Florida Sports Wire

 JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp have announced the hiring of four new front office members in preparation for the 2025 season. A’Niya Sconiers has joined the club as an accounting supervisor. Abby Decker is the Jumbo Shrimp’s new promotions coordinator. Lindsay Plymale has been hired as an account executive. Michael Giovingo will serve as the team’s assistant groundskeeper. Sconiers joined the Jumbo Shrimp in October 2024 as the club’s accounting supervisor. She helps to oversee the team’s accounting work. A native of Harlem, N.Y., Sconiers comes to Jacksonville after stints with the Tampa Bay Rays (separate roles as accounting coordinator & ticket sales representative) and Washington Commanders (inside sales representative).  In each of those roles, she set up many outreaches to give back to local Hispanic and military communities, as well as to youth organizations in the sport of dance. Sconiers is a former competitive dancer, and graduated from the Univers...

 SHREWSBURY, N.J. – Jack Beck of the Wheeling Nailers is the Inglasco ECHL Player of the Week for Dec. 23-29. Beck scored two goals and added five assists for seven points in three games last week. The 21-year-old had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win at Cincinnati on Friday, dished out three assists in a 6-2 victory over Iowa on Saturday and had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 triumph against the Heartlanders on Sunday. Under contract to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, Beck ranks second among ECHL rookies with 21 assists and is fourth among first-year players with 26 points in 27 games with the Nailers this season. Prior to turning pro, Beck tallied 201 points (68g-133a) in 204 career collegiate games in the Ontario Hockey League with Ottawa and Soo. On behalf of Jack Beck, a case of pucks will be donated to a Wheeling youth hockey organization by Inglasco, the exclusive puck supplier of the ECHL. Since beginning its sponsorship of the award in 2000-01, Inglasc...

 By Nancy DeLander Beecher NEW YORK— Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Miami Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson and Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 17 (December 25-26, 28-30). OFFENSE: QB JOE BURROW, CINCINNATI BENGALS Burrow completed 39 of 49 pass attempts (79.6 percent), led the NFL in Week 17 with 412 passing yards and had four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) with a 122.1 passer rating in the Bengals’ 30-24 overtime win against the Broncos. This marked Burrow’s seventh-career game with at least 400 passing yards, tied for the most such games by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. This is the seventh-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Burrow and first this season. He joins Boomer Esiason (nine-time winner) as the only Bengals players with seven-or-more Player of the Week awards. 2021: Weeks 4, 16 2022: Weeks 7, 13, 16 2023: Week 8 2024: Week 17 Bur...

By Nancy DeLander Beecher NEW YORK — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and New York Giants wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 17 (December 25-26, 28-30). OFFENSE: QB BAKER MAYFIELD, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Mayfield completed 27 of 32 pass attempts (84.4 percent) for 359 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions and a 153.0 passer rating in the Buccaneers’ 48-14 win over Carolina. Mayfield became the fifth player in NFL history with a completion percentage of 80-or-higher, at least 350 pass yards, five touchdown passes and a passer rating of 150-or-higher, joining Tom Brady (Oct. 21, 2007 and Oct. 18, 2009, both with New England), Aaron Rodgers (Oct. 20, 2019 with Green Bay), Ben Roethlisberger (Oct. 26, 2014 with Pittsburgh) and Deshaun Watson (Oct. 6, 2019 with Houston). This is the sixth-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Mayfie...

 By Joey Johnston Elite college football players are often described as "difference-makers.'' It refers to their speed, their size, their ability to take over a game at the crucial moment. When the Michigan Wolverines (7-5) face the Alabama Crimson Tide (9-3) in the Dec. 31 ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium, fans can witness one of the foremost difference-makers in college football. But it has little to do with what occurs on the field or what the scoreboard says. Michigan quarterback Davis Warren has become a difference-maker in life. "You grow up and you see the stuff on College Game Day, the make-a-wish pieces and (inspirational) stuff like that,'' Warren said. "I was a huge football fan growing up and I'd always see stories like that. But you never expect that to be you, right? You never think that you could really be the kid that's in those shoes and you'd have to deal with something like that.'' In 2019, Warren heard those...

