UMass mourns Gorham death
UMass director of football operations Paul Gorham, who also served as an assistant coach for the Minutemen from 1999-2003, died last Saturday. He was 57.
“Paul was an unbelievable person and a true friend that was as trustworthy and genuine as anyone I have ever known,” UMass coach Mark Whipple said. “He was a phenomenal coach and a great recruiter, and I was blessed to be able to work alongside him for two decades. So much of the success I’ve had throughout my career is because of who he was as a friend and a coach.”
Prior to his four years as UMass director of football operations, Gorham was the head coach at Sacred Heart from 2004-11 before idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a respiratory disease, forced him to step away from coaching. The disease ultimately required him to undergo a double lung transplant and double leg amputation.
Gorham was an all-Yankee Conference tight end at the University of New Hampshire from 1980-83, where he also began his professional career as a graduate assistant. (Obituary: Page 22). ...
Jordan Scott, the all-time leading rusher in Colgate history, died while on vacation in Thailand.
The 31-year-old Scott had gone missing Friday after jumping into water near a dam in the Ban Ta Khun district south of Bangkok. According to the Bangkok Post, divers located his body on Monday night.
Jones has Quinn’s support
Julio Jones remains in coach Dan Quinn’s good graces even after missing the opening day of the Atlanta Falcons’ mandatory minicamp.
Quinn said yesterday he thought Jones, who missed voluntary offseason workouts, would participate in the minicamp. The coach said he found out Monday that Jones would skip the minicamp.
Quinn wouldn’t share details of his conversation with Jones but said “Sometimes football and business intersect and that’s OK and that happens a lot.”
Jones has three years remaining on his five-year, $71.3 million deal with $47 million in guaranteed money but could soon have the deal tweaked. Quinn said the team is “right in the middle” of talks with Jones, a five-time Pro Bowl selection.
Jones is not the only NFL star to be skipping minicamp this week. Oakland defensive end Khalil Mack, Arizona running back David Johnson, Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas and Tennessee left tackle Taylor Lewan are all holding out in their quests for new contracts . . . .
A jury in St. Louis ordered the Rams to pay former running back Reggie Bush $12.5 million for a severe knee injury he suffered in 2015, the team’s final season in St. Louis before moving to Los Angeles.
Heath, U.S. women top China
Tobin Heath scored the go-ahead goal in the 75th minute in her return from injury and the U.S. national team beat China 2-1 in Cleveland to sweep the two-game exhibition series.
Megan Rapinoe put the U.S. ahead in the 35th minute by heading home Christen Press’ cross at the far post. Press became the 37th player to appear in 100 matches for the U.S.