“THE SCOREBOARD”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MIAMI 5 HOUSTON 1
ATLANTIC 11 NY YANKEES 3
ST. LOUIS 7 OAKLAND 5
BALTIMORE 4 SAN DIEGO 1
TAMPA BAY 10 SAN FRANCISCO 2
TEXAS 12 LA ANGELS 0
KANSAS CITY 7 SEATTLE 6
NY METS 7 PITTSBURGH 2
COLORADO 6 ARIZONA 4
BOX SCORES: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/scoreboard.asp
STATS: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/index.asp
PLAYER NEWS: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/news.asp
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
AP PRE-SEASON COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL
- GEORGIA
- MICHIGAN
- OHIO STATE
- ALABAMA
- LSU
- USC
- PENN STATE
- FLORIDA STATE
- CLEMSON
- WASHINGTON
- TEXAS
- TENNESSEE
- NOTRE DAME
- UTAH
- OREGON
- KANSAS STATE
- TCU
- OREGON STATE
- WISCONSIN
- OKLAHOMA
- NORTH CAROLINA
- OLE MISS
- TEXAS A&M
- TULANE
- IOWA
OTHERS: TEXAS TECH (101) , SOUTH CAROLINA (73) , UCLA (66) , UTSA (64) , ARKANSAS (22) , BOISE STATE (17) , PITTSBURGH (16) , KENTUCKY (14) , KANSAS (10) , LOUISVILLE (10) , TROY (10) , AUBURN (7) , MINNESOTA (6) , DUKE (4) , TOLEDO (4) , FLORIDA (4) , MISSISSIPPI STATE (4) , ILLINOIS (3) , BAYLOR (3) , COASTAL CAROLINA (3) , NORTH CAROLINA STATE (1) , JAMES MADISON (1) , LIBERTY (1) , SOUTH ALABAMA (1)
WNBA
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
INDIANA VOLLEYBALL PRE-SEASON POLLS
CLASS 4A (FIRST PLACE VOTES IN PARENTHESES)
1. HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN – 242 (22)
2. YORKTOWN – 157 (1)
3. MCCUTCHEON – 93 (1)
4. RONCALLI – 77
T-5. BREBEUF – 72
T-5. BROWNSBURG – 72 (1)
7. CARMEL – 69
8. CATHEDRAL – 67
9. FISHERS – 50
10. CENTER GROVE – 47
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: NORTH CENTRAL 41, CASTLE 40 (1), FW CARROLL 38, FLOYD CENTRAL 38, AVON 34, HOMESTEAD 33, WESTFIELD 33, CROWN POINT 29, NOBLESVILLE 25, ZIONSVILLE 19, LAPORTE 14, WARSAW 14, LAWRENCE NORTH 12, COLUMBIA CITY 11, PENN 10, PERRY MERIDIAN 9, EVANSVILLE NORTH 8, SNIDER 8, TERRE HAUTE NORTH 8, BLOOMINGTON NORTH 7, COLUMBUS EAST 7, PLAINFIELD 6, COLUMBUS NORTH 5, MISHAWAKA 5, VALPARAISO 5, LAKE CENTRAL 4, PENDLETON HEIGHTS 4, RILEY 4, REITZ 3, EV. HARRISON 3, FRANKLIN CENTRAL 3, MARTINSVILLE 2, SEYMOUR 1, WARREN CENTRAL 1.
CLASS 3A (FIRST PLACE VOTES IN PARENTHESES)
1. PROVIDENCE – 83 (6)
2. BELLMONT – 67 (2)
3. ANGOLA – 57 (1)
4. WESTERN BOONE – 55 (1)
5. SILVER CREEK – 41 (1)
6. BARR-REEVE – 33
7. NEW CASTLE – 27
T-8. NORTHWOOD – 26
T-8. BISHOP DWENGER – 26
10. BENTON CENTRAL – 23
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: NORTHVIEW 22, CONCORDIA LUTHERAN 19, BISHOP CHATARD 19 (1), HERITAGE 18, NEW PRAIRIE 18, GUERIN CATHOLIC 18, TRI-WEST 15, WEST LAFAYETTE 15, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 13, BISHOP NOLL 12, MARIAN 12, LAWRENCEBURG, CULVER ACADEMY 10 (1), MT. VERNON (POSEY) 10, GREENSBURG 9, HAMILTON HEIGHTS 7, LEO 6, SALEM 6, BOONE GROVE 5, WOODLAN 4, CALUMET 4, CHARLESTOWN 4, HANOVER CENTRAL 3, MISSISSINEWA 3, NORTH HARRISON 3, WAWASEE 3, GRIFFITH 2, MATER DEI 2, GIBSON SOUTHERN 1, LEBANON 1, MONROVIA 1, ST. JOSEPH 1, EV. MEMORIAL 1.
CLASS 2A (FIRST PLACE VOTES IN PARENTHESES)
1. WAPAHANI – 96 (7)
2. ANDREAN – 76 (2)
3. LINTON-STOCKTON – 62
4. SCECINA – 45
5. LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC – 39
6. MUNCIE BURRIS – 31 (1)
7. WES-DEL – 27
8. PIONEER – 24
9. SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) – 21
10. PARK TUDOR – 18
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: MADISON-GRANT 17, SOUTH ADAMS 14, ALEXANDRIA 13, BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 12, COVENANT CHRISTIAN (IND.) 11 (1), WABASH 10, MITCHELL 9, NORTH DECATUR 8, NORTH JUDSON 8, CASCADE 6, HAGERSTOWN 6, HAUSER 6, NORTH DAVIESS 5, WHEELER 5, ADAMS CENTRAL 4, SULLIVAN 4, BISHOP LUERS 3, NORTHEASTERN 3, SEEGER 3, TIPTON 3, BLACKFORD 2, CHURUBUSCO 2, COVINGTON 2, PARKE HERITAGE 2, WHITKO 2, WINCHESTER 2, ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 1, LAVILLE 1, NORTH POSEY 1, UNION CO. 1.
CLASS 1A (FIRST PLACE VOTES IN PARENTHESES)
1. BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN – 115 (8)
2. TECUMSEH – 80 (2)
3. SOUTHWOOD – 49
4. LOOGOOTEE – 48
5. SPRINGS VALLEY – 47 (2)
6. TRINITY LUTHERAN – 44
7. DALEVILLE – 37
8. SOUTH NEWTON – 33
9. MARQUETTE CATHOLIC – 31
10. IND. LUTHERAN – 29
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: FAITH CHRISTIAN 22 (1), FRONTIER 19, TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN 19, WOOD MEMORIAL 14, KOUTS 12, NORTHEAST DUBOIS 12, RIVET 12, COVENANT CHRISTIAN (DEMOTTE) 11, GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 11, TRI-CENTRAL 10 (1), SETON CATHOLIC 9, COWAN 8, EDINBURGH 8, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 8, MORRISTOWN 7, INDIANA DEAF 6, OLDENBURG 6, TRI 6, ANDERSON PREP 5, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 5, DUGGER UNION 5, WEST WASHINGTON 5, BLOOMFIELD 4, ELKHART CHRISTIAN 4, LAKELAND CHRISTIAN 4, BLUE RIVER VALLEY 3, CENTRAL CHRISTIAN 3, MORGAN TOWNSHIP 3, TRITON 3, JAC-CEN-DEL 2, LANESVILLE 2, ROSSVILLE 2, WALDRON 2, WESTVILLE 2, CLAY CITY 1, CLINTON CENTRAL 1, TRI-COUNTY 1.
INDIANA BOYS WEEK 1 SOCCER POLLS
3A
- CARMEL
- NOBLESVILLE
- ZIONSVILLE
- FISHERS
- COLUMBUS NORTH
- HAMILTON SE
- BROWNSBURG
- LAKE CENTRAL
- PIKE
- CASTLE
- BLOOMINGTON SOUTH
- PENN
- CATHEDRAL
- GOSHEN
- HOBART
- CENTER GROVE
- CHESTERTON
- NORTHRIDGE
- ELKHART
- MUNSTER
2A
- BREBEUF JESUIT
- EV. MEMORIAL
- MISHAWAKA MARIAN
- WEST LAFAYETTE
- CANTERBURY
- SB ST. JOSEPH
- HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (INDPLS)
- SPEEDWAY
- PROVIDENCE
- GUERIN CATHOLIC
- CULVER ACADEMIES
- WASHINGTON COMMUNITY
- BREMEN
- BISHOP DWENGER
- BISHOP NOLL
- HERITAGE HILLS
- ILLIANA CHRISTIAN
- BISHOP CHATARD
- NORTHWOOD
- CASCADE
1A
1. PARK TUDOR
2. WESTVIEW
3. COVENANT CHRISTIAN (INDPLS)
4. UNIVERSITY
5. FAITH CHRISTIAN
6. BETHANY CHRISTIAN
7. SWITZERLAND COUNTY
8. GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN
9. FOREST PARK
10. WHEELER
11. CARROLL (FLORA)
12. KOUTS
13. SOUTH KNOX
14. OLDENBURG ACADEMY
15. BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN
16. SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBY)
17. NORTH WHITE
18. BETHESDA CHRISTIAN
19. SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER)
20. PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY
INDIANA GIRLS WEEK 1 SOCCER POLLS
3A
1. CARMEL
2. NOBLESVILLE
3. HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN
4. CASTLE
5. HOMESTEAD
6. ZIONSVILLE
7. SAINT JOSEPH
8. CENTER GROVE
9. CATHEDRAL
10. CROWN POINT
11. BLOOMINGTON SOUTH
12. EAST CENTRAL
13. BROWNSBURG
14. FISHERS
15. PENN
16. REITZ
17. CHESTERTON
18. VALPARAISO
19. CARROLL (FW)
20. WESTFIELD
2A
1. EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL
2. LEO
3. MISHAWAKA MARIAN
4. CHATARD
5. BREBEUF
6. GUERIN CATHOLIC
7. BELLMONT
8. WEST LAFAYETTE
9. BISHOP DWENGER
10. LAWRENCEBURG
11. WASHINGTON
12. HANOVER CENTRAL
13. HAMILTON HEIGHTS
14. MONROVIA
15. TRI WEST
16. NORTHWOOD
17. WESTERN
18. BATESVILLE
19. GIBSON SOUTHERN
20. SILVER CREEK
1A
1. PARK TUDOR
2. MATER DEI
3. FW CANTERBURY
4. HERITAGE CHRISTIAN
5. PROVIDENCE
6. ANDREAN
7. FAITH CHRISTIAN
8. FOREST PARK
9. EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN
10. COVENANT CHRISTIAN
11. SWITZERLAND COUNTY
12. OLDENBURG
13. TRINITY
14. ILLIANA CHRISTIAN
15. WESTVIEW
16. TIPTON
17. ARGOS
18. MUNCIE BURRIS
19. DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN
20. CASCADE
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY POLLS
GIRLS
- CARMEL
- FORT WAYNE CARROLL
- HOMESTEAD
- NORTH CENTRAL
- NOBLESVILLE
- PENN
- WARSAW
- HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN
- BLOOMINGTON SOUTH
- FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA
- ZIONSVILLE
- FRANKLIN CENTRAL
- EAST NOBLE
- VALPARAISO
- MORGAN TOWNSHIP
- WESTFIELD
- GUERIN CATHOLIC
- FLOYD CENTRAL
- BROWNSBURG
- COLUMBUS NORTH
- CORYDON
- LAKE CENTRAL
- BREBUEF
- FRANKLIN COMMUNITY
- EDGEWOOD
BOYS
- CARMEL
- NOBLESVILLE
- FISHERS
- ZIONSVILLE
- BROWNSBURG
- FRANKLIN CENTRAL
- LAKE CENTRAL
- FLOYD CENTRAL
- PENN
- BLOOMINGTON NORTH
- CENTER GROVE
- WARSAW
- NORTHRIDGE
- BLOOMINTON SOUTH
- VALPARAISO
- FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA
- HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN
- NORTH CENTRAL
- COLUMBUS NORTH
- AVON
- GREENFIELD CENTRAL
- MT VERNON
- HOMESTEAD
- EVANSVILLE RIETZ
- BREBEUF
INDIANA FOOTBALL-CENTRAL INDIANA’S TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH:
QB TYLER CHERRY, CENTER GROVE, SR.
QB D.J. GORDON, PARK TUDOR, SR.
QB THOMAS GOTKOWSKI, BEN DAVIS, SR.
QB BRYSON LUTER, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, SR.
QB DANNY O’NEIL, CATHEDRAL, SR.
QB MASON REYNOLDS, AVON, SR.
QB JACE STUCKEY, TRITON CENTRAL, SR.
QB JACKSON WILLIS, LUTHERAN, JR.
RB ALIJAH PRICE, BEN DAVIS, JR.
RB GARRETT SHERRELL, BROWNSBURG, SR.
RB JALEN ALEXANDER, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, SR.
RB KHOBIE MARTIN, FISHERS, SR.
RB LOGAN SHOFFNER, NOBLESVILLE, SR.
RB GRAYSON THOMAS, NEW PALESTINE, SR.
OL ADEDAMOLA AJANI, SPEEDWAY, SR.
OL ZACH BANDY, AVON, SR.
OL EVAN LAWRENCE, DANVILLE, SR.
OL RANSOM MCDERMOTT, NOBLESVILLE, SR.
OL IAN MOORE, NEW PALESTINE, SR.
OL STYLES PRESCOD, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, SR.
WR NOAH COY, CENTER GROVE, SR.
WR AHMAAD DUFF, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, SR.
WR DONOVAN HAMILTON, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, SR.
WR EUGENE HILTON, ZIONSVILLE, JR.
WR COREY SMITH, BROWNSBURG, SR.
TE ZACH MEEKS, CATHEDRAL, SR.
DL DANTU GARDNER, LAWRENCE NORTH, SR.
DL MICHAEL THACKER, NEW PALESTINE, JR.
DL DAMIEN SHANKLIN, WARREN CENTRAL, JR.
DL BRADY WOLF, FISHERS, SR.
LB OWEN BRIGHT, CENTER GROVE, SR.
LB NYLAN BROWN, BEN DAVIS, SR.
LB CANNON BRUNES, WESTERN BOONE, SR.
LB SAM FEENEY, BISHOP CHATARD, SR.
DB MASON ALEXANDER, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, JR.
DB JAYON HARVEY, FRANKLIN CENTRAL, SR.
DB HUDAURI HINES, FRANKLIN CENTRAL, SR.
DB CHRISTIAN PETERSON, CARMEL, SR.
DB CADEN VANDERBUSH, PLAINFIELD, SR.
DB MARK ZACKERY, BEN DAVIS, JR.
MONDAY’S TRANSACTIONS
BASEBALL
Major League Baseball
American League
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — Activated 3B Jose Ramirez. Sent RHP Cal Quantrill to Akron (EL) on a rehab assignment.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Optioned OF Bubba Thompson to Omaha (IL).
TAMPA BAY RAYS — Placed SS Wander Franco on the restricted list.
National League
WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Sent RHPs Thaddeus Ward and Carl Edwards Jr. to the Florida Complex League (FCL) on rehab assignments.
FOOTBALL
National Football League
ARIZONA CARDINALS — Activated TE Zach Ertz from the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
BALTIMORE RAVENS — Activated RB J,.K. Dobbins from the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
DENVER BRONCOS — Signed WR J.J. Koski. Waived LB Ray Wilborn.
DETROIT LIONS — Signed WR Avery Avis and C Alex Mollette. Waived WR Trey Quinn with an injury designation.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Activated OL Ben Bartch from the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Signed LS Carson Tinker. Placed DL Henry Mondeaux on injured reserve.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS — Waived RB Larry Rountree.
LOS ANGELES RAMS — Waived S Richard LeCounte.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Waived T Jacky Chen. Signed T Chim Okorafor.
NEW YORK GIANTS — Activated DT D.J. Davidson from the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Placed LB Shaun Bradley on injured reserve, Signed DT Olive Sagapolu.
HOCKEY
Minor League Hockey
ECHL
READING ROYALS — Re-signed D Mike Chen. Signed D Trevor Thurston.
WORCESTER RAILERS — Signed F Quinn Ryan.
SOCCER
MLS NEXT Pro
ORLANDO CITY B — Signed M Gustavo Caraballo to two-year contract.
COLLEGE
PROVIDENCE — Named Dominik Machado assistant men’s soccer coach.
