Howard Schnellenberger, 87, Miami, Louisville coach, dies
(AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)MIAMI – Howard Schnellenberger was a pipe smoker with a push-broom mustache and gruff baritone, and he paired his grandiloquent manner with grandiose visions for football at Miami, Louisville and Florida Atlantic that caused snickers. He revived the sport at Miami and Louisville and started the program at Florida Atlantic during a coaching career that spanned a half century. His legacy includes on-campus stadiums at Louisville and Florida Atlantic. He then founded the program at Florida Atlantic and retired as coach after 11 seasons highlighted by back-to-back bowl victories. AdAt Miami, Schnellenberger took over in 1979 amid debate about whether the moribund program should fold.
From Kobe to Maradona, a year of staggering losses in sports
Not long after came a seismic jolt, the helicopter crash of Kobe Bryant in the fog-shrouded California hills that reverberated across sports and across continents. Deep into the year, a bookend to Bryant, Diego Maradona died from a heart attack in Argentina weeks after brain surgery, the waves of grief rippling across soccer. The losses, of course, came against a backdrop of a pandemic, its number of fatalities rolled out daily on TV screens. Niekro won 318 games and pitched until he was 48, his knuckleball dancing and mystifying batters across the decades. Kurt Thomas in 1978 became the first U.S. male gymnast to win a world title but lost an Olympic shot in 1980 because of the boycott.
Sports in 2020: Disruptions aplenty, only constant was loss
FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2020, file photo, the Olympic rings for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 pass by on a barge by tugboats off the Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo. Tokyo Olympic officials said Thursday, Dec. 24, they have reached a basic agreement with all 68 domestic sponsors to extend their contracts into next year to support the postponed Games. Facing increasingly long odds, some mega-events — the Olympics, March Madness, the Boston Marathon and Wimbledon — pushed the starting line into 2021. … Continue to push (against) everything that’s the opposite of love.”If only for a moment, the pandemic receded into the background. “If we can continue to do that, all of us,” James concluded, “America would be a much better place.”
Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2020
The world also said goodbye to U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a lion of the civil rights movement who died in July. Other former political figures who died this year include Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, New York Mayor David Dinkins, Arizona Gov. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2020 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___David Stern, 77. The guitarist who supplied the scratching, seething sound that fueled the highly influential British punk band Gang of Four. He fused African rhythms with funk to become one of the most influential musicians in world dance music.
Jake Scott, former Miami safety, Super Bowl MVP, dies at 75
Scott, the star safety who was the most valuable player in the Super Bowl that completed the Dolphins 1972 perfect season, died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, in Atlanta. Scott played in three consecutive Super Bowls, won back-to-back championship rings and made the Pro Bowl five years in a row with Miami. At Georgia, Scott was an All-American and the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 1968. Shula suspended Scott and then traded him to the Redskins for safety Bryant Salter, who lasted only one season. He grew up in Athens, Georgia, and was recruited as a receiver by Dooley, who then moved Scott to safety.
ODDS, HISTORY, MORE: Jaguars seek 5th straight prime-time win at home vs. Dolphins
SPREAD – Dolphins 1-1; Jaguars 2-0SERIES RECORD – Jaguars lead 5-4LAST MEETING – Jaguars beat Dolphins 17-7 on Dec. 23, 2018, in Miami Gardens, FloridaLAST WEEK – Dolphins lost to Bills 31-28; Jaguars lost at Titans 33-30AP PRO32 RANKING – Dolphins No. DOLPHINS DEFENSE – OVERALL (30), RUSH (29), PASS (26). JAGUARS OFFENSE – OVERALL (20), RUSH (12), PASS (21). JAGUARS DEFENSE – OVERALL (23), RUSH (10), PASS (30). … Jaguars rookie Laviska Shenault is the only WR in NFL history with seven rushing attempts and six receptions in his first two games.
Dolphins' Tagovailoa is a playful, willing backup -- for now
MIAMI Tua Tagovailoa was easy to identify Thursday even though he wore teammate Ryan Fitzpatrick's jersey and a mask to his first media session of training camp. Tagovailoa is happy to keep a low profile befitting his rookie status, even though he's widely hailed as the Miami Dolphins' future franchise quarterback. A former star at Alabama, Tagovailoa knows how to deal with the pressure of great expectations. But Tagovailoa will be difficult to overlook because he's full of potential and personality. As far as how I feel right now, everything is going well.That's what the Dolphins want to hear.
Dolphins survive late collapse and beat Bengals in OT, 38-35
A laugher became a thriller for the Miami Dolphins, and they needed overtime to beat the Cincinnati Bengals. Each team punted twice to start the extra period before Fitzpatrick led a 10-play, 51-yard march for the winning field goal. “I’m one for one.”MIAMI’S PASSINGFitzpatrick also threw touchdown passes of 31 and 13 yards to Mike Gesicki, and 7 yards to DeVante Parker. Dolphins: CB Jomal Wiltz left the game in the first half with a shoulder injury. BENGALS: They finish at home Sunday against Cleveland, which won 27-19 when the teams met two weeks ago.