1 day ago
It was difficult for Alex Bowman to hold back his emotions after Sunday's Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway. The driver of the No. 48 turned in his best performance of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, placing runner-up to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson.
The strong run at Gateway meant a little more to Bowman. Just prior to Sunday's race, Bowman revealed that his dog, Finn, who he called his best friend, sadly passed away. As the Arizona native reflected on his top-five performance at Gateway, he fought back tears in what has been an emotional weekend.
One day prior to Sunday's Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway, Bowman took to social media to announce the heartbreaking passing of his dog.
"I don't know how to say this out loud, but last night I lost my best friend. You only get a dog like Finn once in a lifetime. He was just the best," he wrote.
As Bowman spoke to USA Network's Dave Burns, he tried to keep himself together as he expressed appreciation for his No. 48 HMS team for helping him through the devastating loss.
#illinois #back #performance
The strong run at Gateway meant a little more to Bowman. Just prior to Sunday's race, Bowman revealed that his dog, Finn, who he called his best friend, sadly passed away. As the Arizona native reflected on his top-five performance at Gateway, he fought back tears in what has been an emotional weekend.
One day prior to Sunday's Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway, Bowman took to social media to announce the heartbreaking passing of his dog.
"I don't know how to say this out loud, but last night I lost my best friend. You only get a dog like Finn once in a lifetime. He was just the best," he wrote.
As Bowman spoke to USA Network's Dave Burns, he tried to keep himself together as he expressed appreciation for his No. 48 HMS team for helping him through the devastating loss.
#illinois #back #performance
3 days ago
ATLANTA — Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon had an understated but effective performance in his first Tennessee road game, beating Georgia Tech 45-24 on Sept. 12.
Brandon tossed two touchdown passes, avoided catastrophic mistakes, leaned on a ground game that rushed for almost 300 yards and let his defense make game-changing plays. That was enough for the 18th-ranked Vols (2-0) to hold off the Yellow Jackets (0-2).
Tennessee plays Kennesaw State on Sept. 19 (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium.
Here's a quick rundown of Brandon's performance against Georgia Tech for the first road win of his young career.
Brandon was 10-of-21 passing for 148 yards, two TDs and no interceptions against Georgia Tech. And he also rushed for 22 yards.
#game #yards #tennessee #performance
Brandon tossed two touchdown passes, avoided catastrophic mistakes, leaned on a ground game that rushed for almost 300 yards and let his defense make game-changing plays. That was enough for the 18th-ranked Vols (2-0) to hold off the Yellow Jackets (0-2).
Tennessee plays Kennesaw State on Sept. 19 (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium.
Here's a quick rundown of Brandon's performance against Georgia Tech for the first road win of his young career.
Brandon was 10-of-21 passing for 148 yards, two TDs and no interceptions against Georgia Tech. And he also rushed for 22 yards.
#game #yards #tennessee #performance
4 days ago
The Virginia Cavaliers did not mess around on Friday night, taking care of Norfolk State, 59-3. As expected, the 'Hoos overmatched the Spartans for 60 minutes, allowing all sorts of reserves to get live reps in the second half.
Three different UVA quarterbacks threw touchdown passes. Beau Pribula, who played the first two quarters, was once again ultra efficient, throwing for 162 yards on 12-of-14 passing with three touchdowns. Of note, Pribula did not have a single designed rushing attempt; offensive coordinator Des Kitchings chose to keep him upright and allow him to sling the rock from the pocket instead.
Backups Eli Holstein and Cole Geer ultimately had limited passing attempts, but both had one impressive throw to build on. Holstein opened the second half with a beautiful goal line fade to Ty'Lyric Coleman in the back corner of the end zone, while Geer found high school teammate Williem Thurber on a tight window up the seam for 28 yards in the fourth.
At the skill positions, wide receiver Jacquon Gibson got himself on the board with two touchdown catches from Pribula, after failing to reach the end zone a single time with UMass in 2025. Meanwhile, sophomore Xay Davis showcased his burst out of the backfield, totaling 107 ticks on 13 attempts.
On the defensive end, Kam Robinson made his way back to the field (in a limited capacity), a welcomed sight for the Cavalier faithful. The first-team secondary looked particularly strong, with Brandyn Hillman hauling in his second and third interceptions of the season, and Jacobie Henderson displaying some playmaking ability of his own. Sophomore linebacker Justin Rowe added a pick six in the final minutes for good measure.
#three
Three different UVA quarterbacks threw touchdown passes. Beau Pribula, who played the first two quarters, was once again ultra efficient, throwing for 162 yards on 12-of-14 passing with three touchdowns. Of note, Pribula did not have a single designed rushing attempt; offensive coordinator Des Kitchings chose to keep him upright and allow him to sling the rock from the pocket instead.
Backups Eli Holstein and Cole Geer ultimately had limited passing attempts, but both had one impressive throw to build on. Holstein opened the second half with a beautiful goal line fade to Ty'Lyric Coleman in the back corner of the end zone, while Geer found high school teammate Williem Thurber on a tight window up the seam for 28 yards in the fourth.
At the skill positions, wide receiver Jacquon Gibson got himself on the board with two touchdown catches from Pribula, after failing to reach the end zone a single time with UMass in 2025. Meanwhile, sophomore Xay Davis showcased his burst out of the backfield, totaling 107 ticks on 13 attempts.
On the defensive end, Kam Robinson made his way back to the field (in a limited capacity), a welcomed sight for the Cavalier faithful. The first-team secondary looked particularly strong, with Brandyn Hillman hauling in his second and third interceptions of the season, and Jacobie Henderson displaying some playmaking ability of his own. Sophomore linebacker Justin Rowe added a pick six in the final minutes for good measure.
#three
5 days ago
The Los Angeles Rams, the heavy Super Bowl favorites entering the season, opened the year in the NFL's first-ever game in Melbourne, Australia, against the San Francisco 49ers. The majority of the attention the Rams have gotten this offseason has been centered on the defensive line, which was bolstered by the acquisition of the NFL's single-season sack record holder Myles Garrett and the return of Aaron Donald from retirement.
