On an overcast day in Danville, Ferrum came out and established their offensive dominance on their first possession. After stopping the Cougars opening drive on a three and out series, Ferrum put together a 13 play 50 yard drive that ended with a 24 yard run to the end zone by QB Tim Reynolds. After the Puschell extra point, Ferrum led 7-0.
Averett answered that drive with a scoring drive of their own. Mostly on the ground, Averett's very big offensive line, opened holes, and put their quarterback in position to put up a 21 yard scoring strike. The xp tied the game, and I personally became concerned that we could be in for a shootout.....that thankfully was not the case.
On their ensuing drive, Ferrum went three and out, and punted to Averett. After one play, Averett fumbled, and Ferrum recovered. On their first play, Quarterback Tim Reynolds fumbled, and Averett recovered. There seemed to a lot of parity between the two teams to this point.
Ferrum stopped Averett on their drive, and forced a punt, and this ended the first quarter.
After each team traded possessions in the second quarter, Ferrum found pay dirt on their second possession of the stanza with a Tim Reynolds keeper. The Puschell extra point put Ferrum up 14-7.
Ferrum and Averett each traded possessions again, and on their ensuing drive, Averett was stopped again, this time by a Kenny Tapscott interception. This gave Ferrum the ball with :36 seconds left in the half. This is where things got really strange. On the next play, Reynolds ran the ball for an 18 yard gain, giving the Panthers first and ten with :18 seconds left. The chains moved, Ferrum set up, and the whistle was blown, marking the ball ready for play and starting the clock. When the ball was snapped, a flag was thrown due to the fact that Averett had too many men on the field when the ball was snapped. As all of these things happened at almost the same time, (Whistle blown, ball snapped, and flag thrown) it appeared that the play had been stopped...it had not. Tim Reynolds and Tyler Brubaker realized what had happened, and Brubaker ran to the end zone. Reynolds thew the pass and even with the completion, it was not clear exactly what the call was. The Referee conferred with Averett's coach, explaining what exactly had happened. The play was still live, and the touchdown was good. The extra point made the score 21-7 at the half, and seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the Cougars.
In the second half, Ferrum kept up the offensive performance and the defensive pressure, and extended their lead to 49- 7 before the back ups took the field. It was a good conference win for the Panthers, and really brought their offense in line as far as scoring goes. It was good to see that many points go on the board. Final- Ferrum 49 Averett 28.
Rest for now Panthers, but do not lose focus or intensity. This coming Saturday will be a big test....one that you need to pass.
Minggu, 30 September 2012
Kamis, 27 September 2012
Ferrum @ Averett Head to Head Comparison
Wondering how the Panthers and Cougars stack up? Here are some national rankings, as well as conference rankings:
AU FC
Rushing Offense 152 d3, 6th conf. 75 d3, 2nd conf.
Passing Offense 197 d3, 6th conf. 147 d3, 4th conf.
Rushing Defense 211 d3, 7th conf. 62 d3, 2nd conf.
Passing Defense 101 d3, 6th conf. 145 d3, 7th conf.
Total Offense 213 d3, 8th conf. 121 d3, 1st conf.
Turnover Margin 27 d3, 1st conf. 161 d3, 7th conf.
Total Defense 188 d3, 7th conf. 77 d3, 3rd conf.
Passing Efficiency 179 d3, 6th conf. 55 d3, 1st conf.
Sacks Allowed 217 d3, 8th conf. 12 d3, 1st conf.
So what can be learned from these numbers? Well there are probabilities that could be drawn:
Ferrum should be able to move the ball on the ground with success. There is also reason to be optimistic about the Panthers passing game versus the Cougars.
In fact, based on most of these numbers, it would appear that Ferrum will command most phases of the game. There are things that could affect Ferrum's success. Home field advantage, and turnover margin are areas of concern, but overall, I would expect the Panthers to go to 3-1, and to do it convincingly.
Go Panthers!
AU FC
Rushing Offense 152 d3, 6th conf. 75 d3, 2nd conf.
Passing Offense 197 d3, 6th conf. 147 d3, 4th conf.
Rushing Defense 211 d3, 7th conf. 62 d3, 2nd conf.
Passing Defense 101 d3, 6th conf. 145 d3, 7th conf.
Total Offense 213 d3, 8th conf. 121 d3, 1st conf.
