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Tag: APP Sports

  • Wakefield point guard uses her skills as a QB on the court

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — There is a common belief in the sports world that high school athletes should play more than one sport. The idea behind that is learning versatility and translateable skills that can improve chances to continue playing at the collegiate level.

    Wakefield High School sophomore Quinn Pope is one of those multisport athletes hoping to compete at the next level.

    What You Need To Know

    • Wakefield High School girls basketball player Quinn Pope is the starting point guard for the Wolverines

    • She was also the starting quarterback for the flag football team in the fall

    • During the flag football season, she led the team to a state title and was named North Carolina Player of the Year by MaxPreps

    • She hopes to use the skills she’s learned to add to her Division II basketball offer



    The Wakefield girls basketball player has had a ball in her hand for as long as she can remember. 

    “I kind of liked playing sports when I was younger, like, all the time. I didn’t really like playing with girly things. I don’t know if you’d say that, but I kind of always like playing with soccer balls or footballs,” Pope said. 

    So it was no surprise that when high school came around she’d gravitate to a couple of sports. She’s now the Wolverines’ starting point guard with a big gap to fill. Pope is only a sophomore and is leading the 2025 state finalists, hoping to push the program to new heights.

    “It’s stressful. It’s big. I feel like the biggest thing is just stepping into their shoes and trying to go back to states because I know a lot of people from last year left, and it’s definitely a new team, but I feel like we can still do it,” Pope said. 

    The underclassman is no stranger to big stages. Just this fall, she led the Wakefield flag football team to a state title as the starting quarterback. In her first season, Pope was named the first-ever North Carolina Player of the Year by MaxPreps for flag football, after throwing for 3,400 yards and recording more than 70 total touchdowns. 

    “I feel like being the quarterback on the field definitely helped me with being a point guard on the court. When you’re a point guard on the court, you definitely have to read where everybody is to make sure you pass good. On the field, when people are doing certain routes you need to know where they are on the field and if they’re open or not,” Pope said. 

    That kind of insight is an asset for any multisport athlete, especially when it comes to college recruiting. Pope already has a Division II basketball offer, but she hopes to turn that into more opportunities to play at the next level. 

    “I’ve kind of always wanted to play basketball when I was younger in college. It’s kind of like my dream to play,” Pope said. 

    But does it actually pay off in the long run to play multiple sports or should student athletes specialize in what they’re best at?

    According to Next College Student Athletes, a recruiting company, college coaches value multisport athletes because they’re mentally tough, versatile and competitive. NCSA helped more than 31,000 students secure college commitments in 2024.

    Wakefield varsity girls basketball assistant coach Cam Scott agrees. He says he’s seen it first-hand with athletes he’s coached. 

    “It draws a lot of attention. If you’re doing flag football, it helps with footwork, being physical. So, definitely, college coaches look for it. And you know just kids that you know take care of the body, you know understand that grind,” Scott said. 

    In the meantime, Pope is focusing on the sport she’s currently playing and reaching her goals. 

    “I just feel like I still have to keep working hard, like no matter what, especially this year and next year are going to be big for me,” Pope said.

    The point guard and the Wolverines look to return to the playoffs next month with the high school girl’s basketball regular season wrapping up in mid-February.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Jenna Elique

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  • Shedeur Sanders to be an AFC quarterback for the Pro Bowl Games, AP source says

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    CLEVELAND — Shedeur Sanders has been selected as a replacement QB on the AFC’s roster for next week’s Pro Bowl Games, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday.

    What You Need To Know

    • The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the NFL has not announced roster changes

    • The Cleveland Browns rookie was a fifth-round pick after many thought he would go earlier in the draft

    • Sanders was not selected as one of the four alternate selections at quarterback when the rosters were first announced

    The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the NFL has not announced roster changes. Yahoo Sports was the first to report on Sanders’ addition.

    The Cleveland Browns rookie was a fifth-round pick after many thought he would go earlier in the draft. Sanders played in eight games, and started the Browns’ final seven games, going 3-4. He had a 56.6% completion rate and 68.1 passer rating along with 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

    New England’s Drake Maye, Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo’s Josh Allen were on the original AFC roster when the selections were announced on Dec. 23.

    Maye is unable to participate because of the Patriots advancing to the Super Bowl, while Herbert and Allen dealt with injuries at the end of their seasons.

    Other AFC quarterbacks, including Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, Indianapolis’ Daniel Jones and Denver’s Bo Nix also suffered season-ending injuries. Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence was one of the top alternates, but Lawrence opted not to play in the event.

    Sanders was not selected as one of the four alternate selections at quarterback when the rosters were first announced.

    Finding players to fill out Pro Bowl rosters because of injuries has always been a challenge, but it has increased since the NFL did away with the exhibition full-contact all-star game format and went to a weeklong skills competition and flag football game beginning with the 2022 season.

    Tyler Huntley made it as an alternate three years ago after throwing two touchdowns and three interceptions in four starts with the Baltimore Ravens.

    The Pro Bowl Games will take place in San Francisco ahead of the Super Bowl. Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (NFC) and Steve Young (AFC) are the coaches for the flag football showdown on Feb. 3.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Cavs partner with local company for fully traceable, sustainable retail line

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    CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers are continuing their commitment toward environmental progress at Rocket Arena and in northeast Ohio by producing one of the first fully traceable and sustainable merchandise lines in professional sports.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cleveland Cavaliers partnered with Cleveland-based Found Surface to create a fully traceable and sustainable merchandise line

    • Over 100 pounds of material waste were composted locally and all dye-process water was recycled during the manufacturing process

    • The Cavaliers are one of the first professional sports teams to have a fully traceable and sustainable retail line

    Inside a warehouse in The Flats, you’ll hear the sounds of cutting, sewing, and tagging. 

    “It’s a very rigorous process,” Found Surface’s Christian Marcano said. “All the way from the start to the end.”

    Marcano works for the Cleveland-based company Found Surface. He said making each piece of clothing is an art form.

    “We try to be intricate and just making sure that this is not a machine press to start way to get our clothes out,” said Marcano. “It’s a lot of craftsmanship involved.”

    That craftsmanship can now be seen inside Rocket Arena.

