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Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
NFL veteran, Alabama football alum ready for challenge at HBCU champ
MACON, GA - As a former Alabama football backup who fought his way into the NFL, Chris Goode is no stranger to uphill battles. Now, he's taking on a new one as head coach at Miles College. From Historic Season to Roster Reset Goode steps into a program fresh off a 10-3 season, an SIAC championship, and a rare NCAA Division II playoff win. But the team he inherits looks very different. Former head coach Sam Shade, another Alabama football alum, left to lead Alabama A&M. He took a significant portion of the roster with him, leaving Goode to rebuild. "It's a brand new team," Goode admitted at SIAC Media Day. "We had a lot of guys that were seniors that left, got a lot of guys that went in the transfer portal." Lessons from Alabama and the NFL Despite the turnover, Goode remains confident. He draws strength from his own football journey - one that began in Tuscaloosa and led to the pros. 'I only started one game, but I ended up getting drafted, Goode said. ' In the NFL, I went in and we had drafted 4 or 5 DBS. I was the last DB.' Goode's dream never wavered, even when the depth chart said otherwise. 'Second year I was the only one left., he continued. ' So to me it's always a challenge for me no matter what. It doesn't bother me at all. So I think I'm built for it.' He did just that, playing in the NFL from 1987 to 1991. Building a New Culture That same determination now drives his vision for Miles. Goode has assembled a coaching staff full of championship experience and is focused on creating a culture of resilience. He's not just replacing players. He's reestablishing a foundation for long-term success at one of the strongest HBCU programs in Division II. He says he plans to use his relationships to keep Miles in contention in the SIAC. 'It's always about your friend base,' Goode said. 'We call it multiple other things but it's a lot of my friends that are in the know (about) a lot of guys as you know getting released from D1, D2 or whatever.' Target on Miles' Back Despite the roster overhaul, SIAC Commissioner Dr. Anthony Holloman reminded everyone that Miles remains the team to beat. "Miles College went undefeated last season in SIAC play. Then they went on to eliminate Carson Newman in the first round of the NCAA playoffs," Holloman told the crowd. "So the championship runs through Fairfield (AL)." That kind of pressure could rattle some. But Goode embraces it. "It doesn't matter where you start," he said."It's about what you do when you get your shot." Alabama Toughness, NFL Mindset Miles College is betting that Goode can bring that Alabama football grit and NFL toughness to a team with championship expectations. With a new roster and a storied past, the road back to the top won't be easy. But if anyone knows how to make the most of an opportunity, it's Michael Goode. The post NFL veteran, Alabama football alum ready for challenge at HBCU champ appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Ottawa Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Former junior champ Luke Cote adds 2025 Saskatchewan Amateur title to his golf resume
Article content A first-time Amateur champ, at that. Article content The 20-year-old golfer, who plays out of the Royal Regina Golf Club, captured the provincial men's golf crown Friday at the Humboldt Golf Club with a two-stroke victory over runner-up over 2025 Saskatchewan mid-Amateur champ Corey Bailey. Article content Article content Cote finished at 11-under-par over four days, shooting rounds of 69-70-65-73 for a total score of 277. Article content Article content 'It's a really good feeling,' said Cote, who plays NCAA Division II collegiate golf at Southern Arkansas University. Article content 'It's something I'll look back on and remember. Something to add to my resume, too. I'm super-excited about it. It was great.' Article content Bailey, who won the mid-Am title one day earlier, finished at 9-under with a four-round score of 279 (64-71-74-70). Article content Saskatoon's Ryan Mosher, who was the 2024 Saskatchewan junior championship winner, placed third overall at 8-under. Mosher was the only golfer in the field to shoot under-par every day with rounds of 70-71-70-69. Article content 'It's a field full of young guys,' said Cote. 'Lots of young guys from college. It's a really good field and I'm just super happy to get it done today.' Article content Cote got it done despite some mid-round hiccups Friday that saw him take bogeys on No. 8 and No. 10, plus a double-bogey on Hole No. 12. However, he recovered with a birdie on No. 13 and played bogey-free golf the rest of the way. An eagle on the par 5 No. 16 helped him pull away from the pack for good. Article content Article content 'That,' said Cote, 'was a really big putt after Corey made a great putt (for eagle). Just to make that one and keep the two-shot lead really gave me some good momentum going into (Hole) 17. It was really good.' Article content Article content Cote plans to return to Southern Arkansas with no desire to enter the transfer portal. Article content Saskatchewan will send nine golfers to the Canadian Amateur, slated for July 28-31 at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club & Rivermead Club de Golf in Gatineau, Quebec. Article content Prince Albert's Danny Klughart, who was the Saskatchewan mid-Am champ a year ago and Saskatchewan Amateur champ in 2019, finished in a three-way tie for fourth with Saskatoon's Brett Leonard and Alex Swinnerton, all at 3-under-par. Article content Klughart shot rounds of 73-71-70-69—285, while Leonard carded rounds of 70-76-68-71 and Swinnerton recorded scores of 70-69-71-75.
