Mannings to the Pro Bowl

The last two seasons Archie and Olivia Manning have been blest to watch their two youngest sons play in the Super Bowl. Eli and Peyton did not disappoint, they both won and were voted Super Bowl MVP, respectively.

This season they are both out of the playoffs but Eli and Peyton have made history yet again. For the first time in the history of the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, two brothers will be playing quarterback in the game. For Peyton, the all-star game in Hawaii is an annual event, it's a ho-hum ninth time he'll play for the AFC. Eli is a different story, this is the first time Eli has been selected to participate for the NFC.

Eli and Peyton both earned their selections this season. Eli finally took over the Giants this season as the leader of the team. With Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey, and Michael Straham all gone, Eli is now in charge. Last season Eli became an elite quarterback and it carried over into this season. The Giants were poised to make another Super Bowl run but the offense just couldn't produce they way it needed to in the playoffs without Plaxico Burress. Peyton also had a very unique season. He was slow getting back from knee surgery and it caused the team problems in the beginning. The Colts started the season 3-4 and looked dead in the water. Then, Peyton turned into the 2008 MVP and led the Colts to nine straight victories. The Colts lost to the Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Round 23-17.

Not only are Eli and Peyton great football players, they are great people as well. They have been very instrumental in helping Louisiana and Mississippi recover from hurricane Katrina and Gustav. They also donate money and work with underprivileged children in hospitals and youth centers all over the country.

CARDS MAKE PITT FOLD

Pittsburgh looked like the #1 team in the country until late Saturday in their showdown with Louisville. After leading the whole game, Pittsburgh blew their lead due to Louisville's pressure on defense.

Terrence Williams and Earl Clark led the way Saturday as #20 Louisville defeated #1 Pittsburgh 69-63. Williams scored 20 points and started Louisville's surge with a pull-up jumper. Clark scored 16 points and followed with a shot from the corner. Then, Preston Knowles hit a 3-pointer before Clark dunked on the break to pull the Cardinals within 55-54 with 6:25 left.

Louisville finally pulled even at 58-all on a jam by Samardo Samuels and Louisville took the lead for good on a layup by Williams with 2:53 left.

The Panthers, who'd answered every previous Louisville surge, wilted late as the Cardinals' pressure simply wore them down.

Louisville's pressure caused turnovers and the Panthers couldn't handle the ball well enough to hold on.Even when the Panthers held on to the ball, they couldn't knock down the shots. They shot just 30.6 percent in the second half, including 3-of-15 from 3-point range. Blair's absence due to foul trouble allowed the Cardinals to hold a 42-38 edge on the boards.

The victory capped a thrilling week for Louisville, who beat #12Notre Dame 87-73 in overtime on Monday.

Clark made sure the extra work wasn't necessary this time, shrugging off a sluggish first half in which he made just 2-of-10 field goals by doing a little bit everything in the second half as the Cardinals hung around long enough for their offense to get going late.

The rivalry has become one of the Big East's most heated since the Cardinals joined the conference three years ago, with only one of the previous six meetings being decided by more than six points.

Saturday night was no different, with the Cardinals making the big plays when it mattered to serve notice it may be the team to beat in the nation's toughest conference.

FSU beats Wolfpack 78-65

Former Shannon standout, Courtney Fells, played well in a 78-65 home loss to Florida State. Fells contributed 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, and 1 assist Tuesday against the Seminoles.

Florida State held the Wolfpack to one field goal over the final 6 minutes while outscoring them 19-2 during that span.

N.C. State led 63-59 on Julius Mays' jumper with 6:13 remaining, but went cold after that. Meanwhile, the Seminoles scored on four straight trips down court, with the second of Alabi's jumpers in the lane putting Florida State ahead to stay with just under 4 minutes to play.
Mays scored 13 points to lead N.C. State (9-5, 0-2). The Wolfpack lost their third straight and dropped into a three-way tie for last place in the ACC with Georgia Tech and North Carolina.

Fells and the Wolfpack host Georgia Tech Saturday at the RBC Center in a huge ACC match up.

Fells is averaging 11 points and 4 rebounds so far this season.

He is currently 6'6, 210 pounds.

