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Newsweek
5 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
PGA Tour Rookie Honored by UNC Legends, and Hilariously Bill Belichick
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. This week, David Ford became the third player to earn a PGA Tour card by leading the PGA Tour University Program as the nation's top collegiate golfer. The former University of North Carolina star joins Ludvig Aberg (2023) and Michael Thorbjorsen (2024) as recipients of this honor. Although the program is relatively new, the merit of earning a tour card through it has progressively gained recognition outside the golf world. In fact, several of the Tar Heels' top sports figures honored Ford for this achievement. These big names include NBA Hall of Famer Vince Carter, a former star of North Carolina's basketball program; College Football Hall of Famer Mack Brown, the former head football coach; and College Basketball Hall of Famer Roy Williams, the former head basketball coach. Then there is Bill Belichick's surprising praise. David Ford of the United States watches his shot from the sixth tee during the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge 2025 at Colonial Country Club on May 23, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas.... David Ford of the United States watches his shot from the sixth tee during the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge 2025 at Colonial Country Club on May 23, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. More"The Carolina family believes in you, and we are cheering for you every step of the way. I can't wait to see you succeed with the pros and get that first tour win under your belt. You got this. Go Heels!" Carter said. "I just want to wish you the best as you move forward towards PGA Tour. I know the next steps are big ones, and we're all here pulling for you," Belichick added. "Congratulations, good luck moving forward. Go Heels!" Brown said. "You've got something special. You're different. Don't ever forget that...I look forward to many great things from you, but you're a tough little nut, and that's as good as I can say," Williams said. Ford was visibly moved by the kind words of prominent North Carolina sports figures. "To start off with, Vince Carter was wild. But yeah, just the whole host of people. I think Coach Williams definitely stood out to me," Ford said. "He's just a regular guy. He knows competition. He knows how to get better, and he knows what to look for when recruiting great players." The Tar Heels show up 🤜 🤛 to congratulate their guy @Davidfordgolf on getting his PGA TOUR card. — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 3, 2025 But it was certainly strange to see Belichick as part of the ensemble. The former New England Patriots head coach signed on to be North Carolina's football coach earlier this year. He basically just walked in the proverbial door. Meanwhile, the other figures in the video have ties that go back decades. Nevertheless, Ford's designation as the top-ranked player in the PGA Tour University Program concludes his extraordinary amateur career, which began to excel during his junior years. In fact, he was recruited by the Tar Heels, who are ranked No. 1 in the country by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA). While at North Carolina, he continued to improve, winning seven of the 48 tournaments he played in. This tied the record for the most wins in the Tar Heels golf program. He also led his team to 17 victories, including the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) title and three top-five finishes in the NCAA tournament. These results earned him numerous accolades, including the 2025 Haskins Award, which is given to the most outstanding collegiate golfer in the country. Three other notable collegiate stars recently received their PGA Tour cards through the PGA Tour University Accelerated Program: Luke Clanton, Jackson Koivun, and Gordon Sargent were the recipients. More Golf: Kai Trump Makes Strong Statement amid Massive Golf Improvement
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama Gets Huge News on No. 1 Recruit in Minnesota
Minnesota's No. 1 ranked four-star recruit Roman Voss is one of the most prolific athletes in the entire 2026 recruiting class, ranking as the No. 8 athlete in the country. He plays quarterback and defensive back in high school, and could play almost any position that is needed with the help of his 6-foot-4 210 pound stature. He also saw play as a tight end and linebacker. Advertisement Voss has announced his final two schools that he could commit to, deciding between the Minnesota Golden Golden Gophers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. He will decide between staying in his home state with Minnesota or going to one of the most historic college football programs in Alabama. The Alabama helmet on the stage during the SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame.© Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Not often have Minnesota and Alabama been the final two to battle it out for a highly ranked recruit, but the potential of staying in his home state is certainly a big draw. After Alabama held a visit for Voss in March, they immediately shot up on his list, and now rests in the final two where they will await his decision. Advertisement If the Crimson Tide are to land the top ranked recruit in Minnesota, he would join an already exceptional class with highly ranked defensive stars coming in, and could slot in anywhere that head coach Kalen DeBoer would need him. Minnesota on the other hand would benefit significantly from Voss staying in his home state, as he would be the Golden Gophers' top recruit by a long shot. The current No. 164 ranked high schooler would beat out the next highest by 82. Time will tell where he chooses to commit, but has a big decision to make on where to begin the next stages of his hopefully successful career. Related: Tyreek Hill Takes Jab at Tua Tagovailoa After Releasing QB Rankings
