Football – Page 52 – North Platte Post Archive

The Nissan Heisman House Tour heads to Lincoln this Saturday

Posted on September 17, 2014

NEBRASKA HEISMAN WINNERS ERIC CROUCH, MIKE ROZIER, JOHNNY RODGERS

AND ESPN’S NEIL EVERETT

TO APPEAR AT THE “NISSAN HEISMAN HOUSE TOUR”

The tour heads to Lincoln, September 20,

when the No. 24 Huskers take on the Miami Hurricanes

WHO: Nebraska’s trio of Heisman winners, along with ESPN’s Neil Everett:

o 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers will appear from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., participating in a Chalk Talk session with ESPNanchor Neil Everett, followed by an autograph session with fans.

o 1983 Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier will discuss his legendary football career during a 3:30-4:00 p.m. Chalk Talk session withEverett.

o 2001 Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch takes the microphone at 4:30 p.m. for a Chalk Talk with Everett and will sign autographs from5:00-6:00 p.m.

WHAT: Nissan and ESPN invite fans to “Get to know the Heisman Trophy Winners” during a pre-game experience that celebrates college football’s most outstanding players. The Nissan Heisman House Tour is making stops at 10 marquee matchups this season, including its ultimate destination of North Texas for the inaugural College Football Playoff. Admission to the tour is free.

Fans will have the opportunity to:

o Take pictures with the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious award in college football

o “Catch a Ride with the Heisman Winners” in the all-new 2015 Nissan Pathfinder

o Participate in autograph sessions and photo opportunities with former football greats

o Win prizes by participating in interactive games, including a virtual QB challenge

o Test your college football knowledge by tweeting your answers to Twitter Trivia questions

o Create their own Heisman pose atop a trophy base

o Register for Heisman House credentials, which allows fans to check in and instantly share your experience via social media

o Keep tabs on the weekend’s action by viewing games and highlights on multiple TVs

WHEN: SATURDAY, September 20, 2014 – noon until 7:00 p.m. (all times Central)

WHERE: Inside Pinnacle Bank Arena

Located in the West Haymarket District, west of Memorial Stadium at 400 Pinnacle Arena Drive

Welker Back on the Field after Suspension Lifted

Posted on September 17, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Wes Welker is practicing for the first time since Labor Day. The Denver Broncos wide receiver was reinstated Wednesday after the NFL agreed to a new performance-enhancing drug policy.

Welker’s four-game suspension for offseason amphetamine use was essentially cut in half, and he’ll be eligible to play Sunday at Seattle.

Under the new rules, players who test positive for banned stimulants in the offseason will no longer be suspended. Instead, they will be referred to the substance-abuse program, where a first offense doesn’t result in an immediate ban.

It takes multiple positive tests under the substance-abuse program before a suspension.

The players union agreed to the new policy on Friday. But the NFL didn’t sign off on the new policy before Saturday’s roster deadline.

NFL, Union Agree to New Drug Policy, HGH Testing

Posted on September 17, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL says it has reached an agreement with the players association on changes to its performance-enhancing drug policy, including the addition of human growth hormone testing.

The league said Wednesday that under the new rules, three previously suspended players — the Broncos’ Wes Welker, Cowboys’ Orlando Scandrick and Rams’ Stedman Bailey — will be eligible to return to their teams this week.

Testing for HGH was originally agreed upon in 2011, but the players had balked at the science in the testing and the appeals process for positive tests. Under the new deal, appeals of positive tests in the PED program will be heard by third-party arbitrators jointly selected by the NFL and union.

Huskers Looking to Limit Big Plays

Posted on September 16, 2014

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued its preparations for their primetime showdown Saturday night with the Miami Hurricanes, as the Huskers conducted a 1-hour and 50-minute practice Tuesday afternoon inside of the Hawks Championship Center and outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields.

Defensive coordinator John Papuchis met with media members after practice, showing a great deal of respect to the athletic Hurricanes.

“They have a lot of weapons at every skilled position, they have guys that can take it to the house every time they touch the ball,” Papuchis said. “They are good upfront, so it is going to be a challenge, it is the best offense we have played this season.”

Miami will likely start a true freshman at quarterback. Brad Kaaya was named the starting quarterback by head coach Al Golden during fall camp and has started each of the Hurricanes first three games.