Senior from Shannon, MS

REBEL RECAP

Ole Miss completed one of the greatest turnarounds in Rebel history improving to 9-4 under the leadership of new head coach Houston Nutt. Nutt did it with great defense, good ground game, and big plays in the passing game.

The Rebels ran effectively behind Michael Oher and finished third in the SEC in rushing. The defense bent on occasion, but only gave up 17.8 points per game. Two huge improvements from last year's 3-9 campaign.

The 73rd Cotton Bowl will be a great memory for Rebel fans. The overwhelming favorite, Texas Tech, by "America's vote" was dead wrong. The coaches and fans believed and the players proved, on the field, that the SEC is still the premier conference. Ole Miss dominated the Red Raiders in a 47-34 victory. Dexter McCluster and Brandon Bolden led the rushing attack and Jevan Snead found Wallace, Harris, and Hodge in the air. The Ole Miss defensive line harassed Harrell all day and forced big turnovers by the secondary. McCluster was named offensive Cotton Bowl MVP after a 180 yard performance with a touchdown. McCluster rushed for 97 yards and added 83 yards receiving.The defensive MVP award went go Marshay Green, who returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown and took a punt down inside the Red Raider 10-yard line. The punt return was originally ruled a touchdown but instant replay showed Green stepping out.

Ole Miss started the season needing significant improvement at quarterback, they received just that. Jevan Snead, for the most part, was brilliant all season and won big games on the road at Florida, LSU, and Arkansas. The Texas native has definitely found a home in the Magnolia state. Snead will only get better and will be one of the best quarterbacks in the country next season.

Dexter McCluster has now become the running back/wide receiver rebel fans thought he would be. He made big plays all year long. He started off the season with some turnovers, but not because he lacked effort. McCluster has given everything he has since enrolling at Ole Miss. Now that he is healthy, he has become one of the best players in the country.

The Rebels will lose some great players like Mike Wallace, Peria Jerry, Jason Cook, and Michael Oher but the nucleus is in place for 2009. Houston Nutt does a great job developing and coaching players. Replacing all the seniors will be a challenge but Nutt and his staff are up to it. Ole Miss fans want to get to the point when the Rebels "reload" instead of "rebuild".

The season was wonderful but only the beginning for what is to come at Ole Miss. The future is very bright and the seniors have laid the foundation for greatness. The coaches, players, and fans are all in place to take Ole Miss football to the next level and 2009 could really be special.

TEBOW'S HERO

Many Gator fans may think that Tim Tebow is a “miracle” quarterback, but his parents say he was actually a miracle baby.

Bob and Pam Tebow were Christian missionaries in the Philippines in 1987 when Pam, Tim’s mother contracted amoebic dysentery, the leading cause of death in the country. She was pregnant with Tim—her fifth child—at the time, very dehydrated and very sick when she went to her doctor who advised her to abort the baby because of the powerful medicines she would have to take to survive. But they decided against abortion and instead prayed. Both mom and baby survived.

Tebow, now a strapping 6-3, 240 lb. 2007 Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Florida, keeps his humble beginnings in mind to stay grounded. Tebow says his three most important things in life are God, family, and football. His family does a great job reminding him to stay humble.

Tebow, who began his walk with Christ as a six-year-old, according to BPSports, says, "I want to take this platform that I have—being a quarterback and being at the University of Florida—and use that to help people…and to be that role model, that example for kids. That's the reason I think I've been blessed to have the success that I've had."

Tebow, who will lead Florida against the Oklahoma Sooners in the January 8 BCS National Championship Game in Miami, uses his influence as a Gator football player in every game. In the blacks under his eyes, he has the words "Phil. 4:13" written in white lettering, referencing the verse in Philippians, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

During his 2008 spring break, instead of hanging out at the beach, he spent his week as a missionary in the Philippines with his dad's ministry, The Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association. He has traveled to the Philippines several summers to minister to orphans and the poor.He really enjoys playing with the children there and expressing his relationship with Jesus Christ.
He also has spoken at several prisons across the state of Florida, talking to them about his Christian faith and offering the opportunity for the prisoners and guards to ask him questions about Christ.

