SPORTS digest

Mineral Ridge to hire alum Pugh as coach

MINERAL RIDGE

Mineral Ridge is set to hire one of its former stars as its next head boys basketball coach. Gary Pugh will take over the Rams pending school board approval on June 28. He replaces Steve Hughes.

Prior to last season, Pugh was the program’s all-time leading scorer before he was passed by graduating senior Jordan Zupko. Pugh played for the Rams from 1977 through 1980 and is 15th all-time in the state in free throw percentage at 91.4 percent.

Patriots’ Simon to visit for golf outing

HOWLAND

Linebacker John Simon of the New England Patriots will be among the athletes teeing off with the Inspiring Minds Celebrity Golf Outing set for Friday at 9 a.m. at Avalon Lakes Golf Course.

Among the former football players who will play are A.J. Hawk (Green Bay Packers), Robert Smith (Minnesota Vikings), Dan Herron (Buffalo Bills), Bobby Carpenter (Patriots), Beanie Wells (Arizona Cardinals), Doug Datish (Atlanta Falcons) and Prescott Burgess (Baltimore Ravens).

The raises funds for Inspiring Minds, a non-profit organization in Warren founded by former NFL player Deryck Toles.

To participate, call 330-469-6729.

Illinois TE Luke Ford to sit out 2019 season

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.

Illinois tight end Luke Ford, a transfer from Georgia, will not be eligible to play this season after the NCAA upheld the denial of his request for a waiver.

The NCAA initially denied Ford’s request in April, but the school appealed. Illinois said Friday the appeal had been denied.

Ford was one of the top recruits in the state of Illinois and a highly regarded national prospect in 2018. In January, Ford posted on Twitter he was leaving Georgia for Illinois because of his grandparents’ “deteriorating health” and the cost for his parents to watch him play. He is from tiny Carterville, Ill., about two hours southeast of St. Louis.

Ford will be eligible to play in 2020.

Ford caught one pass last season for Georgia, but could have provided a much-need boost to Illinois’ receiving group next season. The Illini are especially light on wide receivers and have been looking at graduate transfers at that position.

Illinois is coming off a third straight losing season under coach Lovie Smith, and the offseason has not brought much in the way of positive news.

Alabama mourns death of well-known fan

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.

The University of Alabama sports community is mourning the death of a fan with Down syndrome who was known for his football season visits to the athletic facilities and his game predictions to coach Nick Saban.

The Tuscaloosa News reports 36-year-old Walt Gary died Thursday. He had been hospitalized in a coma for several days. His grandmother, Betsy Shirley, confirmed that he experienced bleeding in his brain before his death.

Gary was in sixth grade when his mother reached out to then-Alabama coach Gene Stallings, whose son, John Mark, also had Down syndrome, a genetic condition that produces several traits including intellectual disability. Stallings often invited Gary to football practices.

The visits continued for more than 20 years.

“I’m proud of the coaches and players both,” Gary told ESPN in 2018. “These people are my friends and I know what they can do.”

Every Thursday during the football season, Gary would arrive at the university athletic facilities and would briefly meet with Saban to give his predictions for the game that weekend.

“Walt Gary was a special part of the Alabama football program and our hearts are broken by the news of his passing,” Saban said in a prepared statement. “He was beloved by everyone on our team, in our athletic department and throughout the Alabama family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and everyone who knew and loved Walt as much as we did.“

Staff/wire report