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PAGE 2B December 2024
AUBURN NAMES SOCCER COACH - Former Auburn associate head coach and current Mississippi State head coach James Armstrong has been named Auburn head soccer coach. Armstrong, who was on staff at Auburn from 2013-18, returns to the Plains after taking Mississippi State to unprecedented heights since becoming head coach in 2019, leading the Bulldogs to the 2024 SEC Championship and consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearances. Read more online at www.thesportsledger.com. ALABAMA GYMNASTICS – The University of Alabama gymnastics program gave its fans a final preseason look at the 2025 squad on Friday, December 6, 2024 as Team White defeated Team Crimson in the annual Crimson and White preview meet. Alabama showcased 40 different routines in front of the Crimson Tide faithful, as the two teams competed in an intrasquad dual-meet, five- up-five-count setting. Team White held the lead all night, as a pair of 9.900 scores, on the uneven bars, from Chloe LaCoursiere and anchor Cameron Machado kickstarted the squad’s momentum in its opening rotation. Despite Team Crimson capturing a pair of 9.950 marks from Ryan Fuller (uneven bars) and Lilly Hudson (floor exercise), Team White finished on top, 196.125-195.625. Four UA gymnasts competed in the all-around – freshman Paityn Walker, sophomore LaCoursiere, junior Gabby Gladieux and senior Hudson. Meanwhile, freshman Fuller, junior Karis German, senior Jordyn Paradise and fifth-year senior Shania Adams all competed in three events during the preview meet. Additionally, four freshmen, Fuller, Kylee Kvamme, Faye Rodio and Walker, performed for the first time inside Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide will open its season in Coleman Coliseum on Jan. 10, against North Carolina/ Season tickets are currently available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262), located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum, or online at RollTide.com. RIVALRY FOOTBALL GAME - The 2025 in- state rivalry football game between the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech will be played at the Mercedes- Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets will face off on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at a time to be determined. Following the 2026 game in Athens, the two teams will return to face each other at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Georgia Tech’s campus in 2027. CUSA ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS - The 2024 CUSA All-Conference football players have been announced and nine of the ten schools placed at least one player on the first team. Conference USA champion and Cure Bowl-bound Jax State had a league-high six selections, followed by Liberty with four. Four of Jax State’s first-team selections came on the offensive side of the ball. They include: 2024 CUSA Championship Game MVP Tyler Huff, running back Tre Stewart and offensive linemen Clay Webb and Will O’Steen. Huff compiled 3,522 yards of total offense and 27 total touchdowns, including a CUSA single season record 14 rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Stewart has 264 carries for 1,604 yards (6.1 YPC) and 23 touchdowns, which is tied for fifth most in a season in CUSA history. Webb and O’Steen paved the way for the nation’s second-best rushing offense (267.3) and anchored an offensive line that led CUSA and ranked in the top 35 nationally in sacks allowed (1.38) and tackles for loss allowed (4.08) per game Defensively, the Gamecocks were represented by linebacker Reginald Hughes and defensive back Fred Perry. WKU had the most combined first and second-team members with nine, followed by Jax State with eight and Liberty with seven. FIU and NM State accounted for six total spots, while Sam Houston garnered five selections. Kennesaw State, MTSU and UTEP each earned four spots, and LA Tech rounded out the teams with three honorees. Read the full list on The Sports Ledger's website at www.thesportseldger.com. UAB APPROVES CONTRACTS - The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees Compensation Committee unanimously approved two-year contract extensions for UAB Baseball Head Coach Casey Dunn and Women’s Basketball Head Coach Randy Norton. Both of their new contracts have been extended to June 30, 2028. Dunn enters his fourth year at UAB and has won 25+ games in two of his three seasons. Overall, Dunn has won over 600 games in his 21+ seasons as a head coach. Norton is in his 12th season leading UAB and has coached the Blazers to an overall record of 200-146. He guided UAB to the 2017-18 Conference USA regular season title and was named the CUSA Coach of the Year for his efforts. MILROE WINS CAMPBELL TROPHY - UA quarterback Jalen Milroe has been named the 35th recipient of the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy .The Campbell Trophy ranks as one of college football's most sought-after and competitive awards, recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. Awarded since 1990, the 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy comes with a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. Milroe was selected from the impressive list of 16 members of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. SIDELINE SPORTS
