Orlando City SC to Face Cavalry FC in Round One of 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup

ORLANDO – Orlando City SC is set to take on Canadian-side Cavalry FC in Round One of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. Specific match details, including ticket information, will be announced at a later date.  

Orlando City was drawn into position A8 from Pot 1, being placed into Pot 1 by virtue of the Club’s standing in the Concacaf Club Rankings, with Cavalry FC being drawn into position B8 from Pot 2.  

The 59th edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup, the region's premier men's club competition, will be played between February and June 2024. The annual tournament, comprised of five direct elimination rounds and the best clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, crowns the Confederation's club champion and is the sole qualification route for the region's clubs to the new and expanded FIFA Club World Cup.

The competition's first four rounds (Round One, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals), all include home and away play, while the Final is played as a single-leg match.

The 2024 CCC matchups will commence with Round One in February, followed by the Round of 16 in March, quarterfinals in April, semifinals in the last weeks of April. The all-decisive single-leg final, where the region’s new champion will be crowned, will take place on Sunday, June 2, 2024. 

As previously announced, beginning next year, the Confederation has replaced the Concacaf Champions League with the Concacaf Champions Cup. The name "Champions Cup" is part of a complete rebrand inspired by this tournament's rich history. Since 1962, when the first iteration of this tournament was formed, 30 different clubs have won this title, highlighting how competitive it is and the great diversity of champions within Concacaf.

The Lions qualified for their second Concacaf Champions Cup by holding the second-best record across all Major League Soccer in the 2023 MLS regular season, while Cavalry FC, based out of Calgary, Canada, qualified as the regular season champions of the 2023 Canadian Premier League. 

Jacksonville Armada Owner Announces Formation of New Entity to Explore in NWSL Bid

 JACKSONVILLE – Robert Palmer is leading an effort to bring the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) to Northeast Florida.  Palmer formed the entity Jax Downtown Pro Women’s Soccer, LLC with a goal of bringing an NWSL expansion club to Jacksonville. 

Following the recent announcement of the Jacksonville Armada FC's entry into MLS Next Pro, Mr. Palmer has successfully fulfilled his commitment to return the club to the professional ranks. His extensive tenure as the sole owner of the Jacksonville Armada FC since 2017 provides a solid foundation of experience and dedication, positioning him to lead this historic NWSL bid.  For this venture, Palmer is actively exploring including other like-minded individuals to form a new ownership group to pursue Jacksonville’s bid for an NWSL expansion team. 

 

In tandem with this ambitious pursuit, Palmer is personally financing a multimillion-dollar stadium project situated in the heart of downtown Jacksonville. The second phase of this project is poised to provide an ideal home for the prospective NWSL expansion team, underscoring Palmer's dedication to cultivating a premier soccer environment in the region. 

Mr. Palmer expressed his commitment, stating, “Having engaged in discussions with the NWSL, it affirmed what I already knew – the women’s game is experiencing a global surge, and the NWSL stands as the undisputed pinnacle of women’s soccer in the United States. I envision Jacksonville playing a pivotal role in the elevation and expansion of the beautiful game.” 

The NWSL's global impact is evident, with sixty-one of its stars representing their countries in the recent 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Of the 23-member USWNT squad, an impressive 22 players compete domestically in the National Women's Soccer League, solidifying its status as the premier women's professional soccer league in the United States. 

Columbus Crew Win 2023 MLS Cup, Defeating LAFC, 2-1

 COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Crew won the third MLS Cup presented by Audi in club history after defeating the Los Angeles Football Club, 2-1, at Lower.com Field. 

Columbus became the third club in league history to win MLS Cup at least three different times and it marked their second championship trophy in the past four seasons (2020). 

Cucho Hernández was named the 2023 MLS Cup MVP presented by Audi after scoring the opening goal of the match in the 33rd minute, his fifth of the postseason, which tied for the most in MLS during the playoffs. 

With the victory, Crew midfielder and captain Darlington Nagbe won his fourth MLS Cup (2015, 2018, 2020, 2023), becoming just the 10th player in league history to win four-or-more MLS Cups.

Columbus emerged victorious with a 2-1 victory in front of a Lower.com Field-record 20,802 fans, which included two goals in the opening 37 minutes. 

