Lampard to stay at Man City

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Frank Lampard will carry on playing for Manchester City throughout the Premier League season, the club announced.


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Manchester - Frank Lampard will carry on playing for Manchester City throughout the Premier League season, the English champions announced on Wednesday night.


“Manchester City can confirm that it has extended Frank Lampard's contract up to the end of Manchester City's season, enabling his continued participation in both domestic and European campaigns,” the club said in a statement on its website.


Lampard will now be available to face Sunderland in a league match at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.


The 36-year-old former England and Chelsea midfielder was on a short-term deal which was due to expire on New Year's Day when he would officially become a player of MLS team New York City FC - a sister club of Manchester City.


City manager Manuel Pellegrini had made no secret of his desire to keep Lampard, who has scored six goals in 17 appearances for the club, although he has only started three league games. The most important of Lampard's goals so far came against former club Chelsea in a 1-1 draw.


Lampard's stay has added value with Yaya Toure set to go to the African Nations Cup, while City is also light on proven scorers with Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko both out injured.


Lampard joined City in August, ostensibly to maintain fitness ahead of the 2015 Major League Soccer season, which begins in March.


Halfway through the Premier League season, which ends May 24, City is in second position - three points behind Jose Mourinho's Chelsea.


City will also look to gain from Lampard's European experience. The Londoner captained Chelsea when it won the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich. City is through to the knockout stage of the Champions League for the second straight year and plays Barcelona on Feb. 24 in the home leg. - Sapa-AP






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Hazard can be one of the best

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Eden Hazard is one course to becoming one of the world's top players, according to Chelsea team-mate Filipe Luis.


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London – Eden Hazard is one course to becoming one of the world's top players, according to Chelsea team-mate Filipe Luis as the Blues travel to White Hart Lane on Thursday.


Jose Mourinho's side will attempt to respond to Sunday's 1-1draw with Southampton by claiming victory at Tottenham Hotspur to guarantee they retain their place at the head of the Premier League table.


And left-back Luis believes winger Hazard will be one of the key figures as the Blues attempt to extend their ten-game unbeaten run against their London rivals.


The Brazil defender said: “Eden Hazard can easily win a game for you and open a closed defence, and he can be in the top three in the world in the next few years because he has a lot of quality and ambition to be there.


“I am really happy to be his team-mate because he is one of the greatest players I have played with.”


Chelsea remain three points clear despite dropping points at St Mary's Stadium thanks to Manchester City's unexpected failure to beat struggling Burnley at home in a 2-2 draw.


And Luis believes there were enough signs in the performance at Southampton to suggest the Blues can continue to fend off all challengers during the second half of the campaign.


“We know that we lost two points in a difficult stadium but the team did really well in the second half, and if we play like we did in the second half we can be in this situation until the end and keep going at the top of the league,” he told the club's official website.


“It is going to be really difficult because when you are top, everybody wants to take you off there and play like Southampton did because they played really well, but we did enough to win this game. If we play like this, of course we can win things.


“We are still top of the league and the first half of the season is over now.


“The second half of the competition is the more difficult one and we have to keep the level really high because we know it is going to be really difficult, but we are happy because it is not easy being top of the league for the whole competition until now.


“We feel that if we keep playing in the second half like we are playing now we can be there at the top of the league at the end.”


Luis is being eased into his first season in England and could make way for Cesar Azpilicueta after starting at Southampton while Oscar could return in place of John Obi Mikel.


Tottenham are beginning to find their feet under new manager Mauricio Pochettino and Sunday's scoreless draw with Manchester United consolidated their standing in seventh, two points off fourth place.


Pochettino's side are keen to avenge the one-sided 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in early December and winger Nacer Chadli is convinced the outcome could be different this time around.


Speaking to the club's official website, the Belgium winger said: “Manchester United was a difficult game. We showed patience and we had some chances but we have to be realistic also - United had the bigger chances in the first half and they played well.


“In the end we did our best and we got one point, but I think we put on a good performance.


“I think we have a lot of confidence at this moment, we had a good draw on Sunday and we have been winning games as well.


“No games are easy but Newcastle beat Chelsea so why can't we beat them?” he added. “We have to play our game and we'll see how we go.”


Kyle Walker is back in contention and will challenge Vlad Chiriches for the right-back slot. – Sapa-AFP






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Arsenal, Saints in top four battle

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Arsenal will hope to begin the new year by reclaiming the top-four position in the Premier League table that has traditionally been theirs.