    “We are the first, and as far as I know, the only professional sports team to have a fully domestically traceable retail line,” said Cavaliers Vice President of Sustainability and Environmental Services Danielle Doza. 

    Doza said partnering with Found Surface was an easy decision because of the environmental benefits. The organic cotton was grown in Texas and made its way to Cleveland, where the clothing was made. 

    “Through the manufacturing process, the waste from this process is actually composted locally,” Doza said. “All of that waste is turned into soil and kept right here in northeast Ohio. The process uses a low-enzyme dye, and all that water is recycled and used in the next batch of manufacturing.”

    Cleveland Cavaliers director of retail marketing Amy Armstrong thinks the merchandise line helps bring the team and community closer.

    “We’re really strengthening and elevating this community by just working with all of these local partners that we have here,” said Armstrong. “With Found Surface being right down the street, they’re the manufacturer for us. All of the designs are inspired by our Metro parks. It’s a great way to strengthen and uplift this community in Cleveland.”

    Marcano hopes Found Surface can continue making a difference and that the partnership with the Cavs will give them the opportunity to do just that.

    “We just want to continue to be sustainable and just show that we can make anything for anyone,” he said. “I know for me, along with everybody else at Found Surface, this has got to be a dream come true. Being able to put the ‘Made in Cleveland’ tags on these pieces is super important.”

     

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    Jack Berney

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  • Winter storm postpones Blue Jackets’ game against Kings

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — The NHL postponed the Columbus Blue Jackets’ home game against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night because of a major winter storm that created dangerous travel conditions across much of the United States.

    What You Need To Know

    • Almost a foot of snow fell in Columbus, Ohio
    • The game is rescheduled for March 9 in Columbus

    • Wind chills are also making temperatures dangerous

    Almost a foot of snow fell in Columbus, Ohio, and windchill factors were forecast to be around minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday night. The game is rescheduled for March 9 in Columbus.

    The NBA postponed games in Memphis and Milwaukee on Sunday because of the storm.

    The Dallas Mavericks tried twice to fly to Milwaukee for their Sunday night game against the Bucks, but conditions didn’t allow it. A decision to postpone was announced a few hours before tipoff. Food that had been prepared for the game was donated to shelters in the Milwaukee area.

    Earlier Sunday, a game between the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies was postponed about three hours before tipoff.

    Reschedule dates were not announced.

    The NBA also changed the start times for two games on Monday: Philadelphia 76ers at Charlotte Hornets tipped off at 3 p.m. ET instead of 7 p.m., and the Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks at 1:30 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m.

    The Memphis area was experiencing a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain that began falling early Saturday morning and continued Sunday morning. South and east of Memphis, freezing rain collected on power lines and trees, causing widespread outages and blocked roads. Authorities had recommended people stay off the streets as the wintry mix and frigid temperatures caused a refreeze.

    The Nuggets said they planned to fly out at some point Sunday, depending on the conditions at Memphis International Airport. They are scheduled to play at home Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons.

    The Grizzlies are scheduled to be in Houston for a game against the Rockets on Monday.

    An NBA G League game scheduled for Monday between the Memphis Hustle and Stockton Kings in Southaven, Mississippi, was postponed and rescheduled for Feb. 19.

    At least two college women’s basketball games were postponed: No. 17 Tennessee’s visit to No. 18 Mississippi on Monday and Tulane’s visit to Memphis on Tuesday. Reschedule dates were not announced.

    In men’s basketball, a game featuring Tennessee at No. 21 Georgia was pushed back a day from Tuesday to Wednesday. Purdue Fort Wayne and IU Indianapolis, and Southern Illinois and Evansville had Sunday games postponed without make-up dates announced.

    The schedule changes come after dozens of games were moved around last week in anticipation of the storm.

    Separately, on Saturday, the NBA postponed a game between the Warriors and Timberwolves to “prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community” after the fatal shooting of a man by a federal officer in a district located less than two miles away from where the Timberwolves play.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Super Bowl 60 is set and it’s a rematch from 11 years ago: Patriots vs. Seahawks

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    NATIONWIDE (AP) — Drake Maye vs. Sam Darnold. Two stingy defenses. A second-year head coach vs. a veteran coach in his second act.

    Super Bowl 60 is set and it’s a rematch: The New England Patriots vs. the Seattle Seahawks.

    The Patriots will seek their NFL-record seventh Super Bowl victory when they face the Seahawks on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

    Led by Maye, coach Mike Vrabel and a stifling defense, the Patriots are back in the Super Bowl for the first time since Tom Brady and Bill Belichick won their sixth ring together seven years ago.

    The Patriots (17-3) beat the Denver Broncos 10-7 on Sunday in the AFC championship game to advance to their 12th Super Bowl.

    Darnold, Mike Macdonald and a suffocating defense have led the Seahawks to the big stage for the fourth time in franchise history. They’re seeking their second Lombardi.

    Darnold, a No. 3 overall pick in 2018 now with his fifth team, played one of his best games to lead the Seahawks to a 31-27 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC title game. He threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers.

    “That doesn’t matter to me,” Darnold said about the doubters he’s proven wrong. “I just come to work every single day with these guys. These guys in the locker room, that’s what it’s about to me, man. The way we’ve come to work ever since April in OTAs, training camp, one day at a time and we’re here. We did it.”

    It was a wacky finish when Brady and the Patriots beat Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll’s Seahawks 11 years ago.

    Brady threw four TD passes and rallied New England from a 10-point deficit to win the fourth of his seven rings when Malcolm Butler intercepted Wilson’s pass from the 1-yard line to secure a 28-24 victory on Feb. 1, 2015. Seattle fans still lament why Marshawn Lynch didn’t get the ball on a handoff at the 1.

    “We did not care,” Macdonald said about coming into the season as underdogs in the NFC West behind the Rams and 49ers. “It’s about us. It’s always been about us and what we do and now we’re going to the Super Bowl.”

    Maye scored on a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter in Denver after a critical turnover by Jarrett Stidham, who made his fifth career start filling in for injured Broncos quarterback Bo Nix.

    “The Pats are back, baby,” Maye said. “Now, gotta win one.”

