Home|Sports|UAB holds off RedHawks to win Bahamas BowlSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailDecember 19, 2022 60 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers’ Reynard Ellis stopped the Miami University RedHawks’ Jalen Walker at the one yard line on the final play, as the Blazers held on 24-20 to win the Prime Minister’s Trophy in the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl on Friday.

It was the second consecutive bowl win for the Blazers and their 50th win since returning in 2017. This game kicked off the bowl season.

Playing at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, the Blazers head coach Bryant Vincent made a gutsy play call to go for the fourth and one yard on the RedHawks’ 12-yard line. The RedHawks were up 20-17 with 1:35 left in the game. Vincent called a timeout and instead of going for the field goal for a chance to tie the game, he went for it.

He trusted Blazers junior running back Jermaine Brown Jr. with the task and two seconds later, Brown found a hole in his offensive line and ran to the end zone for the touchdown, to put his team up 23-20 before the extra point attempt was good to give them the 24-20 lead.

Brown ended the game with 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His quarterback Dylan Hopkins finished with 204 passing yards and one touchdown.

“We believe that if it is a yard or less, we have the offensive line, tight ends, quarterbacks and running backs that we can get that yard. It does not matter who we are against. If it is a yard or less, we are going for it because we believe in what we stand for and the players that we have.”

Winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) on the offensive side of the ball was senior wide receiver Trea Shropshire, who tied Western Michigan 

University Corey Davis with 183 yards for the Bahamas Bowl record for most receiving yards. He also had one touchdown.

“If it was not for my teammates, I would not have been here. I want to thank the coaches for believing in me. The win means a lot to the program and it is a blessing to win the MVP award,” Shropshire said.

Securing MVP on the defensive side of the ball was the Blazers redshirt junior defensive end Michael Fairbanks, who had seven tackles.

The Redhawks marched the ball down the field thanks to a UAB penalty that moved the ball 15 yards with less than 10 seconds left. The RedHawks’ quarterback Aveon Smith made a good pass to Walker before the latter was brought down at the one yard line. Smith finished the day with 162 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Vincent was confident that his defense was going to come up big in the fourth quarter.

“The way this season went, I would not expect anything less. We lost five games on the road by less than a possession. As the season went, we started to finish games. To finish Miami here at the end and to be able to come through and finish them is something that our team has been built on for years. One of the things that we talk about is that we want to finish our opponents in the fourth quarter,” Vincent said.

The Blazers represented Conference USA and the RedHawks represented the Mid-American Conference.

https://thenassauguardian.com/uab-holds-off-redhawks-to-win-bahamas-bowl/

 Home|Sports|BAAA Odd Distance Meet set for this SaturdaySports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailDecember 16, 2022 211 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

There is quite a bit of excitement brewing about the 2022-2023 local track and field season which gets underway this Saturday with the staging of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Odd Distance Track and Field Meet.

The meet, a staple event on the calendar over the years, is set for 12-6 p.m. on Saturday at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The young athletes have been gearing up all through the fall months and are now ready to go.

Track events from the 60 meters (m) to the 1000m will be contested in all age divisions – from under-seven to open. In the field, the javelin, shot put, discus, long, triple and high jump events will be contested from the under-15 to open divisions.

Close to 400 young athletes are expected to compete at the one-day event, and admission is set for $5 general section and $10 for VIP.

Initially, there was some talk about electronic timing being done for the meet, but that option was deemed not feasible at this particular time, particularly with the meet not serving as an official qualifier for track events for the CARIFTA Games.

“The executive board considered the views of the coaching community as it relates to the usage of electronic timing at the upcoming BAAA Odd Distance Track and Field Meet. Since the inception of this meet, the general position has been that there is little benefit to using electronic timing since track events would not serve as a qualifying event,” as stated in a BAAA communication. “We have considered allowing long approaches in the horizontal and vertical jumps and throwing events since these events are qualifying events for the CARIFTA Games.

