Seconds after Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jake Funk on Friday night for a 7-0 lead against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Galu Tagovailoa's cellphone rang in the stands at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.

It was his other son, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, on FaceTime.

"Tua called us and he was cheering, going crazy," their dad said.

"That's Tua," his little brother said. "He's probably my biggest cheerleader, other than my mom."

Even from 1,000 miles away. But that's not surprising, because somehow, the Tagovailoa family always finds a way to close the gap. Galu and Diane Tagovailoa, who moved their entire family from Hawaii to Alabama to be closer to Tua when he was playing for coach Nick Saban, traveled this past weekend to see both of their sons win in memorable fashion at the sport's highest levels. During a pandemic. With the grandparents coming from Hawaii. And the brother-in-law who drove Tua's two enormous pit bulls -- Dallas and Star -- from Alabama to Miami.

("Those are not dogs to me," Taulia deadpanned. "Those are me and Tua's kids. Have you seen the dogs? They're big boys.")

Two days after watching Taulia orchestrate a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback to beat Minnesota 45-44 in overtime and earn his first career win as a starter on Friday night in College Park, Maryland, Galu Tagovailoa estimated there were 30 to 40 friends and family members who met in Miami to watch Tua's first career NFL start -- a 28-17 victory against the Los Angeles Rams.

That capped a whirlwind four-day, three-state, two-game Tagovailoa tour that encompassed more than 2,500 miles. It began on Thursday, when Galu and Diane, along with their eldest daughter, Taylor, and Diane's parents, all tested negative for COVID-19 in Alabama before flying to Maryland. On Friday night, they watched as Taulia, an Alabama transfer, accounted for five touchdowns in an upset win over Minnesota, a stunning turnaround from his three-interception performance in a 43-3 season-opening loss at Northwestern. On Saturday, they flew to Miami, where they immediately went to the Dolphins' COVID-19 testing facility, only to return to their hotel and await the results on Sunday morning.

Once cleared, they were able to watch Tua throw his first NFL touchdown pass.

The two brothers, once teammates at Alabama, are now carving their own paths with their respective teams, but they are forever bonded by Tua's success -- the barometer by which Taulia will, fairly or unfairly, always be measured -- and a tight-knit family that has been there to support them every step of the way.

"They are stoked when they see us," Galu said. "Everything is talking about family. [Tua] was talking to us about Taulia's game and how happy he was for Taulia. Before we left, Taulia kept telling me, 'Man, Dad, I can't wait to see Tua play. I'm so excited.' Because they're so close. They want to be there to support each other, but they can't because of everything that's going on."

Instead, the rest of the family found a way to support them both -- during a weekend that was a win for everyone.

In search of more playing time -- and frustrated there was no spring practice this year to try to earn it at Alabama -- Taulia entered the transfer portal and ultimately landed with former Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, now head coach at Maryland. The relationship Locksley had established with the Tagovailoa family through recruiting and coaching both brothers, plus Taulia's familiarity and understanding of his offensive system, made joining the Terps a natural fit.

"Once he made the decision and entered the portal, I hoped that we would have an opportunity because of the relationship piece, and knowing the type of numbers Tua put up in this system was what we tried to sell him on: If you come here, it's the same system," Locksley said. "We had no clue that he would end up here. They're a close, tight-knit family. With Tua going to Miami, I thought maybe that would be a factor, but we recruited him really hard once he went into the portal and tried to sell him on the system, and I think because of how faith-based the family is, they had a lot of belief and faith in me and our system and our program."

And Locksley continued to have faith in Taulia -- in spite of that dreadful debut against Northwestern. On Friday night versus Minnesota, the quarterback looked calm, composed and capable of being everything that comes with the last name on his jersey. It wasn't a flawless performance -- Taulia had a turnover when a screen pass was tipped by a defender for an interception -- but he finished with almost 400 yards and three touchdown passes, plus another two scores on the ground.