Tebow tells the crowds, that he speaks to, that he has found true satisfaction, true happiness, and it is not by having your name in a newspaper, it is not by winning trophies, it is not by winning championships, it is by having a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Tebow is an awesome ambassador for college football. He is a great player on and off the field. I love watching him play for many reason but mainly because of his wonderful faith. He has fortunately used his stage for good.As we move into this new year, we should use Tebow as an inspiration to be better people in 2009.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Coach O Headed for Rocky Top

Ed Orgeron is a great motivator and defensive line coach. The fiery Cajun also eats, sleeps, and breaths, recruiting great college football players. He has a reputation of being one of the best in the business. His hard work and relentless scouting and recruiting has paid off. He is now joining Lane Kiffin's staff at Tennessee and will make $650,000 a year. Kiffin and Orgeron are very familiar with each other, they both served as assistants under Pete Carroll at USC. Orgeron was not ready to be a head man (Ole Miss) but will definitely be an asset as an assistant.

This is an article with Bruce Feldman on December 31, 2008.

Ed Orgeron is headed to Tennessee.The former Ole Miss head coach, who spent the 2008 season as the Saints defensive line coach, confirmed via text message this afternoon that he has accepted an offer to be the Volunteers recruiting coordinator, defensive line coach and will have the title of associate head coach."I'm so excited," Orgeron said via phone. "I get to coach with Monte [Kiffin] and I'm getting to recruit again. It's pedal to the metal and I can't wait to get up there."Orgeron came to his decision after spending the past few days in Destin, Fla., with his family and weighing his options which included an offer in a similar role at LSU or staying in New Orleans.

The 47-year-old Louisiana native had been intrigued by the chance to coach at LSU, a school he grew up rooting for. However he was ultimately swayed by the chance to work with new UT coach Lane Kiffin and his father, legendary defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin who also has relocated to Knoxville. Orgeron is expected to make $650,000 making him one of the nation's highest paid assistants.

The move back to the college ranks had been rumored for weeks as it was well known how passionate Orgeron is about the chase of the recruiting trail and the chance to help develop young players.

Widely hailed as one of the top recruiters and defensive line coaches in football, Orgeron also had worked with Lane Kiffin when the pair were part of two national championship teams at USC.

Orgeron, who had learned to evaluate talent in his days at Miami under then-Hurricanes coach Jimmy Johnson and from Pete Carroll, who was the Trojans recruiting coordinator as the program returned to the top of the college football world. As a line coach he has developed first-round picks Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland, Warren Sapp, and Mike Patterson.

He also was responsible for most of the talent that has developed into a top 25 team at Ole Miss this season.

Bruce Feldman is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine.

The CA$H Man

This day and time in MLB, General Managers are having a tough time putting together a good product to put on the field. Some reasons for this are bigger than others but it is definitely something owners are trying to address. The owners are now getting more involved than ever with the teams and the front office. The main reason is money, they do not have the funds to keep good players around and they try to find ways to keep the players they need. Many teams can relate to this problem but not Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees.

Brian Cashman is living a General Manager's dream. He worked for George Steinbrenner for many years and now he will work for George's sons, Hal and Hank. Working for the Steinbrenners is great because they want to win and they want the General Manager to spend whatever it takes to do so. Most GMs have a budget, in which, they closely abide by. Not Cashman, he and the Yankees spent $420 million on three players in this postseason. Mark Teixeria, CC Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett are great players but them together are making more than every player on the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Yankees are the greatest baseball organization because they refuse to lose. They don't want to lose ballgames, players, fans, or money. The Yankees spend money to make money and that is what it takes to be successful. As the Yankees move into their new stadium this season, they want to do so with a winning product. Not making the playoffs, is unacceptable to every fan of the Yankees and the Steinbrenner boys, Cashman, and the players know that.
Brian Cashman is in unfamiliar territory with the Yankees not making the playoffs last season. He has always put together a team that has a chance to win the World Series every year and last season is considered a failure to Yankee nation. Cashman will likely have the Yankees back in the playoffs with the additions he has made in the offseason. If not, Cashman may be looking for a new place to spend and make money.

