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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A haze of cigar smoke filled the Tennessee interview room — all of Neyland Stadium, for that matter — and former Volunteers great Alvin Kamara peeked through the curtain as a hoarse Josh Heupel did his best to paint what was another memorable Third Saturday in October.

Tennessee had suffered through 14 straight losses to bitter rival Alabama when Heupel arrived as Tennessee coach in 2021. Now, in his fourth season, the Volunteers have won two of their past three against the Crimson Tide, the latest a 24-17 conquest that saw Tennessee recover from its third straight scoreless first half, finally find some explosive plays in the passing game in the second half and lean on a defense that Heupel called both “elite” and “special” after watching that unit hold an opponent under 20 points for the seventh straight game this season.

“When we got here, I never talked about it because at the end of the day nobody cares. They care what the scoreboard looks like each week,” Heupel said. “There were obstacles as a program we had to navigate and overcome, and as coaching staff, administration and our players, we did it in a pretty special way. Not perfect … and as a program, we’ve got to improve this year.

“But I really do feel like we’re just getting started as a program.”

This game wasn’t a thriller in the same fashion as the 52-49 contest two years ago in Knoxville that ended on a last-second field goal, but the aftermath was similar. Tennessee fans stormed the field, tore down the goalposts and puffed gleefully on victory cigars, a long-standing tradition in a rivalry that dates to 1901.

Kamara joined countless former Tennessee players in the locker room afterward to celebrate, as the No. 11 Volunteers bounced back from a three-turnover first half and took advantage of a No. 7 Crimson Tide team that committed a season-high 15 penalties for 115 yards.

In an SEC race that gets crazier by the week, every win is precious. But even Heupel wasn’t about to downplay what beating Alabama means to everyone on Rocky Top.

“You’re a Vol for Life, that’s not just words,” Heupel said. “For it to be the second time [beating Alabama] … this program, when we walk onto the field, we feel like we’re good enough to go win every Saturday. Does this one matter? Yeah, absolutely. You know the historical nature of this game, what it means to the fan base and inside of our walls and in the new landscape of the league.

“The expectation was to go out and play great football tonight, and we did that defensively for 60 minutes. Offensively, we were on the right side enough and special teams enough.”

Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) has won two in a row since being upset by Arkansas on Oct. 5, including a 23-17 overtime escape last week at home against Florida.

While the first-half offensive doldrums remain a problem, redshirt quarterback Nico Iamaleava showed his mettle in the second half after taking some big hits in the first half, leaving the game for a play and not being able to connect with open receivers on several deep balls.

After a shaky first half, Iamaleava threw a 55-yard strike down the right sideline to Dont’e Thornton Jr., setting up a Dylan Sampson 3-yard touchdown run to put Tennessee ahead 14-10 late in the third quarter.

After Alabama retook the lead at 17-14, Iamaleava threw a 16-yard touchdown to a diving Chris Brazzell II in the back of the end zone on third-and-5 to give the Volunteers the lead for good.

Iamaleava, who had an interception in the first half, also did damage running the ball, including a key 27-yard rush in the third quarter leading to Tennessee’s first touchdown. He said he wasn’t going to let another lackluster first half by the Volunteers on offense beat him down.

“It’s next-play mentality,” Iamaleava said. “Like Coach Heupel preaches, you got to keep battling, keep going strong for our guys, and I’m glad we could get that done.”

It wasn’t over until Will Brooks, an Alabama native and walk-on, intercepted Jalen Milroe inside the final two minutes. Brooks also made what was likely a touchdown-saving tackle in the first quarter when he tripped up Milroe on a third-and-short play.

Brooks’ teammate, linebacker Arion Carter, said it was important to the defense to find a way and “give the offense something to stand on and be able to finish out the game.”

Carter then turned to Brooks and paid homage to the redshirt senior safety.

“Let me just say this: This guy is one of the most unselfish people you’ll ever meet for the team, does his job at an extremely high level and holds everybody accountable,” Carter said. “Just having him beside me and working with each other on the field … I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Tennessee held Alabama (5-2, 2-2) to 75 rushing yards and kept Milroe bottled up all game. He was intercepted twice and finished with 11 rushing yards on 14 carries, including three sacks.

As the Volunteers’ defense continued to clamp down on the Crimson Tide in the second half, the crowd of 101,915 only grew more raucous.

“Oh yeah, it was rocking, especially on those last couple of drives,” Carter said. “It was so loud [Alabama] couldn’t get their pass protection set. Just being able to have a crowd like that screaming and behind you, it’s definitely a great feeling, especially having the confidence to go out there and dominate.”

