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) … North Carolina Central 

transfer 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 …