Super Bowl LV Preview Chiefs aim for two straight - Feb.5-Feb.11,2021 Vol.19,Issue24 - Wsimg.com
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Super Bowl LV Preview
Chiefs aim for two straight
Feb. 5 - Feb. 11, 2021 Vol. 19, Issue 24 www.sportspagdfw.com FREE
2 February 5, 2021 - February 11, 2021 | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 Issue 24 | www.sportspagedfw.com | follow us on twitter @sportspagdfw.com
Follow us on twitter @sportspagedfw | www.sportspagedfw.com | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 - Issue 24 | February 5, 2021 - February 11, 2021 3
AROUND THE AREA
Feb. 5, 2020 - Feb. 11, 2021
Vol. 19, Issue 24
LOCAL NEWS OF INTEREST
sportspagedfw.com
Established 2002
Cover Photo:
AAC Basketball Schedule Changes
Florida tops 2021 NCBWA Division I in the 35-team survey with the SEC lead-
4 AROUND THE AREA Preseason Poll ing the way with 12 squads. The AAC is
The National Collegiate Baseball next with nine schools in the Top 35. Last
5 RANGER REPORT
BY DIC HUMPHREY Writers Association continues its tradition year there were 15 different conferences
of NCAA Division I polls for the 24th year represented in two months of surveys.
6 GOLF, ETC
BY TOM WARD with its 2021 inaugural and weekly surveys The 2021 poll voters come from among
THIS WEEK ON TOUR: THE and Vanderbilt tops the initial preseason 40 college baseball writers and related
7 PHOENIX OPEN
BY PGATOUR.COM
poll ahead of No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 media persons from throughout the nation.
Vanderbilt. After a preseason Top 35 listing, the
DISECTING THE PGA TOUR’S Last year’s NCBWA Division I Top 30 remainder of the polls will feature a
8 NUTTIEST ACE
BY PGATOUR.COM polls concluded March 16 when the COVID national Top 30 beginning with the Feb. 22
American Athletic Conference -19 pandemic shut down college baseball, NCBWA DI regular season poll. The ’21
SUPER BOWL LV COMMERCIALS
9 BY BILLY HEYEN
Announces Men’s Basketball Schedule
Changes
and Florida was the final No. 1 contingent season will feature 298 NCAA Division I
with a 16-1 overall record. This is Gators baseball-playing schools. For more info or
10 SUPER BOWL LV PICKS AND
PREDICTIONS
BY SEAN LEAHY
IRVING, Texas – The American
Athletic Conference has announced
third time to receive the preseason No. 1 to join the NCBWAgo to www.ncbwa.com.
nod along with the 2021 and ’18 seasons.
changes to the men’s basketball schedule. Rank School 2020 Final Rank
Vanderbilt was the preseason pick in
12 FUTURE SUPER BOWL HOST
LOCATIONS The Feb. 10 game between Tulane and both the 2019 and ’20 polls and went on to
1 Florida 1
BY TADD HAISLOP Tulsa will take place at the Reynolds 2 UCLA 2
win the most recent NCAA World Series
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS AND Center in Tulsa, Okla., at 4 p.m. on 3 Vanderbilt 8
in June 2019. The Commodores were the
13 NOTES BY BO CARTER
ESPN+. The game was originally sched- No. 1 pre-2015 choice and enter ’21 as the
4 Texas Tech 5
uled to be played at Tulane. 5 Ole Miss 4
two-year defending DI champions and fin- 6 Louisville 6
17 AUTO REVIEW
BY KBB.COM
The Feb. 20 game between USF and
SMU will take place at Moody Coliseum
ished the abbreviated 2020 season 13-5 7 Mississippi State 12
overall and No. 8 NCBWA ranking. 8 Arkansas 15
18 THE TICKET WINDOW in Dallas at 11 a.m.on ESPNU. That game
was originally scheduled to be played at
Previous No. 1 entries on the preseason 9 Texas 29
NCBWA rankings have been LSU in the 10 Miami (FL) 3
19 RESTAURANT REVIEW
BY RICHARD POLLAK
USF.
The game sites were adjusted after
1998, 2001 and 2009 polls, USC (1999), 11 NC State 11
Miami (Fla.) (2000), Stanford (2002), 12 TCU 28
COVID-related issues with the respective Texas (2003, 06, 10), Rice (2004, 07), Cal 13 LSU 19
visiting teams caused the first scheduled State Fullerton (2005, 14), Arizona State 14 UC Santa Barbara NR
matchups between the teams to be post- (2008), North Carolina (2009),TCU (2011, 15 Virginia NR
poned. In such an instance, The 16 Florida State 13
Follow us on American’s athletic directors have agreed
17), Florida (2012, 18, 21), Arkansas
(2013), and Vanderbilt (2015, 19, 20). 17 Arizona NR
Twitter & Facebook that, when possible, the second game of
the regular-season series would be played
Fellow frequent NCAA World Series 18
19
Georgia Tech
East Carolina
NR
18
contestant No. 3 UCLA won its first
at the site of the home team of the post- 20 Tennessee 23
twitter.com/sportspagedfw NCAA baseball crown 2013 while tradi-
21 West Virginia NR
poned game. tional powers No. 4 Texas Tech and No. 5
In addition, the Wichita State-SMU 22 Oklahoma 10
facebook.com/sportspageweek- Ole Miss round out the Top Five pre-2021
23 South Carolina NR
game in Dallas, originally scheduled for choices. Four different circuits are repre-
Publisher Contact Us Feb. 15, has been rescheduled for Sunday, 24 Georgia 7
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4 February 5, 2021 - February 11, 2021 | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 Issue 24 | www.sportspagedfw.com | follow us on twitter @sportspagdfw.com
SMU WITH DIC HUMPHREY
MLB needs to get their act together
money and the owners made money from Wuhon Virus rears its nasty head and hits a watch with so many strikeouts and walks.
the television playoff coverage expanding. significant number of players this month or Young favors moving the mound back six
For some odd reason, the players seem in March. The whole situation could be inches and deadening the ball somewhat.
to think the enlarged playoff field cut down chaotic, and if the owners and players He did think there would be no work stop-
on teams being competitive. Whatever the could just work together, they could have page because both owners and players have
players perceive about the owners not tak- worked out a plan to lessen the odds of that too much to lose. Hopefully, he is right, but
ing on salaries to improve their chances of happening. the developments this week over dealing
making the playoffs last season likely had In the longer term though, there are with Wuhon Virus protocols were certainly
more to do with economics. They already even more discouraging possibilities. The a discouraging turn of events for fans.
had a big hole in their revenue stream with- present collective bargaining agreement
BY DIC HUMPHREY out fans in the stands. As the August 31 expires at the end of this season. If players
DHUMPHREY24@GMAIL.COM trade deadline approached, there was still and owners are so distrustful of each other
MEMBER: USBWA the possibility that the playoffs would get that they cannot work out a plan for a safer
cancelled from a further spread of the season with a Pandemic ravaging the coun-
It was bad enough last year. The players Wuhon Virus leaving teams without badly try, they most surely will go to the mat
and owners hassled over how to play the needed playoff money. over a new CBA. There are some people
season in view of the Wuhon Virus. They The universal DH looks to be some- close to the negotiations that expect a work
haggled so long that the season was short- thing that owners and players alike want. stoppage this season or next before a new
ened to 60 games, when they should have Surveys of National League fans last year CBA is agreed upon.