The Crew opened the scoring after LAFC committed a handball inside the 18-yard-box in the 31st minute. Hernández stepped up to the spot and converted, marking his second goal from the penalty spot in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs (Watch Here ). In the 37th minute, defender Malte Amundsen played a spectacular pass to midfielder Yaw Yeboah, who poked his effort past the diving LAFC goalkeeper for a 2-0 advantage (Watch Here).  

Despite a late goal from LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga in the 74th minute (Watch Here ), the Crew managed to hold on to earn their third MLS Cup presented by Audi in club history. Thanks to his opening goal, Hernández was named 2023 MLS Cup MVP presented by Audi, becoming the first Colombian-born player to earn the honor. 

With the victory, the Crew reached 82 goals in both the regular season and postseason, which was the most by a club in MLS history that went on to win MLS Cup. 

Davies Named Third Head Coach in UNF Men's Soccer History

 JACKSONVILLE - North Florida Athletics is welcoming Jamie Davies as the third head coach in the 32-year history of UNF men's soccer, as announced by Director of Athletics Nick Morrow on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Davies will be formally introduced with a meet and greet in the UNF Arena's Bank of England Suite at a date to be determined in early 2024. The introductory press conference will be streamed on North Florida Ospreys' Facebook.

Davies comes to Jacksonville, Fla., with over a decade and a half of coaching experience at four different collegiate institutions. His most recent collegiate stop was at the University of Central Florida, where he was the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator over the past six seasons.

Through his 15 years of coaching at the collegiate level, Davies also currently serves as a regional talent identification scout for the United States Youth National Team. He was a U-16 head coach and regional scout for Atlanta United as well from 2017-18.

A native of London, England, Davies completed his USSF A License in September 2019 under Steffen Siebert Technical Lead instructor for the A-Senior License.

IFL News: Jacksonville Sharks Sign Former Auburn Tiger

JACKSONVILLE, FL- The Jacksonville Sharks have been steady active this off season in free agency and are keeping things rolling with signing former Auburn Tiger Marcus Bragg (6 '6,260lb). 

Bragg came to Auburn as a graduate transfer from Western Kentucky, where he played three seasons. He played in all 14 games during the 2021 campaign recording 38 tackles and 3.5 sacks. 

Bragg also played two seasons in the junior college ranks at Mississippi Delta Community College and Arizona Western, recording 35 tackles and two sacks. As a Tiger, Bragg appeared in 11 games registering 16 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack. 

He is also cousin to former Auburn wide receiver Ricardo Louis whose most memorable play was a 73-yard touchdown reception against the Georgia Bulldogs in 2013. This play is known as "The Prayer in Jordan-Hare."

 The catch enabled the Tigers to win their division, enter the postseason, and make it into a national championship game.  

Jim Coleman honored as 2022-23 PGA TOUR Volunteer of the Year

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – Jim Coleman, a volunteer with more than 15 years of service at The Classic in The Palm Beaches (formerly The Honda Classic) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was selected as the 2022-23 PGA TOUR Volunteer of the Year. With the award, the PGA TOUR will donate $10,000 to the charity of Coleman’s choosing – the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, the long-time primary beneficiary of The Classic in The Palm Beaches.  

 

Coleman was first introduced to volunteering in 2000 as a standard bearer. He continued to volunteer at many PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions events before officially becoming the Standard Bearer Chairman at The Classic in The Palm Beaches in 2008. In 2012, Coleman advanced to Volunteer Chairman, a position he held through last year’s event. Coleman will continue to stay involved with the tournament and assist incoming Volunteer Chairman Jay Levine.   

 

“I am humbled to be the 2022-23 PGA TOUR Volunteer of the Year,” said Coleman. “Out of the tens of thousands of very deserving PGA TOUR volunteers, this recognition is a wonderful tribute not just to me, but to the thousands of volunteers I have managed, mentored, encouraged and supported over the last decade. Our efforts support the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation in their pursuit of premium health care for children and families that can’t afford it.”

 

“In my new role as Volunteer Chair, Jim has been a mentor to me,” said Levine. “He’s showing me the ropes and being there to offer guidance and support wherever and whenever needed. It was exciting and a pleasure for me to tell Jim that he had been selected as the 2022-23 PGA TOUR Volunteer of the Year.

 

“In my years with the tournament, first as a walking scorer, then committee chair and division chair, Jim has always been the hands-on leader. He made sure he met and talked with as many of the 1,600 volunteers as possible. He let the chairpersons manage their divisions and committees, but was always up to speed on what was going on. The perfect balance of management, but not micro-managing.” 