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Southampton, United Kingdom – Arsenal will hope to begin the new year by reclaiming the top-four position in the Premier League table that has traditionally been theirs.


Arsene Wenger's side travel to Southampton on New Year's Day in the knowledge that victory at St Mary's will see them leapfrog their hosts into the Champions League places.


But Southampton, who drew 1-1 with leaders Chelsea on Sunday, will be determined to defend their position and Wenger has admitted he had not foreseen 2014 ending with the south-coast club so high in the standings.


That was mainly because Ronald Koeman, installed as manager during the close season, had to make a series of buys to replace a host of departed stars.


No fewer than five players who had helped fire Southampton to a surprise eighth-place finish left the club, but newcomers Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic have all made instant impacts.


“He has done a remarkable job,” Wenger said of former Netherlands star Koeman, who left Feyenoord to take over from Mauricio Pochettino. “He has done very well and bought very well. He gets them to play very good football.


“They were the surprise because there was a big exodus there at the end of the season last year. They did very well, unexpectedly, because they've benefited from the stability at the back and in midfield from last year.


“They added Mane, Pelle and Tadic, who have done very well very quickly. That's why they are where they are.”


Arsenal recorded victories over fellow London clubs Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United over the festive period, but will take on Southampton without the suspended Olivier Giroud, who was sent off against QPR.


And with England striker Danny Welbeck a doubt because of a groin problem, little-used Germany forward Lukas Podolski may get a rare run-out.


Podolski has been linked with a move to Inter Milan once the January transfer window opens, but Wenger has declared that an Italian exit is not an option for the World Cup-winner.


“He is a player of Arsenal Football Club and I want him to stay,” he said. “I hope that he will still be an Arsenal player at the end of January. Inter? That is a joke. Inter is not serious.”


Midfielder Aaron Ramsey remains sidelined by injury, but former Saints starlet Theo Walcott could feature, although he is not yet match fit following a lengthy absence due to a serious knee injury.


“Walcott is involved because he was already in the squad,” Wenger said. “Of course I judge him a bit short on the competition front, but on the fitness front he is ready to play.”


Southampton have selection dilemmas of their own as defensive midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, a player thought to be on Wenger's radar, is suspended following his dismissal in the Chelsea match for two bookable offences.


That will put the onus on Victor Wanyama to protect the defence and the Kenya international believes that Southampton cannot expect any of their opponents to underestimate them anymore.


“Now everyone knows what we can do,” said the former Celtic player, whose side have gone three league games without defeat following a sticky patch in late-November and early-December.


“At the beginning, nobody gave us a chance. We deserved three points against Chelsea and were unlucky. There was a foul before they got their goal.


“We are at home so we need to have the same spirit and hopefully we can get a good result.” – Sapa-AFP






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Henderson lauds Rodgers

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Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has paid tribute to manager Brendan Rodgers as his team leave behind a rollercoaster 2014 with a New Year's Day home game against Leicester City.


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Liverpool – Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has paid tribute to manager Brendan Rodgers as his team leave behind a rollercoaster 2014 with a New Year's Day home game against Leicester City.


After finishing runners-up in the Premier League in May, Liverpool have struggled to match that form in the current campaign, although a 4-1 victory over Swansea City on Monday re-ignited hopes of a top-four finish.


The result was also a relief for Rodgers, whose methods have come in for criticism during Liverpool's inconsistent start to the season, but whose side have now lost only once in seven league outings.


“The manager has been fantastic ever since he came to the club,” said Henderson. “He's working really hard for us on the training field to ensure that tactically we are better and improving all the time.


“It's up to us as players to ensure we put that into practice on the pitch and we definitely did that against Swansea. We got our just rewards for that.


“This season has been hard on everyone. We've gone from winning every week to not winning as often. The manager has always been the same. He has always looked to improve things on the training field.


“Now it's down to us as players to make sure we do that on match days. If we keep playing like that, we'll get that consistency and more good results.”


Henderson reflected the confidence in the Anfield camp that, with the disappointment of missing out on last season's title behind them, another top-four finish, and Champions League football, is again within reach.


“We had an amazing start to the year and then the disappointment of falling just short in May,” said the England international.