However, Los Angeles also has one of the most potent offenses in the league, with reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford passing to two of the best wide receivers in the league, Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. Unfortunately for Nacua, he's been caught up in some off-the-field trouble recently.
Ahead of kickoff on Thursday, Nacua sat down with Netflix's Elle Duncan and spoke candidly about his struggles wth alcohol.
"I think I learned that I'm very avoidant of conflict, which is very interesting due to the football nature of… I would like to say I play very physical, just avoidant of the things that I know were causing me stress," Nacua told Duncan.
"Just, I think some of the change in lifestyle that came up to me, becoming a public figure, the stress of performing at a high level," he responded after being asked what was causing him stress. "And then I recently became a father. My son is 10 months old. And navigating that co-parenting relationship with his mother, I would kind of isolate myself to feel like the weight of all the issues and things that I have was stuck on my shoulders, and not being willing to ask for help. I was never one to share my fears and my worries. I was always Finding different ways to escape, I guess, from that tension or that stress."
#recently
However, Los Angeles also has one of the most potent offenses in the league, with reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford passing to two of the best wide receivers in the league, Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. Unfortunately for Nacua, he's been caught up in some off-the-field trouble recently.
Ahead of kickoff on Thursday, Nacua sat down with Netflix's Elle Duncan and spoke candidly about his struggles wth alcohol.
"I think I learned that I'm very avoidant of conflict, which is very interesting due to the football nature of… I would like to say I play very physical, just avoidant of the things that I know were causing me stress," Nacua told Duncan.
"Just, I think some of the change in lifestyle that came up to me, becoming a public figure, the stress of performing at a high level," he responded after being asked what was causing him stress. "And then I recently became a father. My son is 10 months old. And navigating that co-parenting relationship with his mother, I would kind of isolate myself to feel like the weight of all the issues and things that I have was stuck on my shoulders, and not being willing to ask for help. I was never one to share my fears and my worries. I was always Finding different ways to escape, I guess, from that tension or that stress."
#recently
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7 days ago
Timely enough off the heels of the Labor Day holiday yesterday, the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement, the labor rules agreed to by the NHL and the NHLPA, kicks in next week. The new agreement is in place through September 2030, marking the second time in a row the two sides have put a deal in place without missing any time. That's no small matter, prior to the recent labor peace the NHL owners have locked out the players in 2004 and 2012 for significant periods that cost a total of 116 games.
These days, fortunately for all, there is more cooperation and perhaps about the best working relationship between the owners and players that we have seen in hockey. Those good feelings are no doubt influenced by business as a whole booming – revenue is way up so their is more money to be made by both sides. Further, ownership is absolutely swimming in vastly increased valuation and sale prices lately – look no further than the Penguins selling for $1.75 billion in 2026 after selling for $900 million just five years earlier.
The new CBA had some rules come on board early for last season – like LTIR tweaks and the playoff salary cap. Here are a few more interesting tweaks in place.
Training camps open Sept. 16 to coincide with the start of that new labor deal, and they'll look much different than they did in the past. Experienced players will be put through only a 13-day camp, down from 20 days, and those with at least 100 NHL games on their resumes are now limited to two exhibition games. Each team will play only four exhibition games.
The preseason shrinks again, at least formally. Most players across the league are already skating informally with their teammates and have been for a week or more by this point. That amount of time in the pre-practice stage will now be longer than the formal, official 13-day training camp. Long gone are the days of multiple on-ice sessions per day. In fact, teams can also no longer implement fitness testing for unpopular tests on the exercise bike or the so-called dreaded bag skate or repetitive timed sprints.
#players #place #rules
These days, fortunately for all, there is more cooperation and perhaps about the best working relationship between the owners and players that we have seen in hockey. Those good feelings are no doubt influenced by business as a whole booming – revenue is way up so their is more money to be made by both sides. Further, ownership is absolutely swimming in vastly increased valuation and sale prices lately – look no further than the Penguins selling for $1.75 billion in 2026 after selling for $900 million just five years earlier.
The new CBA had some rules come on board early for last season – like LTIR tweaks and the playoff salary cap. Here are a few more interesting tweaks in place.
Training camps open Sept. 16 to coincide with the start of that new labor deal, and they'll look much different than they did in the past. Experienced players will be put through only a 13-day camp, down from 20 days, and those with at least 100 NHL games on their resumes are now limited to two exhibition games. Each team will play only four exhibition games.
The preseason shrinks again, at least formally. Most players across the league are already skating informally with their teammates and have been for a week or more by this point. That amount of time in the pre-practice stage will now be longer than the formal, official 13-day training camp. Long gone are the days of multiple on-ice sessions per day. In fact, teams can also no longer implement fitness testing for unpopular tests on the exercise bike or the so-called dreaded bag skate or repetitive timed sprints.
#players #place #rules
9 days ago
Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers had a strong scouting presence at the Texas vs. Texas State matchup on Saturday. Green Bay's general manager got a first-hand look at the Longhorns dismantling the Bobcats 59-7.
The Longhorns will likely have four players get drafted in the first round in the 2027 NFL Draft and they'll have plenty of prospects who could be on Green Bay's radar on Day 2 and 3 of the draft.
Let's dive into some of the Longhorn prospects who stood out during their season-opening victory on Saturday.
If the Packers take a Longhorn prospect in the Top 150 of the upcoming draft, the leader in the clubhouse is Hero Kanu. Kanu flashed his quickness and power and finished the day with 1.5 tackles for loss. He's going to be a problem for teams all season.
Fellow defensive tackle Ian Geffrard was impressive in his Longhorns debut. The Arkansas transfer was a hoss recording three run stops.
#longhorn
The Longhorns will likely have four players get drafted in the first round in the 2027 NFL Draft and they'll have plenty of prospects who could be on Green Bay's radar on Day 2 and 3 of the draft.
Let's dive into some of the Longhorn prospects who stood out during their season-opening victory on Saturday.
If the Packers take a Longhorn prospect in the Top 150 of the upcoming draft, the leader in the clubhouse is Hero Kanu. Kanu flashed his quickness and power and finished the day with 1.5 tackles for loss. He's going to be a problem for teams all season.
