May 23rd, 2010
You are currently browsing the articles from Matt Levens written on May 23rd, 2010.
The Georgia Bulldogs football team has been one of the most successful in history, having won nearly two thirds of all games they have played since 1892. Members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the “Dawgs” can routinely be found in the top 25 polls of the best teams in the nation, and are usually considered amongst college football’s elite programs – though recent years have seen them somewhat less successful than they have been in the past. Their stadium in Athens, Georgia is the fifth largest of its kind to exist on any American campus, and seas more than 90,000 fans. The Bulldogs have fielded a host of great players in their history, but perhaps none have been as well known as Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker, who carried the ball for the Bulldogs from 1980 to 1982.
Hershel Walker at Georgia
When Herschel Walker arrived on the campus of the University of Georgia, he made an immediate impact. Despite being a freshman running back, Walker ran over, around, and through the competition that season to set freshman records for rushing and help the Bulldogs to an undefeated season. His freshman performance garnered him so much attention that he managed to get enough votes for the Heisman Trophy that he came in third that year – a rare and almost unheard of feat for an underclassman at the college level. That year’s Bulldogs went on to play Notre Dame in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, with their victory over the Fighting Irish earning them a consensus national championship. After two more impressive seasons with the Bulldogs, Walker finally broke through in the Heisman voting and won the award in 1982 as a junior.
The junior professional
With his junior year at an end, Walker felt that he had nothing left to prove. Though the existing National Football League rules of the time forbade any team from drafting players until they had completed their senior season, Walker decided to find another way into the pro ranks. It made sense to him from both a personal and financial sense – after winning a national title as a freshman and the Heisman as a junior, it was unlikely that his stock in the NFL draft would be elevated by a return for his senior season. In fact, an injury could have made him less attractive.
With an eye toward controlling his own future as a professional, Walker opted to sign on with the United States Football League, utilizing his considerable skills as running back right up until the League disbanded in 1986. The Dallas Cowboys, however, had selected Walker in the draft of 1985, and openly welcomed him to their ranks in 1986.
His legacy
When people hear Herschel Walker’s name today, they most often think of his Heisman year and his skills as a runner. However, his off-field victories were just as important in the evolution of the game. In fact, every underclassman that enters the NFL draft early has Herschel Walker to thank for paving the way.
Freddie Brister is a big fan of Football check out his: LSU Swimwear
Written by Freddie Brister on May 23rd, 2010 with comments disabled.
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The one thing that is for certain about college sports is that change often takes time. The NCAA’s Bowl Championship Series is one example of that. Since the founding of the BCSA system, preference in postseason BCS match ups had initially been given to what were (and still are) considered the major Conferences in college football – the SEC, Big Eight, Big Ten, Pac-10, and so on. As most fans of the game know, however, recent years have seen several teams from smaller conferences finally being given the attention they deserve by the BCS, with last year’s Texas Christian and Boise State teams being the best example of that trend. The true breakthrough for the BCS, however, began years before, beginning with the Utah Utes’ hiring of Urban Meyer for two seasons as Head Coach. Utah, a Mountain West Conference member, was not eligible for an automatic selection in a BCS game, and like other teams from the smaller conferences, had never been invited to play in one. Breaking that BCS wall would be one of Urban Meyer’s greatest accomplishments as coach.
Giving them a show
From the start, Meyer made it clear that his team’s goal at Utah would be to play the fastest, hardest type of football possible, and provide everyone a show they would never forget. With his spread option offense, he was determined to make the Utes a national powerhouse. Of course, the Utes’ 118 year history had already provided many highlights, including 22 titles in their conference and more than 600 total wins. They also held the best postseason record in history, with twelve victories in the fifteen bowl games they had played. Obviously, Meyer knew that he had a team that could contend for any title, ad he set out to d just that.
