David Williams II, the first black athletic director in the

NASHVILLE Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys Stitched , Tenn. (AP) — Conference and an “incomparable leader” at Vanderbilt, died Friday, hours before his retirement party. He was 71.He died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the university said. The cause was not disclosed. His last day as athletic director was Jan. 31.“David Williams stood tall on this campus, in this city and in college athletics nationally as an incomparable leader, role model and dear friend to me and so many others,” chancellor Nicholas Zeppos said in a statement. “We are devastated by this loss. His impact on our community is immeasurable and will be felt for generations to come.”Williams was nicknamed the Goldfather — the school colors are black and gold — for his success at the school. He had been the SEC’s second-longest tenured athletic director behind Kentucky’s Mitch Barnhart when he announced his retirement last September. Malcolm Turner took over Feb. 1, Williams stayed on as a full-time law professor. He also was establishing a Sports, Law & Society program at Vanderbilt Law School.“David authored a remarkable legacy at Vanderbilt Josh Allen Jersey 2019 , one defined by blazing trails and championing the student-athlete,” Turner said in a statement.Williams was vice chancellor of student affairs and a tenured law professor, general counsel and university secretary in 2003 when then-chancellor Gordon Gee dissolved the Vanderbilt athletic department in 2003. Williams’ job overseeing student affairs put him in charge of athletics, which he had worked in while at Ohio State.He shed some jobs in 2012 when he took the athletic director title. During his stay, Vanderbilt won four national championships — baseball (2014), women’s tennis (2015) and women’s bowling (2007, 2018) — and enjoyed its most football success in nearly a century.The last bowl berth for the Commodores had been in 1982. Vanderbilt went to six bowl games under Williams, starting in 2008 and most recently in December. It marked a huge turnaround for a program that ended the SEC’s longest bowl drought and a 25-year stretch without a winning record.“I remember the disbelief that people had,” Williams said. “But I knew we could do that. And quite honestly, I also knew that the hardest thing of all of this was going to be football because of the size of it and that this is the Southeastern Conference.”Williams hired both James Franklin Mens Josh Allen Jersey , now at Penn State, and current coach Derek Mason in football. Vanderbilt has five wins in the past seven years over state rival Tennessee and just reached a second bowl in three seasons. Mason wrote on Twitter that he loved Williams.“You believed in me…your wisdom and guidance forged a bond that will never be forgotten,” Mason wrote.Williams also hired Bryce Drew and Stephanie White in 2016 to coach men’s and women’s basketball. Vanderbilt canceled availability with the men’s basketball team Friday. Williams also kept Tim Corbin as baseball coach; Vanderbilt’s streak of 13 straight NCAA Tournament berths is best in the SEC and the Commodores are the preseason pick to win the SEC title this year.He also oversaw upgrades to McGugin Center, home to the football program, along with building an indoor football practice facility that also has a track, upgrades to the baseball field, and offices and renovations at Memorial Gym among others.SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement posted to Twitter that he lost both a friend and someone who guided him in many ways.“His steady leadership and his legacy as a trailblazer have moved the Vanderbilt community in ways that will be felt for generations,” Sankey wrote. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars cleared $30 million in salary cap space by cutting five veterans Friday, including former Pro Bowl defenders Malik Jackson and Tashaun Gipson.The team also released offensive lineman Jermey Parnell Black Josh Allen Jersey , running back Carlos Hyde and long-snapper Carson Tinker.The Jaguars are expected to use the much-needed cap room — they now have about $32 million to spend in 2019 — to sign a quarterback in free agency next week, possibly Nick Foles.Philadelphia opted not to use the franchise tag on Foles, allowing him to hit the open market. He could get a deal worth more than $20 million annually.Foles led the Eagles to four playoff victories over the last two seasons, including the franchise’s first NFL title since 1960. He earned 2018 Super Bowl MVP honors and emerged as the league’s top quarterback commodity.Jacksonville did not part ways with quarterback Blake Bortles, but might do so next week. Cutting Bortles would create another $4.5 million in salary cap space.The Jags saved $11 million by releasing Jackson, a defensive tackle who was due to count $15 million against the cap. They saved $7.45 million by cutting Gipson, a safety who was due to count $9.05 million against the cap. They saved $6 million on Parnell, $4.7 million on Hyde and $860,000 on Tinker.Jacksonville, however Womens Brandon Linder Jersey , will have $5.6 million counted against the salary cap from the Jackson and Gipson deals.Jackson and Gipson were productive in Jacksonville, playing in all 48 games during their three seasons.Jackson won a Super Bowl with Denver in 2016 and then signed a six-year, $85.5 million contract with the Jags. The deal included $42 million guaranteed, the richest in franchise history.He notched 105 tackles, 18 sacks, eight pass breakups and four forced fumbles. He came off the bench late last season, a clear indication his future with the franchise was in jeopardy.Gipson signed a five-year, $36 million deal that included $12 million guaranteed. He had 159 tackles, 16 pass breakups and six interceptions in three seasons in Jacksonville.Both players should draw plenty of interest in free agency. Jackson is 29 years old and hasn’t missed a game since his rookie year in 2012. Gipson is 28 and hasn’t missed a game since October 2015.The 32-year-old Parnell was entering the final year of his contract and was due a $1 million roster bonus on March 17.Parnell missed three games because of injuries in each of the last two seasons, and the Jaguars believe they can get equal or better production for less money. And that’s necessary for a team with little cap space and plenty of holes to fill.Parnell started 57 games over four seasons after signing a five-year Jalen Ramsey Jersey , $32 million contract in 2015. The deal included $15.5 million guaranteed.Tinker missed 27 of 32 games the last two years because of knee injuries, prompting the team to re-sign veteran snapper Matt Overton.Hyde was a disappointment in Jacksonville, which acquired him from Cleveland last October in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. The Jaguars had hoped he would fill in for injured starter Leonard Fournette, but Hyde managed just 189 yards in eight games.Fournette, Thomas Rawls and second-year pro David Williams are the only running backs remaining on Jacksonville’s roster.The Jags likely will address the position in free agency or the draft, or maybe both.The 28-year-old Hyde should not have a problem finding a home elsewhere. He has 3,300 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns.He signed a three-year, $15.25 million contract with the Browns last March. He became expendable in Cleveland when rookie Nick Chubb started looking like a second-round steal.Hyde was due a $1 million roster bonus on March 15, the same day that $2 million of his base salary would have become guaranteed.