College football kicks off in earnest, high school football too, baseball, more money for an NBA coach and more in our Thursday Sports Update…
** The college football season kicks off with an SEC flavor tonight as South Carolina hosts Texas A&M. Also, Ole Miss plays Boise State and Vanderbilt and new coach Derek Mason face Temple.
** When North Carolina opens its season, it will do so without four suspended players who allegedly were part of a hazing incident, according to head coach and former Gator assistant Larry Fedora.
** Local high school football starts tonight as well as Gainesville High School hosts Columbia High and Oak Hall travels to face Florida Deaf.
** The NFL wraps up its preseason schedule with a slew of games tonight. Jacksonville hosts Atlanta while Tampa Bay hosts Washington and Miami hosts St.Louis.
** In baseball, Tampa Bay beats Baltimore 3-1; Miami loses 6-1 to the LA Angels and Atlanta nips the New York Mets 3-2. Miami is off today while the Rays and Braves will face the Orioles and Mets, respectively.
** In NBA news, LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers has signed a new five year contract extension to remain with the team.