Latest news with #BlueandGold
Winnipeg Free Press
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘The Shuttlebus' shines way onto Bombers practice roster
Did the Winnipeg Blue Bombers need an American running back? No, not really. Regardless if it was a need or not, there was no way the Blue and Gold were going to let Quinton Cooley walk out the door. John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Quinton Cooley (right) bulldozed his way to the club's practice squad after impressing in pre-season play. The 5-7, 210-pound rookie out of Liberty University signed to the team's practice squad after bulldozing his way to 56 rushing yards on eight carries and one catch for nine yards in last week's 27-20 pre-season finale win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. 'He's as physical as they come. He did everything we wanted him to do and more,' said head coach Mike O'Shea after Wednesday's practice. The Bombers are on a Week 1 bye and don't open their season until June 12 when they host the B.C. Lions at 7:30 p.m. 'You gotta find a way to keep a guy like that, and see where you can slot him in.' Cooley has already earned the nickname 'The Shuttlebus' and 'Bowling Ball' from his new teammates for how he runs through defenders and his willingness to deliver a big block. 'I grew up in a Wing-T offence. Straight downhill, country boy, nose in the dirt — stuff like that,' said Cooley, who ran 426 times for 2,655 yards and 29 touchdowns in two seasons at Liberty. Prior to that, he spent three years at Wake Forest. 'It was fun for me, growing up like that, having cousins playing in the backfield, getting tougher. Going outside without the shoulder pads, without the helmets… the more I play the game the more I just want to play physical.' He's also proven to be tough. When he was a junior at Southern Nash High School in Bailey, N.C., he broke the school's single-game rushing record (413 yards in the second round of playoffs) and he did it with a torn labrum. 'My shoulder popped out of place, so they sent me out for two drives, then we went into halftime. Then, my teammate, who already had a labrum tear, gave me his shoulder brace. After that, I was like 'I'm going back in the game,'' recalled Cooley. 'And my aunt was on the sideline and she was like, 'No, you're not going back in.' So, she went back up into the stands, and by the time she did, I turned around and ran onto the field. I played the game and played my tail off.' Despite closing out his college career with some impressive numbers, Cooley's dream of playing pro football was in jeopardy. Several NFL teams showed interest in him prior to this year's draft, but his name went uncalled and he didn't receive any rookie camp invites, either. He had no choice but to get a job working at a warehouse where he loaded, delivered and installed refrigerators and washing machines. His shift started at 5 a.m. and went until 6 p.m. 'I was getting paid $160 a day. It was a pretty good job, working Monday through Saturday, so, I was doing that, trying to stay on top of things. Then I got the call May 2 (from Winnipeg) and they were like, 'We need you up here May 5,' and I was like, 'Dang, that's a quick turnaround,'' said Cooley. 'But it was a blessing. I was happy I got a call that somebody wants to give me an opportunity.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The Bombers offence will continue to roll through reigning Most Outstanding Player Brady Oliveira. If the Winnipegger needs to catch his breath, or misses any time, they'll likely turn to fourth-year running back Peyton Logan, an American who can also serve as a returner, once he's taken off the one-game injured list. The running back room also features Canadian Matthew Peterson, a former Canada West Player of the Year with the Alberta Golden Bears, who was acquired in a draft day trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in April. With three names expected to be ahead of him on the depth chart and, more importantly, a limited number of import spots available, it'll be tough for Cooley to get onto the field, but he's not discouraged. 'I'm new to the game. I'll learn from Brady, learn from Peyton Logan, the vets in the room. Everywhere you go, you have to start new somewhere,' said Cooley. 'But me learning from them guys, it's really gonna benefit me. I'm pretty good at the stuff that I do, but if I can watch Brady and see the way he does stuff, I can get some of his game and put it into my game.' Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Beyond The Stands (Pacers reach the NBA Finals with JJ)
Pacers pregame/postgame TV host and sideline reporter Jeremiah Johnson joined Rick Semmler on Beyond The Stands to talk Pacers basketball. The former WTWO weekend sports anchor previewed the upcoming Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals. JJ gave his keys to the series for the Blue and Gold to win it all. He also gave fans a look into the Thunder and how good they are. JJ discussed how the NBA Finals stage might bring Tyrese Haliburton the respect he deserves. Another topic that was addressed is the fact that the national media is saying this NBA Finals isn't good for the league, with two small-market teams in it. JJ had some candid remarks about that topic. Plus, he gave his thoughts on what an NBA Championship would mean to the state of Indiana. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Monarchs bolster team with Michael Palm Toft signing
