings over Brooklyn are delighted when 43-year-old Satchel Paige tosses the three-hitless frames, including striking out the side on 12 pitches in the seventh.
1952 Walt Dropo, acquired from the Red Sox in June, collects five singles in the Tigers’ 8-2 victory over New York at Yankee Stadium. The 29-year-old first baseman’s 5-for-5 performance begins a string of a dozen consecutive hits.
1956 Mel Parnell, in the final year of his career, throws the first no-hit game in the American League in three seasons when he defeats the White Sox at Fenway Park, 4-0. The 34-year-old southpaw becomes the first Red Sox hurler to throw a no-hitter since Howard Ehmke accomplished the feat against Philadelphia in 1923.
1964 The Cubs overcome making five errors in the top of the third inning and beat the Mets, 4-2. The Chicago miscues, including shortstop Andre Rodgers and catcher Dick Bertell each committing two and first baseman Ernie Banks contributing to the total by dropping a pop fly, account for all New York’s scoring at Wrigley Field.
1967 Against Giants’ right-hander Juan Marichal at Candlestick Park, Eddie Mathews hits home run #500 as an Astro. The former Brave third baseman, who hit 493 homers playing for the franchise in Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta, becomes the seventh major leaguer to reach this plateau.
1968 Hank Aaron hits home run #500 off Mike McCormick, becoming the eighth major leaguer to reach this milestone. ‘Hammerin’ Hank’s three-run homer over the left-center field fence proves to be the difference as the Braves beat the Giants at Atlanta Stadium, 4-2.
1968 In the nightcap of a twin bill, Don Wilson strikes out eighteen batters in a nine-inning game to tie a major league record, shared by Bob Feller (Indians, 1938) and Sandy Koufax (Dodgers, 1959 and 1962). The Astros right-hander fans future Hall of Famer Johnny Bench for the last out of his 6-1 victory over the Reds on a wind-swept night at Crosley Field.
1968 In a 6-1 Astros victory over the Reds at Crosley Field, backstop John Bateman ties the major league record with nine consecutive putouts from the start of a game. The Houston catcher equals the mark established by Art Wilson, playing for the Giants in 1911.
1969 At Wrigley Field, Bill Hands and the Cubs edge Tom Seaver and the Mets, 1-0. After the game’s last out, Ron Santo jumps up and clicks his heels for the first time, a move the third baseman will repeat each time Chicago wins for the rest of his career.
1970 In the twelfth inning of the All-Star Game, Pete Rose bowls over Ray Fosse at the plate to score the deciding run in an exciting 5-4 National League victory at Riverfront Stadium. The injured Indian catcher, whose career ends prematurely due to the collision, entertained ‘Charlie Hustle’ as a dinner guest the previous night.
1970 Gaylord and Jim Perry become the first brothers to appear in the same All‐Star Game, representing the Giants and Twins in the Midsummer Classic. The siblings each hurl two innings for their team, collectively allowing three runs on five hits in the National League’s 5-4 victory over the Junior Circuit at Riverfront Stadium.
1972 Detroit catcher Tom Haller looks over his shoulder and sees his brother Bill, the home plate ump – a major league first. The arbitrator plays no favorites when his younger brother’s team loses 1-0 to Kansas City in the Tiger Stadium contest.
1995 Ramon Martinez throws the 22nd no-hitter in franchise history when he beats the Marlins at Dodger Stadium, 7-0. The Dodger right-hander, booed by the home crowd in his last outing, walks Tommy Gregg on a 3-2 pitch with one out in the seventh inning, spoiling his bid for a perfect game.
2000 John Olerud has a game-tying double disallowed in the top of the sixth inning when first base umpire Jim Wolf had called time before the pitch because a baseball had come out into fair territory from the visitors’ bullpen. The Mariner first baseman’s disappointment is short-lived after he hits Brian Meadow’s 1-0 pitch for a three-run homer, giving Seattle a 4-2 lead in their eventual victory over the Padres at Qualcomm Stadium.