“We've had a difficult start to this season, but we just have to keep going and playing like that. If we do that we'll go in the right direction and hopefully we can finish the season well.


“Of course we can finish top-four. We've got quality players here. You saw against Swansea that when we play well, we look a top, top side. We just need to be more consistent and make sure we do that every game.”


Liverpool will be without defender Martin Skrtel, who earned a one-match suspension after his booking in the Swansea victory.


Meanwhile, Rodgers spent Tuesday awaiting word from the Football Association as to whether they would punish forward Raheem Sterling retrospectively, after television pictures suggested he slapped Swansea defender Federico Fernandez.


Steven Gerrard, rested against Swansea, can expect a start against bottom club Leicester, while Mario Balotelli may have to be satisfied with a substitute place once again.


Leicester will be without Paul Konchesky, who serves a one-match suspension, while Andy King is still missing with a thigh problem, but striker Jamie Vardy is available after a ban of his own.


Manager Nigel Pearson is still unable to give a return date for goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who is recovering from an operation to repair a broken metatarsal.


“Kasper is at home at the moment and resting,” said Pearson, whose side moved to within three points of safety after winning 1-0 at Hull City on Sunday.


“The next time he will have consultation, we will have a better idea of what the length of time he will be out. That will be two or three weeks yet.


“We have a few bumps and bruises, but for the most part the biggest things from the last few games will be fatigue if anything.


“The question is always, 'Do you go with a similar side and hope, or back your judgement, that they will be able to reproduce energy levels?'“ – Sapa-AFP






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News sport : Georgia Tech runs for 452 yards in dominant Orange Bowl win over Miss. St.

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 31: Justin Thomas #5 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets scores a touchdown during the second half of the Capital One Orange Bowl game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Sun Life Stadium on December 31, 2014 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Georgia Tech’s rush attack could not be stopped.


Led by quarterback Justin Thomas and running back Synjyn Days, the 12th-ranked Yellow Jackets racked up a whopping 452 rushing yards in a dominant 49-34 Orange Bowl win.


Thomas, the speedy 5-foot-11 sophomore, showcased his mastery of coach Paul Johnson’s option offense and ran for 121 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries. Days, the 232-pound senior, racked up 171 yards on 21 carries and scored three times – including a crucial 69-yard run on the second play of the second half.


The Yellow Jackets also worked in the passing game when they needed it, especially in the first half. In all, Tech gained 577 yards in a statement victory for the program.


The Yellow Jackets were successful on the ground from the start.


Mississippi State opened the game with the ball and quarterback Dak Prescott was intercepted on the Bulldogs’ third play. Four plays later, Days scored from three yards out and the Yellow Jackets had their first of six rushing scores on the day.


Later on in the first, Tech surprised the Bulldogs by faking the option and looking downfield. Thomas hit 6-foot-5 senior receiver Darren Waller behind the defense for a 41-yard touchdown, giving Georgia Tech a 14-0 lead.


Mississippi State was able to battle back in the second quarter. Prescott was able to establish a rhythm and led three scoring drives – two that ended in Evan Sobiesk field goals and another that ended with a Prescott five-yard touchdown run, cutting the GT lead to 14-13.


The Yellow Jacket offense then went back to work. Thomas led a 12-play, 82-yard drive that culminated in a Thomas 13-yard rushing score. Tech was back on top 21-13 with 29 seconds left in the half.


Instead of taking a knee and regrouping in the locker room, Mississippi State’s offense quickly advanced past midfield to the Tech 42-yard line. That’s when Prescott went to the air for a perfectly executed Hail Mary that landed in the arms of Fred Ross after a deflection.


The improbable touchdown looked to give the Bulldogs all of the momentum heading into the second half, but Tech’s offense had other ideas. Days took a handoff to the left, broke two tackles and tight-roped the sideline for a 69-yard score, bringing Tech’s lead to 28-20.


It was a sign of things to come in a third quarter. The Tech defense forced a turnover on downs and a fumble, allowing the offense to extend their lead on two more Thomas touchdown runs – one from 32 yards and another from 15 yards.


The first of those scores featured a nasty juke and his breakout speed.



Mississippi State didn’t go away in the fourth quarter. Prescott, who threw for 453 yards and three touchdowns along with 47 yards rushing, hit De’Runnya Wilson for two touchdown passes in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough to put a scare into the Yellow Jackets.


