Sports

Florida receiver Aubrey Hill, shown here during a game in 1994, caught 18 touchdown passes during his Gators career in the '90s. (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES/TNS)

Florida receiver Aubrey Hill, shown here during a game in 1994, caught 18 touchdown passes during his Gators career in the '90s. (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES/TNS)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: FIU says assistant Aubrey Hill, former UF standout, dies after cancer fight

MIAMI — FIU said Sunday night that wide receivers coach Aubrey Hill, a standout player at Florida before becoming a longtime coach at Miami and other places, has died after a lengthy bout with cancer. He was 48.
Columbia running back Tony Fulton runs up the field against Ponte Vedra in last year’s regional quarterfinals. (FILE)

Columbia running back Tony Fulton runs up the field against Ponte Vedra in last year’s regional quarterfinals. (FILE)

CORONAVIRUS: FHSAA board votes to start fall practices Aug. 24 & games on Sept. 4

The Florida High School Athletic Association board of directors voted on Friday to begin fall practices Aug. 24 and games two weeks later on Sept. 4, despite its Sports Medicine Advisory Committee recommending a later start as the state continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
Mark Emmert, president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), speaks during a brief press availability on Capitol Hill Dec. 17, 2019 in Washington, D.C. (DREW ANGERER/Getty Images/TNS)

Mark Emmert, president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), speaks during a brief press availability on Capitol Hill Dec. 17, 2019 in Washington, D.C. (DREW ANGERER/Getty Images/TNS)

CORONAVIRUS: NCAA cancels fall championships as major football marches on

The NCAA called off fall championship events — a move Thursday that does not affect major college football — because not enough schools will be competing in sports such as men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball during the first semester.
Florida State coach Mike Norvell vehemently denied accusations by current player who posted on social media the officials are lying about how the coaching staff is handling safety protocols during the coronavirus pandemic. (PHIL SEARS/AP FILE PHOTO)

Florida State coach Mike Norvell vehemently denied accusations by current player who posted on social media the officials are lying about how the coaching staff is handling safety protocols during the coronavirus pandemic. (PHIL SEARS/AP FILE PHOTO)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Mike Norvell denies FSU misled players about covid-19 test results

Florida State coach Mike Norvell vehemently denied accusations by a current player who posted on social media the officials are lying about how the coaching staff is handling safety protocols during the coronavirus pandemic.
Columbia running back Jailen Brown (24) runs through a tackle against Oakleaf on Aug. 30, 2019. (GARY LLOYD MCCULLOUGH/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia running back Jailen Brown (24) runs through a tackle against Oakleaf on Aug. 30, 2019. (GARY LLOYD MCCULLOUGH/Special to the Reporter)

COMMENTARY: FHSAA needs to follow SMAC's recommendation and delay the start of fall sports

It came as no surprise Wednesday when the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee recommended delaying the start of fall sports further ahead of the Florida High School Athletic Association’s board of directors’ meeting on Friday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and FSU Head Football Coach Mike Norvell both advocate playing college football this fall. (TORI LYNN SCHNEIDER/Tallahassee Democrat/TNS)

Gov. Ron DeSantis and FSU Head Football Coach Mike Norvell both advocate playing college football this fall. (TORI LYNN SCHNEIDER/Tallahassee Democrat/TNS)

CORONAVIRUS: DeSantis pushes for college and high school football to play

TALLAHASSEE — As the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences both postponed their football seasons on Tuesday because of the coronavirus pandemic, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was pushing for college football to be played as scheduled. High school football, too.