United should target title surge

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Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick believes the club should be aiming for a record-extending 21st English title rather than settling for a Champions League spot.


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Manchester, United Kingdom – Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick believes the club should be aiming for a record-extending 21st English title rather than settling for a Champions League spot.


A comfortable 3-1 home win over Newcastle on Friday was United's seventh in eight matches and left them ten points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea with Manchester neighbours City seven ahead.


“We're continuing to look up and will continue to try to catch them (City and Chelsea),” the midfielder told United's website ahead of Sunday's game against Tottenham.


“We're not satisfied with third. It's obviously an improvement and we're getting better but we want to keep looking up.”


After failing to reach Europe's showpiece tournament last season under David Moyes and then caretaker manager Ryan Giggs, after the Scot was sacked, a top four finish is the minimum target for United.


Carrick's return from an ankle injury at the start of November sparked United's surge of form and the Old Trafford giants have dropped just two points since the England international came back.


Former manager Alex Ferguson went as far at to describe the 33-year-old as “the best English player in the game”.


Carrick countered by saying that new manager Louis van Gaal is benefiting from his squad of potent attacking weapons.


On Boxing Day van Gaal fielded an enviable attacking quartet of Wayne Rooney, Radamel Falcao, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie.


“That's four world-class players you're talking about there,” Carrick said.


“Going in to a game with those lads in your team gives us a real threat and a lot of confidence knowing we can create chances and score goals. Against Newcastle they clicked nicely and hopefully in the weeks coming up we'll see something similar.”


“We can improve and we are improving every match. That's the most important thing,” said the Dutchman.


“It's a process not for one day, but for a year.”


Carrick, who played for Spurs for two years before signing for United, thinks he and his team-mates must not dwell on punishing schedule as they head to White Hart Lane just 43 hours after disposing of Newcastle.


“Going to Tottenham is always a tough game and to go there two days after this match at 12 noon makes it very tough,” he said.


“But we have to get ourselves ready for that and it's the same for them as well. It's a game we look forward to and we go there confident.”


British record signing Angel di Maria is a big doubt because of a pelvis injury he suffered in training on Christmas Eve.


Marouane Fellaini and Adnan Januzaj are out through illness. Daley Blind (knee) and Marcos Rojo (thigh) are unavailable, but Luke Shaw took part in a post-match training session on Boxing Day and could feature for the first time since November 22, when he injured his ankle against Arsenal. – Sapa-AFP






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://www.iol.co.za/united-should-target-title-surge-1.1799387
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Time for Mignolet to prove himself

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Returning Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has been warned he has to handle the pressure if he wants to be a success at Anfield.


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Returning Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has been warned he has to handle the pressure if he wants to be a success at Anfield.


Mignolet is poised to make his first Liverpool start for three weeks tomorrow night against Swansea having been axed by Rodgers following the club’s Champions League exit three weeks ago.


The 26-year-old Belgian has faced heavy criticism this season but has won a reprieve because of a thigh injury picked up by rival keeper Brad Jones at Burnley on Boxing Day.


Rodgers is aware Mignolet will be under the spotlight after a nervy cameo as a substitute at Turf Moor which included misjudging a clearance so the ball ran over the goal-line for a corner.


But the Liverpool boss says his players have little choice but to accept being under the spotlight at such a big club.


‘Like everyone, Simon has had a wee bit of flak. But to operate at this level, you have to be able to deal with that,’ said Rodgers.


‘He came on against Burnley and had a couple of edgy moments, and he will recognise that. But it will help his confidence to keep a clean sheet. That is what he wants as a goalkeeper and what we want as a team.


‘This is an opportunity for Simon to prove his worth.’


At the other end, Raheem Sterling — currently playing as Liverpool’s main striker — has been set a target of scoring 15 goals this season by Rodgers.


Sterling is filling in for Daniel Sturridge while Rickie Lambert, Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini struggle for goals and scored the winner at Burnley for his sixth goal of the season, having netted 10 times last term.


‘He knows his job is to create goals and score goals and he’s doing very well at the moment,’ said Rodgers.


‘Between 10 and 15 would be a good return for him. The boy is a natural winger and if he gets those figures on a regular basis it’s a very good number for him.


