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Dave Nichol, USC inside wide receivers coach, dies at 45

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Dave Nichol, USC inside wide receivers coach, dies at 45

Dave Nichol, a brand new assistant and longtime school receivers coach who joined USC’s employees simply final December, has died, the varsity introduced Friday. He was 45.

Nichol had been battling most cancers, an individual conversant in his state of affairs informed The Los Angeles Instances. He died Friday in McKinney, Texas, not removed from his hometown of Dallas.

“We’re heartbroken and devastated,” USC coach Lincoln Riley stated in an announcement. “Dave was such an amazing human being and a improbable soccer coach. He completely liked the sport and continually poured his coronary heart and soul into his groups. He shall be dearly missed. My ideas and prayers are together with his household. We, as a program, stay up for taking part in and training for him as we transfer ahead.”

USC introduced on Monday that Nichol had stepped away from this system to take care of a personal medical matter. In his place, offensive analyst Luke Huard had been elevated to inside receivers coach on an interim foundation.

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Nichol adopted Riley to USC after spending most of his profession as an assistant coach beneath Mike Leach, the Air Raid aficionado who additionally gave Riley his first teaching job. Nichol started his teaching profession as a scholar assistant beneath Leach at Texas Tech, the place he’d performed as a receiver.

Riley adopted in Nichol’s footsteps as Leach’s scholar assistant quickly after. The 2 would cross paths once more at East Carolina, the place Nichol coached receivers and Riley coached quarterbacks. Ultimately, Nichol would take Riley’s place as offensive coordinator when the coach left for a similar job at Oklahoma in 2015.

Six years later, Riley would name on Nichol to hitch his first USC employees as inside receivers coach.

“Dave was household to us, and he was liked by all who knew him,” Leach stated in an announcement. “At all times a smile on his face, Dave had such a optimistic character, angle and vitality. He made everybody round him a greater individual and impacted everybody he met with kindness, loyalty and friendship. He meant rather a lot to me in addition to numerous others, and I’ll endlessly be grateful to have had him in my life for the final 22 years.”

Nichol is survived by his father, Robert Nichol Sr., and his brothers, Robert Nichol Jr. and Jimmy Nichol, and their households. Info on a memorial service for Nichol continues to be pending.

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France's Finot breaks steeplechase record, proposes to boyfriend

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France's Finot breaks steeplechase record, proposes to boyfriend

French athlete Alice Finot celebrated breaking the European women’s 3000m steeplechase record in Tuesday’s final by proposing to her boyfriend after the race.

Finot finished fourth with a time of 8:58.67 behind medalists Winfred Yavi of Bahrain, Peruth Chemutai of Uganda and Faith Cherotich of Kenya. It marked the first time four women broke nine minutes.

Finot then went to the stands to hug her boyfriend — triathlete Bruno Martínez Bargiela from Spain — and got down on one knee to propose with an Olympic pin. Bargiela said yes and Finot pinned his shirt.

“I told myself that if I ran under nine minutes, knowing that nine is my lucky number and that we’ve been together for nine years, then I would propose,” Finot told reporters, per the Daily Mail.

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“I don’t like doing things like everyone else. Since he hadn’t done it yet, I told myself that maybe it was up to me to do it. So, I gave a pin that I ran with to my boyfriend. On it, it says: Love is in Paris.”

With her proposal, Finot joined a growing list of Olympians getting engaged at the Paris Games.

Last week, China’s Huang Ya Qiong left her badminton mixed doubles final with a gold medal and a diamond ring after her boyfriend, Liu Yu Chen, a Chinese badminton player also competing in Paris, surprised her with flowers and a proposal. Huang said yes.

On Friday, French skiff sailing partners Sarah Steyaert and Charline Picon were proposed to by their respective boyfriends after winning bronze in the women’s skiff 49erFX. Their boyfriends promised Steyaert and Picon that they would get engaged if the sailing partners medaled.

U.S. shot putter Payton Otterdahl proposed to his girlfriend, Maddy Nilles, in front of the Eiffel Tower on Sunday, one day after placing fourth in the men’s shot put final. On Monday, U.S. rower Justin Best got engaged to his girlfriend, Lainey Duncan, live on the “Today” show.

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The day before the Opening Ceremony, men’s handball player Pablo Simonet proposed to field hockey player Maria Campoy during a photo op for Argentina’s athletes in the Olympic Village.

 (Photo: Hannah Peters / Getty Images)

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Michael Phelps was 'pretty disappointed' by US men's swimming team's results at Paris Olympics

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Michael Phelps was 'pretty disappointed' by US men's swimming team's results at Paris Olympics

The U.S. men’s swimming team’s performance at the Paris Olympics left legendary American swimmer Michael Phelps “disappointed.”

The 23-time Olympic gold medalist did not hold back when he expressed his thoughts on Team USA’s overall performance at this year’s Summer Games. 

“For me as a whole, I was pretty disappointed to see the U.S. swimming results,” Phelps told USA Today. “Obviously, there were a few standout swims. And those you have to recognize.”