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 1
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
| BOYLE COUNTY (KY.) | AT | GIBSON SOUTHERN | 6:00 PM | ||
| CENTER GROVE | VS. | ST. EDWARD (OHIO) | 12:05 AM | ||
| SOUTHSIDE HOMESCHOOL | AT | PHALEN ACADEMY | 5:00 PM |
BIG 10 WEEKLY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
WEEK 1
MINNESOTA VS. NEBRASKA
THURSDAY, AUG. 31
WISCONSIN VS. BUFFALO
MICHIGAN STATE VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN VS. EAST CAROLINA
PURDUE VS. FRESNO STATE
RUTGERS VS. NORTHWESTERN
INDIANA VS. OHIO STATE
ILLINOIS VS. TOLEDO
MARYLAND VS. TOWSON
IOWA VS. UTAH STATE
PENN STATE VS. WEST VIRGINIA
WEEK 2
MARYLAND VS. CHARLOTTE
PENN STATE VS. DELAWARE
MINNESOTA VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
ILLINOIS AT KANSAS
INDIANA VS. INDIANA STATE
IOWA AT IOWA STATE
NEBRASKA AT COLORADO
PURDUE AT VIRGINIA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. RICHMOND
RUTGERS VS. TEMPLE
MICHIGAN VS. UNLV
NORTHWESTERN VS. UTEP
WISCONSIN AT WASHINGTON STATE
OHIO STATE VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE
WEEK 3
MICHIGAN VS. BOWLING GREEN
WISCONSIN VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
INDIANA VS. LOUISVILLE (IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN)
MINNESOTA AT NORTH CAROLINA
NEBRASKA VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
NORTHWESTERN AT DUKE
ILLINOIS VS. PENN STATE
PURDUE VS. SYRACUSE
MARYLAND VS. VIRGINIA
RUTGERS VS. VIRGINIA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. WASHINGTON
IOWA VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN
OHIO STATE VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY
WEEK 4
INDIANA VS. AKRON
ILLINOIS VS. FLORIDA ATLANTIC
PENN STATE VS. IOWA
NEBRASKA VS. LOUISIANA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. MARYLAND
NORTHWESTERN VS. MINNESOTA
OHIO STATE AT NOTRE DAME
MICHIGAN VS. RUTGERS
PURDUE VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 5
PURDUE VS. ILLINOIS
MARYLAND VS. INDIANA
MINNESOTA VS. LOUISIANA
NEBRASKA VS. MICHIGAN
IOWA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
NORTHWESTERN VS. PENN STATE
RUTGERS VS. WAGNER
WEEK 6
NORTHWESTERN VS. HOWARD
OHIO STATE VS. MARYLAND
MINNESOTA VS. MICHIGAN
ILLINOIS VS. NEBRASKA
IOWA VS. PURDUE
WISCONSIN VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 7
MARYLAND VS. ILLINOIS
MICHIGAN VS. INDIANA
WISCONSIN VS. IOWA
RUTGERS VS. MICHIGAN STATE
PURDUE VS. OHIO STATE
PENN STATE VS. UMASS
WEEK 8
MICHIGAN STATE VS. MICHIGAN
IOWA VS. MINNESOTA
NEBRASKA VS. NORTHWESTERN
OHIO STATE VS. PENN STATE
INDIANA VS. RUTGERS
ILLINOIS VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 9
PENN STATE VS. INDIANA
NORTHWESTERN VS. MARYLAND
MINNESOTA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
WISCONSIN VS. OHIO STATE
NEBRASKA VS. PURDUE
WEEK 10
MINNESOTA VS. ILLINOIS
NORTHWESTERN VS. IOWA (IN CHICAGO, IL)
MICHIGAN STATE VS. NEBRASKA
RUTGERS VS. OHIO STATE
MARYLAND VS. PENN STATE
MICHIGAN VS. PURDUE
INDIANA VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 11
ILLINOIS VS. INDIANA
NEBRASKA VS. MARYLAND
PENN STATE VS. MICHIGAN
OHIO STATE VS. MICHIGAN STATE
PURDUE VS. MINNESOTA
WISCONSIN VS. NORTHWESTERN
IOWA VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 12
IOWA VS. ILLINOIS
MARYLAND VS. MICHIGAN
INDIANA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
OHIO STATE VS. MINNESOTA
WISCONSIN VS. NEBRASKA
NORTHWESTERN VS. PURDUE
PENN STATE VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 13
NEBRASKA VS. IOWA
FRIDAY, NOV. 24
PURDUE VS. INDIANA
RUTGERS VS. MARYLAND
ILLINOIS VS. NORTHWESTERN
MICHIGAN VS. OHIO STATE
MICHIGAN STATE VS. PENN STATE
MINNESOTA VS. WISCONSIN
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
WEEK 0
SATURDAY, AUG. 26
NOTRE DAME VS. NAVY (DUBLIN, IRELAND) | 2:30 P.M. | NBC
MERCER VS. NORTH ALABAMA (MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
JACKSONVILLE STATE VS. UTEP | 5:30 P.M. | CBSSN
NEW MEXICO STATE VS. UMASS | 7 P.M. | ESPN
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. OHIO | 7 P.M. | FS1
VANDERBILT VS. HAWAI’I | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
JACKSON STATE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (ATLANTA, GEORGIA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
USC VS. SAN JOSE STATE | 8 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
LOUISIANA TECH VS. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL | 9 P.M. | CBSSN
WEEK 1
THURSDAY, AUG. 31
WAKE FOREST VS. ELON | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
UCF VS. KENT STATE | 7 P.M. | FS1
GEORGIA STATE VS. RHODE ISLAND | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
WESTERN MICHIGAN VS. ST. FRANCIS (PA) | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
UCONN VS. NC STATE | 7:30 P.M. | CBSSN
MINNESOTA VS. NEBRASKA | 8 P.M. | FOX
MISSOURI VS. SOUTH DAKOTA | 8 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
UTAH VS. FLORIDA | 8 P.M. | ESPN
TULSA VS. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
UAB VS. NORTH CAROLINA A&T | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
ARIZONA STATE VS. SOUTHERN UTAH | 10 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
EASTERN MICHIGAN VS. HOWARD | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
MICHIGAN STATE VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 7 P.M. | FS1
MIAMI (FLA.) VS. MIAMI (OHIO) | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
GEORGIA TECH VS. LOUISVILLE (MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM IN ATLANTA) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
KANSAS VS. MISSOURI STATE | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
HAWAI’I VS. STANFORD | 11 P.M. | CBSSN
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2
IOWA VS. UTAH STATE | 12 P.M. | FS1
KENTUCKY VS. BALL STATE | 12 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
LIBERTY VS. BOWLING GREEN | 12 P.M. | CBSSN
MICHIGAN VS. EAST CAROLINA | 12 P.M. | PEACOCK
PURDUE VS. FRESNO STATE | 12 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SMU VS. LOUISIANA TECH | 12 P.M. | ESPNU
TENNESSEE VS. VIRGINIA (NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE) | 12 P.M. | ABC
TCU VS. COLORADO | 12 P.M. | FOX
BOSTON COLLEGE VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 12 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
OKLAHOMA VS. ARKANSAS STATE | 12 P.M. | ESPN
OLE MISS VS. MERCER | 2 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
IOWA STATE VS. UNI | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
TEMPLE VS. AKRON | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
OHIO VS. LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
AIR FORCE VS. ROBERT MORRIS | 2 P.M. | ALTITUDE SPORTS
OREGON VS. PORTLAND STATE | 3 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
INDIANA VS. OHIO STATE | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
AUBURN VS. UMASS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
MARYLAND VS. TOWSON | 3:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
WISCONSIN VS. BUFFALO | 3:30 P.M. | FS1
WESTERN KENTUCKY VS. SOUTH FLORIDA | 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN
WASHINGTON VS. BOISE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
NOTRE DAME VS. TENNESSEE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | NBC
PITT VS. WOFFORD | 3:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
CINCINNATI VS. EASTERN KENTUCKY | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
TEXAS VS. RICE | 3:30 P.M. | FOX
APPALACHIAN STATE VS. GARDNER-WEBB | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
ARKANSAS VS. WESTERN CAROLINA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. SE LOUISIANA | 4 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
NORTH TEXAS VS. CAL | 4 P.M. | ESPNU
SYRACUSE VS. COLGATE | 4 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCNX
GEORGIA VS. UT MARTIN | 6 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA ATLANTIC VS. MONMOUTH | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. THE CITADEL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
JAMES MADISON VS. BUCKNELL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
MARSHALL VS. ALBANY | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL VS. MAINE | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
USC VS. NEVADA | 6:30 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
TEXAS A&M VS. NEW MEXICO | 7 P.M. | ESPN
UL MONROE VS. ARMY | 7 P.M. | NFL NETWORK
VANDERBILT VS. ALABAMA A&M | 7 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
COLORADO STATE VS. WASHINGTON STATE | 7 P.M. | CBSSN
BAYLOR VS. TEXAS STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
HOUSTON VS. UTSA | 7 P.M. | FS1
KANSAS STATE VS. SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
OKLAHOMA STATE VS. CENTRAL ARKANSAS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
MEMPHIS VS. BETHUNE-COOKMAN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTHERN MISS VS. ALCORN STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
TROY VS. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
ALABAMA VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
ILLINOIS VS. TOLEDO | 7:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NORTH CAROLINA (CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
PENN STATE VS. WEST VIRGINIA | 7:30 P.M. | NBC
WYOMING VS. TEXAS TECH | 7:30 P.M. | CBS
LOUISIANA VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN+
VIRGINIA TECH VS. OLD DOMINION | 8 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
TULANE VS. SOUTH ALABAMA | 8 P.M. | ESPNU
NEW MEXICO STATE VS. WESTERN ILLINOIS | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
UTEP VS. UIW | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
ARIZONA VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA | 10 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
BYU VS. SAM HOUSTON | 10:15 P.M. | FS1
UCLA VS. COASTAL CAROLINA | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. IDAHO STATE | 10:30 P.M. | CBSSN
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3
RUTGERS VS. NORTHWESTERN | 12 P.M. | CBS
SAN JOSE STATE VS. OREGON STATE | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
FLORIDA STATE VS. LSU (ORLANDO, FLORIDA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
MONDAY, SEPT. 4
DUKE VS. CLEMSON | 8 P.M. | ESPN
NFL PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
WEEK 2
THURSDAY, AUGUST 17
CLEVELAND AT PHILADELPHIA, 7:30
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18
CAROLINA AT N.Y. GIANTS, 7:00
CINCINNATI AT ATLANTA, 7:30
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19
JACKSONVILLE AT DETROIT, 1:00
MIAMI AT HOUSTON, 4:00
BUFFALO AT PITTSBURGH, 6:30
CHICAGO AT INDIANAPOLIS, 7:00
TAMPA BAY AT N.Y. JETS, 7:30
KANSAS CITY AT ARIZONA, 8:00
NEW ENGLAND AT GREEN BAY, 8:00
TENNESSEE AT MINNESOTA, 8:00
DENVER AT SAN FRANCISCO, 8:30
LAS VEGAS AT L.A. RAMS, 9:00
DALLAS AT SEATTLE, 10:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20
NEW ORLEANS AT L.A. CHARGERS, 7:05
MONDAY, AUGUST 21
BALTIMORE AT WASHINGTON (ESPN), 8:00
WEEK 3
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24
PITTSBURGH AT ATLANTA, 7:30
INDIANAPOLIS AT PHILADELPHIA (PRIME VIDEO), 8:00
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25
DETROIT AT CAROLINA (CBS), 8:00
NEW ENGLAND AT TENNESSEE, 8:15
L.A. CHARGERS AT SAN FRANCISCO, 10:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26
BUFFALO AT CHICAGO, 1:00
SEATTLE AT GREEN BAY, 1:00
CLEVELAND AT KANSAS CITY, 1:00
ARIZONA AT MINNESOTA, 1:00
N.Y. JETS AT N.Y. GIANTS, 6:00
CINCINNATI AT WASHINGTON, 6:05
MIAMI AT JACKSONVILLE, 7:00
BALTIMORE AT TAMPA BAY, 7:00
LAS VEGAS AT DALLAS, 8:00
L.A. RAMS AT DENVER, 9:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27
HOUSTON AT NEW ORLEANS (FOX), 8:00
WEEK 1 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
DETROIT LIONS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (THU) 7:20P (CT) 8:20P NBC
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
HOUSTON TEXANS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
TENNESSEE TITANS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CHICAGO BEARS 3:25P (CT) 4:25P FOX
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS 2:25P (MT) 4:25P CBS
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P CBS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 4:25P (ET) 4:25P CBS
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P FOX
DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS 8:20P (ET) 8:20P NBC
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW YORK JETS (MON) 8:15P (ET) 8:15P ESPN/ABC
TOP NATIONAL RELEASES/HEADLINES
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GEORGIA BEGINS QUEST FOR 3RD STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP AS NO. 1 IN AP TOP 25. MICHIGAN, OHIO STATE NEXT
Georgia will begin its drive for an unprecedented college football championship three-peat as the No. 1 team in The Associated Press preseason Top 25.
The Bulldogs received 60 of 63 first-place votes in the poll released Monday to easily outpoint No. 2 Michigan, which received two first-place votes and has its best preseason rankings since being No. 2 in 1991. The Wolverines’ Big Ten rival, Ohio State, is No. 3 with one first-place vote.
Two more Southeastern Conference teams join Georgia in the top five. Alabama is No. 4, the Crimson Tide’s lowest preseason ranking in more than a decade, and LSU starts at No. 5, its best preseason ranking since 2016.
The Bulldogs have won the last two national titles while going 29-2, but this will be only the second time in program history they have been preseason No. 1. The first was in 2008.
Georgia started the 2021 season No. 5, before going on to win its first national title since 1980. The Bulldogs followed up with a perfect season in 2022 after being preseason No. 3.
The Bulldogs have had 25 players drafted by NFL teams the last two years, including quarterback Stetson Bennett and All-America defensive tackle Jalen Carter this past April. Coach Kirby Smart has built a program to rival Nick Saban’s Alabama dynasty so voters are now giving Georgia the Crimson Tide treatment.
Alabama had been preseason No. 1 each of the last two seasons, and five of the previous seven. Clemson was preseason No. 1 in the other two seasons, making Georgia the first team other than the Tide or Tigers to be preseason No. 1 since Ohio State in 2015.
Alabama is also the last team to win back-to-back major college football national championships, doing so in 2011 and ’12.
No team has won three straight national titles during the AP poll era, which dates to 1936. For the record, Minnesota, the first official AP champion, was retroactively crowned champion for the 1934 and ’35 seasons by a couple of organizations.
Coach Bernie Bierman’s Gophers from long ago are the closest thing major college football has to a three-peater.
“We have not addressed that with them,” Smart said during SEC media days of chasing college football history. “We’ve certainly looked at some three-peat scenarios of teams like the Bulls and different sports teams that they might actually know about. No offense to the Minnesota 1935 team, but I don’t know if it’s going to resonate with my audience.”
The Bulldogs are reloading on the defensive front and at quarterback, but do not lack for stars. Tight end Brock Bowers is one of the nation’s best players; linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson was a second-team All-American; and center Sedrick Van Pran anchors one of the country’s most talented offensive lines.
Rounding out the top 10 is Southern California at No. 6, which is the Trojans’ best preseason ranking since 2017, followed by Penn State, Florida State, Clemson and Washington.
The Seminoles are back in the preseason rankings for the first time since 2018, and in the top 10 for the first time since 2017.
STARTING ON TOP, STAYING ON TOP
Beware, ‘Dawgs.
Since the AP preseason poll started in 1950, 11 teams that started No. 1 also finished No. 1. Only two of those have occurred since 2000: Southern California in 2004 and Alabama in 2017.
“The threat for us is complacency,” Smart said. “The first thing you have to do is acknowledge that it’s a threat. Like if you acknowledge the complacency is a threat, it’s the first step towards stomping it out.”
TIDE’S OUT … OF THE TOP THREE
For most schools, a preseason No. 4 ranking would feel pretty good.
For Alabama, it feels like a sign of decline. The last time the Crimson Tide had a lower preseason ranking was 2009. That was Year 3 for Saban in Tuscaloosa, and Alabama went on to win the first of six national championships during his unprecedented run.
This preseason poll is the first since 2015 in which the Tide did not receive at least one first-place vote.
The Tide did run its record streak of top-five preseason rankings to 15. Next best in poll history is 11 for Florida State in 1990-2000. Ohio State has had 11 top-five preseason rankings since 2009.
CONFERENCE CALL
Over the last three years, schools have been redrawing the conference maps.
This year, the Big 12 has four new members, the American Athletic Conference has six and Conference USA has four.
The really flashy moves come in 2024.
This season will be the last with Texas and Oklahoma in the Big 12 ( before moving to the SEC ) and maybe the last with a Pac-12 at all. USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington will play in the Big Ten next year while Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah move to the Big 12 as major college football moves toward sprawling super conferences.
Heading into this season the breakdown by conference of teams in the Top 25:
SEC — 6 (Nos. 1, 4, 5, 12, 22, 23).
Big Ten — 5 (Nos. 2, 3, 7, 19, 25).
Pac-12 — 5 (Nos. 6, 10, 14, 15, 18).
Big 12 — 4 (Nos. 11, 16, 17, 20).
ACC — 3 (Nos. 8, 9, 21).
American Athletic — 1 (No. 24).
Independent — 1 (No. 13).
If sorted by next season’s conference alignment the breakdown looks like this:
SEC — 8 (Nos. 1, 4, 5, 11, 12, 20, 22, 23).
Big Ten — 8 (Nos. 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 15, 19, 25).
Big 12 — 3 (Nos. 14, 16, 17).
ACC — 3 (Nos. 8, 9, 21).
Pac-12 — 1 (No. 18 – counts Oregon State as a Pac-12 team).
American Athletic— 1 (No. 24)
Independent — 1 (No. 13).
SCOUTING THE TEAMS IN THE PRESEASON AP TOP 25, FROM GEORGIA TO TEXAS TO IOWA
A look at the preseason AP Top 25 from Georgia to Iowa:
No. 1 Georgia
2022 finish: 15-0, No. 1 final ranking.
Key games: vs. South Carolina, Sept. 16; vs. Florida in Jacksonville, Oct. 28; vs. No. 22 Mississippi, Nov. 11; at No. 12 Tennessee, Nov. 18.
Potential All-Americans: TE Brock Bowers, C Sedrick Van Pran; LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, DB Javon Bullard.
Outlook: The Bulldogs are favored to become the first team in The Associated Press poll era to win three straight national championships. While they must replace QB Stetson Bennett and three first-round NFL draft picks, Georgia is loaded on both sides of the line. The biggest question mark is who will start at quarterback, with Carson Beck appearing to have the inside track.
No. 2 Michigan
2022 finish: 13-1, No. 3.
Key games: at Michigan State, Oct. 21; at No. 7 Penn State, Nov. 11; No. 3 Ohio State.
Potential All-Americans: QB J.J. McCarthy; RB Blake Corum; OG Zak Zinter; CB Will Johnson.
Outlook: The Wolverines are seeking their first national title since 1997 after winning two Big Ten titles and losing in the CFP semifinals twice. McCarthy is in his second season as a starter and has plenty of help with an experienced OL, Corum and RB Donovan Edwards in the backfield. An influx of transfers, including C Drake Nugent (Stanford) and CB Josh Wallace (UMass), help Jim Harbaugh have perhaps his best team in nine years as the coach at his alma mater.
No. 3 Ohio State
2022 finish: 11-2, No. 4.
Key games: at Notre Dame, Sept. 23; vs. No. 7 Penn State, Oct. 23; at No. 2 Michigan, Nov. 25.
Potential All-Americans: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.; WR Emeka Egbuka; DE J.T. Tuilmoloau.
Outlook: The Buckeyes are still stinging after losing to Michigan for the second straight year and then dropping a heartbreaker to eventual national champion Georgia in the College Football Playoff. With QB C.J. Stroud gone, coach Ryan Day must decide on a new starter between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown. Either will have a bevy of weapons and the defense is experienced.
No. 4 Alabama
2022 finish: 11-2, No. 5.
Key games: vs. No. 11 Texas, Sept. 9; vs. No. 12 Tennessee, Oct. 21; vs. No. 5 LSU, Nov. 4; at Auburn, Nov. 25.
Potential All-Americans: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry; LB Dallas Turner; OT JC Latham; PK Will Reichard.
Outlook: Alabama must replace the No. 1 and No. 3 NFL draft picks, QB Bryce Young and LB Will Anderson Jr., and other standouts from a team that failed to make the SEC Championship Game. Talent is still abundant but there remain question marks and room for members from the nation’s top recruiting class to step up. Notre Dame transfer QB Tyler Buchner enters a three-man race to replace Young.
No. 5 LSU
2022 finish: 10-4, No. 16.
Key games: vs. No. 8 Florida State in Orlando, Sept. 3; at No. 22 Mississippi, Sept. 30; at No. 4 Alabama, Nov. 4; vs. No. 23 Texas A&M, Nov. 25.
Potential All-Americans: KLB Harold Perkins; WR Malik Nabers; TE Mason Taylor; DT Mekhi Wingo
Outlook: LSU exceeded expectations in coach Brian Kelly’s first season in Baton Rouge and had a team with new starters across all units. Now the defending SEC West champions enter this season as a national title contender. Most of the prominent players from last season are back and there have been notable additions, including transfers Alabama WR Aaron Anderson and Notre Dame RB Logan Diggs along with DE Dashawn Womack.
No. 6 USC
2022 finish: 11-3, No. 12.
Key games: at No. 13 Notre Dame, Oct. 14; vs. No. 14 Utah, Oct. 21; at No. 15 Oregon, Nov. 11.
Potential All-Americans: QB Caleb Williams; S Calen Bullock; C Justin Dedich.
Outlook: Williams returns with his Heisman Trophy for a second year under Lincoln Riley after the duo returned the Trojans to national prominence in one season. Another fruitful offseason in recruiting and the transfer market has surrounded Williams with a wealth of talent, including new receivers Dorian Singer and Zachariah Branch and freshman TE Duce Robinson. Both lines also look stronger, but Riley needs coordinator Alex Grinch to make strides with the defense.
No. 7 Penn State
2022 finish: 11-2, No. 7.
Key games: vs. No. 25 Iowa, Sept. 23; at No. 3 Ohio State, Oct. 21; vs. No. 2 Michigan, Nov. 11.
Potential All-Americans: LT Olu Fashanu; DE Chop Robinson; DB Kalen King; RB Nick Singleton.
Outlook: The Nittany Lions have been one of the top, but not quite elite, programs in the nation under James Franklin. Playing in the same division as Ohio State and Michigan is a big part of it. The defense could be among the nation’s best. If Penn State wants to leapfrog the Buckeyes or Wolverines, second-year QB Drew Allar is going to have to be as good as advertised. He will need help from unproven receivers and transfer WR Dante Cephus.
No. 8 Florida State
2022 finish: 10-3, No. 11.
Key games: vs No. 5 LSU in Orlando, Florida, Sept. 3; at No. 9 Clemson, Sept. 23; vs. Miami, Nov. 11; at Florida, Nov. 25.
Potential All-Americans: DE Jared Verse; QB Jordan Travis; WR Johnny Wilson; CB Fentrell Cypress II.
Outlook: After nearly a decade out of the national spotlight, Florida State is suddenly a championship contender again. The Seminoles had a number of key players return after winning their final six games last season, including Verse, Travis, Wilson and RB Trey Benson. Travis is a Heisman contender, but the defense needs to find one more level.
No. 9 Clemson
2022 finish: 11-3, No. 13.
Key games vs. No. 8 Florida State, Sept. 23; vs. No. 13 Notre Dame, Nov. 4; vs. No. 21 North Carolina, Nov. 18; at South Carolina, Nov. 25.
Potential All-Americans: RB Will Shipley; LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.; LB Barrett Carter; DT Tyler Davis.
Outlook: Clemson’s best offseason transfer was landing TCU offensive coordinator Garrett Riley to reboot the Tigers’ attack. It’s QB Cade Klubnik’s show now with DJ Uiagalelei off to Oregon State. The defense looks as strong again with DT Tyler Davis passing up the NFL for another season in college and Trotter and Carter perhaps the country’s best linebacking combo.
No. 10 Washington
2022 finish: 11-2, No. 8.
Key games: at Michigan State, Sept. 16; vs. No. 15 Oregon, Oct. 14; at No. 6 USC, Nov. 4; vs. No. 14 Utah, Nov. 11.
Potential All-Americans: QB Michael Penix, Jr.; WR Rome Odunze; DE Bralen Trice.
Outlook: Washington has a legit chance at winning the Pac-12 in its final season in the conference, but will have to navigate a brutal November schedule. Penix will be hard-pressed to top his numbers from last season, but has one of the best wide receiver groups in the country led by Odunze and Jalen McMillan. Trice leads a talented defensive front but the Huskies success will be largely determined by how much the rest of the defense improves.
No. 11 Texas
2022 finish: 8-5, No. 25
Key games: at No. 4 Alabama, Sept. 9; at Baylor, Sept. 25; vs No. 20 Oklahoma in Dallas, Oct. 7; at No. 17 TCU, Nov. 11.
Potential All-Americans: WR Xavier Worthy; LB Jaylan Ford; OT Kelvin Banks.
Outlook: Texas returns 10 starters and the entire offensive line for what should be an explosive offense led by QB Quinn Ewers. The Longhorns are favorites to win their first Big 12 title since 2009 in their last season in the league before heading to the SEC. The biggest question marks are how to replace star RB Bijan Robinson, and the performance of coach Steve Sarkisian, who has never won more than eight games in the regular season.
No. 12 Tennessee
2022 finish: 11-2, No. 6.
Key games: at Florida, Sept. 16; No. 23 Texas A&M, Oct. 14; at No. 4 Alabama, Oct. 21; No. 1 Georgia, Nov. 18.
Potential All-Americans: QB Joe Milton III; WR Ramel Keyton; OL Cooper Mays.
