Sports Briefs 7.23.21

College Football

Former Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden is suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer. That’s according to his son, Terry, a day after it was announced by the family the Hall of Fame coach was facing a life-threatening medical condition. The Louisiana Monroe head coach told reporters Thursday that they’ve known for about ten days that the elder Bowden had been ill. The 91-year-old Bowden spent 34 seasons at Florida State before retiring in 2009. He’s the second-winningest coach in Division One football history

NFL

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is speaking out after the NFL released a memo on its protocols for COVID-19 outbreaks this season. Hopkins said, in a tweet he later deleted, that he would “question” his future playing in the NFL if he was forced into receiving the vaccine. This came after the league announced that teams will have to forfeit games if there is a COVID outbreak among unvaccinated players on the roster. Hopkins later tweeted “got about 9 more years in me” to clarify he doesn’t intend to step away from football.

NHL

The NHL Draft is tonight, with more than two-hundred prospects to be drafted by the 32 NHL teams. The Buffalo Sabres won the draft lottery and own the top pick, followed by the expansion Seattle Kraken. The Anaheim Ducks own the third pick, followed by the New Jersey Devils, and the Columbus Blue Jackets round out the top five.

NASCAR

NASCAR is off for a few weeks for an Olympic break. The next race will be August 8th at Watkins Glen. Denny Hamlin currently sits atop the points standings, 13 points ahead of Kyle Larson.