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  • Associated Press

Apr 10, 2025, 09:06 PM ET

SUNRISE, Fla. — Brad Marchand is a professional hockey player and professional chirper. He’s excellent at hockey. He might be even better at chirping.

A chirp, loosely defined in hockey terms, is an insult. A wisecrack. The ones toward opponents, you might (and probably do) mean those. The ones toward teammates, not so much.

Which brings us to the Florida Panthers‘ locker room on Thursday night, after Marchand scored his first goal for his new team – the first time he scored in the NHL for anyone other than the Boston Bruins.

Teammate Evan Rodrigues was asked what he thought of the goal.

“He’s a rat,” Rodrigues said. “Yeah, I wasn’t too happy.”

Marchand, sitting nearby, smiled broadly when he heard. Obviously, Marchand wasn’t going to let Rodrigues’ chirp go unanswered.

“He’s not wrong,” Marchand said. “I’ve hated him. We skated together in the summer and I’ve hated him for a long time, so that’s not going to change now.”

Let’s be perfectly clear here: Neither Rodrigues nor Marchand was being serious. (We don’t think so, anyway.) But the fact that Rodrigues even tried to pull off a chirp while talking to about a dozen reporters helps to illustrate one of the things that Marchand brings to the Stanley Cup champions.

He has swagger; if the Panthers wondered about that, he joined the team group chat with – what else? – a chirp as his introduction. He’s cocky. He’s a talker. Those are all good things come playoff time, with the Panthers set to start defense of the Cup in the next couple of weeks.

“That’s a part of the package and an important part of it,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “Everybody’s going to be wired here in 10 days, whatever it is, two weeks. Especially right now, grinding through some of these, he brings lots of energy, right? He’s got lots to say and it makes it fun.”

Marchand’s goal capped a three-goal second period for Florida, one that gave the Panthers a 3-1 lead on the way to a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

Marchand was playing in his eighth game for Florida, after the team pulled off a stunning move at the trade deadline and acquired him from the Bruins – who have been a postseason rival of the Panthers in recent years. Many in the crowd Thursday gave a standing ovation when the goal was announced as Marchand’s “22nd of the season and first as a Florida Panther.”

Marchand had two assists in his first seven games with Florida, including one in his debut with the Panthers on March 28 that set up an overtime winner by Sam Bennett. Marchand’s first goal came on his 15th shot with Florida.

“I’m just enjoying this whole journey,” Marchand said. “It’s such a unique experience for myself and I’ve been part of really good teams that have accomplished big things and some that haven’t. Regardless, what you realize is that these opportunities are very few and far between and you’ve got to enjoy every day in this league. And I’m having a lot of fun right now.”

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A&M’s Howell sacks Utah St. QB 3 times in a row

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3 hours ago

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September 6, 2025

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A&M's Howell sacks Utah St. QB 3 times in a row

  • Associated Press

Sep 6, 2025, 02:48 PM ET

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M‘s Cashius Howell sacked Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes on three consecutive plays in the second quarter Saturday.

Utah State had the ball on its 25 early in the second quarter when the defensive end muscled past left tackle Jake Eichorn and dropped Barnes for a loss of 6 yards for 19th-ranked Texas A&M. On the next play, Howell got past Eichorn again to take Barnes down for a loss of 7 yards.

Bullying past Eichorn one more time, Howell sacked Barnes for a loss of 8 yards to bring up fourth-and-31 and single-handedly force a punt.

Howell, a fifth-year senior, entered the game with 15½ career sacks and had just four last season. His career best came in 2023 when he had 9½ for Bowling Green.

It’s the first time a player has had sacks on three straight plays since Jack Cichy did it for Wisconsin against USC in the 2015 Holiday Bowl, according to research by the Texas A&M communications staff.

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FSU players honor Pritchard with dad on hand

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3 hours ago

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September 6, 2025

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FSU players honor Pritchard with dad on hand

  • Andrea AdelsonSep 6, 2025, 01:51 PM ET

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    • ACC reporter.
    • Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
    • Graduate of the University of Florida.

The father of Florida State linebacker Ethan Pritchard was on the sideline Saturday for the Seminoles’ game against East Texas A&M.

Earl Pritchard and another family member were on the sideline wearing his son’s No. 35 jersey. Ethan Pritchard remains hospitalized in Tallahassee after surviving a gunshot wound to the head last weekend.

Florida State safety Earl Little Jr. brought out a No. 35 jersey to midfield for the coin toss, and Florida State players wore No. 35 wristbands to honor their teammate.

Defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. wore a T-shirt with Pritchard’s face on it during pregame warmups.

According to Earl Pritchard, Ethan Pritchard was driving his aunt home when he was shot in the back of the head in Havana, Florida, 16 miles from Tallahassee, on Sunday night.

The Seminoles routed East Texas A&M 77-3 on Saturday, after which coach Mike Norvell presented Earl Pritchard with the game ball, and asked him to break the rock – a tradition generally given to the player of the game after each Seminoles victory.

Norvell grew emotional as he discussed Pritchard during his postgame media availability.

“The way that he plays the game … he loves it, he absolutely loves it. To know that right now that’s taken away from him in a senseless act, you don’t always know why you have to go through things in life but I do believe God has his hand over Ethan and this football team,” Norvell said.

“To have Earl here today – He’s a wonderful man, and being with him I know it’s so very hard. I know it’s hard for anybody to have to go through, but he told me early in this week, ‘I know where my boy wants to be so I’m going to go stand in his place for him.'”

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Sources: Clemson without WR Williams vs. Troy

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6 hours ago

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September 6, 2025

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Sources: Clemson without WR Williams vs. Troy

  • ESPN News Services

Sep 6, 2025, 08:55 AM ET

Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams is not expected to play against Troy on Saturday as he recovers from a hamstring injury, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Williams has been considered day-to-day since leaving the season-opening loss to LSU in the first quarter with the injury.

A second-team Associated Press preseason All-American, Williams caught 75 passes for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns last season and is considered quarterback Cade Klubnik‘s best option in the passing game.

Coach Dabo Swinney said this week that he doesn’t believe Williams’ injury is severe but noted there is “always a concern” that a hamstring injury could linger.

“Any time you have any type of soft tissue-type injuries and things like that, especially [with a] skilled player, you’re always concerned,” Swinney said. “Antonio will do what he needs to do to get himself back.”

Swinney said Tyler Brown would start if Williams was out. Brown, who missed most of last season with an injury, had four catches for 43 yards against LSU.

“I know Tyler played well,” Swinney said. “Should have had two touchdowns, and one was a walk-in. But he made some plays for us and good to see him play with a little confidence.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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