    Playing through a snowstorm in the second half, Maye only threw for 86 yards and ran for 65. Stidham had 133 yards passing and one TD, one interception and one costly fumble.

    The 23-year-old Maye, a finalist for AP NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, will become the second-youngest QB to start a Super Bowl behind Dan Marino. He’s the fourth second-year QB in the past seven years to lead his team to the NFL title game. Patrick Mahomes (2018) won it while Joe Burrow (2021) and Brock Purdy (2023) lost.

    Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a linebacker for the Patriots in the 2000s, turned the team around in his first season as coach. New England went from 4-13 last year under Jerod Mayo to 14-3.

    Vrabel is trying to become the first person to win a Super Bowl as a head coach and player for the same team. Tom Flores, Mike Ditka, Tony Dungy and Doug Pederson won Super Bowls playing for one team and coaching another.

    “I can’t tell you how proud I am to be associated with these guys and this organization,” said Vrabel, who is a finalist for AP NFL Coach of the Year. “I won’t win it. It’ll be the players that’ll win the game, I promise you. It won’t be me that’ll win it and I promise you I’ll do everything that I can and our staff to have them ready for the game.”

    No team has played in the Super Bowl more than the Patriots, who are 6-5. They’re tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most wins.

    It’s been a long road back to the top for New England, which came off consecutive four-win seasons and only had one winning season after Brady’s departure in 2020.

    The Patriots have averaged just 18 points per game in the playoffs, the fewest by any team to make the Super Bowl since the 1979 Rams, who averaged 15. New England’s defense has allowed just 26 points in the three games, an average of just 8.7 per game. The only team to allow fewer points in three playoff games before a Super Bowl appearance was the 2000 Ravens, who gave up 16.

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    Associated Press

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  • College Football Playoff to remain at 12 teams

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    IRVING, Texas — The College Football Playoff will remain at 12 teams after the commissioners of the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten couldn’t come up with a compromise for expansion.

    What You Need To Know

    • The College Football Playoff will remain at 12 teams after the commissioners of the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten couldn’t come up with a compromise for expansion

    • The CFP Management Committee announced Friday the 12-team format would stay the same for the 2026-27 season

    • The decision provides additional time for evaluation and discussion on the current format and potential changes in the future

    • The CFP went from four teams to 12 teams for the 2024 season, and the two most powerful conferences favored further expansion but could not agree on a number

    The CFP Management Committee announced Friday the 12-team format would stay the same for the 2026-27 season. The decision provides additional time for evaluation and discussion on the current format and potential changes in the future.

    The CFP went from four teams to 12 teams for the 2024 season, and the two most powerful conferences favored further expansion but could not agree on a number.

    The SEC pushed for 16 teams, with an emphasis on at-large bids — a format favored by the Power Four leagues other than the Big Ten and most of the smaller conferences that are hoping for access into whatever comes next.

    The Big Ten has pushed for a bracket of up to 24 teams with multiple automatic qualifiers from each conference. It could do away with the need for conference title games and replace them with seeding games to determine, say, two or three of the automatic spots.

    “After ongoing discussion about the 12-team playoff format, the decision was made to continue with the current structure,” CFP executive director Rich Clark said. “This will give the Management Committee additional time to review the 12-team format, so they can better assess the need for potential change. While they all agree the current format has brought more excitement to college football and has given more schools a real shot in the postseason, another year of evaluation will be helpful.”

    The 2026-27 season’s format will feature 12 teams based on conference champions and final ranking by the CFP selection committee. First-round games will be played on campus sites, followed by quarterfinals and semifinals hosted by the CFP bowls, and the national championship game, which will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 25, 2027.

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    Associated Press

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  • Rink construction begins for NHL Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Two outdoor NHL hockey games are being played in the state of Florida this season, with both being a lot different from each other. 

    The NHL Winter Classic was played earlier this month in Miami at loanDepot park, the home of baseball’s Marlins. This was technically an outdoor hockey game because the ballpark’s roof was open at puck drop, but was otherwise completely enclosed.

    What You Need To Know

    • Rink construction is underway for the NHL Stadium Series game

    • The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins on Feb. 1

    • NHL facilities workers will begin building the ice on Sunday, which will be protected by a tent all week

    • Refrigeration units will help keep the ice frozen through the warm Florida temps


    Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is not covered and is exposed to the sun and open air. This NHL Stadium Series game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins will be played out in the open, presenting a brand-new experience for hockey players and fans.

    There are naturally some concerns with playing a hockey game completely outdoors in Florida, but the NHL has a plan in place.

    Construction for the rink is underway, beginning with the rink infrastructure, and then on Sunday, they will start to build the ice.


    “We’ve got six days set aside for ice making so once the tent’s up, we’ll have some HVAC units and dehumidification units inside the tent,” NHL Vice President of Hockey Operations Derek King said. “Same process as they would do at any other arena, especially here at Benchmark Arena, we’ll probably run a surface of about 2.5 to 3 inches.”

    Refrigeration trucks arrived outside the stadium on Monday and are in charge of keeping the ice at the right temperature. There will be a tent built over the rink to protect it from the sun throughout game week. Then on game day, the tent will come down, and they will keep a tarp on the ice to reflect the sun, keeping the frozen water frozen.

    “If we’re 75 (degrees) at puck drop it will be a bit of a challenge for us,” NHL Senior Manager of Facilities Operations Andrew Higgins said. “That’s why we brought both of our refrigeration units, those will be working hard if we’re 75. But forecast looks like mid to low 60s, which is pretty much perfect for us.”

    Bolts captain Victor Hedman visited the stadium on Tuesday to check out the progress. The Tampa defenseman won’t play in the game, since he is still returning from injury, but he said the guys are just excited to experience NHL history right here in Tampa.

    “It will be a different experience, obviously, but the game is at night, the sun will be down so that’s gonna help a lot,” Hedman said. “I think for us it’s all about experiencing this outdoor game and it’s gonna be a spectacular event for the NHL and Tampa too to host an event like this.”

    Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 1. Many are hoping for some chilly weather like what the Tampa Bay area has had over the last few days, both for ice conditions and to help set an authentic hockey atmosphere around the palm trees of Florida.