The win is the first Orange Bowl victory for Georgia Tech since 1952 and gives the Yellow Jackets 11 wins on the season.


For Mississippi State, it’s an underwhelming finish. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 in the country for over a month, but they finished 10-3 after losing three of their final four games.


For more Georgia Tech news, visit JacketsOnline.com.


For more Mississippi State news, visit BulldogBlitz.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!







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Goalkeeper woe for struggling Everton

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Everton's bid to arrest an alarming run of form has been hit by an injury to goalkeeper Tim Howard ahead of Thursday's trip to Hull City in the Premier League.


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KINGSTON UPON HULL, United Kingdom – Everton's bid to arrest an alarming run of form has been hit by an injury to goalkeeper Tim Howard ahead of Thursday's trip to Hull City in the Premier League.


Howard will be out for up to six weeks after damaging his calf in the 1-0 Boxing Day defeat by Stoke City, leaving Everton with only 24-year-old Joel Robles – who has made only 11 top-flight starts – as back-up.


Aside from the Spaniard, the only other goalkeepers on Everton's books are 18-year-olds Jindrich Stanek and Russell Griffiths, and manager Roberto Martinez has hinted the club may be forced to bring in reinforcements.


“That is something we are going to assess,” Martinez said. “Joel had his first start in the league and that was a great way of him having an introduction.


“We've just found out about Tim so we're going to make a decision. We only have Russell and Jindrich, so we need to assess that over the next few days.”


Christmas defeats against Stoke and Newcastle United have left Everton on a run of six defeats from their last eight games in all competitions and with just one victory from their last seven league matches.


The visit to Hull presents an opportunity to rectify that run, although Everton's injury problems extend beyond the goalkeeper position.


England defenders Phil Jagielka and John Stones are expected to be missing with ankle injuries, while full-back Tony Hibbert is two weeks from match fitness.


Leon Osman, another potential defensive stand-in, has a split tendon in his foot, with no return date currently scheduled, while midfielders Darron Gibson and Steven Pienaar also remain on the long-term injured list.


There is even a doubt for Thursday over the fitness of influential midfielder James McCarthy.


“At the moment, we're a little bit weak and we need to get stronger,” said Martinez.


“When you don't get results, you are going to get a lot of doubts and a lot of opinions from outside. Now our focus has to be very narrow, on a positive performance and result from the Hull game.”


Hull's preparations for the match have been carried out amid speculation surrounding their manager, Steve Bruce.


Bruce has been linked with a move to take over as manager of Newcastle United, with Alan Pardew expected to be named Crystal Palace manager.


Bruce, who turns 54 on Wednesday, supported Newcastle as a boy and has previously expressed regret at rejecting the chance to manage the club in 2004.


But his immediate priority is to lift his current team's morale after their defeat at Leicester City on Sunday.


The Tigers had ended a run of 10 matches without a win by beating Sunderland 3-1 on Boxing Day, but were brought back down to earth at the KC Stadium as Leicester snatched a 1-0 victory.


“They are deflated,” said Bruce, whose side have won only once at home this season. “If you get beaten and deserve to, then fine. But when you don't deserve it, of course it leaves a bad taste.


“For all the good work at Sunderland, it has unravelled a bit. That is the way this league works and we have to stay with it. We have a big game on Thursday and we go again.”


Bruce will be without midfielders Tom Huddlestone and Stephen Quinn, who are both suspended, but defender James Chester will return, having served a one-match ban.


Andy Robertson could also return after suffering with a knee problem, but Mohamed Diame and Michael Dawson remain sidelined. – Sapa-AFP






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News sport : Texas coach Charlie Strong fires two offensive assistants

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Texas head coach Charlie Strong yells to his players during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game against Arkansas Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) After putting up only 59 yards of offense in a brutal Texas Bowl loss to Arkansas on Monday night, Texas head coach Charlie Strong decided to make a few changes to his staff.


The program announced on Wednesday night that Strong fired wide receivers coach Les Koenning and tight ends coach Bruce Chambers.


“Les and Bruce are both good men and good football coaches,” Strong said in a statement. “It’s unfortunate that it didn’t work out, but I just feel like we need to make a chance and head in a different direction in their positions. We wish them the best.”


Chambers was the only holdover from Mack Brown’s staff and Koenning, who played at Texas in the late 1970’s, joined Strong’s staff after serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Mississippi State from 2009-2013.