‘You’ve other players who are out-and-out No 9s but as his career matures I think he will show he’s got that ability.’


Kolo Toure also believes Sterling will blossom into a top striker over the coming years — and stay at Anfield.


Sterling has two-and-a-half years left on his current £35,000 per week deal but Liverpool have been in talks with his advisors about offering him improved terms to reward the outstanding progress he has made.


There have been some reports that Liverpool’s offer is not what Sterling’s advisors feel he is worth, but Toure is not concerned.


The Ivorian said: ‘I’ve been lucky to play with some of the best strikers in the world and I can say Raheem has all the qualities to be up there.


‘Technically he has top quality.


‘I don’t think the things being said about whether he will sign a new contract will affect him. I also don’t think it will be about money. Raheem will make a decision based on what he feels is right.


‘I think he will stay because he has been so well looked after at Liverpool.’


Tomorrow night’s clash with Swansea will pit Rodgers against two players Liverpool might have signed — Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wilfried Bony.


Swansea skipper Ashley Williams has also been linked with a move to Anfield and Rodgers said: ‘He is a top-class international centre half.’ – Mail On Sunday






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://www.iol.co.za/time-for-mignolet-to-prove-himself-1.1799367
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Spurs don’t fear big clubs - Kane

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Harry Kane is confident Tottenham Hotspur can reverse their dreadful form against the ‘big clubs’, starting with back-to-back matches against Manchester United and Chelsea.


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Harry Kane is confident Tottenham Hotspur can reverse their dreadful form against the ‘big clubs’, starting with back-to-back matches against Manchester United and Chelsea.


Kane, who scored his 15th goal of the season against Leicester on Boxing Day, claims Mauricio Pochettino has given his side the belief they can mix it with the best.


‘Previously we were beaten mentally before we stepped out on the pitch because we were up against a bigger named team,’ said Kane. ‘That isn’t the case anymore.’


Since the start of 2012 Tottenham have played 26 games against Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, the teams that finished in the top four last season, and have lost 18. This includes heavy defeats to Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea this campaign.


But striker Kane insists that Spurs’ run of four victories in a row has led to a surge of positivity in the dressing room.


‘We need to go into these games believing we can win,’ said Kane. ‘We haven’t done it in the past few years. It is something that has to change and I think it already is.


‘We’re confident at the moment. These are going to be tough games but we’re ready for it and going for three points. Mauricio has built confidence and belief.


‘The lads have taken to his philosophy well and there are no better games to show that than big games at home.’


Spurs have been incredibly poor defensively against the big clubs, conceding 72 goals in those 26 fixtures. ‘The defensive line is important,’ said Pochettino. ‘We hope we can fix this problem.’


Hugo Lloris who, along with David de Gea, has been the Premier League’s outstanding keeper this season, made two crucial saves against Leicester.


‘He’s one of the best keepers in the world, without a doubt,’ said Kane (left). ‘You don’t become France keeper and captain without being the very best. He definitely saved us against Leicester and in other games. I’m happy to have him behind us.’– Mail On Sunday






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://www.iol.co.za/spurs-don-t-fear-big-clubs-kane-1.1799365
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Torres makes Milan move permanent

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Spain striker Fernando Torres will join AC Milan permanently from Chelsea in the New Year, the English Premier League leaders said.


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London – Spain striker Fernando Torres will join AC Milan permanently from Chelsea in the New Year, the English Premier League leaders said.


The news came several hours after Spanish media reports claimed the former Liverpool forward would be returning to his first club Atletico Madrid.


The 30-year-old had joined Milan on a two-year loan at the beginning of this season.


He won the Champions League, the Europa League and the FA Cup in three-and-a-half years at Stamford Bridge, but never lived up to goal-scoring expectations after a £50 million (64m euros, $78m) transfer from Liverpool.


Torres will join Milan permanently on January 5, Chelsea said.


The deal does not rule out a return to Atletico in the upcoming transfer window, though.


The Spanish champions have indicated they do not have the funds for a permanent deal themselves, but may yet sign him on another loan deal from Milan once he has left Chelsea.


In fact, Sports newspapers such as Marca and AS and national daily El Pais had said earlier that Torres's move back to Atletico was decided after the Madrid club's Italian player Alessio Cerci agreed to move to Milan in return.