“We forecast that approximately 350 athletes will be competing at a cost of $12 per athlete, generating registration income of $4,200 of an overall estimated competition cost of $13,000. The objective of this event is to transition athletes from offseason training to competition and to establish a benchmark of where your athletes are currently positioned. At the same time, we intend to make the highest and best use of our limited resources now and into the remaining season. It is therefore intended that performances at future BAAA meets would be electronically recorded.”

As mentioned, the odd distance meet is the first track and field event on the 2022-2023 local athletics calendar.

In the new year, the BAAA will stage its annual church service on Sunday January 8, 2023. The first meet of the new year will be the T-Bird Flyers Track and Field Classic, set for January 13-14 at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

https://thenassauguardian.com/baaa-odd-distance-meet-set-for-this-saturday/

 Home|Sports|National records broken in MelbourneSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailDecember 16, 2022 209 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian swimmers Lamar Taylor and Luke-Kennedy Thompson both broke national records at the 16th FINA (World Swimming Federation) Short Course (25m) World Championships that is currently being held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) in Melbourne, Australia.

Taylor broke the short course national record in the 50 meters (m) backstroke on Thursday, clocking 23.58 seconds which was also a personal best time for him. He was second in heat number three and 20th overall – four places from qualifying for the semifinals. The collegiate swimmer broke the Bahamian national record of 26.10 seconds that was set by Chris Vythoulkas in 2006.

“It feels amazing to break the national record,” Taylor said. “Coming into the race I wanted to have a high confidence level and have fun. That was the point for me coming to Australia – to have fun and try to drop times. I have been feeling good this entire season.”

Taylor said he was working on putting on weight in the offseason so he could be stronger with his strokes. He went into the race yesterday with an open mind and had a preview of it in the mixed 4x50m medley relay in which he clocked a split of 24.19 seconds.

“When I got out the blocks, I knew I could have swam faster than in the relay. I made sure I worked on my rotations and swam my own race to see how fast I could go,” Taylor said.

Swimming the fastest in the heats was Polish swimmer Kacper Stokowski with a time of 22.78 seconds.

The 19-year-old is confident heading into the 50m free today in which he will be featured in lane two in heat six.

“My goal is to make the semifinals. If that do not happen, I want to drop time. I feel that I have a good chance at doing something big in that race. I am looking to stay focused and have fun,” Taylor stated.

Thompson lowered Jeremy Knowles’ record of 3:57 in the 400m freestyle distance race when he clocked 3:56.22. He placed 28th overall in the heats and third overall in heat one.

“I was truly honored to have the opportunity to swim this race at this level. Going into the 400m free, I wanted to ultimately break the four-minute goal I set for myself. Knowing all the preparation that I’ve been putting in, this was a goal I knew I could accomplish. Being able to break the record set by the son of the coach who taught me how to swim is truly humbling to say the least,” Thompson said.

American Kieran Smith had the fastest time in the heats when he posted 3:36.91.

Thompson has one more individual race – the 200m free that is set for Sunday. He hopes to put up a personal best and represent The Bahamas to the best of his abilities.

Other than Taylor, Rhanishka Gibbs will be in the pool swimming in the women’s 50m free today. She will be swimming out of lane seven in heat four. She has an entry time of 26.68 seconds.

There is also the mixed 4x50m free relay that features Thompson, Gibbs, Taylor and Victoria Russell.

Also on the trip are Head Coach Travano McPhee, Team Manager Gena Culmer-Taylor and physiotherapist Cordero Bonamy.

https://thenassauguardian.com/national-records-broken-in-melbourne/

UAB Blazers to battle the Miami University RedHawks

Simba FrenchSend an emailDecember 16, 2022 196 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers and the Miami University of Ohio RedHawks got their final practices and walkthrough sessions in at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium yesterday, in preparation for today’s Hometown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, that will be take place at the same venue. They will battle for the Prime Minister’s Cup, starting at 11:30 a.m. today. The game will be aired live on ESPN. Admission is free to Bahamian residents.