The Independent
10-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Ex-Ohio State coach Jim Tressel joins a long list of sports figures who've moved into politics
College Football Hall of Fame coach Jim Tressel, who won the 2002 national title at Ohio State University, has been nominated to be the state's next lieutenant governor, joining a long list of sports figures who've moved into politics. Tressel, nicknamed 'The Senator' during his coaching days for his stoic demeanor, was occasionally mentioned as a possible political candidate but has never held office. He did serve as president of Youngstown State University after his coaching career ended. Here's a look at other athletes and coaches who turned to politics. Gerald Ford The 38th U.S. president played football at the University of Michigan where he was a star center and linebacker. Ford later was elected to the U.S. House in Michigan before becoming vice president and then president, replacing Richard Nixon after his resignation. Herschel Walker The 1982 Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Georgia ran unsuccessfully in his home state for a U.S. Senate seat in 2002. President Donald Trump now has tapped Walker to become ambassador to the Bahamas. Steve Largent The NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver played from 1976 to 1989 with the Seattle Seahawks before representing Oklahoma in the U.S. House for eight years. Heath Shuler A quarterback at the University of Tennessee where he was runner-up for the 1993 Heisman Trophy, Shuler was elected to the U.S House in North Carolina in 2006 and served three terms. Tommy Tuberville The former head football coach at Auburn University was elected by Alabama voters to his first term in the U.S. Senate in 2020. Lynn Swann The wide receiver who won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers lost a bid for governor of Pennsylvania in 2006. Tom Osborne He won three college football national championships as the coach at Nebraska before becoming a three-term congressman in the 2000s. Steve Garvey The former baseball MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers lost a 2024 bid for the U.S. Senate in California to Democrat Adam Schiff. Bill Bradley Bradley is a two-time NBA champion with the New York Knicks who's in basketball's hall of fame. He served in the U.S. Senate for nearly two decades and ran for president in 2020. Kevin Johnson A three-time NBA All-Star with the Phoenix Suns, Johnson was twice elected mayor of his hometown Sacramento, California. Jack Kemp The former quarterback with the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills had a long political career, serving in the U.S. House and as the nation's housing secretary. Kemp also was Bob Dole's running mate in the 1996 presidential election.
Associated Press
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Ex-Ohio State coach Jim Tressel joins a long list of sports figures who've moved into politics
College Football Hall of Fame coach Jim Tressel, who won the 2002 national title at Ohio State University, has been nominated to be the state's next lieutenant governor, joining a long list of sports figures who've moved into politics. Tressel, nicknamed 'The Senator' during his coaching days for his stoic demeanor, was occasionally mentioned as a possible political candidate but has never held office. He did serve as president of Youngstown State University after his coaching career ended. Here's a look at other athletes and coaches who turned to politics. Gerald Ford The 38th U.S. president played football at the University of Michigan where he was a star center and linebacker. Ford later was elected to the U.S. House in Michigan before becoming vice president and then president, replacing Richard Nixon after his resignation. Herschel Walker The 1982 Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Georgia ran unsuccessfully in his home state for a U.S. Senate seat in 2002. President Donald Trump now has tapped Walker to become ambassador to the Bahamas. Steve Largent The NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver played from 1976 to 1989 with the Seattle Seahawks before representing Oklahoma in the U.S. House for eight years. Heath Shuler A quarterback at the University of Tennessee where he was runner-up for the 1993 Heisman Trophy, Shuler was elected to the U.S House in North Carolina in 2006 and served three terms. Tommy Tuberville The former head football coach at Auburn University was elected by Alabama voters to his first term in the U.S. Senate in 2020. Lynn Swann The wide receiver who won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers lost a bid for governor of Pennsylvania in 2006. Tom Osborne He won three college football national championships as the coach at Nebraska before becoming a three-term congressman in the 2000s. Steve Garvey The former baseball MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers lost a 2024 bid for the U.S. Senate in California to Democrat Adam Schiff. Bill Bradley Bradley is a two-time NBA champion with the New York Knicks who's in basketball's hall of fame. He served in the U.S. Senate for nearly two decades and ran for president in 2020. Kevin Johnson A three-time NBA All-Star with the Phoenix Suns, Johnson was twice elected mayor of his hometown Sacramento, California. Jack Kemp The former quarterback with the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills had a long political career, serving in the U.S. House and as the nation's housing secretary. Kemp also was Bob Dole's running mate in the 1996 presidential election.