Fellow defensive tackle Ian Geffrard was impressive in his Longhorns debut. The Arkansas transfer was a hoss recording three run stops.
#longhorn
10 days ago
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jadan Baugh ran for 160 yards and three touchdowns, juking defenders nearly every time he touched the ball, and Florida opened the Jon Sumrall era with a 66-21 win over Florida Atlantic on Saturday night.
Aaron Philo added 275 yards passing and four total scores as the Gators won their seventh consecutive home debut for a new coach. This one was the highest-scoring season opener for Florida since 1994.
Sumrall entered the sold-out Swamp amid fire, smoke and strobe lights. He delivered a fiery pregame speech on the field and then really showed what he's about with a dominant win that was never in doubt. He even had his team throwing — and scoring — in the final minute, reminding some of Hall of Famer Steve Spurrier.
Florida scored on its first six possessions. Philo connected with Vernell Brown III for a 49-yard score and then found former Georgia Tech teammate and current roommate Bailey Stockton for a 12-yarder.
Philo scrambled for a score on fourth down to make it 24-7. Brown finished with 117 yards on six receptions.
#baugh
Aaron Philo added 275 yards passing and four total scores as the Gators won their seventh consecutive home debut for a new coach. This one was the highest-scoring season opener for Florida since 1994.
Sumrall entered the sold-out Swamp amid fire, smoke and strobe lights. He delivered a fiery pregame speech on the field and then really showed what he's about with a dominant win that was never in doubt. He even had his team throwing — and scoring — in the final minute, reminding some of Hall of Famer Steve Spurrier.
Florida scored on its first six possessions. Philo connected with Vernell Brown III for a 49-yard score and then found former Georgia Tech teammate and current roommate Bailey Stockton for a 12-yarder.
Philo scrambled for a score on fourth down to make it 24-7. Brown finished with 117 yards on six receptions.
#baugh
12 days ago
AUSTIN - Steve Sarkisian begins his sixth season as Texas head football coach Saturday.
And his most important.
The 2026 season, which begins with an intriguing game against a vastly improved Texas State team, shapes up as a critical referendum on the Longhorn coach's reputation. Not his job status, but his image, if you will.
But let's be clear.
It's not a make-or-break year. Not anywhere that serious although many think if Texas doesn't break through and at a minimum reach the national ****** le game Jan. 25 in Las Vegas this season, then when? It's a fair point with his loaded roster.
#break #steve
And his most important.
The 2026 season, which begins with an intriguing game against a vastly improved Texas State team, shapes up as a critical referendum on the Longhorn coach's reputation. Not his job status, but his image, if you will.
But let's be clear.
It's not a make-or-break year. Not anywhere that serious although many think if Texas doesn't break through and at a minimum reach the national ****** le game Jan. 25 in Las Vegas this season, then when? It's a fair point with his loaded roster.
#break #steve
13 days ago
"So that's who's going to be the Buffalo Bills punt returner this season," the thoughts of many fans after the report and subsequent team announcement of the Greg Dortch signing on Monday.
With 99 career punt returns in the NFL, which includes a hefty 11.6 yards-per-return average in 2025, Dortch's presence on the Bills (practice squad) roster does in fact mean Buffalo now has an experienced punt returner.
And for as much as this signing feels like a savvy move born from special-teams desperation, I'm sneaky into Dortch as a supplemental receiving weapon within the Bills offense this season.
The first move of the Joe Brady era was trading for D.J. Moore. Clearly, the new regime deemed it most vital to upgrade a receiver room that, frankly, was one of the least dynamic in football last year. Couple the original relative lack of premier talent with an unusually high amount of injuries… and the Bills were forced to lean on Tyrell Shavers, Gabe Davis, Mecole Hardman, and Brandin Cooks, the latter two signed in November, down the stretch. And it just so happened that Josh Allen's final two targeted throws of Buffalo's 2025 season were to Hardman and Cooks, neither of which were completed, of course.
Because Moore and fourth-round pick Skyler Bell were the only two receivers of genuine importance added to the Bills receiver contingent this offseason… heck yeah I'm intrigued by the possibilities of a newly signed veteran wideout with 145 career catches on his NFL resume to date.
#season
With 99 career punt returns in the NFL, which includes a hefty 11.6 yards-per-return average in 2025, Dortch's presence on the Bills (practice squad) roster does in fact mean Buffalo now has an experienced punt returner.
And for as much as this signing feels like a savvy move born from special-teams desperation, I'm sneaky into Dortch as a supplemental receiving weapon within the Bills offense this season.
The first move of the Joe Brady era was trading for D.J. Moore. Clearly, the new regime deemed it most vital to upgrade a receiver room that, frankly, was one of the least dynamic in football last year. Couple the original relative lack of premier talent with an unusually high amount of injuries… and the Bills were forced to lean on Tyrell Shavers, Gabe Davis, Mecole Hardman, and Brandin Cooks, the latter two signed in November, down the stretch. And it just so happened that Josh Allen's final two targeted throws of Buffalo's 2025 season were to Hardman and Cooks, neither of which were completed, of course.
Because Moore and fourth-round pick Skyler Bell were the only two receivers of genuine importance added to the Bills receiver contingent this offseason… heck yeah I'm intrigued by the possibilities of a newly signed veteran wideout with 145 career catches on his NFL resume to date.
#season
14 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Yohandy Morales homered in his first major league game and Jared Simpson earned the win in relief in his own debut, helping the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 9-5 on Tuesday night.
The Nationals called up Morales and Simpson before the game, with major league rosters expanding from 26 to 28. After striking out his first time up, Morales hit a solo shot in the third inning. Simpson (1-0) entered in the fifth with Washington up 5-2 and induced a double play and a flyout after inheriting a first-and-second, ****** ody-out situation.
Then he worked two more perfect innings.
The 24-year-old Morales, who hit 25 homers for Triple-A Rochester this year, also singled and doubled in an impressive debut.