A return home could be what Torres needs to reignite a once sparkling career.


The World Cup winner and double European champion scored 46 goals in 172 Chelsea appearances, but only 20 of those came in 110


league outings Ä a poor return when compared with the 65 Premier League goals he scored in 102 appearances for Liverpool.


Torres moved to Stamford Bridge late on January transfer deadline day in 2011 for a then record British fee. Initial struggles appeared to be a crisis of confidence, as he managed just one goal in 18 appearances before the end of the season.


The following season he scored 11 goals, including a hat-trick against QPR and a vital breakaway goal against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final, but still looked a shadow of his former self.


His best season in a Chelsea shirt came in the following campaign as he scored 22 goals across seven competitions, including the winner in the Europa League final against Benfica.


He managed only 11 goals the following season, after which Jose Mourinho broke up his misfiring striking trio of Torres, Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba, all of whom left the club.


Since his move to Milan he has scored just one goal in 10 appearances. – Sapa-AFP






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://www.iol.co.za/torres-makes-milan-move-permanent-1.1799361
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News sport : USC holds off Nebraska comeback, wins Holiday Bowl

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A Holiday Bowl game that saw over 1,000 yards of total offense came down to a clutch defensive play by USC safety Leon McQuay.


After trailing 45-27 late in the third quarter, Nebraska battled back and cut USC’s lead to 45-42 and had the ball at the Trojans’ 31-yard line with under three minutes to go. Instead of attempting a game-tying field goal, Nebraska dialed up a sweep play on 4th-and-3 to speedy wideout De’Mornay Pierson-El.


McQuay sniffed the play out, following Pierson-El as he motioned from right to left and received a pitch, and then delivered a big hit to force a turnover on downs and ultimately seal a 45-42 USC win.




Before McQuay’s big play, there wasn’t much defense on either side. The teams combined for 1,040 yards of offense (525 for Nebraska, 515 for USC) and 50 first downs.


It was a back-and-forth affair early on. USC freshman Adoree’ Jackson returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score early in the first, but the Huskers led 17-10 after one via two Tommy Armstrong touchdown passes – one to Kenny Bell (7 catches, 71 yards) and one to Pierson-El (8 catches, 102 yards) – and a Drew Brown 34-yard field goal.


Using a nice mix of run and pass, USC turned up the heat in the second quarter. Junior quarterback Cody Kessler (23/39, 321 yards, 3 TDs) hit Nelson Agholor (7 catches, 90 yards) for a 17-yard touchdown and Javorius Allen scored on a two-yard run to give the Trojans a 24-17 lead at halftime.


Jackson (3 catches, 73 yards) showed off his speed again early in the third, taking a quick throw from Kessler and taking it 71 yards to the house to increase USC’s lead to 31-17.


Nebraska was able to respond via a 20-yard Ameer Abdullah (27 rushes, 88 yards) touchdown run, but the porous Nebraska defense couldn’t hold off the Trojans for long. Five plays after Abdullah’s score, Allen, who ran for 152 yards on 26 carries, broke off a 44-yard TD run to go up 38-24 midway through the third.


A blocked punt allowed Nebraska to add a field goal, but the Trojans’ lead ballooned to 45-27 when Kessler hit Bryce Dixon (4 catches, 44 yards) for a 20-yard TD late in the third.


That’s when Nebraska’s comeback began.


Armstrong, who threw for 381 yards, hit Jordan Westerkamp (3 catches, 81 yards) deep for a 65-yard score, cutting the USC lead to 45-34 with :24 left in the third quarter. After the teams managed to trade a few defensive stops, Armstrong broke off a 15-yard touchdown run on a 4th-and-2 play and hit Bell on a two-point conversion to bring the Huskers within three, 45-42.


Nebraska followed that score by forcing a three-and-out, which then set up for McQuay’s clutch fourth down stop.


The win clinched a 9-4 record for the Trojans in year one under Steve Sarkisian. Nebraska, who played its first game since Bo Pelini was fired, also finish 9-4.


For more USC news, visit TrojanSports.com.


For more Nebraska news, visit HuskerOnline.com.