Shattering the barrier
Meyer’s first campaign with the Utes demonstrated that his style of play would reap huge rewards for his team. After using Meyer’s spread offense to win 10 of the 12 games they played and their conference crown, there was no doubt that the Utes were a real power. Their bowl game that year was a complete shutout of a quality Southern Miss. Team. Not content to rest on their laurels, the following year’s team repeated as conference winners while establishing a new Utes’ scoring record – all while going undefeated. The BCS was eventually forced to acknowledge the Utes’ dominance, and gave them a slot in the Fiesta Bowl of 2005 against Pittsburgh. The Utes won that contest going away. Their season results earned them a number four ranking in the Associated Press’s final season poll.
Meyer’s two seasons as the Utes’ coach had broken new ground with the Bowl Championship Series, as the BCS selection committee was forced to finally acknowledge that top level football was being played in places outside of the traditional power conferences.
The Utes themselves would go on to play in another BCS contest in 2009, defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide in convincing fashion only one year before the Tide would go on to win a national championship.
Freddie Brister is a big fan of Football check out his: Virginia Tech Watch
Written by Freddie Brister on May 23rd, 2010 with comments disabled.
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The game of Golf is a series of calculated decisions and moves especially when it comes to your swing! Golfers who are constantly trying to improve their swing are the ones getting the most accurate, long distance shots. Let’s face it, swinging a golf club properly consists of lots of stuff but here are 3 tips that’ll really help you get some great (consistent) shots. Remember, a golf swing isn’t something that is learned once, it takes a lifetime of practice.
Ok, tip number 1. Make sure your stance feels good. For example, if you feel like you’re bending over too much then ya probably are. Part of your golf swing is a reflection of how you feel before you actually take that swing. So relax, get comfortable with that stance first. Keep the shoulders parallel to the ground and your hips in line with your shoulders (forming a square). Focus on a comfortable stance, then start refining that stance into a powerful accurate swing.
Next, consider where you stance is around the ball. Depending on the situation and the clubs your stance may need to be in front of the ball when using woods, in the middle of the ball when using middle irons or you may need to be slightly in front of the ball when using the lower/chipping irons. Lot’s of new golfers just assume that putting the ball right in the middle of your stance is how you should like yourself up for the shot all the time. Not so.
Lastly you need to remember that your swing is simply a pivot that transfers weight and power from the back to the front. The proper golf swing involves a sweeping motion, there is no dramatic lift and no sudden drop. Another trick to getting that perfect sweeping swing is to prevent your shoulders from slouching, keep them straight and upright.
Practice your golf swing and incorporate the principles of weight shift and a smooth pivot to increase distance and accuracy. You should not approach the golf ball as though you need to hit it very hard to get it go where you want it to go. A smooth and cyclical swinging motion will always deliver more accuracy and distance every single time.
If you’re still wondering how to swing a golf club then here are a few more tips on the proper golf swing.
Written by Thomas Redding on May 23rd, 2010 with comments disabled.
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For nearly thirty years now, few college football teams have enjoyed more consistent success than the Miami Hurricanes. Not only do they now hold the record for the most consecutive wins at home in college football history – having during one stretch won 58 home games in a row. Things were not always so positive for the Hurricanes, and they spent much of their history without a national championship. That ended in the 1983-84 season when the Miami team won the national title at last. That event would be repeated four more times over the next twenty years, as the Hurricanes posted after a winning season and positioned themselves as one of the most elite teams in the NCAA ranks. Their winning ways have been highlighted by a total of two Heisman Award winners and a series of incredible winning streaks including the aforementioned home victory streak.
Love them or hate them
Most really successful people soon find that there are plenty of others who resent their hard-won success. The Hurricanes understand that all too well, as there was a lengthy period of time in the last few decades during which the Hurricanes were the Snidely Whiplash of the college football scene – fans of other teams just loved to hate the Hurricanes. Of course, there was also a perception that the Hurricane players had become arrogant and took their success for granted – though they gave little indication of that on the field. Moreover, the Miami players who moved on to the NFL have generally demonstrated the type of teamwork and dedication that belies the notion that they had been prima donnas in college. In truth, the animosity many fans felt toward the Miami teams of those years was in all likelihood simply a reaction to the Hurricane success.
