“It’s a mature group and they take pride in what they do.” OL coach Adrian Klemm is happy with what he’s seen from his group so far.
The outlook for the Oregon Ducks’ offensive line is certainly positive. With a handful of veteran players returning for one more season, offensive line coach Adrian Klemm had reason for wanting to leave a job with the Pittsburgh Steelers to come back to the college ranks and take over a group that could be among the very best in the Pac-12 this season.
Klemm has also made an early mark in the recruiting world as well, helping to land 5-star offensive tackle Josh Conerly back in the spring. Conerly was ranked as the No. 1 OT in the 2022 class, and Klemm helped push the Ducks over the USC Trojans in the end.
With fall camp now well underway, we got a chance to talk to Klemm after the Ducks’ 6th practice of the year, the first one in full pads. Here are some of the best quotes from the day:
“I have been in dialogue with the people that we need to,” Heupel said. “Our administration has been on the other side of the coin. We feel good about where that is going. Bru is healthy and ready to compete this training camp, so he will be involved in everything we are doing.”
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound McCoy appeared in six games for USC in 2020. McCoy totaled 21 receptions, 236 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Dixon appeared in 41 games with the Tigers, totaling 1,420 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 218 attempts. Dixon recorded 20 receptions, 190 receiving yards and one touchdown at Clemson.
Dixon committed to Tennessee in June 2017. Dixon decommitted from the Vols in Oct. 2017. Dixon signed with Clemson on Dec. 20, 2017. He enrolled at Clemson in June 2018 from Taylor County High School in Butler, Georgia.
Heupel was also asked if Dixon had a preexisting relationship with Tennessee’s coaching staff.
“For us as a staff, not really, as far as a previous relationship,” Heupel said. “Obviously, he had a lot of familiarity with Tennessee if you look back at his recruitment.
“He has some experience playing at this level. His skillset, athletic ability, change of direction, his explosive long speed, all of those things are things that we need inside of that room. For those reasons, I felt like he was the right fit to bring in.”
Following the Vols’ scrimmage, second-year head coach Josh Heupel met with media.
Heupel discussed redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker’s performance during the Vols’ scrimmage.
“I thought he was really good,” Heupel said of Hooker. “He was really efficient, effective, handled the operation side of it extremely well. He’s been in really good command of what we’re doing offensively, keeping us out of bad plays, bad situations.
“He’s turning the negatives into zero, been decisive getting the ball out of his hands. He’s in complete command of what we’re doing on the offensive side of the ball. Run game, pass game and protections as well. I’m really pleased with his progress through spring ball, but even after spring ball to where he is now. He did some really great things out there today. Yesterday, he had a great day too. I love where he’s at. Keep fighting, be ready for week one, and go be your best.”
Bo Nickal’s UFC impressive debut had Twitter sounding off
Former Penn State wrestler and national champion [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag] made his UFC debut Tueday night as part of the Dana White Contender Series. The Contender Series serves as a proving ground of sorts for up-and-coming talent in the sport of MMA and Nickal proved he deserved to be there.
Heading into the event, Nickal was 1-0 as a professional but his lengthy combat sports career in wrestling had him ready for the bright lights in Las Vegas. After winning a national championship in Madison Square Garden, not much could faze the young MMA prodigy.
He made quick work of his opponent taking him down and submitting him n just 63 seconds and the entire sport of MMA took notice.
Since high school Roquan Smith has stood up against organizations trying to take advantage of him
Former Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith has requested to be traded from the Chicago Bears, the team that drafted him eighth overall in the 2018 NFL draft, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Smith (25) is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and has been in contract negotiations with the front office that have reached an impasse. Smith has been on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list since the start of training camp.
Smith wrote a statement in which he made public his desire to be traded. The statement was posted to social media by Rapoport on Tuesday.
The two sides have been attempting to work on an extension since April, but Smith feels that the offer he received is not only bad for himself, but for the linebacker market as a whole.
Smith reiterated that he wanted to finish his career in Chicago, “but the new front office regime doesn’t value me here.”
“They’ve refused to negotiate in good faith,” Smith wrote. “Every step of this journey has been ‘take it or leave it.’ The deal sent to me is one that would be bad for myself, and for the entire LB market if I signed it.”
But for Smith, this is not the first time he has stood up to a front office, or college football program that he feels was trying to take advantage of him.
Prior to his rookie season in 2018, Smith held out due to contract negotiations. Those disagreements stemmed from a then-new league policy that would subject defenders to ejection/suspension if they initiate contact with their helmet, a very common tackling technique.