The game is the first of the 2022 bowl season in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the only current bowl game outside of the United States.

The Blazers (6-6, 4-4 C-USA) will be representing Conference-USA (C-USA) and will be making their seventh bowl appearance. This is their second trip to The Bahamas. The RedHawks (6-6, 4-4 MAC) will be participating in their 14th bowl game and they represent the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They will be playing their first game outside the continental US since a road game in 2001.

Both teams were at a press conference at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium yesterday to discuss today’s game. Head Coach for the RedHawks Chuck Martin said that he will look to stop the run as the Blazers are very good on the ground.

“UAB really likes to run the ball, they’re fifth in the country in rushing this year. If we don’t stop the run that’s going to play in their favor. We have to do a good job, we cannot give up big plays. They have a very stingy defense, but we have to get big chunk of plays in the pass game and when we do, we’ve been good. Both teams kind of want to do the same thing,” Martin said.

As mentioned earlier, this is not the first time that the Blazers have traveled to The Bahamas, having done so in 2017. They lost that game 41-6 to the Ohio University Bobcats. Interim Head Coach for the Blazers Bryant Vincent said that his team is very experienced.

“We’ve got 21 seniors on this football team who have played a lot of football for UAB, and who have won conference championships, the only two conference championships in school history. We’ve got 21 seniors who have been a part of the only two bowl wins in school history, so there’s been a lot of history here that this team has been a part of,” Vincent said. “They’re excited about the opportunity to play and win that third bowl game, but the focus with this football team has been phenomenal. The leadership, the character, the perseverance when it’s time to relax and enjoy themselves in The Bahamas, we’ve been able to do that, but they also understand what they’re here for. They’ve been able to switch gears. When it’s time for business and it’s time for practice and meetings, everybody’s been on time. Everybody’s been locked in.”

Redshirt freshman quarterback Aveon Smith said the team has come to The Bahamas to win a bowl game.

“It was cool to get the experience, as I got to spend time with my coaches and my teammates, whether it was playing on the slides or just hanging in the lobby. At the end of the day, we came here to win the bowl game, so when it’s time to log back in, we will do that.”

His teammate, linebacker Ryan McWood, said they are ready for the game.

“Yesterday (Wednesday) we got back into the game planning and practicing, just having that switch inside you to say we got practice for two hours today, let’s lock in for that. It’s been awesome to have a lot of guys buy into that, so we’re ready to go,” McWood said.

It’s no secret that the teams have watched hours of film on each other. Blazers’ redshirt junior offensive linesman Will Rykard said they know that the RedHawks play defense hard.

“Defensively, they play hard, they play good football,” Rykard said. “They’re disciplined up front. We know we’re going to come out, play hard and play good, but at the end of the day like every game, we think about us. We go there, we handle what we’re supposed to handle and do what we’re supposed to do, and it will be alright.”

Both teams are staying at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island and said that they have enjoyed the amenities and hospitality of the resort since they arrived in the country.

The 2021 Bahamas Bowl featured Middle Tennessee of C-USA and the University of Toledo of the MAC. Middle Tennessee won that game 31-17 after scoring 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamas-bowl-set-for-today/

ANDREW MUNNINGS, left, and Maruyama Joshiro, of Japan.

As of Friday, December 16, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER returning home from a two-month training session in Osaka, Japan, top Bahamian male judoka Andrew Munnings said he’s so pleased with his performance that he definitely feels that he will be able to compete at a higher level in the future.

#Munnings, who left town on October 8, returned home on Tuesday night. While he was there specifically for training at the Tenri University, he participated in the Tokyo Grand Slam where he got to make some improvements.

#There was also an international training camp in which Munnings got to train with a number of international competitors who also came to Japan for the camp.

#He said this allowed him to hone his skills as he got to improve on some of the mistakes he made in the past.