 

Founded in 2004 by Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation provides families access to world-class pediatric healthcare. The foundation supports the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and innovative programs focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood illness.  

 

“There are three things that every charity needs – time, talent and treasure,” said Coleman. “I try to give my talent and give my time. Treasure is something I don’t always have a lot of, so the $10,000 donation on my behalf really means a lot. My commitment to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation is inspired by Barbara Nicklaus, co-founder Jack Nicklaus, and Barbara’s words that, ‘the legacy you leave here on earth is measured by the hearts you touch.’”

 

PGA TOUR tournaments would not be possible without the support of volunteers, who not only help events operate with unsurpassed guest service, but also contribute to the overall charitable impact. With the support of more than 100,000 volunteers annually demonstrating the PGA TOUR Volunteer Service Excellence priority standards of safety, competition and hospitality, the TOUR assists approximately 3,000 charities each year. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving, and to date, tournaments across all Tours have generated more than $3.64 billion.

 

The Classic in The Palm Beaches, won by Chris Kirk in 2023, will be played February 29-March 3, 2024, at PGA National Resort (The Champion).

 

 

LSU to Meet Wisconsin in Reliaquest Bowl

TAMPA - The ReliaQuest Bowl will feature the 13th ranked LSU Tigers vs the Wisconsin Badgers on New Year's Day in Tampa, bowl officials announced today. It will be only the third appearance by the Tigers and sixth by the Badgers but the first time in at least nine years by either team.

"We were thrilled to extend invitations to Louisiana State University and the University of Wisconsin to play in this year's ReliaQuest Bowl," said ReliaQuest Bowl Chair Chris Roederer. "These are two high quality teams that we expect will produce an exceptional match-up that fans are really going to enjoy. We look forward to hosting the teams and their fans and ensure they will have an amazing experience at the game and enjoying the dynamic Tampa Bay area."

"A SEC-Big Ten matchup always creates a lot of excitement, but facing a Wisconsin team led by a great coach in Luke Fickell makes this bowl game even more attractive," LSU coach Brian Kelly said. "Wisconsin has a great tradition with a tremendous fan base. I know both teams are excited to be in Tampa during New Year's to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl."

"We are excited for the opportunity to showcase our football program and represent our university in the ReliaQuest Bowl," added LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward. "Our student-athletes, staff, and fans will enjoy the chance to travel to Tampa Bay and compete in a New Year's Day bowl against another program with great tradition and support."

"We're extremely excited to be playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl, said Badger Coach Luke Fickell. "It's a great opportunity for our young men who have battled throughout this season and to get closure for what they have done, not just for our seniors but for our entire program. We're really excited about coming to Tampa for a great bowl game."

"We couldn't be more excited to be playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl, added Badger Athletic Director Chris McIntosh. "Bowl games are a great reward and opportunity after a successful season and it's going to be a terrific experience for our players and fans. Tampa is a great city in an area full of Badger alumni and we look forward to showcasing Wisconsin football against LSU in a terrific bowl game."

The ReliaQuest Bowl will be played on Monday January 1st at 12:00 PM ET at Raymond James Stadium. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com.

NFL: Tampa Bay Makes Roster Moves

 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers  announced that the team has promoted linebacker J.J. Russell from the practice squad to the active roster, and signed linebacker Vi Jones, cornerback Quandre Mosely and wide receiver Raleigh Webb to the practice squad.

 

Russell (6-1, 225) has appeared in nine career games for the Buccaneers, including being elevated for Weeks 2-4 of this season. In his career, he has logged four tackles and three special teams tackles. The Grenada, Mississippi, native played collegiately at Memphis (2017-21), starting 50-of-61 games and compiling 306 tackles (24 for loss), eight passes defensed, 5.0 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one blocked kick. He was first-team All-AAC (American Athletic Conference) in 2021 after leading the AAC in solo tackles per game (6.5) and total tackles per game (10.2). Russell originally entered the league as a college free agent with the Buccaneers in May 2022. He wears No. 51 for Tampa Bay.

 

Jones (6-2, 225) entered the league as a college free agent with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. He spent the 2022 season on the Seahawks practice squad, appearing in three games and making his NFL debut in the team’s Week 10 matchup against the Buccaneers in Munich, Germany. Jones played collegiately for two seasons at the University of Southern California (2017-18) and two seasons at North Carolina State University (2019-21), finishing with a combined 108 tackles, 9.0 sacks, four passes defensed and one forced fumble. He is the son of former NFL linebacker Robert Jones, and is the brother of former wide receiver Cayleb Jones and current Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones. He will wear No. 53 for Tampa Bay.