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    Michael Epps

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  • Hillsborough County leaders OK up to $358.5 million for arena renovations

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    TAMPA — Hillsborough County commissioners have unanimously approved a plan for long-term renovations at Benchmark International Arena.

    The county will invest as much as $358.5 million into the project at the venue, formerly known as Amalie Arena.

    “Our community wants to keep the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa,” said Commissioner Christine Miller, who represents District 4. “They’ve invested heavily in our area, the surrounding area and the people of this community and the continuation of this investment.”

    The deal will see the Lightning’s lease extend to 2043. It was originally set to expire in 2037.

    According to our newsgathering partner, the Tampa Bay Times, the team is required to spend an additional $75 million on arena renovations to fully unlock the county’s commitment.

    If the team leaves Tampa, it would have to pay millions in penalties, the Times reported.

    The Tampa Sports Authority, the arena’s landlord, approved the deal earlier this month.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Indiana completes undefeated season, wins first title

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    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his way into the end zone and Indiana bullied its way into the history books Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 to put the finishing touch on a rags-to-riches story, an undefeated season and the national title.

    The Heisman Trophy winner finished with 186 yards passing, but it was his tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that defined this game — and the Hoosiers’ season.

    Indiana would not be denied.

    “I had to go airborne,” said Mendoza, who had his lip split and his arm bloodied by a ferocious Miami defense that sacked him three times and hit him many more. “I would die for my team.”

    Mendoza’s TD gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti’s team a 24-14 lead — barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes, who came to life in the second half behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher but never took the lead.

    The College Football Playoff trophy now heads to the most unlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana — a campus that endured a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years of football before Cignetti arrived two years ago to embark on a revival for the ages.

    “Took some chances, found a way. Let me tell you: We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done,” Cignetti said.

    Indiana finished 16-0 — using the extra games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894.

    In a fitting bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight’s basketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state’s favorite sport.

    That hasn’t happened since, and there’s already some thought that college football — in its evolving, money-soaked era — might not see a team like this again, either.

    “Congratulations to Indiana,” said President Donald Trump, who was in attendance. “Turned out to be a great game. Two great teams, wonderful teams with a lot of talent.”

    Players like Mendoza — a transfer from Cal who grew up just a few miles away from Miami’s campus, “The U” — certainly don’t come around often.

    Two fourth-down gambles by Cignetti in the fourth quarter, after Fletcher’s second touchdown carved the Hurricanes’ deficit to three, put Mendoza in position to shine.

    The first was a 19-yard-completion to Charlie Becker on a back-shoulder fade those guys have been perfecting all season. Four plays later came a decision and play that wins championships.

    Cignetti sent his kicker out on fourth-and-4 from the 12, but quickly called his second timeout. The team huddled on the field and the coach drew up a quarterback draw, hoping the Hurricanes would be in a defense they had shown before.

    “We rolled the dice and said, ‘They’re going to be in it again and they were,’” Cignetti said. “We blocked it well, he broke a tackle or two and got in the end zone.”

    Not known as a run-first guy, Mendoza slipped one tackle, then took a hit and spun around. He kept his feet, then left them, going horizontal and stretching the ball out — a ready-made poster pic for a title run straight from the movies.

    Maybe they’ll call it “Hoosiers.” This was a program so bad that a coach once stopped the game early to take a picture of the scoreboard when it read “Indiana 7, Ohio State 6.” The Hoosiers lost 47-7.

    This year, though, they beat Ohio State in the Big Ten title game on their way to the top seed in the playoff.

    They won their first two games by a combined score of 94-25 and Mendoza threw more touchdown passes (eight) than incompletions (five).

    This one was nowhere near as easy.

    Fletcher was a one-man force, hitting triple digits for the third time in four playoff games and turning a moribund offense into something much more.

    His first touchdown run was a 57-yard burst through the right side that pulled Miami within 10-7 early in the third quarter.

    But after forcing an Indiana punt deep into Miami territory, Hoosiers lineman Mikail Kamara slid past the ’Canes’ protectors and blocked the kick. Isaiah Jones recovered to make it 17-7 and Miami was in comeback mode the rest of the way.

    It ended as a one-score game, and the ’Canes — the visiting team playing on their home field — moved into Indiana territory before Carson Beck’s heave got picked off by Jamari Sharpe, a Miami native who made sure the only miracle in this season would be Indiana’s.

    “Did I think something like this was possible? Probably not,” Cignetti said. “But if you keep your nose down and keep working, anything is possible.”

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    Associated Press

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  • Buffalo Bills fire head coach Sean McDermott after playoff loss to Broncos

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    The Buffalo Bills have fired head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons.

    It’s a move that caught many by surprise: McDermott is out as the head coach, while Brandon Beane has been promoted to president of football operations and general manager.


    Bills owner Terry Pegula made the decision to fire McDermott after yet another playoff disappointment in Saturday’s 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos.

    McDermott had great success in turning around an organization that had a 17-year playoff drought, which he broke in his first season in 2017.

    McDermott had a record of 98-52 in the regular season and was tied for the longest tenure of any coach before he was let go. His run included eight playoff appearances in nine years and five consecutive AFC East division titles, which came to an end with the New England Patriots taking the crown this season.

    As good as the Bills had been, winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal, especially when you have an MVP quarterback like Josh Allen as the face of the franchise. McDermott was 8-8 in the postseason, making the conference title game twice, but never able to get over the hump with a number of heartbreaking playoff losses.

    Bills owner Terry Pegula said in a statement, “Sean has done an admirable job of leading our football team for the past nine seasons. But I feel we are in need of a new structure within our leadership to give this organization the best opportunity to take our team to the next level. We owe that to our players and to Bills Mafia.”

    Pegula also thanked McDermott and wish the best for Sean, his wife Jamie and their family.

    The new leadership structure has Beane in charge of all football operations and leading the search for a new head coach. It’s an interesting development since Beane arrived shortly after McDermott and the two worked together with the Carolina Panthers. They were often seen as a package deal. There was even growing sentiment among observers that Beane might be in trouble; instead, he assumes even greater control in the front office.