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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/usc-holds-off-nebraska-comeback--wins-holiday-bowl-054622663.html
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News sport : Bret Bielema does 'Horns down' sign in photo with Charlie Strong

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Part of the lead up to any bowl game is a slew of press conferences and photo opportunities with the head coaches from the two teams.


With the Texas Bowl between Arkansas and Texas coming on Monday, Arkansas’ Bret Bielema and Texas’ Charlie Strong appeared to pose for your every day, run of the mill handshake photo. However, Bielema decided to make this one interesting.



See that? With his left hand, Bielema went with the Texas “Hook ‘Em Horns” sign, but he did it upside down. The “Horns Down” is considered disrespectful, so Bielema’s little gesture predictably caused a bit of an uproar.


Bielema told an Arkansas sports talk host that he did not do the “horns down,” leading some to believe that the picture was altered.



However, Aaron Peters, the Arkansas sports anchor who took the picture, maintained that it was not photoshopped.




On top of that, video from a news broadcast shows that Bielema DID in fact do the “Horns Down.”



Got all that?


I’m not sure it’s really that big of a deal, but maybe it will add a bit more juice to the matchup between the 6-6 Razorbacks and the 6-6 Longhorns. The game kicks off at 9 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday night.


For more Arkansas news, HawgSports.com.


For more Texas news, visit Orangebloods.com.


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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/bret-bielema-does--horns-down--signal-in-photo-with-charlie-strong-033252055.html
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News sport : There's reportedly serious tension between Kyle Whittingham and Utah's AD

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Could the Kyle Whittingham era be coming to an end at Utah?


According to the Salt Lake City Tribune's Gordon Monson, Whittingham is currently at odds with Utah athletic director Chris Hill. Monson's column, published Saturday night, comes after offensive coordinator Dave Christensen left to be Texas A&M's offensive line coach and run game coordinator and defensive coordinator and associate head coach Kalani Sitake left to take the same position at Oregon State.


Here's the beginning of Monson's article, which is a must read for Utah fans or fans of the Pac-12



After months of magma buildup, a volcanic blast is sheering the top off of Utah football, spewing rocks a mile high, triggering mudslides, leveling forests, choking off life as we know it there.




Sending Kyle Whittingham packing as the Utes’ head coach.




That’s right: He’s walking away.




I can’t report it as a fact — not yet — but it’s what is happening, based on what I’ve been told. And I believe what I’ve been told.




Another thing I believe: This story is far from over and the blast zone will grow bigger and bigger as time goes by.



According to Monson, there has been tension between the two since before the year and the 9-4 campaign for the Utes, which ended with a bowl win over Colorado State, didn't make a decision to remove Whittingham from his job as head coach as an easy one. However, Monson is quick to point out that this isn't a one-sided affair in Hill's direction.


Whittingham took over as Utah's coach at the end of the 2004 season after Urban Meyer's departure. In his tenure, he's compiled am 85-43 record and was mentioned as a possible candidate for the vacancy at Michigan, which looks more and more like it's going to be Jim Harbaugh's job if he wants it.


If Harbaugh does indeed go to Michigan, it looked like the college coaching carousel was coming to an end barring anything unforeseen. If Whittingham would leave Utah, the carousel would pick up steam. A nine-win team in a power conference is attractive and would garner many suitors. One coach leaving could lead to another coach leaving and you get the drift.


Oh, and a possible destination mentioned for Whittingham in Monson's article? BYU. The mere mention of that must give Utah fans the shivers. We'll see what happens as we head towards 2015.


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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/there-s-reportedly-serious-tension-between-kyle-whittingham-and-utah-s-ad-031440032.html
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News sport : Nebraska players honor Bo Pelini at Holiday Bowl (Photos)

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Many Nebraska players voiced their displeasure after head coach Bo Pelini was fired in late November by athletic director Shawn Eichorst. In their first game since Pelini was let go, a few Huskers’ players decided to honor Pelini during the Holiday Bowl against USC.


Senior offensive lineman Jake Cotton has “BO” on the back of his helmet instead of his usual No. 68.



Additionally, wide receiver Kenny Bell wrote “Pelini” on his wrist tape, and defensive back Joshua Kalu wrote “Bo Bo Bo” on his towel.




