Sports – Page 409 – North Platte Post Archive

Offense Good, but Defense Still Rules in Big Ten

Posted on October 7, 2014

There are 10 Big Ten teams scoring at least 26 points per game.

Rest assured, however, that the late Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler would still recognize the conference where they once relied on rock-hard defenses.

After all, even though it seems every game ends up 45-38 and that spread offenses are running rampant, defense still has an often overlooked foothold in the 14-team league.

The Big Ten is represented by six of the top 20 teams in the nation in total defense, five of the top 20 in scoring defense and five of the top 25 in stopping the run and interceptions.

Avalanche Show Interest in Hosting Outdoor Game

Posted on October 7, 2014

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche say they’re talking to the NHL about the possibility of hosting an outdoor game next season.

Team President Josh Kroenke is “pushing the league quite hard” to hold a game out in the elements in what would be the franchise’s 20th season in the Mile High City.

Kroenke said Tuesday they haven’t settled on a site yet, but it could very well be Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, or possibly Sports Authority Field at Mile High, where Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos play.

Kroenke said he feels “very optimistic about our chances” as he talked ahead of the team’s season opener Thursday in Minnesota.

The Avs are coming off a season in which they returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

Parents Want Teen’s Football Death to Help Others

Posted on October 7, 2014

NICEVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The play that killed Niceville High wide receiver Taylor Haugen six years ago happens in every game, at every level.

In a junior varsity game with his mother watching in the stands, his quarterback’s pass was slightly high, so Taylor, 15, thrust both hands over his head to catch it. One defender slammed into his now exposed abdomen, the other simultaneously hit him in the back. Taylor staggered to the sidelines and collapsed. He was dead hours later.

“The injury that took our son’s life was a crushed liver — it was compared to a high-speed car crash by one of the surgeons,” Kathy Haugen said.

Hoping to prevent further tragedies, Haugen and her husband, Brian, created the Taylor Haugen Foundation, which through its YESS, Youth Equipment for Sports Safety, program gives high school teams nationwide protective padding that might have saved their son. The gel padding, worn by many NFL players, is molded to securely fit each player’s body shape. The pads harden and are inserted into the pockets of a shirt worn underneath the players’ uniforms and other padding. More than 2,000 junior high and high school players have received the pads, which cost $90 per set.

The pads are particularly important at the high school level and below because there can be a big gap in the size and skill levels of the players.

“On impact it relieves a lot of the stress and impact from a hit or a blow that you might receive during a play,” explained Choctawhatchee High School coach Greg Thomas. Every player on Thomas’ team was fitted with the protective pads and shirts this year.

While brain, spinal cord and heat-related injuries have received significant attention through the years, torso injuries are often overlooked and unreported, said John Todorovich, chairman of the University of West Florida’s exercise science and community health department. The school is teaming with YESS to do a study of football torso injuries in hopes of quantifying the problem.

“When somebody gets a bruise or a contusion or something, we kind of ignore it, we don’t report it and don’t think about it,” Todorovich said. “With concussions, we have now trained coaches to help prevent them, to know recognize the signs of concussions and seek medical help. We are hoping to get to the same point where we do the same thing with injuries to the mid-region of the body.”

Through her work with the foundation, Kathy Haugen said she has learned that internal injuries like ruptured stomachs, spleens and kidneys are common.

“I get emails, phone calls all the time about these types of injuries. That’s why I have no problem saying confidently that this is not a rare thing, it happens all the time,” she said.

But before Taylor’s injury, the Haugens say they hadn’t known about such padding or the dangers of torso injuries. An equipment company made a presentation to the team about the pads, but Taylor never told them about it.

“We would have definitely put it on our son. I mean you spend $150 for a pair of cleats so $90 for a shirt with high-speed, next-generation equipment protection built into to protect from abdominal injuries was something we would have done in a heartbeat,” Brian Haugen said.

Choctawhatchee senior fullback Spencer Effatt wears the equipment whenever he plays. Effatt, who has separated his shoulder and broken his collarbone on the field, knows the game brings some hard hits.

“I think it looks pretty cool and it is better to be protected,” he said during a recent practice while displaying the gear he received from the Haugen’s foundation.

But no matter what, the Haugens do not want kids to quit playing the sport their son loved.

“It is not the sport’s fault that bat things happen,” Kathy Haugen said. “It is our job as parents and adults to protect our kids.”

10 Former College Athletes Sue Networks, Leagues

Posted on October 7, 2014

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A group of 10 former college athletes have filed a proposed class action, antitrust lawsuit against several television networks and college conferences, including ESPN, CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and the Southeastern Conference, for profiting off their names and likenesses without their permission in both ads and televising games.

The lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Nashville features former Vanderbilt safety Javon Marshall as lead plaintiff along with some former teammates, including Eric Samuels and Steven Clarke. The lawsuit wants a class action for all current and former players in the Football Bowl Subdivision and Division I men’s basketball. The suit was first reported by The Tennessean.