    McDermott’s final news conference after the playoff loss to Denver on Saturday included an impassioned and somewhat out-of-character criticism of the officials after a controversial interception call in overtime, saying “I’m standing up for Buffalo, I’m standing up for us.”

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    Andy Young

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  • Cavaliers’ Darius Garland out at least a week with sprained toe

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    CLEVELAND — Cavaliers guard Darius Garland will be sidelined for at least one week due to a sprained right great toe.

    Garland suffered the injury on Jan. 14 at Philadelphia and missed Friday’s game against the 76ers. The Cavaliers said further evaluation and imaging on Saturday revealed a Grade 1 sprain. The seventh-year guard will be reevaluated in seven to 10 days as he undergoes treatment.

    The two-time All-Star has missed 16 games this season due to a nagging injury to his left great toe, which he struggled with during the closing month of last season and the playoffs. Garland had surgery on the toe during the offseason.

    Garland is averaging 20.2 points and 7.4 assists over this last 16 games. He was shooting 50.4% from the floor and made 42 of 100 3-pointers.

    The Cavaliers have been plagued by injuries all season. After having the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, they are 24-19 and fifth in the East going into Monday afternoon’s game against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Grant Udinski interviews for Cleveland Browns’ head coaching job

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    BEREA, Ohio — Jacksonville offensive coordinator Grant Udinski interviewed with the Cleveland Browns for their head coaching vacancy on Saturday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jacksonville offensive coordinator Grant Udinski interviewed with the Cleveland Browns for their head coaching vacancy

    • The 30-year-old Udinski just completed his first season with the Jaguars. He directed an offense that ranked sixth in scoring and 11th in total offense

    • Quarterback Trevor Lawrence accounted for 38 touchdowns as Jacksonville went 13-4 in the regular season
    • Cleveland needs a head coach after firing Kevin Stefanski on Jan. 5 following six seasons

    Udinski, 30, just completed his first season with the Jaguars. Even though coach Liam Coen called the offensive plays, Udinski directed a unit that was sixth in the league in scoring (27.9 points per game) and 11th in total offense (337.4 points per game). Quarterback Trevor Lawrence accounted for 38 touchdowns (29 passing, nine rushing) as Jacksonville went 13-4 in the regular season and won the AFC South for the first time since 2022. The Jaguars lost to Buffalo in the wild card round last Sunday.

    Udinski began his NFL career as a coaching assistant at Carolina (2020-21) before spending three seasons in Minnesota (2022-24). He was an assistant to the head coach/special projects in 2022 with the Vikings before being promoted to assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach in 2024.

    The Browns are the only team that has conducted or requested an interview with Udinski so far.

    Cleveland needs a head coach after it fired Kevin Stefanski on Jan. 5 following six seasons and a 46-58 overall record. Stefanski was a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year and led the Browns to the playoffs in 2020 and ’23.

    The Browns have interviewed nine people, including four this week. Former Miami head coach Mike McDaniel interviewed on Monday, while Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase went on Friday.

    Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Seattle defensive coordinator Aden Durde, Cincinnati offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher and Baltimore offensive coordinator Todd Monken interviewed last week.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Mobley hits winner to lift Cavaliers to 2-game sweep of 76ers

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    PHILADELPHIA — Jaylon Tyson scored a career-high 39 points, Evan Mobley’s dunk with 4.8 seconds left was the winner and the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers completed a two-game sweep of the 76ers in Philadelphia with a 117-115 victory on Friday night.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jaylon Tyson scored a career-high 39 points, Evan Mobley’s dunk with 4.8 seconds left was the winner and the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers completed a two-game sweep of the 76ers in Philadelphia with a 117-115 victory on Friday night

    • Donovan Mitchell added 13 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for Cleveland, which rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter
    • The Cavaliers defeated the 76ers 133-107 on Wednesday
    • The Cavaliers host Oklahoma City on Monday

    Donovan Mitchell added 13 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for Cleveland, which rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers defeated the 76ers 133-107 on Wednesday.

    Joel Embiid scored 33 points and Tyrese Maxey had 22 points, nine assists and five steals for the 76ers.

    Cleveland was without Darius Garland (right big toe soreness) and Sam Merrill (right hand sprain), who were both injured on Wednesday. Coach Kenny Atkinson said both will be reevaluated when the team returns to Cleveland this weekend.

    The 76ers looked in control when Paul George hit a jumper with 8:47 remaining for an 11-point lead. But the Cavaliers used a 13-2 run, capped by De’Andre Hunter’s 3-pointer with 5:53 left, to tie it at 102. Philadelphia moved ahead by seven points after turnovers by the Cavs on three straight possessions, but Cleveland hung around.

    Hunter’s layup with just over a minute left put the Cavs up a point. After Mobley made one of two free throws with 22.7 seconds remaining, Maxey tied it on a runner with 8.1 seconds left. After a timeout, Tyson set up Mobley near the basket for an easy dunk to put Cleveland in front by two. Maxey’s shot from just beyond half court that could have won the game went long.

    Dominick Barlow was back in the lineup for Philadelphia after leaving Wednesday’s game early due to a back contusion. He was questionable entering the contest and finished with two points.

    Up next

    Cavaliers: Host Oklahoma City on Monday.

    76ers: Host Indiana on Monday.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Land O’ Lakes soccer star scores on Senior Night

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    LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — Senior Nights in high school sports are special. The Land O’ Lakes boys soccer team honored 16 of them earlier this month at John Benedetto Stadium, nicknamed “The Swamp.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Eamon Carman is a star forward/midfielder for the Land O’Lakes High School boys soccer team

    • Eamon leads the team and is ranked in the top 10 statewide in goals scored

    • The Gators honored 16 seniors during their Senior Night game earlier this month

    • Shortly into the game, Eamon scored, giving him a memory he will never forget on his special night


    With some eyes far from dry, forward/midfielder Eamon Carman was adamant that there would be no tears from him out there.

    “I wouldn’t say it’s emotional, I mean I’m excited about it, last home game, I’m excited to just play. I’m ready to play and hopefully score goals and have some fun,” Carman said.

    But once he lined up with his family on the track, the tough skin on the Gators star softened a bit.

    “Now I feel a little emotional, but I’m still excited to play the game,” Carman said.