AJ Smith-Shawver (0-1) allowed five runs and six hits in four innings. Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II homered for the Braves, whose lead over Philadelphia atop the NL East dropped to 3 1/2 games, with the Phillies playing at Arizona later Tuesday.
#washington #first #nationals #major
The Nationals called up Morales and Simpson before the game, with major league rosters expanding from 26 to 28. After striking out his first time up, Morales hit a solo shot in the third inning. Simpson (1-0) entered in the fifth with Washington up 5-2 and induced a double play and a flyout after inheriting a first-and-second, ****** ody-out situation.
Then he worked two more perfect innings.
The 24-year-old Morales, who hit 25 homers for Triple-A Rochester this year, also singled and doubled in an impressive debut.
AJ Smith-Shawver (0-1) allowed five runs and six hits in four innings. Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II homered for the Braves, whose lead over Philadelphia atop the NL East dropped to 3 1/2 games, with the Phillies playing at Arizona later Tuesday.
#washington #first #nationals #major
15 days ago
Payton Tolle is one of the best stories of the 2026 season. A thoughtful prospect writer brought him to my attention early last year, knowing my affinity for a good four-seamer, a thick 'stache and a mien that would be equally at home on a small fishing boat off the coast of Bangor in 1890 as he is on a pitching mound. Tolle wears his emotions openly across his face and through his body; the joy, the devastation, the playfulness. To be pitching at the level that he is requires skill and effort, but part of Tolle's charm is the authenticity woven within all that baseball work. Maybe this won't resonate to anyone else, but there are a lot of guys who present as baseball players first and humans as a secondary classification. Tolle is distinctly a human playing baseball, and it's one of the highest compliments I can pay (see also: Gutierrez, Franklin or Wilhelmsen, Tom, among others).
It came as little surprise, then, when Tolle cited the Turnpike Troubadors as one of his favorite musical acts. There's the Oklahoma connection, of course, with both hailing from the Sooner State, but that same authenticity runs through every song Turnpike performs. And that's courtesy of Evan Felker, the band's lead singer and one of the finest songwriters of the generation.
No one here needs to read any more about the Seattle Mariners today. Honestly, we're all probably good for the rest of the year on consumption of Mariners content, but regardless of their record this is still a community, and community means continuing showing up for one another. In gratitude for you all, I offer a selection of some of my favorite Turnpike Troubadors lyrics and songs. I hope that in the ragged place baseball usually occupies, maybe they'll prompt that thrum of recognition in your chest that only good art can inspire.
"Come back from the dark somehow
Finally living in the here and now
No sign of a thundercloud following you
Don't take it personal, the world don't turn around you
Hold on to the moment like it's heaven passing through" – Heaven Passing Through
View Link
#good #troubadors
It came as little surprise, then, when Tolle cited the Turnpike Troubadors as one of his favorite musical acts. There's the Oklahoma connection, of course, with both hailing from the Sooner State, but that same authenticity runs through every song Turnpike performs. And that's courtesy of Evan Felker, the band's lead singer and one of the finest songwriters of the generation.
No one here needs to read any more about the Seattle Mariners today. Honestly, we're all probably good for the rest of the year on consumption of Mariners content, but regardless of their record this is still a community, and community means continuing showing up for one another. In gratitude for you all, I offer a selection of some of my favorite Turnpike Troubadors lyrics and songs. I hope that in the ragged place baseball usually occupies, maybe they'll prompt that thrum of recognition in your chest that only good art can inspire.
"Come back from the dark somehow
Finally living in the here and now
No sign of a thundercloud following you
Don't take it personal, the world don't turn around you
Hold on to the moment like it's heaven passing through" – Heaven Passing Through
View Link
#good #troubadors
17 days ago
The New York Giants finished out their 2026 preseason schedule with a decisive 23-6 victory over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Friday night.
The Giants moved to 2-1 this summer and will now gird themselves for roster cutdown day on Sunday. They won't play again until their home opener on Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Here are three things we learned from the dominant win over the Jets.
The Giants signed veteran running back Najee Harris last week, which has led to questions surrounding workload distribution and snap counts. Harris isn't flashy, but he is the perfect early-down back who can soften up defenses. He gives the Giants a lot of options in the running game. They run five deep and should be fresh for four quarters this year. The Giants want to run the ball a lot this season, and we're seeing what that will look like.
The one thing the Giants were counting on when they hired John Harbaugh was his ability to build strong special teams. It didn't take him very long. He has a top punter in free agent Jordan Stout and now appears to have a rising star at kicker in Dominic Zvada. The return and coverage teams have been playing with more discipline under coordinator Chris Horton.
#teams #metlife
The Giants moved to 2-1 this summer and will now gird themselves for roster cutdown day on Sunday. They won't play again until their home opener on Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Here are three things we learned from the dominant win over the Jets.
The Giants signed veteran running back Najee Harris last week, which has led to questions surrounding workload distribution and snap counts. Harris isn't flashy, but he is the perfect early-down back who can soften up defenses. He gives the Giants a lot of options in the running game. They run five deep and should be fresh for four quarters this year. The Giants want to run the ball a lot this season, and we're seeing what that will look like.
The one thing the Giants were counting on when they hired John Harbaugh was his ability to build strong special teams. It didn't take him very long. He has a top punter in free agent Jordan Stout and now appears to have a rising star at kicker in Dominic Zvada. The return and coverage teams have been playing with more discipline under coordinator Chris Horton.
#teams #metlife
18 days ago
The New England Patriots ' defense under Bill Belichick was built around preparation, repetition, and making practice uncomfortable. Now, Matt Patricia is revealing how far that philosophy went. The goal was never to make practice look clean but to make game-day chaos feel familiar before players ever stepped onto an NFL field.
That meant coaches intentionally created situations they knew would happen on Sundays. Defenders were asked to grab. Offensive linemen faced simulated penalties. Pass rushers practiced against players jumping offside. Even the scout team was instructed to make life harder.
Nov 29, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick addresses the media after the second half of the game against NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
Patricia explained the unusual approach on August 28 in a discussion with Julian Edelman. The former Patriots defensive coordinator said the Patriots deliberately recreated difficult game situations during practice because players needed to experience those moments repeatedly before facing them for real.
