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Northwestern overcame hazing scandal, firing of coach to earn improbable Vegas Bowl bid against Utah

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:13 GMT

Northwestern accepted an invitation Sunday to play Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl, which will mark the culmination of a year that started with a hazing scandal that cost the Wildcats’ longtime coach his job and ended with a surprising run under an interim coach who had been on staff only since January.“This group is hungry to continue to improve and finish this thing together and understand what an incredible opportunity is in front of us,” said David Braun, who had the interim tag removed when he was named head coach Nov. 16.The Wildcats (7-5) will make their first bowl appearance in three years when they play the Utes (8-4) on Dec. 23 at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas.Three months ago, a bowl would have seemed an impossibility.Days after last season ended, Northwestern’s administration received a complaint of players being hazed by teammates. An investigation found there were significant opportunities for coaches to know hazing was occurring and longtime coach and alumni Pat F...

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts evaluated for concussion vs 49ers, cleared for return

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:13 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was checked for a concussion and briefly left Sunday’s game against San Francisco in the fourth quarter, returning after a visit to the locker room.Hurts was 17-of-29 passing for 196 yards and scored a rushing touchdown before he was forced out late in the game. Hurts, last season’s NFL MVP runner-up, jogged off the field in the fourth and went straight to the locker room. Marcus Mariota took over at QB, and San Francisco scored on the next drive for a 35-13 lead.Hurts returned to the sideline during the Eagles’ next possession and replaced Mariota mid-drive with about nine minutes left. He marched Philadelphia into the red zone and completed a 2-yard TD to DeVonta Smith.Hurts had led the Eagles to an NFL best 10-1 record headed into Sunday. He had been 27-2 over his last 29 regular-season starts.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSource

Packers CB Jaire Alexander to miss 4th straight game Sunday night against Chiefs

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:13 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay’s defense gets linebacker De’Vondre Campbell back from a neck injury but will be missing cornerback Jaire Alexander for a fourth straight game when the Packers host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.Alexander continues to deal with a shoulder injury. He had been listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report.The Packers also won’t have running back Aaron Jones (knee) or tight end Josiah Deguara (hip) for a second straight week. The Packers already had ruled Jones out on Friday.Campbell had missed the Packers’ 29-22 Thanksgiving Day victory at Detroit because of his neck issue.Packers safety Darnell Savage is active for Sunday’s game, one day after getting activated from injured reserve. Savage had missed five games with a calf injury.The Chiefs won’t have running back Jerick McKinnon because of a groin injury. The other Chiefs inactives are cornerback Nic Jones, defensive end BJ Thompson, offensive lineman Mike Caliendo, defensive tackle Neil ...

Pro-Israel protesters at MIA voice opposition to Hamas, Qatar amid war

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:13 GMT

Protesters in support of Israel came together at Miami International Airport to rally against Hamas’ forces and the country of Qatar.Sunday afternoon’s demonstration took place in the Qatar Airways area. Participants condemned the Qatari government, who, they said, harbors Hamas leaders and provides them with financing.Organizers of the protest also advocated for a reevaluation of U.S. and Qatari relations.

79-year-old Acton man arrested on child enticement charge

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:13 GMT

A 79-year-old Acton man is facing a criminal charge after police say he attempted to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old boy for sex at the South Acton Commuter Lot, according to police.Douglas Cooper was arrested Saturday on a charge of enticing a child under 16 for sex, Acton Police Chief James Cogan announced.Officers responding to a tip about a man who had tried to meet up with a boy in the area of 68 Windsor Road around 4:20 p.m. arrested Cooper after an investigation determined he had allegedly engaged in conversations of a sexually explicit nature on a mobile application with a minor who had identified himself as a 14-year-old boy.Cooper has been ordered held on $7,540 bail pending his arraignment.

