FROM Z -JONES' DEMOTION TO LOUISVILLE HELPS HOOS
Very Briefly Told (at least that’s the goal) …
Less than a week before the start of the NHL’s 200th
season, ZAC JONES cleared waivers, and the 24 year
old defenseman from Richmond was sent to the Buffalo
Sabres’ top farm team in Rochester, N.Y. Apparently he
wasn’t rough enough, or big enough (5-11, 195), to suit
coach LINDY RUFF who, when asked about Jones, said
something clever like: “I guess he isn’t as good as some
other defensemen.”
ALEX OVECHKIN rejoined the Washington Capitals
after missing the first two weeks of preseason camp with
a lower body injury. This is expected to be the NHL’s all-
time leader of goals scored final campaign.
A round of applause, please, for MATT SMITH,
Richmond (Class of ‘92) who patrols football sidelines
for the Spiders’ radio network. Saturday, in UR’s five-
point loss at Bucknell, he quickly noted the second of
three interceptions charged to QB ASHTEN SNELSIRE
“should have been caught” by TE RYAN CAMPBELL.
On Virginia Tech radio, you couldn’t miss the frustration
(OK, disgust) by old pros BILL ROTH and MIKE
BURNOP over the Hokies’ giveaway Saturday to Wake
Forest. In particular, two personal foul penalties on failed
third-down plays, both leading to first-half touchdowns,
were inexcusable. First, MATT BELL was called for
roughing the passer then KALEB SPENCER clearly hit
the ball carrier late, well out of bounds.
Just wondering … if VaTech’s search for a new coach will
include DAVE CLAWSON, who rejuvenated programs
at UR and Wake then abruptly resigned Dec. 16, 2024
after 11 years in Winston-Salem, N.C.? Probably not.
That is, unless a season away from the game will be
enough to change his mind about not enjoying the
profession any more.
Words of wisdom from UVA football coach TONY
ELLIOTT: “Nothing ever happens in the first quarter
that determines the outcome of this game.”
TJ OSHIE, whose NHL career came to a premature end
with the Capitals because of assorted, lingering injuries,
has joined PK SUBBAN and MARK MESSIER in
ESPN’s studio for NHL coverage. Maybe (but don’t count
on it) he will be asked to explain the art of the penalty
shot. No one has done it better.
Florida’s AJ GREER x-checks Tampa Bay’s
BRANDON HAGEL from behind. Hagel goes to one
knee, gets up and Greer, gloves on, smacks him in the
face then delivers a round-house right to the head before
the Lightning’s ANTHONY CIRELLI comes flying in,
tackling Greer. To hear Panthers TV tell it, Hagel must
have said something that set Greer off … Greer gets a
double-minor for roughing plus a misconduct en route to
29 minutes of 104 by Florida. TB gets 45 and wins 5-2 …
A fourth-line winger, Greer is fined $2,133.65 (following
guidelines set in the latest agreement with the players’
union) leading to accusations the two-time defending
champions are guilty of all kinds of terrible things … like
being the Flyers’ “Broad Street Bullies” incarnate.
You explain it. I can’t. Louisville’s 6-2, 220 pound
wideout CHRIS BELL caught nine passes for 138 yards
and a TD against Virginia IN THE FIRST HALF Saturday
night then wasn’t targeted again until :27 left in the third
quarter … when he grabbed another for 18 yards with the
Cardinals trailing 24-14. It was 14-14 midway. Bell
caught reception No. 11 one-handed, back to the end
zone, at the flag, away from blanket coverage with 9:41
left in regulation to make it 24-21, UVA … Previously
unbeaten Louisville forced OT with a field goal but, for
the second straight week in extra time, the upstart , 24th-
ranked Hoos prevailed (30-27) … J’MARI TAYLOR ran
two yards for the winning TD, one play after QB
CHANDLER MORRIS left the game with an injury.
Until next time …
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