That’s a nice tribute for Pelini, who recently accepted the head-coaching job at FCS Youngstown State.


The Huskers currently trail USC at halftime, 24-17.


For more Nebraska news, visit HuskerOnline.com.


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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/nebraska-players-honor-bo-pelini-at-holiday-bowl--photos-030643919.html
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News sport : Penn State overcomes two-TD deficit, beats Boston College in OT

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NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with quaterback Christian Hackenberg #14 after defeating the Boston College Eagles in the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2014 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) After gaining 59 total yards since the conclusion of the first quarter, it didn’t look good for Penn State when Boston College took a 21-7 lead with 2:12 remaining in the third quarter of the Pinstripe Bowl.


And then the Penn State offense woke up.


Behind the arm of sophomore quarterback Christian Hackenberg, a slew of young receivers and senior kicker Sam Ficken, Penn State came all the way back and knocked off the Eagles 31-30 in overtime.


Following that Boston College touchdown, which came on a 40-yard run by quarterback Tyler Murphy, Hackenberg quickly led the Nittany Lions down the field on a six-play, 63-yard drive that culminated with a bit of luck.


On a third-and-two from the Boston College seven-yard line, Hackenberg looked to Geno Lewis on a slant route and the ball was thrown behind Lewis and should have been intercepted by Boston College’s Justin Simmons. Instead, the ball deflected up in the air and into the waiting arms of Lewis (7 catches, 82 yards) for a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter, cutting BC’s lead to 21-14.


The teams traded three straight punts to open the fourth before the Penn State offense went back to work. On the drive’s second play, Hackenberg handed off to sophomore running back Akeel Lynch (17 rushes, 75 yards), who bounced to the outside and broke several tackles before being brought down at the one-yard line. A personal foul penalty then pushed PSU back, but Hackenberg found redshirt freshman wideout DaeSean Hamilton (7 catches, 51 yards) through a tight window on a seam route for the game-tying score.



When it regained possession, Boston College went back to its bread-and-butter: its ground attack. That ground attack racked up yards in bunches in the first half and Murphy and freshman tailback Jon Hilliman ran the Eagles deep into Penn State territory. The Penn State defense, ranked No. 2 in total defense nationally coming into the game, managed to keep the Eagles out of the end zone this time around, forcing a go-ahead 20-yard field goal by Mike Knoll.


Now trailing 24-21, the Penn State offense went back to work with 2:10 to go. Hackenberg completed five straight passes, but a Lynch run was stuffed on third-and-two from the BC 28-yard line and Ficken drilled a 45-yarder to force overtime.


The Eagles opened the extra frame with the football and scored quickly on a Murphy 21-yard touchdown pass to David Dudeck, but Knoll hooked the extra point to the left.


Penn State was able to cash in on the blunder when Hackenberg hit tight end Kyle Carter (3 catches, 30 yards) for a 10-yard score. Ficken then drilled the extra point to clinch the win – Penn State’s first bowl win since the 2009 Capital One Bowl.


Hackenberg struggled for much of the season and hadn’t thrown for more than 200 yards since Oct. 25. Against the Eagles, Hackenberg had one of the best games of his young career, completing 34-of-50 passes for 371 yards and four scores. Seven different players had at least three catches on the day for the Nittany Lions. True freshman Chris Godwin, who caught a 72-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the first quarter, led the way with seven catches for 140 yards.


A Penn State defense that allowed just 84.8 yards per game this season (No. 1 in the nation) was torched by the Eagles for 285 yards on the ground. Hilliman and Murphy rushed for 148 and 105 yards, respectively, but ultimately it was not enough.


The win gives Penn State a 7-6 in year one under James Franklin – the first year the Nittany Lions were eligible to go to a bowl game since the NCAA sanctions from the Jerry Sandusky scandal were levied in July 2012.


The loss drops Boston College to 7-6 on the season.


For more Penn State news, visit BlueWhiteIllustrated.com.


For more Boston College news, visit EagleAction.com.


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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/penn-state-comes-from-behind--beats-boston-college-in-ot-022806472.html
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News sport : South Carolina secures another winning season with 24-21 win against Miami in Independence Bowl

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Dec 27, 2014; Shreveport, LA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Dylan Thompson (17) celebrates with wide receiver Damiere Byrd (1) after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2014 Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium. South Carolina defeated Miami 24-21. (Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports) South Carolina managed to salvage a winning campaign out of an otherwise dismal season with a 24-21 win against Miami in the Independence Bowl.