According to a release, the search for Chambers' and Koennig's replacements will "begin immediately."


After the 31-7 Texas Bowl loss to Arkansas, the Longhorns finished 6-7 in Strong’s first year with the program, losing five times by 20 or more points.


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!







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News sport : Mississippi State ends Orange Bowl's first half with Hail Mary (GIFs)

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Georgia Tech looked to have the momentum going into halftime of the Orange Bowl until a Mississippi State prayer was answered.


The Yellow Jackets had just taken a 21-13 lead with 29 seconds left in the half. Instead of just taking a knee and going into the locker room, the Bulldogs moved the ball to the Georgia Tech 42-yard line and dialed up a Hail Mary.


Quarterback Dak Prescott had plenty of time and fired deep into a crowd in the back right corner of the end zone. The ball deflected out of a crowd of MSU receivers and GT defensive backs and into the diving arms of Fred Ross, who was trailing the play.




Ross was positioned perfectly, waiting for the tip. When the ball went his way, he laid out and scooped it up just before it hit the turf for a Mississippi State touchdown.




The score cut Georgia Tech’s lead to 21-20 at the break and was Ross’ fourth catch (for 64 yards) of the first half.


For more Mississippi State news, visit BulldogBlitz.com.


For more Georgia Tech news, visit JacketsOnline.com.


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News sport : Willie Aikens reunited with AL championship ring after 33 years

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(Willie Mays Aikens on Twitter) Former major leaguer Willie Mays Aikens received perhaps his greatest Christmas gift in 33 years this holiday season. The former Kansas City Royals first baseman had been without his 1980 American League championship ring since 1981, when he says it was stolen from his apartment. But thanks to the remarkable efforts of one kind person, he was finally reunited with his coveted jewelry on Christmas Eve.


According to Shawn Anderson of Hall of Very Good, the now 60-year-old Aiken says the ring was stolen from his apartment while he was visiting his mother in South Carolina. For 33 years — 14 of which Aikens spend in prison after he was found guilty on four counts of crack cocaine distribution — the whereabouts of his ring were unknown, but that changed recently when Kim Accurso received a heads up that it may be in a Kansas City pawn shop.



“I pounded the pavement to find the owner of that pawn shop. I tracked him down and eventually we set up a meeting,” Accurso continued. “He had the ring. I told him my story and he agreed to help me out.”




The pawn shop owner told Accurso that “some big guy” pawned it more than 30 years ago and it’s been sitting in a safe ever since. It’s a mystery as to how it made its way back to Kansas City from South Carolina, but one thing is certain…that ring is back where it belongs.




“Willie was thrilled to have it back. It all worked out so wonderful,” Accurso added. “The ring is safe at home.”




As Anderson readily pointed out in wake of his piece, it's fair to question the circumstances surrounding the ring's disappearance and wonder if we're hearing the whole story.



Regardless, it doesn't change the fact that Aikens has turned his life around since rejoining society on June 4, 2008 and is living a clean life, which is perhaps the best story to be told here. He's even written a book on his remarkable journey, in addition to rejoining the Royals as a minor league coach and spring training instructor.


The circumstances also won't change the kind and extraordinary efforts made by Kim Accurso, who obviously didn't owe Aikens anything, but just wanted to do the right thing. There's a lot we can learn from her actions and her determination to provide happiness and perhaps even closure to an important chapter in Aikens' life.


You're encouraged to read more on this story at Hall of Very Good.


BLS H/N: Cut 4


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News sport : Tim Miles and Tom Crean have heated exchange during Hoosiers' road win

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Nebraska coach Tim Miles and Indiana coach Tom Crean exchanged words Wednesday during the Big Ten Conference opener between their teams won 70-65 by the Hoosiers.


Miles shouted most of what he had to say to Crean within a few feet of Crean’s face while officials held him back with 9 minutes, 42 seconds left in the game. The incident came during a stoppage in play following a hard foul by Nebraska’s Tai Webster on a dunk attempt by Hoosiers’ big man Hanner Mosquera-Perea.


Crean appeared to tell Miles to shut up from a distance and the two men came together with officials between them as Miles began to scream at Crean. The Indiana coached stood with his hands on his waist staring at Miles. When the game ended approximately 30 minutes later, Miles marched down the sideline and shook hands with Crean, pausing to say something to his counterpart.


