Football – Page 18 – North Platte Post Archive

Ohio State, Oregon Title Game will Crown a ‘True Champion’

Posted on January 11, 2015

DALLAS (AP) — Ohio State and Oregon will meet in a game that has never been for a trophy that has never been raised.

The winner of Monday night’s matchup can be called the truest champion in the history of major college football.

The first College Football Playoff national championship game matches the second-seeded Ducks and fourth-seeded Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium.

The days of bowls, polls and the BCS having the final say about who is No. 1 in college are over.

Oregon and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota are in search of the program’s first title.

Ohio State is looking for its fifth championship and first under coach Urban Meyer. In his third season with the Buckeyes, Meyer could become the second coach to win a national title with two schools.

Broncos put Quanterus Smith on IR, Promote Shaquil Barrett

Posted on January 10, 2015January 11, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos placed defensive end Quanterus Smith on injured reserve on the eve of their divisional playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Broncos promoted linebacker Shaquil Barrett from their practice squad to take his place.

Smith injured his surgically repaired left knee at practice Thursday and missed Friday’s practice. He was the only Broncos player to miss a workout following the team’s first-round bye.

Smith played in all but one game for the Broncos this season, totaling 11 tackles and two pass breakups.

Barrett is a rookie from Colorado State who spent all season on the practice squad except for Week 7, when he was on the active roster.

The Broncos (12-4) host the Colts (12-5) Sunday.

Winner of Luck vs. Manning III gets Trip to AFC Championship

Posted on January 10, 2015January 11, 2015

DENVER (AP) — When Colts owner Jim Irsay scans the field Sunday, he’ll see in the Denver Broncos the kind of team he admittedly couldn’t surround Peyton Manning with nearly enough during their 14 years together in Indianapolis.

Equilibrium on offense, dominance on defense — a team that doesn’t necessarily have to ride Superman’s cape in its Super Bowl quest.

Remember Irsay’s comments preceding Manning’s emotional homecoming in 2013 about giving up the old Indy offense’s “Star Wars” numbers in a quest for more Super Bowl rings? It raised a lot of eyebrows, but his point was this: he thinks the formula for winning more championships is better balance.

John Elway thinks so, too, and that’s precisely what the Broncos (12-4) have as they host the Colts (12-5), who again have a star QB covering up deficiencies elsewhere.

After the record-shattering Broncos were demolished in the Super Bowl, Elway bolstered his defense by signing Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware and T.J. Ward to a guaranteed $60 million. He also replaced Eric Decker with Emmanuel Sanders and drafted Bradley Roby.

Following the inexplicable loss at St. Louis at midseason, the Broncos pumped the brakes on their Lamborghini offense and watched fourth-string running back C.J. Anderson blossom behind a restructured line.

Although that downshifting spawned the “What’s wrong with Peyton?” buzz, consider this: the Broncos were 3-4 when Manning threw for more than 300 yards this season, 9-0 when he didn’t.

“It takes a team,” is the new mantra in the locker room.

Almost all Manning’s key numbers are down from 2013, but these less-flashy Broncos may have a better chance of winning it all — providing they can keep Luck from winning his first road playoff game.

Interestingly, the Colts are relying more on Luck than they ever did on Manning.

In his time in Indy from 1998-2011, Manning was responsible for 73.3 percent of the Colts’ total net yards. During his three seasons there, Luck has accounted for 78 percent, according to STATS.

Granted, some of that is due to Luck’s mobility — his 905 yards rushing in his three-year career are already more than Manning accumulated in Indianapolis (722).

“Even when they’re one-dimensional, they’re not one-dimensional because he’ll take off and run it,” Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said.

And throw it: Luck led the league with 40 TD throws.

That was one more than Manning, who threw just three TD passes in December to go along with six interceptions.

His coach scoffed at the notion anything’s wrong with Manning.

“I think a year ago, he broke probably every single-season record known to man. It was the style we played and what was best for our team at that point,” John Fox said. “This year I think we’re a little bit different team. We’re built different. He was a 12-4 quarterback during the regular season, which is I think tied for the best record in football this year.”