Outlook: The Vols come off their best season since 2001 with the NCAA investigation cloud gone. Coach Josh Heupel has Milton replacing Hendon Hooker, now in the NFL; Milton is going into his third season in the nation’s fastest-operating offense. He also has experienced WRs in Keyton and Bru McCoy and RB Jaylen Wright. The defense added a couple BYU transfers and will be led by senior DL Omari Thomas.
No. 13 Notre Dame
2022 finish: 9-4, No. 18.
Key games: vs. Navy in Dublin, Ireland, Aug. 26; No. 3 Ohio State, Sept. 25; No. 6 Southern California, Oct. 14; at No. 9 Clemson, Nov. 4.
Potential All-Americans: LT Joe Alt; CB Benjamin Morrison; QB Sam Hartman.
Outlook: Hartman’s arrival after a record-breaking career at Wake Forest gives coach Marcus Freeman a more stable quarterback room than he had in his first season in charge. Hartman also has a solid supporting cast with Alt anchoring the line. Seven starters, including Morrison (six interceptions), return on a defense that was ranked No. 22 in yards allowed per game.
No. 14 Utah
2021 finish: 10-4, No. 10.
Key games: vs. Florida, Aug. 31; at No. 6 USC, Oct. 21; vs. No. 15 Oregon, Oct. 28; at No. 10 Washington, Nov. 11.
Potential All-Americans: OL Keaton Bills; DT Junior Tafuna; S Cole Bishop.
Outlook: QB Cam Rising’s rehabbing injury knee will go a long way toward determining if the Utes will win the Pac-12 championship for the third year in a row. A critical piece behind both league titles, Rising tore an ACL in the Rose Bowl loss to Penn State. Utah returns 14 starters overall, and that veteran experience will be necessary facing a daunting schedule.
No. 15 Oregon
2022 finish: 10-3, No. 15.
Key games: at No. 10 Washington, Oct. 14; No. 14 Utah, Oct. 28; No. 6 USC, No. 11; vs. No. 18 Oregon State, Nov. 24.
Potential All-Americans: QB Bo Nix; RB Bucky Irving; DE Brandon Dorlus.
Outlook: The Ducks enter their final season in the Pac-12 looking for a final conference title before a new life in the Big Ten in the second season under Dan Lanning. Nix opted to return for a second season, but will be working with a new offensive coordinator in Will Stein. Irving and a stellar run game will help, but the Ducks need to see a jump defensively.
No. 16 Kansas State
2022 finish: 10-4, No. 14 (final ranking).
Key games: at Missouri, Sept. 16; vs No. 17. TCU, Oct. 24; at No. 11 Texas, Nov. 4.
Potential All-Americans: OG Cooper Beebe; KR Phillip Brooks; TE Ben Sinnott.
Outlook: The defending Big 12 champions must replace RB Deuce Vaughn, one of the best playmakers in school history. They return QB Will Howard and their entire offensive line, and Florida State transfer RB Treshaun Ward will join returning backup DJ Giddens in what should remain one of the league’s best backfields. On defense, the Wildcats must replace first-round pick DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah and two key defensive backs in Josh Hayes and Julius Brents.
No. 17 TCU
2022 finish: 13-2, No. 2.
Key games: vs. Colorado, Sept. 2; at No. 16 Kansas State, Oct. 21; vs. No. 11 Texas, Nov. 11; at No. 20 Oklahoma, Nov. 24.
Potential All-Americans: LB Johnny Hodges; CB Josh Newton.
Outlook: TCU could still be good on offense, even without Heisman Trophy runner-up QB Max Duggan, its top two RBs, top three WRs and coordinator (Garrett Riley) from last season’s national runner-up. Chandler Morris was the starting QB going into last season before getting hurt in the opener. Among transfers the Frogs added were WRs JoJo Earle from Alabama, JP Richardson from Oklahoma State and Jack Bech from LSU; and RB Trey Sanders from Alabama.
No. 18 Oregon State
2022 finish: 10-3, No. 17.
Key games: vs. No. 14 Utah, Sept. 29; vs. No. 10 Washington, Nov. 18; at No. 15 Oregon, Nov. 24.
Potential All-Americans: RB Damien Martinez; LT Joshua Gray; DB Kitan Oladapo.
Outlook: Coach Jonathan Smith inherited a program in shambles when he returned to his alma mater in 2018. It’s taken a few years, but Smith has rebuilt the foundation and the payoff could come this season with a favorable schedule, a high-profile quarterback and a renovated home stadium. Clemson transfer DJ Uiagealelei is likely to be the starting QB and the Beavers’ feisty defense allowed 10 points or fewer to five of their final seven opponents last season.
No. 19 Wisconsin
2022 finish: 7-6, unranked.
Key games: at Purdue, Sept. 22; vs. No. 25 Iowa, Oct. 14; vs. No. 3 Ohio State, Oct. 28; at Minnesota, Nov. 25.
Potential All-Americans: RB Braelon Allen; OT Jack Nelson; LB Maema Njongmeta.
Outlook: Wisconsin enters this season with buzz even after going 7-6 last year due to the hire of former Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell and the arrival of offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Longo has emphasized Wisconsin will continue to run the ball often, but the offense figures to be more balanced with less of the Badgers’ traditional smashmouth approach. Wisconsin added 17 transfers, including former SMU QB Tanner Mordecai and four wide receivers.
No. 20 Oklahoma
2022 finish: 6-7, unranked.
Key games: vs. SMU, Sept. 9; vs. No. 11 Texas in Dallas, Oct. 7; at Oklahoma State, Nov. 4; vs. No. 17 TCU, Nov. 24.
Potential All-Americans: QB Dillon Gabriel; DL Ethan Downs; LB Danny Stutsman.
Outlook: Oklahoma looks to bounce back after Brent Venables led the Sooners to their first losing season since 1998. The Sooners had no problem scoring last season and have plenty of firepower back on offense. The biggest questions are on defense, where coordinator Ted Roof will try to fix what was one of the nation’s worst units.
No. 21 North Carolina
2022 finish: 9-5, unranked.
Key games: vs South Carolina in Charlotte, Sept. 2; vs. Miami, Oct. 14; at No. 9 Clemson, Nov. 18; at North Carolina State, Nov. 25.
Potential All-Americans: QB Drake Maye; LB Cedric Gray.
Outlook: Everything starts with Maye, last year’s Associated Press offensive player of the year for the Atlantic Coast Conference. The offense is expected to be a strength even with the arrival of new coordinator Chip Lindsey. But for UNC to take a step forward, it will need much more from a defense that was adequate at best for a team that reached the ACC title game.
No. 22 Mississippi
2022 finish: 8-5, unranked.
Key games: at No. 4 Alabama, Sept. 23; vs. No. 5 LSU, Sept. 30; at No. 1 Georgia, Nov. 11; at Mississippi State, Nov. 23.
Potential All-Americans: RB Quinshon Judkins; OL Jeremy James.
Outlook: The Rebels are trying to bounce back after losing their last four games and five of six. But Judkins returns to power a running game that ranked third nationally last season. Four-year Oklahoma State starter Spencer Sanders arrives to challenge incumbent Jaxson Dart. Coach Lane Kiffin also brought in defensive coordinator Pete Golding from Alabama.
No. 23 Texas A&M
2022 finish: 5-7, unranked.
Key games: vs. No. 4 Alabama, Oct. 7; at No. 22 Mississippi, Nov. 4; at No. 5 LSU, Nov. 25.
Potential All-Americans: WR Ainias Smith; OL Layden Robinson; DB Demani Richardson.
Outlook: The Aggies look to bounce back in coach Jimbo Fisher’s sixth season after they had their fewest wins since going 4-8 in 2008. Fisher brought in former Louisville and Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino as his offensive coordinator. Quarterbacks Conner Weigman and Max Johnson are vying for the starting job. D.J. Durkin is back for his second years as defensive coordinator with Richardson expected to star for the group loaded with blue-chippers.
No. 24 Tulane
2022 finish: 12-2, No. 9.
Key games: vs. No. 22 Mississippi, Sept. 9; at Memphis, Oct 13; vs. UTSA, Nov. 24 or 25.
Potential All-Americans: QB Michael Pratt; CB Jarius Monroe.
Outlook: Coming off of a Cotton Bowl victory over Southern California, Tulane is the preseason favorite to win the American Athletic Conference. Pratt’s return was crucial for an offense that lost dynamic RB Tyjae Spears. Coach Willie Fritz is optimistic his defense will remain strong despite the departure of LBs Dorian Williams and Nick Anderson to the NFL. Fritz is entering his eighth season with the Green Wave, which has played in four bowl games in the past five years, winning three.
No. 25 Iowa
2022 finish: 8-5, unranked.
Key games: at No. 7 Penn State, Sept. 23; at No. 19 Wisconsin, Oct. 14; vs. Minnesota, Oct. 21; at Nebraska, Nov. 24.
Potential All-Americans: DB Cooper DeJean; P Tory Taylor.
Outlook: All eyes are on beleaguered offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, whose revised contract makes this a make-or-break season for him depending on whether the Hawkeyes can score 325 points. Michigan transfer QB Cade McNamara is an upgrade. Defense and special teams are among Big Ten’s best — again.
NEW COACH AND OFFENSE HAVE NO. 19 WISCONSIN EAGER TO RETURN TO BIG TEN TITLE CONTENTION
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — No. 19 Wisconsin’s uncharacteristic recent struggles have led to a dramatic makeover.
The Badgers have a new coach and offense as the team attempts to bounce back from a 7-6 season and win the Big Ten West in the conference’s last year of divisional competition.
“The pressure’s really on for this team as a whole to start producing,” offensive tackle Jack Nelson said. “We’re excited for that.”
Wisconsin has finished just a game above .500 two of the last three years. Former coach Paul Chryst was fired midway through last season despite owning a 67-26 record. Wisconsin made a splash by landing new coach Luke Fickell, who led Cincinnati to a College Football Playoff berth two seasons ago.
“It has a lot to do with being back in the Big Ten,” said Fickell, a former Ohio State player, assistant coach and interim head coach. “It has to do with the respect I’ve always had playing against and preparing for Wisconsin. Understanding and recognizing what the culture, what I assumed the culture was like from afar. Felt like something that would be really, really in my wheelhouse.”
The head coaching switch is only one of the changes to hit Wisconsin.
A team that traditionally has focused on running the ball should have a much more balanced offense under new coordinator Phil Longo, who succeeded in the same role at Ole Miss and North Carolina with an Air Raid attack. Wisconsin has also added 17 transfers.
New quarterback Tanner Mordecai threw a school-record 72 career touchdown passes at SMU. The arrival of Longo and Mordecai ensures the Badgers won’t have the same old grind-it-out offense they’ve had in years past even as they return running back Braelon Allen, who has rushed for over 1,200 yards both of the last two seasons.
All these changes add plenty of intrigue to a program known for its traditional reliance on smashmouth football.
“Is Wisconsin boring?” Nelson asked. “I wouldn’t say so, but I’ll tell you what isn’t is winning football games. And that’s something we plan to do this year.”
NEW-LOOK OFFENSE
The identity of Wisconsin’s offense is one of the most interesting stories in the Big Ten.
Longo repeatedly has said throughout the offseason that Wisconsin will continue to run the ball. He’s cited the success running backs had during his North Carolina tenure.
Wisconsin has one of the nation’s top returning running backs in Allen and will have a formidable running back tandem if Chez Mellusi stays healthy after injuries limited him to nine games both of the last two seasons.
RESTOCKING AT RECEIVER
Wisconsin boosted its receiving depth in the transfer portal by adding Bryson Green from Oklahoma State, C.J. Williams (Southern California), Will Pauling (Cincinnati) and Quincy Burroughs (Cincinnati).
Mordecai says nobody should overlook Wisconsin’s returning receivers. Chimere Dike heads that group after catching 47 passes for 689 yards last season.
“The guys who have been here kind of have a chip on their shoulder,” Mordecai said. “The media’s written them off as much as anyone else as far as their productivity or what they’ve put on the field, but I don’t think the offense they were in gave them a fair chance to show what they have. I’m especially excited to see those guys perform.”
MISSING LEONHARD
Wisconsin no longer has longtime defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, a former All-American safety for the Badgers who went 4-3 as the interim head coach after Chryst’s dismissal last season. Leonhard instead is working as an analyst at Illinois.
The Badgers annually had one of the nation’s top defenses under Leonhard, who was passed over for the head coaching job when Wisconsin hired Fickell. That puts pressure on new defensive coordinator Mike Tressel, who followed Fickell from Cincinnati.
SCHEDULE
Wisconsin opens Fickell’s tenure by hosting Buffalo on Sept. 2. The Badgers begin Big Ten competition by visiting defending West champion Purdue on Sept. 22. Their only meetings with preseason Top 25 teams are home matchups Oct. 14 vs. No. 25 Iowa and Oct. 28 vs. No. 3 Ohio State.
NEW NEBRASKA COACH MATT RHULE WANTS TO WIN NOW, BUT HE PROMISES TO TAKE NO SHORTCUTS
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Make no mistake, Matt Rhule wants to win and win often in his first season at Nebraska.
The Cornhuskers’ new coach also understands where the team sits in 2023, and he’s taken the program down to the studs with the hope of building it back into the respected national brand it was a generation ago.
“When I think about Nebraska, I just think about that helmet,” Rhule said of the Huskers’ classic white and red headgear. “It’s iconic to me, and it is across college football.”
Rhule said Nebraska — winners of five national championships but none since 1997 — should be in the national discussion year in and year out, and for the right reasons. Talk about Nebraska in recent years has centered on coach Scott Frost’s spectacular failure over four-plus seasons. The Huskers are coming off six straight losing seasons with no bowl appearances. There’s been no Top 25 ranking since 2019, 10 seasons without an appearance in a conference championship game and no league title since 1999.
Athletic director Trev Alberts began pursuing Rhule shortly after the Carolina Panthers fired him as coach last October.
Nebraska is banking on Rhule to orchestrate the kind of turnarounds he did at Temple and Baylor before he left for the NFL. His $74 million, eight-year contract makes him the third highest-paid coach in the Big Ten and among the top 10 nationally.
Rhule said his coaching philosophy is not for everybody. He demands discipline on and off the field, and he has suspended a number of players since spring for not adhering to his standards. The team spent the first two weeks of preseason practice living in cramped on-campus dormitories. Starting safety Myles Farmer decided to transfer and projected starting receiver Zavier Betts quit.
“I don’t want to take shortcuts,” Rhule said. “I don’t want to build something (where) we show everybody a little bit of hope this year, but the next year we take a step back. I want to win, but right now I can’t think about the games. I expect us to do everything right. I expect guys to show up and be on time. So it’s just this mindset of everything matters, everything counts.”
Georgia Tech transfer Jeff Sims won the starting quarterback job in the spring, prompting incumbent Casey Thompson to transfer.
Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield’s system will mix what’s hoped to be a physical run game that includes a fullback with a passing game predicated on intermediate throws.
“It puts me in a lot of different situations and puts me in a greater situation to show off my arm and my ability to pass the ball,” Sims said. “I’m willing to run whenever I need to. I’m going to do it, and I’m going to do it at a high level.”
NEW-LOOK DEFENSE
Defensive coordinator Tony White brought the 3-3-5 base alignment with him from Syracuse, and the idea of using the system in the Big Ten raised eyebrows among fans.
Big Ten offenses, to be sure, have evolved from plodding to more wide open, and that should alleviate concerns about there not being enough heft up front. The four-man front isn’t going away entirely. The 3-3-5 is adaptable, White said, and it allows for more blitzing options and coverage disguises.
“Chaos,” is how linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek described it.
FEELING AT HOME
Though he’s been on the job only nine months, Rhule said he’s comfortable in an environment where Nebraska football is a year-round passion. He has spoken often about putting on the field a team the inspires pride in a fan base that has sold out every home game since 1962.
“You’re not just serving a university. You’re serving an entire state as well,” he said. “That’s a responsibility I take very seriously.”
LOOKING AHEAD
The Huskers’ schedule has them playing their first two games on the road, at Minnesota on Aug. 31 and at Colorado on Sept. 9.
Their toughest crossover game is at home, against No. 2 Michigan, on Sept. 30. Preseason West favorite No. 19 Wisconsin visits Nov. 18 and border rival No. 25 Iowa on Nov. 24.
IOWA STATE’S ISAIAH LEE, WHO IS ACCUSED OF BETTING AGAINST CYCLONES IN A 2021 GAME, LEAVES PROGRAM
AMES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa State defensive lineman accused of wagering on his team’s games, including one where he bet against them Cyclones, has left the program, the school confirmed Monday.
Isaiah Lee, who started all 12 games last season, was among the athletes charged last week in connection with the state’s investigation into illegal sports wagering at Iowa State and Iowa.
Lee was charged with tampering with records for allegedly disguising his identity to place online sports wagers, according to court documents.
Lee is alleged to have made 115 bets for $885 on the FanDuel mobile app. Among them were 12 on Iowa State football games, including one money-line bet against the Cyclones against Texas in 2021. ISU won 30-7, and Lee made one tackle.
A total of five Iowa State football starters have been charged in the investigation. Athletes found to have wagered on games in which they played are subject to being permanently banned by the NCAA. The tampering charge is punishable by up to two years in prison and fines.
NO. 2 MICHIGAN AIMING FOR ITS 1ST NATIONAL TITLE SINCE 1997 BEHIND QB J.J. MCCARTHY, RB BLAKE CORUM
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan might have its best team in nine years under Jim Harbaugh as the second-ranked Wolverines aim for their first national title since 1997.
J.J. McCarthy returns as the staring quarterback along with All-America running back Blake Corum and perhaps one of the best offensive lines in college football. The defense is experienced with several returning starters, including All-Big Ten linebackers Junior Colson and Michael Barrett, and standout cornerback Will Johnson.
As successful as the last two seasons were — finally beating Ohio State and winning a school-record 25 games — each ended in humbling fashion in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Michigan gave up 51 points in a loss to TCU last season and was routed by Georgia a year earlier.
“If we get there, we just got to get over the hump,” Corum said. “For me, I have high standards so yeah, it’s win or bust.”
Harbaugh didn’t quite agree with the title-or-best mentality, but has been pleased that his team isn’t satisfied with previous accomplishments.
“Not one of them wants to hear about what they did last year, or the last two years,” Harbaugh said. “Now is the time that matters, that’s the attitude.”
The Wolverines know they have work to do to catch up to the two-time defending national champion Bulldogs. To close the gap, they implemented a “Beat Georgia” drill last spring after adding a “Beat Ohio State” section of practice two years ago.
“To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man,‘” Corum said. “Georgia is at the top right now. And if we want to be able to be at the top, we’ve got to beat them.”
LOOMING SUSPENSION
Harbaugh could be facing a four-game suspension for breaking NCAA rules over improper contact with recruits. Michigan submitted a negotiated resolution to the NCAA in a case that has been in the works for about two years but NCAA officials have more questions. The case may go to a full hearing, which would lengthen the process and push any suspension back.
“Nothing to be ashamed of,” Harbaugh said this preseason, declining further comment.
Corum said if Harbaugh is suspended, the team will be even more motivated.
“If anything, it’s going to light a fire under us,” Corum said.
CALL IT A COMEBACK
Corum has been cleared medically, bouncing back from surgery on his left knee after he was injured late in the regular season last year. The senior will share carries in the backfield with Donovan Edwards, who will line up at receiver at times to take advantage of his speed and hands.
HIGH PRAISE
McCarthy beat out Cade McNamara to be the No. 1 quarterback last year and in Year 2 under center, he plans to run more while improving his passing.
“He’s a once-in-a-generational-type quarterback,” said Harbaugh, comparing McCarthy’s talent and selflessness to NFL greats Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
All-Big Ten offensive lineman Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan lead a line that should give McCarthy time to throw, and provide holes in the running game. Colston Loveland, a 6-foot-5 tight end, may emerge as McCarthy’s go-to target.
“The longer it takes him to realize how good he is, the better off he’ll probably be,” Harbaugh said. “But the secret is out. He’s really, really good.”
HOME COOKING
Michigan won’t leave home in September for the third straight year and likely won’t be tested against East Carolina in the opener Sept. 2 or in the following games against UNLV, Bowling Green and Rutgers.
Michigan will face at least a pair of challenges on the road: Oct. 21 against rival Michigan State and Nov. 11 at Penn State. The Wolverines iwill host rival Ohio State, hoping to win three straight in the rivalry for the first time since 1995-97, on Nov. 25 to close the regular season.
RYAN DAY NOT CLOSE TO NAMING WINNER IN OHIO STATE QB COMPETITION
It’s “not ideal,” head coach Ryan Day said, as Ohio State’s starting quarterback competition appears set to continue into the regular season.
Neither Kyle McCord nor Devin Brown have fully seized the No. 1 quarterback job in the coaching staff’s eyes, Day told reporters Monday.
Ohio State, ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll released Monday, will open its season Sept. 2 at Indiana.
“That’s something we have to decide this week, probably,” Day said. “Are we ready to name someone by the end of the week or does the competition continue into the season? That’s not ideal, but if that’s where we’re at, that’s what we’ll do.”
By this point of fall camp in recent Buckeyes seasons, the program was ready to name a starting quarterback. Past starters included Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud.
Day initially pictured a similar timeline for this year’s camp and had a press conference scheduled for Wednesday before moving it up to Monday.
“In C.J.’s or Justin’s year, it was probably about that time (that we named them the starter), practice 12 or 13,” Day said. “But we’re not there right now.”
