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Kilpatrick up for Campbell Trophy
Youngstown State punter Brendon Kilpatrick (Lakeview) is one of 177 semifinalists for 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, which is college football's premier scholar-athlete award. Kilpatrick is one of just 44 FCS student-athletes to be named a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy.
The impressive list of candidates, from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, boasts an impressive 3.60 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists having already earned their bachelor's degrees.
Celebrating its 36th year, the Campbell Trophy® recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
Kilpatrick is in his third year as the starting punter and holder for the Penguins. Last year he was named the FCS Punter of the Year while earning third-team All-America honors. In his career, he has 96 punts for a school-record average of 44.9 yards a punt.
"This year's 177 semifinalists represent the very best of what it means to play college football," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "They have excelled in the classroom, distinguished themselves on the field, and proven to be leaders in their communities. The Campbell Trophy® stands as a reminder that football develops complete individuals, and these young men embody that tradition at the highest level."
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 36th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
"We are honored to celebrate such an extraordinary group of student-athletes as semifinalists for the Campbell Trophy®," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "Their accomplishments reflect the lasting impact of our game -- building character, discipline, and leadership, extending far beyond football. Selecting finalists from this outstanding class will be a tremendous challenge, but it's a challenge that underscores the unique prestige of this award."
Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 67th year in 2025. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments, and the NFF has recognized 938 outstanding individuals since the program's inception. This year's postgraduate scholarships will push the program's all-time distribution to more than $13.2 million.
Loyola's Sister Jean retires at 106
Longtime chaplain for Loyola Chicago's men's basketball team, Sister Jean, has retired at 106 because of health concerns. The school's student newspaper, The Loyola Phoenix, announced her retirement earlier this month.
Sister Jean rose to the spotlight during Loyola Chicago's trip to the Final Four in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. She was spotted cheering courtside throughout the Ramblers' improbable run.
She published a memoir in 2023, "Wake Up with Purpose! What I've Learned in My First 100 Years," sharing lessons she'd learned throughout her life and offering spiritual advice. Sister Jean turned 106 on Aug. 21.
Sister Jean served as the team's chaplain for 30 years, providing players with support, mentorship and encouragement. She became a beloved figure at the university and a local celebrity in the community.
Suns owner calls lawsuits 'money grab
PHOENIX -- Defiant Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia says he's not worried about the multiple lawsuits his franchise is facing, with claims ranging from discrimination to wrongful termination.
Ishbia called the lawsuits a "money grab" on Wednesday at Suns media day.
The franchise have been sued multiple times since 2024. Most recently, two minority owners of the Suns sued Ishbia in August, demanding to see records in order to investigate the status of the team's business and financial condition.
"As you guys know, anyone can file a lawsuit on any day they want for any reason they want," Ishbia said. "I could file a lawsuit for that question, right? But the truth is, you've actually got to win a lawsuit.
"Where I'm different than most successful people, or people that you say have a lot money, is we don't settle. So if we don't do anything wrong, I'm not paying someone. If their threat is they're going to go to the media and write (about) a lawsuit, have fun. Cool. Write it."
Ishbia continued: "I hope you guys all report on how many lawsuits we actually lose. Because we haven't lost one of them and we're not going to lose any of them, to be honest, because they're ridiculous."
Among the lawsuits the team is facing:
In July, the Suns confirmed it fired Gene Traylor, a former security manager who filed a lawsuit against the team in May alleging discrimination, harassment and unlawful retaliation. The team said at the time that Traylor was terminated after an outside investigation found he'd violated company policies regarding confidential information.
Earlier in July, former Mercury interim coach Nikki Blue filed a lawsuit against the organization, alleging unequal treatment based on race and gender, unequal pay based on race and that her employment was terminated in retaliation for complaints about unequal treatment.
In November, Andrea Trischan sued the team, alleging racial discrimination and unlawful retaliation that led to her termination. Trischan was the team's former manager of diversity, equity and inclusion for about 10 months in 2022 and 2023.
Ishbia, a mortgage executive, bought a majority stake of the Suns and Phoenix Mercury from embattled owner Robert Sarver for $4 billion. Ishbia and his brother Justin said then that they would be acquiring more than 50% of the franchises, which includes the entirety of Sarver's share as well as some holdings from minority partners.
The sale was officially approved in February 2023.