Photo Courtesy of Maui Invitational
The Auburn Men's Basketball team spent part of its Thanksgiving Break in Hawaii at the 2024 Maui Invitational Tournament. Auburn won the tournament by defeating Iowa State 83-81, North Carolina 85-72, and Memphis 90-76 in the championship game. Tournament MVP Johni Broome scored more than 20 points in each game, combining for 65 points during the trip. The win was Auburn's first at the Maui Invitational, which has been played since 1984. Maui Invitational Champions Clemson Wins ACC Championship Tigers to play Texas in opening round of College Playoffs
By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger
Clemson Quarterback Cade Klubnick passed for 262 yards and four touchdowns to help lead the Tigers to a 34-31 victory over SMU in the 2024 ACC Championship game. Clemson scored early and led 24-7 at halftime. However, SMU rallied to tie the game at 31-31 with only seconds left in regulation. The Tigers returned the kickoff to near midfield and Klubnick completed an impressive pass to set up a last second field goal by Nolan Howser. Howser’s 56-yard kick split the uprights as time expired to secure Clemson’s thrilling conference championship. The kick was one of two made field goals for Howser, as he connected on a 44-yard kick in the second quarter. Klubnick completed 24 of 41 passes, including two touchdowns throws to Bryant Wesco, Jr. and two to Jake Briningstool. Overall, the Tigers finished with 326 yards of total offense, while SMU’s offense rolled up 458 total yards. Quarterback Kevin Jennings paced the Mustangs with 326 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for an SMU touchdown. Brashard Smith led the Mustangs ground game with 113 yards rushing. SMU finished the season at 11-2 overall. Clemson moved to 10-3 with the win. Both teams made the college football playoffs. SMU will play Penn State on December 21 at 11 a.m. Clemson will play at Texas at 3 p.m. on December 21.
Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney smiles after a play in last year's TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Tennessee To Face Ohio State in 2024 College Football Playoffs Vols defeat Vanderbilt in regular season finale
By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger
Tennessee Quarterback Nick Iamaleava paced the Vols with 257 passing yards and 42 rushing yards. He also threw four touchdowns and had one interception. Two of the four touchdown passes went to Dont’e Thorton Jr., who finished the game with 118 receiving yards. Iamaleava also completed scoring passes to Miles Kitselman and Mike Matthews. Tennessee teammate Dylan Sampson carried the football 25 times for 178 yards, and Max Gilbert kicked a pair for field goals for the Volunteers. Vanderbilt Quarterback Diego Pavia was 8-of-17 for 194 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Sedrick Alexander led the Commodores ground game with 60 yards and a touchdown. Vanderbilt’s Junior Sherill attempted to set the tone of the game with a 100-yard kickoff return. The game opening play helped put the Commodores on top 17-7 at the first break. The next three quarters belonged to the Volunteers. Tennessee pulled ahead 24-17 at halftime and the Vols defense shut out Vanderbilt in the second and third quarters, while only giving up six points in the fourth quarter. Pavio’s only passing touchdown came with 5:56 left in regulation, but that was not enough to get Vandy back in the game as the Volunteers held on for the win. Vanderbilt finished the regular season at 6-6 and the Commodores have a chance to conclude the year with a winning record as the program is set to clash with Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl on Friday, December 27, 2024. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Despite falling behind 14-0 early in the game against in-state and SEC rival Vanderbilt, the eighth ranked visiting Tennessee Volunteers rallied for a 36-23 victory in the program’s regular season finale on Saturday, November 30 in Nashville. The win propelled the Volunteers to 10-2 overall and secured Tennessee a spot in the upcoming 12 team college playoffs. Tennessee is set to travel to Ohio in the opening round of the college football playoffs on December 21, 2024. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT. The winner of this game will play Top ranked Oregon in the Rose Bowl on New Years Day. Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC) and Ohio State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) will meet for just the second time. The two teams faced each other in the 1996 Citrus Bowl, as MVP Jay Graham rushed for 154 yards, and standout quarterback Peyton Manning completed 20-of-35 passes and a touchdown to lift the Volunteers to a 20-14 win. It will be Tennessee's first game in the state of Ohio. Against Vanderbilt Tennessee’s offense rolled up 538 yards, while limiting the Commodores to 212 yards.
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