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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Tony Boselli took Jacksonville Jaguars EVP job: 'How can I help us be the best?'
Note: Ryan O'Halloran has returned to The Florida Times-Union as their new sports columnist. He covered the Jaguars for the paper from 2012-18 before moving on to The Denver Post (Broncos beat writer, 2018-22) and The Buffalo News (NFL columnist, 2022-25). Tony Boselli is many things. College football legend. Pro Football Hall of Fame left tackle. Accomplished broadcaster and businessman. And now the Jacksonville Jaguars' executive vice president of football operations. But he is not an interior decorator. Twin big-screen TVs dominate the front wall. The interior and exterior side walls are all glass with views of the hallway and practice fields, respectively. The back wall has a cabinet with four helmets resting on top. A giant family photo from his 2022 Hall of Fame induction weekend is on the wall above the cabinet. That means it is the first thing he sees every morning. 'I don't even know how to hang a picture,' No. 71 deadpanned early Wednesday morning, pointing to a framed Times-Union sports front page of the day after he was the franchise's first-ever draft pick in 1995. Now the best part … or at least the most amusing part. Picture frames are upright on two cabinets, but don't have any pictures. There is a picture of Tom Coughlin screaming on the sideline that is leaning against a frame. HOW MUCH? Jaguars valued at more than $5.5 billion, a 17 percent increase over 2024 'One of these days, probably before the season I hope, I'll get my wife (Angi) in here (to fill the frames),' Boselli said. Tony is too busy helping rebuild the Jaguars to worry about things like building his office look. Boselli's office was a natural place for me to visit upon arriving back in Jacksonville to work for The Times-Union. He is the most decorated player in Jaguars history who answered the call-to-serve from owner Shad Khan in January to bring equal parts stability and synergy to an organization in desperate need of both. Khan hiring Boselli a smart move The first best decision Khan made upon closing on the Jaguars' purchase in January 2012 was hiring Mark Lamping as president to oversee the business side. Bringing Boselli into the fold to lead the football side could eventually rank as a close second. What a sounding board Boselli can be for new general manager James Gladstone and coach Liam Coen and what a connector he can be for the entire building, a person comfortable meeting with every department head on the payroll. And what a job Boselli, Gladstone and Coen have undertaken. There have been only three stretches of success during in The Shad Era — 2017 (lost in AFC championship game), 2022 (lost in divisional round) and 2023 (started 8-3 only to finish 9-8). That's it. Khan is on his second executive vice president of football operations (Coughlin was the first), fourth full-time general manager and sixth full-time coach. Boselli has on-the-job training Until January, Boselli observed everything with two toes in the knowledge pool. Did the games on radio. Attended training camp practices. Talked regularly with Khan. Remained close with several other members of the organization. He heard about things going on in the loop, but didn't live in the loop. Boselli does now, though — his office was previously occupied by general manager Trent Baalke; Gladstone preferred to be closer to the Jaguars' personnel department down the hall. Initially after coach Doug Pederson was fired, Khan enlisted Boselli to assist a search that included Baalke. You know how things went from there. Chaos. From my perch in Buffalo covering the playoffs, it was tough to ascertain Khan's plan, which made it impossible to rationalize. Sixteen days into the search, Baalke was bounced after Coen decided to remain Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator. Baalke out of the way, Coen re-considered and was hired on Jan. 24, followed by Boselli on Feb. 3 and Gladstone on Feb. 21. In the eyes of Jaguars fans, Khan ended at the right spot even if it wasn't in a straight line. Boselli's goal when he started? 'That I would be able to add value to everybody in the building on the team and business sides — how can I help us be the best? What role can I play?' he said. Boselli was quick to point out he is learning about his role every single day — he knows what he doesn't know. And he acknowledges having so many people in their jobs for the first time — him, Gladstone, Coen and several assistant coaches — will equal mistakes, but the goal is to not let those mistakes be repeated. Boselli raves about Gladstone's leadership, said Coen could coach any position on the field and expresses full confidence in quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Issues remain, of course, like they usually do in the preseason, but Boselli is optimistic about the return-to-health of projected starting defensive tackles Arik Armstead and Maason Smith. Being a player taught Boselli to keep one foot in front of the other in preparing for the season, but the executive is already anticipating the adrenaline of his drive to the stadium for the opener. 'I'm jacked for the season,' he said. 'I can't wait. I enjoy practice. I enjoy watching our guys getting better.' O'Halloran can be reached at rohalloran@ This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars Tony Boselli excited for start of NFL season
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Longtime T-U reporter Beth Reese Cravey talks about front-page story on Green Cove Springs