The winner advances to the AFC championship. Among other subplots:

—60 MINUTES: The Colts overcame a 28-point deficit to beat the Chiefs in the playoffs last year and nearly erased a 24-0 halftime hole in Denver in the 2014 opener.

“You can’t relax,” Broncos tight end Julius Thomas said. “It’s going to take 60 minutes of football to win in the playoffs and we know that. So that’s what we’re going to have in our minds going into the game and 59 1/2 is not going to be enough.”

RAHIM’S REDEMPTION: Speaking of letting up late, Broncos safety Rahim Moore is playing in his first postseason game since his gaffe against Baltimore two years ago when he allowed Jacoby Jones to haul in a 70-yard TD catch with 31 seconds left in regulation.

“Don’t dwell on the past,” Moore said. “You’ve got to be futuristic.”

COLTS’ TIGHT ENDS: Upsetting Denver would likely require big performances from tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, both of whom scored eight TDs this season. The Broncos surrendered nine TDs to tight ends as teams shied away from Pro Bowl cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. and Talib.

MARSHALL PLAN: Denver led the league with nine Pro Bowlers, but linebacker Brandon Marshall wasn’t among them, and he was their top tackler despite missing the last two games with a sprained right foot. His return provides a big boost in facing Luck’s intermediate game.

RED ZONE INEFFICIENCY: Thomas has 12 TDs but none since spraining his left ankle Nov. 16. Before his injury, the Broncos scored 24 TDs in 31 trips inside the opponents’ 20. They’ve reached the end zone just 15 times in 31 trips since.

If he’s healthy Sunday, watch out. Thomas had three TDs against Indy in the opener, in single coverage against two linebackers and a safety.

Nebraska to Host National Signing Day Event

Posted on January 9, 2015January 10, 2015

The University of Nebraska Athletic Department will host a public event on National Signing Day to celebrate the Huskers’ 2015 recruiting class.

The event on Wednesday, Feb. 4 will be held at the Bob Devaney Sports Center and will be open to Nebraska athletic donors and season tickets holders, as well as the general public.

Head Coach Mike Riley and his Husker coaching staff will highlight the evening’s events. The program will also feature interviews with selected members of the Husker recruiting class, along with video of the incoming student-athletes. The event will also feature former football players, the Nebraska Spirit Squad and the Husker Sports Network.

Nebraska Football donors will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets beginning, Friday, Jan. 9 through Tuesday, Jan. 13. Season ticket holders will have a window to purchase from Jan. 14-15, with tickets on sale to the general public beginning on Friday, Jan. 16.

Tickets can be ordered by calling the Athletic Development Office at 402-472-2367 or 800-8-BIG-REDor online at Huskers.com/development. Individuals must be 21 years old to attend.

More details on the event will be available on Huskers.com as Signing Day approaches. Huskers.com will also have full coverage of Signing Day throughout the day on Feb. 4.

Nebraska Signing Day Celebration

Date/Time: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 6-8 p.m.

Location: Bob Devaney Sports Center

Tickets: Available by calling Athletic Development at 402-472-2367 or 800-8-BIG-RED

Or on-line at Huskers.com/development

$600—Reserved Table of 10 (limited quantity; first-come; first-served basis)

$60—Reserved Seat at a table of 10 (limited quantity, first-come, first-served basis)

$35—General Admission Seating Area (A, B & C Levels)

All tickets include admission, heavy hors d’oeuvres and parking

(Lot 52, south side of Devaney Sports Center); cash bar will be available

Sale Dates: Jan. 9-13—Nebraska Football Donors

Jan. 14-15—Nebraska Football Season Ticket Holders

Jan. 16—Open to General Public

Marshall Expects to Return to Denver Broncos’ Lineup Sunday

Posted on January 9, 2015January 10, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver’s defense features five Pro Bowlers in pass rushers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware and defensive backs Chris Harris Jr., Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward.

And now the Broncos are getting their MVP back.

Top tackler Brandon Marshall is expected to return to the lineup for Sunday’s playoff game against Indianapolis (12-5) after missing the last 2 1/2 games with a sprained right foot.

Marshall said he has made daily progress since returning to the football field Wednesday.

Coach John Fox listed Marshall as questionable for the game, yet all signs point to him playing.

