MONDAY SPORTS: Seahawks dominate Denver

So much for a classic battle between the NFL’s best offense and its best defense. The Seattle Seahawks routed the Denver Broncos in a 43-8 blowout Sunday night in Super Bowl 48, a game that went wrong for Denver as soon as it began in relatively balmy 49 degree temperatures in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, despite all the concerns about the elements in the first cold-weather city Super Bowl. In a “how-did-that-happen” first play, Broncos center Manny Ramirez snapped the ball before quarterback Peyton Manning was in position, sending it flying back to the end zone, where Denver’s Knowshon Moreno dove on it for a Seahawks safety to prevent Seattle from getting a touchdown. It never got much better than that for the Broncos, as Seattle dominated the game and went on to win their first championship in franchise history. Seattle’s Malcolm Smith, who made a pick-6 and later recovered a fumble, was named the Super Bowl MVP, only the third linebacker to ever win the award and the first defender in 11 years.

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The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2014 class was chosen on Saturday, headed by former Seattle Seahawks tackle Walter Jones and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks, both in their first years of eligibility, as well as former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan. Also voted in were former wide receiver Andre Reed and cornerback Aeneas Williams, as well as defensive end Claude Humphrey and Ray Guy — the first punter ever to make the Hall — who were chosen by the Seniors Committee. The induction ceremony will take place on August 1st at the Hall in Canton, Ohio.

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The Furman men’s basketball team returns home to YP Court at Timmons Arena on Monday when it hosts the Samford Bulldogs in a game that was originally scheduled for January 30, before last week’s winter storm altered the Paladins’ schedule. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Furman, which is set to play its second game in a stretch of five games in 12 days, dropped to 7-14 overall and 1-7 in the SoCon with a 67-52 loss at first place Chattanooga on Saturday night.

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Behind an incredible all-around performance from junior forward K.J. McDaniels, Clemson grabbed its third ACC road win of the season Saturday at Florida State, 53-49. The win improved Clemson’s record to 14-6 overall, 5-3 in the ACC.

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Furman offensive tackle Dakota Dozier and safety/linebacker Marcus McMorris were honored as offensive and defensive player of the year, respectively, at the squad’s football banquet Saturday evening on campus. Furman went 8-6 this past fall and claimed the program’s 13th Southern Conference championship by winning five of its final six regular season games.