been able to play at least 100. Clearly, the generally was positive toward the use of That is bad news for players and owners
owners lost monumental amounts of money the DH. If enacted, it opens up National alike. The last work stoppage that started in
last season without fans attending games. League teams to bid for players that are August of 1994, and lasted long enough to
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has pub- past their prime defensively, but can still delay the opening of the 1995 season,
licly stated the losses totaled around $3 bil- hit, like former Ranger Nelson Cruz. He turned off fans tremendously. Attendance
lion, or about $100 million per team. The signed with the Twins this week, but you was markedly down for years. It was not
players always look askance at owners’ can bet he had received a more lucrative until the great home run race between The Rangers brought back outfielder
numbers, but a blind man can see that if contract had National League teams been Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in 1998 Delino DeShields this week. DeShields
you eliminate the revenue from having fans in on the bidding for his services. that fans came back. Fans already missed played for the Rangers over the 2015-2019
at the games paying for tickets, parking, There were other player complaints out on watching baseball in person last sea- seasons appearing in 539 games. He was
food and beverages as well as buying items about the proposal. Many players had son. There is still no assurance that fans traded after the 2019 season to Cleveland
like caps and jerseys; it will put a signifi- already made living arrangements in will be allowed to attend games this sea- in the deal that brought Corey Kluber to
cant dent in a team’s revenues. Arizona and Florida for spring training and son, and if so, it is likely that only a frac- the Rangers. The speedster hit .252 with
It is strange that players and owners had timed their training schedule for a mid- tion of capacity will be allowed in defer- seven RBIs in 37 games with the Cleveland
have not gotten together sooner to deal February start of spring training and a late ence to the Wuhon Virus. Fans could get baseball team in 2020. He became a free
with opening spring training camps and the March start to the season. The schedule did used to not attending baseball games. agent after Cleveland non-tendered him.
season with a view toward the dealing with reduce the number of off days during the Millionaire ballplayers arguing with bil- He is expected to compete with Leody
Wuhon Virus protocols. The virus is run- season, but there just had to be some wig- lionaire owners is a turnoff. Both sides Taveras for the starting center field job.
ning rampant particularly in the Phoenix gle room on both sides of that issue to could be killing the golden goose if they do The Rangers also signed three more
area, delaying spring training for a month come to a compromise. not figure out how to work together. pitchers this week to minor league con-
would provide more time for the vaccine to In the end the players came across as a RANGER NOTES: tracts with an invitation to spring training.
be distributed and hopefully slow the bunch of spoiled brats, while the owners New Ranger General Manager Chris They are Sam Gaviglio, Spencer Patton,
spread of the virus. look like a bunch of Ebenezer Scrooges. Young spoke to the area SABR group this and Nick Vincent. Patton has played in
Early this week, the news broke that the These were matters that should have been week and commented on the problems in Japan the past four seasons. He pitched for
owners had made a proposal to the players. addressed shortly after Thanksgiving. Why baseball that owners and players should be the Rangers in 2014 and 2015 as well as
The crux of it was moving the start of are they just getting around to it with train- addressing in the new collective bargaining the Cubs in 2016 before moving on to
spring training and the regular season back ing camps scheduled to open in a couple of agreement. He has a unique viewpoint as a Japan. He threw 57 innings last year for the
about a month, shortening the schedule to weeks? The owners are certainly to blame former player and a former employee of Yokohama Bay Stars. Vincent is 34 years
154 games, but with the players receiving for the timing. Common sense should tell Major League Baseball. He noted that old and has appeared in 405 Major League
their full salaries, and extending the end of both owners and players that with the players have divergent interests. Rule games since 2012 for San Diego, Seattle,
season for about a week. The playoffs Wuhon Virus pandemic and its effect on changes that favor hitters hurt pitchers. The and Miami. Last year with the Marlins, he
would be expanded like the 2020 format, the economy, there are larger issues at hand problems for players with big market teams was 1-2 with a 4.43 ERA with three saves
but with 14 instead of 16 teams making the than how many off days baseball players differ from players in small market teams. in 21 games. He has a 3.38 career ERA
playoffs. The universal use of the designat- get in the summer. Major League Baseball International verses domestic players. and a 22-23 won-loss record with seven
ed hitter was also on the table. is an industry with a minimum wage of Older players verses younger players. saves.
In the end, the players not only did not almost $600,000 per year. At a time when Despite the differences, union leaders have On a sad note, former Ranger Coach
accept it; they did not even make a counter people are out of work and facing prob- unified the players in their anger with the Wayne Terwilliger passed away this past
proposal. Both sides came off looking bad lems like having enough food for their owners. Wednesday morning. He was 95 years old.
with the fans. The proposal looked like it family to eat and fighting with lenders to Obviously, the ball needs to be put in Advanced dementia and bladder cancer
had merit. The players lost no money. The keep their houses from being foreclosed or play more frequently. There are too many were the cause of death. He was with the
owners’ proposal was essentially a 5% fighting with landlords to keep from being offensive players that have predominantly Rangers for two stints as a coach, after a
increase in their per game pay with fewer evicted, it is a turnoff to see players and three outcomes when they bat – walk, nine year Major League playing career. He
games on the schedule. The expanded play- owners haggling. strikeout and home run. More and more also coached for the Minnesota Twins
offs look good for players, owners and fans In the short term, the plan is currently teams are going to young hard throwing under manager Tom Kelly for nine seasons
alike but fans had more playoff baseball to to have training camps open this month and relievers instead of veterans. There needs and managed more than 2,300 minor
watch last year. More players got to partici- start the season as scheduled. There could to be more balls put in play to create action league games.
pate in the playoffs and earn additional be short term negative ramifications if the on the field. Baseball has become dull to
Follow us on twitter @sportspagedfw | www.sportspagedfw.com | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 - Issue 24 | February 5, 2021 - February 11, 2021 5
GOLF TOM WARD
Tom’s Weekly Tip: Rake, Rattle and Roll
TOM WARD
TOMPWARD@SBCGLOBAL.NET
The week’s tip might sound like a song
title from the 1950’s. To pull off this drill,
all you need is the rake, that is lying next
to the sand trap, and a sand wedge.
The rattle portion of the drill is what
happens when making a poor swing with
the rake in front of you. Poor technique
will have you on a collision course with the
rake.
The roll, is what happens when done
correctly as the ball will land on the green
like ‘a butterfly with sore feet’ and gently
roll up close to the hole.
In the four sequences of photos present-
ed here, I’ll act as your guide to demon-
strate the technique that will help you
become the new ‘Sultan of Sand.’
Notice the top left photo where I have
firmly planted the rake in the sand. Extend
your left arm (for right handed golfers)
outward, whereby it would easily miss the
rake when making your follow-through. I
Think in terms of a clock face when setting
up to the ball with the rake in front. The
rake would be similar to a 12 0’clock posi-
tion on your follow-through, and when
making the backswing with your club to
hip level high that would represent 6 o’
clock.
I’ve see too many golfers take the club
too abruptly outside (too steep) of the
intended target line on the backswing and
then cut across the ball from an outside- in but after a while that anxiety will dissipate. tool, it’s not there to humiliate you. tive. Also, this type of move creates a lot of
angle on the downswing. Don’t get me In the long run the benefits will far out- As you can see in the bottom left photo, backspin on the golf ball.
wrong; this move can get the ball out of the weigh any temporary psychological dis- I’m at the critical moment of impact. My The big payoff is the bottom right photo.
bunker in most cases, but you can’t control comfort you experience. legs are more flexed at impact (which I’ve Checkout where the shaft is well after
the distance and the amount of roll once In the beginning you may hit the rake a drawn an arrow around) and my right impact. I’ve easily missed the rake and
the ball has left the clubface. That type of few times on the downswing which is to be shoulder is working down and through the fully extended my arms which translates
action requires a lot of practice and timing expected. You’ve made your old swing so sand which is the ideal position to be in (as into releasing his club head perfectly. I’ve
to pull off which is something that the many times it has become ingrained in the opposed to swing around and across your drawn a circle around the clubface to high-
average golfer doesn’t have. So my game way that you’ve played in the past. You body). I’ve drawn a straight line to high- light that the toe of the club is facing
plan for you is to simplify and maximize will be surprised, after a little practice light where the shoulders are square at upwards towards the sky which is the tell-
your time practicing wisely and efficiently. doing this drill, how quickly the rake will impact, but the left hip has easily cleared tale sign of a well-executed shot.