#“The experience was really good,” Mullings said. “They had just won the All- Japan competition, which made them the number one ranked university. So, the training was above average. Even the international athletes, including grand slam champion and Olympians, when they came there, they were also shocked at how hard they were training.

#“So, it was definitely an eye opener for me, just to see the level the human body can go to. It really helped to make me a stronger athlete on the whole. So, I was really proud of my experience there.”

#Before COVID-19, Munnings had the opportunity to train with some of the Japanese judokas at the Tenri University, so when he reached out to them about his decision to return to Japan, they welcomed him. He got to renew some old friendships and also developed some new ones in Japan.

#Having enjoyed his time in Japan, Munnings said he’s looking forward to reaching out to some of his other friends in Israel with the view of going over there to train in preparation for the Pan American Championships in April and the Pan American Games in August, while gaining some points at the various open and grand slam competitions to qualify for the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, in May.

#Munnings expressed his gratitude to the Bahamas Olympic Committee for assisting him financially and to Bahamas Judo Federation president D’Arcy Rahming for his assistance in securing the funding that he got, along with the assistance from his family and friends for their support.

#The 24-year-old Munnings was coming off first-round losses at both the Bogota Panamerican and Panamerican Oceania Senior Championships earlier this year.

#He also competed at the World Judo Senior Championships in Hungary in 2021 where he made a first-round exit.

#Before the pandemic struck in 2020, Munnings participated in the Osaka Grand Slam and the Rome European Open in 2019, the World Junior Championships in 2018, the World Senior Championships in Budapest and the Fort Lauderdale Junior Pan American Cup in 2017, the Junior PJC Cup in Santo Domingo in 2016 and the World Junior Championships in 2014.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/16/andrew-munnings-returns-home-training-japan/?news

As of Friday, December 16, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#IN the spirit of the holiday season, the New Providence Public Primary Schools Sports Association found themselves on the giving and receiving end of gifts during their year-ending celebrations on Wednesday at Claridge Primary School.

#With school already closed for the students, the associations took the time out to get their physical education teachers together to participate in a breakfast fest and a time to share their experiences on the return of their sporting activities in the aftermath of the COVID- 19 pandemic.

#During the event, the NPPPSSA also took the time out to honour Carl Lynch, the assistant secretary general of the Bahamas Football Association and Tribune sports reporter Brent Stubbs for their dedication to the association.

#They were both presented with a certificate and a fruit basket for their contributions.

#In return, Lynch presented the association with a new logo on a banner for them to use during the duration of their games. Stubbs offered some words of encouragement as they look forward to the rest of the season following the Christmas holiday.

#NPPPSSA president Latoya Sturrup-Bain expressed the gratitude of the association to both Lynch and Stubbs.

#“This is our meeting for the year and so in this time of giving and sharing, we just wanted to share our love to you guys to let you know how much we appreciate you,” Sturrup- Bain told both Lynch and Stubbs.

#“We appreciate your support.

#“Anytime we call on you, you all are there. You never told me no.”

#Coming off the Christmas break, the NPPPSSA will gear up for its basketball tournament, starting on January 28. Then it’s volleyball in March and the year will close out with track and field in April.

#“The general public will also see our presence in the community when we continue our breakfast initiative and giving our grocery bags,” said Sturrup-Bain of a programme they started during the pandemic.

#“We have given out over 1,300 breakfast and about 250 grocery bags and clothing. It was sure a positive event going into communities like Bains & Grants Town, Nassau Village and Fox Hill. We want to be able to continue by going back into areas that we didn’t visit before.”

#Depending on the donations they receive, Sturrup-Bain said they could return to some of the areas they visited before.

#“We know that there is still a need out there in the community and so we will be assisting in whatever way we can,” she said.

