Football – Page 89 – North Platte Post Archive

Northwestern Coach Testifies Against Unionization

Posted on February 21, 2014

CHICAGO (AP) — The head football coach at Northwestern has been called to testify at a hearing on his team’s bid to form the nation’s first college athletes’ union.

Pat Fitzgerald took the stand Friday during the fourth day of a National Labor Relations Board hearing in Chicago. He says the school wants players “to be the best they can be … athletically, academically, socially.” But he was called by attorneys who oppose the unionization bid.

The first-of-its kind effort is being closely watched by other colleges nationwide. The NCAA and Northwestern have maintained the its student-athletes are not employees, who would have the right to unionize.

Locker Room Culture in Spotlight as Combine Begins

Posted on February 20, 2014

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — This could be as good a time as there has ever been for an openly gay player in the NFL.

The league will be watching.

The annual scouting combine opened Thursday in Indianapolis and decision-makers from teams around the league spoke of being on guard for the kind of bad behavior detailed last week in an NFL-ordered report on the bullying scandal in Miami.

Most said a culture of respect was already in place with their teams before Richie Incognito became an infamous name and there aren’t major signs of response to the scandal. Still, some tangible steps have emerged — in Miami and elsewhere.

NFL Unlikely to go to Centralized Replay in 2014

Posted on February 19, 2014

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NFL’s competition committee is unlikely to make major changes to the replay system or playoffs this year.

New York Giants owner John Mara told The Associated Press after Wednesday’s committee meeting that more discussion is needed about moving replay reviews to a centralized location. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said there wasn’t enough support on the committee to change the system in time for the 2014 season.

Mara, a longtime critic of playoff expansion, acknowledged he was willing to listen to the option of adding one wild-card team in each conference but expressed concern about “watering down” the postseason.

No formal votes will be held during this week’s meetings in Indianapolis, where teams are convening for the start of the annual scouting combine.

Study: Concussions Less Prevalent in Young Players

Posted on February 19, 2014

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A new study shows that the youngest football players are less likely to suffer concussions.

The results, obtained by The Associated Press and expected to be released later Wednesday, show that 4.3 percent of players from ages 5 to 14 were diagnosed with concussions. Thirty-four percent of the players who did report injuries complained of bruises. Ligament sprains were the second-most common injury, coming in at 16 percent.

Indianapolis-based USA Football asked another Indy-based organization, the Datalys Center, to conduct the research which evaluated more than 4,000 youth players in six states between 2012 and 2013.

Researchers found that the behavior of coaches has a direct correlation on the number of injuries, and that the youngest athletes were the least likely to be injured.

Rules Chair: No Need For Rule if no Safety Issue

Posted on February 18, 2014

The chairman of the NCAA Football Rules Committee says a proposal to prohibit snapping the ball until at least 10 seconds run off the 40-second play clock should not go forward if there’s no hard evidence showing up-tempo offenses endanger the safety of defensive players.

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun is the chairman. He said Tuesday he has yet to see a medical study linking the rapid pace of an offense to potential health issues for defensive players.

The comment period for the proposal ends March 3. The Playing Rules Oversight Commission, which meets March 6, would have to approve the proposal.

This is a non-rules change year for the NCAA, but exceptions can be made for rules that affect player safety.

QB Testifies in Bid to Form College Athlete Union

Posted on February 18, 2014February 18, 2014

CHICAGO (AP) — Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter is the first witness at a closely watched hearing to determine whether college athletes can form a union.

Colter testified Tuesday at a National Labor Relations Board hearing in Chicago that is expected to last three days.

Colter has said most of the team’s 85 scholarship players support forming a union, though he has been the only one to step forward publicly. He is a senior who has finished his college career.

The pivotal question is whether college athletes qualify as employees and thus have a right to unionize.

A union would dramatically change the landscape of college sports, and the NCAA maintains that students are not employees. The bid is being supported by the United Steelworkers union.

Goodell Made $44.2 Million in 2012

Posted on February 14, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made $44.2 million in 2012, according to tax returns the league has submitted.

Goodell earned $35.1 million in salary, bonus and pension compensation. Based on IRS reporting guidelines, his total 2012 compensation includes a $5 million incentive payment and a $4.1 million pension payment from the 2011 lockout year that was paid in 2012.