Turnover Margin 27 d3, 1st conf. 161 d3, 7th conf.
Total Defense 188 d3, 7th conf. 77 d3, 3rd conf.
Passing Efficiency 179 d3, 6th conf. 55 d3, 1st conf.
Sacks Allowed 217 d3, 8th conf. 12 d3, 1st conf.
So what can be learned from these numbers? Well there are probabilities that could be drawn:
Ferrum should be able to move the ball on the ground with success. There is also reason to be optimistic about the Panthers passing game versus the Cougars.
In fact, based on most of these numbers, it would appear that Ferrum will command most phases of the game. There are things that could affect Ferrum's success. Home field advantage, and turnover margin are areas of concern, but overall, I would expect the Panthers to go to 3-1, and to do it convincingly.
Go Panthers!
The NBA reportedly will start fining players for flopping
Tony Parker drives, Blake Griffin falls, and an NBA employee decides a fine (Andrew D. Bernstein/ Getty).
During the 2011-12 season, a very vocal group of fans, writers, and concerned citizens waged an all-out war on a great scourge of the NBA landscape: flopping. The perceived problem was that so many players were over-selling and in many cases fabricating fouls that the form of basketball competition itself was suffering. Fans couldn't believe what they were seeing, and the cheating was too much.
The outrage took many forms, including the suggestion that players should be assessed technical fouls in games. David Stern spoke out against the problem, as well, and the league's competition committee discussed possible forms of enforcement, although they didn't end up voting on any proposals. The issue, it seemed, was that no one could agree on how to police an act that by its very nature blurs the line between deception and unavoidable contact.
The NBA believes it has reached a solution that will involve assessing fines to floppers on a post-game basis. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com was the first to report the story, and Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press has details:
Spokesman Tim Frank said Thursday the league is finalizing procedures to deal with flopping, the art of falling down when little or no contact was made in an effort to trick referees into calling a foul.Frank said the competition committee met two weeks ago and discussed plans that would go in place this season. Commissioner David Stern believes too many players are deceiving referees by flopping and has been seeking a way to properly penalize them.The procedures will likely involve a postgame review of the play by the league office, rather than an official calling an infraction during the game, Frank said. Players would likely be fined if the league determined they flopped.The proposed plan mirrors a ''postgame analysis'' option Stern discussed after the competition committee met in June. The league already retroactively reviews flagrant fouls to determine if they need to be upgraded or downgraded.
On a very basic level, this proposal seems like a good idea, because no one wants obvious deception to play a part in what's supposed to be a sport of fair competition. When players fall with no contact or sell minimal contact to make it seem like a flagrant foul, it's bad for the league. Fans don't like it, and it's not the sort of thing that a league should want.
But identifying a problem does not always mean that an available solution exists, and flopping is perhaps the most difficult basketball-related malfeasance to police. On a basic level, it's often hard to distinguish between a flop and a legitimate foul — this is why referees often get the calls wrong in the moment, and why it's infeasible to have them dole out technical fouls for flopping while games are in progress.
However, it's just as difficult to decide what qualifies as a fine-worthy flop and what simply stands as selling a call so that referees acknowledge a foul. Flopping isn't a yes-no issue — it's more like a spectrum where some infractions are clear and others are far hazier. Any line between flops that deserve fines and those that don't will be arbitrary, because each viewer's conception of the problem will be different. Is all embellishment bad, or are some examples obviously worse than others? Will all infractions receive the same level of fine? How do you stamp out a problem that takes many different forms?
Plus, if the flopping epidemic is as widespread as some believe, then there will be dozens of examples for the NBA office to review on any night with a full schedule of games. Can one judge assess each call? Will fines be limited to marquee games when a critical mass of fans notices a flop? Will there be a group of flop judges or a sole arbiter of flop justice? If there are many, how will the league ensure consistent standards for fines? And are any of these solutions either fair or effective means of dealing with the problem?
These are not idle concerns. Because while flopping is bad for the NBA, it's arguably worse if the league as an organization hands out fines with no clear plan. When referees call flops incorrectly, at least they can blame the form of the act for their mistakes. The league can't point to a similar factor if their plan proves to be a mess.
Fan expression of a different kind
All sorts of fan speech going around today.