The top right photo is me at the top of blend into the background and will soon out of the way. Your days of fear and loathing from
my backswing. For this article, I’m dealing forget about it altogether. My right shoulder working under is greenside bunkers will end after you spend
with bunkers surrounding the green. A If you start getting too steep on the similar to a boxer making an uppercut some time with your new best friend Mr.
major difference on shorter bunker shots downswing, and use the upper body (shoul- punch. This motion triggers the legs to stay Rake. Utilizing the ‘rake drill’ will pay off
around the green is opening up the club- ders) too much, you will be on a direct more flexed at impact and helps the golfer handsomely as you’ll be the one ultimately
face with a wider stance for added loft path to strike the rake. The reason is to remain down and through the shot well raking in the dough. You’re playing com-
compared to that of a fairway bunker shot. because the club head is traveling on your after impact to about hip level high. The panions will become rattled by your new
I must mention that when setting up downswing to a 11 o’ clock position move brings the club head back into the found abilities, and you’ll be able to roll
over the ball you’ll be conscious of the instead of the aforementioned 12 o’ clock ball at a shallower angle of attack, and over opponents on a regular basis.
rake in front of you which is only natural. position which would easily miss the rake. from that position you can really let go and Tom can be contacted at www.teetimewith-
This may play a little mind game initially, Remember, the rake is a useful practice fire through the shot instead of being tenta- tom.com
6 February 5, 2021 - February 11, 2021 | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 Issue 24 | www.sportspagedfw.com | follow us on twitter @sportspagdfw.com
GOLF PGA TOUR
Waste Management Phoenix Open
for a birdie on the final hole of regulation
to tie Finau -- who had a one-shot lead
entering Sunday after a sizzling 62 on
Saturday -- at 17 under before adding in
one more birdie on the first playoff hole. It
was Simpson’s seventh PGA TOUR title,
and first of two in 2020. Thomas, who shot
a Sunday 65 (the round of the day) finished
T3 alongside Bubba Watson and Nate
Lashley.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Television: Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
(Golf Channel/PGA TOUR Live).
Thursday-Friday, 2 p.m.-6 p.m. (Golf
Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 12 p.m.-2 p.m.
(Golf Channel), 2 p.m.-5 p.m.(NBC).
PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday, 10 a.m.-2p
Thursday-Friday, 8:15 a.m.-6 p.m.
(Featured Groups). Saturday-Sunday, 10
a.m.-2 p.m.(Featured Groups), 2 p.m.- 5 p
(Featured Holes)
Radio: Thursday-Friday, 1 p.m.-7 p.m. ET.
Saturday-Sunday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. ET (PGA
Webb Simpson wins in playoff at Waste Management
TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGA-
TOUR.com/liveaudio).
By Adam Stanley Cup points.
PGATOUR.COM Follow COURSE: TPC Scottsdale (Stadium),
7,261 yards, par 71 (yardage subject to
Two-time FedExCup champion Rory change). Due to COVID-19 safety proto-
McIlroy and defending champion Webb cols, one of the most well-attended events
Simpson lead a star-studded field seeking on the PGA TOUR will reduce its capacity
some valuable early-season FedExCup to just 5,000 fans per day. The Tom
points at TPC Scottsdale in this year’s Weiskopf and Jay Morrish design opened
Waste Management Phoenix Open. in 1986 and every Phoenix Open since
FIELD NOTES: McIlroy will tee it up in 1987 has been played at the par-71 layout
Phoenix for the first time in his career. It’s just northeast of downtown Phoenix.
part of a busy stretch for the two-time STORYLINES: Long-time participants at
FedExCup winner, who is in the midst of the Waste Management Phoenix Open will
playing nine events in 12 weeks… Fellow likely have to adjust to the lack of noise in
FedExCup winner Justin Thomas is look- 2021, especially around the par-3 16th hole
ing to improve on his T3 finish in Phoenix … One notable absentee for 2021 is three-
from 2020… Simpson is one of four time winner and one of Arizona’s most
PLAYERS champions in the field, along famous sons, Phil Mickelson. A fourth vic-
with McIlroy, Si Woo Kim (who recently tory would make Mickelson the winningest
won The American Express) and former champion in the tournament’s history…
WMPO champion Rickie Fowler....Arizona Simpson looks to defend a TOUR title for
State alum Jon Rahm is looking to keep his the first time in his career....Brooks Koepka
stretch of solid play going. Rahm has looks to break his streak of three straight
notched three straight top-10 finishes on missed cuts on the PGA TOUR… Can
TOUR and was T2 heading into the week- Tony Finau capture his second TOUR vic-
end at the Farmers Insurance Open… A tory? Finau shared the 54-hole lead at The
trio of promising young players received American Express earlier this month and
sponsor exemptions. Zalatoris, who has lost in a playoff last year at TPC
already earned special temporary member- Scottsdale.
ship on the PGA TOUR, has three top-10s 72-HOLE RECORD: 256, Mark
this season, including a T6 at the U.S. Calcavecchia (2001), Phil Mickelson (2013)
Open. He also leads the Korn Ferry Tour’s 18-HOLE RECORD: 60, Grant Waite
Regular Season Points List. Davis Riley is (4th round, 1996), Mark Calcavecchia (2nd
No. 3 in the KFT’s rankings after winning round, 2001), Phil Mickelson (2nd round,
twice in 2020. John Augenstein, the 2019 2005, and 1st round, 2013).
U.S. Amateur runner-up, will be making LAST TIME: Despite a bogey on the par-
his second pro start after missing the cut at 5 15th, Simpson made two birdies in a row
The American Express. on the 71st and 72nd to slide into a playoff
FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 FedEx with Finau. Simpson rolled in a 17-footer
Follow us on twitter @sportspagedfw | www.sportspagedfw.com | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 - Issue 24 | February 5, 2021 - February 11, 2021 7
GOLF PGA TOUR
Dissecting the PGA TOUR’s nuttiest ace
well past me by the time I jumped. Given its once-in-a-lifetime improbabil-
It all happened quickly. Byrum was siz- ity, the albatross has had a lasting impact.
ing up a putt from 8 feet when someone A plaque memorializing Magee’s miracle
else’s ball rolled onto the green, struck his sits on 17, and he is asked about it routine-
putter head, hit the flagstick, and disap- ly.
peared. Pate: He shouldn't have hit because the
Magee: From the tee, the middle bunker hole was playing really short, but what
kind of hides the front of the green, so I happened was so unusual, it was kind of
couldn't see the ball, but my dad was up cool to be a part of.
there to the right of the green, and he was Magee: I saw Steve and Gary Nicklaus
raising his arms. after the round, and they congratulated me.
Pate: The ball went past me. Tom Byrum They weren't hurt at all. Maybe they felt
was kneeling down reading a putt and the like they might have been part of the histo-
putter head was resting on the ground, and ry, too, since their names are also associat-
it deflected off of that and it went in. ed with the only hole?in?one on a par 4.