In the lawsuit, plaintiffs allege the release student-athletes are forced to sign is “unconscionable, and vague,” rendering it void and unenforceable.

Frazier, Wuerffel to be Enshrined in College Hall

Posted on October 7, 2014

ATLANTA (AP) — It’s been nearly 20 years, and Tommie Frazier is still trading jabs with Danny Wuerffel.

The former quarterbacks at Nebraska and Florida have plenty of goodwill for each other, too, as they’re enshrined Tuesday night in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Frazier and Wuerffel joined 10 former players and two coaches who make up last year’s hall of fame class.

Former Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde was not scheduled to attend the event.

Frazier led Nebraska to consecutive unbeaten national title seasons in 1994-95. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting as a senior.

Wuerrfel won the 1996 Heisman and led the Gators to a national championship that season. The year before, Nebraska beat Florida in the title game matchup at the Fiesta Bowl.

Qualifying Offer for Free Agents Set at $15.3M

Posted on October 7, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The price of qualifying offers for eligible free agents has risen to $15.3 million from $14.1 million.

The 8.5 percent increase was finalized Tuesday by Major League Baseball and the players’ association. It is up from $13.3 million after the 2012 season, the first of the new system.

Baseball’s labor contract sets the price at the average of the 125 highest contracts by average annual value.

A club has until 5 p.m. Eastern time on the fifth day following the World Series to make a qualifying offer and a player has until 5 p.m. EST on the 12th day after the World Series to accept it. An offer can only be made to a free agent who was with the team for the entire system.

If a player rejects a qualifying offer and signs a major league contract with another club before the June amateur draft, his former team would receive a draft pick as compensation at the end of the first round.

The club signing that player loses its first-round pick in the following amateur draft, unless that pick is among the top 10, in which case the club signing that player loses its next-highest pick.

None of the 22 qualifying offers made after the last two seasons was accepted.

High School Cancels Football Season over Bullying

Posted on October 7, 2014

PARLIN, N.J. (AP) — A central New Jersey town is reeling after its high school football season was cut short by allegations of bullying and harassment among players.

Sayreville War Memorial High has been a powerhouse, winning three sectional titles in the last four years.

On Monday night, school district officials canceled the rest of the season after speaking with the county prosecutor’s office, which is conducting an investigation into the bullying allegations.

The prosecutor’s office hasn’t released any details and didn’t respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday.

The school superintendent says there was evidence of pervasive harassment, intimidation and bullying.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

Officials at a central New Jersey high school that has won three sectional titles over the past four years canceled the football season amid allegations of harassment, intimidation and bullying among players.

Sayreville school officials made the announcement Monday night during a meeting with the players’ parents. The district already had canceled and forfeited a game that was scheduled last Thursday between Sayreville War Memorial and South Brunswick, and announced that the Middlesex County prosecutor’s office was investigating the allegations.

“There was enough evidence that there were incidents of harassment, of intimidation and bullying that took place on a pervasive level, on a wide-scale level and at a level at which the players knew, tolerated and generally accepted,” Superintendent Richard Labbe told reporters Monday night. “Based upon what has been substantiated to have occurred, we have canceled the remainder of the football season.”

Labbe said he could not discuss the investigation, and the prosecutor’s office has declined to release any details. No charges have been filed. Labbe said Prosecutor Andrew Carey told him there is credible evidence to back up the allegations of bullying and harassment within the program.

Also last week, an assistant football coach at the high school resigned amid allegations that he possessed steroids. Labbe said at the time that the allegations against the former defensive coordinator were the focus of a separate investigation and were not related to the cancellation of last week’s game.

Chiefs’ Hali Lends Support as Ebola Epidemic Rages

Posted on October 7, 2014

LENEXA, Kan. (AP) — Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali is lending his support to a humanitarian organization that plans to open a clinic in his native Liberia to help combat the Ebola epidemic.

Hali was joined Tuesday by officials from Heart to Heart International, which is based in suburban Kansas City, to announced the construction of a clinic near the capital of Monrovia that will offer 70 beds for patients stricken by the disease.

Liberia has been among the hardest-hit of the West African nations at the center of the months-long outbreak, which has killed at least 3,500 people.

Hali fled with his father from Liberia at the age of 10, when it was in the midst of a bloody civil war. He still has family there but they have not been infected with Ebola.

Stars of ABC’s The Bachelor To Take In Storm Game

Posted on October 7, 2014

Catherine and Sean Lowe at their wedding.

KEARNEY, Neb. – As the Tri-City Storm get ready to battle the Chicago Steel in a two-game series this weekend, the organization is also preparing for a special appearance from Sean and Catherine Lowe of ABC’s The Bachelor Season 17.

As ‘The Bachelor’, Sean won the hearts of fans during the show’s early 2013 run. He and Catherine were married in January of 2014.