The Florida Marlins signed Adam Greenberg to a one-day contract and he will play next week against the Mets (R.A. Dickey on the mound, looking for his 20th win). Greenberg was beaned in his first Major League at-bat with the Cubs in 2005 (against the Marlins, ironically) and has spent the last seven years trying to overcome post-concussion symptoms. His opportunity came about as a result of the efforts of the One At Bat Foundation, which has been lobbying (and encouraging and helping fans to lobby) MLB and teams to sign Greenberg and allow him to get an official at-bat.
Greenberg is Jewish (he most recently played for Israel in the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers), so there is something appropriate about this happening on the heels of Yom Kippur, where we hope to be inscribed not only for a life, but for a successful and meaningful life.
The Florida Marlins signed Adam Greenberg to a one-day contract and he will play next week against the Mets (R.A. Dickey on the mound, looking for his 20th win). Greenberg was beaned in his first Major League at-bat with the Cubs in 2005 (against the Marlins, ironically) and has spent the last seven years trying to overcome post-concussion symptoms. His opportunity came about as a result of the efforts of the One At Bat Foundation, which has been lobbying (and encouraging and helping fans to lobby) MLB and teams to sign Greenberg and allow him to get an official at-bat.
Greenberg is Jewish (he most recently played for Israel in the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers), so there is something appropriate about this happening on the heels of Yom Kippur, where we hope to be inscribed not only for a life, but for a successful and meaningful life.
Ideas in action
Over the summer, Dan Markel (Florida State) and I wrote a short piece for The Atlantic arguing for the creation of "Fan Action Committees" ("FACs"), through which fans could collect and give money to free agent players to lure them to join fans' favorite team. We currently are working, along with Mike, on a longer version of the piece.
As everyone knows, this week's Monday Night Football game between Green Bay and Seattle ended on a touchdown on the final play of the game, in what most people outside Seattle believe was one of the worst calls, and worst-handled calls, in NFL history.* Several Green Bay players took to Twitter to express their dispelasure, notably offensive linement T.J. Lang, who tweeted ""Fine me and use the money to pay the regular refs." Shortly after that, a fan posted on the site Indiegogo (the page has been taken down, unfortunately) encouraging fans to send money to Lang to help him pay the fine that most believed was inevitable, as the NFL routinely fines players, coaches, and executives who criticize officiating. As it turned out, the league announced it would not impose fines for any comments related to Monday's game, no doubt a concession to the egregiousness of the mistake.
Still, this is our FAC idea in action--fans paying money as a show of fandom and of support for their favorite players. Although we primarily discussed the idea only in the context of free agency, this shows that fans may support players through money for a number of difference reasons in a number of different contexts. And it shows that fans instinctively understand this as a legitimate way to express support for their favorite players and teams.
* Which, it turns out, will be the last call ever by the replacement referees, at least in this labor dispute.
As everyone knows, this week's Monday Night Football game between Green Bay and Seattle ended on a touchdown on the final play of the game, in what most people outside Seattle believe was one of the worst calls, and worst-handled calls, in NFL history.* Several Green Bay players took to Twitter to express their dispelasure, notably offensive linement T.J. Lang, who tweeted ""Fine me and use the money to pay the regular refs." Shortly after that, a fan posted on the site Indiegogo (the page has been taken down, unfortunately) encouraging fans to send money to Lang to help him pay the fine that most believed was inevitable, as the NFL routinely fines players, coaches, and executives who criticize officiating. As it turned out, the league announced it would not impose fines for any comments related to Monday's game, no doubt a concession to the egregiousness of the mistake.
Still, this is our FAC idea in action--fans paying money as a show of fandom and of support for their favorite players. Although we primarily discussed the idea only in the context of free agency, this shows that fans may support players through money for a number of difference reasons in a number of different contexts. And it shows that fans instinctively understand this as a legitimate way to express support for their favorite players and teams.
* Which, it turns out, will be the last call ever by the replacement referees, at least in this labor dispute.
Rabu, 26 September 2012
Things We Wish Were at the Schembechler Estate Sale
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| Bo knows... paintball gear? |
However, based on the pictures of some of the items, it looked more like it was going to be a garage sale for your neighbor, Russ, who lives down the street rather than an estate sale of priceless mementos owned by one of the most beloved coaches in Meeechigan history. I mean, I'm sure Bo's old Christmas ornaments hold value for somebody, and who wouldn't want to say they put together their Ikea furniture using Bo's power tools, but we at the MZone were hoping for a little...more.