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said the compensation to Goodell “reflects the value of his leadership and the success of the NFL at the highest levels.”

The league’s revenues have approached $10 billion.

NCAA Proposes Change to Targeting Rule

Posted on February 12, 2014

The NCAA football rules committee has proposed a change to the targeting rule that would eliminate the 15-yard penalty when instant replay officials overturn an ejection.

Last year, when a targeting penalty was called, the 15-yard penalty stood even if the replay official determined the player should be allowed to stay in the game.

The proposal needs approval from the playing rules oversight panel.

The rules committee also proposed a change to allow defenses to substitute within the first 10 seconds of the 40-second play clock, with the exception of the final two minutes of each half. Offenses would not be allowed to snap the ball until 29 seconds are left on the play clock.

The proposed change is in response to no-huddle offenses that don’t allow defenses to substitute.

Elway Gets 3-Year Extension, New GM Title

Posted on February 12, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have extended Executive Vice President John Elway’s contract for three years and added general manager to his title.

The Broncos have gone 37-17 since Elway rejoined the team in 2011 and are coming off an AFC Championship but a 43-8 blowout to Seattle in the Super Bowl.

Elway guided the Broncos to five Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame playing career, winning his last two before retiring in 1999.

When he returned to the Broncos after a 4-12 season in 2010, Elway hired coach John Fox, who has led Denver to three straight AFC West titles.

Elway has hit the jackpot in free agency, first with Peyton Manning in 2012 and last year with Louis Vasquez and Wes Welker among others.

The 2014 and 2015 High School Football Schedules Released

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

The Nebraska School Activities Association released the 2014 and 2015 football schedules for its member schools on Wednesday.

The North Platte Bulldogs will have five home games and four road games during the 2014 season. The Dawgs will once again play in Class A and start the season on the road for the second straight year. North Platte will travel to Columbus in week 1, which can be played between Wednesday, August 27 and Saturday, August 30.

The Bulldogs will then be home for two weeks against Lincoln High at Bauer Field in week two and against Kearney in week three. This is the earliest North Platte has played the rival Bearcats since 2009 when they also played in week three. The Dawgs will be on the road in week four at Lincoln Southeast, back home again in week five against Lincoln East, on the road for week six at Omaha Bryan, week seven is a home game against Millard West. The final road game of the year is in week eight against Norfolk, before finishing up the regular season at home in week nine against Grand Island.

The North Platte 2014 and 2015 football schedules can be seen below and all of the Bulldogs football games can be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 and online at northplattepost.com with the voice of the Dawgs, Robert Lovell.

The Irish of St. Patrick’s will have five road games this season, including opening the season at the defending Class C2 state champion, Doniphan-Trumbull. St. Pat’s will also have four home games in 2014. The Hershey Panthers will be at home for five of its games this season, including once again hosting their rival, St. Pat’s in week five. Sutherland will have its bye in week two and play in Class D1. The Sailors play one area school, Maxwell in week one. Maxwell playing in Class C2 will have a bye in week four in preparation for the rivalry game against Brady at home in week five. The Brady Eagles will once again play in Class D2 and along with playing Maxwell they will also play Wallace, another area school, at home in week three. Wallace, also playing in Class D2, gets a bye in week one so won’t start its season until September at home against South Platte in week two. The Gothenburg Swedes will be in Class C1 and has five road games and four home games for the upcoming season.

The schedules for all area schools can be seen below for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

North Platte 2014 Schedule:
Week 1 @Columbus
Week 2 Lincoln High
Week 3 Kearney
Week 4 @Lincoln Southeast
Week 5 Lincoln East
Week 6 @Omaha Bryan
Week 7 Millard West
Week 8 @Norfolk
Week 9 Grand Island

North Platte 2015 Schedule:
Week 1 Columbus
Week 2 @Lincoln High
Week 3 @Kearney
Week 4 Lincoln Southeast
Week 5 @Lincoln East
Week 6 Omaha Bryan
Week 7 @Millard West
Week 8 Norfolk
Week 9 @Grand Island