Sampson, who now has 17 rushing touchdowns on the season, finished with 139 yards on 26 carries. He had 127 of those yards in the second half and punished a tiring Alabama defense.

But at halftime, with the Volunteers scoreless, Sampson said it was the defense that picked up everybody in the locker room.

“Obviously our defense is out there giving us confidence,” Sampson said. “We kind of made it hard on them in the first half, but they’re playing their tails off, no matter who’s in the game, and you respect that.

“That lights a fire, and if it doesn’t, something’s wrong.”

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Landeskog scores 1st NHL goal in nearly 3 years

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Landeskog scores 1st NHL goal in nearly 3 years

Perhaps the only detail more emphatic than the goals in the Colorado Avalanche‘s 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars Saturday night, was the impact provided by their captain, Gabriel Landeskog.

Landeskog, who returned in Game 3 of this Western Conference first-round series after missing nearly three seasons while recovering from a knee injury, scored his first goal since June 20, 2022, in a multi-point performance that saw the Avalanche tie the series at 2-2 in Game 4 at Ball Arena. Game 5 is Monday in Dallas.

“It means a lot,” Landeskog told reporters after the win. “Obviously, I’ve envisioned scoring again for a long time. There obviously days when I didn’t know if I was ever going to score again. It obviously feels good. It’s a tight playoff series in a big game here at home. To get to do it here at home in front of our fans obviously means a means a lot. Super exciting. Hopefully more to come.”

A short-handed goal from Logan O’Connor midway through the first period followed by a late power-play goal from Nathan MacKinnon staked the Avalanche to a 2-0 lead entering the second period.

That set the stage for Landeskog, who was in the slot when Brock Nelson fed a pass that the 32-year-old winger launched for a one-timer that beat Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger for a 3-0 lead.

Landeskog, who was playing on the second line, was instantly mobbed by his teammates on the nice such as Samuel Girard, Valeri Nichushkin, Devon Toews and Nelson, who joined the Avalanche at the NHL trade deadline.

As Landeskog returned to the bench, he was congratulated by the entire team which also included a hug from a smiling MacKinnon, who along with Landeskog, have been with the franchise for more than a decade.

“I was just proud of him again,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told reporters after the game. “I was proud of him regardless of if he scores or not because I know what he’s gone through, and I know how difficult that was. I think that takes it to another level. You know he wants to come back and contribute like he did in the past and he’s off to a great start.”

Landeskog’s goal was the latest milestone in what’s been a lengthy recovery from a chronically injured right knee. He missed what amounted to 1,032 days since his last NHL game.

In that time, the Avalanche have remained in a championship window but have dramatically altered their roster. The Avs have nine players from that championship team who have remained with the franchise and have since reshuffled a roster that led to them re-acquiring defenseman Erik Johnson, one of Landeskog’s closest friends, in their bid for the fourth title in franchise history.

Even with all the changes, there were still questions about when they could see Landeskog return to the lineup. And if Landeskog did return, what he could look like?

His first professional game in three years came April 11 with the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate where he logged 15 minutes. Landeskog would then score a goal and get an assist in his second and final game.

And much like his AHL stint, all it took was two games for Landeskog to score and have another two-point performance.

While Landeskog’s goal became the most celebrated moment of the evening, what he did to help create the Avalanche’s fourth goal was an example of why he’s so crucial to their title aspirations.

Landeskog played a pass to Nelson who then found a Girard for a shot from the point that gave the Avs a 4-0 lead in the fourth. In the time Landeskog passed the puck, he anchored himself at the net front to gain position on 6-foot-7 Stars defensemen Lian Bichsel to screen goaltender Casey DeSmith, who replaced Oettinger for the third period.

Jockeying with Bichsel, who is six inches taller and 16 pounds heavier, allowed Landeskog to test both his strength and that right knee to gain leverage.

The result? Girard’s shot found space in traffic with Landeskog making it hard for DeSmith to see the puck.

“He’s a big boy,” Landeskog said with a smile. “He’s a big strong guy, a physical player and hard to play against. I was trying to get in front of their goal, and he was trying to get me out of there. It was a good battle.”

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Former Cardinals, Reds GM Jocketty dies at 74

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Former Cardinals, Reds GM Jocketty dies at 74

ST. LOUIS — Walt Jocketty, a three-time baseball executive of the year and former general manager for both the Cardinals and Reds, has died. He was 74.

Jocketty died Friday in the Phoenix area, former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told the team after speaking with Jocketty’s wife, Sue.

The Cardinals announced the death Saturday. Jocketty had been battling health issues for the several years.