#Claire Hepburn, representing the Ministry of Education, was also on hand and she endorsed the proceedings for the day. She also commended Lynch and Stubbs for their support to the NPPPSSA.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/16/npppssa-honours-lynch-and-stubbs/?news

As of Friday, December 16, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WHILE Xavion Johnson continues to make a name for himself on the international judo scene, he’s not forgotten by the Bahamas Judo Federation for his achievements.

#During a reception at Cocoplum Bistro & Bar organised by his mother, Ordain Moss and family, as well as the federation on his return home from competing in a series of events in Canada, Johnson was presented with a plaque for the Junior Athlete of the Year by BJF executive Reno Culmer.

#Additionally, his member of Parliament for Fox Hill, Fred Mitchell, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented him with an undisclosed amount in a cheque after Moss showed a video presentation on her son’s journey from his introduction to the sport to the present day.

#Johnson, who noted that he had a passion for the sport from the time he got started, has moved from the US Open junior champion to the Ontario Open champion. He hopes to resume his training in January for his next tournament in Denmark in February.

#But, in the meantime, he said he’s just delighted to be able to return home and get the reception that he got.

#“I’m pretty happy,” he said.

#He thanked everyone who came out and supported him, but for everyone who played a part in his development, including his parents, grandmother, great-grandmother, family, friends, the federation, Andrew Munnings, whom he looks up to as his role model and Cynthia Rahming, who has been there assisting him from day one.

#In making his presentation to Johnson, Mitchell said as he listened to his commentary, he remembered how as a 10-year-old, his only interest was being a politician and that is what he is today. He said he’s thrilled to see how passionate Johnson is about competing in judo.

#“You have to decide early in life that you will side with the good guys, or you will side with the bad guys,” Mitchell said. “Come what may, if you decide to be one of the good guys, that’s where you are. No matter what the pain, the difficulties, the trials and the ups and downs, if you are on the side of the good people, you are on the side of the good people.”

#In commending Moss, Mitchell said he remembers his former friend Al Dillette, who along with his wife, Kathryn, raised three children and supporting them in all of their sporting endeavours and he emphasized that as one of the good guys, the community is expecting great things from Johnson and while he’s proud of what he has done, he will be there to continue to support him.

#Oria Wood, the deputy director of sports at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, represented Minister Mario Bowleg. She commended Johnson on his accomplishments and even his aspirations to go on to compete at the Olympic Games.

#As the officer for judo at the ministry, Wood said he was able to develop a bond with federation president D’Arcy Rahming when he came to register the sport at the ministry, and she has been able to assist the BJF financially and will continue to do so, especially to the point where Johnson becomes the next judoka to get on the government subvention.

#“Xavion, we know that we have a diamond (in the rough) because if an athlete can achieve world-class status as a teenager, then we know that you are going to go far,” Wood said.

#“In your dreams, as long as you persevere, push hard and remain disciplined, you will get to the Olympic Games, and you will do well.”

#In addition to family and members of the Ministry of Sports, also present were Munnings and Cynthia Rahming, the top two senior judokas and Kent Bazard, one of the top martial arts instructors and personal trainers in the island nation.

#During his latest appearance in Canada, the 16-year-old Johnson won the Quebec Open at the Claude Robillard Sports Complex in the under-18 boys’ division of the 60-kilogram class over Luka Tsatsalashvili with a 3-0 decision in just two minutes and 49 seconds on the clock.

#In the process, Johnson qualified for the Cadet World Championships.

#Prior to that, Johnson claimed the bronze in 18-and-under 66kg class in October at the Manitoba Open at the Dakota Community Center in Manitoba, Canada where he lost to Peter Velonas. He also won the bronze medal in the senior division 66kg division after he lost to Ashton Debruyne.

#Johnson, who revealed that his first name Xavion means “Warrior,” represented the Bahamas earlier this year in the Sarajevo World Championships Cadets, Panamerican – Oceania Junior Championships and the Panamerican – Oceania Cadets Championships.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/16/xavion-gets-warm-welcome-home/?news

As of Friday, December 16, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#After losing to Ohio in their initial appearance here in 2017, interim head coach Bryant Vincent said there’s still no better place for his University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers men’s football team to be than here at the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl.