The streak
Miami’s amazing 58 game streak of victories at home represents but one of their many periods of sustained success. The home win streak, lasting from 1985 to 1994, certainly stands out as a testament to the quality of the Miami fan base and the advantage that those fans provide for the team when playing at home in their own stadium. The team’s 2000 through 2003 streak of 34 straight wins, however, encompassed both games played at home and those played in the stadiums of their opponents. That streak, by the way, surpassed the former Miami streak of 29 consecutive victories between 1990 and 1993. Home streaks are one thing – going several years without losing a road game is something else entirely.
Never out of the picture
The University of Miami Hurricanes football teams have seen some difficulty in recent seasons, and the period since their last championship in 2002 has certainly not approached the glory that Miami teams provided for the previous two decades. To be certain, the Hurricanes have not advanced to the BCS Championship game since losing to Ohio State in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. Nevertheless, quality players still flock to Miami every year, and most fans and experts alike recognize that the Hurricanes will continue to be a potential championship contender into the foreseeable future.
Freddie Brister is a big fan of Football check out his: LSU Swimwear
Written by Bennetta Elliott on May 23rd, 2010 with comments disabled.
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Golf is a game that requires constant practice and training. Many people believe that all you have to do is hit the little ball with the stick and follow it down the fairways. This is basically true but to those who have never tried it; it is not easy to hit the little ball with the stick. It is even harder to hit it and make it go the way you want it to go.To improve golf game you must work hard and constant at it.
Anyway golf is a gentleman’s game and it must be played as such. The first thing you must do to improve your game is to determine where you are failing. You must honestly decide what your strong points are and what the things you must work on are. For example you might have a good strong swing but your sense of direction is off.
The first thing that you must do is to determine where it is that your game needs improvement. You must use different clubs for different shots; it is possible that you are great on long distance but terrible on short distance shots. Take an honest look at your game and practice on your weaknesses.
Many factors are involved when it comes to swinging at the ball and sending it in the right direction. The way you stand and hold the clubs is one of the most important and will affect the direction the ball will take. Your grip on the club will affect direction and strength too. A full swing will send the ball flying farther away than a short swing. So many things are involved in each swing and each movement and you must be aware of all of them.
It is important that you learn to use the wind in your favor. Upper arm and back strength are very important for a long distance swing but learning how to use that strength is more important. When preparing for a long drive, if your feet are off by a couple of inches, your swing and the ball will be off for a long distance as the ball flies away. Pay attention to details while swinging and preparing to swing.
Your eyes and feet must be perfectly coordinated before the shot. You must stand in the right place and point in the right direction so the ball goes where you want it to go. It is important that you always consider the wind, even if it will be a short distance shot. Always allow some slack when you drive because of land slope and wind direction.
It is important for you to practice doing this for short and long distances. When the distance is short there will not be too much wind effect, the wind will usually affect long shots when the ball is shot high into the air. Which does not mean that you should not practice short shots too, both are important on the way to the green.
The best way to practice is not to play game after game. The best way to practice is to play one hole and redo it several times trying to understand what you did wrong and changing it. Try another club or point the ball in a different direction, hit it harder or softer, these are the ways you learn how to play the game and understand the field you are playing.
Learn more about how you can improve golf game and using certain techniques and advice you can get better at golf quite easily without much effort.
Written by Billy Owens on May 23rd, 2010 with comments disabled.
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Most football fans are familiar with the current state of the Indianapolis Colts, and what they have accomplished since 1998. That was the year they made the decision to draft Peyton Manning, using their first selection in the draft to do so. Since that point, Indianapolis has gone on to evolve into what can easily be considered a modern football dynasty. With seven straight seasons that have resulted in at least twelve wins each year, the team has also won its first Super Bowl in more than three and a half decades while placing themselves in position for the sport’s top trophy in almost every season.
The decision to draft
When Bill Polian, the team’s general manager, sat down to determine how best to turn around the team that had only a year before managed to lose all but three of their regular season games, he made the fateful decision to do so through the draft process. In the modern era of free agency and high profile teams, this was considered a risky proposition. After all, many bottom-of-the-cellar teams simply throw money around in the offseason to buy the talent they need to compete for the next few years. Polian’s faith in the draft system was questioned even more when he chose to draft the University of Tennessee’s Peyton Manning – a quarterback who had posted winning records and gaudy statistics during his college career, but who also had a reputation as someone who couldn’t win the big games when they really mattered.