Smith: We all kind looked at one another Jason Kokrak aced the 409-yard, par-4
like, Did that do what we think it did? fifth hole at the Seaside Course during the
Magee: My father was jumping up and 2013 RSM Classic pro-am, but it didn’t
down, raising his arms, but I was still count for history since it wasn’t an official
numb to the fact that my ball had gone in round.
the hole. I thought maybe I had hit some- Pate: I am surprised there hasn’t been
Magee’s hole in one shot had no equal and it still doesn’t body on the green. another one, especially with the trend in
Pate: I got startled. Walking across the the last few years to make more par-4 holes
front of the green, I'm not expecting a ball drivable. And guys are already hitting it
By Ben Everill, Cameron Morfit knew I couldn't really get it up on to the to come whizzing by my feet with some farther.
PGATOUR.COM green all the way, maybe the front of the speed. It took a few seconds to process Smith: To think that that's the only hole-
green from 332 yards, and I was talking to what had happened. in-one on a par 4 on TOUR is pretty
This week’s Waste Management Jonathan Kaye. He said, ‘You'd better wait
Phoenix Open marks the 20-year anniver- a little bit. We're a little downwind here.’ I
sary of the only hole-in-one on a par 4 in said, ‘You know what, I don't really hit it
PGA TOUR history. It happened in the up on that green. I've played here a lot. I'd
first round in 2001 and was just how maybe drive it up to the front.’
Andrew Magee drew it up, his tee ball at Jerry Smith: Andrew and Jonathan,
the 332-yard 17th trundling onto the green, they're both very quick players and they're
bonking off of Tom Byrum’s putter in the antsy, and we're just sitting there waiting
group ahead, and diving into the hole. for the group ahead. Andrew is just like,
Confusion ensued. On the tee they he's just ready to hit.
couldn’t be sure what had happened, on the Magee: I was still mad about the 15th
green they didn’t know who had hit the hole. I said, I'm just going to go ahead and
ball. And what would the Rules of Golf hit it. It's not going to roll up to them. It's
say? Even the joke that went around later, going to go to the front edge.
that it was the only thing Byrum had made Magee reared back and gave it every-
all day, was somewhat murky. Steve Pate thing he had as he came through the hitting
attributed the quip to Byrum; Magee to area. Few would remember that Mark
Byrum’s caddie. Calcavecchia won the tournament by eight
Magee, who was born in Paris, where shots over Rocco Mediate, or that Magee
his father worked in the oil business, was would finish T44. They would only Smith: Then the Rules official came up. remarkable; even the majors and stuff, they
by then a Scottsdale resident and playing in remember what happened next. Magee: I really didn't know until I got 100 love setting up par 4s that the guys can
a group that also included Jonathan Kaye Magee: A little puff of wind came up as I yards from the green. The crowd is still drive.
and Jerry Smith. Up ahead of them was the took it back, and I just killed this driver. I cheering and clapping and my dad is rais- Magee: Robert Garrigus almost made a
threesome of Byrum, Pate and Gary just killed it. It flew the middle bunker, ing his arms and the TOUR official is driv- one on the same hole I did, but it hit the
Nicklaus. down the middle of the fairway about 30 ing the cart kind of alongside with me, and pin and bounced out. Dustin Johnson came
There is video of the shot – sort of. It yards short of the green and it ricocheted he goes, ‘Yep, it counts.’ I said, ‘Even if I up inches short at Kapalua. Every time
shows only a ball zooming by and Pate really hard off the back of that bunker and hit somebody? It’s not a penalty?’ He goes, there's a close one I get texts from my
flinching. it bounced up on to the green and all I ‘No, if you hit your own equipment it is, friends saying I survived another day. If
Here’s how it all went down, straight knew was – I was on the tee, I really but this is a 1. It's recorded.’ you Google me, it's the first thing that
from those who were there. couldn't see what was going on. Pate: I'm thinking, S---, he just made a 1. comes up. It doesn't say I won four times
Magee had double-bogeyed the par-5 Steve Pate: It was playing short. I think Not something you see every day. on TOUR and played 600 tournaments.
15th hole, but after making a long birdie the only reason Andrew – he'd made a Magee: They left my ball in the hole for I talk about it all the time; people ask
putt at the 16th, he had the honor on 17, double the hole before or a couple holes me to pick it out, and I raised it to the me how it went down. I go out to TPC, and
where TOUR pros have little difficulty before and was just not very patient. I was crowd, my dad cheering, just going crazy. all my friends that play out there, they take
driving the green. walking across the front of the green read- Only later in the clubhouse, after I finished a picture of the plaque and send it to me.
Andrew Magee: I'm standing there 332 ing my putt and a ball came zipping by me. my round, did I learn that it's the only I'm delighted by all of it. I am astonished
yards away on the 17th tee, having played I thought I jumped out of the way, but hole-in-one on a par 4 in the history of the it's lasted 20 years; hopefully we can last
there quite often at the TPC of Scottsdale. I when I saw the video later, the ball was TOUR. 20 more.
8 February 5, 2021 - February 11, 2021 | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 Issue 24 | www.sportspagedfw.com | follow us on twitter @sportspagdfw.com
NFL SUPER BOWL LV
Super Bowl LV commercials 2021
Year Price of 30-second commercial 1994 $900,000
1967 $37,500/$42,500 (MN) 1995 $1,150,000
1968 $54,500 1996 $1,085,000
1969 $55,000 1997 $1,200,000
1970 $78,200 1998 $1,291,100
1971 $72,500 1999 $1,600,000
1972 $86,100 2000 $2,100,000
1973 $88,100 2001 $2,200,000
1974 $103,500 2002 $2,200,000
1975 $107,000 2003 $2,200,000
1976 $110,000 2004 $2,302,200
1977 $125,000 2005 $2,400,000
1978 $162,300 2006 $2,500,000
1979 $185,000 2007 $2,385,365
1980 $222,000 2008 $2,699,963
1981 $275,000 2009 $2,999,960
1982 $324,300 2010 $2,954,010
1983 $400,000 2011 $3,100,000
1984 $368,200 2012 $3,500,000
1985 $525,000 2013 $3,800,000
1986 $550,000 2014 $4,000,000
1987 $600,000 2015 $4,250,000
1988 $645,500 2016 $4,500,000
1989 $675,500 2017 $5,000,000
How much does an ad cost for Super Unlike last year, though, when Fox sold 1990 $700,400 2018 $5,200,000
Bowl 55? out of its ad slots in November, CBS didn't 1991 $800,000 2019 $5,300,000
sell out until late January, and they weren't 1992 $850,000 2020 $5,600,000
By Billy Heyen all going for that opening bidding price. 1993 $850,000 2021 $5,500,000
There's no time to go to the bathroom According to AdWeek, Scotts Miracle-Gro
during the Super Bowl. It's the NFL's purchased an ad slot in mid-January for a
championship game, but then the commer- slightly discounted $5.5 million.
cials are also a top viewing priority. And To be included as an advertiser in CBS'
then you've got the halftime show musical live stream of the Super Bowl, companies
performance by The Weeknd. Buckle up. had to pay an additional $300,000, accord-
Since more than 100 million people in ing to AdWeek.
the United States tune into the Super Bowl How much was a Super Bowl commer-
via either traditional television or stream- cial in 2020?
ing services, commercials are in high A 30-second commercial for Super
demand. Companies know there's no better Bowl 54 in 2020 cost about $5.6 million,
time to reach a large audience than during which is slightly more than the last-month
the Super Bowl, and so they pay big money going rate of commercials in 2021.
for them. With a combined TV and digital audi-
There's an expectation that for the 2021 ence of more than 100 million viewers in
Super Bowl, advertisements will take on a the United States, it's the highest-profile
generally lighter tone than in some years. advertising space out there.