Ohio State held a scrimmage on Saturday, but Day and his staff didn’t see enough from either McCord or Brown that would significantly alter their competition.
McCord has seen limited game action in relief of other quarterbacks over the past two seasons. He has tallied 606 yards on 41-of-58 passing, with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Brown was an early enrollee in January 2022 and appeared in two games last season before redshirting. He missed the end of spring practices and the spring game due to a finger injury but is healthy now.
“I do wish that somebody had really emerged,” Day said. “I don’t think, right now, it’s two guys that are just blowing it out of the water to where you’re like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t know who’s going to play.’ But it’s also not like they’re not doing well either. There’s really good play out there, there’s ability. Now we’re just looking for consistency.”
FIVE-STAR DE WILLIAMS NWANERI CHOOSES MISSOURI
The No. 3 overall prospect in the Class of 2024 is staying in-state to play his college football, and that’s welcome news for Missouri.
Five-star defensive end Williams Nwaneri committed to the Tigers on Monday, choosing them over Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon and Tennessee.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder is considered the No. 1 defensive end and the No. 3 overall prospect by the 247Sports composite rankings. He hails from Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Nwaneri is the second five-star to commit to Missouri since Eliah Drinkwitz became head coach in December 2019. The first was wide receiver Luther Burden, who is now entering his sophomore season there.
Missouri now has 12 players committed for the Class of 2024. Per 247, only one of the previous 11 commits was a four-star.
NFL NEWS
PATRIOTS TO SIGN RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT
The New England Patriots are in agreement with free agent running back Ezekiel Elliott on a one-year deal, with NFL Network reporting the contract is worth up to $6 million.
The two-time NFL rushing champion visited with the Patriots late last month and provides important depth behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson. Elliott referenced the Patriots in a Twitter post Monday.
Elliott, 28, was released by the Dallas Cowboys in a salary-cutting move in March.
The Ohio State product was slowed in the second half of last season by a knee injury and wasn’t fully healthy in 2021. He rushed for a career-low 876 yards and 3.9 yards per carry in 2022 while backup Tony Pollard emerged as a 1,000-yard rusher and big-play threat.
Elliott led the NFL in rushing in 2016 and 2018 and posted four 1,000-yard seasons with Dallas. The 2016 first-round pick (fourth overall) ranks third in Cowboys history in rushing yards (8,262) and rushing touchdowns (68) behind Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett. He also has 305 catches for 2,336 yards and 12 scores in 103 games (102 starts).
The Patriots released running back James Robinson in June, and Ty Montgomery is nursing an undisclosed injury. Second-year running backs Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris are also on the depth chart.
FREE AGENT JADEVEON CLOWNEY VISITS JAGUARS
Free agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney visited the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday but did not sign with the team.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson classified the meeting with Clowney as a “good visit.”
Clowney reportedly has a contract offer in hand from the Baltimore Ravens. He visited the team last week and has also met with the Houston Texans.
The 30-year-old former No. 1 overall pick had two sacks with the Browns last season.
The Texans selected Clowney at the top of the 2014 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons in Houston and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection. Traded to the Seahawks prior to the 2019 season, he spent one year in Seattle, followed by one with the Tennessee Titans and the past two seasons in Cleveland.
Clowney has appeared in 109 games (98 starts) and has tallied 320 tackles (90 for loss), 43 sacks, 109 quarterback hits, 23 passes defensed, 13 forced fumbles and one interception.
MICHAEL OHER, FORMER NFL TACKLE KNOWN FOR ‘THE BLIND SIDE,’ SUES TO END TUOHYS’ CONSERVATORSHIP
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Michael Oher, the former NFL tackle known for the movie “The Blind Side,” filed a petition Monday in a Tennessee probate court accusing Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy of lying to him by having him sign papers making them his conservators rather than his adoptive parents nearly two decades ago.
In the petition filed Monday in Shelby County Probate Court, Oher asks for the conservatorship to be terminated along with asking for a full accounting of the money earned off the use of his name and story.
He also asks to be paid what he is due along with interest. Oher, who has never been a fan of the movie of his life, also asks in the petition that the Tuohys be sanctioned and required to pay both compensatory and punitive damages determined by the court.
ESPN.com first reported the petition.
Steve Farese, a lawyer for the Tuohys, told The Associated Press that they will file an answer to the allegations in court but he declined to comment further. He was among three attorneys served on behalf of the Tuohys on Monday.
Leigh Anne Tuohy did not immediately respond to an email sent to her personal website.
The movie was nominated for an Oscar, and Sandra Bullock won the Academy Award for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy.
In the petition, Oher says he only learned in February that the Tuohys remain his conservators.
Oher accuses the Tuohys of never trying to take legal action to assume custody from the Tennessee Department of Human Services before he turned 18. The conservatorship paperwork was filed Aug. 4, 2004 — after Oher turned 18 in May that year.
He was the 23rd overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Mississippi, and he spent his first five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He wound up playing eight NFL seasons, including 2014 when he started 11 games for the Tennessee Titans. Oher finished his career with two years in Carolina.
He started 110 career games and won a Super Bowl with the Ravens. He also finished second in the voting to Percy Harvin of Minnesota for The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after starting all 16 games his first season at right tackle.
Oher, who turned 37 in May, last played in the NFL in 2016 before being released in 2017 by Carolina.
Nearly two years ago, supporters cheered when Britney Spears was freed from her conservatorship. The ruling came after Spears publicly demanded the end of the arrangement, which had prevented her from making her own medical, financial and personal decisions since 2008.
Spears’ high-profile battle put a spotlight on efforts advocates across the United States have launched raising questions that such strict controls result in more harm than protection.
PANTHERS WR TERRACE MARSHALL LEAVES PRACTICE ON CART
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Terrace Marshall departed practice early on a golf cart Monday.
He exited with a member of the training staff, but it was not immediately clear what happened.
Marshall, 23, caught 28 passes for 490 yards and a touchdown in 14 games (nine starts) last season.
The 2021 second-round draft pick has 45 receptions for 628 yards in 27 career games (12 starts).
REPORT: RAVENS ACTIVATING RB J.K. DOBBINS OFF PUP LIST
The Baltimore Ravens are activating top running back J.K. Dobbins off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list on Monday, ESPN reported.
Dobbins, 24, has officially been on the PUP list since the start of training camp with a hamstring issue. However, the speculation is that Dobbins has been “holding in” — as opposed to not reporting and holding out — because he wants a long-term deal with the club, per multiple media outlets.
Dobbins is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is set to make a base of $1.39 million this season. He’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
“The ball is in J.K.’s court,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters last week. “We have talked. We talked again yesterday. We had great conversation. I do expect him back very soon, but I don’t have anything to say about it. It’s up to J.K., so hopefully that will happen soon.”
The Ravens have Justice Hill, Gus Edwards and Melvin Gordon III next in line on the depth chart after Dobbins.
Dobbins has only played in 23 games — missing the entire 2021 season — after sustaining a major knee injury in the final preseason game that year.
He played in just eight games in 2022 after undergoing knee surgery in October to clear out scar tissue that resulted from a prior surgery.
Dobbins has 1,325 career yards rushing, starting nine games in two seasons of action. He has 12 total touchdowns since being selected in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Ohio State.
REPORT: SAINTS RB KENDRE MILLER (KNEE) SHOULD BE READY FOR WEEK 1
The New Orleans Saints were breathing a sigh of relief on Monday after an MRI showed that rookie running back Kendre Miller only sustained a knee sprain and should be ready for Week 1, NFL Network reported.
Miller, 21, will miss some time but will not require surgery, per the report.
It’s a bit of good news for a position group that needed some. Starting running back Alvin Kamara is suspended for the first three games of the regular season, and Eno Benjamin is lost for the season after rupturing an Achilles in practice.
Miller left Sunday’s preseason game against Kansas City with the injury and did not return. He had four carries for five yards and a reception out of the backfield for one yard.
Miller was a third-round pick (71st overall) by the Saints in April’s draft.
Offseason free-agent signee Jamaal Williams is slated to open the season as the starting running back. He had 28 yards on nine carries against the Chiefs.
REPORT: CARDINALS’ ZACH ERTZ (KNEE) CLEARED FOR FULL ACTIVITY
Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz has been cleared for full football activity after suffering a major knee injury last year that required surgery, NFL Network reported Monday.
Ertz, 32, tore his ACL and MCL in Week 10 during a game against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 11.
He told reporters in December his goal was to be ready for the beginning of the 2024 season, and according to the NFL Network report, Ertz is in line to start Week 1.
The veteran tight end was in his first full season with the Cardinals after spending the bulk of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles traded him to Arizona before the deadline in 2021.
Ertz had 47 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games, all starts, in 2022. In 10 NFL campaigns, he has caught 682 passes for 7,247 yards and 45 touchdowns. He was a Pro Bowl selection in three straight seasons in 2017-19.
The Cardinals open the season Sept. 10 on the road against the Washington Commanders.
REPORT: COWBOYS, MARTIN AGREE ON REWORKED CONTRACT TO END HOLDOUT
Zack Martin’s holdout is over.
The All-Pro guard reached an agreement with the Dallas Cowboys on a reworked deal that’ll pay him $18 million in each of the next two seasons, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Both years are reportedly fully guaranteed.
Martin had stayed away from training camp due to his contract situation. The 32-year-old, who’s signed through 2025, was initially set to earn around $13.5 million in 2023 and $14 million in 2024, according to Spotrac. Chris Lindstrom of the Atlanta Falcons tops all guards with a $20.5-million average annual salary.
Martin’s absence at camp reached around $1 million in accrued fines, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. That number can’t be reduced or forgiven based on the NFL collective bargaining agreement.
The Notre Dame product is one of football’s premier interior linemen. A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, he’s earned six first-team All-Pro nods and eight Pro Bowl berths across nine NFL seasons.
Martin has started 137 games since the Cowboys drafted him 16th overall in 2014.
REPORTS: JETS LAND RB DALVIN COOK ON ONE-YEAR DEAL
The New York Jets and free agent running back Dalvin Cook agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $8.6 million, NFL Network and ESPN reported Monday.
After being released by the Minnesota Vikings on June 9 following his fourth straight 1,000-yard season, the four-time Pro Bowler will team up with an ex-NFC North rival, Aaron Rodgers.
Cook confirmed the deal by reposting social media posts about the news.
Cook, 28, visited with the Jets last month and also showed interest in the Miami Dolphins. He was linked to yet another AFC East team, the New England Patriots, who wound up signing free agent running back Ezekiel Elliott earlier Monday.
Cook was slated to earn $11 million in 2023 with Minnesota, where he rushed for 5,024 yards and 43 touchdowns the past four seasons.
In 73 career games (72 starts) since the Vikings drafted him in the second round in 2017, Cook has 5,993 rushing yards, 47 rushing touchdowns, 221 receptions, 1,794 receiving yards and five TD catches.
He is coming off surgery on Feb. 14, the latest in a series of major shoulder issues that include a dislocated shoulder and torn labrum.
The Jets’ backfield includes Breece Hall, who averaged 5.8 yards per attempt across seven games as a rookie in 2022 before tearing his ACL; Michael Carter, a fourth-round pick in 2021; and rookie Israel Abanikanda, a fifth-round pick last April who has performed well in the preseason.
FORMER NFL RB ALEX COLLINS DIES AT 28
Former Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks running back Alex Collins died on Monday. He was 28.
Information regarding the cause of Collins’ death was not released.
“With heavy hearts, we mourn the passing of Alex Collins,” the Ravens said in a statement on social media. “Always quick to greet everyone with a smile, he was a genuinely kind person who carried a special joy and passion wherever he went. May Alex always be remembered for the light and love he brought to so many people in his life.”
The Seahawks also posted on social media, offering their condolences to Collins’ family.
Collins began his NFL career with Seattle in 2016 as a fifth-round draft pick before spending two seasons with Baltimore. He then went back to the Seahawks for the final two years of his five-year career.
In 50 career games (29 starts), Collins rushed for 1,997 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also had 59 receptions for 467 yards and a score.
A native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Collins most recently played for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League, signing with them this past January.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: MAX SCHERZER, RANGERS SHUT OUT ANGELS
Max Scherzer allowed one hit over seven shutout innings as the Texas Rangers blanked the visiting Los Angeles Angels 12-0 on Monday night to open a three-game series.
Scherzer (12-4) struck out 11 and walked one. The 39-year-old right-hander improved to 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 20 innings in three starts since he was traded from the New York Mets on July 30.
Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer and drove in five runs for the Rangers, who have won 11 of 13. Adolis Garcia added a two-run homer and J.P. Martinez had two hits and three runs for Texas.
Angels starter Patrick Sandoval (6-9) came in with a 2-1 mark and 1.86 ERA over his previous five starts, but he gave up five runs (four earned) and four hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked six and struck out six.
Royals 7, Mariners 6
Dairon Blanco’s suicide-squeeze bunt in the ninth inning pushed Kansas City past visiting Seattle. The bunt escaped first baseman Dylan Moore’s grasp as pinch runner Samad Taylor raced home.
After the Mariners scored six unanswered runs over the eighth and ninth innings to take a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth, Salvador Perez tied the score in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly. It was his fourth RBI of the game, and it moved Taylor to third.
Julio Rodriguez drove in four runs for Seattle, which was held without a hit until the seventh inning. Royals starter Brady Singer was perfect until issuing a four-pitch walk with two out in the fifth, and Dominic Canzone singled with two outs in the seventh. Singer pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out eight.
Marlins 5, Astros 1
Jorge Soler, Luis Arraez and Josh Bell hit home runs in consecutive eighth-inning at-bats as host Miami defeated Houston.
The Marlins hit three straight homers for just the second time in franchise history. They previously accomplished the feat in 1998. Miami won its third straight game, its longest streak since July 3-5. Houston lost its second game in a row.
Braxton Garrett (7-3) pitched five scoreless innings for the win. Astros starter Framber Valdez (9-8) allowed four runs (three earned) in 7 2/3 innings.
Orioles 4, Padres 1
Grayson Rodriguez worked seven strong innings to lift visiting Baltimore over San Diego for its third straight win and fourth in five games.
Rodriguez (3-3) allowed just one run on three hits in the longest outing of his career. He walked one and struck out six. Gunnar Henderson hit a three-run double and Ryan O’Hearn added a solo home run for the Orioles.
Rodriguez retired 11 Padres in a row after permitting a second-inning single to Xander Bogaerts. Garrett Cooper broke the streak with a solo shot to lead off the sixth, providing the only run for the Padres, who have lost seven of their past eight games.
Rockies 6, Diamondbacks 4
Ezequiel Tovar homered among his three hits, Elehuris Montero also went deep and Colorado used a four-run eighth inning to beat Arizona in Denver.
Matt Koch (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the win as the Rockies snapped a five-game losing streak. Justin Lawrence struck out the side in the ninth for his 10th save.
Christian Walker homered, doubled and drove in three runs and Merrill Kelly struck out a season-high 11 batters for Arizona. Kelly gave up two runs in six innings.
Rays 10, Giants 2
Harold Ramirez, Curtis Mead and Christian Bethancourt had three hits apiece, Tyler Glasnow logged six sharp innings and Tampa Bay cruised to a victory at San Francisco.
Yandy Diaz, Randy Arozarena and Jose Siri each added two hits for the Rays, who racked up 18 as a team. Glasnow (6-3) allowed just one run and three hits. Jacob Lopez threw the final three innings, allowing one run, to record a save in his major league debut.
Giants reliever Tristan Beck (3-2) was hammered for five runs on 10 hits in three innings.
Mets 7, Pirates 2
Daniel Vogelbach, Jonathan Arauz and Brandon Nimmo homered to lead a balanced offensive attack for New York, which beat visiting Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game series.
Tyson Miller (1-0) tossed two innings of scoreless relief to earn the win in his debut for the Mets, who have won back-to-back games for the first time since July 27-28. New York improved to 4-10 this month.
Henry Davis and Ke’Bryan Hayes each had an RBI for the Pirates, who have lost five of their past seven games. Quinn Priester (2-2) gave up six runs on seven hits in five innings.
Braves 11, Yankees 3
Nicky Lopez got a chance to join the Atlanta starting lineup thanks to an injury and responded with three hits and three RBIs to help the Braves rout visiting New York in the opener of a three-game interleague series.
Lopez got the start for All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies, who missed his first game of the season because of a sore left hamstring. Albies is headed to the injured list.
Lopez, picked up from Kansas City at the trade deadline, went 3-for-4 and has eight RBIs in four games with Atlanta. It’s the most RBIs by a player in his first four games with the Braves since the run batted in became an official statistic in 1920. He had plate appearances in only two of the four games.
Cardinals 7, Athletics 5
Jordan Walker’s three-run triple in the seventh inning vaulted St. Louis past visiting Oakland.
Paul Goldschmidt reached base five times, scored twice and hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals, who won for the fourth time in five games. Esteury Ruiz hit a two-run homer and Seth Brown hit a two-run single for the A’s, who lost their fourth straight game.
Angel Felipe (1-1) took the defeat after allowing three runs on three walks in one-third of an inning. JoJo Romero (3-1) got the last four outs of the game and was credited with the victory.
BASKETBALL NEWS
FIVE-STAR G TRENTYN FLOWERS SPURNS LOUISVILLE FOR ADELAIDE OF NBL
Trentyn Flowers, considered a five-star recruit in the Class of 2023, decommitted from Louisville on Monday in order to sign a professional contract with the Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s National Basketball League.
“Recently, I have been blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime — to play professional basketball in Australia and take another big step towards my NBA dreams,” Flowers wrote in a social media post. “This was not an easy decision, because playing for Louisville was also a dream of mine. While my time in Louisville has been short, it has been an amazing experience and I can’t thank you all enough.”
Flowers, listed at 6-foot-8, told ESPN that he was presented with the opportunity to be Adelaide’s starting point guard.
“I’m going over there to play point guard, to learn how to run a team, and be a player like LaMelo Ball or Josh Giddey,” Flowers said, citing two guards who played in the NBL before being drafted in the NBA. “Adelaide is a place for me to lock in and focus on my game.”
Louisville coach Kenny Payne was upset with the timing of Flowers’ departure, he said in a statement released to media outlets.
“Earlier today, Trentyn and his family informed me of his decision to pursue a professional career overseas,” Payne said. “We’re certainly disappointed in his decision and the timing. We fully believe in the University of Louisville’s ability to help student-athletes reach their goals, including to play at the highest levels of professional basketball — and we’re confident that Trentyn could have achieved his dreams by making Louisville his home. However, we wish Trentyn and his family well in all of their future endeavors.”
The Cardinals, who went 4-28 in Payne’s first season, will have few recruiting options available to fill Flowers’ scholarship spot.
Flowers was rated a five-star recruit and No. 23 overall in his class by the 247Sports composite. He signed a national letter of intent to play for Louisville in April, reclassifying from 2024 to 2023.
HOCKEY NEWS
MAPLE LEAFS PROSPECT RODION AMIROV, WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BRAIN TUMOR, HAS DIED AT AGE 21
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov has died less than 2 years since being diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was 21.
Agent Dan Milstein confirmed to The Associated Press that Amirov died Monday in Munich, Germany. The team said in February 2022 that Amirov had a brain tumor and would go to Germany for treatment, in the hopes of being able to resume his hockey career at some point.
“From the moment he received the news, he refused to speak in the negative, determined to enjoy every day, facing it with the same positive attitude he showed during his hockey career,” Milstein said in a message posted on social media in English and Russian. “We will always remember his courage, his desire, his will, his smile — all of the great things about him.”
Milstein also thanked the doctors who took care of Amirov, as well as the Maple Leafs and KHL’s Salavat Yulayev Ufa, who “did everything possible to help in any way.”
The Maple Leafs said their organization was devastated by the news of Amirov’s death.
“Over the duration of his courageous battle, Rodin’s positively inspired everyone around him and made lasting impressions with our team and fans in his brief visits to Toronto,” team president Brendan Shanahan said. “It’s incredibly sad to see a young man with so much promise taken from us so soon.”
Toronto selected Amirov with the 15th pick in the 2020 NHL draft. The Salavat, Russia, native was playing in the KHL with his hometown team in 2021 before being sidelined by an injury 10 games into the season.
Then-general manager Kyle Dubas said Amirov developed unrelated symptoms over the course of his recovery that required “ongoing extensive investigations.” Amirov went to Toronto for four rounds of chemotherapy last fall and received an ovation at a Leafs game against Washington on Oct. 14.
LONGTIME BOSTON BRUINS CENTER DAVID KREJCI ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AT AGE 37
BOSTON (AP) — David Krejci has decided to retire, an expected development that leaves the Boston Bruins without their top two centers after setting records for the most wins and points in a season.
Krejci announced his retirement in a statement Monday, thanking team president Cam Neely and general manager Don Sweeney for allowing time to make the decision. It comes three weeks after captain and face of the franchise Patrice Bergeron opted to retire.
“After 15 full NHL seasons I have decided to retire from the best league in the world,” Krejci said. “I have been very lucky to be on so many good teams and play with so many great players.”
Krejci, 37, returned to North America last fall for one final NHL season. He had gone home for a year to play in front of his friends and family in his native Czechia.