According to the company behind the almost-sale, since it was Bo's son's stuff, they weren't sure what sports items would be included. With that in mind, here's our list of things that, with a few turns of the fickle finger of football fate, could have been for sale:
* The shoe worn by Michigan kicker Mike "Super Toe" Lantry in November, 1973 after he kicked a 44-yard field goal with :24 seconds left to break a 10-10 tie and lead Michigan to victory over Ohio State and Woody Hayes. The Wolverines finished the regular season undefeated and went on to win the Rose Bowl and with it, Bo's first National Championship.
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| The original "replacement refs" |
* The can of Stickum spray Brad Cochran was using when he picked off QB Chuck Long on Iowa's final drive in the waning moments of second-ranked Michigan's 10-9 victory over the top ranked Hawkeyes in Iowa City in 1985. The only blemish on the Wolverine record that year was a 3-3 tie at Illinois. Even still, after Bo's 4th win in Pasadena, the General captured his second National Championship.
* The autographed picture of Bo holding up the Little Brown Jug after second-ranked Michigan held on to beat Minnesota and QB Ricky Foggie in the second to last game of the 1986 regular season. After beating Ohio State in the regular season finale following Jim Harbaugh's victory guarantee, the Wolverines completed yet another undefeated regular season.
* The football that Michigan recovered after Miami's failed onside kick attempt at the end of the Wolverine's victory over the #1-ranked Hurricanes in 1988. Miami was trying to come back from a 30-14 deficit with seven minutes left in the 4th quarter but it was not to be as the Wolverines held on in The Big House.
* Bo's gameplan notes for the '89 Michigan-Notre Dame game in which he specifically told his special teams coaches not to kick to Irish speedster Rocket Ismail. The Wolverines won that rainy day in A2 and ran the table, capped off by a thrilling victory against USC in the Rose Bowl (due to a gutsy, successful fake punt late in the game). The undefeated season marked Bo's third and final National Title as he retired on top, passing the reins to his longtime assistant Gary Moeller.
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| Thankfully, we never kicked to him. Whew! |
(Phantom TD pic HT: MVictors)
Ferrum @ Averett Game Preview
And so it begins....The non conference schedule is finished, and the open week is in the rear view mirror. It's time for conference play. Ferrum travels to Averett this Saturday for a 1 p.m.kickoff. While most people look at this game as one Ferrum should win, there are a few things that bother me about it. Averett has shown that they have a formidable defense, holding Hampden-Sydney College to 20 points, and Randolph Macon College to 21. They also have shown that there offense can put up points as they scored 35 against Guilford. So far, although they remain winless, the Cougars are starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
Ferrum should be able to handle the Cougars, as I believe the Panthers will have too many weapons, but nothing can be taken for granted. Ferrum has had two chances at a shutout, but I doubt they will pull one off this week. I look for Ferrum to continue to improve on both sides of the ball, and, in the end, Ferrum will wear down Averett for a hard fought win. I would not be surprised for Ferrum to have a defensive touchdown.
The one thing Ferrum must do is focus on defeating Averett. Oct. 6th will be here soon enough, and it will have far less meaning if the Panthers do not get a "W" on Saturday.
This week's predictions:
Ferrum 34 Averett 21
Greensboro @ Methodist
North Carolina Wesleyan @ LaGrange
CNU @ Maryville
Should be a fun week.
Ferrum should be able to handle the Cougars, as I believe the Panthers will have too many weapons, but nothing can be taken for granted. Ferrum has had two chances at a shutout, but I doubt they will pull one off this week. I look for Ferrum to continue to improve on both sides of the ball, and, in the end, Ferrum will wear down Averett for a hard fought win. I would not be surprised for Ferrum to have a defensive touchdown.
The one thing Ferrum must do is focus on defeating Averett. Oct. 6th will be here soon enough, and it will have far less meaning if the Panthers do not get a "W" on Saturday.
This week's predictions:
Ferrum 34 Averett 21
Greensboro @ Methodist
North Carolina Wesleyan @ LaGrange
CNU @ Maryville
Should be a fun week.
Selasa, 25 September 2012
Replay it Again Sam
To say the replacement refs have not been up to the level of their striking counterparts the first three games of the season is an understatement. But Monday night was a sight to behold on what still is, in the hearts of many, the NFL showcase game of the week.