CFP Director Says No Talks of More Than 4 Playoff Teams

Posted on January 9, 2015January 10, 2015

DALLAS (AP) — College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock says his group isn’t even considering more than four teams in the playoff.

Hancock said Friday there are plenty of reasons why a four-team model was picked, and nothing has changed that after the first of a 12-year contract.

Larger brackets were toyed with when the playoff concept was first being put together.

Hancock says with the four-team bracket, there was no erosion of the regular season and that the experience and tradition of the bowl games was maintained. He says it worked out “really, really well” and that his group couldn’t be happier.

Some things preventing an expansion: more travel for teams and fans and where extra games would be played.

Trev Alberts Elected to College Football Hall of Fame

Posted on January 9, 2015

Nebraska great Trev Alberts is among 17 standout student-athletes and coaches who are part of the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame class. The 2015 list of inductees was announced on Friday in Dallas by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Alberts will become the 17^th Nebraska player in the College Football Hall of Fame, along with six former Cornhusker coaches. He and the other members of the 2015 Hall of Fame class will officially be inducted in New York City on Dec. 8. Alberts is the fourth Husker in the past seven years to be named to the Hall, joining 2013 inductee Tommie Frazier, 2011 honoree Will Shields and 2009 inductee Grant Wistrom.

Alberts currently serves at the Director of Athletics at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and said the honor is a result of a team effort at Nebraska.

“I am humbled to be selected to the College Football Hall of Fame, and honored to be able to represent the University of Nebraska and all of those who supported my student-athlete experience,” Alberts said.

“I had the great privilege of being surrounded by others who made a ‘Hall of Fame’ difference in my life, including my family, teammates and a true Hall of Famer—Coach Tom Osborne.”

Alberts joins Osborne in the College Football Hall of Fame. The former Nebraska head coach was inducted immediately following his retirement in 1998. Osborne said Alberts is a worthy Hall of Fame selection.

“Trev was one of the greatest pass rushers I have seen,” Osborne said. “He had a tremendous first step, was explosive off the ball, played with high intensity and was a very intelligent football player. We switched to a 4-3 defense while Trev was here and that really helped him as a player, and that had a tremendous impact on our success as a defense. He was a great asset for our program and had a great career for us.”

Alberts completed his Nebraska career with one of the finest defensive seasons in school history in 1993. Alberts won the Butkus Award and led Nebraska to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the Orange Bowl against Florida State, where NU fell just short of a national title. Osborne noted that Alberts’ dominant senior season played a key part in Nebraska’s run of success from 1993 to 1997.

“Trev played on a team (1993) that played at a high enough level to win a national championship and certainly could have won it,” Osborne said. “I felt bad that Trev wasn’t one of of those national championship teams. He was one of the guys that was instrumental in putting us in position to win national championships.”

As a senior co-captain in 1993, the Cedar Falls, Iowa, native was named the Big Eight’s defensive MVP. Alberts led the Huskers with 96 tackles, including 47 solo stops, and tied a school record with 15 sacks for 88 yards. He also had 21 tackles for 99 yards lost, three fumbles caused, one pass breakup and 38 quarterback hurries, all of which were team highs.

Alberts recorded eight double-figure tackle games and had at least one sack in nine games. In the final regular-season game, he dislocated his elbow, but returned to play in the Orange Bowl, where he had six tackles, including three sacks for 29 yards lost, and three quarterback hurries, earning defensive MVP honors in the Huskers’ 18-16 loss to FSU.

For his performance, Alberts was named a first-team All-American by every major publication and was named the Football News National Defensive Player of the Year, Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year and the Big Eight Male Athlete of the Year. His No. 34 jersey was retired at the 1994 Spring Game.

In 1992, Alberts totaled 73 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss, as he earned first-team All-Big Eight and second-team All-America honors. As a freshman in 1990, he was the Big Eight Defensive Newcomer of the Year, making 26 tackles, including four sacks.

Alberts holds the school record for career sacks with 29.5 (196 yards lost) and ranks fourth in school history with 45 tackles for loss (242 yards). He also had five fumbles caused, five recovered fumbles, six pass breakups and 69 quarterback hurries in his Husker career. His 248 tackles rank 11th on Nebraska’s all-time chart.