Peyton adapts quickly
Manning’s first season was less than spectacular, to say the least. The team once again posted only three victories. The following campaign would be completely different, as the team went from 3-13 to 13-3, earning their way into the playoffs – only to lose to the Tennessee Titans. Nevertheless, that was the beginning of the team’s new level of success as they compiled winning seasons in all but the 2001 campaign – a rare season under Manning in which the Colts won only six. That year would prove to be the exception in a run of seasons from 1999 until last year that saw the Colts victorious in ten or more contests in each season. That stretch of success also included their 2007 run to Super Bowl victory.
Peyton and the Big One
The Colts were among the favorites as the 2006 season got under way, and they didn’t disappoint. They stormed out to a nine win and zero loss start, and then finished the campaign with a twelve win season. As a three-seed, they made it to the AFC Championship of the playoffs, and won the AFC crown by coming back from eighteen points down in that game. As rain fell on the Super Bowl in 2007, Manning delivered a victory over the Bears, as the Colts scored twenty-nine to the Bears’ seventeen. The game is notable for several things.
The Colts had won the Championship despite their League-worst defense against the run. As a domed team, they were the first to win the NFL title in a game played outdoors. Last, and most relevant for longtime fans of Peyton Manning who had stood by him during the rough college years, the quarterback had at last demonstrated that he was more than capable of playing well when the championship was on the line.
Freddie Brister is a huge fan of all sports and recommends checking out his Indianapolis Colts Bedding and Chicago White Sox blanket at his shop.
Written by Freddie Brister on May 23rd, 2010 with comments disabled.
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For the casual football fan whose experience with the college game may extend no farther than catching an occasional game with his buddies at the bar, Boise State’s Broncos football team can cause quite a bit of consternation. As members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), they first captured the attention of much of the nation in the 2006-07 campaign. That season saw the Broncos go undefeated with 13 wins, and then beat the mighty Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl game. For the last several seasons, the Broncos have remained one of the best – and perhaps underrated – teams in the country. Even though they managed another undefeated 14 victory season in 2009, they were never seriously considered for title contention. Oddly enough, though, for most casual fans the Boise State football’s team has not been the real attention-getter – it has been the fact that they play on a blue field!
Bronco Stadium
There is a good reason why Bronco Stadium is such a curiosity – its blue field is alone among all of the stadiums in the country. Though there have been many rumors that the Broncos chose the blue field in an attempt to have the color of their field blur with the blue in their players’ uniforms, the truth is something less conspiratorial entirely. In fact, the real reason why the field ended up blue when Boise State revamped their Astroturf surface back in 1985 is simple: they figured if they were going to spend the better part of a million dollars for new turf, they might as well get some publicity out of the deal. After considering all their options, the school eventually settled on installing Astroturf that was similar to the blue of the team uniform. They were right in their selection, apparently – the attention the field gets has been non-stop ever since.
Is there an advantage?
As for the argument that the blue field color enables Boise State players to avoid detection by opposing teams – as if they all go into some sort of “stealth” mode when they step on the field – has been the subject of much discussion over the years. Most of the teams who have played on that field acknowledge that notion that a blue uniform on blue field advantage exists is as silly as saying that any team that has ever worn green on a grass field somehow became invisible to the competition. To sum up the point, the coach of Louisiana Tech once noted that his teams had never encountered any difficulty as a result of the field color. The Tech teams’ real difficulty with the Boise State team had only to do with the high level of talent that the Broncos routinely fielded.
Permanent blues
Nevertheless, the NCAA has made it a rule that no other teams can ever use blue when retrofitting their stadiums, which means that the Broncos will be the only team to host games on a blue field. They get to keep their field due to an exception in the rule.
Broncos fans, and college enthusiasts across the country, can take solace in knowing that the Boise State football team is likely to play on that field of blue far, far into the future.
Freddie Brister is a big fan of Football check out his: Florida State Watch
Written by Freddie Brister on May 23rd, 2010 with comments disabled.
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