2000 Major League owners vote on returning to an unbalanced schedule (teams play more games against teams in their division) than the presently used scheme of playing approximately the same number of games against all clubs within the league. The American League has used a balanced slate since 1977, and the National League started in 1993.
2000 A report presented to owners, The Commissioner’s Initiative: Women and Baseball, finds women make up 46 percent of the average crowd at a big-league game and urges teams to market more to women patrons. According to the same study, forty-three percent of women could not name a player on their home team’s roster.
2001 Bobby Valentine wins his 1,000th career game as a manager when Glendon Rusch and closer Armando Benitez combine to throw a one-hitter in the Mets’ 2-0 victory over the Red Sox. Trot Nixon’s first-inning bunt single, resulting from the New York starter’s inability to cover first base, is Boston’s only hit in the Shea Stadium contest.
2002 Nelson Barrera, Mexico’s career home run and RBI leader, is electrocuted trying to free metal roofing from high-tension wires. The 44-year-old ‘Admiral,’ who hit 455 home runs during his 26-year Mexican Baseball League tenure, had hoped to continue playing to be the career Triple Crown by reaching the career hit record.
2004 Houston fires Jimy Williams and names Phil Garner, a former Astro, as the interim manager through the rest of the season. The 60-year-old former skipper, who had a .515 (215-197) winning percentage in his three years at the helm, including this season’s 44-44 record, was roundly booed by the hometown Minute Maid Park crowd at yesterday’s All-Star Game.
2005 Defeating their historical arch-rivals, the Giants become the first team to win 10,000 games as a franchise by edging the Dodgers in LA, 4-3. The Giants, who started as the New York Gothams in 1899, have posted a 10,000-8,511 record during the club’s 123 seasons in the National League.
2005 The first-known baseball card, part of a children’s educational game, illustrating several boys playing together in a field as one tosses a ball to another holding a bat, makes its public debut at the Smithsonian Institution. The discovery of the historical card in a Maine attic dates back to the early 19th century, predating other known cards by several decades.
2008 Josh Hamilton, including going deep 13 consecutive times, hits a record-setting 28 home runs in the first round of the Home Run Derby but falls short in the finals, losing to Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, 5-3. With 71-year-old former coach Clay Council pitching, the Rangers outfielder breaks Bobby Abreu’s mark of 24 set in 2005.
2009 The American League extends its unbeaten streak to 13 games (12-0-1) with a 4-3 victory over the NL at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Rays’ outfielder Carl Crawford, who robs Brad Hawpe of a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning, is named the MVP of the Midsummer Classic.
2009 In his White Sox jacket, Barack Obama becomes the first Commander-in-Chief to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in the Midsummer Classic since Gerald Ford tossed the ball at the beginning of the 1976 contest. After warming up in the White House Rose Garden before arriving at Busch Stadium, the 44th president’s pitch barely reaches the plate without bouncing, thanks to Cardinals’ hometown hero Albert Pujols, who moves up from home and reaches out to scoop the low throw.
2010 The Blue Jays trade shortstop Alex Gonzalez and minor leaguers Tim Collins and Tyler Pastornicky to the Braves for infielder Yunel Escobar and southpaw Jo-Jo Reyes. The Braves’ new infielder is probably best known for his role in Florida’s improbable World Series win over New York, which includes a walk-off home run in the 12th inning of Game Four, giving the Marlins a 4-3 victory and a 2-2 tie in the Fall Classic.
2011 Reggie Walton, the presiding judge in the Roger Clemens perjury case, declares a mistrial due to evidence revealed to the jury he believed would be prejudicial against the former major league right-hander. During the brief two days of the proceedings, the U.S. District Judge had scolded prosecutors twice during the trial for violating his orders not to reveal specific evidence to the jury, saying their non-compliance could jeopardize the whole case.
2011 At the Rogers Centre, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the Yankees’ 16-7 loss to Toronto, appear together in their 1,660th regular-season game, the most for two players in franchise history. Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri had set the previous team mark in 1937.