"Defensively, there's three things that can happen on the play. You can break it up, he can catch it, or they're going to get a PI.
#Patriots
That meant coaches intentionally created situations they knew would happen on Sundays. Defenders were asked to grab. Offensive linemen faced simulated penalties. Pass rushers practiced against players jumping offside. Even the scout team was instructed to make life harder.
Nov 29, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick addresses the media after the second half of the game against NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
Patricia explained the unusual approach on August 28 in a discussion with Julian Edelman. The former Patriots defensive coordinator said the Patriots deliberately recreated difficult game situations during practice because players needed to experience those moments repeatedly before facing them for real.
"Defensively, there's three things that can happen on the play. You can break it up, he can catch it, or they're going to get a PI.
#Patriots
19 days ago
Well, the good news is that Marquette women's soccer is unbeaten through five matches for the first time since 2007. The good news is that Marquette hasn't allowed a non-penalty kick goal yet this season. The good news is that freshman keeper Mia Hurd has three shutouts in five matches to start her career.
The bad news is that Marquette failed to score for the first time this season, and so they have to settle for a 0-0 draw with Milwaukee. The bad news is that the hundreds of Marquette freshmen who streamed down to the Valley for this match did not get to see the most thrilling example of competition with the two teams combining for just 21 shots in 90 minutes.
At least Marquette won the shots on goal battle 7-3, I guess?
Here's 90 seconds of highlights.
Up Next: Marquette is back in action on Sunday as they welcome Northern Illinois to Valley Fields. First kick is scheduled for 1pm Central, and ESPN+ will have the streaming broadcast. A 4-0 loss to Missouri on Thursday night dropped the Huskies to 1-2-1 on the season.
#marquette #kick
The bad news is that Marquette failed to score for the first time this season, and so they have to settle for a 0-0 draw with Milwaukee. The bad news is that the hundreds of Marquette freshmen who streamed down to the Valley for this match did not get to see the most thrilling example of competition with the two teams combining for just 21 shots in 90 minutes.
At least Marquette won the shots on goal battle 7-3, I guess?
Here's 90 seconds of highlights.
Up Next: Marquette is back in action on Sunday as they welcome Northern Illinois to Valley Fields. First kick is scheduled for 1pm Central, and ESPN+ will have the streaming broadcast. A 4-0 loss to Missouri on Thursday night dropped the Huskies to 1-2-1 on the season.
#marquette #kick
20 days ago
In what is turning out to be a supremely embarrassing situation for the San Francisco 49ers, their owner, Jed York, made headlines for all the wrong reasons after being arrested in an undercover sting in a trailer park in East Palestine, Ohio. He has since pleaded no contest to the arrest.
The NFL is likely to take a dim view of this situation, and commissioner Roger Goodell has since made his position clear regarding whether he violated the NFL's personal conduct policy.
York was stopped by police in a rental car, looking to pay $140 to whom he believed was a prostitute in a trailer park, but was in fact a sting operation. After pleading no contest, he was sentenced to one day in prison for each offense he was charged with.
NFL commissioner Goodell has since made his position clear: "It's being reviewed under our personal conduct policy. And we'll do that. And when there is something to be reported, we'll comment further."
Punishment for owners who violate the NFL's personal conduct policy is not without precedent.
#conduct #goodell
The NFL is likely to take a dim view of this situation, and commissioner Roger Goodell has since made his position clear regarding whether he violated the NFL's personal conduct policy.
York was stopped by police in a rental car, looking to pay $140 to whom he believed was a prostitute in a trailer park, but was in fact a sting operation. After pleading no contest, he was sentenced to one day in prison for each offense he was charged with.
NFL commissioner Goodell has since made his position clear: "It's being reviewed under our personal conduct policy. And we'll do that. And when there is something to be reported, we'll comment further."
Punishment for owners who violate the NFL's personal conduct policy is not without precedent.
#conduct #goodell
21 days ago
it might be fragment time. we just watched baseball until 1:15 AM.
in the early innings of Tuesday night's game, the Guardians loaded the bases with no outs and didn't score any runs from it, and Gavin Williams got shelled.
game over, right?
NO!
Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez responded by running the bases for 3 consecutive hours and Kurt Suzuki got to sit in the dugout and watch Jose thrive. His least favorite activity.
#williams #kwan
in the early innings of Tuesday night's game, the Guardians loaded the bases with no outs and didn't score any runs from it, and Gavin Williams got shelled.
game over, right?
NO!
Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez responded by running the bases for 3 consecutive hours and Kurt Suzuki got to sit in the dugout and watch Jose thrive. His least favorite activity.
#williams #kwan
21 days ago
As Ollie Watkins continues to be linked to Saudi Pro League side, Al-Hilal, many Aston Villa fans will wonder why this could turn their centre forward's head.
Saudi football expert Mohamed Qutob told Radio WM that the Saudi side are in the market to replace five-time Champions League winner, Karim Benzema.
"They're a little disappointed with their main man. They want a replacement and Ollie Watkins is top of the list," said Qutob.
"What we also know is the Saudis have plenty of money. If they really, really need Ollie, they might be able to match the valuation after all."
One English forward who was tempted to join the Saudi Pro League was Ivan Toney, who has gone on to win back-to-back Asian Champions League ****** les with Al-Ahli, whilst also still being called up to Thomas Tuchel's England squad.
#qutob #hilal
Saudi football expert Mohamed Qutob told Radio WM that the Saudi side are in the market to replace five-time Champions League winner, Karim Benzema.
"They're a little disappointed with their main man. They want a replacement and Ollie Watkins is top of the list," said Qutob.
"What we also know is the Saudis have plenty of money. If they really, really need Ollie, they might be able to match the valuation after all."
One English forward who was tempted to join the Saudi Pro League was Ivan Toney, who has gone on to win back-to-back Asian Champions League ****** les with Al-Ahli, whilst also still being called up to Thomas Tuchel's England squad.
