Holiday Bowl becomes 4th game to cancel due to pandemic

SAN DIEGO – The Holiday Bowl has become the fourth bowl game to be called off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Holiday Bowl officials said Thursday the board of directors voted to cancel what would have been the 43rd straight edition of the game. It would have been the first year of a six-year deal to match teams from the Pac-12 and ACC.

Bowl officials had been seeking a suitable place to play after San Diego State announced it was closing SDCCU Stadium, formerly known as Qualcomm Stadium, two seasons earlier than planned to expedite construction of its new 35,000 seat stadium as part of a campus expansion in Mission Valley. Because fans wouldn’t have been allowed in, bowl officials knew they didn’t need a 70,000seat stadium.

Bill Mathis, original member of Jets franchise, dies at 81

NEW YORK – Bill Ma

this, a versatile running back and an original member of the New York Jets franchise, has died. He was 81.

The team announced Mathis’ death Tuesday on Wednesday night. There was no cause of death given, but the team said Mathis had long been dealing with several health issues.

Mathis played his entire career in New York, joining the then-Titans in 1960 and helping the Jets win the Super Bowl in 1969 before retiring after the following season.

He was the franchise’s first team MVP in 1961 and was selected an AFL All-Star in 1961 and ‘63.

Mathis rushed for 3,589 yards and 37 touchdowns in 10 seasons, and caught 149 passes for 1,775 yards and nine scores.