Football – Page 24 – North Platte Post Archive

Broncos, CSU Team Up to Create Sports Institute

Posted on December 15, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos and Colorado State University are teaming up to create The Denver Broncos Sports Management Institute.

The program debuts in the spring with three courses in a newly developed minor degree in sports management at CSU, pending faculty council approval.

President and CEO Joe Ellis said the Broncos are “proud to partner with a world-class university like Colorado State.

CSU President Tony Frank said, “This is exactly the kind of private-public partnership that will be transformational for our students and also in professional sports and higher education.”

The program includes internships with the Broncos, guest lectures from management and studies developed in coordination with the team in the colleges of business, liberal arts, health & human services and agriculture.

Broncos, Colts, Pats, Cards Clinch Playoff Berths

Posted on December 14, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Denver, New England and Indianapolis all clinched division titles with victories Sunday, while Arizona earned a playoff berth without even playing.

The Cardinals, who beat St. Louis 12-6 on Thursday night, earned their first playoff spot since the 2009 season when the Dallas-Philadelphia game Sunday night didn’t end in a tie. The Cowboys won 38-27.

The Broncos won the AFC West for the fourth straight year with a 22-10 victory at San Diego.

Tom Brady and the Patriots beat Miami 41-13 to win the AFC East for the sixth consecutive year and become the first team in NFL history with 11 division titles in 12 years.

The Colts held off the Houston Texans 17-10 to clinch the AFC South title and a third consecutive playoff appearance.

Josh Lamberson New Nebraska-Kearney Football Coach

Posted on December 14, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Central Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Lamberson has been named head football coach at Nebraska-Kearney.

The university announced Sunday night that Lamberson would be introduced at a news conference on campus Monday.

Lamberson said in a statement that Nebraska is a proud football state and he plans to build the program around in-state players who are hard-nosed and committed to success.

The 32-year-old Lamberson is a native of Wilber, Nebraska. He has been an assistant coach at Central Missouri, Southeastern Oklahoma State and Northwest Missouri State. He was at Central Missouri for five years, the last four as offensive coordinator.

Lamberson replaces Darrell Morris, who was UNK’s head coach for 15 years.

Lamberson signed a three-year contract with an annual salary of $100,000.

Sick, Sore Manning leads Broncos to AFC West Title

Posted on December 14, 2014

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Peyton Manning played through a thigh injury and flu-like symptoms and Connor Barth kicked five field goals to lead Denver to a 22-10 victory against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday that gave the Broncos their fourth straight AFC West title.

Manning came out of the game late in the second quarter. He apparently hurt his thigh while blocking linebacker Donald Butler on a run by C.J. Anderson.

He returned for the start of the third quarter and on Denver’s second possession threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas to give the Broncos a 16-3 lead.

The Broncos (11-3) won their fourth straight game.

Denver’s 12th straight division road win tied San Francisco’s NFL record set from 1987-90.

The Chargers (8-6) entered the game as the AFC’s No. 6 seed and saw their wild-card chances diminished. They’ve lost two straight.

Alex Smith, Chiefs Rout Raiders 31-13

Posted on December 14, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Smith threw for 297 yards and two scores, Kansas City shut down Derek Carr and the Oakland offense and the Chiefs beat the Raiders 31-13 on Sunday to end a three-game skid.

Knile Davis had touchdowns running and receiving, and De’Anthony Thomas returned a punt 81 yards for another score as the Chiefs (8-6) got even for a 24-20 loss to Oakland (2-12) last month.

The Chiefs led 10-6 early in the third quarter before scoring three touchdowns in 4 minutes, 42 seconds. The last was a 70-yard throw from Smith to Davis, who had taken over the majority of running back duties after Jamaal Charles took a shot to the head.

Charles appeared to pass concussion testing and returned briefly to the game.

Carr finished 27 of 56 for 222 yards, throwing a TD pass in the final minute. The Raiders’ rookie also was sacked four times and fumbled a snap that led to a Kansas City touchdown.

Broncos Activate Trevathan, put Ball on IR

Posted on December 13, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have activated linebacker Danny Trevathan from injured reserve and promoted tight end Dominique Jones from their practice squad to the 53-man roster.

The Broncos also placed running back Montee Ball and safety Quinton Carter on season-ending injured reserve.

Trevathan was the Broncos’ leading tackler last season. He has played just two games this year because of two separate fractures in his left leg, one in August and one in October.

Ball played in five games, running for a paltry 172 yards on 55 carries for a 3.1-yard average. He underwent an appendectomy in training camp and tore his right groin against Arizona on Sept. 21. He returned at St. Louis on Nov. 16 but aggravated the injury after a handful of snaps.

Oregon QB Marcus Mariota Wins Heisman Trophy

Posted on December 13, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Marcus Mariota has won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first Oregon player to earn college football’s top individual honor.

A pinpoint passer with wide-receiver speed, Mariota came into his junior the season as the favorite to win the Heisman and delivered a performance that turned the presentation ceremony into a foregone conclusion.

The first Hawaii native to win the Heisman has accounted for a Pac-12-record 53 touchdowns (38 passing, 14 rushing and one receiving) while directing the Ducks’ warp-speed spread offense, and leading Oregon to a spot in the first College Football Playoff.

It will be a matchup of Heisman-winning quarterbacks in the Rose Bowl semifinal Jan. 1 with Mariota and the second-seeded Ducks facing Florida State and Jameis Winston.

Chris Harris Jr. Signs Five-Year Deal with Broncos

Posted on December 12, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Chris Harris Jr., who signed a $2,000 bonus as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas in 2011, has agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Denver Broncos worth more than $42 million.

Harris has made a successful comeback from ACL surgery this season, tallying 43 tackles, 18 pass breakups, three interceptions and a sack for the Broncos (10-3).

GM John Elway said Friday, “It’s a priority for us to develop and reward our own players. Whether on the field or in the community, we’re proud to have Chris representing the Broncos for years to come.”

In his three-plus years with the Broncos, Harris has picked off 10 passes, scored two touchdowns, forced a fumble and had three fumble recoveries.

Scandal-Free Heisman Ceremony Focused on Football

Posted on December 12, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Melvin Gordon and Amari Cooper were just two guys talking football and posing for pictures with a big bronze trophy.

The day before the Heisman Trophy presentation, Gordon, the Wisconsin running back, and Cooper, the Alabama receiver, answered questions about their sensational seasons, their coaches, their chances to upset Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and win college football’s most famous individual award and who might win the national championship.

Cooper wisely passed on making a prediction about how the top-ranked Crimson Tide will do in the College Football Playoff against Ohio State.

Gordon, however, said Friday he’s leaning toward ‘Bama. So much for Big Ten solidarity.

That was about as close to a scandal as you will find at this year’s Heisman ceremony, a welcome departure from recent years for many fans and voters.

2 Playoff Games Add to Bills for Players’ Families

Posted on December 12, 2014

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Take out a loan or even a second mortgage, forgo Christmas presents or split a hotel room.

Faced with the possibility of two big postseason trips under the new college football playoff system, some players’ parents are doing all they can to see their kids under the spotlight.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer brought the issue up last week after his team was picked as one of the four to compete in the first College Football Playoff.

Some players’ families can get up to $800 under NCAA guidelines to cover postseason travel. But now that teams could play in two games, some are worried about how they’ll pay to see their kids in the games when bowl trips cost thousands.