Alabama-Huntsville hockey gets another chance
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. (AP) » Alabama-Huntsville’s hockey program has gotten a reprieve — for now.
Athletic director Cade Smith said Friday that “numerous individual donors” had combined to raise more than $500,000 this week to help save the program from the chopping block.
Two other gifts of $125,000 each from longtime supporters Taso Sofikitis and Sheldon Wolitski provided enough money to allow the Chargers to continue competing at the Division I level for the 2020-21 season.
The $750,000 marks the largest athletic campaign contribution in UAH history. UAH had announced the elimination of hockey and men’s and women’s tennis amid the financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) » The Panthers have agreed to terms with free agent cornerback Eli Apple.
The move gives the Panthers the experienced cornerback they coveted after James Bradberry signed as a free agent with the Giants.
Apple has started 48 games during four seasons in the NFL and has 233 tackles, three interceptions and three forced fumbles but has never lived up to the billing of being the 10th overall selection in the 2016 draft out of Ohio State.
He started 15 games for the Saints last season and had 58 tackles and one forced fumble. He spent his first 2 ½ seasons with the Giants before being traded midway through his third NFL season to the Saints.
Given Carolina’s lack of experience at the cornerback position, Apple has a chance to start right away.
RENTON, WASH. (AP) » The Seattle Seahawks added another option at running back by signing veteran Carlos Hyde to a one-year deal Thursday.
Hyde is coming off the best season of his career after rushing for 1,070 yards and six touchdowns with Houston. It was his first 1,000-yard NFL campaign.
Leading rusher Chris Carson suffered a significant hip injury late last season, although coach Pete Carroll has indicated Carson should be healthy for the season. The bigger question is the status of Rashaad Penny, who suffered a torn ACL in December and would seem to be a candidate to begin the season on the physically unable to perform list.
Seattle also selected Deejay Dallas in the fourth round of the draft.