    His mom, Anne Gallacher, was honest when asked if she would tear up.

    “Oh yeah, I will,” Gallacher said.

    This moment means a lot to him because of how much the game of soccer means to him.

    “I started when I was 7 years old. It was the first sports I played when my cousin played it and got me into it, and I just wanted to play it and loved it ever since,” Carman said.

    The Land O’ Lakes boys soccer team loves him as well, leading the team in goals scored with 26 entering that game.

    “I want to score, I want to win games, so I come out strong and put everything I have into the game and try to put the ball in the back of the net,” Carman said.

    “You know how kids are just born with a skill? He was born to put the ball in the back of the net. He just has a nose for the goal, his touch, his speed, his awareness and how he sees the game,” Land O’ Lakes boys soccer head coach Billy Jeremias said.

    The Fighting Gators lost a heartbreaker in the district finals last year, which put a chip on their shoulders.

    “After that loss it just hurt, so I was out training every day going to the fields over the summer just like wanting to improve myself and score goals,” Carman said.

    He’s done plenty of that this season, ranking top 10 in the state of Florida and third in Class 6A with 27 goals at the point of this story being published. Carman said he was happy to be up there on that list, but it wasn’t good enough for him.

    “Yeah sometimes I look at that but then I’m like ‘I want No. 1, I want to be the best player in the state best player in the nation’ so I want to get more goals,” Carman said.

    So what did he do 20 minutes into the game? He did what he does best, scoring a goal to lead his team to a 4-0 win.

    Hard to dream of a better senior night, playing the game that he loves.

    “I couldn’t play anything else, this is the sport that I love and I’ll play it until I can’t anymore,” Carman said.

    He will keep on playing into the playoffs as the Fighting Gators look to capture a state title.

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    Michael Epps

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  • NASCAR community mourns Greg Biffle and family at memorial in Charlotte

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Hundreds in the NASCAR community gathered for a memorial service at Charlotte’s Bojangles Coliseum on Friday for former driver Greg Biffle, his family and others who were killed in a plane crash last month. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Hundreds from the NASCAR community gathered at Charlotte’s Bojangles Coliseum for a memorial service honoring former driver Greg Biffle, his family, and others killed in a plane crash last month

    • Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their children were among the seven victims

    • Garrett Mitchell, a close friend, spoke at the service, urging people to “Be Like Biff” by taking opportunities and helping others

    • The crash left the NASCAR community shaken, adding to a difficult offseason


    Biffle was among seven killed along with his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, when the plane crashed as it returned to the airport in Statesville, North Carolina, according to authorities. Others on the plane were identified as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.

    A memorial song opened the ceremony before speakers began to reflect on the victims.

    “We remember and celebrate Dennis, Jack, Craig, Emma, Ryder, Christina and Greg. What makes it meaningful is that we will all share together. Laughter and tears,” said Billy Mauldin, chaplain for Motor Racing Outreach.

    Driver/influencer Garrett Mitchell, known as “Cleetus McFarland” in his YouTube videos and a close friend of Biffle’s, was among those who spoke at the service.

    You can watch the service here:


    “We have all been saying, ‘Be Like Biff,’ since we lost our hero,” said Mitchell, who befriended Biffle later in his life. “What does that mean? That means to take opportunities when you see them. Whether you are taking opportunity to pass somebody on the track or getting off your couch to chase a dream you have only been talking about for the past five years.

    “It means showing up for your friends and family. It means using your heart to make the world a better place. It means being generous whenever you can and helping other humans when they’re down. That is what it means to be like Biff,” Mitchell added.

    Biffle, who was 55, was selected by NASCAR as one of its top 75 drivers in history, was a Hall of Fame nominee for the stock car series and drove for 18 years at the top of the sport.

    He drew headlines last year for his tireless humanitarian efforts as a helicopter pilot supplying aid in the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene.

    Biffle’s niece, Jordyn Biffle, told stories about Ryder’s hero being his father, Emma’s laughter and Cristina’s loving nature.

    She said the Biffle family “lived fully, loved deeply and gave freely.”

    “Their lives remind us that what matters isn’t how long we are here, but how we use the time we are given and how fiercely we love while we are here,” Biffle added. “And while this loss is devastating beyond words, their impact remains etched into all of us that were lucky enough to have known them, loved them and be changed by them.”

    Speakers also painted a fuller picture of Biffle beyond the racetrack… recalling his rebellious younger years, including a burnout in front of his high school that led to his expulsion and even having his car impounded by his own father.

    In the parking lot outside of the coliseum, fans paused to peer inside three racecars Biffle drove during his career.

    Inside, the pictures of the seven who lost their lives where shown on a videoboard above the makeshift platform in the center of the covered hockey rink. There were seven wreaths on the stage where Mitchell, Biffle and former drivers Jeff Burton and Phil Parsons addressed the crowd.

    Dylan Zirkle, 28, of Archdale, North Carolina, worked one year for Biffle at Roush Racing as a pit support employee while he was in high school.

    He said Biffle made a lasting impact on him, and felt he needed to attend.

    “Greg was always a really good guy and I enjoyed being around him,” Zirkle said. “You could always talk to him at anytime and he was just a real person. You could talk to him about anything.”

    Chaplain Billy Mauldin speaks during the NASCAR Plane Crash Memorial memorial in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

    Back home, Zirkle still has model racing trucks in his gameroom autographed by Biffle that he cherishes.

    Zirkle said he didn’t believe the news of the crash when he heard it.

    “It still doesn’t feel real,” Zircle said. “I was watching some of his YouTube videos the other night and it just doesn’t seem real at all.”

    Tanner Roberts and Jassamin Green made the four-hour trek from Wilmington, North Carolina, with their 7-year-old son Bentley after hearing about the memorial.

    “He was a good racecar driver and I enjoyed him,” Roberts said. “And he was a good person. I grew up watching him and Dale Earnhardt. Them two were my favorites. They were good people and they loved to race.”

    The Cessna C550 carrying the Biffle family and the others erupted in flames when it hit the ground shortly after it had departed Statesville Regional Airport, about an hour’s drive north of Charlotte.

    The plane crashed while trying to return and land, authorities said.