Off the field, Alberts was equally honored, earning the NCAA’s highest honor, The Today’s Top Six Award, in 1993. A three-time academic All-Big Eight honoree, Alberts earned postgraduate scholarships from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, NACDA Disney, the NCAA and the Big Eight. A CoSIDA Academic All-American in 1993, he graduated from Nebraska before his senior season.

Alberts was the fifth pick in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts and played for the Colts until 1996. He served as a college football analyst for several national television networks before moving into athletic administration at Omaha.

Alberts has been the Mavericks’ Director of Athletics since April of 2009. During his tenure he has directed significant advancements in the areas of academic success, business, facilities, conference affiliation and rebranding for Omaha Athletics, and he has the Mavericks poised for full Division I membership in 2015-16.

AP Source: Chiefs Sign QB Terrelle Pryor to 1-Year Deal

Posted on January 8, 2015January 8, 2015

Terrelle Pryor when playing for the Oakland Raiders.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have signed Terrelle Pryor to a one-year deal to provide competition at the backup quarterback spot, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because the Chiefs had not announced the deal. Pryor worked out for the team earlier in the day, and later tweeted a picture of himself carrying a notebook with the Chiefs’ logo on it.

The signing could mean the end of backup Chase Daniel’s run in Kansas City. The Chiefs are tight against the salary cap, and parting with Daniel could save nearly $4 million.

The Chiefs also have developmental quarterbacks Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray on the roster.

Nebraska’s Riley has 1 Staff Spot Open after Naming 4 Aides

Posted on January 8, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — New Nebraska football coach Mike Riley has hired four assistant coaches, leaving him with one spot to fill on his staff.

The assistants named Wednesday are running backs coach Reggie Davis, defensive line coach Hank Hughes, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf and secondary coach Charlton Warren.

Langsdorf was the New York Giants quarterbacks coach this season after working nine years as Riley’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oregon State.

Davis was an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers. Hughes was co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Cincinnati. Warren, hired by former Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, is being retained.

Riley has already hired defensive coordinator Mark Banker, linebackers coach Trent Bray, offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh and special teams coordinator Bruce Read.

Riley Continues to Add to Husker Staff

Posted on January 7, 2015

University of Nebraska Head Football Coach Mike Riley announced on Wednesday the addition of four assistant football coaches to the four full-time coaches announced in mid-December.

The new additions bring coaching experience from the Power Five conferences as well as the National Football League. The full-time assistant coaches officially announced on Wednesday include running backs coach Reggie Davis, defensive line coach Hank Hughes, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf and secondary coach Charlton Warren.

Riley had previously announced the hiring of four assistant coaches on Dec. 11, including defensive coordinator Mark Banker, linebackers coach Trent Bray, offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh and special teams coordinator Bruce Read.

Including Riley, Nebraska’s staff has a combined 216 years of coaching experience, while boasting a combined 56 bowl game appearances and 38 years coaching in the professional ranks.

“We are thrilled with the staff we have assembled at the University of Nebraska,” Riley said. “This is a successful group of outstanding teachers, coaches and recruiters, and I know they will represent our school and program very well.”

Danny Langsdorf will reunite with Riley in Lincoln as the Huskers’ offensive coordinator. Langsdorf returns to the college game after spending the 2014 season as the quarterbacks coach for the New York Giants. Langsdorf worked directly with two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning.

Under Langsdorf’s tutelage, Manning completed a career-best 63.1 percent of his passes, and his 4,410 passing yards were the second-most in his 11-year NFL career. Manning also threw for 30 touchdowns, an increase of 12 from the 2013, while throwing 13 fewer interceptions than the previous year. Manning’s passer rating of 92.1 was the third-best of his career.

Before joining the Giants’ staff, Langsdorf spent the previous nine seasons as Riley’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oregon State. Langsdorf’s Oregon State offenses were regularly among the most productive in the Pac-12 Conference, and nine of OSU’s top 13 single-season yardage outputs came under Langsdorf’s coaching.

Langsdorf also worked with Riley at Oregon State in 1997 and 1998, before stints in the professional ranks with the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos and the New Orleans Saints.