The Gamecocks now have had seven consecutive winning seasons and three consecutive bowl wins.


After falling behind 6-0 early in second quarter, South Carolina responded with 17 points and never looked back. The South Carolina defense, which has struggled most of the season, forced two turnovers, including a key fumble in the fourth quarter that the Gamecocks’ offense turned into the game-sealing touchdown late in the fourth quarter.


That Duke Johnson fumble, which was recovered by Gerald Dixon, gave the Gamecocks the ball on the Miami 29-yard line. South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson found Pharoh Cooper who made a spectacular 25-yard catch and Thompson ran the ball in from the 2-yard line on the next play.


The score gave South Carolina a 24-14 lead, and even though Miami responded with a touchdown, it wasn’t enough.


Cooper finished the game with nine catches for 170 yards and a touchdown. It was his second-highest single-game yardage total of the season.


Miami found some success with it running game, but South Carolina clamped down in the second half. Johnson finished the game with 132 yards rushing and five catches for 51 yards, but that turnover essentially cost his team the game.


Miami finishes with a 6-7 record, the worst campaign of coach Al Golden’s tenure. Even though Johnson declared the bowl his last game, the Hurricanes do return a lot of young talent from this squad, including quarterback Brad Kaaya, who finished with 236 yards, a touchdown and an interception.


For more Miami news, visit CaneSport.com.


For more South Carolina news, visit GamecockCentral.com.


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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!


And don’t forget to keep up with all of Graham’s thoughts, witty comments and college football discussions on Facebook






from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/south-carolina-secures-another-winning-season-with-24-21-win-against-miami-in-independence-bowl-005719879.html
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News sport : Dan Uggla and Heath Bell get another chance, sign with Nats

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(USA TODAY Sports) On Friday, the defending NL East champion Washington Nationals announced the signings of veterans Dan Uggla and Heath Bell to minor-league deals, thus proving once again that it's difficult for once established major league players to play their way completely out of MLB.


That's especially true if a specific player once earned an All-Star selection or three in his career, and perhaps even more so if the player once had a specific unique skill, such as middle infielder with home run power, or experience in a specific role, such as a closer. If a player fits that criteria, which both Uggla and Bell do to a tee, chances are teams will be more willing to take a flier or at least kick the tires.


That's the good news for Uggla and Bell. The less encouraging reality, however, is both have declined quickly and have burned through a few opportunities or "baseball lives" already over the past couple seasons. Without a turn around in 2015, the end may soon be near.


Uggla, 34, is coming off consecutive sub-.200 seasons at the plate. In 2013, he hit .179/.309/.362 across the board. He was somehow worse in 2014, hitting .149/.229/.213. The Atlanta Braves finally pulled the plug on July 18, releasing Uggla and eating the remaining $19 million on his contract. They still owe him $13 million in 2015, so it's conceivable they'll be paying him to help Washington in their pursuit of another division title.


In between, Uggla had a two-week stint with the San Francisco Giants, who released him on Aug. 4 after he refused a minor league assignment. He finished the season unemployed.


What's left of Uggla's appeal comes from his past power numbers. In nine seasons, Uggla has connected for 233 career homers and 234 doubles. However, the majority of that came early. Over his first six seasons, he averaged 32 home runs and 32 doubles. In three seasons since, he's hit a total of 43 homers and 42 doubles. That decline in power together with the low averages, a continued high strikeout rate (157 per season for his career), and absolutely no defensive upside, have lowered him to a fringe contributor at best.


Uggla is an extreme longshot to move the needle in Washington, but he serves as reasonable infield depth should general manager Mike Rizzo elect to trade Ian Desmond, which is heavily rumored.



(USA TODAY Sports)

As for Bell, the 37-year-old right-hander hasn't been the same since being traded from San Diego to Miami before the 2012 season. An All-Star closer with 132 total saves and a 2.36 ERA from 2009-11, Bell was quickly signed to a three-year, $24 million contract by the Marlins, but only lasted there one season after his ERA soared to 5.09.