St. Louis won the National League Central seven times under Jocketty’s leadership. The Cardinals also won National League championships in 2004 and 2006 and their 10th World Series title in 2006.

“On behalf of the entire St. Louis Cardinals organization, I would like to offer condolences to Walt’s family and his many friends,” Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said in a statement. “Walt was our first GM when we purchased the ballclub and he helped to lead our baseball operations through some of the franchises most successful and memorable years.

“He will be sorely missed but long remembered for his distinguished career in baseball.”

Jocketty became the general manager in St. Louis on Oct. 14, 1994. After the team was sold in 1995, the new ownership kept Jocketty in his job. His biggest move was hiring La Russa in 1996. The two men had worked together in Oakland.

La Russa would go on to be the winningest manager in the Cardinals history and a Hall of Famer.

Jocketty revamped the roster, and in 1996, the Cardinals returned to postseason play for the first time in nine seasons.

In his tenure with St. Louis, Jocketty either drafted or acquired such stars as Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Mark McGwire, Adam Wainright, Chris Carpenter, David Eckstein, Jason Isringhausen, Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen.

With Jocketty at the helm, St. Louis put together seven consecutive winning seasons. In 2004 and 2005, the Cardinals won more than 100 games.

He was named the MLB Executive of the Year in 2000, 2004 and 2010.

Leading up to the 2000 season, Jocketty became the first general manager in baseball history to trade for a 20-game winner (Darryl Kile from Colorado) and a 40-home run hitter (Edmonds from Anaheim) in the same offseason.

After he was fired by the Cardinals in 2007 because of differences with ownership, Jocketty was hired by the Reds as a special adviser on Jan. 11, 2008. He was named general manager after Wayne Krivsky was fired on April 23, 2008. He served in that role until Dick Williams replaced him on Dec. 27, 2016.

Jocketty was replaced by John Mozeliak in St. Louis.

“He was a great man,” Mozeliak said after Saturday’s game. “In terms of baseball, he loved it. His influence on myself and this organization was huge. Trying to sum it up in a sentence or two is difficult but his impact is something that I think will always be remembered. His legacy will age well.”

Despite replacing him when he was fired, Mozeliak said the two remained close.

“That was a different time, of course,” Mozeliak said. “In the end, we ended up being friends again. We both understood this is part of the business. I think he was proud of the success I ended up having.”

The Reds made the playoffs three times when Jocketty served as general manager, in 2010, 2012 and 2013. They have made the playoffs only once since.

Jocketty is survived by his wife and two children, Ashley and Joey.

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Duran steals home, leaves Red Sox in amazement

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Duran steals home, leaves Red Sox in amazement

CLEVELAND — Jarren Duran barely had time to catch his breath after tripling in the third inning. It didn’t matter, he had already made up his mind to run again.

Duran pulled off Boston’s first straight steal of home plate in exactly 16 years, scoring on the next pitch from Doug Nikhazy as the Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday.

“(Third base coach Kyle Hudson) heard him tell the umpire that he was working from the stretch, so I decided I was going to go on the first pitch,” Duran said. “It was just to keep the offense going and cause a little chaos. I knew I had it.”

As Nikhazy went from the windup, Duran broke for home. He slid headfirst and slapped his right hand on the plate ahead of Bo Naylor‘s tag. Umpire Brock Ballou’s safe call was upheld in a video review.

“Under the new rules, he’s kind of the perfect player,” Boston manager Alex Cora said of Duran. “We saw a window there and he took advantage of the situation.”

It marked the first straight steal of home plate by the Red Sox since Jacoby Ellsbury against the Yankees on April 26, 2009. Duran’s two previous thefts of home were part of double steals last season at Tampa Bay on May 21 and at the White Sox on June 7.

“It was really a cool play and a cool sequence of events there,” Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler said. “He’s one of the most exciting players in baseball. After watching him from afar, it’s been fun to see him up close this season.”

Nikhazy, a 25-year-old left-hander, was making his major league debut and had already allowed five runs in 2 2/3 innings. With Rafael Devers in the batter’s box, he said he took “a peek” at Duran before delivering the ball.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt praised Duran for making “a head’s up baseball play” because third baseman José Ramírez was off the line, but his starting pitcher blamed himself.

“He had taken a big jump and he took off immediately,” Nikhazy said. “In the moment, I chose to make the pitch as opposed to stepping off. Ultimately, when I saw him, I should have stepped off.”

Duran went 3 for 5 with three runs and two RBI in the nightcap. He was hitless in four at-bats in the first game, which Cleveland won 5-4.

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