The appearance marks the second time a reality TV star has been at the Viaero Event Center, following “Mountain Man” of A&E’s Duck Dynasty, who came to Kearney in October 2013.

“We’re always looking for creative ways to drive traffic to the games beyond the game itself,” said Greg Shea, President of the Storm and Viaero Event Center. “The Bachelor Night is another example of blending sport and pop culture.”

The couple’s appearance is part of The Bachelor Night, presented by NTV, HyVee and Riddle’s Jewelry. Sean and Catherine will greet fans, sign autographs, and partake in a ceremonial puck drop at the start of the game.

In addition, HyVee will contribute to The Bachelor theme, distributing a rose to the first 100 female fans to enter the building after doors open at 6 p.m.

Saturday’s game gets underway at 7:05. Tickets are available at stormhockey.com or by calling 308.338.8011.

Time to Look Ahead, Not Behind for American Golf

Posted on October 7, 2014

NAPA, Calif. (AP) — A new PGA Tour season starts Thursday, and it’s about time.

The last thing American golf needs right now is another idle week to rehash a Ryder Cup loss that is getting overcooked by the minute. It’s probably good that Phil Mickelson is not expected to play again until we know which two teams are going to the Super Bowl.

To spend a week or more looking back at the pivotal moments is standard fare for a great event like the Ryder Cup.

What if Justin Rose had not made that 45-foot putt in Sunday singles at Medinah, or if Ian Poulter had missed any one of his last five birdie putts Saturday afternoon? If only Stewart Cink had made either one of those short birdie putts over the last four holes at Celtic Manor. And don’t think Europeans haven’t seen enough of Justin Leonard and that putt heard ’round the world at Brookline.

But that hasn’t been the case this year. When it comes to a Ryder Cup review, no one is talking about the golf. For the Americans, it seems as though the Ryder Cup only got started after it was over.

One story says U.S. captain Tom Watson scoffed at his gift from the players — a replica of the Ryder Cup they signed. Another story said Watson wasn’t dismissive of the gift, rather he tried to motivate his players by telling them he wanted the real thing.

Watson was not the Great Communicator. On that point everyone can agree.

But to prattle on about Watson’s stubborn leadership style — did that catch anyone by surprise? — or the pairings he never seemed to get right is to overlook the obvious.

The better team won.

The Europeans were favored to win, were they not? They had Rory McIlroy with his two majors and No. 1 ranking. When the teams were set, they had four of the top five players in the world. And they were playing at home.

They also had captain Paul McGinley, who blended supreme confidence with an extraordinary eye for detail. Most telling about McGinley was when he was asked last week the one thing he feared when he was appointed captain. “Honestly, I didn’t have a fear. I had a real clear idea of what I wanted to achieve.”

Did he win the Ryder Cup for Europe?

McGinley certainly helped. The players took it from there. Rose was unbeaten. McIlroy played his best golf Sunday. Graeme McDowell unselfishly accepted the role of taking on a rookie (Victor Dubuisson) as his partner and sitting two sessions. They combined to go 5-0-1.

That’s what should be remembered about this Ryder Cup.

The U.S. press conference won’t be forgotten, which is why Mickelson said what he did and when he did. Lefty spoke of a “winning formula” from which the Americans have strayed, and he had a point. While his frustration might have been geared toward Watson, the message was for the PGA of America and the unilateral way it goes about the business of picking a captain and running the Ryder Cup.

Thanks to Mickelson, change is inevitable for Team USA, and that’s a good thing.

But does that guarantee a change in the outcome?

No.

To suggest the Americans will look back at Gleneagles as the turning point 10 years from now is dismissive of the opponent. Even if the America has the ideal captain, Europe still has McIlroy, Rose, Poulter, McDowell, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer. It still has the cup. And it’s no accident.

The Europeans once had a heavy-handed captain in Seve Ballesteros, and they managed. It’s still down to the players, and the Americans as a whole didn’t perform as well. Their top three qualifiers — Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Jim Furyk — combined to go 1-8-3.

More than its players, what makes Europe so formidable is the culture of winning it has cultivated for nearly 30 years. Everyone is involved. That much was clear when McGinley was leaving the press room at St. Andrews, and Ken Brown — a player on four teams, vice captain on another, now a TV analyst — approached to congratulate him.

A handshake quickly turned into a hug.

“You’re a part of this,” McGinley told him.

Europe celebrates. America contemplates. And it’s time to move on.

Does golf even matter this time of the year? It sure did to the six players who won tournaments in the fall start to the wraparound season. All six began the FedEx Cup playoffs in the top 20, and all but one (Harris English) qualified for the Tour Championship.

The Frys.com Open was supposed to have Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods until one asked for time off from a hectic summer of winning back-to-back majors, and the other was forced into time off because of injury.

McIlroy and Woods are expected to be at the Frys.com Open next year. Think anyone will be grousing about the schedule then?