Fort Worth Star-Telegram du lieu suivant : Fort Worth, Texas • B1

MONDAY APRIL 25 2022 1BFACEBOOK.COM/STARTELEGRAM TWITTER.COM/STARTELEGRAMSTAR-TELEGRAM.COM Sports GET COMPLETE COVERAGE FROM THE GEICO 500 AT ONE OF MOST POPULAR AND VOLATILE TRACKS IN ALABAMA. Go to xtrasports. WILD TALLADEGA ACTION TCU senior wide receiver Gunnar Henderson described the environment during Friday spring game as Junior running back Ema- ni Bailey raved about the at- mosphere, too, experiencing his first inside Amon G. Carter Stadium. was Bailey said.

love the energy that was There is a buzz surrounding the program these days as it enters the Sonny Dykes era. Fans have enjoyed the program becoming more accessible with spring practices being open. More players and assistants are sharing their stories with greater media access. Overall, there is a different vibe from previous years and it was on full display Friday night. Longtime TCU officials called it the best spring football crowd in two-plus decades with the majority of the lower bowl being filled with fans.

Now on Dykes, his staff and the players to keep the positivity flowing throughout the pro- gram. As assistant Doug Meacham said last week, it still comes down to winning games regard- less of how accessible a pro- gram is to fans. If Dykes and company get off to a 2-5 start, these vibes will dissipate quick- ly. Of course Dykes knows that as well as anyone given that this is his fourth program to take over. an excitement around the program right now and I think there always is when a coaching Dykes said.

part of the evolution of college football. There was a great energy in the stadium tonight. I think we have an incredible fan base. I think hungry to win. been spoiled.

had a lot of success around here over the years and we have very high expectations for our program just as they do. It was good to have a chance to connect with them. The energy around the program is really good right now and our job to keep it Like Dykes and the players, TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati has enjoyed seeing transpired. Donati said there is tangible evidence that fans are getting behind the coaching transition based on season ticket sales so far this AMANDA MCCOY TCU wide receiver Gunnar Henderson picks up yardage during spring football game at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.

Henderson described the atmosphere as TCU football has positive buzz amid coaching change BY DREWDAVISON SEE TCU FOOTBALL, 2B T.J. Carter know where be today without football. I grew up, a lot of poverty, a lot of violence, a lot of shooting, a lot of drugs, a lot of said Carter, referring to his childhood days in East Nashville. was my way out. If it for football, I probably strayed into that path just what was around me.

I probably become a product of my envi- ronment. My mom did a good job, and my whole support sys- tem, of keeping me on the right track and getting me into foot- That, more than anything, is why Carter is hoping to extend his playing days as long as pos- sible. Carter went through pro day late last month, showcasing his athleticism and skills in front of 28 NFL teams. Among his notable test results included a 4.56-second 40-yard dash, a 37-inch vertical jump and a 4.15-second shuttle, ac- cording to The NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler. Brugler has ranked Carter as the No.

81 cornerback prospect in this NFL Draft class. Carter is not projected to be selected later this week, but he should intrigue a team to at least give him a free agent op- portunity. This is a player who has versatility in the secondary, starting games at free safety, weak safety and cornerback for the Horned Frogs last season. Carter finished second on the team in tackles with 63 and also had one interception, one pass breakup and one QB hurry in 10 games. He spent his first four years at Memphis but made a positive impact in his lone sea- son at TCU.

Much of that can be traced to his upbringing. a coach, you always look T.J. Carter will bring versatility to NFL team BY DREW DAVISON SEE CARTER, 2B OAKLAND, CALIF. Brad Miller hit a key single in the eighth inning that drove in two runs after a replay review initiated by the umpires, and the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 2-0 on Saturday. The winning rally started when Adolis Garcia and Willie Calhoun chased Frankie Montas (2-2) with consecutive one-out singles.

After Domingo Acevedo retired pinch-hitter Jonah Heim on a groundout, Miller lined a 1-1 pitch to left. Garcia scored easily but pinch-runner Eli White was thrown out at home by a strong throw from left fielder Tony Kemp. was hard to tell because there was a lot of contact but I felt like I got my hand in White said. was so bang- bang it was kind of hard to tell if he was blocking the The Rangers lost an earlier challenge, so they could not appeal. But the umpires initiated a crew chief review and over- turned the initial call, ruling catcher Sean Murphy illegally blocked the plate.

to set up where I usu- ally try to set up and then a lot of things converg- ing at one Murphy said. was just trying to make a play on the ball and make the tag. I think it was egregious. Obviously New York thought I violated the rule. Just one of those things when trying to make a play on the manager Mark Kotsay protested in between innings and was ejected.

The play helped Texas clinch its first series win of the season after dropping its first four. The Rangers have won three straight games after losing five in a row. Four Rangers pitchers com- bined on a three-hitter. Brock Burke (2-0) got three outs for the win, and Matt Bush pitched the ninth for his first save. Montas was dominant before running into trouble in the eighth.

He permitted three hits, struck out eight and walked one. Rangers starter Martin Perez was equally sharp after a pair of rough outings. He pitched six innings of two-hit ball. key today was keeping the ball down, everything Perez said. free-swingers, they swing at everything.

I was attacking early and throwing the pitches where I Brad single, replay, help Rangers edge BY MICHAELWAGAMAN Associated Press JED JACOBSOHN AP The Texas Brad Miller hits a two-run single in front of Oakland Athletics catcher Sean Murphy during the eighth inning in Oakland, on Saturday. SEE RANGERS, 2B SALT LAKE CITY Rudy Gobert gave Utah the lead with an alley-oop dunk with 11.0 seconds left and the Jazz held off the Dallas Maver- icks 100-99 on Saturday in Game 4 to tie the first-round series. Spencer Dinwiddie missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer for Dallas. Utah held the Mavericks to 18 points in the fourth quarter after surrendering a double- digit lead in the second half. Dallas made just two baskets through the first seven minutes of the fourth and shot overall in quarter.

is the team we want to Gobert said. is who we Jordan Clarkson scored 25 points for Utah, Donovan Mitchell added 23 points and seven assists. Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 15 rebounds 10 off the offensive glass. He was 3 of 8 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and 9 of 18 overall. Dallas star Luka Doncic had 30 points, 10 rebounds four assists in his return from a three-game absence because of a strained left calf.

my wind Doncic said. little bit tired now but it felt great to be Jalen Brunson added 23 points, and Dorian Finney- Smith, Dwight Powell and Reggie Bullock had 11 points apiece. Game 5 is Monday night in Dallas. were down 12 at the half and we stayed the course, and it comes down to the last Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. on the road in the playoffs and it comes down to the last play, you ask for a better sit- After going 3 minutes without a basket, the Jazz took a 95-94 lead on layup with 1:27 remaining.

Doncic answered with back-to- back baskets to put Dallas up 99-95. Mitchell converted a three- point play to bring Utah within one. Powell missed a pair of free throws with 19.8 seconds left, opening the door for Go- winner. The Jazz doubled Doncic on Jazz beat Mavericks to tie series, spoil return BY JOHN COON Associated Press SEE JAZZ, 2B.