Kaaya is a native of West Hills, Calif., and a graduate of Chaminade High, where he was a teammate of current Husker sophomore running back Terrell Newby.

“He is efficient with the ball, he doesn’t look like a freshman out there playing. He doesn’t make a ton of mistakes, he does not look nervous or rattled in the pocket,” he said. “I have been impressed with him.”

Papuchis said what scares him the most about Miami’s offense is their big-play ability.

“They are athletic enough at every skill position that if you miss a tackle it could turn into a touchdown,” Papuchis said. “They have great speed at wideout, so I am concerned with balls being thrown over our head, but our guys are aware of it and we have to tackle well to limit explosive plays.”

The Nebraska football team will continue its week of preparation Wednesday as the Huskers prepare for their Saturday night showdown with the Miami Hurricanes. Kickoff between the two national powers will be nationally televised on ESPN2 at 7pm (CT).

AP Nebraska High School Football Rankings

Posted on September 16, 2014

The Associated Press Nebraska high school football rankings in Classes A through D-2. Listings include name of school, season record, previous week’s ranking, previous week’s result and this week’s opponent (NR-not ranked). The rankings are based on a formula that includes ratings from the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star plus experts for each class. Class A: Dale Miller, Grand Island Independent. Class B: Jeff Fielder, Scottsbluff Star-Herald. Class C1: Tom Behmer, Norfolk Daily News. Class C2: Brent Wasinius, Fremont Tribune. Class D1: Andrew Bottrell, North Platte Telegraph. Class D2: Nick Blasnitz, Hastings Tribune.

CLASS A

1. Omaha North (3-0), 1, def. South Sioux City 63-7, Bellevue West.

2. Bellevue West (3-0), 3, def. Omaha South 56-22, at Omaha North.

3. Millard North (3-0), 4, def. Lincoln High 48-0, Lincoln Southwest.

4. Grand Island (3-0), 5, def. Omaha Burke 28-6, Columbus.

5. Creighton Preparatory School (3-0), 6, def. Omaha Central 35-14, at Omaha South.

6. Papillion-La Vista South (2-1), 7, def. Papillion-La Vista 49-7, Lincoln High.

7. Omaha Central (2-1), 2, lost to Creighton Preparatory School 35-14, at Omaha Burke.

8. Millard West (1-2), 9, def. Lincoln East 42-21, at Omaha Bryan.

9. Kearney (2-1), 10, def. North Platte 35-0, Papillion-La Vista.

10. Omaha Westside (1-2), NR, def. Millard South 21-13, Lincoln Northeast.

Others receiving votes: None.

CLASS B

1. Omaha Skutt Catholic (3-0), 1, def. Crete 46-14, at Omaha Roncalli Catholic.

2. McCook (3-0), 3, def. Scottsbluff 24-14, Sidney.

3. Gretna (3-0), 2, def. Norris 37-31 (2OT), Schuyler.

4. Elkhorn (3-0), 5, def. Beatrice 24-14, at Omaha Benson.

5. Elkhorn South (3-0), 6, def. Omaha Benson 42-0, Norris.

6. Crete (2-1), 4, lost to Omaha Skutt Catholic 46-14, Waverly.

7. Aurora (2-1), 8, def. Adams Central 26-13, at Hastings.

8. Sidney (3-0), NR, def. Hastings 40-20, at McCook.

9. Scottsbluff (2-1), 10, lost to McCook 24-14, at Adams Central.

10. Beatrice (2-1), 9, lost to Elkhorn 24-14, at Nebraska City.

Others receiving votes: Mount Michael Benedictine.

CLASS C1

1. Boone Central/Newman Grove (3-0), 1, def. North Bend Central 48-8, Grand Island Central Catholic.

2. Norfolk Catholic (3-0), 2, def. Bishop Neumann 42-7, David City.

3. Ashland-Greenwood (3-0), 3, def. Falls City 34-0, Lincoln Christian.

4. Kearney Catholic (3-0), 4, def. Columbus Lakeview 45-28, at Cozad.

5. Pierce (3-0), 5 def. O’Neill 49-14, at Columbus Scotus.

6. Cozad (3-0), 6, def. Chase County 14-12, Kearney Catholic.

7. Columbus Scotus (2-1), 7, def. Central City 42-0, Pierce.

8. Wilber-Clatonia (3-0), 9, def. Johnson County Central 49-14, at Conestoga.

9. Broken Bow (3-0), NR, def. Minden 40-6, 10. Bishop Neumann (2-1), 8, lost to Norfolk Catholic 42-7, Fort Calhoun.

Others receiving votes: Grand Island Central Catholic, Syracuse.