 NEW YORK AND TORONTO – A closer look at on- and off-ice highlights from around the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) heading into the holiday break. 100TH PWHL GAME TO BE PLAYED DEC. 27 When the puck drops between Boston and Toronto on Friday night following the holiday break it will be the 100th game in PWHL history. The 99 games played thus far reflect 72 during the inaugural regular season, 13 in the playoffs, and 14 in the 2024-25 campaign. Total attendance through all 99 PWHL games is 569,367 – an average of 5,751 per game. This season’s attendance through 14 games is 85,837 – an average of 6,131 per game. FROST STAY IN FIRST PLACE IN PWHL STANDINGS The Minnesota Frost (3-1-1-0) sit alone atop the overall standings with 12 points. They extended their winning streak to four straight games with a 5-2 victory at home against the Ottawa Charge on Thursday, followed by a 4-3 shootout win on the road against the New York Sirens on Sunday in a battle for first place. The rei...

 HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I, - Paradise! And a Christmas miracle for the USF Bulls! USF Football (7-6) won Tuesday night’s Hawaii Bowl with an astounding 41-39 five-overtime thriller, the longest bowl game in history, against the San Jose Spartans (7-6) in a game that ended at 12:24 a.m., Tampa time. USF victory was assured in the fifth overtime when Bryce Archie hit wide receiver Keshaun Singleton on a 3-yard pass. On the San Jose State possession, linebacker Mac Harris knocked down Walker Eget’s pass to the end zone, sending the USF sideline into a madcap celebration. Coach Alex Golesh’s Bulls, making their second straight postseason appearance, won a marathon game for the ages against the Mountain West Conference’s Spartans. “Heck of a game,’’ Golesh said. “I thought so many guys contributed today. It’s a really good way to finish a season that was filled with so many ups and downs. And this will really get us some momentum going into this offseason. “We tried to end this game so many d...

By Nancy Beecher, Florida Sports Wire NEW YORK – A look at highlights from games played on Sunday, December 15, the 15th week of the 2024 season. New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers passed for 289 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions for a 120.0 passer rating and wide receiver Davante Adams had nine receptions for 198 yards and two touchdowns in the team’s 32-25 win at Jacksonville. Rodgers has 159 career games with at least two touchdown passes, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre (159 games) for the fourth-most such games in NFL history. Only Tom Brady (204 games), Drew Brees (173) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (165) have more. Adams has 101 career touchdown receptions and became the sixth player in NFL history with at least 100 receiving touchdowns in his first 11 seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (146), Randy Moss (135), Marvin Harrison (122) and Terrell Owens (114) as well as Mike Evans (103). Adams has 18 career ...

By Nancy DeLander Beecher, Florida Sports Wire NEW YORK — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos and New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 14 (December 5, 8-9). OFFENSE: QB SAM DARNOLD, MINNESOTA VIKINGS Darnold completed 22 of 28 pass attempts (78.6 percent) for 347 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions and a 157.9 passer rating in the Vikings’ 42-21 victory over the Falcons. He became the ninth quarterback in NFL history and first since Aaron Rodgers on Oct. 20, 2019 with at least 325 passing yards, five touchdown passes, a completion percentage of 75-or-higher and a passer rating of 155-or-higher with no interceptions in a game. This is the second-career Offensive Player of the Week Award for Darnold, becoming the fourth Vikings quarterback in the past 15 seasons (2010-24) to win the award, joining Kirk Cousins (three-time ...