Over the next two seasons, he would bounce from Arizona to Tampa Bay to Baltimore to most recently the New York Yankees organization. His 2013 season in Arizona was marred by the 12 home runs and 16 walks he allowed in just 65.2 innings. His 2014 season was just plain awful (7.27 ERA in 17.1 innings) and mercifully didn't last long.


It's possible, if not likely that Bell is finished. But once again, it's all about having a reasonable option should they find a trade partner for Tyler Clippard. If Bell were to rediscover even a bit of his touch, he can fill a role at a reasonable cost.


More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:



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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/dan-uggla-and-heath-bell-get-another-chance--sign-with-nats-224106998.html
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News sport : Late interception gives Arizona State a 36-31 win against Duke in the Sun Bowl

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Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly was hoisted by teammates after scoring during the first quarter of the Sun Bowl NCAA college football game against Duke, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Victor Calzada) For the third consecutive season, Duke failed to earn the bowl win that has eluded the program for the past 53 years.


A late Kweishi Brown interception on quarterback Anthony Boone ended Duke’s hope of a late win as the Blue Devils fell to Arizona State 36-31 in the Sun Bowl.


Prior to that interception, Boone had led his team back from a 30-17 deficit in the fourth quarter and the Blue Devils briefly had taken a 31-30 lead with 5:03 remaining.


However, on the kickoff, Arizona State’s Kalen Ballage ran the ball back 96 yards to set up Demario Richard, who scored the game-winning touchdown off an option pass by quarterback Taylor Kelly.


It was Richard’s fourth touchdown of the day, which tied a Sun Bowl record.


Early, Arizona State looked like it was going to run away with the game taking a 20-3 lead midway through the second quarter. But a touchdown pass from Boone to Shaquille Powell and a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jamison Crowder cut the Sun Devils’ lead to just three at halftime.


However, the third quarter was all Arizona State and Duke, once again, looked to be out of the game. But Boone rallied his team and got it to the Arizona State 14-yard line before throwing the pick with 45 seconds remaining.


This is the second straight year Duke has lost a bowl game on an interception. Last year, Texas A&M’s Toney Hurd picked off Boone and ran it back 55 yards for the game-winning score.


Arizona State, which was close to playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff before a late-season slide pushed the Sun Devils out of contention, notched its second consecutive 10-win season. It’s the first time the Sun Devils have had back-to-back 10-win seasons since the early 1970s.


For more Arizona State news, visit ASUDevils.com.


For more Duke news, visit DevilsIllustrated.com.


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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!


And don’t forget to keep up with all of Graham’s thoughts, witty comments and college football discussions on Facebook






from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/late-interception-gives-arizona-state-a-36-31-win-against-duke-in-the-sun-bowl-235127337.html
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News sport : DeMarcus Cousins was not impressed by Chris Jones' flopping

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One of Louisville's biggest problems during Saturday afternoon's loss to Kentucky was that its starting point guard turned out to be better at acting than shooting.


When Kentucky's Dakari Johnson swung his elbows to try to clear space after securing a rebound early in the second half, Jones flailed and fell to the ground as though he had been struck in the face. He continued the charade by getting up wincing and holding his jaw while referees went to the monitor to review the play.


Of course, replays proved that Jones had delivered an acting job worthy of academy award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence, who was in attendance clad in a Louisville hat and shirt and cheering on the Cardinals. Johnson's eblow missed Jones' face by such a wide margin that ESPN analyst Jay Bilas described the point guard's flop as "embarrassing."


Jones' acting also inspired a series of amused tweets from former Kentucky star and current Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins.




If Jones' acting didn't endear him to Kentucky fans, it was his shooting that bothered Louisville supporters most. The 5-foot-10 former junior college All-American didn't get many clean looks against taller Kentucky defenders during his team's 58-50 loss, yet he kept shooting anyway, hitting just 3 of 15 attempts to lower his shooting clip to an anemic 32 percent this season.


The great irony of Jones' day was that he delivered the only elbow that actually did make contact.


He accidentally struck Kentucky point guard Tyler Ulis next to the right eye during the first half while swinging his arms to create space on the perimeter. Enough blood rolled down Ulis' face that he had to return to the locker room for a bandage, but the 5-foot-9 freshman returned to score 12 of his team-high 14 points in the second half.