CLASS C2

1. Battle Creek (3-0), 1, def. Wisner-Pilger 42-6, Ponca.

2. Hastings St. Cecilia (3-0), 2, def. Fillmore Central 42-7, at Cambridge.

3. North Platte St. Patrick’s (3-0), 3, def. Southern Valley 36-0, Ravenna.

4. Aquinas Catholic (2-1), 5, def. Lutheran High Northeast 33-10, Weeping Water.

5. Hartington Cedar Catholic (2-1), 6, def. Ponca 40-0, Homer.

6. Archbishop Bergan (2-1), 7, def. Palmyra 59-20, Elmwood-Murdock.

7. Sutton (3-0), 8, def. Tri County 44-6, Shelby-Rising City.

8. Lutheran High Northeast (2-1), 4, lost to Aquinas Catholic 33-10, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge.

9. Malcolm (3-0), 9, def. Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer 59-7, at Southern.

10. Oakland-Craig (2-1), 10, def. Tekamah-Herman 36-12, Crofton.

Others receiving votes: Doniphan-Trumbull, Southern.

CLASS D1

1. Hemingford (2-0), 1, def. Crawford 76-20, at South Loup.

2. Howells-Dodge (2-0), 2, def. Bloomfield 48-20, Guardian Angels Central Catholic.

3. Creighton (3-0), 3, def. Pender 60-12, bye.

4. Guardian Angels Central Catholic (2-0), 4, def. Omaha Christian Academy 66-26, at Howells-Dodge.

5. Heartland (2-0), 5, def. Nebraska Christian 60-28, Blue Hill.

6. BDS (3-0), 6, def. Giltner 82-36, at High Plains Community.

7. Elm Creek (2-0), 8, def. Twin Loup 47-16, at Sutherland.

8. Amherst (2-0), 9, def. Axtell 47-6, Franklin.

9. Diller-Odell (2-0), 10, bye, at Mead.

10. High Plains Community (1-1), NR, def. Blue Hill 43-40, BDS.

Others receiving votes: Scribner-Snyder.

CLASS D2

1. Falls City Sacred Heart (2-1), 1, def. Pawnee City 54-6, bye.

2. Stuart (2-0), 2, def. Elkhorn Valley 52-22, at Sandhills/Thedford.

3. Exeter-Milligan (2-0), 4, def. Sterling 52-14, at Johnson-Brock.

4. Humphrey St. Francis (2-0), 5, def. Wynot 60-6, CWC.

5. Randolph (2-0), 6, def. Bancroft-Rosalie 66-22, Emerson-Hubbard.

6. Elwood (2-0), T9, def. Medicine Valley 58-42, Anselmo-Merna.

7. Giltner (1-1), 3, lost to BDS 82-36, Overton.

8. Anselmo-Merna (2-0), NR, def. Bertrand 64-42, at Elwood.

9. CWC (2-0), NR, def. Boyd County 23-14, at Humphrey St. Francis.

10. Kenesaw (2-1), NR, def. Overton 57-20, bye.

Others receiving votes: Bancroft-Rosalie, St. Mary’s.

Broncos DT Austin Excused for Family Emergency

Posted on September 15, 2014

Marvin Austin (Photo courtesy of Twitter)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Defensive tackle Marvin Austin has flown to North Carolina to be with his father, who was involved in a serious car accident.

The Broncos excused Austin and said they’d support him during the crisis. It’s not known whether he’ll be back for Wednesday’s practice following an off day Tuesday.

According to ABC television affiliate WTVD in Durham, Marvin Austin Sr. was ejected in a rollover accident Sunday evening in Selma. He and three passengers were hospitalized at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh, according to the station.

A former second-round draft choice of the New York Giants, Austin signed a one-year deal in Denver last summer following back surgery and made the roster with an outstanding training camp.