Miles didn’t have much to say about those heated moments when asked about them in the postgame press conference. Meanwhile, Crean made a point of tracking down a reporter to tell him he did not tell Miles to shut up on television replays.




It was a frustrating loss for the Huskers who have fallen to 8-5, including unexpected losses to the likes of Incarnate Word and Hawaii. Nebraska came back from a 16-point deficit in the first half only to fall behind again by 13 after the altercation between coaches.


Husker stalwarts Shavon Shields and Terran Petteway combined to score 43 points and snare 15 rebounds, but the rest of the team didn’t provide much to complement the pair. Shields went all out at one point during the Huskers’ second half rally diving on to the scorer’s table and into the laps of the Big Ten Network crew to save a loose ball.


The Hoosiers were the better team and came to Lincoln prepared for a fight after losing to the Huskers on the road last season. Indiana scored 38 points in the paint and 18 points off the bench.


Mosquera-Perea seemed to be the biggest problem for Nebraska, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in just 22 minutes. Emmitt Holt also played well inside for Crean in what has to be an encouraging start to conference play for the Hoosiers.


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News sport : Boise State gets key defensive stop in 38-30 win against Arizona in Fiesta Bowl

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Boise State can’t play in the Fiesta Bowl without making it as exciting as possible.


In its two previous appearances, the Broncos needed a trick play to secure victory. While Boise State emptied its bag of tricks Wednesday in the first half to gain the lead against Arizona, it needed a good old-fashioned defensive stop to secure the 38-30 victory.


Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon took a sack with just seconds remaining with his team at the 8-yard line driving for the game-tying score. The Wildcats did not have a timeout and the clock ran out giving the Broncos the victory.


That play was one of the many the Broncos defense had to come up with in the second half as the offense that led the Broncos to 31 first-half points went ice cold in the second half. The Broncos final score came off a pick-six by Donte Deayon late in the third quarter.


Arizona actually stormed back from a 31-17 halftime deficit while it stymied the Broncos offense. Boise State quarterback Grant Hedrick had 272 passing yards in the first half, but finished with 309 for the game. Running back Jay Ajayi, who was playing in his final game as a Bronco, had 107 yards rushing and three touchdowns in the first half and finished with just 134.


That put the entire game on the shoulders of the defense, which wobbled a bit, but came up admirably late in the game, allowing just a field goal on the Wildcats’ final three drives.


Boise State has played in the Fiesta Bowl three total times and each game — all Boise State wins — has come down to the wire. In 2007, the Broncos used a Statue of Liberty trick play in overtime for the game-winning score. Against TCU in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl it used a fake punt to ultimately set up the game-winning score. And while the Broncos used a couple trick plays in the first half, including a Statue of Liberty play, to help build their lead, it was the lack of creativity by Arizona’s offense that ultimately helped the Boise State defense secure the game.


The win gave the Broncos their 12 win of the season, their eighth season with at least 12 wins since joining the FBS.


For more Arizona news, visit GOAZCats.com.


For more Boise State news, visit Blue-Turf.com.


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News sport : Doug Marrone opts out of contract, done as Buffalo Bills' coach

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There's always at least one crazy firing in the NFL offseason. Except, Doug Marrone wasn't really fired.


He just opted out.


[Join FanDuel's $1.75M Wild Card fantasy league: $25 to enter; top 14,530 teams paid]


Marrone is out as Buffalo Bills coach, and that was his choice. According to a statement by the Buffalo Bills just a few hours before the calendar turned to 2015, he opted out of his contract after two years as head coach. Marrone is now a free agent, and can pursue another job. Before Marrone opted out, there were five NFL head-coaching openings. Now there are six.


ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen reported that Marrone walks away with his 2015 salary of $4 million "without it counting as an offset against any future salary." The out clause in his contract activated if the Bills changed ownership, which happened when Terry Pegula bought the team.


Within minutes, there was speculation that the New York Jets would have a strong interest in Marrone. The Jets' division rivals are unexpectedly looking for a new coach.


"Doug Marrone informed me late today that he has decided to exercise the option clause in his contract and relinquish his responsibilities as our head coach," Pegula said in a statement. "We are disappointed that Coach Marrone will no longer be an important part of our organization. We thank him for all of his hard work and leadership during his tenure and wish him and his family the best with the next chapter in their lives.