In case you missed it, Seattle attempted the proverbial Hail Mary trailing 12 to 7 with 8 seconds remaining. Quarterback Russell Wilson heaved the ball some 60 yards where two of his players jockeyed for position amidst five Packers. The perfectly named Golden Tate pushed the defender in front of him away and leaped to catch the pigskin only to be out leapt by Packer safety M.D. Jennings who made the circus catch falling to the ground, while Tate still had one hand lamely clinging to the ball.
Two replacements stood over the pair looking befuddled, one signaling touchdown, the other making the correct call that the game was over with Green Bay the victor. No review. No discussion. No Mas. Final score: Seattle 14 Green Bay 12.
While my media hero Michael McCann makes a good point that these ne’er do well officials threaten the safety of the players, thus perhaps justifying legal action by the union to demand the league cough up the relative pennies to end the strike, much more is at stake here.
No less a rapscallion than Jimmy Connors said afterwards he no longer would bet on the NFL. Now that is a problem. Estimates vary, but it is safe to say the amount of gambling money flowing through the economy during an NFL season is in the billions of dollars. Recorded wagers in Las Vegas are about $650 million, with $90 million bet on the Super Bowl alone. And that’s legal bets, sure to be just a fraction of actual bets. If betting on an NFL game is like betting on a bout in the World Wrestling League, that free flow of money will soon be reduced to a trickle.
It’s time for the Commissioner to act for the good of gamblers everywhere.
Senin, 24 September 2012
Chicago-born basketball stars hold tournament to stop gang violence (VIDEO)
While news from Chicago has recently focused on the controversial teachers' strike, there is a far more serious problem tearing inner-city Chicago apart. The city's murder rate is astronomically high, with estimates of as many as 504 by the end of 2012 (as of late July). Gang violence has increased at alarming rates, and the community has struggled to stop the tide of violence and make Chicago a safer place to live.
These are open questions with unclear reasons. ("The Interrupters," a recent documentary by "Hoop Dreams" director Steve James, is an illuminating view into this exact subject.) Nevertheless, many Chicagoans are trying to do their part, including some of the Windy City's most famous natives. With the organization of Isiah Thomas, arguably the most legendary player ever to hail from Chicago, several NBA players held a basketball tournament this weekend to stop gang violence.
Check out video from NBC 5 in Chicago above (via SLAM). Then, read this report from Steve Aschburner for NBA.com:
Last month, Thomas marched with Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina to raise awareness about gang violence and Chicago's soaring murder rate. This time, Thomas — along with Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Quentin Richardson, Zach Randolph, the Chicago Bears' J'Marcus Webb and others — was trying to bridge the gap between rivals with basketball, using the celebrity of the sports stars to deliver messages about, well, communicating."It's a historical event where the gangs are coming together and they're going to play a game involving peace, to stop the killing," Thomas said. "Murder has run rampant in Chicago the last couple years, but gangs are calling a truce for this. By getting them to come together and play a sport, they might come to know each other. We believe it's hard to kill someone if you get to know him."Teams from four parts of the rough Englewood and Gresham neighborhoods were pulled together for two games. The players in some cases never had played with their teammates and, given the divisions between gangs, might never have spent time under the same roof."The importance of it is building relationships," Pfleger said. "We come together to play ball, have fun together. Then we can begin to build relationships and say, 'Let's settle problems with each other. And not on the street. Let's do it in conversation.' "The St. Sabina gym was packed and security was tight. Chicago police patrolled outside and members of the Nation of Islam handled security inside, but NBA referees Danny Crawford and Jim Capers were the authorities on the court.
Aschburner's entire story is worth reading, particularly for the sense that the event's organizers know this tournament was only the first step in solving a very serious problem. As Pfleger notes, the point is to begin building relationships instead of forming them in one night. A few games of basketball won't solve an issue of this magnitude, but prolonged exposure to each other might begin to make things better.
At the NBA level, basketball often serves as a means of stoking inter-city hatred via major rivalries. But the sport has a long history of serving as a peacemaking tool at lower levels, particularly with Midnight Basketball events that keep kids and young adults off the streets and out of trouble on weekend nights. (Internationally, it's also been used to help Israelis and Palestinians create friendships.) And while basketball is only part of these efforts, it's nice to remember that a shared love of the game can be used for good.
As NASCAR goes, so goes America?