Some will surely try to tackle the struggles How long are Super Bowl commercials?
of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that's been Most commercials during the Super
everyone's day-to-day lives for almost a Bowl will be 30 seconds long, just as those
year now. According to the Wall Street on every other day of the year. But there's
Journal, advertisers will be embracing variation of course, if companies didn't
humor. want to foot the whole bill and wanted to
Regardless of what tact a company slip in a 15-second advertisement. If any
takes in its commercial, it still cost them a company is going for heavy emotion, they
seven-figure payment to get onto your tele- may pony up big money for a 45- or 60-
vision screen. Here's everything you need second spot.
to know about Super Bowl 55 commer- How many commercials are in a Super
cials, including their cost, length and just Bowl?
how much Super Bowl advertisement The total commercials in a Super Bowl
prices have risen over time. fluctuates year-to-year, but it usually ends
How much do Super Bowl commercials up somewhere in a range between 40 and
cost in 2021? 50 commercials.
CBS opened the bidding for 30-second First Super Bowl commercial cost
commercial spots for Super Bowl 55 at The cost of a commercial at the first
$5.6 million, which was the average cost of Super Bowl was $37,500, according to
the same length advertisement for last SuperBowl-ads.com.
year's game. Super Bowl commercial price history
Follow us on twitter @sportspagedfw | www.sportspagedfw.com | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 - Issue 24 | February 5, 2021 - February 11, 2021 9
NFL SUPER BOWL LV
Super Bowl 2021 picks and predictions
have made a lot plays against the pass in
the playoffs after an up-and-down regular
season (No. 21, 246.6 yards per game
allowed, 7.0 yards per attempt allowed).
The concern for the Chiefs will be the
Buccaneers' star edge pass-rushers, Shaquil
Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul, who com-
bined for five sacks of Aaron Rodgers in
the NFC championship game. Left tackle
Eric Fisher (Achilles) is unlikely to play
after being hurt late against the Bills, a
callback to the Packers not having left
tackle David Bakhtiari to slow the Bucs'
pressure. There's also little chance the
Chiefs will activate right tackle Mitchell
Schwartz (back) off injured reserve.
The Chiefs scheme to keep Mahomes
clean, and he helps out big-time by getting
the ball out quickly or throwing on the
move with bought time. Barrett and JPP
each had a sack in the regular-season meet-
ing with Schwartz out, so KC not having
Fisher, too, will be a welcome boost for
Tampa Bay.
But those injuries will be balanced out
Super Bowl 2021 picks, predictions season (16th in the NFL, 112.4 yards per the hard-running 1-2 punch of Leonard by the Buccaneers' injury concerns at safe-
against spread: Why Chiefs will edge game, 4.5 yards per attempt). The Fournette and Ronald Jones provides. They ty and how, like the Bills in the AFC cham-
Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55 Buccaneers were dominant in run defense often don't stick with it, however, and get pionship game, they had no answers for
(No. 1 in the NFL, 80.6 yards per game locked into the downfield passing game wide receiver Tyreek Hill (13 catches, 269
Super Bowl LV allowed, 3.6 yards per attempt allowed) with Brady, leading to the limited results. yards, three TDs) or tight end Travis Kelce
Kansas City (14-2) vs Tampa Bay (14-5) and now have nose tackle Vita Vea back Forced to follow a negative game script (eight catches, 82 yards) in Week 12.
February 7, 2021 healthy to help Ndamukong Suh up front. against the Chiefs in Week 12, they ran Davis, Murphy-Bunting and slot corner-
Raymond James Stadium The Chiefs rushed 20 times for 87 yards only 13 times. The number of attempts back Jamel Dean all can be burned badly
Tampa, Florida in the first meeting, with Mahomes getting increased to 24 in the NFC championship one-on-one. Devin White and Lavonte
Line: Chiefs -3 / 56.5 28 of those. They were solid against the game, but after a big playoff rushing per- David are good cover linebackers with
Browns in the playoffs (24 for 123) and formance against the Saints, every yard range, but Mahomes will find the right
By Sean Leahy less so against the Bills (25 for 114), but against the Packers was a grind, and their matchups in the middle of the field as the
The Chiefs will attempt to become the they relied less on high volume and more 76 total yards were inflated by Fournette's Chiefs' speed and quickness cause the
NFL's first repeat champion in 16 years on chunk/gadget runs. Rookie Clyde 20-yard scoring burst. Buccaneers problems. Spreading the field
when they travel to Florida to face the Edwards-Helaire returned for the AFC The Chiefs are weak against the run will ensure Mahomes finds an open man
Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55. Tampa Bay championship game while Le'Veon Bell (No. 21, 122.1 yards per game allowed, quickly and won't be caught holding the
will be the first NFL team to play a Super was shelved. Darrel Williams, a tough run- 4.5 yards per carry allowed), but it's unlike- ball for Barrett or JPP to rattle him.
Bowl in its home stadium, but Kansas City ner who knows the system, is a reliable ly the Bucs will force a ball-control When defensive coordinator Todd
(-3.5, 56.5) remains the betting favorite, pass protector and good pass-catcher. He scheme; instead, expect them to trust Brady Bowles was able to get pressure without
like it has been for a calendar year since will work with Edwards-Helaire to provide and their own strengths in the passing blitzing against Green Bay, it was a night-
winning Super Bowl 54. balance, but neither will be as big of a game to keep up with Mahomes. The mare for Rodgers. Bowles can't afford to
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs won in factor as Damien Williams was in Super Chiefs contained the Browns and shut send extra rushers after Mahomes and risk
Tampa in Week 12, 27-24. Tom Brady and Bowl 54. down the Bills, save for Josh Allen scram- Hill streaking free everywhere again. At
the Buccaneers made that game look closer The Chiefs won't waste time "establish- bling, which Brady won't be doing. The the same time, the Buccaneers don't want
than it was with 14 fourth-quarter points ing the run" and forcing something that Bucs will try to get Fournette or Jones to sit back in zone and let Mahomes pick
after going down 27-10. Can Mahomes isn't there, but they need to keep the Bucs' going as an additional big-play element, them apart for long drives. Like the Bills
outduel Brady again, and for the first time pass rush honest for when Mahomes drops but they won't bread their butter there. and Leslie Frazier, the Bucs will be stuck
in the playoffs, to get his second consecu- back, which he did 51 times in Week 12. Advantage: Chiefs. picking their poison, unable to produce the
tive ring and match Brady's repeat in He had 39 dropbacks against the Bills. same pressure-coverage harmony they had
Super Bowl 39? Kansas City is comfortable winning Chiefs' passing game vs. Buccaneers' against the Packers.