I recently tried to track down the first story I wrote about Green Cove Springs in The Florida Times-Union, my employer since 1987. Neither the Times-Union's electronic archives, which began filing about 1996, or Google could tell me for sure. At any rate, I have covered Green Cove Springs to varying degrees for decades. It was one of my beats when I was transferred from the Jacksonville newsroom in the early 1990s to the County Line, the Times-Union's community news section, and when I worked for its successor publications, Clay County Line and My Clay Sun. Some of the stories I have written the last several years covering Northeast Florida nonprofits, health, social services and animal welfare also have involved Green Cove Springs. The latest is today's front page about the city's 150th anniversary and where it's been and where it's going. Writing about the town and its people ― and watching a few decades of its evolution ― has mostly been a joy. I spent hours in City Council, Clay County Commission and all sorts of other meetings. Every Christmas season, I walked up and down the Christmas parade route and throughout Spring Park's Parade of Trees taking photos. Year round, I meandered through that riverside park and along the city pier whenever I had the chance. I watched the old Qui-Si-Sana Hotel be demolished and replaced by the gorgeous new City Hall. I found both processes fascinating. Along the way, I spent hours talking with all sorts of people about all sorts of things. In some ways, Green Cove Springs taught me how to be a better reporter. But when the time came to write about this momentous anniversary, I had trouble focusing. Truth is, days went by before I got it finished. I would work on it, then put it away. Maybe I was overwhelmed by writing about 150 years of history. Maybe I was so invested in the place because of all the time I spent there that I was petrified that I would be unable to do it justice. No idea. But finally it was done, thanks in part due to city public information officer Heather Fincher, who has the patience of a saint and somehow managed to find answers to my many questions. I salute all the residents, elected officials and other people who played a role in Green Cove Springs not only surviving 150 years but thriving and keeping hold of its small-town charm. Let's hope they continue to do so. bcravey@ (904) 359-4109 This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: T-U reporter Beth Reese Cravey tells the story behind the story
USA Today
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Mechanical gator riding, lawnmower races and more: What to know about The Florida Man Games
Hear this story Florida's very own Olympic Games kicks off in less than a week. The Florida Man Games, known for its unusual and disgustingly on-brand events, returns for its second year. Teams from across Florida will battle it out for the snakeskin championship belt by participating and competing in multiple events, including human beer pong, eat the butt challenge, mechanical gator riding and more. The athletic event, inspired by the "Florida Man" internet meme, will be held at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds in Elkton, over 60 miles east of Gainesville on March 1. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. "Just when the world thought Floridians couldn't Florida any wilder, they did. The Florida Man Games returns on March 1st, 2025, and how it got insured for round 2, no one will ever know,' a press release obtained by The Florida Times-Union, part of the USA TODAY Network. 'This irreverent competition, where the state's most unruly residents serve as demigods of athletic prowess, is getting even weirder with new competitions, more insane teams, and a brand-new venue.' Here's what to know about this year's Florida Man Games, including how to purchase tickets. What to expect at this year's Florida Man Games Last year, teams went head-to-head in challenges like weaponized pool noodle mud dueling, an 'evading arrest' obstacle course, a category 5 hurricane winds cash grab and beer belly Florida sumo wrestling. The evading arrest obstacle course will return to the 2025 games, along with new challenges like 'the Florida sumo cage match,' and enough space for tailgating. Attendees were also able to get in on the fun, getting the chance to participate in various activities like the 'Florida Ma'am' pinup competition, chicken bingo and a mullet competition. 'We're expecting an even bigger crowd at (this) year's event, so it made sense to move out to the St. Johns County Fairgrounds, where we'll have more space, a covered arena, and this year, we're excited to introduce an RV tailgating area,' Pete Melfi, organizer and founder of the Florida Man Games, said in the press release. How to buy tickets for The Florida Man Games Tickets for the all-day event range from $45 to $145 and can be purchased online. General admission tickets cost $45 and VIP tickets cost $145. VIP tickets include access to a VIP parking area, unlimited ride passes, access to a climate-controlled indoor VIP area, three free drinks, free catered lunch, VIP restrooms and reserved bleacher seating during The Florida Man Games. The epic showdown "of absurdity and outrageous skill" begins at 9 a.m. and will end at 9 p.m. ET. The full schedule for The Florida Man Games is outlined below: Gates Open: 9 a.m. Eat The Butt Challenge: 10:20 a.m. Draft New Teams From Crowd: 10:40 a.m. Weaponized Pool Noodle Mud Wrestling: 11:00 a.m. Lawnmower Racing/Gator Shows: 12:00 p.m. Human Beer Pong: 12:45 p.m. Hellzapoppin Freak Show: 1:30 p.m. Florida Sumo Cage Match & Beer Chug: 2:15 p.m. Florida Woman Bonus Challenge: 3:00 p.m. Hurricane Party Prep - Grocery Aisle Brawl: 3:20 p.m. Midget Wrestling Warriors: 4:15 p.m. Evading Arrest Obstacle Course: 5:00 p.m. STATE OF EMERGENCY - Pro Wrestling Matches: 6:00 p.m. Awards: 7:00 p.m. The Florida Man Games trailer Contributing: Lianna Norman, Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
