Sports Briefs

Sports Briefs

Abbi Webb, Editor in Chief 

National

The Denver Broncos squared off against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Feb. 7 at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif for Super Bowl 50. After facing the toughest challenge of their nearly flawless season against the league’s no. 1 ranked Bronco’s defense, Cam Newton and company returned home to Charlotte, N.C. without a trophy. The final score of 24-10 made the Bronco’s a three-time-winning Super Bowl Championship team led by veteran quarterback Peyton Manning and put a spotlight on Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, the Bronco’s defensive linebacker. Newton, who has received much criticism during the regular and post seasons for his over-the-top celebrations, is once again under scrutiny for his choice to abruptly end a post-game press conference with the statement, “I’m done.”

After losing the last five games, the New York Knicks fired head coach Derek Fisher on Monday, Feb. 8. The final decision to fire Fisher was made by the team’s president and former Lakers coach, Phil Jackson, and general manager, Steve Mills. Jackson said he takes the blame for Fisher’s performance, insisting he could have been a better mentor to Fisher, a former Lakers point guard who had no prior coaching experience. Another former Lakers player with coaching experience, Kurt Rambis, will serve as the Knicks’ interim coach. Jackson said he has full confidence in Rambis coaching the team and, as of now, he has no intention of looking for someone else.

International

Richard Gasquet won tennis’ trophy for the Open Sud de France for the third time on Sunday, Feb. 7. Even after suffering from abdominal pains, Gasquet overcame with a 7-5, 6-4 win over his opponent Paul-Henry Mathieu. Gasquet is now ranked no. 10 and moved up to 13-12 in career finals after his win on Sunday.

Less than an hour into the game against Manchester United on Sunday, Feb. 7, Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma had a severe injury that medics say will keep him on the sidelines for the next six months, ending his season. The injury to his anterior cruciate ligament occurred when he jumped high off the ground to volley the ball, his leg buckling on the land. Zouma was one of Chelsea’s no. 1 picked center backs with much potential to improve. His absence is far from ideal, but Chelsea will rely on other, highly capable center backs, such as Gary Cahill, to fill Zouma’s position.

Campus

It was announced Monday, Feb. 8 that the North Greenville University football program will be a part of the Gulf South Conference (GSC), with competition beginning in 2018. The NGU football program accepted the invitation to join the Conference after spending the last 14 seasons as an independent team in the NCAA. The GSC is a charter member of the NCAA Division II and has claimed 49 national championships in 13 sports. GSC Commissioner Matt Wilson said he is confident that this partnership will add to the depth of the Conference and is excited to work with all of those involved with the NGU football program.

Both men’s and women’s track and field teams set school records this Saturday, Feb. 6 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. at the Middle Tennessee Invitational. These accomplishments were a continuation of an already strong performance by both teams this winter. Overall, the Crusaders set four school records this past weekend in the men’s and women’s distance medley relays, the women’s 4X400 and the men’s 3k.