"Everybody was so shocked he played that way because of how he played at his first game. And what I told people was, I was more shocked by how he played in the Northwestern game than how he played against Minnesota because that's how he's practiced, that's some of the same drills and plays he's done at practice," Locksley said. "Friday night was more of what I was used to seeing, and last Saturday against Northwestern hopefully was an anomaly."

It wasn't until around 11 p.m. on Friday, after the game, that Taulia saw his family for the first time that weekend, as everyone followed the program's COVID-19 protocols and stayed separated on the night before the game.

They made up for lost time.

Taulia and his father talked endlessly -- about the game, about Tua -- and listened to music as they drove through College Park into the wee hours of the morning, stopping at a McDonald's at one point because it was the only place open.

"We stayed up all morning," Galu said. "From the time he got to the hotel, we talked about the game, we talked about the things he needed to work on; and he was telling me how his week went, how him and the guys have worked hard, watched film, going over reads and going over the game plan. It was awesome. I didn't sleep 'til maybe Saturday night."

The flight from Baltimore to Miami left Saturday at 9 a.m.

A loud smattering of cheers erupted as Tua concluded his on-field warm-up before his first NFL start on Sunday at 1 p.m. The video board at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, gave Dolphins fans a glimpse of their franchise quarterback uncorking a pass. Then a louder collection of cheers could be heard when Dan Marino, the Dolphins' best player in franchise history who now serves as a team advisor, was shown on the screen watching Tagovailoa.

With that backdrop, the pressure of being Tua couldn't be more obvious. Dolphins coach Brian Flores somewhat surprisingly elevated him to starter after Week 6 with the team sitting at 3-3 and veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick playing well. Many are expecting the team's No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft to be the savior of a franchise that has been mired in mediocrity and quarterback misery, for the most part, since Marino retired in 2000.

But Sunday was about Tua, not Marino.

It was Tua's first start in a football game in 351 days, since suffering a devastating hip injury at Alabama that threatened to end his playing career. Tua admittedly didn't play his best against the Rams, as he totaled 93 passing yards, but he still got his first win. Tua said afterward, "Thank God we've got a good defense."

Tua would throw his first NFL touchdown on a tight-window pass to wide receiver DeVante Parker on a goal-line slant pass. The signal-caller said he would be keeping that ball. Tua also crossed off another milestone he had set for himself: play a full 60-minute game.

"It's definitely been a journey. I definitely think of that injury, when I got hurt, and then the process leading up to being able to walk, being able to do football drills and just do things in general," Tua said. "I definitely do reflect on that process that I went through. I'm definitely blessed to be able to still be here and play the game that I grew up dreaming to play."

Tua's first dropback on Sunday caused the stadium to go eerily quiet. He attempted to step up in the pocket, but Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald swiped the football free while fellow DT Michael Brockers lifted him off his feet -- and, as Tua described it, he "pretty much body-slammed me."

We might not have learned a lot about Tua in his first NFL start, but we did learn he and his surgically repaired hip can take hits.

"That was a good hit. It's football," Tua said. "I'm not going to lie -- I did enjoy getting hit that first time. That was definitely a welcome."

After his first NFL snaps came in garbage time against the New York Jets two weeks ago, Tua returned to the field in full uniform and sat at the 15-yard line in Hard Rock Stadium for 10 minutes to soak it all in. He then FaceTimed his parents, who were not in attendance, and shared the emotional moment with them.

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Come a long way. The journey continues ? #Blessed

A post shared by TAGOVAILOA???? (@tuaman) on Oct 18, 2020 at 6:35pm PDT

During that postgame video call, they told him they were proud of him, Diane cried and they all reminisced about the arduous journey. But on Sunday, both parents, along with agents, pastors and other family members, watched Tua get his first touchdown pass and his first win from a suite inside Miami's stadium.

"When I got here [to Miami], I was excited for my other son," Galu said. "I talked with him and went over his game plan and what he was going to do. It was good. The good thing about that whole situation was, Lia was in good spirits, Tua was in good spirits. They're so supportive."