Two years ago, I wrote about a poll showing the general politcal breakdown of sports fans. It found that sports fans overall leaned Republican, with NASCAR fans among the strongest Republican supporters (along with fans of golf and college football). Zogby just published a poll showing Obama with a lead among self-identified NASCAR fans (admittedly small sample size of only about 200 out of an overall sample of 800).
Destination: "Abnormally dangerous conditions"
After watching this weekend’s NFL games, it is obvious that the replacement referees are patently incapable of maintaining order during a game. Blown calls—made or not—are maddening, inconsistency and human error are part of officiating sports. What is unacceptable is the loss of control on the field, leading to an unsafe environment for the participants.The caliber of officiating is abysmal, these aren’t even elite Division I referees because those conferences are not letting them work NFL games. With Division II referees attempting to manage games, the players are responding like the teacher has left the room and they have a poor substitute teacher trying to maintain order—it’s not happening. Let's be clear, the referees are doing the best they can, but are overmatched by the speed, violence, and intensity of NFL football.
What can be done?
1. The NFL’s CBA has a “no strike clause” which, in theory, would restrict the ability of the players to strike in sympathy with the referees.
2. However, as Michael McCann recently analyzed on Sports Law Blog, clause 29 USC 143 of the NLRB permits a worker from refusing, in good faith, to work under “abnormally dangerous conditions”, and 29 USC 143 is applicable to NFL labor conditions. Aren’t we there? Football is a violent sport. Referees who are grossly inexperienced are posing a real and imminent safety risk to the players on the field.
3. The NFLPA could, and at this point I’m arguing should, take action. Either:
a. The NFLPA could refuse to play under the current conditions, citing the very real fact that the workplace is fret with “abnormally dangerous conditions”…OR
b. Could ask the courts for an immediate injunction, terminating the current lockout by the NFL of the referees. In theory, the referees could go back to work while the parties continue to negotiate or mediate this mess.
4. We love sports and the tort doctrine "assumption of the risk" is well established because injuries are part of the game. However, when a football player consents to risk, they do so under the assumption that the game will be managed by professionals, able to maintain safety standards that are paramount to the operation of these contents. Based on what we have seen in the first three weeks of the 2012 NFL season, that safe work environment is missing.
5. An even bigger issue facing the NFL than the debacle surrounding replacement referees is the concussion litigation. Here, the NFL is doing everything imaginable to argue that they care about player safety--with potential damages in the $ 1 BILLION range. Doesn't it make sense to show some legitimate good will regarding player health and safety now?
Minggu, 23 September 2012
Fantasy Football 2012 Week 3 Unfavorable Matchups for Star Players: Fan’s Take
In Week 3 of the 2012 fantasy football season, some players have tougher matchups than others. When considering who to start and bench this week, here are some star players at each position who have unfavorable statistical matchups in Week 3*.
QB Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (98% owned)
Matchup: vs. Houston Texans, least fantasy points to quarterbacks
Manning has one good start and one bad start to begin his career with the Broncos. Up against a top-notch Texans defense in Week 3, he may have another start with weaker numbers if he is unable to find the success he head against the league's most-recent expansion team as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. In the first two weeks, Ryan Tannehill of the Miami Dolphins scored 5.66 points and Blaine Gabbert of the Jacksonville Jaguars scored 6.62 points.
RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (99% owned)
Matchup: vs. San Francisco 49ers, least fantasy points to running backs
Peterson has looked impressive in his first two starts back from injury. Even though his limit on the number of carries he can have this week may be gone, he'll still be facing a 49ers run defense that was best in the NFL last season and looks to be a tough matchup again in 2012. While still a worthy starting option, this formidable challenge makes Peterson project as a low-end RB2 or flex option. In the first two weeks, Cedric Benson of the Green Bay Packers scored 1.8 points and Kevin Smith of the Detroit Lions scored seven points.
WR Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (95% owned)
Matchup: at Dallas Cowboys, 4th least fantasy points to wide receivers
Jackson has put up good numbers thanks to 20 targets by quarterback Josh Freeman in the first two games. While he'll still likely see a lot of passes thrown his way in Week 3, he'll face a tough Cowboys secondary featuring Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne that has shut down receivers so far this season. In the first two weeks, Victor Cruz of the New York Giants scored 5.8 points and Golden Tate of the Seattle Seahawks scored 3.8 points.
