SC HALL-DAWKINS
Former Clemson star Dawkins named to hall
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Brian Dawkins says he’s grateful that Clemson helped him become a standout NFL safety, an ESPN analyst and now, a member of the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.
Dawkins was enshrined in ceremonies Monday with seven others honored for their contributions to state sports. Dawkins started at free safety for the Tigers from 1993-95 before getting drafted by the Philadelphia and going on to 16 stellar seasons with the Eagles and Denver Broncos.
Dawkins is a nine-time Pro Bowler and is on the NFL’s all-2000s team
Since retiring in 2012, Dawkins has reconnected with his college and the school has named a lifetime leadership award in his honor. Dawkins thinks Tigers coach Dabo Swinney is on the right track to keep Clemson relevant for some time to come.
ROOKIE JERSEY SALES
Michael Sam has 2nd most popular rookie jersey
NEW YORK (AP) — The 249th pick in the NFL draft has the second most popular jersey of all the players selected last weekend.
Michael Sam’s Rams jersey was the No. 2 seller among rookies on NFLShop.com. Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted when St. Louis took him late in the seventh and final round Saturday.
The top seller was quarterback Johnny Manziel’s. In fact, more Johnny Football jerseys have been purchased since April 1 than those of any NFL veteran.
League spokesman Brian McCarthy says NFLShop.com sold nearly as many for Manziel from Thursday to Sunday as it did for Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck and Tim Tebow combined during their respective draft weekends.
No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney had the third most popular rookie jersey, followed by the other two QBs taken in the first round: Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles.
The jerseys don’t ship until the team notifies the league of the number given to the player.
ACC SCHEDULING
ACC coaches, ADs recommend staying at 8-game sked
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference football coaches and athletic directors say they should play at least one major conference program every year.
Commissioner John Swofford announced Monday during the league’s annual spring meetings that the coaches and ADs have recommended the conference schedule remain at eight games.
They also recommended that every school should play either Notre Dame or a team from one of the other major conferences — the Big Ten, Big 12, Southeastern or Pac-12 conferences — during the regular season.
The schools’ faculty athletic representatives will vote Thursday on the recommendation. If approved, it would take effect in 2017.
The SEC announced a similar scheduling policy last month that will take effect in 2016.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ASSISTANTS
Bruno, Staley, Reeve assist women’s national team
UNDATED (AP) — Doug Bruno, Dawn Staley and Cheryl Reeve will assist Geno Auriemma on the U.S. women’s basketball national team at the world championship in Turkey.
Bruno and Staley become the fourth and fifth U.S. coaches to serve twice as assistants at the world championship.
DePaul’s Bruno worked with Auriemma the past four years and helped the U.S. team win gold at the 2010 world championship and 2012 London Olympics. South Carolina coach Staley was an assistant for the 2006 world team and 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Minnesota Lynx coach Reeve is working with USA Basketball for the first time.
The U.S. national team will kick off its training for the worlds in early September at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The world championship begins on Sept. 27 in Istanbul.
BO-DYN PROJECT
Vester new president of Bo-Dyn bobsled project
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — John Vester is the new president of the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, replacing Phil Kurze.
Bo-Dyn has been building American-made bobsleds for exclusive use by U.S. sliders since 1992. Vester has been Bo-Dyn’s treasurer and chief financial officer since 2006.
During Kurze’s tenure, the project helped the U.S. bobsled team win seven Olympic medals.
Vester says the goal for Bo-Dyn is not changing and that the project remains committed to helping the U.S. win medals at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018.
Geoff Bodine, the NASCAR great who founded Bo-Dyn in 1992, is vice president of the project. Kurze will remain as treasurer and CFO, and Dan Goodwin is secretary.
BRYANT LACROSSE
Lacrosse upset a sweet victory for Bryant coach
SMITHFIELD, R.I. (AP) — Bryant University’s upset win over lacrosse powerhouse Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament is a sweet victory for its coach.
Mike Pressler has spent the past eight years building the program at Bryant, after he was fired as coach at Duke amid false rape allegations against three players.
The Bulldogs never trailed in their 10-9 win over the Orange on Sunday, and are now preparing for Saturday’s quarterfinals matchup against Maryland. It’s the first time the Bulldogs have reached the quarterfinals in school history. They’ve played in Division 1 for just six years.
Bryant President Ron Machtley (MAYK’-lee) says although it’s a relatively unknown and small school, the victory shows it can win against better-known teams.
Pressler calls the win monumental.