Michael Palm Toft The Edinburgh Monarchs have been given a huge boost ahead of their crunch KO Cup quarter-final clash against arch-rivals the Glasgow Tigers. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The club has announced the signing of experienced heat leader Michael Palm Toft, replacing the recently departed Oskar Polis. However, the 34-year-old won't make his debut in tonight's first-leg tie at Armadale - or tomorrow's return encounter at Ashfield - and will instead don the Blue and Gold for the first time when the Oxford Cheetahs visit next Friday on Championship duty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Monarchs were left in turmoil when Polis, a marquee signing over the winter, decided to quit the Capital outfit with the new season barely six weeks old. However, the addition of Danish rider Palm Toft is a more than an adequate replacement. The Scandinavian is no stranger to British speedway having previously represented the likes of the Scunthorpe Scorpions and Redcar Bears. Palm Toft found himself without a team for the 2025 campaign so the timing for both parties couldn't have been better. "I did actually have a contract on the table from a club," he explained. "They then made a 180-degree change last minute and said they didn't want to agree to the terms we had agreed to. So, I got told take it or leave it, so I said well I'll leave it then. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "I am really looking forward to getting to ride for the Monarchs. It has been a few years we have been talking back and forth but nothing has really come out of it. I guess circumstances has made it possible now. Here we are, and I can't wait to get started. "There are a lot of good riders in the team that can score well home and away as they have a lot of experience. I think it is only really Jonatan Grahn who is new to British Speedway so I think we will be one of the better teams the rest of the way. And when I get going back to full power, it will be good to be in with the rest of the boys as well and I think we can go well. "I am really looking forward to calling Armadale my home track and making something out of it for myself and making it a home fortress."
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Four-star 2026 offensive tackle has Notre Dame football in his final three schools
Notre Dame football is looking to cement its 2026 offensive line class with an elite tackle, and one of their top remaining targets is Pennsylvania's Grayson McKeogh. The 6-foot, 7-inch and 285-pound prospect recently cut his list down to just three schools: Penn State, Texas and the Irish. As the No. 260 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, McKeogh is one of the top remaining uncommitted offensive tackle prospects. Advertisement He's set to make official visits to each one of his top-three schools in June, with trip to South Bend sandwiched between seeing the Nittany Lions and then finishing off with the Longhorns. Most likely a commitment will come soon after he finishes off his visits, as the Irish will surely roll out the Blue and Gold carpet for him. Although Notre Dame already has Gregory Patrick, Tyler Merrill, Ben Nichols and Sullivan Garvin committed on the line already, none of them currently project to be a left tackle. McKeogh fits that mold, and would be a great addition to the Irish class. This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Grayson McKeogh has Notre Dame in his final three schools
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame legend Jerome Bettis will be induced into a bowl games Hall of Fame
Notre Dame legend Jerome Bettis will be induced into a bowl games Hall of Fame The legend of Notre Dame football running back Jerome Bettis continued on Thursday, as the Cotton Bowl announced that he will be inducted into its Hall of Fame on Friday. 'The Bus' went off in the 1993 edition of the game, as the Irish beat an undefeated Texas A&M team that was 12-0 coming into the contest. Bettis ran for 75-yards on 20 carries for two scores and caught another. It would be the final contest that he would wear the Blue and Gold, as he'd leave early for the NFL following the contest. It's just another feather in Bettis' cap, as he's been inducted into the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor, the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame, along with winning Super Bowl XL and being a 6-time Pro Bowler. He was also named as of NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1993, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2001 and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1996. It has been a memorable career for Bettis, and this is just another honor added to an impressive list of his.