Reggie Davis will coach the Husker running backs and also joins the Nebraska program from the NFL. Davis has spent the previous four seasons on the San Francisco 49ers staff under Coach Jim Harbaugh. In Davis’ time in San Francisco, the 49ers reached the NFC Championship Game three consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2013, and played in Super Bowl XLVII following the 2012 season.

Davis spent the 2014 season as San Francisco’s offensive line coach, following three seasons working as the tight ends coach. Davis coached 49ers tight end Vernon Davis to a Pro Bowl appearance and All-Pro honors in 2013, when Vernon Davis had a career-high 13 touchdown receptions.

Reggie Davis worked for Riley as Oregon State’s running backs coach from 2008 to 2010. While with the Beavers, Davis helped tutor Jacquizz Rodgers who set numbers OSU rushing records in his time in Corvallis. Davis also had assistant coaching stops at UNLV and the University of San Diego, following a two-year NFL playing career.

Hank Hughes comes to Nebraska after spending the 2014 season as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Cincinnati under Head Coach Tommy Tuberville. A 36-year veteran of the coaching profession, Hughes has served as a defensive line coach for 27 of those seasons.

Hughes’ one season at Cincinnati followed a 13-year tenure on the defensive coaching staff at the University of Connecticut. With the Huskies, Hughes served as the defensive line coach for all 13 seasons and was the defensive coordinator for four years, while he also served as assistant head coach from 2005 to 2010.

With Hughes on staff, the Connecticut program made five bowl appearances including a trip to the Fiesta Bowl following the 2010 season. Connecticut won a share of two conference championships with Hughes on staff. The Huskie defenses regularly ranked among the nation’s top rush defenses, in large part due to the play of Hughes’ defensive line, and UConn ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense in 2006, 2008 and 2012.

Other stops in Hughes’ coaching career include assistant coaching positions at Memphis and Harvard.

Charlton Warren will be in his second season at Nebraska as the secondary coach in 2015. His 2014 secondary helped the Huskers rank among the nation’s top defense against the pass. Nebraska ranked fifth nationally in pass efficiency defense, and held nine of 13 opponents to less than 50 percent passing and ranked second nationally in opponent pass completion percentage.

Sophomore safety Nate Gerry was among the Big Ten leaders in interceptions with five and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in his first season as a starter.

Warren joined the Nebraska program after nine seasons on the defensive staff at the Air Force Academy. Warren worked directly with the Falcon defensive backs each of his nine seasons in Colorado Springs, and was the associate head coach and defensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013. Warren was also regarded as Air Force’s top recruiter and coordinated recruiting efforts from 2006 to 2011.

Riley has also added several members of the Nebraska football support staff.

Mark Phillipp will be the Huskers’ Football Head Strength Coach. Phillipp spent the past two seasons on the strength and conditioning staff at the University of Southern California, and also has prior experience on the strength staff at Oregon State.

Dan Van de Riet is Nebraska’s new Associate Athletic Director for Football Operations. Van de Riet has spent the past 12 seasons in a similar role with Riley at Oregon State, and was on the OSU staff for 14 years overall. Van de Riet will be in charge of the program’s day-to-day operations, including budget and team travel.

Other members of University of Nebraska football staff include….

Hilary O’Bryan, Assistant Director of Football Operations

Ryan Gunderson, Director of Player Personnel

Andy Vaughn, Director of Football & Recruiting Operations

Todd McShane, Assistant Director of Player Personnel

Kenny Wilhite, Assistant Director of Player Personnel

Greg Vaughn, Video Director

Tate Guillotte, Video Assistant Coordinator

Tim Rabas, Football Associate Strength Coach

Willie Jones, Football Assistant Strength Coach

Joni Duff, Football Staff Secretary – Defense/Special Teams

Teri Riggins, Football Staff Secretary – Offense/Recruiting

Max Onyegbule, Graduate Assistant Coach – Assistant Defensive Line Coach

Tavita Thompson, Graduate Assistant Coach – Tight Ends Coach

Nick Hallberg, Graduate Manager – Offensive Quality Control

Beau Walker, Graduate Manager – Offensive Assistant

Hardie Buck, Graduate Manager – Special Teams Quality Control

Keaton Kristick, Graduate Manager – Defensive Quality Control

Brooks Armstrong, Graduate Manager – Operations