By Nancy DeLander Beecher, Florida Sports Wire NEW YORK — Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler and Kansas City Chiefs kicker Matthew Wright are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 14 (December 5, 8-9). OFFENSE: WR JA’MARR CHASE, CINCINNATI BENGALS Chase registered 14 catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns in Cincinnati’s 27-20 win at Dallas on Monday Night Football. It marked his sixth-career game with at least 175 receiving yards, tied for the second-most by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. This is the fourth-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Chase, becoming the fourth Bengals player with four-or-more Offensive Player of the Week awards, joining Boomer Esiason (nine-time winner), Joe Burrow (six) and James Brooks (four). 2021: Weeks 7, 17 2023: Week 5 2024: Week 14 Chase becomes the fifth wide receiver to win Offensive Player of the Week four times since 2000...

 CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The Miami Hurricanes football program announced Sunday that it has accepted a bid to the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl. Miami will take on Iowa State at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. on Dec. 28. The game will be broadcast at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. “We are excited to accept an invitation to the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl,” Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said. “Florida Citrus Sports is an outstanding host and always puts on a terrific show. I know our student-athletes and fans will enjoy their bowl experience in Orlando.” Miami is set to play in its 46th bowl game in school history. The Hurricanes own a 20-25 record in its previous postseason contests.  The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl will mark the first-ever meeting between Miami and Iowa State on the gridiron. The Hurricanes are making their fifth bowl appearance in Orlando since 2009. Most recently, Miami faced Oklahoma State in the 2020 Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Hurricane Club members and...

ORLANDO (Florida Sports Wire) – After an unforgettable two-year run that saw the UCF football program rise to national prominence, Scott Frost is coming back home. Known for sparking the “Charge On” spirit and guiding UCF to its first perfect season,  Frost has been named the next head football coach at UCF by Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir. Frost and UCF agreed on a five-year contract through the 2029 season. “Today marks an exciting reunion for UCF Football as we welcome back Scott Frost, a coach who ignites the spirit and passion of Knight Nation,” Mohajir said. “Scott’s love for his players along with his leadership, enthusiasm and vision were pivotal in making the decision to bring him back to UCF. Throughout this national search, his passion for UCF was clear. I believe no one wanted to lead our program more than Scott.” Frost originally served as UCF’s head coach from 2016 to 2017, culminating in a historic 13-0 season, an AAC championship and a nati...

 TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 11/11/11 Alabama Crimson Tide will face off against the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, officials have announced. The contest will kick off on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 11 a.m. CT (noon ET) and will be televised on ESPN. It marks the second consecutive year and third time since 2019 that the Crimson Tide and Wolverines will meet in a bowl matchup. The last time the two teams squared off came in last season's College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl, with Michigan winning in overtime, 27-20. About The Matchup The New Year's Eve Day contest will be Crimson Tide's second appearance in the ReliaQuest Bowl, formerly known as the Hall of Fame and Outback Bowl. UA's last showing at the bowl came in 1997 when it defeated Michigan, 17-14. The Tide and Wolverines have split the six games played against each other in the all-time series, with each team winning three times Alabama dropped a 27-20 overti...

TAMPA (Florida Sports Wire) - The University of Michigan football team will head south during the holiday season and face 11th-ranked Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024.  The Wolverines will be making their Big Ten-leading seventh appearance in the ReliaQuest Bowl, previously known as the Outback Bowl and Hall of Fame Bowl. The ReliaQuest Bowl is held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The matchup pitting the Wolverines (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) against the SEC's Alabama Crimson Tide (9-3, 5-3 SEC) will kick off at noon. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN. "We are excited and honored to represent the University of Michigan and the Big Ten Conference in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa," said Sherrone Moore, U-M's J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach. "This is a great opportunity for our team to finish the season against an outstanding SEC opponent in Alabama. We look forward to...

