College Football

Commander in Chief honors the Falcons with his trophy

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama congratulated the Air Force football team Thursday for again winning the annual Commander in Chief’s Trophy.

Obama said Air Force has now won the “unreasonably large trophy” a record 19 times.

The president said that if anyone can figure out how to get the trophy where it needs to go, it’s the Air Force.

Obama made the presentation at the White House.

Obama also cited the Falcons for having the highest graduation rate in their conference and for logging more than 500 hours of community service.

Inconsistent Notre Dame QB Golson will transfer

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Quarterback Everett Golson announced he is leaving Notre Dame and will use his final season of eligibility elsewhere after graduating later this month.

Golson issued a statement to Fox Sports on Thursday saying he has decided to transfer. A call left on Golson’s cell phone by The Associated Press wasn’t immediately returned.

Golson refused to talk to the media all spring after The Times-Picayune in January quoted a source as saying he had reached out to LSU about transferring there less than a week after the Irish beat the Tigers in the Music Bowl.

NFL

Brady: ‘Deflategate’ scandal doesn’t taint Super Bowl win

ISALEM, Mass. – New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said the scandal surrounding his use of deflated footballs during the NFL playoffs last season hasn’t detracted in any way from his Super Bowl title.

Brady declined to discuss his thoughts Thursday night about the NFL’s findings that he was at least aware two team employees were breaking rules by deflating footballs for him.

Brady’s comments were his first since a 243-page NFL report found some of his claims were implausible in explaining why balls were underinflated during the playoffs last season.

The superstar quarterback spoke at a Q&A session moderated by sportscaster Jim Gray during a previously scheduled event at Salem State University.

Ed Reed flies away from the NFL on Raven wings

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Ed Reed came into the NFL as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, and now he’s leaving as one.

The nine-time Pro Bowl safety formally announced his retirement Thursday after signing one final contract with the team that drafted him 24th overall in the 2002 draft.

Reed played 11 seasons in Baltimore before splitting time with Houston and the New York Jets in 2012. He did not play last season.

Now 36, Reed said goodbye to the NFL in a news conference at the Ravens training facility.

Skiing

Champion Maze will skip next year to ponder future

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia – Two-time Olympic champion Tina Maze of Slovenia has announced a one-year break from ski racing before deciding about continuing her career.

The 32-year-old Maze said on her website, “I feel that my body and my mind need a longer rest than usual. I will allow myself a one year break before taking any further decision.”

Maze, who earned gold in downhill and giant slalom at the Sochi Games last year, won the 2013 overall World Cup title with a record total of 2,414 points. Last season, she finished runner-up to Anna Fenninger of Austria and won two gold medals at the world championships in Vail and Beaver Creek.

Associated Press