After the game, Tua didn't want to go out to a celebratory dinner because of COVID-19 concerns, so everyone went to Tua's South Florida home to let the entire weekend soak in.

The Tagovailoa brothers are making their name known across the sports world.

"I look up to Tua," Taulia said. "That's the person I'm trying to be. Everything he does, I want to do. Everything he does, I feel like I can do. Tua, he's the best quarterback ever in my eyes. The best big brother in my eyes, everything to me. All that stuff -- it doesn't matter -- the comparisons and stuff like that. I can't get caught up in that."

Tua immediately became the Dolphins' most well-known player when he was drafted in April before playing a snap. He burst on the scene at the 2018 national championship game as a freshman, leading Alabama to a title and helping transform the Crimson Tide from an old-school, run-first operation to the high-flying air attack we see today. But through all the early accolades and the elevated brand, Tua's humility shines.

"What helps me is my family. My family is not too big on the hype and whatnot. It's more so just being a good son for them," Tua said. "A lot of the times, when I do come home and I talk to my parents on the phone, they don't really necessarily want to know about how football went. They just want to know how everything is with me as a person."

As for Taulia, this past weekend was a step toward him being known for his own name and not just as Tua's little brother. Even as they continue to distinguish themselves separately, though, the brothers have landed in extremely similar situations -- becoming the faces of programs desperate for a quarterback capable of elevating their teams from mediocrity. Much like Dolphins fans have yearned for the next Marino, Terps fans haven't seen consistent play at the position since coach Ralph Friedgen was fired in 2010. Since 2016, seven different players have started at quarterback for Maryland.

"There's no doubt that Lia has the ability and the skill set to succeed in this system, but he has to do it consistently," Locksley said. "I believe he's a franchise quarterback, but he's got to go out and show it."

Regardless of what happens next, the Tagovailoa family will always remember their 2-0 Halloween weekend.

"It's a blessing," Taulia said. "I feel like God works in mysterious ways. It just happened to be a great weekend for us. It was a great weekend for Maryland. I knew Tua was going to do his thing Sunday. The way it played out was a blessing. I know my parents are happy for us, and that's the biggest thing for us."

Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns detailed losing his mom to COVID-19 complications in an emotional video posted to his YouTube channel.

Titled "THE TOUGHEST YEAR OF MY LIFE," the 18-minute video showed a vulnerable Towns explaining having to be the one to "pull the plug" on his mother, Jackie Cruz-Towns, who died on April 13.

"At that moment I pulled the plug and just let her pass," Towns said. "They told me she may be alive another hour, maybe two."

He explained that other members of their family were talking with his mom remotely and laughing and sharing stories when she died.

"She was sent off with laughter," a tearful Towns said in the video.

He revealed in an Instagram post on March 25 that both of his parents had tested positive for the coronavirus. While father's condition improved, he shared that his mother was in a medically induced coma and had been placed on a ventilator due to the virus, he said in March.

In the video that was posted Monday night, Towns said his mom took a turn for the worse when she suffered a stroke, something he learned in a phone call from his dad.

"He was just like, 'She's gone. She had a stroke during the night and she's gone.' I said, 'Has she taken a step back? What's the next step?' Because in my mind, I'm just thinking about [next] steps," Towns said. "He had just told me those doctors thought there was no way for meaningful life from her after this stroke."

"It just got to a point where it was harming her," Towns said. "I gave her all the time, and I made the hardest decision you can make. I called my sister, I told her the decision I made was. You've got to live with that. I made that decision."

Towns said he's still grieving and trying to figure out life without his mom.

"I think for me, I think if I was to say how am I coping and how am I healing from this, I'm trying to heal myself through others," Towns said.

"I'm trying to do as much as I can for my sister and my father. Trying to take care of my friends and I'm trying to heal myself through them," Towns said. "It's helped, but I think that one day, and I know it's creeping up, I feel it every day, it's gonna creep up and I'm going to have to find a way to deal with it, actually. That's why I wanted to do this [interview]. I thought this would be therapeutic for me to admit that these things are real and how I feel is real and being able to try to find some normalcy. Life is a game and I'm just playing one chess piece at a time."