A versatile, two-way center, Krecji played 1,192 regular-season and playoff games for the Bruins from 2007-2023, winning the Stanley Cup with them in 2011. He put up 871 points in that time, helping Boston reach the playoffs 13 times and make three appearances in the final.
The Bruins lost in the first round to eventual Eastern Conference champion Florida this past season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy as the top team in the regular season. The departures of Bergeron and Krejci leave them with 26-year-old Pavel Zacha and 31-year-old Charlie Coyle as the top two centers.
Sweeney went through the offseason planning for life without Bergeron and Krejci, bringing back 2011 Cup-winning winger Milan Lucic and signing forwards James van Riemsdyk and Morgan Geekie and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk to bargain contracts that fit with the teams’ tight salary cap situation.
RACING NEWS
KYLE LARSON’S ALREADY BUSY SCHEDULE WILL RAMP UP BEFORE MAY’S 1,100-MILE ‘DOUBLE’
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kyle Larson might be the busiest driver in motorsports.
He started Saturday by practicing and qualifying for the Brickyard 200 then traveled to Iowa where he led all 50 laps to claim his second win in three years at the prestigious Knoxville Nationals. A red-eye return to Indy had him back in time for Sunday’s race, where he finished eighth, and even the pre-race news conference to discuss his attempt at racing’s double next May.
And with additional trips booked for Indy in preparation of what he hopes will be 1,100 miles of racing in one day, Larson, admittedly, is trying to strike the proper balance between chasing a second Cup title and prepping for his IndyCar debut.
“I’m sure once things slow down in the offseason and I have time to sit around and think about the upcoming season is when it’s really going to hit,” Larson said, describing his thoughts about driving next year’s Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600. “I’m sure that’s when all the nervousness will start to creep in as well as the excitement.”
Larson won’t be the first to try one of racing’s rarest of feats. The late John Andretti started in 1994. Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch all made the attempt. The last to try was Busch in 2014.
The Hendrick Motorsports drier and 2021 Cup champ seems an apt choice to give it a shot given his history. He’s won in sprint cars, midgets and trucks, won on a variety of surfaces and rarely seems to take days off.
In some ways, Larson appears to be a throwback to former IndyCar stars Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt, who eagerly competed in almost any series anywhere around the world.
But Larson’s journey will be very different from theirs.
While today’s cars are safer, they’re also more technical and require more prep time. The larger roles sponsors, engine manufacturers, team owners and contracts play can create additional complications — if everyone is not on the same page.
So Rick Hendrick and Arrow McLaren’s IndyCar officials are trying to find the best way to assure Larson’s papaya and blue No. 17 IndyCar is as competitive as his similarly painted No. 5 Cup car in May. Both were unveiled Sunday morning in Indy.
Larson has already been fitted for his IndyCar seat and hopes to run laps on the 2.5-mile oval in October.
“We’ve done some laps in the sim. We’re getting ready, as Mr. H mentioned, do some first real running here in October,” Arrow McLaren director of IndyCar racing Gavin Ward said. “But our goal is just to build up and get as much prep and seat time as we can so we can hit the ground running.”
That process actually began earlier this year.
Larson came to Indy three months ago for a sneak peak at Indy’s unique four-lap qualifying format and to get a sense of the atmosphere. He’s also being advised by Arrow McLaren’s driver coach Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indy champion Tony Kanaan.
What’s the biggest difference Larson has noticed so far?
“The max brake pressure there is like 2,800 pounds. That’s insane,” Larson said after his time on the simulator. “I’ve never pushed anything that hard. Here into Turn 1, we’d be like 800 pounds of brake pressure max. So trying to get your brain wrapped around slamming the pedal that hard and releasing it quickly but also maintaining some (speed) was super difficult for me.”
Yet even with Indy looming and a possible rookie orientation test in October, Larson’s primary focus, for now, will be the Cup Series.
With two wins, he’s safely locked into the 16-car playoff field for the seventh time in eight years. And while he’s fourth in the standings with two races left in the regular season, he has bigger hopes for October when he returns to the Brickyard amid what he hopes still will be a title chase.
And there’s no time to waste.
“Obviously, looking forward to October and getting to do the rookie orientation,” he said. “I am — I have thought about that a little bit, so I am nervous when I think about it. But I think once I get in the car, a lot of those nerves will hopefully go away after a few laps, and it will feel like home — just like all the other race cars I drive.”
TOP INDIANA NEWS/RELEASES FROM ORGANIZATIONS
COLTS FOOTBALL
COLTS RB JONATHAN TAYLOR BACK AT CAMP, STILL ON PUP LIST
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor returned to training camp after what head coach Shane Steichen said was an absence related to injury rehab.
Taylor is dealing with an ankle injury, but also demanded a trade after a meeting with Colts owner Jim Irsay in which he was informed a long-term contract offer would not be extended until the end of the 2023 season.
According to multiple reports, Taylor’s trade demand still stands.
Taylor, 24, said he does not intend to take the field until he is fully healthy in hopes of preventing reinjury. He left training camp early last week to rehab elsewhere.
An All-Pro in 2021, Taylor led the NFL in rushing that year with 1,811 yards. In his three NFL seasons, he has amassed 3,841 yards on the ground with 33 touchdowns, and 802 yards receiving with three scores.
COLTS SIGN S RONNIE HARRISON JR., WAIVE S AARON MADDOX
Westfield, Ind. – The Indianapolis Colts today signed free agent safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. and waived safety Aaron Maddox.
Harrison Jr., 6-3, 214 pounds, has played in 67 career games (45 starts) in his time with the Cleveland Browns (2020-22) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2018-19). He has compiled 219 tackles (145 solo), 9.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 23 passes defensed, five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), two fumble recoveries and four special teams stops. Harrison Jr. has also appeared in two postseason contests (one start) and has tallied seven tackles (five solo) and 1.0 tackle for loss. He was originally selected by the Jaguars in the third round (93rd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Alabama.
In 2022, Harrison Jr. saw action in 16 games (five starts) with the Browns and registered 23 tackles (16 solo), half a sack, one pass defensed and one special teams stop.
Maddox, 5-11, 203 pounds, was signed by Indianapolis as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2023. Collegiately, he played in 39 combined games at Campbell (2021-22), Southern Illinois (2020), Colorado (2018-19) and Pima Community College (2017) and compiled 160 tackles (97 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, seven passes defensed, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
COLTS SIGN S TEEZ TABOR, WAIVE RB ZAVIER SCOTT WITH INJURY SETTLEMENT
Westfield, Ind. – The Indianapolis Colts today signed free agent safety Teez Tabor and waived running back Zavier Scott with an injury settlement.
Tabor, 6-0, 201 pounds, has played in 38 career games (seven starts) in his time with the Seattle Seahawks (2022), Atlanta Falcons (2022), Chicago Bears (2020-21), San Francisco 49ers (2019-20) and Detroit Lions (2017-19). He has registered 50 tackles (40 solo) and nine special teams stops. Tabor has also appeared in one postseason contest. He was originally selected by the Lions in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Florida. His last name is pronounced TAY-ber.
In 2022, Tabor saw action in 10 games (one start) with the Seahawks and totaled eight tackles (five solo) and one special teams stop. He also played in one postseason contest. Tabor spent Week 1 on the Falcons’ practice squad before being signed to Seattle’s 53-man roster on September 15, 2022.
Scott, 6-1, 219 pounds, was signed by Indianapolis as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2023. Collegiately, he appeared in 24 games (17 starts) at Maine (2020-22) and totaled 60 receptions for 649 yards and two touchdowns as well as 75 carries for 494 yards (6.6 avg.) and six touchdowns. Scott also contributed six kickoff returns for 129 yards (21.5 avg.).
INDIANA FOOTBALL
HOOSIERS LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS TO KEEP QBS HEALTHY IN HOPES OF TURNAROUND AFTER 2 POOR SEASONS
Indiana coach Tom Allen knows the story all too well.
He has used six different quarterbacks and seven have taken game-day snaps over the past two seasons. Predictably, Indiana went 6-18 during that span.
This season, Allen wants and needs to change the script. So as Brendan Sorsby battles newcomer Tayven Jackson for the starting job and Dexter Williams II recovers from offseason knee surgery, Allen is searching for other solutions.
“I just think we’ve got to make sure we do a great job protecting those guys,” he said. “It starts up front, it starts with being able to run the football and it starts with taking pressure off the quarterback.”
Clearly, making progress in both areas would help.
Since Allen’s first full season as coach in 2017, the Hoosiers have allowed 2.3 sacks per game and have rushed for more than 3.6 yards per carry just once. The result: Indiana hasn’t had an opening-day starting quarterback finish the season since 2018.
Allen believes things could be changing in 2023.
Right tackle Matthew Bedford returns after missing 11 games last season with a knee injury. He’ll be flanked by three additional returning starters and the group has a new position coach, former Wisconsin assistant Bob Bostad.
There is also a potentially dynamic combination of running bacsk, led by the physical and versatile Josh Henderson. Christian Turner, a transfer from Wake Forest, could fit into the mix but the key will be getting speedy, shifty Jaylin Lucas more touches in his second season.
“The areas in my game I want to showcase is that I can play slot (receiver), that I can play anywhere on the field no matter where you put me,” said Lucas, the Big Ten’s return specialist of the year. “When I catch the ball, I’m able to take some five-yard gains and turn them into 50, 60-yard touchdowns and just make guys miss.”
Will it work? The Hoosiers don’t have much of a choice.
“What we want at that position is a guy who can extend plays,” Allen said. “But at the same time once you pick who it is, you’ve got to make sure you’re building everything around them so they can be at their best and can be comfortable.”
KEEPING QUIET
Allen has not indicated who his quarterback will be Sept. 2 against Ohio State.
Jackson, a transfer from Tennessee better known as the younger brother of basketball All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis, may have the inside track. But Sorsby is still competing. And it’s unclear whether Williams would play when he returns from the dislocated knee he suffered in last year’s season finale.
CHANGING DEFENSE
After allowing a Big Ten-worst 33.9 points per game in 2022, Allen went outside the locker room to find answers.
He beefed up the defensive line with players such as Andre Carter, a 273-pound end who played at Western Michigan. He wanted experience at linebacker to replace Cam Jones and Dasan McCullough, and he landed Jacob Mangum-Farrar, a sixth-year player from Stanford.
Allen also agreed to give up play-calling duties. Former Ohio State analyst Matt Guerrieri takes over.
“I’m glad I did it (last year), but, obviously, I feel like in order for us to get better and move forward, I wanted to bring somebody in to be able to call that,” Allen said.
THE SCHEDULE
Indiana opens the season trying to snap the FBS’ longest active losing streak against a single foe, a 27-game skid against the Buckeyes.
That’s followed by a manageable stretch featuring two home games against non-power conference foes, a date with Louisville in Indianapolis and a trip to Maryland before getting into the meat of a brutal conference slate.
The Hoosiers visit Michigan, Penn State and defending Big Ten West champ Purdue while hosting Wisconsin and MIchigan State.
CARTER EARNS SELECTION TO BEDNARIK WATCH LIST
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Bednarik Award is bestowed upon the nation’s best collegiate defensive player and Indiana football’s redshirt senior Andre Carter is among the preseason candidates for the award.
Carter enters his first season in Bloomington after five seasons at Western Michigan that included 47 games played. The defensive lineman produced 132 tackles, which included 28.0 tackles for loss with 12.5 of those sacks. In his career, he has one interception, three pass deflections and five forced fumbles. He posted at least 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in three of the last four seasons.
His 2022 season featured 68 stops, 13.5 TFLs and 7.0 sacks. He added one interception, three pass deflections and two forced fumbles. His 2019 and 2021 seasons each included 20-plus tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 13 and 12 games, respectively.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
The Chuck Bednarik Award has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, with several senior PFF analysts are members of our selection committee. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 13, 2023, while the three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be unveiled November 28, 2023. The winners of the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 7, 2023. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.
The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully vested in the community through programs to promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership. High school student-athletes around the country have an opportunity to participate in MFC Showcase events, free of charge, through the generosity of our corporate partners, Montage Mountain Resorts, the Buccini Polin Group, the ETC Foundation and the Run Around Inc. To learn more about our story visit www.maxwellfootballclub.org.
IU ATHLETICS, NATIONS GROUP PARTNER TO EXAMINE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT TO MODERNIZE MEMORIAL STADIUM
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Later this week, IU Athletics will take the first step to explore opportunities and options to modernize Memorial Stadium.
IU Athletics recently engaged Nations Group, one of the country’s premiere sports planning and advisory firms, to assist in this effort related to the home of Indiana University Football. A large swath of IU Athletics stakeholders – including ticket buyers, fans, donors, and business leaders, among others – will receive a secure, online survey soliciting feedback on a wide array of topics related to modernizing the facility and the gameday experience for Hoosier fans.
Among the topics covered in the survey are a reimagined concourse, new social gathering spaces, upgraded concessions and restrooms, and a series of enhanced premium seating options and locations.
“We are thrilled to begin the process of gathering input from Hoosier fans about a facility project that would transform how our fans enjoy Indiana Football gamedays,” said IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson. “We’re excited to be able to partner on this project with Nations Group, which has the experience and market knowledge to help us inform a capital facility project of this magnitude.
“As we enter this exploratory stage, my hope is that Hoosier fans will join in on this endeavor by providing this much-needed input. Our goal is to identify and deliver on what our fans from their gameday experience, which makes this feedback a critical component of doing something of this magnitude the right way.”
Memorial Stadium has been the home of the Indiana Football since 1960. Two recent major renovations significantly altered and improved the stadium’s look and function. The completion of the North End Zone Student-Athlete Development Center in 2009 enclosed the north end of the stadium, connecting the east and west stands to create a horseshoe layout. The North End Zone project also featured new state-of-the-art office, meeting, locker room, banquet and strength & conditioning space for the Hoosier football program and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, turning Memorial Stadium into the hub for the IU Athletics Department.
A second major renovation came in 2018 with the completion of the IU Excellence Academy. The innovative, student-centered, 66,575-square foot facility enclosed the south end of the stadium to create a bowl effect for spectators as well as a bold new “front door” to the IU Athletics campus. The Excellence Academy houses premiere medical, rehabilitation and nutrition facilities, as well as first-of-its-kind leadership and life skills center and program for the benefit of all IU’s student-athletes.
While those two projects – which cost a combined $86 million – centered on enhancing the student-athlete experience by transforming the day-to-day functionality of the facility, this effort is centered on the gameday experience for Hoosier fans.
Stakeholders will receive the survey over a period of days beginning on Wednesday, August 16.
INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
INDIANA DRAWS CONNECTICUT IN EMPIRE CLASSIC
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana men’s basketball team will open the Empire Classic benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project presented by Continental Tire with a semifinal matchup against defending national champion Connecticut at 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 19 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Indiana and UConn have met 10 total times, including the last two in New York. The Huskies hold the series edge at 6-4. IU won the last matchup by a score of 57-54 on Dec. 10, 2019 in the Jimmy V Classic.
The championship game of the event will be played at approximately 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 20, while the third-place game will be played at 4:30 p.m. ET. Television designations will be determined at a later date.
Indiana will be making its second appearance in the Empire Classic. IU defeated Washington, 102-84, in the opening round of the 2013 Empire Classic before falling to UConn, 59-58, in the title game.
The series of games will mark a homecoming for Indiana head coach Mike Woodson, who was the head coach of the New York Knicks from 2012-14. Woodson was drafted 12th overall in the 1980 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks and played with the franchise from 1980-81. He also served two stints as an assistant coach with the Knicks from 2011-12 and 2020-21.
UConn, the 2023 national champion, will be making the program’s fifth appearance in the event. Texas, a 2023 Elite Eight participant, will be making its seventh appearance in the Empire Classic, the most of any program. Louisville, guided by former New York Knicks assistant coach Kenny Payne, will be making its debut in the tournament.
Nov. 19 – Semifinals
1 p.m. ET – UConn vs. Indiana
3 p.m. ET – Texas vs. Louisville
Nov. 20
4:30 p.m. ET – Third-Place Game
7 p.m. ET – Championship Game
PURDUE FOOTBALL
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS HOPING HUDSON CARD CAN BE THEIR NEXT ACE AT THE ‘CRADLE OF QUARTERBACKS’
Hudson Card thinks he can become Purdue’s new ace.
Those inside the program are firm believers, too.
First-year coach Ryan Walters raves about Card’s mobility, receivers like Card’s arm strength and accuracy, and now, after just a few months on campus, the Boilermakers are going all-in on the former Texas star emerging as the next big thing at the “Cradle of Quarterbacks.”
“I think that was part of the reason that made me want to come here — they produce quarterbacks who go to the league,” Card said. “That’s something I want to end up eventually doing. It’s really cool to be a part of that, and, hopefully, I can carry on the tradition.”
The roll call includes names such as Len Dawson and Bob Griese, Gary Danielson and Jim Everett, Drew Brees and Kyle Orton, and most recently Aidan O’Connell, the walk-on now in his first training camp with the Las Vegas Raiders.
At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Card has prototypical size. Walters said he also thinks Card’s athleticism will not only give the Boilermakers a different look from the drop-back style and bubble screens that have defined Purdue football for more than 25 years but create headaches for defenses, too.
“What I like the most about Hudson is he came in, put his head down and went to work and I think that helps you immediately gain the respect of your teammates,” Walters said. “His talent jumped out when we started spring ball and he’s got great arm talent. He can run as well.”
If Card makes that quick, smooth transition, the defending Big Ten West champions could use last season’s momentum to propel them forward and rekindle memories of Brees, another Texas prep star who chose Purdue.
Card couldn’t think of a better pairing.
“On my recruiting visit I did speak with him (Brees),” Card said. “He just told me about his experience at Purdue and that was something that helped me with my decision.”
WALTERS WELCOMED
Walters brings a different perspective to the Purdue sideline, having spent most of his coaching career exclusively on the defensive side of the ball.
But like former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, Walters played quarterback in high school and college before moving to the secondary. It’s an experience that could help Walters in his first head coaching job.
“Playing safety, you are kind of the quarterback of the defense,” he said. “But there’s a reason I hired Graham Harrell and there’s a reason I wanted Hudson Card. It’s because I think that style of play is what college football is today. It’s what I hate to see on defense on Saturdays.”
THE MOCK
Devin Mockobee started last summer as a walk-on running back buried at No. 4 on the depth chart. He finished the season as Purdue’s top rusher (968 yards) and a school freshman record of four 100-yard games.
With Mockobee expected to carry a heavier load in 2023, one of Walters’ first moves was awarding his No. 1 back a scholarship.
“Devin looks like a different player,” Walters said. “He’s transformed his body. He obviously has talent and skill set to have success in this conference, that’s proven.”
THE SCHEDULE
Purdue faces a daunting schedule after opening the season Sept. 2 against Fresno State, its only non-power conference foe.
The Boilermakers then visit Virginia Tech and host Syracuse before Wisconsin visits for a Friday night showdown.
Walters faces his old boss, Illinois coach Bret Bielema, on Sept. 30. Then comes a four-game stretch with trips to Iowa, Nebraska and Michigan with one home game sprinkled in — Oct. 14 against Ohio State.
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
SHORT-HANDED PURDUE ENDS EUROPEAN TRIP WITH 4-0 RECORD
BRNO, Czech Republic – The Purdue men’s basketball team put the finishing touches on an unbeaten European trip with a 71-61 win over BK Brno – a team playing in the highest division of the Czech Republic’s professional league.
Purdue played Monday’s game short-handed, missing key players Zach Edey (Canadian National Team), Ethan Morton (hamstring), Camden Heide (back) and Myles Colvin (passport issue).
However, the Boilermakers rode the shoulders of their three main big men en route to the win.
Trey Kaufman-Renn scored 24 points with 15 rebounds, Caleb Furst added 16 points and seven rebounds and Will Berg had eight points and six rebounds. The trio combined to shoot 21-of-35 from the field, while the rest of the team struggled to find the range, shooting just 7-of-35. Purdue was just 3-of-18 from long range.
Kaufman-Renn finished the tour averaging 18.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Furst joined him in double figures at 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Despite playing just three games, Colvin averaged 13.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, while making 8-of-12 from long distance.
Braden Smith was masterful at the point guard position, averaging 7.8 points, 10.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game. He had a gaudy 6.00 (42 / 7) assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Boilermakers ended the tour with a 4-0 record and will return Friday with stops left in Bratislava, Slovakia, and Lake Como, Italy.
The season opener will be Nov. 6, when Samford visits Mackey Arena. Purdue will travel to Arkansas for a charity exhibiton game on Oct. 28.
PURDUE WOMEN’S TENNIS
BOILERMAKERS SET FOR FALL SLATE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women’s tennis set its fall calendar with five events on the slate. Head coach Laura Glitz returns for her 17th campaign at the helm as the program’s all-time winningest coach.
The Boilermakers return an experience-laden roster with seven returning players, including 2021 All-Big Ten selection Csilla Fodor. Glitz added UC Santa Barbara transfer Calissa Dellabarca to the program during the offseason.
The Boilermakers will open the June Stewart Invitational at Vanderbilt (Sept. 22-24), before heading down to Bloomington for the Hoosier Classic a week later (Sept. 29-Oct. 1).
Following the ITA All-American Championships in Cary, N.C. (Oct. 1-7), Purdue will take on the best of the region at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional at Tennessee (Oct. 19-22).