2012 Antonio Mendez’s bronze statue of Jim Palmer becomes the third sculpture in a series of six unveiled at Camden Yards this season, joining the likenesses of Frank Robinson and Earl Weaver at the ballpark’s Legends Park. The three-time Cy Young Award winner pitched for 19 seasons for the Orioles, winning 268 regular-season games.
2013 Chris Davis ties Reggie Jackson’s 1969 American League record for home runs before the All-Star break when he hits his 37th round-tripper, the best in the majors, in the Orioles’ 7-4 victory against Toronto at Camden Yards. The Baltimore first baseman ends the first half with home runs in his last four games, the same way he started the season.
2015 Before the 86th All-Star Game at the Great American Ball Park, MLB announces the selection of Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Sandy Koufax, and Willie Mays as the sport’s greatest living players. The pregame program also unveils the fans’ choices of the “Franchise Four,” naming impactful players who best represent each franchise, including the hometown Reds with Johnny Bench, Barry Larkin, Joe Morgan, and Pete Rose, who receives a loud ovation from the Cincinnati fans.
2018 Following a lackluster 8-2 home loss to the Reds at Busch Stadium, the third-place Cardinals (47-46) dismiss Mike Matheny 93 games into his seventh season as the team’s manager. The unexpected departure of the 48-year-old Redbird’s skipper, who replaced future Hall of Famer Tony La Russa in 2011, marks the franchise’s first in-season managerial change in two decades.
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
TED WILLIAMS
Left Fielder
Ted Williams always knew what he wanted. Others could debate who was the best all-around player in baseball history. But Williams was a hitter.
“All I want out of life is that when I walk down the street folks will say, ‘There goes the greatest hitter that ever lived,'” Williams said.
Mission accomplished. The debate will rage forever, but the question of “greatest hitter” will always include the the longtime Red Sox left fielder.
Williams won six batting titles, but that doesn’t really explain his mastery at the plate. Thanks to an excellent batting eye, Williams led the American League in on-base percentage 12 times overall, including each season he played from 1940-49, when he missed three full years due to his service in the Marines. His .482 career on-base percentage is the best of all time.
Williams also led the AL in home runs four times, and his .634 career slugging percentage is second to only Babe Ruth.
In his third big league season in 1941, Williams hit .406 – becoming the last big leaguer to reach the .400 mark. He entered the final day of the season with a batting average of .3995, which would be rounded up to .400 in the final averages. But Williams insisted on playing in the final day’s doubleheader against the Philadelphia Athletics, going 6-for-8 to reach the .400 mark with points to spare.
Williams won the AL Triple Crown in 1942 with 36 home runs, 137 RBI and a .356 batting average. He then spent three years serving his country during World War II as a pilot instructor. He returned to the big leagues in 1946, helping Boston win the AL pennant and winning the league’s Most Valuable Player Award. In 1947, Williams again won the league’s Triple Crown.
Then in 1949, Williams won his second MVP – missing out on a third Triple Crown when the Tigers’ George Kell edged him in the batting title race by .00016 points.
In 1950, Williams was hitting .321 with 25 home runs and 83 RBI through 70 games at the All-Star Break when he fractured his elbow in the All-Star Game while catching a liner off the bat of Ralph Kiner. The injury cost Williams about a third of the season, though he still finished with 28 home runs, 97 RBI and a .317 batting average.
Early in the 1952 season – a the height of the Korean War – Williams was recalled to duty by the Marines, who were in desperate need of pilots. He served in Korea for more than a year, flying combat missions in a Marine fighter jet and missing most of the 1952 and 1953 seasons.
Williams was an all-star in every non-military interrupted season after his rookie campaign, totaling 19 All-Star Game selections. He hit .388 in his age-38 season in 1957 to lead the big leagues, then followed that up with another batting title in 1958 with a .328 mark.
In his final season, 1960, as a 41-year-old, he hit .316 with 29 home runs.