Towns, 24, is heading into his sixth season with the Wolves and coming off a year in which he averaged a career-high 26.5 points per game and 10.8 rebounds.

The Los Angeles Angels and Major League Baseball moved Monday to dismiss a lawsuit by former Angels visiting clubhouse attendant Brian "Bubba" Harkins.

Harkins was fired March 5 after an internal investigation confirmed suspicions that he was providing sticky ball-doctoring substances to opposing pitchers. According to the Los Angeles Times, Harkins filed a lawsuit Aug. 28, alleging defamation against the Angels and MLB, saying he "never distributed an illegal substance" and was made a "public scapegoat."

Dismissal hearings are scheduled for Jan. 21 and Feb. 4.

According to the MLB investigation, Harkins provided pitchers with a substance that consisted of a melted-down pine-tar solution and rosin, a source told ESPN in March. The Angels believe Harkins acted alone, and they did not fire any other clubhouse attendants for this matter.

Harkins joined the Angels as a bat boy in 1981 and returned to the organization as a clubhouse manager in 1986, taking over the visiting clubhouse four years later. He was named visiting clubhouse manager of the year by MLB equipment managers in 2005.

Information from ESPN's Alden Gonzalez was used in this report.

Ans Botha and Helena Duplantis are among the speakers at online International Festival of Athletics Coaching conference this weekend

Earlier this year the International Festival of Athletics Coaching (IFAC) was one of the first big events in the sport to be called off due to coronavirus. It was due to take place in Loughborough in March but with the pandemic already spreading through Europe some coaches were unable to travel to the UK for it.

Now, though, it has been re-arranged for this weekend (November 6-8) as an online event called “Virtual IFAC 2020” with a host of interesting experts poised to deliver online lectures.

Speakers include Ans Botha, the coach of Wayde van Niekerk, plus Helena Duplantis, coach to Mondo Duplantis – a real coup for the conference given that their athletes are world record-holders.

In addition there is multiple Paralympic wheelchair racing gold medallist Chantal Petitclerc and Dawn Scott, the physical preparation manager for the England women’s football team who previously worked with the World Cup-winning United States team.

The line-up also ranges from world record coaches to leaders in science and emerging technology such as Artificial Intelligence.

Further coaches due to speak include Frank Dick, Charles van Commenee, Malcolm Arnold and Vern Gambetta.

Virtual IFAC 2020 will take place on November 6-8 over seven separate sessions, each lasting around 2 hours 30 minutes, consisting of two presentations and a panel discussion with the opportunity for attendees to send questions to the panel.

Access and information on Virtual IFAC 2020 will all be driven through the newly relaunched EACA website.

Virtual IFAC 2020 costs €99 but AW subscribers can receive a 20% discount with a voucher code in our AW Clubhouse here.

The 10-strong athlete of the year shortlists have been announced

Britain’s Laura Muir is among the nominees for the female world athlete of the year honour, while Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei is on a shortlist for the male prize at the World Athletics Awards.

This year the global governing body’s awards event will be held virtually on Saturday December 5.

Muir clocked 1500m times of 3:57.40, 3:57.86 and 3:58.24 to lead the world rankings and set a British 1000m record of 2:30.82 in 2020, while Cheptegei broke three world records throughout the year – running 12:51 for a road 5km, 12:35.36 for 5000m on the track and 26:11.00 for 10,000m on the track.

Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, who set a world record of 14:06.62 over 5000m, and Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan, who recorded a world record distance of 18,930m in the one-hour run and broke the European 10,000m record with 29:36.67, are also among the female nominees.

The men’s shortlist also features Sweden’s world pole vault record-breaker Mondo Duplantis and Norway’s Karsten Warholm, who ran a world-leading 46.87 in the 400m hurdles and was unbeaten in that event.

