Leader of the pack: Gorman’s Stockham

Helped Gaels to four straight Class 4A state championship matches

Bishop Gorman girls volleyball coach Gregg Nunley makes no secret about it — he’s going to miss Tommi Stockham.

It’s an easy sentiment to understand, considering everything the

Gaels’ 6-foot-2-inch outside hitter has helped the program accomplish the past four seasons. It’s not only Stockham’s obvious ability in all aspects of the game that Nunley will miss but also her passion and leadership.

“It didn’t matter if it was pool play in a tournament or a match point in the state tournament, I’ll miss how fired up she would get after a kill,” Nunley said. “I’ll miss how much fun it was to be part of a match with her and how she’d turn to the setter and tell her, ‘Get me the ball right now.’ ’’

expansion of automatic replay reviews to include scoring plays and turnovers negated by a foul, and any point-after attempt.

Expansion of the defenseless player protection to a kickoff or punt returner who is in possession of the ball but who has not had time to avoid impending contact.

Prevention of teams manipulating the game clock by committing multiple dead-ball fouls with time running.

The NFL also extended virtual offseason training activities for at least another two weeks, which takes the offseason program into early June and targets next week for coaching staffs to return to team facilities.

“I think this offseason has looked a lot different than it has in the past but we are proud to see activities such as our free agency, the league year, the off-season programs and of course the Draft, demonstrate that we can operate in new and innovative ways so we are prepared for the 2020 season,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The onside kick rule garnered the most attention, though.

In tweaking the NFL kickoff rules in 2018 — to cut down on injuries — the league essentially muted the onside kick for teams trying to retain possession.

To offset that, a proposal was crafted that would give teams the opportunity to convert an untimed fourth-and-15 play. Conversion meant keeping the ball; getting stopped gave possession of the ball to the defending team at the spot of the dead ball.

It appeared headed to a vote Thursday, but an ensuing conversation that lasted about 30 minutes