Los Angeles Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Vanguard University granted full NCAA Division II membership
Vanguard University's athletic program was notified Thursday that it has been granted full NCAA Division II membership for 2025-26. The Costa Mesa university had been a longtime member of the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics since 1986, but two years ago Vanguard was provisionally approved for NCAA Division II status. The final year of a three-year transition period was waived after Vanguard met all NCAA compliance, academic and operational benchmarks a year early. 'This process was really big,' Vanguard Athletic Director Jeff Bussell said in an interview Friday. 'We looked at the climate of just where small college athletics on the West Coast was heading, and Division II was the best regional alignment for us as we navigate college athletics at this time. Everybody's thrilled. We put in a lot of work.' The completion of the move, combined with the opening of the 61,000-square foot Freed Center for Leadership and Service last fall, ushers in a new era for Lions athletics. Bussell said Vanguard teams played an NCAA Division II schedule last year as well, with the caveat that they were on probation and not eligible for the postseason. The men's soccer team and women's basketball team would have made the Division II playoffs if they were eligible, he added. Vanguard women's basketball coach Russ Davis, entering his 29th season, said he was excited about the move to Division II. Last year, his squad finished its first Division II season 18-8 overall and 16-4 in the Pacific West Conference, good for second place. Davis was a four-time NAIA Coach of the Year and his teams made five Fab Four appearances at the NAIA Championships, including winning the 2008 national championship. 'In our particular sport, it's definitely a little step up,' Davis said of the move to Division II. 'But I think if you were one of the top teams that were competing for championships at the NAIA level, then you should have an equal opportunity to be in the mix at the NCAA Division II level as well. 'For me, I was in the NAIA a long time, so you have a lot of friends and people you compete with. We were blessed to be able to accomplish a lot of things, but we're going to try to do the same thing at this level. We're just going to try to keep the ship moving in the right direction if possible.' Vanguard teams are now full competitors in the PacWest Conference and eligible for that conference's postseason events and Division II national championships, a boost for recruiting and competition. 'I think our brand level has been impacted,' Bussell said. 'We doubled our gate last year in ticket sales, just with the move last year. We're hoping to continue to see that grow moving into the future.' The university's NCAA Division II teams include baseball, men's and women's basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track and field and women's volleyball. Men's volleyball and men's and women's wrestling will compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while STUNT, women's beach volleyball and dance vie for championships outside of the NCAA umbrella. Delaney Hill, who went to high school close by at Calvary Chapel, is entering her senior year as an opposite on the Vanguard women's volleyball team. While the Freed Center was under construction her first two years, Vanguard played its home matches at Hill's alma mater of Calvary Chapel. The Lions finished 13-11 last fall, including a 10-10 mark in the PacWest Conference. Hill admitted that the speed of the game was faster moving from NAIA to NCAA Division II, but she and her teammates are enthusiastic to meet the challenge moving forward. 'I think everyone's very excited about it,' Hill said. 'The school was NAIA for so long, and I think we were really able to build a legacy from that. I think everyone's very excited to build a legacy within the NCAA now, to compete at a higher level and to compete with new teams that we haven't played against before.'