The fall slate will come to a close Nov. 3-5 at the FGCU Bonita Bay Classic in in Florida.
As for the dual campaign, the Boilermakers have unveiled two matches as a part of the ITA Kickoff Weekend in January. The Boilermakers will take on Arkansas On Jan. 26, before facing either Utah or Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. A full spring schedule will be announced later in the fall.
BUTLER WOMEN’S SOCCER
ANNIKA CREEL REJOINS BUTLER WOMEN’S SOCCER AS ASSISTANT COACH
INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler women’s soccer program and Butler Athletics are proud to announce that alumna Annika (Schmidt) Creel ’19 has joined the Bulldogs coaching staff.
Creel has multiple years of professional playing experience in the NWSL, most recently with Gotham FC and previously with the Houston Dash. Prior to her time in the NWSL, Creel played in Sweden for Göteborg FC. This summer she helped lead Indy Eleven to a National Championship in the USL W League.
“When Tari and Rob presented me with this opportunity, the first thing that came to mind was how amazing it would be to reunite with Butler and be mentored by the best coaching duo in the college game,” exclaimed Creel. “The Butler family creates an environment where players can express themselves with the confidence that they are fully supported. It is truly an honor and privilege to be on staff, and I look forward to being able to represent Butler again.”
Creel, who hails from Zionsville, Indiana, began her collegiate career at UConn before transferring to Butler. In three seasons with the Bulldogs (2017-2019) she earned First Team All-BIG EAST accolades all three seasons and was both a CoSIDA and United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American as a senior.
“Tari and Rob, pushed me to be unapologetically myself, on and off the field, when I was playing,” reflected Creel. “They enforce a culture of champions and consistently find a way to shape players into the best version of themselves, on and off the field. As a player under Rob and Tari, I learned the best coaches prioritize their players as people first, and when you do that, you are able to mold the best players and the best teams.”
Creel has been developing her coaching career concurrently while playing, and Co-Head Coaches Tari St.John and Rob Alman expressed their excitement about adding her to the staff:
“Annika is a Bulldog! In her time here at Butler, she was the epitome of everything that is great about college athletics and elite-level student-athletes. An All-American, an exceptionally committed, inquisitive and high achieving student in the classroom, a great ambassador in the community, and one heck of a competitive force on the field. Her playing and coaching experience at multiple levels has been excellent, specifically in the areas of individual training and player development, which has been a core focus of her early coaching career. We are incredibly excited for our current players to work with and learn from Annika, and we are so pleased to have her back with our program!”
IUPUI VOLLEYBALL
JAGUAR VOLLEYBALL WELCOMES SIX NEWCOMERS FOR 2023 SEASON
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI volleyball team is set to begin the 2023 season this week in an exhibition match against Cedarville on Friday at 6 PM with a few new faces. Head coach Andrew Kroger begins his first season at the helm of the Jaguars volleyball team with signees Grace Purichia, Maia Long, Ava Harris, Brynn Zastrow, Kennedy Seputis and Katy McCaffrey along with previous commit Kate White.
Purichia, a freshman from New Albany, Indiana, was a finalist for Indiana Miss Volleyball during her time at Providence High School. She was a two-time first team All-State performer earning the Indiana All-Star title during her junior and senior years. The 5-7 setter was a two-time first team All-Region and first team All-District honoree and led Providence to a Class 3A State Championship her senior year with a state finals record 56 assists in the 3-1 win over Bellmont. Purichia is the only player in Providence history with 2,000 assists, 1,000 digs and 100 career aces.
Joining Purichia as a freshman is Maia Long. Long, an outside hitter from Erlanger, Kentucky, earned six varsity letters while at Dixie Heights (Ky.) High School. She was named All-Star MVP and was a two-time All-Region honoree. The 5-10 hitter had 349 kills and posted 31 blocks, 150 digs and 22 aces as a junior at Dixie Heights.
Ava Harris signed with the Jaguars this off season, joining the incoming freshman class. The Noblesville, Indiana native earned three varsity letterwinners in volleyball at Noblesville High School and was named to the 2023 Indiana All-Star Team. The 5-10 right side and outside hitter was a second team All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference honoree her senior year. She was also named an All-USA Central Indiana Super Team honorable mention selection and an All-American at AAU Nationals.
Brynn Zastrow, a libero from Fishers, Indiana joins the Jaguars for the 2023 season. She earned one varsity letter in volleyball at Fishers High School and was named the 2023 Defensive Specialist of the Year. The 5-6 freshman played for The Academy Volleyball Club.
IUPUI added another freshman libero with Kennedy Seputis. Seputis, a 5-7 freshman from Springboro, Ohio, earned two varsity letters at Springboro High School. She was a second team All-Greater Western Ohio Conference honoree her senior year, while also serving as team captain. Seputis was ranked among the GWOC’s Top 5 in Pass Points, registered 220 digs her senior year and set Springboro’s single-game record with 35 digs in a single match.
Katy McCaffrey signed with the Jags this off season as well after spending her freshman year at Kenyon College. McCaffrey is a 5-11 sophomore middle blocker from Dublin, Ohio. During her freshman campaign at Kenyon, she appeared in 21 matches, making 18 starts, ranking seventh on the team in sets played with 72. She hit .239 from her middle position with 120 kills and 1.67 kills/set, both of which ranked fourth on the team and was second on the team in blocks/set (0.54), total blocks (39.0) and solo blocks (12). McCaffrey finished the year tied for third on the team with 27 block assists.
These six newcomers join previous commit Kate White and returners, Morgan Ostrowski, Brooke Phillips, Emily Alan, Addie Evans, Briana Brown and Sidney Veatch. The Jags begin the season with an exhibition match against Cedarville on Friday, August 18 at 6 PM in the Jungle.
BALL STATE BASEBALL
CARDINALS ADD 11 TO 2023 RECRUITING CLASS
MUNCIE, Ind. – Head Coach Rich Maloney and the Ball State baseball team announced the addition of 11 student-athletes to the 2023 recruiting class on Monday.
The Cardinals added Michael Hallquist, Merritt Beeker, Nate Blain, Corey Miley, Matthew Gonzalez, Nick Nusovsky, Matthew Kamins, Korbin Griffin, Carson Lydon, Caden Lockwood, and Ty Bradle, to go along with the 10 other signees to move the total to 21 new recruits. “Hats off to Recruiting Coordinator Alex Maloney on this outstanding group as well as getting new Pitching Coach Justin Wechsler involved helping us out to finish this year’s class,” said Coach Maloney.
Michael Hallquist
Fargo, North Dakota | Minnesota-Crookston | 3B
- Name the 2023 Player of the Year in the Northwoods League
- 2023 NCBWA All-American
- 2023 NCBWA All-Central Region First Team
- 2023 D2CCA All-American Second Team
- 2023 D2CCA All-Central Region First Team
- 2023 All-NSIC First Team
- 2023 NSIC Newcomer of the Year
2023 Stats
- 80 hits
- 73 runs scored
- 65 RBIs
- 41 walks
- 22 home runs
- 20 doubles
- Four triples
Merritt Beeker
Lexington, North Carolina | North Davidson High School | East Carolina | P
- No. 11 prospect in The American Conference in the 2023 MLB Draft
- Struck out four batters in the 2022 NCAA Greenville Regional against Coastal Carolina
Career stats at ECU
- 19 appearances
- 18.1 innings pitched
- 20 strikeouts
- 2.95 ERA
Nate Blain
Canton, Michigan | Canton High School | Madonna University
- 2023 WHAC Tournament Champion
- Struck out four batters in six innings in the NAIA first round against No. 1 Southeastern
- Struck out nine batters in five innings in the WHAC Tournament Championship game
Career Stats
- 237 strikeouts
- 221.2 innings pitched
- 23-4 record with seven complete games
- 3.21 ERA
- .229 opposing batting average
Corey Miley
Cincinnati, Ohio | Oak Hill High School | Coppin State | 2B
- 2022 First Team All-MEAC
Career stats at Coppin State
- Appeared in 86 games, including 71 starts
- 68 hits
- 57 walks
- 45 runs scored
- 32 RBIs
- 15 doubles
- Hit .296
Matthew Gonzalez
Manhattan, New York | P27 Academy | FIU | Northwest Florida State | C
Stats at NWF
- Appeared in 34 games
- 24 hits
- 17 walks
- 16 RBIs
- Four doubles
- .261 average
Stats at FIU
- Appeared in 40 games
- 30 hits
- 11 RBIs
- Nine walks
- Three doubles
- Hit .265
Nick Husovsky
Ramona, California | Ramona High School | San Diego Mesa College | IF
- 2023 First Team All-PCAC
2023 Stats at Mesa
- 49 hits
- 31 RBIs
- 16 doubles
- One triple
- One home run
- Hit .353
Matthew Kamins
Goodyear, Arizona | Desert Edge High School | Glendale CC | IF
- Three-time NJCAA Academic All-American
- Made an NJCAA D2 World Series appearance
- Glendale CC Scholar Athlete of the Year
Career Stats at Mesa
- 82 hits
- 71 runs scored
- 38 walks
- 36 RBIs
- 17 doubles
- Five triples
- Two home runs
- Hit .305 in 2023
Korbin Griffin
Galesburg, Michigan | Gull Lake High School | Kalamazoo Valley CC | OF/1B
Career Stats
- 47 hits
- 39 runs scored
- 35 RBIs
- 11 home runs
- Seven doubles
- Two triples
- Hit .341
Carson Lydon
Eugene, Oregon | Churchill High School | Feather River College | P/UT
- Top-350 Ranked Juco Prospect (Perfect Game)
- Oregon All-Star Series (high school)
- Two-time All-State (high school)
- Two-time all-league (high school)
2023 Stats at Feather River
- 11 hits
- 11 RBIs
- Five runs scored
- Four walks
- Two doubles
- One triple
- 28.0 innings pitched
- 3-1 record
- 24 strikeouts
- 4.82 ERA
Caden Lockwood
Dublin, Ohio | Dublin Jerome High School | UT
- Second Team All-OCC 2023
- Honorable mention All-OCC 2022
- Team captain 2021-23
Stats
- 17 RBIs
- 12 doubles
- Four home runs
- 1.100 on-base plus slugging percentage
- Hit .335
Ty Bradle
Fishers, Indiana | Hamilton Southeastern High School | P
- Indiana South All-Star
- All-State (Prep Baseball Report)
- Indiana District K Player of the Year
- Indy Start Super Team selection
- Hamilton County Player of the Year
- First Team All-HCC
Senior Stats
- 9-1 record with six complete games
- 69.2 innings pitched
- 97 strikeouts
- 1.00 ERA
- .800 WHIP
- Held opponents to a .160 batting average
Rest of the 2023 Class
Lucas Letsinger
Houston King
Owen Coffman
Connor Hutchinson
Keagan Johnson
Gabe Jones
Max Kalk
Eli Kieser
Zach Kwasny
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
BENJAMIN MORRISON SELECTED FOR BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST
University of Notre Dame sophomore cornerback Benjamin Morrison has been selected for the 2023 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List. The award is presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.
Morrison was one of the late-season breakout stars of college football in 2022, picking off two interceptions and returning one 96 yards for a touchdown in Notre Dame’s 35-14 romp over No. 5 Clemson.
The rookie then claimed a share of the Notre Dame single-game record with three interceptions in a shutout win over Boston College, including two interceptions in the first quarter. He then capped his outstanding freshman year with an interception in the Gator Bowl victory over South Carolina.
Morrison appeared in all 13 games in 2022, starting nine and finishing the year with 33 tackles, 22 solo stops and four pass break ups.
Morrison has earned a spot on the Jim Thorpe (defensive back) and the Nagurski (top defensive player) award watch lists as well.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 13, 2023, while the three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be unveiled November 28, 2023. The winners of the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 7, 2023. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.
INDIANA STATE SWIMMING AND DIVING
SYCAMORES ANNOUNCE 2023-24 SWIMMING & DIVING SCHEDULE
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State swimming and diving head coach Josh Christiansen announced the 2023-24 schedule on Monday morning as the Sycamores will compete in 11 regular season matchups over the season.
The Sycamores will host five meets at the Vigo County Aquatic Center including their annual Intrasquad meet on September 29. Additional opponents coming to Terre Haute include UIC, Southern Indiana, Eastern Michigan, Lindenwood, and Illinois State.
Indiana State will open the competition slate on September 16 with a pentathlon meet at Ball State.
The Sycamores will host their annual Blue-White intrasquad competition at the Vigo County Aquatic Center on September 29 with start time set for 6:30 p.m.
ISU hits the road over the October 13-14 weekend as the Sycamores travel to both UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay on back-to-back dates for dual meets.
The Sycamores return home for a tri-meet on October 20 hosting both UIC and Southern Indiana as a part of ISU’s Homecoming festivities. The meet will also double as the swimming and diving program’s alumni weekend at the pool.
ISU hosts back-to-back dual meets on November 3 and 4 welcoming both Eastern Michigan and Lindenwood to Terre Haute in their final home meets of the 2023 fall/winter slate.
The Sycamores close out 2023 at the Miami Ohio Invite held over November 30-December 2 in Oxford, Ohio.
Indiana State returns to competition in 2024 as the Sycamores travel to Carbondale, Ill. for a tri-meet hosted by Southern Illinois. ISU will take on SIU and Quincy on January 13 in their first competition of the spring.
The Sycamores remain on the road for their annual trek to the Tim Welsh Invite hosted by Notre Dame over January 26-27.
ISU closes out the regular season with their Senior Day set for February 2 against Illinois State.
The 2024 MVC Swimming & Diving Championships will be hosted by the University of Evansville over February 21-24 in Evansville, Ind.
The CSCAA National Invitational is set for March 14-16 in Ocala, Fla., while the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships will be held in Louisville, Ky. on the same dates.
The 2023 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships will be held in Athens, Ga. over March 21-24.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
MASTODON MVB NEWCOMER PETER SOCZEWKA WINS SILVER AT COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES
BLACK ROCK, Trinidad and Tobago – Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball incoming freshman Peter Soczewka earned the beach volleyball silver medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games last week.
Soczewka and his partner Rob Morgan picked up a win over a duo from Rwanda in the group stage, then beat teams from Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia in the bracket before falling to Oliver Toomes and Andon Kiriakou from Canada in the gold medal match. He and Morgan dropped just three sets in the entire event, all three of which coming at the hands of the Canadian pair.
Soczewka comes to Purdue Fort Wayne as a three-time club national champion out of London, England. He and the Mastodons will open the 2024 season in January.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S GOLF
ANNA OLAFSDOTTIR PLACES SIXTH AT ICELAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
GARÐABÆR, Iceland – Purdue Fort Wayne women’s golf student-athlete Anna Olafsdottir placed sixth at the Iceland National Championship on Sunday (Aug. 13).
In the four-round event, Olafsdottir shot 73-74-72-71-290 (+6) on the par-71 course. Her tournament featured 10 birdies, with three coming in round one and four and two in each of the middle rounds. Her even fourth round included a bogey-free front nine of 33.
Ragnhildur Kristinsdottir, a former student-athlete at Eastern Kentucky, won the event with a 283.
In July, Olafsdottir competed with the Iceland Women’s National Team at the European Ladies’ team Championship, where she helped her country to 3th. She will return to Fort Wayne for her senior season in the coming weeks, opening 2023-24 with the A-Ga-Ming Invitational on September 2.
SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER
USI PREDICTED 6TH IN OVC
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer is projected to place sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference in a vote by the league’s head coaches and athletic communications directors in a poll released today. USI, who was 2-12-3 overall and 2-5-1 in the Summit League last fall, will be a part of the OVC’s inaugural men’s soccer season.
The OVC men’s soccer season will feature a 10-game conference slate that includes full-time league members USI, Eastern Illinois University, Lindenwood University, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and affiliated members Chicago State University, Houston University, Incarnate Word University, and Liberty University. In March 2023, the OVC announced the addition of the men’s soccer, which is the conference’s 19th sponsored sport.
Liberty was picked as the preseason favorite in 2023 after picking up eight of the 16 first-place votes and received 88 points. SIUE and Houston Christian followed with 86 points and 81 points for second and third, respectively, after collecting four first-place votes each. Lindenwood was picked fourth (62) and followed by UIW (53), USI (29), EIU (25) and Chicago State (24).
The top six teams in the standings will qualify for the 2023 OVC Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament, which will take place November 5, 8 & 11 on the campus of SIUE in Edwardsville, Illinois.
USI senior midfielder/forward Nick Faddis was selected as an OVC Player to Watch for 2023. Faddis started all 17 matches in 2022, leading the team with eight points on a team-high three goals and a squad-high tying two assists.
The Eagles kick off 2023 regular season August 24 at Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis and OVC action September 28 at home when they host SIUE.
OVC 2023 Predicted Order of Finish
Liberty (8 first-place votes) 88
SIU Edwardsville (4) 86
Houston Christian (4) 81
Lindenwood 62
Incarnate Word 53
Southern Indiana 29
Eastern Illinois 25
Chicago State 24
U OF INDY FOOTBALL
GREYHOUNDS DEBUT IN PRESEASON TOP 20
WACO, Texas – The University of Indianapolis football team will open the 2023 season as the 20th-ranked team in the nation, according to the newly-released American Football Coaches Association DII Preseason Poll. As the defending GLVC champions and current league favorites, the Greyhounds will be gunning for a return trip to the NCAA DII playoffs in November.
UIndy is one of eight Super Region 3 squads in the preseason top 20, while fellow-GLVC-school Truman State University received significant votes. Five SR3 teams will start the season ranked in the top eight, including reigning national-champ and top-ranked Ferris State. Two of UIndy’s non-conference opponents – Wayne State and Saginaw Valley – also received votes.
2023 AFCA DII PRESEASON POLL
RK SCHOOL (1st-place votes) REC PTS PREV
1. Ferris St. (Mich.) (29) 14-1 725 1
2. Colorado School of Mines 13-3 642 2
3. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 12-1 641 3
4. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 12-1 633 5
5. Angelo St. (Tex.) 12-1 590 7
6. Northwest Missouri St. 10-3 560 8
7. West Florida 12-2 482 4
8. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 11-1 455 10
9. Minnesota St. 10-3 450 14
10. Delta St. (Miss.) 11-2 438 9
11. Bemidji St. (Minn.) 10-3 420 24
12. Ashland (Ohio) 10-2 387 13
13. Shepherd (W.Va.) 13-2 359 6
14. Harding (Ark.) 9-2 305 22
15. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 10-3 304 16
16. Indiana (Pa.) 10-2 300 11
17. Benedict (S.C.) (1) 11-1 232 12
18. Virginia Union 9-2 200 18
19. Emporia St. (Kan.) 9-3 187 NR
20. Indianapolis (Ind.) 9-2 149 17
21. Wingate (N.C.) 11-3 147 15
22. West Georgia 8-2 146 19
23. Assumption (Mass.) 8-3 132 NR
24. Newberry (S.C.) 9-2 131 21
25. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 8-3 129 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Notre Dame (Ohio), 99; Davenport (Mich.), 69; Colorado St.-Pueblo, 56; Bowie St. (Md.), 53; Truman St. (Mo.), 31; Central Washington, 30; Limestone (S.C.), 30; Winona St. (Minn.), 23; Wayne St. (Neb.), 18; Henderson St. (Ark.), 17; Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 16; Tuskegee (Ala.), 16; Morehouse (Ga.), 13; Findlay (Ohio), 12; Fort Valley St. (Ga.), 11; Ohio Dominican, 10; Tiffin (Ohio), 10; California (Pa.), 9; Washburn (Kan.), 9; Charleston (W.Va.), 8; Millersville (Pa.), 8; Mars Hill (N.C.), 6; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 6; Texas A&M-Kingsville, 6; Western Colorado, 6; Kutztown (Pa.), 5; Wayne St. (Mich.), 5; Winston-Salem St. (N.C.), 5; Gannon (Pa.), 4; Central Oklahoma, 3; Central St. (Ohio), 2; New Haven (Conn.), 2; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 2; Southern Arkansas, 2; Bluefield St. (W.Va.), 1; Minnesota-Duluth, 1; Nebraska-Kearney, 1; West Alabama, 1.
WABASH MEN’S SOCCER
WABASH SOCCER PICKED FOURTH IN CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES POLL
The Wabash College soccer team received 53 points to finish fourth in the 2023 North Coast Athletic Conference men’s soccer preseason coaches poll announced Monday.
The Little Giants’ 53 points trailed conference favorite and defending champion Kenyon College in first place with 78 points. The Owls also received six of nine available first-place votes. Ohio Wesleyan garnered the remaining first-place votes and finished in second place with 75 points. Denison received 60 points in third place. DePauw (37 points), Wooster (35 points), Wittenberg (32 points), Oberlin (26 points), and Hiram (9) complete the preseason rankings.
Wabash finished in fourth place in the final 2022 NCAC standings with a 5-3 conference record and a 12-6-1 overall mark. The Little Giants made their seventh overall and sixth consecutive appearance in the conference tournament last season.
Wabash opens the 2023 campaign at Franklin College on Friday, September 1. The Little Giants open at home against Anderson University on Tuesday, September 12, at 4 p.m. Wabash starts conference action against arch-rival DePauw University on Wednesday, October 4, at home at 4 p.m.