Phelps added that he was concerned about the team’s prospects in four years when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Olympics. Phelps believes the U.S. no longer holds a competitive advantage over other countries in the sport.

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Former Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps of the U.S. reacts as he is interviewed on the pool deck ahead of the evening session at the 2024 Summer Olympics July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France.  (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

“For me, one of the things that I’ve always said over the last couple years is the rest of the world is catching up,” Phelps said. “I think a lot of the things that we’ve done as a country for so long, the other people are catching up. They’re doing the same thing.”

USA MEN’S WATER POLO ADVANCES TO SEMIFINALS AFTER LAST-MINUTE GOAL, EPIC SHOOTOUT

The pool closed at the Paris Olympic Aquatic Centre with the U.S. men’s team earning one individual gold medal. This marked the first time since the 1956 Games the American men ended the Olympics with only one individual gold medal. 

Bobby Finke set the world record Sunday to win gold in the 1,500-meter freestyle and help the U.S. avoid a shutout.

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Bobby Finke holds the gold

U.S. gold medalist Bobby Finke poses after the men’s 1500-meter freestyle during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, Paris, Aug. 4, 2024. (Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)

“Bobby Finke, last night, swimming. That was unbelievable,” Phelps said after Finke won the gold medal. “I have chills right now talking about it. That was one of the greatest swims in the Olympics, in my opinion. Being able to break that world record in the matter that he did it. Just taking it out, challenging the other guys just to make a move. He was prepared.”

Michael Phelps at golf

Former U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps attends the men’s golf individual stroke play of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, Aug. 1, 2024. (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. men’s swimming team has won at least one individual gold medal in every Olympics since the 1900 Games, which were also held in Paris. 

Team USA did take the gold in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. The Americans won silver in the 4×100 medley relay, an event the U.S. has dominated in recent years.

Overall, the American swimmers won 28 medals, with Katie Ledecky leading the way on the women’s side. Team USA won a total of eight golds, edging Australia’s seven.

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For Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley, preseason opener versus Seattle is just a start

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For Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley, preseason opener versus Seattle is just a start

The Chargers have listed Los Angeles native Daiyan Henley as the starting left inside linebacker on the team’s first posted depth chart of the Jim Harbaugh era but, despite the hype surrounding his progress, his psyche is unmoved.

“Reaching the NFL, that was the dream,” Henley said. “But now, it’s what’s next, and I haven’t gotten to what’s next as there is so much work to be done.”

Running alongside veteran Denzel Perryman with the first-team defense, the 2023 third-round draft pick continues to impress and aims to build trust with his coaches and teammates.

Henley’s speed and ability to cover ground have earned praise from coaches and teammates. All-Pro Derwin James noted that Henley plays like a safety at linebacker.

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Henley has shown high energy on the field, where his patience sometimes has to outweigh his drive to be physical, especially in coverage.

“My first day with pads, I felt like I still had something to prove,” Henley said.

He credits his development to former All-Pro NaVorro Bowman, a San Francisco 49ers legend whose game Henley seeks to emulate.

“We get to see him do the things that we want to do,” Henley said about watching Bowman’s film. “That’s the best thing about having Coach Bo.”

Henley restrains his eagerness for physical contact, for instance when he lines up across from tight end Stone Smartt during “non-contact” team drills. That makes him eager to unleash his physical style in the first preseason game Saturday at home against the Seattle Seahawks.

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“I am looking forward to the Seahawks tight end,” Henley said. “There ain’t no leash; let me off.”

Joshua Palmer nicked

The Chargers expect veteran receiver Joshua Palmer to carry a big load this season, but the last two practices have been challenging for him as he spent extra time with trainers on the sidelines.

Palmer made a diving catch Tuesday as he collided with Deane Leonard in the end zone. The wideout stayed down momentarily before trainers helped him off the field as he flexed his right knee. He later returned to practice.

After making another great catch Wednesday, Palmer groaned loudly and left the field, clearly bothered by his right leg. He walked along the sidelines and stretched with trainers. He was absent from individual catching and full team drills for the rest of practice, carrying his helmet.

Ladd McConkey also spent another practice working with trainers on the sidelines for a still undisclosed injury.

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NCAA punishes Harbaugh

Harbaugh is being punished by the NCAA for recruiting violations during his tenure as Michigan’s head coach.

The organization announced Wednesday a four-year show-cause order, stating that Harbaugh made impermissible contact with recruits and players during the COVID-19 pandemic. The penalty bans Harbaugh from college athletics until August 2028, only taking effect if he unexpectedly returns to college football within the next four years.

The NCAA stated, “Harbaugh engaged in unethical conduct and failed to cooperate when he denied any involvement in impermissible recruiting contacts despite substantial information to the contrary.”

Harbaugh was not scheduled to speak with the media Wednesday.

This case is separate from the investigation into impermissible scouting and sign-stealing allegations during Michigan’s 2023 championship season, for which the Big Ten Conference suspended Harbaugh for three games.

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