    The crash a week before Christmas left the NASCAR community shaken and was another blow in a long offseason. Ten days later, on the 52nd wedding anniversary of Denny Hamlin’s parents, the house the future Hall of Famer built to repay them for their years of sacrifice burned down. His father, Dennis, was killed, and Mary Lou Hamlin was rushed to a hospital burn unit.

    Sheriff’s deputies are also investigating an alleged break-in and theft last week at Biffle’s home in Mooresville that netted $30,000 in cash, some guns and memorabilia.

    As part of the public tribute, Mitchell planned to do a burnout later Friday near Biffle’s marker along the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame in Mooresville.

    The victims’ families requested that, in lieu of flowers, people consider donating to charities that held special meaning to those lost in the crash, including the Davidson Day Fund, the American Red Cross, Lake Norman Humane and Ebenezer Christian Children’s Home.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Jordan Kudisch, Associated Press

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  • Road back to title contention was long for UM, but it has finally broken through

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    CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami safety Jakobe Thomas enjoyed seeing the Hurricanes at their worst.

    He was with Middle Tennessee State in 2022 when the Blue Raiders — four-touchdown underdogs that day — came into Hard Rock Stadium and used big play after big play to beat Miami 45-31, part of the Hurricanes’ spiral to a 5-7 season in Mario Cristobal’s first year back at his alma mater.

    And it wasn’t like that MTSU team was some juggernaut, either. It went 0-3 in its next three games, losing by a combined 60 points. But it had no trouble with Miami.

    That was then.

    Miami’s resurrection from that bad day and a lot of others over the last 20 years — a period during which the Hurricanes have had six coaches, three other interim coaches, 17 seasons that didn’t include a bowl win, countless headaches and zero Atlantic Coast Conference championships — is just about complete. The Hurricanes (13-2, No. 10 College Football Playoff) play for the national championship on Monday night against Indiana (15-0, No. 1 CFP) at that same Hard Rock Stadium that was practically empty at the end of MTSU’s win four years ago.

    What You Need To Know

    • Miami will play Indiana in the College Football Playoff championship game on Monday

    • Over a 20-year period, the Hurricanes have had six coaches, three interim coaches and 17 seasons that didn’t include a bowl win

    • Under coach Mario Cristobal, Miami has restored its accountability and much success

    • The method was to outwork everyone, make honesty and transparency fundamental principles, hire top people and win some recruiting battles

    “It’s completely different,” said Thomas, who transferred to Tennessee for 2024 before coming to Miami for his final college season. “The Miami team we played back in ’22 was not this team now. I think coach Cristobal changed the culture around this place.”

    Make no mistake: Swagger is still a thing at Miami. These Hurricanes are brash and aggressive and tackle hard and play harder. Cristobal’s intensity is constant. Same goes for his staff. But there’s a balance now as well, a demand for accountability and carrying yourself the right way at all times.

    Some examples — wide receiver Malachi Toney, the best freshman in America this season, gave away turkeys at Thanksgiving; star defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. organized a toy drive at Christmas and made a $5,000 donation to the elementary school he attended years ago; and receiver CJ Daniels conducted an event to raise awareness of epilepsy, something that has touched his family.

    Ever since Cristobal came back to Miami, the team has broken two records each year: one for fall-semester grade-point average, then one for spring-semester GPA.

    “We have good people,” Cristobal said. “No, we have great people. It starts there. Surround yourself with great people, like-minded people and see what happens.”

    Cristobal didn’t use some unheard-of, wacky formula to bring Miami back to the national title picture. It was really quite simple: outwork everyone, make honesty and transparency fundamental principles of the program, hire the best people and fight like hell to win recruiting battles — nationally, of course, but also the ones waged in the Hurricanes’ talent-rich backyard, which sends tons of kids to the highest levels of college football every year.

    Landing Bain — a Miami guy who stayed home for college and who should be a sure-fire first-round NFL draft pick — in 2022 was a huge get. Cristobal was on a plane when Bain called him to commit. He threw his phone across the plane when he heard the words. Luckily, it was a private plane. The phone didn’t hit anyone.

    “We’re used to winning, and that’s what we’re going to bring back to Miami,” Bain said in 2022 when he announced his college choice. “They need help bad. They need help right now, and I’m willing to come in right now and make a change.”

    Changes were made.

    After that 5-7 first season, Miami went 7-6 in 2023. Better, but nowhere near good enough. In 2024, the Hurricanes started 9-0, then lost three of their last four games. Better again, but still not good enough.

    So, Cristobal hired defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman away from Minnesota to shore up that side of the ball. Carson Beck signed and took over for No. 1 draft pick Cam Ward at quarterback. Miami kept landing key pieces in the transfer portal — Thomas, Keionte Scott and Mohamed Toure are some who’ll play big roles on defense Monday night, while Keelan Marion, James Brockermeyer, Marty Brown, Daniels and Beck are just a few of the names who’ll be on the offensive side.

    “It was just getting the brotherhood right,” said linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, who played for Miami in that loss to MTSU. “I feel like we’re all in there. Every person in that locker room is playing for each other. That’s what it looks like when we’re out there. No one is just playing for themselves. The brotherhood, I feel like it’s one of the most important things in a team’s culture. You’ve got to play for the person beside of you.”

    Miami has put together back-to-back seasons of double-digit win totals. It had four consecutive 10-or-more-win seasons from 2000 through 2003, then exactly one such season from 2004 through 2023. It will have back-to-back season-ending appearances in the AP Top 25 for just the second time since 2005. Win or lose on Monday, Cristobal will inevitably say more work needs to be done.

    But the dark days at Miami, finally, seem to be over.

    “A care factor that’s through the roof and a die-hard belief in the University of Miami, bleeding orange and green through all of us, I think that’s what has really forged our progress forward as we continue to try to get better,” Cristobal said. “And we certainly have a long ways to go.”

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    Associated Press

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  • ScottsMiracle-Gro Field to host 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Women’s soccer is taking the spotlight in Columbus this summer when the Columbus Crew and ScottsMiracle-Gro Field host the 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The matchup, presented by E.L.F., puts the Kansas City Current against Gotham FC 

    • The NWSL Challenge Cup is an annual super cup competition and showcase of league title winners from the previous year

    • Details about the match, including ticket information, will be announced at a later date

    The matchup, presented by E.L.F., puts the Kansas City Current against Gotham FC on Friday, June 26, at 8 p.m. It is the league’s first game in Columbus since it launched in 2013.