#“This is the bowl game that our team wanted to go to. We were excited to be here. I don’t know if there’s another bowl in the country that our team would rather be at,” Vincent said. “To come to the Bahamas and play a really good Miami (Ohio) team is an opportunity that they’re excited about.

#“Where else can you come to paradise and also play a football game against a good football team and end the 2022 season and a lot of great careers here? It’s the opportunity of a lifetime and our players realise that, and they’re excited about that. They’re ready to go out there and play one last game together.”

#Vincent will be leading the Blazers this time around as they take on the Miami RedHawks in today’s bowl game at 11:30am on ESPN at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

#Vincent said after giving his Blazers a chance to enjoy themselves during the week, they are ready to face their opponents with the same intensity that they did all season long.

#“It’s really not going to change. What we do at UAB offensively is what we’ve done here the last six years. We’re going to establish the run, we’re going to play-action pass, we’re going to do what we do. To win championships, you’ve got to be able to run the football. We’re going to establish the run, that’s our rule every game, and then everything else feeds off the run.

#“Defensively, we’ve got to stop the run. I know that’s a cliché, but it’s proven true. We have the opportunity to win our 50th football game since our programme’s return. That’s 50 wins in six years, that’s pretty impressive.”

#That’s more wins than anybody in Conference USA. We’re going to stop the run, cover up the receivers, be great in the kicking game and find a way to finish it off in the fourth quarter. That’s really our game plan every game.”

#Miami head coach Chuck Martin, whose team is making their debut here, said they are just as eager about the game.

#“The biggest thing is UAB really likes to run the ball and they like to throw it over your head. They are fifth in the country in rushing this year so if we don’t stop the run it is going to play into their favour,” Martin said.

#“We also have to stop them getting big plays in the pass game. Offensively, we need to be able to run the ball and they have a very stingy defence. We need to have big chunk plays in the passing game. Our defence is excited for the challenge and our offence is excited to compete against a very good defence.”

#When asked what’s going to be the difference in their approach for the Bahamas Bowl compared to other bowls Miami has played in, Martin said they try to approach them all the same.

#“We get extra practices back home and have two and-a-half weeks to prepare for the game. We are going to do all the work at home. When we get on the plane to wherever we are going, we are prepared to win the game before we leave,” he said.

#“What we try to do when we get to the bowl site is to let everybody enjoy the experience. This is the best place I have been to, but we have enjoyed the other bowls we have been to. We let the kids and coaches and families enjoy being at a bowl and then starting two days before the game we get locked in.”

#Both teams are coming into the game with a 6-6 win-loss record. But for some of the players, it’s an experience here in the Bahamas off the field that they will never forget, win-loss or draw on the field.

#For Miami, on transitioning from the water slides at the Atlantis to the game on Friday, said freshman quarterback Aveon Smith:

#“It was pretty cool to get the experience, spending time with coaches and teammates whether it was on the slides or kicking it in the lobby,” he said. “At the end of the day we came here to win a bowl game. When it is time to lock back in, we will lock back in.”

#As for the game, Smith said it’s important to send the seniors out with a win.

#“It is pretty important. We have a lot of seniors on offence, and defence as well,” he said. “They have put in a lot of work from one season to another they have been grinding. It is only right to send them off with a victory.”

#One of those players are senior linebacker Ryan McWood.

#“I have been to other bowls before and this was definitely an awesome experience. When it is time to work, it is time to work but you need to do what you need to do to win the game,” he said. “The first two days were in kind of vacation mode and yesterday we had practice and got back into game mode.

#“It is about having that switch inside you that we have practice for two hours today and let’s lock into that and then we can get off our feet after.”

#The UAB players are just as ecstatic about being here for the Bahamas Bowl.