Cotton Bowl is the Gift that keeps on Giving

This is an article special to the Sports Zone by Jacob Threadgill, Contributing Writer for Inside the Grove.

The Ole Miss football team fulfilled its primary goal of the season once it secured the first bowl trip for the 14 seniors, but the benefits of the Rebels’ Cotton Bowl experience will be seen after those seniors have graduated.

Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt spent the first few weeks of the extra December bowl practice providing younger players additional repetitions, which will pay off come spring practice.

The national exposure the No. 20 Rebels will gain from playing No. 7 Texas Tech will also pay off for recruiting come February for national signing day.The transition from an 0-8 SEC record a season ago to a January bowl has been quite dramatic for Ole Miss wide receiver/running back Dexter McCluster.“Around this time last year we were at home with our parents, with our friends just hanging out wishing that we were in this situation,” McCluster said. “Now that we’re in it, we get the feeling of what it is like to be in a situation like it. It is fun, and it is going to help us build next year. We know how to win, we know the feeling of winning and will try to do that all the time.”

For the first time in four seasons an entire freshman class of Ole Miss players will never have experienced any other feeling than one of wining while in Oxford. McCluster said the extra practice time would help the team moving forward into next season.“I can see a lot of improvement (from the younger players),” McCluster said. “Just us practicing still, it gets us pumped up. After this bowl game spring is right around the corner. We just want to keep playing football, it is so much fun out there. The younger guys are growing and maturing in their game as well, and looking up to us and giving us great looks on the scout team.”

With the graduation of senior Mike Wallace, Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead said he has seen the greatest improvement from sophomore receivers Markeith Summers and Lionel Breaux.“(Summers and Breaux) have done a really great job of stepping up the past few weeks of practice,” Snead said. “I believe it really has helped them and get them rolling for spring practice.”

After Friday’s game against Texas Tech, Nutt and staff will be working to fill the final few spots of their second recruiting class at Ole Miss.

The play of McCluster in the Wild Rebel set as been a major selling point for potential recruits, and the sales pitch has seemed to work with the commitments of all-purpose backs Rodney Scott (Scout’s Inc grade 80) and Korvic Neat (Scout’s Inc. grade 79) within the last month.

McCluster said he was always eager to talk to his potential replacements in the Wild Rebel set.“I talk to recruits and they ask me how do I like the Wild Rebel, and that it looks fun,” McCluster said. “They wish they could run it. I told them they can run it as long as you have the ball handling skills and the athleticism to do it, you can do it.”

When it comes to hosting recruits on official visits or talking to them in general, McCluster said he takes a simple approach.“First I will tell them that coach Nutt is the real deal,” McCluster said. “What he says is exactly what it means, and it is going to happen no matter what. Second, the town of Oxford and the love of the game with the fans, there is a lot of support out here. There is a lot of family out here, and I think that is enough to get them to come.”

McCluster signed with the Rebels in 2006 out of Largo high school in Florida, and if he has his way, Ole Miss might be adding another former Packer to the roster.

McCluster said he stays in close contact with his former high school teammate, 2009 linebacker recruit Mike Marry.“He is a big time player,” McCluster said about the 6-foot-3 210 pound Marry. “He has speed and size. I try to call him every chance I can. He is paying more attention to Ole Miss than he ever has. He calls me and talks to me after games.”

Marry has been given a 77 grade by Scout’s Inc., and is considering Ole Miss along with Michigan, North Carolina, South Florida, and West Virginia.

McCluster said Marry’s notice in the Rebels is indicative of recruits all across Florida.“He has told me he can see a lot of change, and he is asking me what the difference is from the last few years, and this year. I just told him we’re playing as a team and as a family. We have great coaches around us that we believe in that they can get us there.”

More With Gore

Adam Gore and I have teamed up and now you will be able to access my blog through his website. (http://goresports.wordpress.com) Adam is a popular guy around these parts and does a lot of high school sports all over Northeast Mississippi. He does a great job and it is a pleasure to be teaming up with him. I hope to work with him in the near future as we try to share our sports information with you. Check out MORE WITH GORE at the address above.

