Connect with us

Published

on

HOUSTON, Texas — Executive director Bill Hancock said the College Football Playoff has contacted the FBI in response to threats he said were directed at himself, CFP staff members and selection committee members following this year’s controversial exclusion of undefeated ACC champion Florida State.

Hancock declined to say specifically what the CFP has done to protect committee members and staff, but said it has “taken steps” since Selection Day on Dec. 3.

“We’ve stayed ahead of it,” Hancock said following the CFP’s annual meeting prior to Monday night’s CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T between No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington. “We’ve been in contact with the FBI just to say, ‘We got this. We got a threat on my house. We want you to know about it and tell us what should we do about it?’ Most of us did.”

After excluding the first undefeated Power 5 champion in the CFP era, Hancock said some committee and staff members received threats at their homes and offices, and all of them received “the disgusting, profanity-laced emails and phone calls.”

“Every NCAA sports committee receives criticism from the teams who were left out,” Hancock said, “I’ve been doing this 35 years. I’ve seen it and I understand those fans, but this one was absolutely over the top and inappropriate. In my 35 years, I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Hancock said he doesn’t think this will deter people from volunteering to join the 13-member committee in the future. The CFP will have to replace seven people who rotate off the group this year.

“This is the most prestigious sports committee in the NCAA structure,” Hancock. “It’s an honor to be a part of it, and moreso it’s an honor to give something back to the game that you love. I get that every time I call a prospective new member — ‘Yes, I love this game and want to give something back to it.'”

Mississippi State president Mark Keenum, who is the chair of the CFP’s board of managers, said he thought the committee got it right. The committee chose No. 1 Michigan, No. 2 Washington, No. 3 Texas and No. 4 Alabama.

Texas and Alabama were both one-loss conference champions ranked ahead of the Seminoles, and both lost in their respective CFP semifinals.

“They don’t have to do this, and they followed their process to a ‘T,’ and I do believe they got it right,” said Keenum, who leads the group of 11 presidents and chancellors who control the CFP. “We have the best four teams in the playoff, and as evidenced tonight, we have the best two teams playing for the national championship.

“Is there disappointment when your team doesn’t make it into the playoff? Absolutely, and I feel for them, but to castigate or criticize or threaten people that were just doing their job, the process and following it, I thought was very unfair.”

While no changes were made on Monday to how the CFP committee selects the top teams, the group did rubber-stamp the FBS commissioners’ decision to require a conference has eight members in order to compete for a league title and earn an automatic bid in the new 12-team format. The decision mirrors the NCAA bylaw of what constitutes a conference, and was enacted at the CFP level to address Oregon State and Washington State.

“That’s based on an NCAA description,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said. “There’s a bit of common sense. I don’t think anybody sits there and says a two-member league constitutes a conference. It’s not about Power 5. That’s a colloquial that implies to the autonomy allocation and observations over time about strength.”

The expanded field, which begins this fall, will reward the highest-ranked conference champions, which is eventually expected to be the five highest-ranked league winners and the next seven-highest ranked teams. The board did not vote on the proposed 5+7 model on Monday, though, because the Pac-12 asked for more time while it continues to sort out its legal issues.

Washington State president Kirk Schulz represents the Pac-12 on the CFP board, and only Washington State and Oregon State remain in the conference after sweeping realignment.

“I would be shocked if we do not have a 5-7 format for this coming playoff,” Keenum said. “I just think out of respect for our colleague and the Pac-12, they asked for a bit more time for us to consider it. We as a board thought that was a reasonable request and granted that.”

In November, the commissioners were unanimous in their support for 5+7, but Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff abstained from voting. Oregon State and Washington State have agreed to a one-year scheduling arrangement with the Mountain West Conference that will allow them to compete for the national title in a role similar to an independent like Notre Dame. Those schools cannot compete for a conference title.

“It’s a great partnership,” Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez said. “They needed to retain their independence in order to sort out the Pac-12. We really got two additional games that will bring a really good strength of schedule to our teams.”

Continue Reading

Sports

Hard-throwing rookie Misiorowski going to ASG

Published

on

By

Hard-throwing rookie Misiorowski going to ASG

Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.

Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.

The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.

If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.

Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.

“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”

Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.

“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”

Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.

The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.

In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.

“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”

The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.

Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.

Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.

The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”

Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.

Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.

San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.