#“It’s been a really special week, especially for us and it being our last game here,” said redshirt senior linebacker Noah Wilder. “Coming here, being with the guys, especially at a place like this, it’s just really special to come here and be able to enjoy yourself and have that camaraderie, one last ooh-rah together.

#“There would be no greater feeling than to go out with a win. These have been some of the best years of my life. These guys – they’re friends that I’ll have forever, and this is just a great place to be with those guys.”

#On what the team needs to be successful, Wilder said they just have to get back to what got them here in the first place. “We think they play really hard. We play really hard,” he said.

#“Just like every week, as long as we stick to UAB football and do what we do, that’s what we’re going to do.”

#And redshirt junior offensive lineman Will Rykard said this will definitely be a trip he will never forget.

#“It’s been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of us. There are a lot of guys that have never been out of the country, so this will be the first [international] place they’ve been. It’s pretty cool. “To spend it with all the guys and finish out the season with one last game, it’s just a great experience. We’ve all been able to relax the last few days with the lazy river, the pool, stuff like that, but we’ll be ready come tomorrow.”

#On balancing the off-field experiences with the game this weekend, Rykard felt they did a fantastic job.

#“A lot of us have played a lot of football. We know what it is. Back home there are a lot of distractions just like there are here. It’s just different – there’s school, other people,” he said.

#“We’ve gotten to enjoy the past few days, the coaches let us enjoy a lot and have some time off. Yesterday we started reeling it back in and we know what it is, we know it’s time to go.”

#On what he knows about Miami, Rykard said they play hard defensively, and they are a good, sound football team.

#“They’re disciplined up front. We know we’re going to have to come out as an offensive line and play hard, play well,” he noted.

#“At the end of the day, just like every game, we think it’s about us. If we go out there and handle what we’re supposed to handle and do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll be alright.”

#The game will be carried live on ESPN with Steve Levy handling the play-by-play duties, while Joey Galloway will serve as the colour analyst. Kris Budden will cover the sidelines.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/16/its-gameday/?news

As of Friday, December 16, 2022

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#NASSAU Bahamas (AP) — Jermaine Brown Jr. rushed for 116 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, Trea Shropshire had 183 yards receiving and a score, and UAB held off Miami (Ohio) 24-20 on Friday in the Bahamas Bowl.

#UAB (7-6) won its second bowl game in a row — beating No. 13 BYU 31-28 in the Independence Bowl last season — and third in programme history. The Blazers won their 50th game since returning in 2017 from a programme shutdown.

#Shropshire dominated the first half with 120 yards, and his second catch after halftime went for 50 yards to set up Brown’s 12-yard rushing touchdown on fourth-and-1 for a 24-20 lead with 1:31 left.

#Miami converted two fourth downs on its final drive and a 15-yard penalty set up the RedHawks on the 15 with one second left. Aveon Smith completed a pass over the middle to Jalen Walker but the UAB defence came up with a huge stop as Reynard Ellis made a tackle at the 2 as time expired.

#“It really comes down to everything this team stands for: we’ll fight til the very end, we’ll never give in, we’re tough, we’re rugged, we play for each other and we never give up,” UAB interim coach Bryant Vincent. “No matter what we’ve been through this year, it’s just the UAB way.”

#After Miami took a 20-17 lead with 6:52 left in the fourth quarter, Brown fumbled it and the RedHawks took over at the UAB 28 before missing a 47-yard field goal. Then Brown redeemed himself on the next drive.

#Brown carried it 24 times to eclipse 100 yards for the fifth time this season for UAB. Shropshire finished with six catches for 183 yards and a touchdown.

#Shropshire had a 46-yard grab on UAB’s first offensive play and he capped the opening drive with a 10-yard touchdown. He added a 48-yarder on third-and-19 with 5:57 left before halftime to total 120 yards, while the Miami offence had 68 total yards at that point.

#Dual-threat QB Aveon Smith passed for 162 yards and two touchdowns for Miami (6-7). He also carried it 22 times for 50 yards.