North Platte St. Patrick’s 2014 Schedule:
Week 1 @Doniphan-Trumbull
Week 2 Wood River
Week 3 @Southern Valley
Week 4 Ravenna
Week 5 @Hershey
Week 6 @Bridgeport
Week 7 Kimball
Week 8 Cambridge
Week 9 @Bayard

North Platte St. Patrick’s 2015 Schedule:
Week 1 Doniphan-Trumbull
Week 2 @Wood River
Week 3 Southern Valley
Week 4 @Ravenna
Week 5 Hershey
Week 6 Bridgeport
Week 7 @Kimball
Week 8 @Cambridge
Week 9 Bayard

Hershey 2014 Schedule:
Week 1 @Arcadia-Loup City
Week 2 Hastings St. Cecilia
Week 3 @Doniphan-Trumbull
Week 4 Wood River
Week 5 North Platte St. Patrick’s
Week 6 @Bayard
Week 7 Bridgeport
Week 8 Kimball
Week 9 @Cambridge

Hershey 2015 Schedule:
Week 1 Arcadia-Loup City
Week 2 @Hastings St. Cecilia
Week 3 Doniphan-Trumbull
Week 4 @Wood River
Week 5 @North Platte St. Patrick’s
Week 6 Bayard
Week 7 @Bridgeport
Week 8 @Kimball
Week 9 Cambridge

Maxwell 2014 Schedule:
Week 1 @Sutherland
Week 2 South Loup
Week 3 @Garden County
Week 4 BYE
Week 5 Brady
Week 6 Medicine Valley
Week 7 @Paxton
Week 8 @Stapleton
Week 9 Mullen

Maxwell 2015 Schedule:
Week 1 Sutherland
Week 2 @South Loup
Week 3 Garden County
Week 4 BYE
Week 5 @Brady
Week 6 @Medicine Valley
Week 7 Paxton
Week 8 Stapleton
Week 9 @Mullen

Sutherland 2014 Schedule:
Week 1 Maxwell
Week 2 BYE
Week 3 @Paxton
Week 4 Elm Creek
Week 5 @Creek Valley
Week 6 Dundy County-Stratton
Week 7 @Perkins County
Week 8 Morrill
Week 9 @Hemingford

Sutherland 2015 Schedule:
Week 1 @Maxwell
Week 2 BYE
Week 3 Paxton
Week 4 @Elm Creek
Week 5 Creek Valley
Week 6 @Dundy County-Stratton
Week 7 Perkins County
Week 8 @Morrill
Week 9 Hemingford

Brady 2014 Schedule:
Week 1 Sumner-Eddyville-Miller
Week 2 BYE
Week 3 Wallace
Week 4 @Medicine Valley
Week 5 @Maxwell
Week 6 Paxton
Week 7 Stapleton
Week 8 @Mullen
Week 9 @Anselmo-Merna

Brady 2015 Schedule:
Week 1 @Sumner-Eddyville-Miller
Week 2 BYE
Week 3 @Wallace
Week 4 Medicine Valley
Week 5 Maxwell
Week 6 @Paxton
Week 7 @Stapleton
Week 8 Mullen
Week 9 Anselmo-Merna

Wallace 2014 Schedule:
Week 1 BYE
Week 2 South Platte
Week 3 @Brady
Week 4 @Leyton
Week 5 Hitchcock County
Week 6 @Southwest
Week 7 Mullen
Week 8 @Eustis-Farnam
Week 9 Medicine Valley

Wallace 2015 Schedule:
Week 1 BYE
Week 2 @South Platte
Week 3 Brady
Week 4 Leyton
Week 5 @Hitchcock County
Week 6 Southwest
Week 7 @Mullen
Week 8 Eustis-Farnam
Week 9 @Medicine Valley

Gothenburg 2014 Schedule:
Week 1 Holdrege
Week 2 Mitchell
Week 3 @Grand Island Central Catholic
Week 4 @Ogallala
Week 5 Cozad
Week 6 @Broken Bow
Week 7 Valentine
Week 8 @O’Neill
Week 9 @Ord

Gothenburg 2015 Schedule:
Week 1 @Holdrege
Week 2 @Mitchell
Week 3 Grand Island Central Catholic
Week 4 Ogallala
Week 5 @Cozad
Week 6 Broken Bow
Week 7 @Valentine
Week 8 O’Neill
Week 9 Ord