Kansas City and Tampa Bay have through the air and being nearly one- pass defense Advantage: Chiefs.
proved they have great supporting casts dimensional with Mahomes. The Chiefs were the most prolific pass-
around their quarterbacks; that's the reason Advantage: Buccaneers. ing team in the NFL (No. 1, 303.4 yards Buccaneers' passing game vs. Chiefs'
these teams have gotten through a chal- per game, 7.9 yards per attempt), which is pass defense
lenging NFL season and playoffs to reach Buccaneers' running game vs. Chiefs' no surprise given how much coach Andy The Buccaneers were right behind the
this point. Here's a breakdown of what run defense Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Chiefs with Brady at the helm for coach
should be an epic Super Bowl 55, beyond The Buccaneers (No. 28, 94.9 rushing Bieniemy love putting games in Mahomes' Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator
the marquee QB matchup: yards per game, 4.1 yards per carry) have hands. The Buccaneers have a good young Byron Leftwich (No. 2, 289.1 yards per
The Chiefs were middle of the pack the potential to run the ball well because of secondary led by cornerbacks Carlton game, 7.6 yards per attempt). This is a
with their rushing attack during the regular their good interior line and the juice that Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting. They strength-on-strength matchup, so the
10 February 5, 2021 - February 11, 2021 | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 Issue 24 | www.sportspagedfw.com | follow us on twitter @sportspagdfw.comChiefs (No. 14, 236.2 yards per game The Chiefs have similar wild cards in
allowed, 7.1 yards per attempt allowed)
will be OK with the Bucs throwing more
wide receivers Mecole Hardman, Byron
Pringle and Demarcus Robinson with
SB 55 rosters by college
and running less. Sammy Watkins (calf) possibly missing LSU leads all schools with most players on Oregon State 1
Brady threw two interceptions in the another game. Mahomes, with two weeks Chiefs, Buccaneers Penn 1
first meeting but also threw for 345 yards to rest, will be better-positioned to affect South Carolina State 1
and three touchdowns and averaged 8.4 the game by running in key situations. By Bill Bender Southern Arkansas 1
yards per attempt. That was not enough to Kansas City has proved it has depth in its The Super Bowl 55 matchup between the Southern Miss 1
match Mahomes' 462 yards, three TDs and defensive line rotation and secondary. Chiefs and Buccaneers will be a showcase Texas 1
9.4 yards per attempt, however. The Chiefs Advantage: Chiefs. for LSU. Texas Tech 1
set the tone with an inside-outside pass- The Tigers have the most former players Troy 1
rush by tackle Chris Jones and end Frank Special teams in the game with six – including Kansas USC 1
Clark from the front four. Defensive coor- The Buccaneers got some good returns City's Tyrann Mathieu, Clyde-Edwards Utah State 1
Helaire and Darrel Williams and Tampa Vanderbilt 1
dinator Steve Spagnuolo has picked his from Jaydon Mickens against the Packers.
Bay's Leonard Fournette, Devin White and Villanova 1
spots well to blitz from the back seven. Former Chiefs "Mr. Irrelevant" Ryan
Kevin Minter. A total of 10 schools have Virginia 1
Nickel back La'Jarius Sneed has been a Succop has been reliable kicking field
three or more players in the game. Wagner 1
consistent force in the playoffs. goals inside 50 yards. Bradley Pinion is a Surprisingly, Alabama and Ohio State – Washington State 1
Brady has seen everything and it's hard solid punter. The Chiefs are dangerous schools that could almost form their own West Alabama 1
to fool him, although Spagnuolo did have with Hardman and Pringle. Harrison NFL teams – have no players in this year's Western Illinois 1
his number in the Giants' massive upset of Butker gives them a booming leg on field game. Kentucky 1
the Patriots in Super Bowl 41. Brady had goals. Tommy Townsend doesn't punt Here's a breakdown of the Chiefs and Chiefs roster by college
plenty of time to throw against the Packers, enough to be a factor. Buccaneers' rosters by college. - LSU has three players on the roster
taking only one early sack, and the Chiefs Advantage: Chiefs. SCHOOL TOTAL - Patrick Mahomes is the lone Texas Tech
dumped him only one once in Week 12. LSU 6 player on either roster.
Chiefs, like most teams, don't have the Coaching Clemson 4 - Clemson has three players on the roster,
cornerbacks to handle Buccaneers wide Arians has won a Super Bowl as an Iowa 4 with Bashaud Breeland, Sammy Watkins and
receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin offensive coordinator for the Steelers, but Michigan 4 Dorian O'Daniel. Michigan's Frank Clark,
from outside to slot. Tight end Rob this is his first time in the game as a head Minnesota 3 Chad Henne and Mike Danna are on the
Gronkowski also got in on the big-play coach. Reid has been on fire with his Mississippi State 3 team, and Mississippi State also has three
fun in Week 12 as he led the team in scheming, decision-making and motivation Nebraska 3 players in Willie Gay, Chris Jones and
receiving. Brady spread the ball around to since getting his first ring in Super Bowl Penn State 3 Martinas Rankin.
seven targets as Jones and Fournette were 54, learning from his previous playoff mis- South Carolina 3 - Kansas City has 14 players from SEC
also factors. takes. He is a much better coach than the Texas A&M 3 schools on its roster.
Like the Buccaneers, the Chiefs are one who lost to Brady's Patriots in Super Auburn 2 - Mathieu finished fifth in the Heisman
C-State-Pueblo 2 Trophy voting in 2011.
shaky when its comes to covering tight Bowl 39. Reid, Bieniemy, Spagnuolo and
Central Michigan 2 Buccaneers roster by college
ends. The middle of the field with the rest of the Chiefs' staff know from
Florida 2 - LSU has three players on the roster
Godwin, Gronkowski and Cameron Brate recent experience what it takes to win on
James Madison 2 - Tom Brady is the lone player from
will remain open for business while the this stage. Arians, Leftwich and Bowles Michigan State 2 Michigan on the Buccaneers roster.
Chiefs try to contain the deep shots to can't match that. MTSU 2 - Nebraska has three players on Tampa
Evans and others. Brady has done well in Advantage: Chiefs. Pitt 2 Bay's roster in Lavonte Davis, Ndamukong
mixing the short and intermediate throws South Florida 2 Suh and Khalil Davis.
he loves with Arians' "no risk-it, no bis- Intangibles Tulane 2 - Tampa Bay has 11 players from the SEC
cuit" aggressiveness. Like Mahomes, the Mahomes, 25, wants to nail down that Connecticut 2 and 10 players from the Big Ten on roster.
arm strength to muster the ball downfield second ring right away to continue on a Washington 2 The Buccaneers have multiple players from
when available isn't an issue. possible trajectory to matching Brady's six Missouri 2 four different Big Ten schools on the team.
Brady has gotten into trouble when Super Bowl wins by the time he's done. Appalachian State 1 - Suh finished fourth in the Heisman
missing safety or conerback help on what Brady, 43, wants to add his seventh ring in Arizona 1 Trophy voting in 2009. Fournette finished
look like one-on-ones downfield. Tyrann 10 Super Bowl trips to further distance Arkansas 1 sixth in the Heisman voting in 2015.
Mathieu and Bashaud Breeland got him in himself as the GOAT and win without the Assumption 1 Super Bowl roster oddities
the first game, much like the Packers' Patriots. The Buccaneers will be helped by Bowling Green 1 — We mentioned Ohio State and Alabama
combination of Adrian Amos and Jaire going through the week as normally as BYU 1 not having a player in the Super Bowl.
Alexander did. Brady needs to be more possible in Tampa, preparing for a home Cincinnati 1 That’s a rarity for the big game, as one Ohio
careful because he won't get away with game with everything at stake.Brady might CMU 1 University was able to point out knowing
multiple picks again. be the ultimate Super Bowl expert, but it’s Colorado State 1 safety Javon Hagan will play in the game.
Advantage: Buccaneers. still new to most of his team while almost Duke 1 - Colorado State-Pueblo, a Division II pro-
Eastern Michigan 1 gram, has a player on both teams. Kansas
all the Chiefs just experienced it last year.
Florida State 1 City’s Mike Pennel and Tampa Bay’s Ryan
X-factors Advantage: Chiefs.