Williams retired following the 1960 season, hitting a home run in his final at-bat on Sept. 28, 1960. He finished his career with a .344 batting average, 521 home runs, 2,021 walks and 1,839 RBI.
Williams was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966 and served as the manager of the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers franchise from 1969-72.
He passed away on July 5, 2002.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
McGinnis Joins with Indians: One Professional Football Team will be put in field in Akron
The article states that 6 cities were represented at a meeting of professional footballers in Canton, Ohio. Cleveland, Youngstown, Massillon, Columbus, Akron and Canton were all represented and intentions of participation were sent by teams from Toledo and Dayton who were unable to attend the Monday evening meeting. A second meeting scheduled for Wednesday July 16 in Akron would be for scheduling games in the Ohio League. The article says this would be the first time that teams would play under scheduled games and that the winner of the Ohio League would be crowned World Champions.
July 14, 1951 – A horse race, the Hollywood Gold Cup, on CBS became the very first color television transmission of a sporting event. It wouldn’t be long before the wonderful technicolors of the gridiron would light up the boxes in living rooms around the country.
July 14, 1985 – The last game for the start up USFL was played in exciting fashion as the Balltimore Stars defeated the Oakland Invaders by the score of 28-24 in the League’s Championship game at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey according to the News in Patterson, New Jersey. Quarterback Bobby Hebert had a solid game for the Invaders and the thought was that many NFL suitors would be clamoring for his services.
July 14, 2020 – The Cleveland Browns ink Miles Garrett to a 5 year $125 million contract extension that will keep the prolific pass rusher in Cleveland until he reaches 30 years old.
Hall of Fame Birthdays for July 14
July 14, 1911 – Carrollton, Mississippi – Riley Smith is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame as a quarterback out of the University or Alabama. In the late 1930’s Mr. Riley served as the QB for the Washington Redskins in the NFL. He later became the head coach at Washington and Lee University for their football program.
July 14, 1922 – Honolulu, Hawaii – Robert Olds played tackle on both the Offense and the Defense for Army in the 1940’s. His stellar play gave him entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985. His play in 1942 earned him ” Player of the Year” by Grantland Rice and “Lineman of the Year” in Collier’s Weekly magazine. per the National Football Foundation, Mr. Olds famously returned to a game with a cheering crowd after earlier losing multiple teeth while making a tackle in the Army-Navy game of 1942.
July 14, 1928 – Hamlin, Texas – Brad Rowland was a halfback out of McMurry University in Abilene, Texas that was selected to enter the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 according to the National Football Foundation. He was voted as an All-American player twice in his college career. After graduation Mr. Rowland played for the Chicago Bears.
July 14, 1971 – Mount Gilead, Ohio – Bill Royce is a former college defensive End from Ashland University who was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016 per the National Football Foundation. Mr. Royce set an NCAA record during his college career with 71 sacks.
FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
HUNK ANDERSON
Position: Guard
Years: 1918-1921
Place of Birth: Tamrack, MI
Date of Birth: Sep 22, 1898
Place of Death: West Palm Beach, FL
Date of Death: Apr 24, 1978
Jersey Number: 21
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
High School: Calumet, MI (Calumet HS)
Called by Knute Rockne as “the greatest lineman he ever coached,” Heartley “Hunk” Anderson was a four-year starter at Notre Dame. Playing on Rockne’s first team in 1918, Anderson blocked for the immortal George Gipp. After a 3- 1-2 freshman season, Anderson was a member of two undefeated teams in 1919 and 1920. The Irish won 20 consecutive games before being upset by Iowa in 1921. As a senior, Anderson gained first-team All-America status. Against Purdue he blocked two punts and recovered them in the end zone. It was the first time in history a guard had scored two touchdowns in a game. (The feat was matched in 1942 when Alex Agase, a guard for Illinois, scored twice against Minnesota.) During his four varsity seasons, Notre Dame posted a 31-2-2 record. After a four-year career with the Chicago Bears, “Hunk” returned to Notre Dame where he was a line coach under Rockne and later head coach upon Rockne’s death in 1931. In three seasons Anderson’s teams had a 16-9-2 record. A fitting tribute to Anderson was written by Grantland Rice who noted that “pound for pound Anderson was the toughest man I have ever known.”