INDIANA WESLEYAN BASEBALL
ALL-AMERICAN LUCAS GOODIN RETURNS TO WILDCAT DUGOUT
MARION, Ind. – Following an incredible playing career with the Wildcats, that was capped off by being named Crossroads League Player of the Year and First-Team NAIA All-American, Lucas Goodin will rejoin the Wildcat dugout as an assistant coach.
“I am extremely excited to welcome Lucas & his wife, Jill, back to Marion. Lucas had a tremendous impact on our program as a player, but an even greater impact on our program as a person,” said Head Baseball Coach Ian Macdonald. “He built strong relationships with his teammates & earned the respect of everybody in the room. He was committed to his preparation & worked extremely hard. These characteristics, combined with his curiosity, ability to communicate, level of care, & understanding of the game will make him a tremendous college coach & recruiter.”
During his time at Indiana Wesleyan, Goodin left a tremendous mark on the program, setting career records for the Wildcats. His achievements include 300 hits, 47 home runs, 190 RBIs, 226 runs, 160 walks, and 818 at-bats. In his final season, Goodin amassed 85 hits, 19 home runs, 72 runs, 64 walks, 38 stolen bases, and a batting average of .373. His performance earned him multiple accolades, including being named First Team All-Crossroads League, Crossroads League Player of the Year, and First Team NAIA All-American.
“I am extremely excited and thankful for the opportunity that coach Macdonald and Indiana Wesleyan have given me to return,” said Goodin. “The five years I spent here as a player helped mold and develop the person I am today. Indiana Wesleyan is a place that feels like home to me, and I am thankful God opened this door to allow me to continue my journey at this incredible university and baseball program.”
Following his time at Indiana Wesleyan, Goodin joined the Utica Unicorns of the USPBL. Through August 12th he has a batting average of .250 with 23 hits, 3 home runs, and 14 RBIs in 28 games.
ROSE HULMAN WOMEN’S SOCCER
KACEY BAKER NAMED ASSISTANT WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Kacey Baker has been named Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, effective immediately.
Kacey takes over the assistant coach position following her time as the Graduate Assistant Coach at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She was also the Head Coach of the Boston Bolts West Soccer Club and a member of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee during her time at Smith.
Baker is also a 2021 graduate of Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was a member of the women’s soccer team for four years while starting at keeper during her junior and senior seasons.
A 2021 graduate of Coe College, Baker was a member of the women’s soccer team for four seasons and was a three year starting goalkeeper. During her time as a Kohawk, she made 72 saves in 20 games with just 22 goals allowed.
In 2019, she ranked 10th in goals against average in a single-season at 1.38.
For her career, Baker ranked 5th in school history in career wins at 14, 5th in career shutouts with 6, 6th in career goals against average at 1.48, 6th in goalie games played with 39, 7th in goalie games started with 19, 7th in goalie minutes played at 2,681, 8th in career saves with 141, 8th in career save percentage at .762, and 11th in career saves per game at 3.61.
Baker graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration & Sport Management with minors in Economics and French Language in 2021. She then earned her Master’s degree from Smith College in Exercise and Sport Science in 2023.
BETHEL WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
2023 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SEASON PREVIEW
MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The Bethel Pilots Women’s Volleyball start the Robert Frost era after three straight appearances in the NAIA National Tournament and nearly advancing out of Pool E against Taylor (Ind.) and Corban (Ore.).
Bethel ended the 2022 season with an overall record of 23-12 and 12-6 in the Crossroads League while receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches poll.
The Pilots tied for fourth place in the Crossroads League standings with Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio). They defeated the Cougars in the Crossroads League Quarterfinal 3-1, then fell to the Taylor (Ind.) Trojans in the Crossroads League semi-final 3-1.
The Pilots ended the season with a 6-5 record against top 25 teams, including 11th-ranked Taylor (Ind.) in Pool E of the NAIA National Tournament and the regular season.
The season’s top wins were against third-ranked Marian (Ind.) at home and ninth-ranked Viterbo in La Crosse, Wis., at the Viterbo Invitational.
KEY RETURNERS
Isabelle Greene led the attack for the Pilots averaging 2.5 kills per set while putting up numbers at the net with a little over a block per set.
Greene was awarded NAIA and NCCAA All-American status and First-Team All-Crossroads League honors.
Maddy Payne joined Greene as an NAIA and NCCAA All-American, earning First-Team All-Crossroads League honors.
Payne was top three in the Pilots attack, ranking third on the team in kills per set with 2.3 and was the top blocker with 1.2 per set.
Cheyanne Seymour was the second-best attacker in kills per set, with 2.4 per set as the outside hitter last season.
Seymour earned NCCAA North-Central All-Region honors and was named to the Second Team All-Crossroads League team.
KEY LOSSES
Madyson Beaver graduated as a fifth-year senior and led the team in assists, averaging 5.7 a set in tandem with freshman Elise Schildermans who averaged 4.4 per set.
INCOMING FRESHMEN
Sophia Johnston transfers from Olivet Nazarene University and hails from Highland, Ind., coming to Bethel as an Outside Hitter.
Johnston earned All-Conference honors, helped win a USAV National Championship in 2021, and came to Bethel to major in Nursing.
Haley Biedenbach is an incoming freshman from Fort Wayne, Ind., and played for Homestead High School as a Setter.
Biedenbach earned Academic All-State honors, set a record at Homestead with 1494 career assists, and will study ASL at Bethel.
Taylor Delp comes from Plymouth High School as a Middle/Outside Hitter and won numerous awards, including Academic All-State, NLC Honorable Mention ’21, NLC All-Conference ’22, Team MVP ’22, Scholar-Athlete of the Month and named team captain in 2022.
Paige Franz joins the Bethel program from Hamilton, Ind., and previously played for Angola High School as the Libero.
Franz was All-Conference Honorable Mention, three-time All-Conference honoree, two-time KPC All-Area, and played in the North-South All-Star match.
Franz ended her high school at Angola with 1489 career digs, 183 assists, and 84 aces.
Riley Smith is a transfer from Glen Oaks Community College and played Setter/Right Side for the Vikings and will study Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Bethel.
Alison Nibbelink transferred from Spring Arbor University, previously playing Rightside Hitter, and was All-Crossroads League Honorable Mention in 2021 and Second Team All-Crossroads League in 2022. Nibbelink is pursuing her Master of Nursing Administration degree at Bethel University.
Lily Vester is an Academic All-State Defensive Specialist/Libero from Yorktown High School in Yorktown, Ind., and will study Exercise Science at Bethel University.
The 2023 season starts on the road at the Onset Invitational hosted by Saint Francis (Ind.) Aug. 18 against Rochester (Mich.) and the University of Northwestern Ohio.
BETHEL MEN’S SOCCER
2023 MEN’S SOCCER SEASON PREVIEW
MISHAWAKA, Ind. — After winning the first NAIA National Championship in program history, the Bethel Pilots Men’s Soccer team prepares to take on the 2023 season.
The Pilots amassed the best overall record in program history at 24-1-1 and a season-winning streak of 22 games through the NAIA Championship.
In the Crossroads League, Bethel won their 17th regular season title and 10th tournament title in the program’s history.
Tim Noeding earned multiple honors as the Pilots’ Midfielder, including the Crossroads League Male Athlete of the Year, NAIA Men’s Soccer Player of the Year, NCCAA Men’s Soccer Player of the Year, and more.
Noeding led in assists with three game-winning goals and 20 points; Luan Bressy led the Pilots’ scoring with 22 goals, with Piero Sabroso next up with 13.
The Pilots were honored with five NAIA All-Americans, two NCCAA All-Americans, three NCCAA All-North-Central Region players, and several other awards.
Head Coach Thiago Pinto was honored with the NAIA Coach of the Year, NCCAA Coach of the Year, and Crossroads League Coach of the Year.
The Pilot defense allowed a total of 19 goals the entire season with Finn Popescu in the net and saved 73% of the shots that Popescu faced, and forced 13 shutouts, five of those were against ranked opponents, and two of them were in the NAIA National Championship.
MEN’S SOCCER NEWCOMERS
The Pilots are bringing in four newcomers from different places worldwide, including Brazil, New Zealand, Peru, and Morocco, which continue to add to the different playing styles and cultures of Mishawaka.
Flynn Spooner comes from Auckland, New Zealand, and Scots College as a six-foot who has experience as a left-back, center-back, Left-Wing-Back, and Left-Midfielder.
In the 2021-22 season, Spooner scored three goals and six assists and will study Criminal Justice at Bethel.
Diego Alejandro Arrieta Narvarez, an incoming freshman from Lima, Peru, did his prep work at Innova Schools. His experience on the pitch is as Center Back and Defensive Midfielder, and he will reunite with Piero Sabroso on the pitch.
“I am looking forward to playing at a high level, creating a good relationship with my teammates, working to improve my leadership, and winning nationals,” said Narvaez.
Pedro Lorencatto is a Center Back from Sao Paulo, Brazil, transferring from Dodge City Community College for the 2023 season.
Lorencatto is reuniting with former teammate Eduardo da Silva in the Pilot program and will study Exercise Science when arriving on campus.
Sami Charaf Amal comes from Casablanca, Morocco, and transferred from Chicago State University with experience at the Midfield position.
Amal is a 1st Team All-Big South with Campbell University, 2nd Team NCAA All-American Freshman and NCAA Freshman of the Year at Campbell.
The 2023 season starts on Friday, Aug. 18, at Madonna University in Livonia, Mich., with kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m.
HUNTINGTON BASEBALL
MOKMA HIRED AS FORESTER PITCHING COACH
HUNTINGTON, Ind. – Head Coach Thad Frame has announced the hiring of Mike Mokma as the pitching coach for the Forester baseball program.
Mokma brings a decorated pitching career to the position. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019. After three years with the Dodgers, he wrapped up his professional career with the Seattle Mariners. He finished his pro career with a 3.32 ERA in 81 innings.
Prior to signing with the Dodgers, Mokma played three years at Michigan State where he logged 18 starts, including a complete game, and posted a career 3.70 ERA.
Mokma also pitched for the Brazos Valley Bombers in the Texas Collegiate Baseball League. In addition to being named the Freshman of the Year in his rookie season, he also garnered First Team All-League honors and set the record for most complete games in a season with the Bombers. His resume also includes playing for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks in the Cape Cod League.
“We are very excited that Coach Mokma will be joining us,” said Frame. “During the process of getting to know Mike, it became very apparent that his values and beliefs fit perfectly with HU and Forester baseball.
“Based on Mike’s experience as a player and coach, we know he has the tools to develop a successful pitching staff. His experience at the D1 and professional level will be a great asset to our program for recruiting and player development. He has a vision of what our staff will look like, and we are excited to see him take our pitching staff to the next level.”
Mokma has a year of coaching under his belt having served as the head coach at South Christian High School and the pitching coach for the Lafayette Aviators. He earned his degree from MSU in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science in 2023.
The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 154 NAIA All-America honors and 501 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest.
INDIANA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL
INDIANA TECH 2023-24 SCHEDULE RELEASE SERIES: VOLUME IX – MEN’S BASKETBALL
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men’s basketball team has released its schedule for the 2023-24 season.
Head Coach Ted Albert enters his seventh year at the helm of Warrior basketball. The 2022-2023 was a historic season for the Warriors as they finished just one basket shy of a national championship, marking the best finish in program history. Albert helped lead the program to a 32-5 overall record, the first 30-win season for the Warriors and the most wins in program history. Albert now sits at an even 150 wins at Tech (150-53), the third most wins for a head coach in the team’s history. Tech would go 18-2 in WHAC play on their way to a second straight, and three of the last four, conference regular season championships. The Warriors would remain in the top 25 in the national ranking all season, finishing at No. 6 in the final poll. In the postseason, the Warriors would fall in the conference tournament final. At the NAIA National Championships, the Warriors would earn the No. 2 seed in the Liston Quadrant and go on to defeat Indiana University at South Bend, Evangel University, University of Jamestown, Arizona Christian University, and Georgetown University before falling in the national championship game to the College of Idaho 71-73. Four Warriors would be named to the WHAC All-Conference teams in 2022-23, including Rog Stein and Cory McKinney who also won WHAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively. Stein also garnered All-American honors, while five Warriors would be named to the WHAC All-Academic Team and six would be named NAIA Scholar Athletes. Coach Albert was also named WHAC Coach of the Year, his third time winning the award during his time at Tech, as well as the Don Meyer National Coach of the Year.
Tech will start the 2023-24 season with five straight home games with the first two being part of the WHAC/Crossroads League Challenge. The Warriors will first take on Indiana Wesleyan University on October 27th and then will host Spring Arbor on October 28th. On November 15th, the Orange and Black will host cross town rival, the University of Saint Francis in their last game before conference play. Tech will first look to defend last season’s regular season WHAC title when they welcome Madonna University to the Schaefer Center on November 18th. The Warriors will face their first road test on November 21st when they travel to Cleary University as the Cougars enter their inaugural season. After a flurry of games throughout December, the Warriors will travel to Ohio when the visit the University of Rio Grande on December 20th in their final game of 2023. Tech will head into the new year with their first matchup coming on the third of January, on the road, against the University of Michigan-Dearborn. The Warriors will then play 14 more games over the course of the next seven weeks before they wrap up their regular season with a road matchup against the University of Northwest Ohio on February 24th. The WHAC Tournament is set for February 29-March 5th and the NAIA National Championship will begin on March 15th.
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS VOLLEYBALL
SMWC VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE INCLUDES EXPANDED SHOWDOWN IN THE WOODS
The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods women’s volleyball team is set to open the 2023 season, looking to build upon historic success in 2022.
SMWC opens regular-season play Saturday, Aug. 19 at William Woods University against the host Owls and Bethany College in a tri-match.
The Pomeroys, who scrimmage Vincennes and IUPUC on Saturday, Aug. 12, will also scrimmage at home against Rose-Hulman on Aug. 22.
The nonconference schedule picks up in Bourbonnais, Ill., in the Olivet Nazarene Tournament against the hosts and 2022 Top 25 NAIA opponent Marian University on Aug. 25.
After a trip to the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy on Aug. 30, the Pomeroys prepare for the second annual Showdown in The Woods, a 10-team tournament on Sept. 1-2. The Pomeroys will face off against Boyce College, Goshen College, Principia College, Kalamazoo College and Miami-Hamilton.
“We wanted to create a schedule that challenged us and brought us to different regions of play. The Showdown in the Woods ended up being larger than we ever expected with teams coming from all over, so the competition will be fun to watch,” coach Ashley Harris said.
SMWC opens River States Conference action Sept. 12 at Oakland City and continues RSC action against IUPUC on Sept. 15, which will be Youth Night.
The RSC match against Midway University on Sept. 26 will be a White Out. The match Oct. 10 against Indiana University Southeast will be a Blue Out.
The Pomeroys will host Alumni Day on Saturday, Oct. 28 against Oakland City and celebrate Senior Day on Oct. 31 against Indiana University East.
GOSHEN TENNIS
BEMISDERFER CHOSEN AS NEXT DIRECTOR OF TENNIS
GOSHEN, Ind. – Director of Athletics Dr. Erica Albertin announced Jon Bemisderfer as the next Director of Tennis at Goshen College. Bemisderfer has over 35 years of tennis coaching experience and most recently served as the Assistant Coach for the Indiana Wesleyan women’s and men’s tennis teams. He was a part of four Crossroads League titles on the women’s side in his four seasons with the team.
“Coach Bemisderfer brings a wealth of tennis knowledge to GC Athletics,” said Albertin. “I was impressed with Jon’s knowledge of the sport, his ability to build champions, and his local connections. I am confident that our tennis student-athletes will be on the path to success under the leadership of Coach Bemisderfer.”
Bemisderfer is the owner of JBTennis, where he develops tennis players from beginners to nationally-ranked athletes in the northern Indiana area. He was the Director of Tennis and Tennis Professional for the Eastlake Athletic Club in Elkhart, Indiana, from 2016 to 2019. He also held the Director of Tennis role at the Pine Ridge Racquet & Fitness Club in Fort Wayne, Indiana, from 2004 to 2012. While there, he developed and grew the junior and adult programs from inception to over 325 participants.
“The opportunity to have an impact on the lives of student-athletes is what drew me to Goshen,” said Bemisderfer. “And I get to do what I am passionate about – tennis.”
As the assistant coach for the Indiana Wesleyan women, Bemisderfer guided the team to the national tournament semifinals in 2021. The team has won 31 consecutive Crossroads League tournament championships. He was with the women’s team for four years and the men’s team for two. He also has spent time as the head coach at three high schools – Clay High School, Springs Valley High School and Elkhart Memorial High School.
Bemisderfer studied Business at Ferris State University in the Professional Tennis Management Program and continued his schooling at Bethel University in Mishawaka in English Education.
The tennis student-athletes arrive on campus this Friday and compete in their first match on September 2 at home against Huntington at 10:00 am.
GOSHEN VOLLEYBALL
GOSHEN NAMES PHILLIPS AS DIRECTOR OF VOLLEYBALL
GOSHEN, Ind. – Jeff Phillips will serve as the Director of Volleyball at Goshen College, as announced by Director of Athletics Dr. Erica Albertin on Monday. In this role, Phillips will serve as the head coach of the men’s and women’s volleyball teams. Wyatt Bollinger, a 2023 Goshen grad and men’s volleyball alum, will be the Associate Head Coach for the men’s program and Assistant Coach for the women’s program.
“I am pleased to have Coach Phillips step into the leadership role for both our men’s and women’s volleyball programs,” said Albertin. “Coach Phillips has proven to be a servant leader in his short time as a part of the athletic department. I am confident Coach Phillips will lead both programs to build champions in the competitions, the classroom, and the community.”
In his tenure at Wawasee High School from 2011 to 2015 and then from 2019 to 2022, Phillips led the women’s team to a 146-119 record and was responsible for implementing expectations and goals from the middle school level through the varsity level. He was an assistant coach at Warsaw High School from 2008 to 2010 and Tippecanoe Valley High School from 2007 to 2008.
Additionally, Phillips was a head coach in the Empowered Volleyball Academy, a program coach for the Outland Volleyball Club, and a summer camp coach for three years for Notre Dame volleyball. In February, he was named the head coach for the women’s team at GC.
Bollinger hails from Harrisonburg, Virginia, and played at Eastern Mennonite University from 2018-2022 before transferring to Goshen as a setter. While with the Maple Leafs, Bollinger was the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Setter of the Week from March 13 – March 20. In February, he surpassed 1,000 career collegiate assists and finished with 733 assists in his one season at Goshen.
Bollinger holds the program record for assists per set at 9.28 and is in the top ten in the record book for assists, serve efficiency, aces per set, blocks per set, total blocks, service aces, digs per set and block assists.
“Wyatt stepping into the associate head coach role will add knowledge, passion, and development to the programs,” said Albertin. “Wyatt’s playing career was record-setting, and I’m excited to have him step into the coaching world. He will help improve the athletic department and the volleyball programs with his perspective as a recent GC grad.”