#PLAYERS OPTING OUT

#The nation’s leading rusher, DeWayne McBride, was not active after opting out of the bowl game. His 1,713 yards this season for UAB included 10 100-yard games and 19 touchdowns. The Conference USA’s player of the year was coming off a 272-yard game against Louisiana Tech.

#COACHING CHANGE

#The Blazers played their finale under Vincent, who led the team all season. Former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer has been hired as head coach and was in attendance. The 50-year-old Dilfer won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2000 during a 14-year NFL career. He’s making a big leap to the college ranks after leading Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, to three state title games in four seasons as head coach.

#“I’m going to tell our players that I love them and I’m proud of them,” an emotional Vincent said after the game. “I’m proud of our coaches and I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished.”

#PIRATE FLAGS

#Miami players and coaches were wearing patches and stickers of a pirate flag to honor Mike Leach, who died suddenly of a heart condition earlier this week.

#WEATHER

#Friday’s forecast was for a high of 85 degrees in Nassau, compared to 37 in Oxford, Ohio and 43 in Birmingham, Alabama.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/dec/16/browns-two-touchdowns-lead-uab-past-miami-oh-24-20/

 Home|Sports|Taylor finishes 36th overall in 100m freeSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailDecember 15, 2022 156 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Team Bahamas wrapped up the second day of competition at the 16th FINA (World Swimming Federation) Short Course (25m) Championships, currently ongoing at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) in Melbourne, Australia.

All four Bahamian swimmers were in action yesterday with two swimmers being featured in individual races.

Lamar Taylor was in action in the men’s 100 meters (m) freestyle. Swimming out of lane four in the fifth heat, Taylor posted a time of 47.76 seconds to win his heat. However, in the grand scheme of things he did not qualify for the semifinals as he finished with the 36th fastest time overall. His winning time was faster than his entry time of 50.25 seconds, and marked a personal best time for him.

Clocking the fastest time in the heats was the Cayman Islands’ Jordan Crooks, who posted a time of 45.61 seconds.

The other swimmer to compete in an individual race was Victoria Russell, who was in the 100m breaststroke event. She swam out of lane five in heat two and won her heat when she touched the wall in 1:11.56. The 22-year-old placed 40th overall with that time. She improved on her entry time of 1:14.97.

The fastest swimmer in the heats was Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte, who posted a time of 1:03.01.

The mixed 4x50m medley relay team consisted of Taylor, Russell, Rhanishka Gibbs and Luke-Kennedy Thompson. The quartet placed 22nd overall with a time of 1:46.93. They swam out of lane seven in the third of four heats.

Taylor swam the first leg and split 24.19 seconds on the backstroke leg. Russell was on the second leg, in the breast, and clocked a split of 32.28 seconds. Thompson was on the third leg and swam a split of 24.50 on the butterfly stroke. Anchoring Team Bahamas with the freestyle was teenager Gibbs who had a split of 25.96 seconds.

The United States of America (USA) had the fastest time in the heats of 1:36.83, and went on to win the gold medal in the final in a new world record of 1:35.15.

Taylor returns to action today in the 50m backstroke event. He heads into the heat with an entry time of 24.38 seconds and will be swimming in the third heat in lane three. Making his debut in an individual race at this meet is Thompson. The 21-year-old distance swimmer will be swimming in the 400m free. He enters the race with a time of 4:04.90, and will be swimming out of lane seven in the first heat.

The head coach of the team is Travano McPhee.

Also making the trip but not for The Bahamas is Tariq Kelly. He is a Bahamian who is serving as a massage therapist/athletic trainer for Team USA. Kelly served as a member of the medical staff for Team Bahamas at the 2022 CARIFTA Swimming Championship in Wildey, Barbados. He is a former competitor for The Bahamas in swimming and water polo.

https://thenassauguardian.com/taylor-finishes-36th-overall-in-100m-free/