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NAIA national title football game to be played this season in Texas
Another college football national championship game will be played in the state of Texas. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) recently announced that it will play its national championship game this December in Fort Worth. It will take place on Dec. 20 at the Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium, which opened in 2022. Among the stadium's tenants is the Texas Wesleyan University football program, which competes in the NAIA. Another team that calls the Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium home is North Crowley High School, which won the UIL 6A Division I state championship last season, going a perfect 16-0. Advertisement 'We couldn't be more excited to bring the NAIA Football National Championship to the Dallas-Fort Worth 'Metroplex,'' said Austin Bennett, NAIA Vice President of Championships, in a news release. 'Crowley ISD Stadium is a premier venue, allowing us to deliver a first-class championship experience to our incredible student-athletes. 'Football fans in Texas are engaged and really know the game, and we can't wait to showcase the very best of NAIA football in this vibrant community.' This season's NAIA title game will be the 70th edition. The NAIA will play postseason games on Nov. 22 and 29, as well as Dec. 6 and 13, all at campus sites, before the championship game on Dec. 20. The selection of Fort Worth is the latest college football championship game to be played in the 'Metroplex.' Since 2010, the NCAA Division I Football Championship, also known as the Football Championship Subdivision title game, has been played at Toyota Stadium in the northern suburb of Frisco, though starting in 2026, the game will be moved to Nashville, Tenn. Advertisement Also, the NCAA Division II championship game is played in another northern 'Metroplex' suburb, McKinney, with the game at McKinney ISD Stadium, which has been the title location since 2018. Last season's NCAA Division III title game took place in Houston at Shell Energy Stadium, but this season's championship contest takes place in Canton, Ohio. MORE SPORTS NEWS Former SEC head coach and offensive guru finds new role with Louisiana college program Nation's longest actively tenured athletic director at one school to announce his retirement Successful Oklahoma high school football coach receives honor from his college alma mater Advertisement Bixby (Oklahoma) standout continues family tradition with commitment to Oklahoma State Former Baylor, BYU quarterback lands coaching position at Arkansas high school Instant replay approved for Missouri high school football championship games Former Oklahoma QB commit now commits to Florida State Oklahoma high school football defensive standout commits to New Mexico Top Texas '26 tight end prospect decides to stay close to home, commits to TCU Texas Tech football lands commitment from East Texas 4-star 2026 cornerback Standout tailback from East Texas decides to stay in-state after making college commitment Advertisement ESPN's "SportsCenter" program to be on location at Texas high school football scrimmage Who made the covers of popular Texas football preseason magazine? Texas UIL football championship games to be broadcast for free via a new broadcast agreement
NBC Sports
14-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Tyreek Hill runs 100 meters in 10.15 seconds at California track meet
Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill showed up with little fanfare at a track meet in California on Friday and won the 100-meter dash with an impressive time of 10.15 seconds. That's an incredibly fast race considering that Hill is 31 years old and hadn't run track competitively since college, and shows that if Hill had wanted to focus on track instead of football, he has the talent to be an elite sprinter. DK Metcalf, who competed in a 100-meter race in 2021, was widely praised for his time of 10.37 seconds. Hill bested Metcalf's time easily. Hill's race was part of the Last Chance Sprint Series, and the competition Hill beat was solid: Isaac Bostio, who was last year's NCAA Division II national champion in the 100 meters, finished second among all the 100-meter runners at the meet, behind Hill at 10.18 seconds. In Hill's own heat, the second-place finisher was former Michigan sprinter Asani Hampton in 10.26 seconds. Hill has been talking up a race with Noah Lyles, and after winning the race on Friday, Hill held up a sign saying, 'Noah could never.' The reality is Lyles could beat Hill easily in a 100-meter sprint, but Hill still did something incredibly impressive on the track on Friday.