 

Mosely (6-2, 195) entered the league as a college free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022. During the 2022 season, Mosely spent time on the practice squads of the Cowboys, Seahawks, Buccaneers and New England Patriots. The Brunswick, Georgia, played collegiately for two seasons at Eastern Arizona Community College (2017-18), before transferring to the University of Kentucky (2019-21), where he appeared in 36 games, tallying 69 tackles, 10 passes defensed, three interceptions and one sack. He will wear No. 34 for Tampa Bay.

 

Webb (6-2, 212) entered the league as a college free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. He spent the 2022 season between the Ravens practice squad and the New England Patriots active roster, appearing in 12 games and recording two special teams tackles. Prior to signing with Tampa Bay, Webb spent the first 10 weeks of this season on the Miami Dolphins practice squad. The Acworth, Georgia, native played collegiately at The Citadel (2017-21), appearing in 55 games and bringing in 102 receptions for 2,151 yards and 22 receiving touchdowns. He also added 37 carries for 433 yards and four touchdowns. He was named first-team All-Southern Conference in 2019. He will wear No. 17 for Tampa Bay.

 

In addition, the Buccaneers have waived tight end David Wells from the active roster, and released cornerback Don Gardner and safety Jaquan Johnson from the practice squad.

 

NFL Players Nominated for 2023 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

 

NEW YORK — The 32 player nominees for the ninth annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award have been finalized, the NFL announced today. Each NFL team nominated one of its players for the award, which recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. Created in 2014, the award honors the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney Sr. A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community — Warrick Dunn, 2014 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award recipient Larry Fitzgerald, Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin and Leonard Wheeler —  will select eight finalists (four in the AFC and four in the NFC) from the 32 nominees. The eight finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category when players vote in December. “Sportsmanship is the core of the game, the vanguard of public confidence, the keeper of game integrity,” said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. “These Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominees exemplify the spirit of fair play and the values of respect, integrity, commitment to team and resiliency at the highest level of competition.” The award is presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents and integrity in competition.​ 2023 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award Nominees   Team Player   Team Player Arizona Cardinals Budda Baker   Las Vegas Raiders Maxx Crosby Atlanta Falcons Jake Matthews   Los Angeles Chargers Khalil Mack Baltimore Ravens Kevin Zeitler   Los Angeles Rams Jordan Fuller Buffalo Bills Mitch Morse   Miami Dolphins Durham Smythe Carolina Panthers Adam Thielen   Minnesota Vikings Danielle Hunter Chicago Bears T.J. Edwards   New England Patriots David Andrews Cincinnati Bengals Tyler Boyd   New Orleans Saints Erik McCoy Cleveland Browns Joel Bitonio   New York Giants Bobby Okereke Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott   New York Jets C.J. Mosley Denver Broncos Lloyd Cushenberry III   Philadelphia Eagles Fletcher Cox Detroit Lions Taylor Decker   Pittsburgh Steelers Larry Ogunjobi Green Bay Packers Aaron Jones   San Francisco 49ers Kyle Juszczyk Houston Texans Robert Woods   Seattle Seahawks Bobby Wagner Indianapolis Colts DeForest Buckner   Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chris Godwin Jacksonville Jaguars Foyesade Oluokun   Tennessee Titans Morgan Cox Kansas City Chiefs Trent McDuffie   Washington Commanders Logan Thomas​ The winner of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award is determined by a vote of current NFL players. From the eight finalists, each team’s players will submit a consensus vote of their choice for the winner. As in Pro Bowl voting, a team cannot vote for its own player. The winner will be announced as part of NFL Honors. He will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice. ​Previous Recipients of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award   Year Player Team 2022 DT Calais Campbell Baltimore Ravens 2021 WR Matthew Slater New England Patriots 2020 QB Teddy Bridgewater Carolina Panthers 2019 RB Adrian Peterson Washington Football Team 2018 QB Drew Brees New Orleans Saints 2017 LB Luke Kuechly Carolina Panthers 2016 RB Frank Gore Indianapolis Colts 2015 CB Charles Woodson Oakland Raiders 2014 WR Larry Fitzgerald Arizona Cardinals

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