Goodbye Texas Stadium

The Cowboys had a very disappointing end to a great history at Texas Stadium. The 33-24 loss to the Ravens was in front of former greats such as: Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Jay Novacek, Tony Dorsett, Leon Lett, Roger Staubach, Bob Lilly, Randy White, and the list goes on. Tony Romo talked, in his press conference, about how special it was to play with all the veterans back for a final homecoming. Texas Stadium will always be a great memory for Dallas fans. My parents are huge fans and cherish the 90's when "America's team" was at its prime.

Here are some great memories from Texas Stadium: (Cowboys fan or not)
1. Dallas 35, Washington 34 (Dec. 16, 1979)
2. Dallas 24, Washington 23 (Nov. 28, 1974)
3. Miami 16, Dallas 14 (Nov. 25, 1993)
4. Dallas 42, Green Bay 31 (Nov. 25. )
5. Philadelphia 27, Dallas 0 (Nov. 23, 1989)
6. Dallas 38, Cincinnati 10 (Nov. 4, 1973)
7. Dallas 38, San Francisco 21 (Jan. 23, 1994)
8. San Francisco 41, Dallas 24 (Sept. 24, 2000) - George Teague knocked TO on his butt.
9. Dallas 44, New England 21 (Oct. 24, 1971)
10. Green Bay 20, Dallas 10 (Dec. 24, 1989)
The first Super Bowl I ever remember was Super Bowl XXX when the Cowboys beat the Steelers 27-17.
Dallas' Larry Brown became the first cornerback to be named Super Bowl MVP, recording two interceptions and returning them for a total of 77 yards.
During the Cowboys time at Texas Stadium, they won 5 Super Bowl Championships.Goodbye Texas Stadium!!!

Most Inspirational Player of the Year

Many athletes in college football are praised, mostly for what they do on the field. It's not hard to find a tremendously talented player on the field. It is, however, hard to find a college kid that is equally as talented off the field but Tim Tebow is just that.

He spends all the time he can helping people in need. Whether he is preaching at a local Florida prison or helping children in another Country, "Timmy" is always doing something positive. His relationship with Jesus Christ is his number one priority and everyone can see that.
The commentators praise him, girls want to date him, guys want to be him, and children love him. He gives children time, attention, and even clothes. He can reach people because he takes advantage of his stage instead of getting in trouble and setting a bad example. He is somewhat of a "Superman".

Tebow continues to amaze me, in that, he is the most humble guy on the planet. Anything he wins or accepts always ends in a thank you or God bless. No, its not for show, this is who he truly is in his heart and people love him for it. He has earned the respect of all his peers and rightfully so, he is amazing. This world would be better if it had more "Timmys" and less "Jimmys".

MERRY CHRISTMAS Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers had a lot to play for today against the the Boston Celtics, the defending NBA champions.

After the Celtics dominated the Lakers last year in the NBA Finals, this was not just a regular season game for the Lakers. The Celtics came into todays game with the NBA's best record and 19 straight victories. Not only did the Lakers need to win to get their confidence back, they also wanted to end the Celtics streak. The Lakers did just that in a 92-83 victory with great play from Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant.

The rematch of last years NBA Finals did not disappoint. The game was tied 82-82 with about 4 minutes to go and then Gasol took over scoring 7 of his 20 points in the last 4 minutes to put the game out of reach. Sure, this was only one game but for the mental state of the Lakers it was huge. Kobe finished the game with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal. The Lakers bench also outscored the Celtics 22-13 and gave the Lakers important minutes. This will very likely be the two teams we will see in the Finals again this year. The Lakers and Celtics are the class of the NBA and a rematch would be very intriguing.

Kickin' It With Jevan

This is an interview with ESPN blogger Chris Low

He's the best young quarterback in the SEC, and his strong right arm was a big reason Ole Miss ended the season with five straight wins and now heads to the AT&T Cotton Bowl to take on Texas Tech on Jan. 2.