Female world athlete of the year nominees: Femke Bol, Netherlands; Letesenbet Gidey, Ethiopia; Sifan Hassan, Netherlands; Peres Jepchirchir, Kenya; Faith Kipyegon, Kenya; Laura Muir, Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Hellen Obiri, Kenya; Yulimar Rojas, Venezuela; Elaine Thompson-Herah, Jamaica; Ababel Yeshaneh, Ethiopia

Male world athlete of the year nominees: Donavan Brazier, USA; Joshua Cheptegei, Uganda; Timothy Cheruiyot, Kenya; Ryan Crouser, USA; Mondo Duplantis, Sweden; Jacob Kiplimo, Uganda; Noah Lyles, USA; Daniel Stahl, Sweden; Johannes Vetter, Germany; Karsten Warholm, Norway

A three-way voting process will determine the finalists. The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the World Athletics’ social media platforms.

As well as male and female athlete of the year honours, the World Athletics Awards will include the president’s award, coaching achievement award and athletics photograph of the year, as well as a Covid inspiration award, athletes community award and member federations award.

Last year Eliud Kipchoge and Dalilah Muhammad were named world athletes of the year, while the 2018 winners were Kipchoge and Caterine Ibarguen.

AW readers will also have the chance to vote for their athletes of the year in the AW Awards, launching in the November edition of AW magazine and in the AW Clubhouse.

Former Melbourne Victory midfielder Josh Hope has decided to step away from professional football at the age of 22 because anxiety caused in large part by online abuse from fans had stopped him enjoying the game.

Hope, who was released at the end of last season after four years at Victory, said in an Instagram post on Tuesday he had decided to "call it in, for now" rather than pursue a move to another A-League club.

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"It's a constant battle with people who are supposedly meant to be supporting you," he wrote. "Some of the things I would see not only regarding myself but others was nothing less than abuse. And I'm not talking football related!

"When it gets personal, to the colour of their skin, to how they talk, to a haircut ... I don't want to be a part of it."

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Well I never thought I'd be typing this one up but here we are. Some 4 years it's been, the life of a professional sportsman. Geez its been good, the people you meet and the memories I've made, I won't ever forget. Football has been such a big part of my life ever since I can remember. But it's time for me to call it in, for now....it isn't all smooth sailing and I just wonna put my experiences out there so that if anyone ever feels like they are the only one! Ya not! The anxiety that comes with this shit is crazy, I never thought it would get to the point it did. I kept pretty quiet about it for a long time but I started to see it creep into my day to day life. And at the end of the day it made me not enjoy my football.. at all. Critics come with all sports and only the strong survive, (so they say) but some of the shit is relentless. I was so over being treated like just a 'player'. We aren't just someone you see on the TV screen, we are people no different to anyone else. It didn't just stop after the final whistle, it's a constant battle with people who are supposedly meant to be supporting you. Some of the things I would see not only regarding myself but others was nothing less than abuse. And I'm not talking Football related! Ofcourse there's going to be clueless people saying the first thing that pops into their head. But when it gets personal, to the colour of their skin, to how they talk, to a haircut. I get it, it's a cruel world but geez if that's how it's going to be I don't want to be a part of it. Without a doubt this is the hardest decision I've ever made but I hope at the end of it I'm going to come back stronger. Mind and body. And be the player i know i am before this shit took over. In the mean time, I am so keen to focus on myself and spend some time home with family & friends! And ofcourse this cutie. This isn't the end... we only just getting started mf's! Remember it's ok to not be ok, no matter who you are ❤️ #speakupstaychatty

A post shared by Hopey (@josh_hope76) on Nov 1, 2020 at 10:15pm PST

Hope, a former captain of the Australia under-17s side and also an U20 international, said the criticism had been "relentless" and forced him to give up football.

"The anxiety that comes with this ... is crazy, I never thought it would get to the point it did," he wrote.

"I kept pretty quiet about it for a long time but I started to see it creep into my day to day life. And at the end of the day it made me not enjoy my football.. at all."

Hope said walking away from the professional game was the hardest decision he had ever made but that he hoped to return "stronger" one day.

His agent John Grimaud posted a video of Hope's highlights from the 2020 season on Twitter.