#qutob #hilal
22 days ago
Florida football opens its 2026 campaign in under two weeks as the Jon Sumrall era kicks off in Gainesville. Ahead of the season's start, USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg published his full re-rank of all 138 FBS schools.
Myerberg's previous rerank for this fall came out in April, with the Gators placed at No. 38. In his final salvo of the preseason, the Orange and Blue find themselves up two spots at No. 36 and 10th among Southeastern Conference schools.
Sumrall and Co. enter the campaign outside the top 25 of both the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Poll, with a de facto No. 27 ranking in both. Last year in Billy Napier's final season at the helm, Florida opened the schedule ranked No. 17 in the Coaches and No. 15 in the AP polls, while Myerberg had the Gators at No. 25 in his preseason re-rank.
The SEC has eight programs among the top 25 in the re-rank, headlined by third-ranked Texas, along with Georgia (No. 6), Oklahoma (No. 7) and Alabama (No. 9) in the top 10. Ole Miss (No. 11), Texas A&M (No. 13), LSU (No. 18) and Tennessee (No. 19) round out the top 25.
Florida begins its season against FAU in the Swamp on Saturday, Sept. 5.
#sumrall #texas
Myerberg's previous rerank for this fall came out in April, with the Gators placed at No. 38. In his final salvo of the preseason, the Orange and Blue find themselves up two spots at No. 36 and 10th among Southeastern Conference schools.
Sumrall and Co. enter the campaign outside the top 25 of both the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Poll, with a de facto No. 27 ranking in both. Last year in Billy Napier's final season at the helm, Florida opened the schedule ranked No. 17 in the Coaches and No. 15 in the AP polls, while Myerberg had the Gators at No. 25 in his preseason re-rank.
The SEC has eight programs among the top 25 in the re-rank, headlined by third-ranked Texas, along with Georgia (No. 6), Oklahoma (No. 7) and Alabama (No. 9) in the top 10. Ole Miss (No. 11), Texas A&M (No. 13), LSU (No. 18) and Tennessee (No. 19) round out the top 25.
Florida begins its season against FAU in the Swamp on Saturday, Sept. 5.
#sumrall #texas
23 days ago
Manchester City have agreed a deal in principle worth 100m euros (£86m) to sign 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
BBC Sport reported earlier this week that the two clubs were in advanced talks over a deal for the Morocco international to join City.
An agreement for the teenager to join Enzo Maresca's side is now in place, with Bouaddi now set to complete his protracted move to England.
Having sold midfielders Rodri and Tijani Reinders, the Premier League side have prioritised central midfield as an area to strengthen.
They remain interested in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez but it remains to be seen whether a deal can be struck.
#city #bouaddi #enzo #ayyoub
BBC Sport reported earlier this week that the two clubs were in advanced talks over a deal for the Morocco international to join City.
An agreement for the teenager to join Enzo Maresca's side is now in place, with Bouaddi now set to complete his protracted move to England.
Having sold midfielders Rodri and Tijani Reinders, the Premier League side have prioritised central midfield as an area to strengthen.
They remain interested in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez but it remains to be seen whether a deal can be struck.
#city #bouaddi #enzo #ayyoub
24 days ago
MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan got its ***** le defense off to a near-perfect start with a 4-1 win over newly-promoted Monza in Serie A on Saturday.
In Spain later, José Mourinho was set to take charge of his first match back at Real Madrid — away at Espanyol.
Elsewhere in Europe, Manchester United lost 2-0 at newly-promoted Hull in the Premier League, while in France, last season's runner-up Lens comfortably beat Auxerre 5-2.
Inter forward Pio Esposito had a breakout season last campaign and the 21-year-old started right where he left off for the Nerazzurri.
An impressive backheel flick from Esposito put Inter 3-1 up in early in the second half and Yann Bisseck added a fourth shortly afterwards.
#esposito #promoted #monza #serie
In Spain later, José Mourinho was set to take charge of his first match back at Real Madrid — away at Espanyol.
Elsewhere in Europe, Manchester United lost 2-0 at newly-promoted Hull in the Premier League, while in France, last season's runner-up Lens comfortably beat Auxerre 5-2.
Inter forward Pio Esposito had a breakout season last campaign and the 21-year-old started right where he left off for the Nerazzurri.
An impressive backheel flick from Esposito put Inter 3-1 up in early in the second half and Yann Bisseck added a fourth shortly afterwards.
#esposito #promoted #monza #serie
26 days ago
CHICAGO (AP) — Grant Holmes took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Austin Riley doubled and singled to drive in Atlanta's runs, and the Braves topped the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Thursday to end a three-game slide.
Holmes didn't allow a hit until Andrew Benintendi lined a single to left with no outs in the seventh in the matchup between division leaders. The right-hander was relieved by Didier Fuentes after the hit, which followed a leadoff walk to Miguel Vargas.
The 30-year-old Holmes (8-5) walked three and struck out three in a six-plus inning, 94-pitch outing. Fuentes closed out the seventh by striking out the side and stranding two runners. Dylan Lee followed with a perfect eighth and Raisel Iglesias tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his 26th save to complete a one-hitter.
Atlanta's Mauricio Dubón had three hits and scored a run.
White Sox starter Anthony Kay (9-6) yielded two runs on five hits in six-plus innings, walking one and striking out six. Chicago has dropped three of four.
#Chicago #holmes #followed
Holmes didn't allow a hit until Andrew Benintendi lined a single to left with no outs in the seventh in the matchup between division leaders. The right-hander was relieved by Didier Fuentes after the hit, which followed a leadoff walk to Miguel Vargas.
The 30-year-old Holmes (8-5) walked three and struck out three in a six-plus inning, 94-pitch outing. Fuentes closed out the seventh by striking out the side and stranding two runners. Dylan Lee followed with a perfect eighth and Raisel Iglesias tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his 26th save to complete a one-hitter.
Atlanta's Mauricio Dubón had three hits and scored a run.
White Sox starter Anthony Kay (9-6) yielded two runs on five hits in six-plus innings, walking one and striking out six. Chicago has dropped three of four.