SPORTS NUMBERS
5 – 9 – 17 – 2 – 44 – 40
July 14, 1916 – St Louis Browns ace Ernie Koob pitched every single frame of a 17 inning game. Koob gave up 14 hits in a 0-0 tie versus the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. It was a no-decision after all of that work, but Koob in essence cost himself and his team the victory by a boo-boo he made on the basepaths. A Sabr.org article tells of Ernie’s baserunning blunder in the 15th and how it cost him the victory. Koob tried to advance from second base to home on Ward Miller’s hit and ran over pitcher Carl Mays at the plate. Mays ended up injured in the collision and left the game. The initial call was that Koob was declared safe by home-plate umpire Brick Owens. The ump reversed his call when Red Sox players protested and made him aware that Koob had failed to touch third base in his trip home. Perhaps Koob’s gaffe was not that all that unexpected as he had little experience on the basepaths. A notoriously poor hitter, Koob went 0-for-41 in 1916; however, he did draw 15 walks and scored four times.
July 14, 1946 – Cleveland’s Lou Boudreau, wearing Number 5 hit 4 doubles and a Homerun, but still the Red Sox overcame and prevailed in an 11-10 win powered by Sox player Number 9, Ted Williams 3 homeruns and 8 total RBIs in the contest.
July 14, 1956 – Boston Red Sox pitcher Mel Parnell, Number 17 tosssed a gem of a no-hit game against the Chicago White Sox, for a 4-0 Red Sox victory at Fenway Park.
July 14, 1964 – I am not sure if I would ever want to be in the starting line up if I was Bob Johnson, Number 2 of the Baltimore Orioles. Johnson’s ripped hi 6th straight hit as a pinch hitter for Baltimore.
July 14, 1968 – Atlanta Braves legendary hitter, Hank Aaron, Number 44 reached a milestone in his career swatted his 500th HR off the San Francisco Giants pitcher Mike McCormick, Number 40.
TV SPORTS FRIDAY
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| Champions Tour: Kaulig Companies Championship | 1:30pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: Barbasol Championship | 4:00pm | GOLF |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| San Diego at Philadelphia | 6:05pm | NBCS-PHI Bally Sports |
| Miami at Baltimore | 7:05pm | MASN/2 Bally Sports |
| San Francisco at Pittsburgh | 7:05pm | NBCS-BAY ATTSN-PIT |
| Arizona at Toronto | 7:07pm | Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| LA Dodgers at NY Mets | 7:05pm | Spectrum SNY |
| Milwaukee at Cincinnati | 7:10pm | Bally Sports |
| Chi. White Sox at Atlanta | 7:20pm | NBCS-CHI Bally SPorts |
| Boston at Chi. Cubs | 8:05pm | NESN MARQ |
| Cleveland at Texas | 8:05pm | Bally Sports |
| Tampa Bay at Kansas City | 8:10pm | Bally Sports |
| Washington at St. Louis | 8:15pm | Bally Sports MASN/2 |
| NY Yankees at Colorado | 8:40pm | YES ATTSN-RM |
| Houston at LA Angels | 9:38pm | MLBN Bally Sports ATTSN-SW |
| Minnesota at Oakland | 9:40pm | NBCS-CA Bally Sports |
| Detroit at Seattle | 10:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports Root Sports |
| NBA SUMMER LEAGUE | TIME ET | TV |
| LA Clippers vs. Philadelphia | 4:30pm | NBATV |
| Oklahoma City vs. Washington | 5:00pm | ESPNU |
| Dallas vs. Indiana | 6:30pm | NBATV |
| Boston vs. New York | 7:00pm | ESPN2 |
| San Antonio vs. Detroit | 8:30pm | NBATV |
| Miami vs. vs. Denver | 9:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Memphis vs. LA Lakers | 10:30pm | NBATV |