Sad when a talented client feels he has to walk away from the game we love mainly to his experiences with online abuse. Some will say toughen up which is easy when they've never had to deal with the pressure of being a pro ⚽️
❤️ ya mate! #ItsOkNotToBeOk https://t.co/ANKbF1lnZp

— John Grimaud ??⚽️ (@grimaud_john) November 2, 2020

"Sad when a talented client feels he has to walk away from the game we love mainly to his experiences with online abuse," he wrote.

"Some will say toughen up, which is easy when they've never had to deal with the pressure of being a pro."

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling said in October that social media companies needed to do more to combat abuse after a study revealed widespread racist abuse of English professionals online.

Wales manager Ryan Giggs has denied allegations of assault after he was arrested by police on Sunday following a disturbance at his home involving a woman.

The Wales Football Association on Monday cancelled their planned news conference ahead of the side's international games this month, which includes a clash against the USMNT on Nov. 12.

"Mr Giggs denies all allegations of assault made against him," Giggs' representatives told ESPN. "He is cooperating with the police and will continue to assist them with their ongoing investigations."

Former Manchester United winger Giggs, 46, was due to announce his squad on Tuesday ahead of the international break but will now not appear following allegations of a disturbance at his home.

"Police were called at 10.05 p.m. GMT (6.45 p.m. ET) on Nov. 1, 2020 to reports of a disturbance at an address in Worsley," a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said.

"A woman in her 30s sustained minor injuries but did not require any treatment.

"A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of section 47 assault and section 39 common assault. He has since been bailed pending further enquiries. Enquiries are ongoing."

As well as facing the United States, Wales are also due to play Ireland and Finland later this month.

"The squad announcement scheduled for tomorrow will no longer take place and has been postponed," a statement from the Wales FA said.

Paul Shaw has been appointed head coach of Manchester Originals women in the Hundred.

Shaw, 48, coached the Thunder in the inaugural Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy this summer on an interim basis, and has now been awarded that role, plus the Lancashire and Manchester Originals jobs, permanently. He has previously worked in a number of different roles at the ECB, including as head of England women's performance - effectively head coach - from 2013 to 2015.

With a level of collaboration and interaction between the eight new regional hubs and teams in the women's Hundred, the recruitment process was carried out by Lancashire.

The Originals will play their games at Emirates Old Trafford and Sedbergh School in the Hundred's inaugural season, with Kate Cross their only confirmed player to date.

"I am really pleased to have been offered the opportunity to continue the project which was started this summer," Shaw said in a media release. "It was a really productive, albeit short, summer of cricket and as a side we had some excellent days and some tough days, but I believe that all of our players made huge strides forward.

"I am also looking forward to coaching the Manchester Originals side in the Hundred which will involve working with some of the world's best, while continuing the progression of our own North West crop of players."

Ajax Amsterdam could be without several key players after 11 squad members tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash at Midtjylland, broadcaster RTL reported on Monday.

Ajax travelled to Denmark on Monday with only 17 players listed in the squad on their website. The club would not release the names of players with the virus due to privacy rules.

Skipper Dusan Tadic, goalkeeper Andre Onana and midfielders Davy Klaassen and Ryan Gravenberch were all expected to start the Group D match at Herning but were left out of the party.

Reserve goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has also been omitted, leaving one keeper, Kjell Scherpen, for the trip, with Daley Blind, Nicolas Tagliafico and Edson Alvarez among the 17 players included in the roster.

Coach Erik ten Hag is due to hold a news conference on Monday afternoon.

Dutch media said secondary tests were being conducted on Monday for those affected in the hope that the results might turn out negative and more players would be able to travel to Denmark but they would need permission from UEFA to do so.

Under the rules of Europe's football governing body, Ajax must play the game if 13 or more players on its A-list are available.

Ajax are third in Champions League Group D with one point from two matches, five points adrift of leaders Liverpool and three behind Atalanta.

Midtjylland are bottom having lost their first two games. The top two will qualify for the knockout stage.