Georgia 1 Jensen will represent the ThunderWolves in
The Bucs' injuries mounted during the
Georgia Tech 1 Super Bowl 55.
playoffs. Wide receiver Antonio Brown Super Bowl 55 prediction Grand Valley State 1 - More proof players can come from any-
and rookie safety Antoine Winfield Jr., two The Chiefs and Buccaneers should Harvard 1 where. Eight players in Super Bowl 55
key playmakers, didn't go against the each put up more points than they did in Hawaii 1 played in the FCS, including two from
Packers and their status for the Super Week 12; Mahomes and Brady are locked Hobart 1 James Madison in Aaron Stinnie and Josh
Bowl is unknown. Should Brown miss into high level of execution. Brady has Illinois 1 Wells. Seven played in Division II and one
another game, that would open the door been terrific in getting the Bucs to this Kansas State 1 played in Division III.
for wide receivers Scotty Miller and Tyler point in his first season with them, but the Louisiana Tech 1 - The SEC still leads all conferences with
Johnson, another rookie, to make critical Chiefs are different beasts from what they Missouri S&T 1 25 players in the Super Bowl. The Big Ten
plays, Gronkowski has been quiet as a conquered in the NFC. Brady doesn't get N.C. State 1 ranks second with 20, followed by the ACC
receiver in the playoffs as he been used as much as help as Mahomes does overall. NC-Central 1 (11), Pac-12 (5) and Big 12 (4).
more to block, but the Buccaneers can Going against Brady in a tight game deep North Dakota State 1 - Iowa has four players between the two
unleash him at any time. Tampa Bay's in the fourth quarter isn't smart, unless Ohio 1 teams. Anthony Hitchens and Ben Niemann
ancillary receivers and cover men must Mahomes is on the other side. Oklahoma 1 play for the Chiefs, and Anthony Nelson and
contribute. Chiefs 31, Buccaneers 27 Old Dominion 1 Tristan Wirfs play for the Buccaneers.
Follow us on twitter @sportspagedfw | www.sportspagedfw.com | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 - Issue 24 | February 5, 2021 - February 11, 2021 11Future Super Bowl host locations hotels and parking in Glendale are expect-
ed to be in place by 2023.
When it opened in 2006, State Farm
Stadium featured the first retractable natu-
ral grass playing surface in North America
and the first completely retractable roof
operating at an incline.
Its seating capacity is expandable to
73,000.
Super Bowl 2024: New Orleans,
Louisiana
Some are of the opinion that the Super
Bowl should be held in New Orleans every
year. After all, there's a reason what's now
called the Mercedes-Benz Superdome is
hosting the big game for an eighth time,
more than any other venue.
The city is hosting the game for the
11th time; three of New Orleans' Super
Bowls were played at Tulane Stadium.
The Superdome opened in 1975 and
hosted its first Super Bowl in 1978, when
the Cowboys beat the Broncos in Super
Bowl 12. It last hosted a Super Bowl in
2013, when many of the stadium's lights
infamously failed during the third quarter
The Superdome is hosting the Supeer Bowl for the 11th time in 2024
of the Ravens' win over the 49ers.
The Superdome remains one of the
most iconic venues not only in the NFL,
Host cities, stadiums for Super Bowl 2020 expand to seat 75,000 hosted its first NFL In addition to the Super Bowl in 2022, but in all of sports.
and beyond game in 1998. And, of course, like Hard the stadium is scheduled to host the open-
Future Super Bowl locations
Rock Stadium in South Florida, it, too, ing and closing ceremonies of the 2028
By Tadd Haislop recently went through a renovation project. Summer Olympics.
2021 - Super Bowl 55
When the NFL considers sites for Raymond James Stadium now boasts Super Bowl 2023: Glendale/Phoenix,
Tampa, Florida
future Super Bowl locations, many require- what its website calls the most advanced Arizona
Raymond James Stadium
ments must be met by potential cities, their HD video system in use today. With two For the fourth time, Arizona will host a
venues and their accommodations. Stadium 9,600-square-foot boards (north and south Super Bowl when the big game returns to
2022 - Super Bowl 56
quality is among the priorities, which is ends of the stadium) and four 2,300- the desert in 2023 for Super Bowl 57. It
Los Angeles, California
why several of the next five Super Bowls square-foot HD tower walls, it ranks as the will be the third time State Farm Stadium
Los Angeles Stadium
will be played in new or recently renovated third-largest video board system in the NFL has hosted the Super Bowl (2008 and
stadiums. The new sound system has 400-plus 2015), with Sun Devil Stadium having
2023 - Super Bowl 57
That’s why Minnesota was awarded speakers throughout the stadium, providing hosted the game in 1996.
Glendale, Arizona
Super Bowl 52 back in 2018, after all; 750,000 watts of power. Per AZCentral.com, the cities of
State Farm Stadium
same for Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta, Super Super Bowl 2022: Los Angeles, Phoenix and Glendale touted upgrades
Bowl 54 in Miami and Super Bowl 56 in California near the stadium and throughout the area in
2024 - Super Bowl 58
LA. Weather is also a factor when the NFL rules require a stadium to have their pitch to land another Super Bowl. A
New Orleans, Louisiana
NFL considers future Super Bowl loca- been open two full seasons before it can renovated airport in Phoenix and additional
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
tions. host a Super Bowl, so a change needed to
Here are the sites the NFL has pinned as be made when construction delays meant
future Super Bowl locations. the Rams and Chargers wouldn't be able to
Super Bowl 2021: Tampa, Florida play in their new stadium until 2020.
This wasn't the original plan. NFL Rather than Super Bowl 55 in 2021 as
owners last May voted to move Super originally planned, the big game will return
Bowl 55, which had been scheduled to be to LA for Super Bowl 56 in 2022. It will
played in Los Angeles, to Tampa. The shift mark the eighth time the LA area has host-
came as a result of weather-related con- ed the Super Bowl, with the LA Memorial
struction delays at the new LA stadium Coliseum having hosted two Super Bowls
site, which will instead host Super Bowl 56 and the Rose Bowl having hosted five.
in 2022. (More on that later.) The venue, currently being built in
Tampa was an easy choice to fill the Inglewood, is expected to be a masterpiece,
Super Bowl 2021 location void thanks to in part because it will be more than a stadi-
its success as a host in the past. The city um, as its name — LA Stadium and
has hosted the Super Bowl four times, two Entertainment District at Hollywood Park
in old Tampa Stadium and two in Raymond — suggests.
James Stadium, the home of the NFL’s The open-air stadium will seat 70,000
Buccaneers. people with the ability to expand to seat up
The 65,000-seat stadium that can to 100,000.
12 February 5, 2021 - February 11, 2021 | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 Issue 24 | www.sportspagedfw.com | follow us on twitter @sportspagdfw.comCOLLEGES WITH BO CARTER
College Football News and Notes
regular season began in winter or spring. A Hall of Famers are Feb. 2 (1956) Truxton
recent NFF story also highlighted more Hare, Radnor, Pa.; Feb. 3 (1974) Bob
than 310 schools and 35 conferences play- Suffridge, Knoxville, Tenn.; (2006) Johnny
ing college football this spring at the Vaught, Oxford, Miss.; (2018) Jim
Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Stillwagon, Columbus, Ohio; Feb. 4 (1962)
Division II, Division III and NAIA levels. Pat O’Dea, San Francisco, Calif.; (2010)
FBS independent New Mexico State will Bill Dudley, Lynchburg, Va.; Feb. 5 (1969)
also play games this spring. For the entire Dick Romney, Salt Lake City, Utah; (1994)
report, please access https://footballfounda- George Sauer, Waco, Texas; Feb. 8 (1994)
tion.org/news/2021/1/28/historic-spring- Bobby Reynolds (Stanford), San Rafael,
college-football-season-set-to-begin.aspx. Calif.; (2000) Derrick Thomas, Kansas
The 163rd season of intercollegiate City, Mo.; (2005) Parker Hall, Vicksburg,
baseball started in full force last weekend Miss.; (2016) Willie Richardson, Jackson,
as East Texas Baptist, Texas Wesleyan, Mississippi.