"We will now begin the important process of conducting a thorough search for a new head coach as we continue to strive to reach our goal of returning to the playoffs and bringing a championship to Buffalo for our fans."


It's not often you see a coach just leave on his own, and it has to be a tough blow to the ego of the Bills, who haven't been to the playoffs since 1999. Buffalo made strides this season, finishing 9-7 and just out of the playoffs, though the retirement of quarterback Kyle Orton the day after the season ended made the 2015 outlook a little bleaker.


Marrone's time in Buffalo finishes with a 15-17 record over two seasons. Now the Bills have to start over. One would imagine Marrone has his eyes set on another opening. It's tough to believe he walked away from one of 32 NFL headl-coaching jobs without a backup plan in place.


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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






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News sport : Derrick Rose on his terrible three-point percentage: 'I’m not going to stop shooting'

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It’s just fine – without sounding like a hot take-spewing blowhard – to conclude that Derrick Rose is a different player this season.


There have been flashes of greatness. Up until his last two games with the Chicago Bulls, Rose was approaching All-Star level efficiency numbers as he regained confidence in the pull-up two-pointers and floaters that made him so great prior to his ACL and meniscus tears. Over the last two contests, though, Rose has missed 28 of 35 shots (including 11 of 12 misses from behind the three-point arc), and he’s in danger of setting all sorts of records for the worst three-point shooter ever to take so many dang treys.


Rose, on record at least, isn’t backing off of those looks. From the Chicago Tribune (via Pro Basketball Talk):



“Terrible,” Rose said, when asked to describe [Tuesday] night. But Rose won’t stop shooting. “My confidence to shoot is there,” he said. “All of them were on target. They’re just not falling. I’m not going to stop shooting. If they go under (screens), I’m going to shoot the shot. I work on it enough. I just haven’t seen them go in yet.”



There is a reason why defenders are going under screens set for Rose.


Derrick doesn’t quite have his MVP-level legs back yet, but he is still faster and stronger than most other NBA point guards when it comes to penetrating the paint. His work from behind the arc, however, is approaching Antoine Walker/Kobe Bryant-levels of ridiculousness – Rose is still shooting 5.4 threes per game in only 28 minutes a contest, and he’s making only 26 percent of those looks.


Worse, and this was the case prior to Rose’s injuries, the way he attempts those three-pointers vary from chuck to chuck. Rose will sometimes toss up a line drive, sometimes he put some arc on it, sometimes he’ll twist his body far too much to the left, and sometimes he’ll square up perfectly. All approaches, even the perfect one, usually create the same result. He’ll miss three of four shots from long range whether he’s shooting a line drive or a fundamentally-sound look.


As is the case with Bryant, Rose shouldn’t be shamed for shooting too much. He should be shamed for shooting the wrong shots.


During Derrick’s ACL rehabilitation, there was the hope that the time off would help him improve his dodgy three-point stroke. Those sorts of improvements didn’t take, but that’s just fine! Rose is the rare player that you don’t mind seeing toss up an 19-footer, even a somewhat contested one, because he used to be so great at them. His percentages on the right side of the floor approximate his pre-injury numbers, and his Chicago-styled one-handed runner remains an absolute killer. His numbers from close to the rim or from 10-feet in are exemplary this season.


He has to lose the three-pointer. Playing a game as a guard without use of a three-pointer in 2015 might seem like an anachronism, but Dwyane Wade is producing yet another killer season without relying much on that sort of threat, and numbers indicate that defenses aren’t really tripping over themselves to close out on Derrick once he lines up for his own sort of threat from out there.


He has to stop. It’s not helping his team, and the so-called “threat” of his three-point dalliances aren’t aiding in his abilities to get to the rim.


“Dalliances,” if we’re frank, is a kind way of putting it. Rose is tossing up 15 shots in those 28 minutes, which is fine, but over a third of them are three-pointers that he’s missing at a miserable rate. These Bulls weren’t constructed to win with Derrick Rose having to score 29 points and bail the squad’s offense out – prior to Rose’s recent swoon, this was a top five offense.


Chicago has the horses to win it all this year, and Rose remains one of them. He has to focus on what he does best, however, to make a difference for this team. He can’t be deluded into thinking that balancing an inside/outside game is helping his squad, or his potency. Somebody is going to have to encourage him to re-find that inner-Rod Strickland, and keep things closer to that painted area.