    The NWSL Challenge Cup is an annual super cup competition and showcase of league title winners from the previous year. Gotham FC lifted its second NWSL Championship trophy in the past three seasons last year and the Current claimed this first NWSL Shield with a league-best 21-3-2 record.

    “We’re excited to welcome the NWSL to Columbus for the first time by hosting the NWSL Challenge Cup in June. This event provides another exceptional opportunity for the Crew to celebrate our sport and top athletes across the men’s and women’s game during a truly special year for soccer in our region and country,” said Crew President of Business Operations Mary Shepro. “Thanks to great collaboration with local partners, our world-class facilities and the passion of our fan base, we continue to strengthen Columbus’ reputation as an ideal destination for soccer and major events that have a lasting impact on our sport and community.”

    Details about the match, including ticket information, will be announced at a later date. 

    Fans won’t have to wait until June for some action though as ScottsMiracle-Gro Field will also host the 2026 SheBelieves Cup on March 4. 

    This is the second time in the past three years the cup has come to Columbus, with CONMEBOL’s Argentina and Colombia at 3:30 p.m. and USA facing Canada at 6:45 p.m. 

     

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Dolphins interview Kevin Stefanski for coaching vacancy

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    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has interviewed with the Miami Dolphins for their head coaching vacancy.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Dolphins began reaching out to candidates after hiring Jon-Eric Sullivan as their general manager last week
    • Miami interviewed Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak on Saturday

    • Stefanski, 43, is a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year and has interviewed with several teams looking for a new head coach, including Tennessee, Atlanta and Baltimore

    The Dolphins began reaching out to candidates after hiring Jon-Eric Sullivan as their general manager last week, a day after firing coach Mike McDaniel following four seasons.

    Miami interviewed Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak on Saturday.

    Stefanski, 43, is a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year and has interviewed with several teams looking for a new head coach, including Tennessee, Atlanta and Baltimore. He was fired last week by Cleveland with a 46-58 record in six seasons.

    The Dolphins are expected to complete more interviews in the coming days but had been linked to former Baltimore coach John Harbaugh, who was fired by the Ravens after 18 seasons. The team has not announced an interview with Harbaugh.

    Stefanski would be a different coaching hire from what Miami owner Stephen Ross typically has chosen.

    Ross has not hired someone with previous head coaching experience since becoming the Dolphins’ majority owner in 2009 — recently gambling on Joe Philbin (2012-2015), Adam Gase (2016-18), Brian Flores (2019-21) and McDaniel (2022-25).

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Another NASCAR race returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway

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    NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — The hills are alive with the sound of racing. Several NASCAR Cup Series teams tested a new engine package at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Tuesday afternoon.

    What You Need To Know

    • Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway on July 19

    • Testing on a new 750-horsepower package at the racetrack happened on Tuesday

    • Hundreds of racing fans attended the test

    • Single-day tickets for the race are now available online


    “I’d like to maybe try to get a ticket for this,” said Collin Welborn, a racing fan from High Point.

    Fans came out in numbers to secure their tickets for the Window World 450 on July 19. It’ll be the first NASCAR Cup Series points race at North Wilkesboro since 1996.

    Some fans say they have gotten tickets to every race held at the historic speedway and see the upcoming event as a chance to carry on the exciting tradition.

    Not only was it the first day fans could buy tickets for the race at the box office, but it was also the first time fans got to see NASCAR’s new 750-horsepower package in person. The new package will be used during select races this season, and fans say they are excited to see the difference in speed. 

    “It’s not just having it. It’s knowing how to use it,” said Bobby Mills, a racing fan from Winston-Salem. “You can’t just mash the gas and go. You’ve got all the power you need for this place now.”

    Fans say the corners of the track are tight coming in, so the extra horsepower on the straightaways could help pick up a little of the difference from having to lift off so far back.

    The Speedway hosted the NASCAR All-Star Race from 2023-2025 after sitting empty for decades following the infamous 1996 race.

    Fans say they are glad to see action back on the track. 

    “The atmosphere here is unbelievable,” Welborn said. “Fans come from all across the world just to see the best of the best come here and tackle this track that’s been here since 1949.”

    “I think it takes talent to get around this track with 30 or 40 other cars on the track, versus some other tracks that have more wider grooves,” Mills said. “I think this track makes you show your talent.”

    Single-day tickets for the Window World 450 will be available online starting Wednesday morning, Jan. 14.

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    Zach Tucker

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  • AP women’s basketball player of the week is No. 14 Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Associated Press national player of the week in women’s basketball for Week 10 of the season is Jaloni Cambridge. 

    Cambridge is a sphomore guard at The Ohio State University.

    Jaloni Cambridge, Ohio State

    The sophomore guard began the week with a career-high 41 points in the win at Illinois, becoming the first Buckeyes player to score 40 points in a game against a Big Ten opponent since Kelsey Mitchell had 43 against Rutgers in 2016. She also had six rebounds, six assists and two steals. Cambridge followed that up with a 28-point effort in a win over then-No. 8 Maryland. She had a career-best nine rebounds and eight assists for No. 14 Ohio State.

    Runner-up

    Mikaylah Williams, LSU. The junior guard had 20 points, seven rebounds and five steals in LSU’s victory over No. 2 Texas, which was the Longhorns first loss of the season. The five steals were a career best. She hit two big 3-pointers, including one with a second left on the shot clock and 1:20 left in the game that gave the Tigers a 66-59 lead. It was No. 6 LSU’s first win over a top-two team since 2008.

    Honorable mention

    Mikayla Blakes, No. 5 Vanderbilt; Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame; Sarah Strong, No. 1 UConn.

    Keep an eye on

    UNLV sophomore forward Meadow Roland averaged 18 points and 13 rebounds as the Lady Rebels beat Utah State and Wyoming. She had 18 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks in the win over the Aggies and followed that up with a 18-point, 12-rebound effort against Wyoming.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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