Continue Reading

Sports

Acuña replaced in HR Derby by teammate Olson

Published

on

By

Acuña replaced in HR Derby by teammate Olson

ATLANTA — Ronald Acuña Jr. won’t participate in the Home Run Derby, replaced Friday by Atlanta teammate and fellow All-Star Matt Olson.

Acuña is a starting outfielder for the National League and still is expected to play in the All-Star Game on his home field. Olson is a reserve infielder.

Instead of Acuña, Olson will try to become the first Atlanta player to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night. He could become the fourth to win at home. The All-Star Game is Tuesday night.

Olson competed in the 2021 Derby while with the Athletics. He was eliminated in the first round. The 31-year-old entered the weekend with 17 homers this season.

The other scheduled participants are Brent Rooker, the first for the Athletics since Olson, along with Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and James Wood of Washington.

Continue Reading

Sports

Bellinger goes deep for 3rd time after Cubs rob HR

Published

on

By

Bellinger goes deep for 3rd time after Cubs rob HR

NEW YORK — Robbed an inning earlier, Cody Bellinger wasn’t sure his first three-homer game had been swiped away again.

“I didn’t know at first,” he said. “For that third one to finally get over feels pretty good.”

Bellinger hit three two-run homers against his former team and was denied a fourth by a spectacular catch, leading the Yankees to an 11-0 rout of the Chicago Cubs on Friday night.

Aaron Judge made a trio of outstanding grabs in right field for the Yankees, who have won five straight games following a a six-game losing streak.

Bellinger, whose dad Clay played for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001, is a two-time All-Star and 2019 NL MVP.

He spent 2023 and 2024 with the Cubs, hitting .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games last year while missing time because of a broken right rib. The Cubs traded him to New York in December with $52.5 million remaining on his contract and agreed to pay the Yankees $5 million.

He homered in a three-run third off Chris Flexen and in the fifth against Caleb Thielbar for this 18th multihomer game. Bellinger nearly went deep in the seventh but was robbed by Kyle Tucker on a drive above the right-field wall.

“I was watching it. He timed it up perfect, so I was a little sick about it, honestly,” Bellinger said. “But it was a good catch.”

“Boys were giving me a hard time after he robbed it. Boonie was giving me hard time,” Bellinger added.

A four-time All-Star and a Gold Glove winner, Tucker snatched the ball as a fan tried for it, the spectator clasping both sides of the outfielder’s glove.

“I caught the ball and he caught my glove, so I figured even if I dropped it they’d probably look at it and get it overturned,” Tucker said. “I’ve probably had some encounters with me trying to go into the stands and catching a ball and me hitting someone’s hand or whatever but I don’t know if anyone’s ever actually kind of caught my glove while doing it.”

Bellinger homered in the eighth off Jordan Wicks, just above the red glove of leaping center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and into the dark glove of a kid in the front row.

“The fan just beat to the spot,” Crow-Armstrong said. “He just had a better chance of catching it higher than I did.”

Bellinger, who had rounded first, watched and then smiled when he saw he had hit No. 3.

“Glad the fan caught it before PCA could grab it,” said Bellinger, who met the boy after and got the ball back. “I’ve seen PCA rob so many homers. He’s a freak athlete out there.”

Bellinger is batting .406 over a career-high 16-game hitting streak, raising his average to .285 with 16 homers and 54 RBIs.

He had spoken with his Cubs ex-teammates during batting practice.

“No, no, no revenge,” he said. “Honestly, ultimately it was just fun to be out there. I saw a bunch of guys I hadn’t seen in a while and I shared a bunch of good memories with them for these past two years.”

Jazz Chisholm Jr. and manager Aaron Boone encouraged Bellinger to emerge from the dugout for a curtain call.

“He was a little reluctant, but then the Bell-lin-ger” over the dugout got pretty loud. So I think he succumbed to it,” Boone said. “Belly’s loved being here and loved playing here in a meaningful place to him, going back to his childhood.”

Bellinger turns 30 on Sunday and can opt out of the final season of his contract this fall. With long balls and wide smiles, he seems to have found a home in the Yankees clubhouse.

He tried not to make much of getting the three homers against the Cubs, but Bellinger’s teammates could sense the significance.

“It’s always good to go against your old teammates that you spend a lot of time with, you know, you respect,” Boone said. “To perform right away against them I’m sure probably is a little cherry on top for him.”

Continue Reading

Trending