The men’s volleyball season is underway at the beginning of February.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
MLB STANDINGS
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Baltimore | 74 | 45 | .622 | – | 36 – 23 | 38 – 22 | 24 – 14 | 18 – 7 | 13 – 10 | 7 – 3 | W 3 |
| Tampa Bay | 72 | 49 | .595 | 3 | 40 – 22 | 32 – 27 | 20 – 14 | 20 – 6 | 11 – 11 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Toronto | 66 | 54 | .550 | 8.5 | 31 – 26 | 35 – 28 | 11 – 23 | 18 – 8 | 14 – 11 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Boston | 62 | 56 | .525 | 11.5 | 35 – 28 | 27 – 28 | 16 – 14 | 16 – 10 | 12 – 10 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| NY Yankees | 60 | 59 | .504 | 14 | 35 – 28 | 25 – 31 | 15 – 21 | 12 – 10 | 16 – 13 | 3 – 7 | L 3 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 62 | 58 | .517 | – | 33 – 24 | 29 – 34 | 12 – 17 | 22 – 18 | 11 – 8 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| Cleveland | 57 | 62 | .479 | 4.5 | 31 – 28 | 26 – 34 | 10 – 12 | 18 – 18 | 13 – 12 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Detroit | 53 | 65 | .449 | 8 | 26 – 33 | 27 – 32 | 5 – 20 | 21 – 13 | 9 – 13 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Chi White Sox | 47 | 72 | .395 | 14.5 | 25 – 33 | 22 – 39 | 8 – 17 | 19 – 17 | 9 – 17 | 4 – 6 | L 3 |
| Kansas City | 39 | 81 | .325 | 23 | 23 – 37 | 16 – 44 | 6 – 18 | 13 – 27 | 5 – 11 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Texas | 71 | 48 | .597 | – | 41 – 20 | 30 – 28 | 14 – 11 | 17 – 5 | 20 – 14 | 8 – 2 | W 1 |
| Houston | 68 | 52 | .567 | 3.5 | 33 – 26 | 35 – 26 | 10 – 10 | 11 – 11 | 26 – 14 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| Seattle | 63 | 55 | .534 | 7.5 | 34 – 28 | 29 – 27 | 12 – 15 | 12 – 12 | 19 – 11 | 7 – 3 | L 3 |
| LA Angels | 59 | 61 | .492 | 12.5 | 31 – 28 | 28 – 33 | 12 – 11 | 14 – 8 | 17 – 21 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| Oakland | 33 | 86 | .277 | 38 | 18 – 41 | 15 – 45 | 7 – 19 | 7 – 11 | 6 – 28 | 3 – 7 | L 4 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 76 | 42 | .644 | – | 38 – 20 | 38 – 22 | 25 – 7 | 16 – 6 | 11 – 9 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Philadelphia | 65 | 54 | .546 | 11.5 | 34 – 24 | 31 – 30 | 15 – 17 | 11 – 8 | 14 – 13 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| Miami | 63 | 57 | .525 | 14 | 37 – 25 | 26 – 32 | 14 – 19 | 13 – 10 | 10 – 12 | 5 – 5 | W 3 |
| NY Mets | 54 | 65 | .454 | 22.5 | 30 – 27 | 24 – 38 | 17 – 17 | 8 – 15 | 15 – 13 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| Washington | 53 | 66 | .445 | 23.5 | 25 – 34 | 28 – 32 | 11 – 22 | 12 – 14 | 14 – 14 | 7 – 3 | W 3 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Milwaukee | 65 | 54 | .546 | – | 33 – 27 | 32 – 27 | 10 – 9 | 24 – 12 | 10 – 16 | 7 – 3 | W 4 |
| Chi Cubs | 61 | 57 | .517 | 3.5 | 32 – 28 | 29 – 29 | 11 – 17 | 21 – 14 | 9 – 8 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Cincinnati | 62 | 58 | .517 | 3.5 | 29 – 31 | 33 – 27 | 13 – 16 | 16 – 23 | 16 – 9 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Pittsburgh | 53 | 66 | .445 | 12 | 29 – 32 | 24 – 34 | 9 – 9 | 14 – 19 | 16 – 15 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| St. Louis | 53 | 66 | .445 | 12 | 26 – 33 | 27 – 33 | 10 – 9 | 13 – 20 | 10 – 16 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| LA Dodgers | 71 | 46 | .607 | – | 38 – 20 | 33 – 26 | 11 – 7 | 16 – 14 | 23 – 12 | 9 – 1 | W 8 |
| San Francisco | 63 | 56 | .529 | 9 | 34 – 27 | 29 – 29 | 10 – 12 | 18 – 9 | 18 – 11 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| Arizona | 59 | 60 | .496 | 13 | 30 – 31 | 29 – 29 | 13 – 15 | 11 – 10 | 20 – 18 | 2 – 8 | L 1 |
| San Diego | 56 | 63 | .471 | 16 | 30 – 29 | 26 – 34 | 13 – 13 | 8 – 15 | 16 – 19 | 2 – 8 | L 3 |
| Colorado | 46 | 73 | .387 | 26 | 26 – 30 | 20 – 43 | 14 – 17 | 11 – 13 | 8 – 25 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1905 Philadelphia A’s Rube Waddell pitches a five-inning no-hit game, blanking the Browns, 2-0. The shortened masterpiece, which isn’t officially considered a no-hitter, includes the southpaw striking out nine of the 15 St. Louis batters he faces before a torrential rain washes out the Columbia Park contest.
1914 Brooklyn’s Jake Daubert sets a National League record with four sacrifices in one game. The first baseman’s efforts aren’t enough when the Dodgers drop an 8-7 decision to Philadelphia at Ebbets Field.
1916 At Fenway Park, Red Sox southpaw Babe Ruth defeats Walter Johnson and the Senators in 13 innings, 1-0. After holding Boston to just four hits over the first twelve frames, Washington’s ‘Big Train’ yields three more in the 13th, allowing Jack Barry to score the game’s lone run.
1926 When Babe Herman doubles with the bags full, three Dodgers wind up on third. The runner on second base rounds third but decides to return to the bag when the runner from first reaches the same base, and a few seconds later, Herman slides in to join his two teammates.
1941 Although leading Boston, 6-3, when the game ends at the start of the eighth after a 40-minute rain delay, the Senators will lose the game. Washington forfeits the contest when the American League upholds Red Sox manager Joe Cronin’s protest that the home ground crew deliberately refused to cover the field when it started to rain.
1951 “I don’t compare ’em, I just catch ’em.”- Giants outfielder Willie Mays. With one out in the eighth and a runner on third base in a 1-1 tied game, Willie Mays makes an incredible catch of Carl Furillo’s drive to deep centerfield and then turns counterclockwise to throw a perfect strike to home to nail a surprised Billy Cox at home to complete the double play. Some believe the catch inspires the team’s incredible comeback from an 11½ game deficit to win the National League pennant.
1954 The Orioles lose their 27th consecutive game as the visiting team in Cleveland with a 3-1 nightcap loss to the Indians. The record losing streak on the road against one opponent started in August two seasons ago, when the franchise played as the St. Louis Browns.
1955 At Sportsman’s Park, Braves starting pitcher Warren Spahn hits a home run and a triple in his 12-1 complete-game victory over the Redbirds. The crafty left-hander, who will hit 35 homers in his 21-year career, has now homered in every National League stadium.
1962 In the first game of a Polo Grounds doubleheader, Don Demeter hits home runs off two different pitchers named Bob Miller. The outfielder’s third-inning round-tripper off Mets’ right-handed starter Robert Lane Miller and his homer in the ninth off southpaw Robert Gerald Miller contribute to the Phillies’ 9-3 victory over the Amazins.
Amazon Tales from the 1962 New York Mets Dugout: A Collection of the Greatest Stories from the Mets Inaugural Season
1962 Choo Choo Coleman and Jim Hickman tie a major league record by pinch-hitting home runs as teammates in the same game. The Amazin’ Mets still drop the nightcap to the Phillies, an 8-7 defeat in 13 innings at the Polo Grounds.
1965 “Now, ladies and gentlemen, honored by their country, decorated by their Queen, loved here in America, here are the Beatles!”- ED SULLIVAN, Variety show host introducing the Beatles. With Beatlemania in full force, the Fab Four play Shea Stadium, the Mets’ home, marking the first time a rock band headlines a stadium venue. Screams drown out the band’s memorable performance in front of a sold-out crowd of 56,000 that features a 30-minute set of 12 songs.
1965 With pregame festivities celebrating his appearance as the first Japanese player in a major league game completed, Masanori Murakami, normally a reliever, starts the game. In a Giants’ 15-9 win over the Phillies at Candlestick Park, the southpaw from Otsuki pitches 2.1 innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs while striking out four.
1965 In the nightcap of a Cleveland Stadium doubleheader, Indians’ pinch-hitter Max Alvis hits a two-run homer in the ninth to knot the score at 3-3, and two innings later, Leon Wagner, also pinch-hitting, blasts a two-run round-tripper to beat the Twins, 6-4. The two pinch-hit home runs in one game tie a major league record.
1970 With the bases loaded and one gone in the bottom of the ninth with a 2-1 lead, Tom Seaver strikes out Bob Tillman for the apparent second out, but Jerry Grote’s passed ball allows Tony Gonzalez to score the tying run for the Braves. In his effort to cut down the runner at home, the Mets catcher overthrows Seaver, who is covering the plate, bringing in Rico Carty home from third base with the winning tally giving Atlanta a stunning 3-2 victory, thanks to the two runs scored on a called third strike.
1970 Reds’ right fielder Pete Rose goes 0-for-7, striking out five consecutive times. Cincinnati beats the Phillies, 5-4, despite the defending National League batting champ’s platinum sombrero.
1975 In a twin bill against the Rangers at Memorial Stadium, Orioles’ skipper Earl Weaver is ejected twice by umpire Ron Luciano. The fiery Baltimore manager is thrown out in the first game of a doubleheader and gets tossed again before a pitch is thrown in the nightcap when the sworn enemies begin feuding once more while the teams exchange lineup cards at home plate.
1989 In his second start after coming back from cancer surgery, left-hander Dave Dravecky breaks his arm when he throws a wild pitch to Tim Raines in the sixth inning of the Giants’ 3-2 victory over Montreal at Olympic Stadium. The 33-year-old Youngstown, Ohio native, credited with the win, collapses to the ground, clutching his left arm in severe pain after the humerus bone snaps midway between his shoulder and elbow, with the sound of the breaking bone heard throughout the ballpark.
1990 A dramatic game-winning grand slam by Mark McGwire gives the Oakland A’s a ten-inning victory over the Red Sox, 6-2. ‘Big Mac’ becomes the first player to hit thirty home runs in his first four seasons.
1990 Phillies southpaw Terry Mulholland faces just twenty-seven hitters, no-hitting the Giants, 6-0, as a double play erases the only batter to reach base due to third baseman Charlie Hayes’ throwing error. The gem is the first nine-inning no-hitter ever thrown at the Philadelphia ballpark and is the eighth no-no of the season, surpassing the previous, set in 1908 and tied in 1917.
1993 Nolan Ryan wins the 324th and last victory of his 27-year career when the Rangers beat Cleveland, 6-4. The 46-year-old right-hander, who will lose his next four games, sees his career come to an end two starts sooner than he planned when a torn ligament forces him to leave the mound in the first inning in what will prove to be his worst big league outing and final major league appearance.
1995 “For a huge portion of my generation, Mickey Mantle was that baseball hero. And for reasons that no statistics, no dry recitation of facts can possibly capture, he was the most compelling baseball hero of our lifetime. And he was our symbol of baseball at a time when the game meant something to us that perhaps it no longer does.”- BOB COSTAS, delivering the eulogy at Mickey Mantle’s funeral. At the request of the Mantle family, Bob Costas delivers the eulogy at Mickey’s funeral. The popular broadcaster, known for his love of the game and his admiration of the Yankee superstar, describes the Hall of Famer as “a fragile hero to whom we had an emotional attachment so strong and lasting that it defied logic.”
1995 The Royals designated Vince Coleman for assignment, although he is hitting .287 and has 26 stolen bases in 75 games. After acquiring the available 33-year-old fleet outfielder, the Mariners compile a 26-14 record, with their new leadoff hitter being a key factor in the team capturing the American League Wild Card.
1999 In the first frame of Anaheim’s 10-2 victory in Detroit, Chuck Finley becomes the first major league hurler to strike out four batters in one inning twice in his career. The Angels’ southpaw also accomplished the feat on May 12 against the Yankees.
2005 In the Giants’ 7-3 victory over the Reds, Randy Winn becomes the twenty-first player in franchise history to hit for the cycle. The fleet flychaser, obtained from the Mariners two weeks ago, singles in the first, homers in the third, doubles in the fourth, completing the feat with a triple in the sixth inning in the Great American Ball Park.
2005 Felix Hernandez becomes the first teenager to strike out at least ten batters since Dwight Gooden accomplished the feat with the 1984 Mets. The 18-year-old Mariner rookie righty K’s 11 batters as the Mariners rout the Royals, 11-3.
2006 The Dodgers, with their 4-0 blanking of the Marlins, win their sixth consecutive game and 17th in the last 18 contests. The stretch is the team’s best run since the Brooklyn Superbas went 20-1 in 1899.
2006 Joining Jim Hickman (1965), Dave Kingman (1978), Caudell Washington (1980), Darryl Strawberry (1985), Gary Carter (1985), and Edgardo Alfonzo (1999), Jose Reyes, in an 11-4 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, becomes the seventh Mets player to hit three homers in a game. Like all his predecessors, his trifecta takes place on the road.
2006 In a contest that takes five hours and 21 minutes to complete, the Diamondbacks beat the Rockies at Coors Field, 2-1. The 18-inning game ties the D-Back franchise record for the most innings played in a contest and the longest in Colorado history for both frames played and the time of the game.
2007 The Devil Rays come to terms with their first overall selection in the June first-year player draft, left-handed pitcher David Price. The Vanderbilt University (11-1, 2.63) southpaw signs a six-year major league contract worth as much as $11.25 million if he sticks in the bigs for the length of the deal.
2008 Buster Posey, the fifth overall pick in the June amateur draft, gets the largest up-front bonus in major league history when he agrees to a $6.2 million signing deal with the Giants. The highly touted catcher gets slightly more than infielders Tim Beckham (first pick/shortstop), who receives $6.15 million from the Rays, and Pedro Alvarez (second pick/third baseman), who gets $6 million from the Pirates.
2011 Jim Thome becomes the eighth player to reach the 600 career home runs plateau when he hits a two-run homer in the sixth (599), followed by a three-run blast an inning later off Detroit’s Daniel Schlereth. Needing fewer at-bats to reach 600 than anyone except for Babe Ruth, the 40-year-old Twins slugger accomplishes the feat in his 8,167th at-bat, compared to the Bambino’s 6,921.
2011 At Petco Park, Jason Isringhausen becomes the 23rd major league pitcher to record 300 career saves when the Mets defeat San Diego in 10 innings, 5-4. The 38-year-old right-handed closer is the third pitcher, along with John Franco (1996) and Billy Wagner (2006), to achieve his 300th save wearing a Mets uniform.
2012 Joining Philip Humber (White Sox) and Matt Cain (Giants), Felix Hernandez becomes the third hurler to throw a perfect game this season, marking the first time in major league history that three spotless gems occur in the same year. “King Felix’s” 1-0 victory over the Rays at Safeco Field is the first perfect game and the fourth no-hitter in Mariner history, which includes hitless games tossed by Randy Johnson (1990) and Chris Bosio (1993) and the combined effort of six pitchers in June.
2012 Baseball suspends Giants’ left fielder Melky Cabrera for 50 games for testing positive for high levels of performance-enhancing testosterone, causing the All-Star Game’s MVP to miss the rest of the season. The second-leading hitter in the National League, 13 points behind Andrew McCutchen, is one plate appearance shy of qualifying for the batting title but could win the crown if he were to have the circuit’s best average after the addition of a theoretical at-bat.
2013 A proposal that would dramatically increase the number of reviewable plays is presented at the quarterly Owners Meetings by a committee consisting of Braves president John Schuerholz and former major league skippers Joe Torre and Tony La Russa. The rule change, to be formally voted on in November, allows a manager to ask an umpire to initiate a play review, with one challenge permitted in the first six innings and two more through the end of the game, without any provision to cover a missed call after a team uses all of its challenges.
2015 David Denson becomes the first player affiliated with a major league organization to come out as gay, sharing his sexual orientation in an interview with the Journal Sentinel. The 20-year-old first baseman/outfielder had previously shared his ground-breaking news with his Helena Brewers teammates and went public after much soul-searching and consulting with Billy Bean, a former big-leaguer who came out of the closet after he retired.
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
JOE SEWELL
Shortstop
Keep your eye on the ball. It’s one of the most basic tenets of hitting, stressed from the first time a young player picks up a bat. Joe Sewell, however, took it to another level.
“When I was a boy I’d walk around with a pocket full of rocks or a Coca-Cola top,” Sewell said, “and I can’t remember not being able to hit them with a broomstick handle.”
Sewell’s big league career was born out of one of the game’s tragedies. After Indians shortstop Ray Chapman died after being struck by a pitch from the Yankees’ Carl Mays in August 1920, Sewell was called up from the minors. The 21-year-old Sewell played in just 92 minor league games before his big league debut, yet he settled in immediately and helped the Indians win the 1920 World Series title.
Within a few seasons, Sewell had established himself as the game’s toughest batter to strikeout. Sewell fanned 20 times in 558 at-bats during the 1922 season, and that would be his career high. He never even reached double-digits in strikeouts in any of his last nine seasons. During the 1929 season, Sewell went 115 games between punchouts. He ended his career with a rate of 62.6 at-bats per strikeout.
He had seven seasons in which he recorded more than 500 at-bats while striking out less that 10 times. From September 1922 through April 1930, Sewell played in 1,103 consecutive games, the second-longest such streak in history at the time. Sewell was also known for using only a single bat through his entire career, a 40-ouncer he dubbed “Black Betsy.”
In the field, Sewell led American League shortstops in fielding percentage three times and finished in the Top 5 six times. He shifted to third base in 1929 and, after signing with the Yankees in 1931, was the regular third baseman for the Yankees club that won the 1932 World Series.
Sewell grew up in Alabama and was an accomplished college player with the University of Alabama. In later years, he returned to coach the Crimson Tide baseball team, winning a Southeastern Conference title in 1968. The university renamed its ballpark Sewell-Thomas Stadium in 1978, one year after Sewell’s induction to the Hall of Fame.
Sewell passed away on March 6, 1990.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
August 15, 1952 – The 19th Chicago Charities College All-Star game in played at Soldier Field and the Champion LA Rams overcome the young stars by a score of 10-7 in front of a crowd north of 88,000 people. The game’s MVP, always the top College All-Star performing player was Babe Parilli the former Kentucky quarterback.
August 15, 1958 – The 25th Chicago Charities College All-Star game in played at Soldier Field and the College Stars WIN over the defending Champs , the Detroit Lions by a score of 35-19 in front of a paid attendance of 70,000. The game’s MVP, always the top College All-Star performing player was a split decision that year with Co-MVPs Illinois HB/WR, Bobby Mitchell and Michigan State QB Jim Ninowski sharing the honor.
August 15, 1960 – The Calvary Stampeders of the CFL move into a new venue, McMahon Stadium.
August 15, 1960 – In a rare NFL exhibition game played in Canada the Chicago Bears defeated the NY Giants 16-7 in Toronto.
August 15, 1994 – According to NFL.com there was the All-time record crowd of 112,376 attending the American Bowl game. Yes the Houston Oilers defeated the Dallas Cowboy , 6-0 in Mexico City. The American Bowl was a series of preseason games held outside of the United States from 1986-2005.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAY FOR AUGUST 15
August 15, 1929 – Jerry Groom was a center from Notre Dame that became enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994. After graduation he played in the NFL for the Chicago Cardinals from 1951 thru the 1955 seasons, making the Pro Bowl in 1954.
August 15, 1950 – Sam Cunnigham was a former USC fullback that entered the College Football Hall of Fame in the 2010 class of enshrines. he was part of USC’s 1972 National Championship team and was voted as an All-American that same season. He played in the NFL for the New England Patriots from 1973 through the 1982 season and in 1978 made the Pro Bowl. He is NFL quarterback Randall Cunnigham’s older brother. Wow does that family have some offensive talent in their bloodline!
August 15, 1945 – Gene Upshaw is a former All-Pro Guard of the Oakland Raiders. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined the offensive lineman after his 15 fantastic seasons with the Raiders. Upshaw was the first player in NFL history to play in a a Super Bowl in three different decades ( 1967, 1978 & 1980). He came from the smaller NAIA college of Texas A & I. After he retired from playing he became a integral part of the NFLPA where he eventually served as the organization’s Executive Director.
FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
SAMMY BAUGH
Position: Halfback
Years: 1934-1936
Place of Birth: Temple, TX
Date of Birth: Mar 17, 1914
Place of Death: Rotan, TX
Date of Death: Dec 17, 2008
Jersey Number: 45
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180
High School: Temple, TX (Temple HS)Sweetwater, TX (Sweetwater HS)
“Slingin'” Sammy Baugh was the first of the great glamour players to give tremendous impetus to the modern passing game. Aided by the slimmer football developed in 1934, Baugh threw 587 passes in his three varsity seasons for 39 touchdowns and nearly two miles in yardage. In an era when 10 passes in a game was considered extravagant, Baugh threw as many as 40 passes in some games. Baugh was also an excellent punter, who as a professional would lead the league four times. During a 3-2 TCU victory over LSU in the Sugar Bowl, Baugh punted 14 times for a 48 yard average, placing many kicks inside the Tiger five yard line. Baugh gained All-America status in 1935 and repeated as a consensus All- America in his 1936 senior season. On New Year’s Day of 1937 Texas Christian played in the first Cotton Bowl defeating Marquette 16-6. As a professional with the Washington Redskins, he played on five division and two league championship teams. As a passer he led the league six times and still holds many NFL passing records. In addition to being a great passer and punter, Baugh was also a superior defensive player as he led the NFL in interceptions in 1943.
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
25 – 10 – 34 – 2 – 29 – 27 – 23
August 15, 1905 – Philadelphia A’s future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Rube Waddell no-hits St Louis Browns, 2-0 in 5 innings
August 15, 1912 – New York Yankee Guy Zinn sets record by stealing home twice in a game
August 15, 1990 – Oakland A’s Number 25, Mark McGwire is 1st to hit 30 HRs in each of his 1st 4 seasons
August 15, 1992 – Striker Brian Deane, Number 10 scored both goals for Sheffield United to open the season with a 2-1 home win over Manchester United at Bramall Lane. The first of Deane’s goals was the first in European Premier League’s inaugural season.
August 15, 1993 – Nolan Ryan, Number 34 324th & final victory, Rangers 4, Indians 1
August 15, 1997 – The Los Angeles Dodgers retired Tommy Lasorda’s Number 2. Of course that was his number as the manager of the LA club. As a player Lasorda pitched for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954 wearing Number 29 and in 1955 as the bearer of the Number 27 jersey. He finished his playing career in 1956 as a member of the Kansas City athletics wearing Number 23. His managerial tenure lasted from 1976 through 1996 with the Dodgers as he was a 4 time manager of the Year, won two NL pennants, and two World Series championships. His Win /Loss total was 1599-1439
August 15, 2012 – Seattle Mariners’ Felix Hernandez, Number 34 becomes 23rd pitcher to throw a perfect game (1-0 vs Tampa Bay)