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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






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News sport : Rose Bowl: The first-ever CFP game features a matchup of two Heisman winners

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Rose Bowl

Oregon (12-1) vs. Florida State (13-0)

Pasadena, Calif.

Jan. 1, 2014


FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2014, file photo, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA in Pasadena, Calif. The College Football Playoff participants are well represented on The Associated Press All-America team. Heisman winner Marcus Mariota is the first Ducks' quarterback to be an All-American. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) The matchup between this year’s Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and last year’s winner Jameis Winston is one of the most anticipated matchups of the season.


And while the focus will rightfully be on the two stellar signal callers, it should be on the defenses.


Both of these defenses have struggled with consistency this season. Florida State’s defense has been almost nonexistent in most of the first halves the Seminoles have played this year, but have rebounded to have stellar second-half performances to secure victories.


Oregon’s defense ranked 82nd in the country allowing 413.8 yards per game, but only 22.5 points per game. The Ducks had their best performance of the year in the Pac-12 title game when it limited Arizona 224 yards and just 13 points.


The Ducks will be without star cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who suffered a torn ACL during practice earlier this month. But, Oregon plays a lot of guys on defense and some of their lopsided wins have allowed backups to get key playing time and experience.


There’s no doubt Florida State and Oregon are going to be able to score, it’s just a matter of which defense is going to be able to limit that scoring.


So far this season, few teams have been able to limit Mariota, who thrown for 3,783 yards with 38 touchdowns and just two interceptions. There is no quarterback more efficient than Mariota. And when he’s not beating teams with his arm, he’s rushing for 669 yards and another 14 scores.


Winston hasn’t been nearly as precise as he was a year ago. The sophomore has thrown for 3,559 yards and 24 touchdowns, but he’s also thrown 17 interceptions, which is 10 more than he threw a year ago as a first-time starter. Still, he’s worked wonders for the Florida State offense this season by bringing them back from multiple-touchdown deficits to keep his undefeated streak alive. Winston still has never lost a game in his collegiate career.


The biggest difference between these two teams will be pace of play. Oregon likes to jump on its opponents early and bury them before they can get into any sort of rhythm. While Florida State is used to marching back from deficits, it might not be able to slow the Oregon defense enough to close the gap.


However, if Florida State is able to keep this game close late, it puts itself in familiar territory and a place where it has excelled all season.


ODDS: Oregon (-8)


FUN FACT: Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota has the best passer rating of any quarterback in the second half. Mariota’s first-half rating of 173.05 jumps up to 208.85 in the second half, which is actually more than 13 points better than the next player.


PREDICTIONS


Graham: I have a hard time seeing this game as a close contest considering what we’ve seen from both teams this year. Oregon will be the best team the Seminoles have faced all season and the best scoring offense it's faced. While I appreciate Jameis Winston’s ability to motivate his team and lead it in come-from-behind wins, I think he’ll find himself in too deep of a hole in this one. Oregon 45, Florida State 31.


Nick: It feels imperative for Oregon to get out to a big lead in the first half. Florida State is like a crazy cat in the second half of games as it's always finding a way to escape. The undefeated streak ends on Thursday, though it won't be surprising in the slightest if it doesn't. Oregon 34, Florida State 31.


Sam: There's just something about Jameis Winston in big games, he always gets it done. With Oregon's top corner Ifo Ekpre-Olomu out, Winston will be able to exploit the Ducks' secondary. Marcus Mariota won't go down easy, but the FSU undefeated streak will continue. Florida State 38, Oregon 34.


For more Mississippi State news, visit BulldogBlitz.com.


For more Georgia Tech news, visit JacketsOnline.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






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News sport : Boise State runs its signature 'Statue of Liberty' play for a score in the Fiesta Bowl (again)

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Boise State is playing in its third Fiesta Bowl, but paid homage on Wednesday to the first game that put the program on the map.



Boise State Statue of Liberty against Arizona

During the first quarter against Arizona, Boise State quarterback Grant Hedrick took the snap on the 16-yard line, pretended to throw a screen pass and instead held the ball down for running back Jay Ajayi to take the hand off and scamper into the end zone.


Boise State ran a similar “Statue of Liberty” play against Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl to win the game.



It was good to see coach Bryan Harsin throw out a oldie but goodie so early in the contest. At the time, it put the Broncos up 21-0.


For more Boise State news, visit Blue-Turf.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






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