 By Nancy Delander Beecher, Florida Sports Wire NEW YORK –– A look at seven statistical highlights from games played on Sunday, Dec. 8, the 14th week of the 2024 season. With two games remaining in Week 14, six games were decided by six-or-fewer points. Two teams – Detroit and Miami – recorded the game-winning score on the final play of the game. There have been 98 games this season decided by six-or fewer points, the most such games through Week 14 in NFL history, and 112 games decided by seven-or-fewer games, tied with the 2016 season for the most such games through Week 14 in NFL history. There have been 119 games decided by eight-or-fewer points this season, the third-most such games through Week 14 in NFL history, trailing only 2016 (122 games) and 2022 (121). The Los Angeles Rams defeated Buffalo, 44-42, in the highest scoring game of the 2024 season, It marked the second game in NFL history featuring five combined touchdown passes, five combined rushing touchdowns and no tu...

 By MIKE BONTS, Jax Sports News JACKSONVILLE - Oliver Chau scored twice to lead Florida (15-3-1) to a 3-2 ECHL victory over Jacksonville (10-6-2) at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena Thursday night. It was the first of three straight meetings between the Everblades and Icemen. The in-state rivals played a scoreless first period. After 20 minutes, the contest saw its first intermission with the Icemen outshooting the Blades 11-9. Chau’s unassisted tally gave Florida a 1-0 lead just 32 seconds into the second stanza. Davis Koch’s fifth lamplighter of the season off a rebound save by Cam Johnson evened the game for Jacksonville with assists from Brendan Harris and Carter Allen. Jesse Lansdell put the Everblades back in front, assisted by Kyle Betts and Jordan Sambrook. Jacksonville captain Christopher Brown knotted the score again on another rebound, assisted by Harris and Koch. The Icemen entered the game third on the penalty kill at home at 91.4 percent, but Florida found the back of ...

 By Nancy Beecher, Florida Sports Wire The Jacksonville Jaguars have claimed WR Josh Reynolds off waivers, the team announced today. Additionally, the team has placed QB Trevor Lawrence on the Reserve/Injured List. Reynolds was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has appeared in 112 games (54 starts) with the Rams (2017-20), Titans (2021), Lions (2021-23) and Broncos (2024).  His career totals include 232 receptions for 3,116 yards and 20 touchdowns. Reynolds has also appeared in nine postseason contests, making five starts and registering 19 receptions for 318 yards and a touchdown. In 2024, he played in five games (one start) for Denver and posted 12 receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Reynolds attended Texas A&M from 2014-16 where he played in 38 games (36 starts) and totaled 2,788 yards and 30 touchdowns on 164 receptions.

 By Nancy Beecher, Florida Sport Wire NEW YORK — Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Wiliams and Philadelphia Eagles punter Braden Mann are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 13 (November 28-29, December 1-2). OFFENSE: RB BUCKY IRVING, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Irving registered a career-high 185 scrimmage yards (152 rushing, 33 receiving) – the most in a game by a rookie this season – and a rushing touchdown in Tampa Bay’s 26-23 overtime win at Carolina. His 152 rushing yards were the most in the NFL in Week 13 and he became the first Buccaneers rookie to record 180-or-more scrimmage yards in a game since Mike Evans (Week 11 of the 2014 season). This is the first-career Offensive Player of the Week Award for Irving, becoming the third Buccaneers running back ever to earn the honor as a rookie, joining Warrick Dunn (Week 2, 1997) and Doug Martin (Week 9, 2012). Irving becomes the first former Or...

 By Nancy Beecher, Florida Sports Wire NEW YORK — Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still and New York Jets running back Kene Nwangwu are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 13 (November 28, December 1-2). OFFENSE: QB JOSH ALLEN, BUFFALO BILLS Allen completed 13 of 17 attempts (76.5 percent) for 148 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a 141.3 rating in Buffalo’s 35-10 win over San Francisco. Allen also recorded a rushing touchdown and a touchdown catch, becoming the third player ever with at least two touchdown passes, one rushing touchdown and one touchdown reception in a game. This is the 14th-career Offensive Player of the Week award and second this season for Allen. Allen’s four seasons with multiple Offensive Player of the Week awards are tied for seventh-most by a quarterback in NFL history. 2018: Week 17 2019: Week 11 2020: Weeks 2, 9, 13, 15 2021: Week 3 2022: Weeks 5, 6, 15 ...