Police: 2 dead in violent, wrong-way crash on Route 395 in Webster

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:13 GMT

State police are investigating a wrong-way crash on Route 395 in Webster late Saturday night that left two people dead, officials said.Troopers responding to a report of a wrong-way operator on the southbound side of the highway around 10:15 p.m. learned that there was a crash near Exit 3, according to state police.An investigation determined the driver of the first vehicle, a 31-year-old Auburn man, and the drive of the second vehicle, a 35-year-old Dayville, Connecticut woman, suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Their names have not been released.The crash remains under investigation.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Crowd gathers to mark 24 years since 6 Worcester firefighters made ultimate sacrifice

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:13 GMT

It was a solemn day of remembrance in Worcester on Sunday as the community gathered in the rain to honor the memories of the six Worcester firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice 24 years ago.Lt. Thomas Spencer, Lt. James Lyons, Paul Brotherton, Timothy Jackson, Jeremiah Lucey and Joseph McGuirk lost their lives looking for homeless people believed to be inside the burning Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. building on Dec. 3, 1999.Hundreds of people come together each year to gather in front of a memorial outside the Franklin Street fire station.“It’s amazing to see people still coming out, even all this time later,” said Danny Spencer, whose father died in the fire. He is now working as a firefighter.“It’s wonderful to bring our kids now to kind of see it as well and introduce them to it,” he said of the ceremony.

It was far from perfect. But there was a lot to love in the Chicago Bears’ Week 12 win against the Minnesota Vikings.

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:13 GMT

Cairo Santos’ game-winning field goal Monday night was a gimme, a 30-yard tap-in that finished the Chicago Bears’ 12-10 victory against the Minnesota Vikings. From the right hash, with a running clock, Santos set himself up. Snap, hold, kick. W.Nothing to it.“We all showed character in finishing tonight,” the kicker said afterward from a jubilant visitors locker room at U.S. Bank Stadium.That kick was the Bears’ finishing touch, the punctuation of a 66-yard final drive that had its biggest moment when Justin Fields drilled a clutch 36-yard completion to DJ Moore on third-and-10 to propel the offense into field-goal range.That was the biggest play of the night, both in significance and yards gained. Against zone coverage and facing a four-man rush, Fields kept his poise in the pocket. A huge hole opened in the middle of the field.Moore broke in. Fields threw his fastball.Boom.That play has been talked about most this week — and with good reason. Fi...

Brad Marchand’s hat trick lifts Bruins over Columbus, 3-1

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:13 GMT

Brad Marchand has served notice to the rest of the National Hockey League in a 24-hour span over the weekend.He’s back.After snapping an eight-game goal-less streak with the dramatic overtime winner against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Saturday, the Bruins captain exploded for a natural hat trick in the span of 5:50 in the third period to erase a one-goal deficit and lift the B’s to a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Garden on Sunday.All came on wrist shots, with the equalizer benefiting from a deflection, but the next two were pure snipes.If the B’s are to make some noise this year, they’ll need their stars to be their best players. David Pastrnak has been that most of the year and now Marchand is making his impact.The game was slow to boil.Both teams had their chances to take the first lead of the game in the scoreless first period. The B’s got the first two power plays of the game and, though they had good zone time, the Columbus defend...

San Francisco’s Brock Purdy throws 4 TD passes as 49ers thump injured Hurts, Eagles 42-19

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:13 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Deebo Samuel talked so much smack after last season’s NFC championship game, the box score almost needed a doublecheck to confirm that — yes, the 49ers did indeed lose to the Eagles.Samuel called one Eagles cornerback “trash” and blistered Philly as his “most-hated” team in the NFL. Just for good measure, Samuel and some teammates arrived Sunday dressed in black, perhaps a knowing nod to the bleak day ahead for the Eagles.Samuel backed up his big mouth with a blockbuster performance that showed the 49ers have plenty of room left to chase the No. 1 seed in the NFC.Brock Purdy threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns, Samuel scored three TDs and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was checked for a concussion in San Francisco’s 42-19 win over Philadelphia.The fiery NFC championship game rematch also featured 49ers’ touchdowns on six straight possessions and a pair of ejections that showed this year’s title game might not run again through Philly, after ...