NFL, Union Close to Finalizing New Drug Policy

Posted on September 15, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL and the players’ union are close to finalizing the drug policy changes they tentatively agreed upon last week.

Union spokesman George Atallah told The Associated Press on Monday that the “drug policies are currently getting finalized.” League and NFL Players Association attorneys and officials are reviewing the documents and could approve them this week.

One key element is how the changes affect players currently under suspension, including Denver receiver Wes Welker (four games) and Browns receiver Josh Gordon (entire season). Their bans would be reduced, and the union wants to see that happen before Week 3 games are played.

SEC with 5 Teams in Top 10 of AP Poll, Nebraska Back In

Posted on September 15, 2014

South Carolina’s win over Georgia vaulted the Gamecocks 10 spots to No. 14 in The Associated Press college football poll, giving the Southeastern Conference an unprecedented seven teams in the top 15.

The SEC had eight teams ranked for the third straight week and five teams in the top 10 for two weeks running. Alabama is third behind No. 1 Florida State and No. 2. Oregon, followed by No. 5 Auburn, No. 6, Texas A&M, No. 8, LSU and No. 10 Mississippi.

Georgia fell to No. 13 after losing to the Gamecocks 38-35 and Missouri was No. 18.

Florida State, which was off, has 37 first-place votes, losing one to the Ducks, who have 17.

Oklahoma held its position at No. 4 after beating Tennessee, Baylor moved up one to No. 7 with a rout over Buffalo and No. 9 Notre Dame was back in the top 10 for the first time since 2012 after moving up two spots.

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Sept. 13, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

	Record	Pts	Pv
1. Florida St. (37)	2-0	1,466	1
2. Oregon (17)	3-0	1,424	2
3. Alabama (1)	3-0	1,346	3
4. Oklahoma (2)	3-0	1,325	4
5. Auburn	2-0	1,252	5
6. Texas A&M (3)	3-0	1,195	7
7. Baylor	3-0	1,134	8
8. LSU	3-0	1,114	10
9. Notre Dame	3-0	917	11
10. Mississippi	3-0	840	14
11. Michigan St.	1-1	832	13
12. UCLA	3-0	807	12
13. Georgia	1-1	729	6
14. South Carolina	2-1	718	24
15. Arizona St.	3-0	680	16
16. Stanford	2-1	560	15
17. Southern Cal	2-1	459	9
18. Missouri	3-0	446	20
19. Wisconsin	1-1	414	18
20. Kansas St.	2-0	326	19
21. BYU	3-0	246	25
22. Clemson	1-1	209	23
23. Ohio St.	2-1	204	22
24. Nebraska	3-0	172	NR
25. Oklahoma St.	2-1	126	NR

Others receiving votes: North Carolina 82, Duke 55, Mississippi St. 55, Virginia Tech 54, Penn St. 51, East Carolina 44, TCU 42, Pittsburgh 40, Florida 31, Marshall 28, Boston College 22, Washington 14, West Virginia 14, Cincinnati 10, Virginia 6, Arizona 3, Arkansas 3, N. Dakota St. 3, Louisville 2.

Neb’s Armstrong will Measure Himself against Miami

Posted on September 15, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. will find out how good he is when he faces Miami on Saturday night in Lincoln.

Armstrong has put up big numbers through three games, but they were against statistically the worst and second-to-worst defenses in the Bowl Subdivision and an opponent from the second-tier Championship Subdivision.

The No. 24 Cornhuskers (3-0) are fifth nationally in total offense, averaging 594 yards a game and eight per play. The Hurricanes (2-1) are eighth in total defense, allowing 259 yards a game and 3.7 per play.

When Nebraska’s self-titled “Red Storm” offense is at its best, Armstrong said he doesn’t think any defense can stop it.

NFL: Domestic Violence Experts Added as Advisers

Posted on September 15, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL says three experts in domestic violence will serve as senior advisers to the league.

Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to teams Monday announcing that Lisa Friel, Jane Randel and Rita Smith will “help lead and shape the NFL’s policies and programs relating to domestic violence and sexual assault.”

Friel was the head of the Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit in the New York County District Attorney’s Office for more than a decade. Randel is the co-founder of No More, a campaign against domestic violence and sexual assault. Smith is the former executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Goodell has been under heavy criticism for his handling of the domestic abuse case involving star running back Ray Rice.