 JACKSONVILLE, FL- True Vet Solutions, a local veteran-owned company that provides veteran career support and resource services, and the Jacksonville Sharks have reached an agreement on a new title sponsorship.  True Vet Solutions will be the presenting sponsor of the Jacksonville Sharks.  “We are very excited to announce this new deal,” Sharks Senior VP Tim Johnson said. “True Vet Solutions has been a tremendous partner and supporter of the Sharks. True Vet becoming our Title sponsor extends our relationship and we look forward to working with Tracy and his team for years to come.” True Vet Solutions was previously the Sharks' field naming partner.  This year, True Vet is expanding on that partnership to become the title sponsor of the team. “Our mission is to inform, assist, and engage in the efforts to increase the quality of life for those who have served”,  True Vet Solutions Owner Tracy Glover said. “This partnership will help get the word out about our co...

By Nancy DeLander Beecher, Florida Sports Wire NEW YORK — Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, with 44,681 votes, leads all players in balloting for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games after one week of voting. Baltimore running back Derrick Henry (40,729 votes) ranks second overall, while Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley (40,602), Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen (36,574) and Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs (35,637) round out the top five. The Detroit Lions lead all clubs in total votes received, followed by the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers. For the second consecutive year, the National Football League will return to Orlando to celebrate the league’s best players at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games presented by Verizon. As in past years, the Pro Bowl Games provides fans with an unmatched opportunity to vote for their favorite players to compete in a multi-day AFC versus NFC competition, featuring Pro Bowl Skills and culminating in an action-packe...

  NEW YORK AND TORONTO  – New York Sirens forward Alex Carpenter, Montréal Victoire forward Marie-Philip Poulin, and Victoire forward Abby Boreen have been named the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) ‘3 Stars of the Week’ presented by SharkNinja Canada following opening weekend games ending Dec. 1.  FIRST STAR – ALEX CARPENTER, F, NEW YORK SIRENS Carpenter scored two goals – including the overtime winner – and recorded a career-high three points to lead the Sirens to a 4-3 season-opening road victory against the Minnesota Frost on Sunday. The alternate captain picked up the primary assist on Jessie Eldridge’s power play goal to put the Sirens on the board and found instant chemistry with first overall pick Sarah Fillier who set up both tallies. The performance was reminiscent of Carpenter’s inaugural season success where she tied for the league lead with 10 power play points and two overtime goals. The 30-year-old from North Reading, MA tied for second overall in...

By Nancy DeLander Beecher, Florida Sports wire NEW YORK — Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans has been suspended without pay for three games for repeated violations of rules intended to protect the health and safety of players and promote sportsmanship, including during Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension. In a letter to Al-Shaair, Runyan, who noted that Al-Shaair has had multiple offenses for personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations in recent seasons, wrote: “During your game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 1, with 4:20 remaining in the second quarter, you were involved in a play that the League considers unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules. Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide...You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a forceful blow to th...

 PONTE VEDRA BEACH (Florida Sports Wire)– The PGA TOUR announced nominees for the Jack Nicklaus Award (Player of the Year) and the Arnold Palmer Award (Rookie of the Year) for the 2024 season, as finalized by the PGA TOUR Player Directors and members of the Player Advisory Council (PAC).  Three players are nominated for the Jack Nicklaus Award as the 2024 PGA TOUR Player of the Year: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler. The four nominees for the Arnold Palmer Award as the 2024 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year are Nick Dunlap, Max Greyserman, Jake Knapp and Matthieu Pavon. Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year are determined by a member vote, with PGA TOUR members who played in at least 15 events during the 2024 season eligible to vote. The voting will close on Wednesday, December 4, at 5 p.m. ET. The winners will be announced by the end of the year. Player of the Year nominees (alphabetical) Rory McIlroy, 35, Holywood, Northern Ireland Entered 19 events with ...