The real issue generated around contract language transcribed by the Bears that cunningly stated that Chicago reserves the right to void any guaranteed money to Smith if he were to miss playing time as a result of this new rule.
Although the Bears finally came around and changed the terms, to Smith, and rightfully so, this showed a clear lack of support for him by his new organization. Rather than standing by Smith if this new rule were to come into play, the team was instead telling him they will take away his money if he is ejected or suspended by it.
UGA/UCLA/National Signing Day:
Dec 2, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Roquan Smith (3) is awarded MVP after defeating the Auburn Tigers in the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Ever since his days at Macon County High, Smith has taken the unconventional route in continuing his football career at the next level.
It started with his National Signing Day announcement that saw him don UCLA gloves, signifying a commitment to the Bruins over the home-state Bulldogs in 2015. Only there was one problem, for UCLA.
Shortly after committing to the Bruins, he was informed of the news that UCLA’s defensive coordinator had bolted for the Atlanta Falcons. Smith shortly changed his mind about that decision – making national headlines – and cautiously took his time before eventually choosing Georgia a week later.
But when finally choosing to play for UGA, Smith – showing his smarts here – chose to sign a financial aid agreement rather than a letter of intent. By doing so, he protected himself from being tied to a university if Georgia had any unexpected coaching changes prior to his enrollment. If Smith wanted to change schools yet again, this allowed him to do so.
In doing this, Smith proved to America that he not only was a bright kid, but one who knew how to protect himself and his future, not allowing big businesses (like Georgia and now the NFL) to control him.
It was a terrific moment for all involved, remembering Mills’ legacy as a fan-favorite standout on the Saints’ “Dome Patrol” defenses who later ended his playing career with the Carolina Panthers, where he started his coaching career. Both franchises pay him tribute and are represented in his commemorative locker at the Hall of Fame.
But maybe the most touching dedication came from Mills’ son Marcus, who shared a letter written to his late father on behalf of their friends and family, embodying the legacy that Mills has left behind. See it for yourself:
According to one former NBA guard, Steph Curry is “just kind of one-dimensional at times.”
After becoming the NBA’s leader for all-time made 3-pointers, Steph Curry added another All-Star appearance, his fourth NBA championship and his first NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award during the 2021-22 season to his already long list of achievements on the basketball court.
Despite having a decorated resume that features things like unanimous MVP awards and multiple NBA titles, it’s still not enough for some.
Steph — like how he plays and how he gets stuff off, it’s just kind of one-dimensional at times if that makes sense — He’s not the primary ball-handler a lot and for a point guard that kind of bothers me. But he does score off the dribble so I mean he’s a superstar. When you’re picking your top five, you’re kind of just nit-picking.
Following the announcement of Russell’s passing, Steve Kerr paid tribute to the NBA pillar with a video message on Twitter. Kerr reflected on Russell’s connection to the Bay Area, his time with the Celtics and his impact off the court with civil rights and social justice.
During his time on the court in the NBA, Russell won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics. Russell won eight consecutive NBA Finals with the Celtics and was 10-0 in his career in Game 7s.
Russell’s final two championships were won as a player-coach. Along with winning two titles as a player-coach, Russell blazed a trail as the first Black head coach of any major professional American sport.
The NBA Hall of Famer averaged 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists over his career. Russell trails only Wilt Chamberlain for most rebounds in NBA history with 21,620 total boards.
Prior to joining the Celtics, Russell won two NCAA championships with the University of San Francisco in 1955 and 1956. Russell was a two-time All-American at USF and was named NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in 1955. Russell’s No. 6 Dons jersey now hangs from the rafters at the hilltop in San Francisco.
On Wednesday, Steph and Ayesha Curry hit the baseball diamond for the first pitch at the A’s vs. Astros game.
The Steph Curry championship tour continues to roll on.
Since winning his fourth title with the Golden State Warriors, Curry has played in a celebrity golf tournament and hosted the ESPY awards in Hollywood. On Wednesday, he hit the baseball diamond.
Alongside his wife, Ayesha, Curry took the mound to represent their family’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation before the Oakland Athletics met the Houston Astros on Wednesday at the Oakland Coliseum.
While Ayesha fired her pitch off a bounce toward the plate, Curry ripped his fastball a bit outside.
Despite Curry’s miss on the mound, the reigning NBA Finals Most Valuable Player was a good luck charm for the A’s on Wednesday. Behind home runs from Stephen Vogt and Stephen Piscotty, the A’s sealed a 4-2 victory over the Astros to complete a three-game sweep against their division rival.