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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!


Follow @JeffEisenberg






from Yahoo Sports https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/demarcus-cousins-was-not-impressed-by-chris-jones--flopping-230918531.html
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News sport : Virginia Tech earns a measure of redemption with 33-17 win against Cincinnati

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Virginia Tech tight end Bucky Hodges (7) reaches for the ball against Cincinnati defensive back Howard Wilder (3) during the second half of the Military Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, in Annapolis, Md. The pass was incomplete. Virginia Tech won 33-17. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Virginia Tech’s winning streak remains intact.


The Hokies, who came into Saturday’s Military Bowl game against Cincinnati with a 6-6 record, needed a win to preserve its streak of consecutive winning seasons, and did so with a 33-17 victory that secured the program’s 22nd consecutive winning season.


The win was a little surprising considering Cincinnati, which was trying to win 10 games for the third time in four seasons, came out hot on offense with quarterback Gunner Kiel slinging the ball with precision against a spotty Virginia Tech secondary.


But once the Virginia Tech defense settled down and started mixing up its looks, Kiel started to struggle and threw two interceptions. In the third quarter, the defense knocked Kiel out of the game with a vicious shot to the midsection that left him on the ground for several minutes.


Kiel fumbled the ball on the play and Virginia Tech scored to turn a 10-point lead to what was ultimately an insurmountable 17-point lead.


With Kiel out, Cincinnati’s offense came to a screeching halt and Virginia Tech’s defense was able to salt away the game.


The bowl win is a small measure of validation for a Virginia Tech team that had been through a litany of highs and lows. The Hokies were championed early in the season for beating Ohio State, but then became a handcuff for the Buckeyes as they struggled to six losses.


Coach Frank Beamer, who had throat surgery on Dec. 6, coached the game from the press box, but was so thrilled by the win, he couldn’t help but show his elation after the game.



For more Virginia Tech news, visit HokieHaven.com.


For more Cincinnati news, visit BearcatReport.com.


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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!


And don’t forget to keep up with all of Graham’s thoughts, witty comments and college football discussions on Facebook






from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/virginia-tech-earns-a-measure-of-redemption-with-33-17-win-against-cincinnati-221545192.html
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News sport : Tyler Ulis helps top-ranked Kentucky survive Louisville's upset bid

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Top-ranked Kentucky can thank the smallest player on its team for helping it survive its biggest challenge of non-conference play.


Five-foot-9 freshman Tyler Ulis jump-started an error-prone offense with his decision making, outside shooting and creativity off the dribble, leading the Wildcats to a 58-50 road victory over previously undefeated fourth-ranked Louisville.


With starting point guard Andrew Harrison suffering through a nightmarish six-turnover performance against Louisville's relentless ball pressure, Kentucky coach John Calipari turned to Ulis for much of the second half. The Chicago native shook off a gash adjacent to his right eye suffered early in the game and delivered a game-high 14 points, all but two of which came during the second half when the Wildcats turned a close game into a comfortable win.


Another impressive Kentucky victory will only inspire more discussion over whether the Wildcats can go undefeated this season, especially since their biggest tests are now behind them. Kentucky has now beaten Kansas, Texas and Louisville in non-league play, all of which were ranked in the top 10 when the Wildcats faced them. No SEC team is even in the Top 25 in either poll at this point, though Florida, Arkansas and LSU are each among those receiving votes.


Suffering another defeat against Kentucky has to be extremely frustrating for a Louisville team that hoped to avenge its Sweet 16 loss to the Wildcats from last March.


In its last three-plus seasons, Louisville has amassed an impressive 107-21 record, advanced to two Final Fours and won a national championship, but the one thing the Cardinals have not consistently done is beaten their biggest rivals. They've lost six of seven against Kentucky during the Calipari era, with the only win coming by three points in a season that ended with the Cardinals celebrating an unlikely championship run and the Wildcats bemoaning a stunning opening-round loss in the NIT.


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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!


Follow @JeffEisenberg






from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/tyler-ulis-helps-top-ranked-kentucky-survive-louisville-s-upset-bid-212837616.html
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