#Chicago #holmes #followed
26 days ago
ST. CLOUD, MN — The soccer season is right around the corner, and there are a handful of girls' soccer squads with high hopes going into the season. Others might just wish to see the ball go into the net in each game.
Starting with the best the St. Cloud metro has to offer:
2025 record: 18-3-1, Class 1A co-third place finish
Top returners: F Amelia Newiger, F Nora Simones, F/GK Jordan Bovy
While not quite as dominant in recent years as their boys team counterparts, the girls over at Cathedral have certainly impressed in their own regard with three consecutive seasons without a conference loss, and most recently a co-third place finish at the state tournament.
#place #finish
Starting with the best the St. Cloud metro has to offer:
2025 record: 18-3-1, Class 1A co-third place finish
Top returners: F Amelia Newiger, F Nora Simones, F/GK Jordan Bovy
While not quite as dominant in recent years as their boys team counterparts, the girls over at Cathedral have certainly impressed in their own regard with three consecutive seasons without a conference loss, and most recently a co-third place finish at the state tournament.
#place #finish
28 days ago
Shohei Ohtani hit his 30th home run of the season to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, Aug. 18, in Denver.
Ohtani sent the ball into the Dodgers' bullpen for a two-run blast, breaking a 1-1 tie.
He also extended a now-22-game hit streak at Coors Field. He's hit 10 home runs with 26 RBIs during that streak.
The 30-homer milestone adds to his case in the National League MVP race with Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs. Crow-Armstrong hit two home runs on Monday to reach 30 home runs on the season.
NL MVP odds: How do Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong compare?
#ohtani #crow #armstrong
Ohtani sent the ball into the Dodgers' bullpen for a two-run blast, breaking a 1-1 tie.
He also extended a now-22-game hit streak at Coors Field. He's hit 10 home runs with 26 RBIs during that streak.
The 30-homer milestone adds to his case in the National League MVP race with Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs. Crow-Armstrong hit two home runs on Monday to reach 30 home runs on the season.
NL MVP odds: How do Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong compare?
#ohtani #crow #armstrong
28 days ago
The Oregon Ducks are about to see how much they can save, or earn, with Progressive Insurance.
On Tuesday, Progressive announced a partnership with 13 programs around the country to add on-field logos, starting this season. Oregon is one of the programs that will have logos on the field inside Autzen Stadium. The deal is set to begin this season.
Boise State, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas State, Ole Miss, Purdue, SMU, Syracuse, Texas Tech, USC and Wake Forest will also have logos on their fields this season. The move will help inject more funding into athletic departments to support the changing economic landscape of the sport. No financial details about the agreement were disclosed.
Oregon has one of the most expensive rosters in the country in terms of NIL money. Many programs and conferences around the country are seeking corporate sponsorships to help with funding in the future to build competitive rosters.
For the fans, the partnership won't change the experience of watching the Ducks play on Saturdays. Yes, there will be logos on the field and more branding on the LED screens. However, it's a sign of how large Oregon's brand has become, as Progressive targets some of the biggest programs in the country for more national recognition.
#oregon #programs #ducks #state
On Tuesday, Progressive announced a partnership with 13 programs around the country to add on-field logos, starting this season. Oregon is one of the programs that will have logos on the field inside Autzen Stadium. The deal is set to begin this season.
Boise State, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas State, Ole Miss, Purdue, SMU, Syracuse, Texas Tech, USC and Wake Forest will also have logos on their fields this season. The move will help inject more funding into athletic departments to support the changing economic landscape of the sport. No financial details about the agreement were disclosed.
Oregon has one of the most expensive rosters in the country in terms of NIL money. Many programs and conferences around the country are seeking corporate sponsorships to help with funding in the future to build competitive rosters.
For the fans, the partnership won't change the experience of watching the Ducks play on Saturdays. Yes, there will be logos on the field and more branding on the LED screens. However, it's a sign of how large Oregon's brand has become, as Progressive targets some of the biggest programs in the country for more national recognition.
#oregon #programs #ducks #state
29 days ago
Arsenal moved for Christos Tzolis after the best season of his career where he was involved in 40 goals, scoring 17 times and providing 23 ******* ists as Club Brugge were crowned league champions in Belgium.
But before that there had been struggles, notably during his three years at Norwich, scoring just three times in 30 appearances between 2021-2024.
He impressed while on loan at German second-tier side Fortuna Dusseldorf in 2023-24, where he scored 24 goals in 35 games before he left Norwich for Club Brugge and became one of star players in the division.
Since then he has not looked back and Tzolis has developed to become one of the most reliable creators in Europe.
Alongside his two ******* ists, he played more passes into the final third than anyone else in the Gunners team in Cardiff and, despite lacking noticeable pace, Tzolis is extremely effective while on the ball with his work-rate appreciated by manager Mikel Arteta.
#club #norwich #goals #arsenal
But before that there had been struggles, notably during his three years at Norwich, scoring just three times in 30 appearances between 2021-2024.
He impressed while on loan at German second-tier side Fortuna Dusseldorf in 2023-24, where he scored 24 goals in 35 games before he left Norwich for Club Brugge and became one of star players in the division.
Since then he has not looked back and Tzolis has developed to become one of the most reliable creators in Europe.
Alongside his two ******* ists, he played more passes into the final third than anyone else in the Gunners team in Cardiff and, despite lacking noticeable pace, Tzolis is extremely effective while on the ball with his work-rate appreciated by manager Mikel Arteta.
#club #norwich #goals #arsenal
1 month ago
Entering the 2026 college football season, Penn State continues to be a bit of a mystery or a wild card. The Nittany Lions have a reworked roster and a new coaching staff after a disappointing 2025 season, but a favorable schedule and a good mix of players from the transfer portal and returning talent make Penn State one of the more interesting teams to forecast. Will they be a College Football Playoff contender or a bottom half of the top-25 caliber program (or worse)? That remains to be seen, but the new season will be starting up soon to give us all a better sense for this team.
College football **** yst Josh Pate has become one of the leading voices in college football commentary with his fresh take and outlook on the sport. This week Pate shared his initial college football ratings, based on a computer model using stats and trends he and his staff prefer to use. So where does Penn State fit in Pate's college football model for the 2026 season?