TE Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers (97% owned)
Matchup: at Seattle Seahawks, 7th least fantasy points to tight ends
In the well-balanced Packers offense run by Aaron Rodgers, Finley has yet to have a big game. With problems dropping passes and taking care of the ball, he could be looked at less in Week 3 with Greg Jennings possibly returning on Monday night. In the first two weeks, Todd Heap of the Arizona Cardinals scored 3.2 points and Jason Witten of the Cowboys scored 5.8 points.
K Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders (94% owned)
Matchup: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 2nd least fantasy points to kickers
While Janikowski's powerful leg has always made him a strong fantasy kicker, a matchup against the tough Steelers defense could spell trouble for all of Oakland's fantasy options. Factor in a left groin issue that has limited him this week and this could be a low-scoring Week 3. In the first two weeks, Matt Prater of the Broncos scored five points and Nick Folk of the New York Jets scored four points.
New England Patriots team defense (77% owned)
Matchup: at Baltimore Ravens, 3rd least fantasy points to team defenses
New England versus Baltimore has brought some big battles over the years. With both teams not having the elite defenses of years past, this could be a high-scoring game which could not work out in the Patriots team defense's favor. In the first two weeks, Cincinnati Bengals team defense scored -1 point and the Philadelphia Eagles team defense scored six points.
*Point totals determined through standard Yahoo! scoring structure; player percentage owned data accurate as of September 22, 2012.
Sources:
Fantasy Points Against, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football
Fantasy Points Against Houston Texans Quarterback, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football
Fantasy Points Against San Francisco 49ers Running Back, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football
Fantasy Points Against Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football
Fantasy Points Against Seattle Seahawks Tight End, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football
Fantasy Points Against Pittsburgh Steelers Kicker, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football
Fantasy Points Against Baltimore Ravens Defense, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football
Vincent Jackson News & Notes, Yahoo! Sports
Sebastian Janikowski News & Notes, Yahoo! Sports
More from this contributor:
Austin Chang is a lifelong football fan, San Francisco 49ers supporter, and fantasy football player since 2005. Follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.
NCAA bans Central Florida football, basketball from postseason
The NCAA's Committee on Infractions has banned the University of Central Florida from postseason play for one season in football and men's basketball because of major rule violations in both sports.
George Skene, AP
Former Central Florida athletic director Keith Tribble was found to have committed unethical conduct by the NCAA.
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Central Florida, which appeared before the infractions committee in April, also was fined $50,000 and placed on five years' probation. In addition, the university was cited for a lack of institutional control.
The school announced Tuesday afternoon that it would appeal the postseason ban for football.
"We don't believe the `aggravating factors' cited from the NCAA bylaws justify this sanction," UCF President John Hitt said in a statement released by the school.
At a news conference, Hitt noted that none of the football players the school recruited improperly ever wound up playing for the Knights.
Greg Sankey, the associate commissioner of the Southeastern Conference and infractions committee member, said the Central Florida case underscores the "ever-increasing problem in college sports" of outside third-party individuals being involved in recruiting.
UCF football spokesman Brian Ormiston declined comment on the sanctions and said the school will have a news conference at 3 p.m. ET to discuss the NCAA announcement.
At issue was the university's involvement with Ken Caldwell, a Chicago man with ties to a sports agency who helped steer several prospects to Central Florida. The report states that third-party individuals provided more than $16,000 to three prospects and two Central Florida student-athletes. They provided travel expenses, cash, tuition and a laptop computer.
Men's basketball coach Donnie Jones was charged with a failure to monitor compliance. Jones had already been suspended without pay for three conference games.
Jones, who remains at the university, was also given a three-year show-cause order starting with the 2012-2013 season, which requires him to attend rule seminars the next two years. He also is barred from off-campus recruiting during the July player evaluation periods in 2013.
The NCAA report notes, "A head coach is not required to investigate wrongdoing, but is expected to recognize potential NCAA violations, address them and report them to the athletics administration."
And former athletic director Keith Tribble and former assistant football coach David Kellywas found to have committed unethical conduct. Sankey said that because Tribble "accepted" the third-party individuals, that legitimized them in the eyes of coaches.
The University had already self-imposed sanctions that included vacating all wins in men's basketball during the past three seasons and cutting scholarships in football and men's basketball. Central Florida had also reduced the number of recruiting evaluation days for men's basketball and football.