Arlington Baptist and several other NAIA Happy birthdays to NFF College Hall
schools opened their campaigns. The first of Fame members Feb. 3 Joe Fusco (a spry
college baseball game was in 1859 between 83), Fran Tarkenton (a spry 81), Bob
Amherst and Williams in Pittsfield, Mass., Griese (a spry 75), John Jefferson, Feb. 4
with Amherst winning in a pitchers’ duel Tom Deery, Feb. 5 Roger Staubach (a spry
73-32. Taylor (Ind.) and Park (Ariz.) actu- 79), Craig Morton (a spry 78), Ron Sellers,
ally opened the ’21 intercollegiate cam- Terry Beasley, Charles Young, Feb. 6 Major
paign with a three-game set Jan. 22-24. Harris, Dennis Onkotz, Rich Glover, Feb. 7
Nick Saban won his seventh national championship - the most in major college football history
The NFF College Hall of Fame will be Neal Lomax, Feb. 8 George Bork (a spry
featuring dozens of exhibits and special 79)…
named after former Southern Conference seminars in honor of Black History Month The Colorado-Texas A&M contest on
commissioner (1998-2001), NCAA admin- in February and how Black student-ath- Sept. 11 has been moved to Empower Field
istrator, Texas Tech publicist, and current letes, coaches and administrators have had at Mile High Stadium in Denver…North
College Football Playoff administrator positive effects on college football since Texas’ 2021 fall slate includes non-confer-
Alfred White, who is the first and only the first intercollegiate game between ence opponents Northwestern State, SMU,
Black commissioner of the league and the Princeton and Rutgers in 1869. Liberty, and Missouri along with eight
first African American named to lead a NFF College Hall of Fame Facts Conference USA contests, six Apogee
conference not composed primarily or Some notable birthdates in NFF Stadium encounters and six road matchups
exclusively of historically Black colleges. College Hall of Fame annals in the Feb 2-8 …Charlotte’s 2021 non-C-USA slate
Oklahoma State remembered the plane time period are Feb. 2 (1945) Loyd includes Duke, Gardner-Webb, Georgia
crash of its basketball players, staff, media Phillips, Ft. Worth, Texas; Feb. 3 (1938) State, and Illinois…Rice opened spring
members, and pilots from Jan. 27, 2001, in Joe Fusco, Wilkinsburg, Pa.; (1940) Fran practice for its 120th season of football last
BO CARTER
the Colorado mountains on a return trip Tarkenton, Richmond, Va.; (1945) Bob Saturday in Houston… Central Connecticut
bcarter@footballfoundation.com
from an OSU game with Colorado during Griese, Evansville, Ind.; (1956) John State has opted out of the spring football
the 20-year anniversary of the event with Jefferson, Dallas, Texas; Feb. 4 (1933) Leo season due to local and national health and
Super Bowl LV update is six days away,
several memorials in and around the cam- Lewis, Des Moines, Iowa; (1940) Billy safety concerns. Northeastern men’s
and anticipation continues to build. Kansas
pus. Neighbors, Tuscaloosa, Ala.; (1960) Tom basketball student-athletes have been wear-
City is seeking to win back-to-back Super
The NFF also recognized the historic Deery, Oaklyn, N.J.; Feb. 5 (1903) Morley ing warmups with Equality on the front
Bowls for the first time since New England
moment that occurred when Alabama head Drury, Midland, Ontario, Canada; (1915) and a phrase of each player’s choice on the
after the 2003 and ’04 seasons. One inter-
coach Nick Saban won his seventh national Walter Gilbert, Fairfield, Ala.; (1933) Bill back…Noted U.S. young poet and presi-
ested observer of the world championship
championship - the most in major college Manlove, Barrington, N.J.; (1942) Roger dential inaugural favorite Amanda Dorman
is 2019 Chiefs starting offensive guard Dr.
football history – six at Alabama and one Staubach, Cincinnati, Ohio; (1943) Craig will read a poem prior to Super Bowl LV
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who returned to
with LSU after last month’s College Morton, Flint, Mich.; (1947) Ron Sellers, in Tampa, Florida ….Western Illinois’
his native Canada to help fight the COVID-
Football Playoff championship game victo- Jacksonville, Fla.; (1950) Terry Beasley, retired English bulldog mascot Col. Rock
19 pandemic and to staff key medical facil-
ry over Ohio State. The names of his teams Montgomery, Ala.; (1951) Charles Young, III ("Rocky") passed away Jan. 26 just
ities in Montreal. Exactly 35 years ago on
now appear on the fabled NFF MacArthur Fresno, Calif.; Feb. 6 (1886) Jack Hubbard, before he turned 11.
Jan. 30, 1986, the Chicago Bears won their
Bowl National Championship Trophy for a Hatfield, Mass.; (1889) Bill Alexander, Tennessee named former UCF head
first Super Bowl over the New England
record seven times. He passed former Mud River, Ky.; (1948) Major Harris, coach Josh Heupel as its new head coach..
Patriots. Both head coaches were members
Alabama head coach and NFF College Hall Pittsburgh, Pa.; (1948) Dennis Onkotz, …Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield
of the NFF College Hall of Fame – Mike
of Fame member Paul “Bear” Bryant who Northampton, Pa.; (1950) Rich Glover, had his name speculated for the previously
Ditka (Pittsburgh) of the Bears and
captured six national crowns. Bayonne, N.J.; Feb. 7 (1905) Wally Butts, vacant Tennessee head coach’s post
Raymond Berry (SMU) of the Patriots.
Wednesday marks the second NCAA Milledgeville, Ga.;(1917)Banks McFadden, …Former Tennessee head coach Jeremy
In its 100-year anniversary campaign,
National Division I-II Signing Day for Ft. Lawn, S.C.; (1922) Paul Cleary, North Pruitt is nearing and agreement to become
the Southern Conference Racial Equity and
football, volleyball and women’s soccer. Loop, Neb.; (1933) Calvin Jones, an assistant coach with the NFL New York
Justice Task Force has announced the So
This later signing period runs from Feb. 3- Steubenville, Ohio; (1934) Ron Beagle, Jets…Florida offensive coordinator Brian
Con Alfred White Trailblazer Recognition -
Aug. 1, for all fall incoming freshmen. Hartford, Conn.; (1959) Neal Lomax, Johnson has left to become the NFL
an initiative developed in conjunction with
Austin (Texas) College and Trinity Portland, Ore.; Feb. 8 (1920) Bruce Smith Philadelphia Eagles quarterback coach.
the conference’s anniversary to honor
(Texas) begin the 2021 college spring regu- (Minn.), Faribault, Minn.; (1925) Rod Gators analyst Garrick McGee will return
Black student-athletes, faculty and admin-
lation season in San Antonio, Texas, Franz, San Francisco, Calif.; (1942) to on-field duties as UF’s new quarterbacks
istrators who have paved the way and con-
Saturday afternoon – one of the first times George Bork, Mt. Prospect, Ill. coach…SMU has added former USF head
tributed to the success of those who came
in the 152 years of college football that the Notable anniversary death dates for (Continued on page 14)
after them in the league. The recognition is
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