Jevan Snead, after sitting out a year following his transfer from Texas, had a stellar debut season in the SEC. He ranks third in passing efficiency behind only Tim Tebow and Matthew Stafford and threw for 2,470 yards and 23 touchdowns.The 6-foot-3, 215-pound sophomore had a stretch where he threw too many interceptions, but he closed the season with 13 touchdown passes and only two interceptions during the Rebels' five-game winning streak. Of his 12 interceptions, 10 came in the first seven games.The Stephenville, Texas, product is pumped about going back home for Ole Miss' first bowl game since the 2003 season. I had a chance to catch up with Snead for a Q&A before the Rebels broke for Christmas.

What were the growing pains like for you in your first season in the SEC?
Jevan Snead: I started out all right, but I went through a spell where I was throwing too many picks. I wish I had a couple of those games back, but I feel like I grew throughout the season and did my best to learn as much as I could from each game. I think I took something from each of them.

How big a role did first-year offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kent Austin play in your development this season?JS: I'm extremely lucky to be coached by somebody like coach Austin. He did a great job of preparing me and teaching me the offense and making sure I really understood it. He's helped me a lot as far as my footwork and mechanics. When he showed up last spring, he talked to me about the things I needed to work on and we worked on them together. There's no doubt that he really improved my game.

Did you know much about Austin before he arrived?JS: I really didn't. I'd heard what everybody else knew, that he'd played here, played in the CFL and won a Grey Cup there, as well as coached there and won one. I'd heard he was a great coach, which he is.

What part of your game needed polishing the most heading into this season?JS: Probably my mechanics. At the first of the season, I wasn't getting my feet right or locking my knee or not transferring my weight like I should have been. And a big part of my turnovers earlier in the season was my decision-making, just knowing when the play's over and when to call it quits on a play.

One of your strengths is avoiding pressure and making throws while you're scrambling. Is there a fine line between not giving up on a play and being smart enough to throw it away?JS: I got in trouble by trying to force a few balls. Those are the ones you've got to throw away. But I'm very comfortable on the move. I like throwing on the move and feel like I see the field well when I am on the move.

As well as you guys finished the season, how frustrating is it for you knowing that this is a team that could easily be 10-2 right now had it not been for a few crippling turnovers?JS: It's always nice to have momentum going into the bowl game and offseason. It's something that will carry on. But you definitely look back and wish you had a few plays back. A couple of those ballgames, we were only a couple of plays from winning them. Those were tough losses. But you take what can from them and try to leave them behind.

How much did Texas Tech recruit you out of high school?JS: They recruited me pretty hard for a while, and I looked at them when I was trying to get it down. But I ended up committing pretty early, my junior year, so a bunch of that stuff died down.

Have you thought much about the irony of two Texas-bred quarterbacks, you and Graham Harrell, going at it in the Cotton Bowl? There's a lot of Texas flavor there, right?JS: I'm just excited to be going there and finally getting a chance to play close to home. (Stephenville is about 100 miles southwest of Dallas). It will be great for the whole team, but I'm especially excited to be able to have all of my family there and all of my friends. It's a big game for our program against a really good team. That's what is most important to me.

If Stafford and Tebow both come out and go pro, you'll be the top returning quarterback in the SEC next season. Are you ready to carry that banner?JS: I'm not focused on that and have tried to never get too involved with what people think or say. I'll continue to work on my game and try to get better. In this league, you have no choice but to get better.

After it didn't work out for you at Texas, what was it like to sit out for a year?JS: Sitting out that year was pretty tough, but I felt like it helped me learn more about the game. It gave me a chance to take a step back and take it all in. It was a big learning period for me, and I just tried to take advantage of it and work as hard as I could. I feel like it helped me out. Certainly, it's not the path I'd planned coming out of high school, but God has a plan for each one of us and it's worked out just fine.

Has this team played its best football, and how much better will you have to play to beat Texas Tech?JS: I definitely think we have some better ball we can play. We've played some great games, but you can always play better. No one has played a perfect game of football yet. We'll need to play our best to win this game.

How much time had you spent in Mississippi before transferring there?JS: I'm not even sure I'd driven through it before coming to school here, so I hadn't spent any time here. But the town here is a lot like my hometown as far as size and feel.What do you like best about Ole Miss?JS: Definitely the people. I love the atmosphere here, too. It's a beautiful community and beautiful campus, and I'm just thankful to be at such a great university.

by ESPN.com's Chris Low