| Utah vs. Phoenix | 11:00pm | ESPN2 |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| Canadian Premier League: York United vs Pacific | 7:30pm | FS2 |
| Liga MX: Mazatlán vs Monterrey | 9:00pm | VIX |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Wimbledon | 8:00am | ESPN |
| Wimbledon | 11:00am | ESPN |
TV SPORTS SATURDAY
| BOXING | TIME ET | TV |
| Lightweights: Frank Martin vs. Artem Harutyunyan | 10:00pm | Showtime |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| Champions Tour: Kaulig Companies Championship | 12:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: Barbasol Championship | 4:00pm | GOLF |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| San Diego at Philadelphia | 1:05pm | NBCS-PHI Bally Sports |
| Boston at Chi. Cubs | 2:20pm | NESN MARQ |
| Arizona at Toronto | 3:07pm | Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Cleveland at Texas | 4:05pm | FS1 Bally Sports |
| San Diego at Philadelphia | 7:05pm | MLBN NBCS-PHI Bally Sports |
| Miami at Baltimore | 7:05pm | MASN/2 Bally Sports |
| San Francisco at Pittsburgh | 7:05pm | NBCS-BAY ATTSN-PIT |
| Minnesota at Oakland | 7:07pm | NBCS-CA Bally Sports |
| Milwaukee at Cincinnati | 7:10pm | Bally Sports |
| Tampa Bay at Kansas City | 7:10pm | Bally Sports |
| LA Dodgers at NY Mets | 7:15pm | FOX Spectrum SNY |
| Chi. White Sox at Atlanta | 7:15pm | FOX NBCS-CHI Bally SPorts |
| Washington at St. Louis | 7:15pm | Bally Sports MASN/2 |
| NY Yankees at Colorado | 8:10pm | YES ATTSN-RM |
| Houston at LA Angels | 9:07pm | MLBN Bally Sports ATTSN-SW |
| Detroit at Seattle | 9:40pm | MLBN Bally Sports Root Sports |
| MMA | TIME ET | TV |
| UFC Bantamweights: Holly Holm vs. Mayra Bueno Silva | 10:00pm | ESPN |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| Xfinity: Ambetter Health 200 | 3:00pm | USA |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| Brasileirão: Botafogo vs RB Bragantino | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: América Mineiro vs Vasco da Gama | 5:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Liga MX: Atlético San Luis vs Querétaro | 7:00pm | VIX |
| MLS: Atlanta United vs Orlando City SC | 7:30pm | FS1 |
| MLS: Cincinnati vs Nashville SC | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| MLS: CF Montréal vs Charlotte | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| MLS: New England vs DC United | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| MLS: Philadelphia Union vs New York City | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| Brasileirão: Corinthians vs Grêmio | 8:00pm | Paramount+ |
| MLS: Austin vs Sporting KC | 8:30pm | Apple TV |
| MLS: Chicago Fire vs Toronto FC | 8:30pm | Apple TV |
| MLS: Minnesota United vs Los Angeles FC | 8:30pm | Apple TV |
| MLS: St. Louis City vs Inter Miami | 8:30pm | Apple TV |
| Liga MX: América vs Puebla | 9:00pm | – |
| MLS: Colorado Rapids vs Houston Dynamo | 9:30pm | Apple TV |
| MLS: Real Salt Lake vs New York RB | 9:30pm | Apple TV |
| MLS: Portland Timbers vs Columbus Crew | 10:30pm | Apple TV |
| MLS: Seattle Sounders FC vs Dallas | 10:30pm | Apple TV |
| MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps vs LA Galaxy | 10:30pm | Apple TV |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Wimbledon Women’s Final | 9:00am | ESPN |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| WNBA All-Star Game | 8:30pm | ABC |