Phyllis George remembered as broadcast pioneer; SEC to take important vote
Sunday links:
Two Kentucky icons pass away on Saturday
▪ Phyllis George has died at age 70. The former Miss America, Kentucky First Lady and sportscasting pioneer, passed away at UK Medical Center because of a blood disorder. Jack Brammer of the Herald-Leader has the details. Starting in 1975, CBS’ NFL Today with Brent Musburger, Irv Cross, Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder and George broke ground for all the pregame shows we see today.
▪ Brian Stetler of CNN spoke with George’s two children for a remembrance of the broadcasting pioneer.
▪ UK All-America football player Rodger Bird has passed away at age 76. An all-around star with the Wildcats, Bird played for the Oakland Raiders in the old AFL, reports Josh Moore of the Herald-Leader. He is one of the famous Bird family athletes from Corbin.
▪ Former University of Cincinnati player and coach Tony Yates has died. Yates may be best remembered by Kentucky fans as the Bearcats coach for the slowdown game at Riverfront Coliseum in 1983. UK won 24-11.
Horse racing is back in Kentucky; new Preakness date set
▪ Churchill Downs finally opened its spring meet on Saturday, without fans, and drew total wagers of $14,278,726. Last year on Preakness Saturday, Churchill took in wagers of $5,032,253.
▪ Kentucky Oaks 2018 winner Monomoy Girl made a successful return in her first race since winning the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Trained by Brad Cox, Monomoy Girl won the fourth race at Churchill on Saturday. She missed all of 2019 with injuries.
▪ The Preakness will be run on Oct. 3, Pimlico officials announced Saturday. That is nearly a month after the Kentucky Derby is scheduled to be run at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5. It’s also the first time the Preakness has not been held in May since World War II.
▪ NYRA received the go-ahead to allow racing without fans, starting June 1. The organization said Saturday it will have an announcement soon regarding the date for the Belmont Stakes. Most expect it to remain in June or early July, making it the first of the three traditional Triple Crown races this fall.
▪ Longtime Keeneland auctioneer Cris Caldwell has died at age 63 of pancreatic cancer. Caldwell followed in the footsteps of his father, Tom Caldwell. He was known for his command in the sales ring and his wit outside of the ring.
The clock is ticking on a college football season in 2020
▪ The SEC will vote Friday on whether student-athletes can return to campus in June, reports David Cobb of CBS Sports. “The league formed a medical task force that began meeting in April to provide updates to university administrators. Part of its mission is “guiding the safe return” to on-campus athletic activities. But policy changes must be approved by the league members.”
▪ Oklahoma Coach Lincoln Riley says a June 1 return would be “ridiculous.” The head Sooner says college administrators should take their time and be careful in bringing student-athletes back to campus.
▪ What happens when a college football player tests positive for COVID-19? So asks John Talty of AL.com. “The billion-dollar question facing college football is what happens when a player tests positive for coronavirus. It’s a question of when, not if it happens, according to infectious disease experts, yet no one seems to know exactly what will happen when it does.”
▪ Guerry Clegg of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer believes schools can find a solution so that we can have college football this fall.
▪ Major League Baseball has proposed a safety plan that covers everything from sunflower seeds to lineup card exchanges, reports Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post.
▪ Media poll: Will there be a 2020 college football season?
College football notes
▪ Mississippi State offensive lineman transfers to Florida. Tyler Horka of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Stewart Reese, a redshirt senior, will be a graduate transfer with the Gators next season. Reese started three years with the Bulldogs.
▪ Taulia Tagovailoa is transferring to Maryland. Tua’s brother is leaving Alabama to play for former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Mike Locksley. Taulia completed nine of 12 passes last season as a true freshman.
▪ Former Georgia defensive back DeAndre Baker has turned himself in on a robbery charge, reports Mike Griffith of Dawg Nation. Now a New York Giant, Baker says he is innocent of the crime allegedly committed along with Seattle Seahawks defensive back Quinton Dunbar.
▪ Mark Story of the Herald-Leader talked to the player who scored Kentucky’s first bowl touchdown.
College basketball notes
▪ Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman wants more NBA-like rules, reports Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “Switching from two 20-minute halves to four quarters — possibly 12 minutes each like the NBA — along with reducing the shot clock from 30 seconds to 24 and advancing the ball to the front court in the final minute of a game after a timeout are among the changes that could improve the college game, Musselman said.”
▪ DeAndre Williams, once thought to be a Kentucky target, is transferring from Evansville to Memphis.
▪ Villanova remains atop College Baskeball Talk’s Top 25 for 2020-21. Kentucky is 15th.
▪ Purdue Coach Matt Painter is not happy about his recent transfers. Matt Haarms left for BYU. Nojele Eastern left for Michigan. Both are graduate transfers.
This story was originally published May 17, 2020 at 8:39 AM.