Penn State is ranked No. 21 in Josh Pate's preseason power ratings poll.
"Penn State will be ranked a little bit higher than they are power rated," Pate said, noting his computer ratings will have the Nittany Lions scored lower than the team will appear in the traditional rankings. Case in point, Penn State debuted at No. 17 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. The preseason AP Top 25 is scheduled to be released this week.
Teams appearing on Penn State's schedule that were ranked on Pate's rating system included No. 13 USC, No. 15 Michigan, and No. 25 Washington.
#pate
College football **** yst Josh Pate has become one of the leading voices in college football commentary with his fresh take and outlook on the sport. This week Pate shared his initial college football ratings, based on a computer model using stats and trends he and his staff prefer to use. So where does Penn State fit in Pate's college football model for the 2026 season?
Penn State is ranked No. 21 in Josh Pate's preseason power ratings poll.
"Penn State will be ranked a little bit higher than they are power rated," Pate said, noting his computer ratings will have the Nittany Lions scored lower than the team will appear in the traditional rankings. Case in point, Penn State debuted at No. 17 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. The preseason AP Top 25 is scheduled to be released this week.
Teams appearing on Penn State's schedule that were ranked on Pate's rating system included No. 13 USC, No. 15 Michigan, and No. 25 Washington.
#pate
1 month ago
LOS ANGLES — Edwin Díaz likely won't be available to pitch for the remainder of the weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers, after pitching on each of the last two nights, with extended outings both nights. He walked a tightrope on Friday night, loading the bases in the ninth inning, but somehow survived to earn the save. It wasn't a good outing by any means, but all parties believe Díaz is at least heading in the right direction.
Díaz since returning from the injured list has one clean outing in six tries, with seven runs allowed in 4 2/3 innings. One night after allowing three runs in a blown save to the Brewers, he walked two batters and hit another, loading the bases in the ninth inning. This time he escaped without damage, helped by a fantastic play by second baseman Tommy Edman for the second out of the frame. A grounder to shortstop Mookie Betts ended it.
"It was good for him to work his way out of it, and obviously he was a hitter away," manager Dave Roberts said. "Even with that last hitter, I wanted to see him try to fight through it and get through it. I was happy that he finished what he started.
Díaz said his posture on the mound was something he was working on, that his misses were more off the plate than in the middle of the strike zone to get punished.
"I'm leaning too much toward the right-handed hitter. Instead of straight down the plate, today was way better," Díaz said. "My fastball ride was way batter than yesterday. I'm going in a good direction, so keep getting better and keep getting better."
#loading #bases
Díaz since returning from the injured list has one clean outing in six tries, with seven runs allowed in 4 2/3 innings. One night after allowing three runs in a blown save to the Brewers, he walked two batters and hit another, loading the bases in the ninth inning. This time he escaped without damage, helped by a fantastic play by second baseman Tommy Edman for the second out of the frame. A grounder to shortstop Mookie Betts ended it.
"It was good for him to work his way out of it, and obviously he was a hitter away," manager Dave Roberts said. "Even with that last hitter, I wanted to see him try to fight through it and get through it. I was happy that he finished what he started.
Díaz said his posture on the mound was something he was working on, that his misses were more off the plate than in the middle of the strike zone to get punished.
"I'm leaning too much toward the right-handed hitter. Instead of straight down the plate, today was way better," Díaz said. "My fastball ride was way batter than yesterday. I'm going in a good direction, so keep getting better and keep getting better."
#loading #bases
1 month ago
Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry are locked in for their UFC 330 ***** le fight.
On Saturday, Makhachev and Garry square off for the welterweight ***** le in the main event of UFC 330. In the lead-up to the fight, much has been made of the opportunity for both men — Garry has the chance to unseat the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport and claim his first ***** le, while Makhachev can set the record for most consecutive wins in UFC history and cement himself as one of the greatest fighters of all time. And with so much on the line, both men appear geared up and ready to go.
At the UFC 330 ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday, Makhachev and Garry faced off for the final time before their fight, with both men verbally jousting one last time before the fight.
After their faceoff, Garry had a long final message for Makhachev and the fans.
"Tomorrow night I get the opportunity to fight the best fighter on the planet right now," Garry said. "Considered by everybody to be the No. 1 in the world, when I beat him, everybody has no excuses. Ian Machado Garry is great, and it's the start of a dominant legacy for me.
#machado
On Saturday, Makhachev and Garry square off for the welterweight ***** le in the main event of UFC 330. In the lead-up to the fight, much has been made of the opportunity for both men — Garry has the chance to unseat the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport and claim his first ***** le, while Makhachev can set the record for most consecutive wins in UFC history and cement himself as one of the greatest fighters of all time. And with so much on the line, both men appear geared up and ready to go.
At the UFC 330 ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday, Makhachev and Garry faced off for the final time before their fight, with both men verbally jousting one last time before the fight.
After their faceoff, Garry had a long final message for Makhachev and the fans.
"Tomorrow night I get the opportunity to fight the best fighter on the planet right now," Garry said. "Considered by everybody to be the No. 1 in the world, when I beat him, everybody has no excuses. Ian Machado Garry is great, and it's the start of a dominant legacy for me.
#machado
1 month ago
Colorado State has added five members to its Ring of Honor.
The group includes two from the football program, one from women's basketball, one from volleyball and one from the now-defunct baseball program.
The Ring of Honor is one of the top ways for CSU to honor past athletes after it was added in 2025.
Here is the 2026 class:
The left-handed pitcher posted a 10-1 record for CSU in 1972, the only 10-win season in program history. His school-record 1.25 ERA was second in the nation.
#ring #Colorado
The group includes two from the football program, one from women's basketball, one from volleyball and one from the now-defunct baseball program.
The Ring of Honor is one of the top ways for CSU to honor past athletes after it was added in 2025.
Here is the 2026 class:
The left-handed pitcher posted a 10-1 record for CSU in 1972, the only 10-win season in program history. His school-record 1.25 ERA was second in the nation.
#ring #Colorado