Tribble and Kelly had resigned after they were accused of taking part in inappropriate recruiting practices. The NCAA imposed a three-year show cause penalty against Tribble. Kelly received a one-year show cause penalty.
This was not the university's first run-in with the NCAA in recent years. Central Florida had been placed on two years' probation in February 2010 after two non-coaching football staff members were found to have made impermissible telephone calls and text messages to prospects or their parents.
In football, Central Florida was expected to return 16 starters (eight on offense, eight on defense) from a team that finished 5-7 under coach George O'Leary in 2011. Six of the losses were by seven points or fewer. In a preseason poll of news media, the Knights were picked as favorites to win the East Division of Conference USA.
In basketball, the Knights are due to have four starters back — including their top three scorers — from a team that went 22-11, ending with a loss in the first round of the NIT.
The NCAA has a bylaw that allows players whose eligibility is elapsing and won't have another chance at postseason play to immediately transfer. Thus, UCF seniors on both teams can change schools and play right away.
Longtime basketball coach Marv Kessler dies at 82
NEW YORK — Marv Kessler, a wisecracking basketball guru who preached the fundamentals of the game in a half-century career that spanned high school, college and the NBA, has died. He was 82.
He had been diagnosed with cancer several years ago and died Wednesday at NYU Medical Center, according to longtime friends.
Kessler graduated from North Carolina State in 1958 after playing on the basketball team for three seasons. He coached at Martin Van Buren High School in his home borough of Queens before leaving to become head coach at Adelphi University on Long Island in 1972. He compiled an 88-60 record in six seasons with the Panthers.
He was an assistant coach at Davidson from 1979-81 and then began his association with the NBA, serving as an advance scout for Detroit, Washington, Portland and Sacramento. For a short time he was head coach of Hapoel Holon of the Israeli Professional League.
His reputation as a speaker at clinics, where he used humor and fundamentals to get his point across, extended nationwide. His days at the famed Five-Star Basketball Camp are legendary for his work with individual players and the full-camp lectures that informed and entertained.
Kessler was strictly from basketball's old-school. He stressed preparation and discipline, looking for an opponent's weakness, goading his players to be better, berating them when he thought that might do the trick. And he did it with a standup comic's touch — a Catskill mountain schtick melding John Wooden with Jackie Mason.
"I've known Marv for 40 years, since I was 14," Fordham coach Tom Pecora said Saturday. "His creative thinking and sense of humor when it came to basketball were what made him so special to me and so many others. What he was able to do is unparalleled."
Kessler created a new career for himself over the last two decades. He was hired by many college and NBA coaches to attend their practices and suggest ways to become more effective.
Kessler, who received a master's degree from Columbia in 1960, was inducted into Adelphi's Hall of Fame in 1997.
He is survived by his wife, Irene, and daughters Andrea and Gayle.
Services are Sunday at 10 a.m. at Sinai Chapel in Flushing.
more read here http://online.wsj.com/article/AP1eec663256d3459da40386cdc3a9cb6a.htmlSabtu, 22 September 2012
Armadillo unveiled as 2014 World Cup mascot
Sao Paulo • The 2014 World Cup mascot is a yet to-be-named endangered Brazilian armadillo.
FIFA said Brazilians will have until mid-November to choose the name from three choices — Amijubi, Fuleco and Zuzeco. The announcement was made Sunday on a television show with help from former Brazil star Ronaldo.
"I’m delighted to welcome such an important member to the 2014 team," Ronaldo said. "The mascot will play a key ambassadorial role in the next two years. I’m sure he will inspire many young football fans in Brazil and all over the world with the great passion which he has for the sport and for his country."
The three-banded armadillo, which is in danger of extinction, rolls up into the shape of a ball when threatened and is commonly found in northeastern Brazil.
The mascot carries the colors of the Brazilian flag. It is yellow, with green shorts and a blue shell and tail. It is dressed in a white shirt with the words "Brazil 2014" written on it.
"The fact that the three-banded armadillo is a vulnerable species is very fitting," FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said in a statement. "One of the key objectives through the 2014 FIFA World Cup is to use the event as a platform to communicate the importance of the environment and ecology."
FIFA said Amijubi is a "representation of friendliness and joy," while Fuleco and Zuzeco are linked to an "ecological message."
Soccer’s governing body said the three options were picked "after a vote by a high-profile judging committee" in Brazil, including former Ronaldo teammate Bebeto.
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