Alliance Sports

Snap judgment inspired Rams’ McQuaide

admin — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:43:13 +0000

During Jake McQuaide’s sophomore year at Ohio State, Mike Nugent was visiting campus and working out with McQuaide and Aaron Pettrey. After one workout, Nugent told McQuaide that he would have a future as a long snapper in the NFL.

Three years later, McQuaide, an Elder grad, is in his first year with the Rams, who play the Bengals today in St. Louis.

“Mike was one of the first guys to put in my head that I could make it in the NFL,” McQuaide said this week. “You can hear it from a lot of people, but to hear it from someone who was in the league and knows what it takes gives you a lot of confidence.”

Los Angeles’ Costner Named NBA Development League Performer of the Week

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:31:46 +0000

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2011 – Brandon Costner of the Los Angeles D-Fenders was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Dec 5-11.

A 6-9, 235-pound forward out of North Carolina State, Costner led Los Angeles to a 2-1 record for the week, averaging 28.3 points and 5.0 rebounds.

Costner, the league’s fourth leading scorer on the season (24.6 ppg), scored a season-high 42 points, including 18 in the first quarter, in a 97-90 loss against the Idaho Stampede Dec. 10. In back-to-back victories over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Costner averaged 21.5 points, including a team-high 24 in the D-Fenders’ 117-113 home win Dec. 7.

Other top performers considered include the Vipers’ Stanley Asumnu, who averaged 21.3 points and 10.5 rebounds, and Marshall Brown, who averaged 23.5 points and 7.0 rebounds; the Fort Wayne Mad Ants’ Corey Allmond, who averaged 22.0 points and 4.3 rebounds; the Erie BayHawks’ Tirrell Baines, who averaged 25.0 points and 10.5 rebounds; the Dakota Wizards’ Maurice Baker, who averaged 14.5 points and 10.0 rebounds; the Springfield Armor’s Lance Hurdle, who averaged 27.5 points and 5.5 rebounds; the Stampede’s Willie Jenkins, who averaged 19.5 points and 5.0 rebounds; the D-Fenders’ Elijah Millsap, who averaged 24.5 points and 6.5 rebounds; the Sioux Falls Skyforce’s Billy McShepard, who averaged 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds; the Tulsa 66ers’ Nkem Ojougboh, who averaged 14.5 rebounds and 12.0 rebounds; the Bakersfield Jam’s David Palmer, who averaged 16.5 points and 14.5 rebounds; the Reno Bighorns’ Terrance Thomas, who averaged 18.0 points and 14.0 rebounds; and the Texas Legends’ Booker Woodfox, who averaged 22.0 points.

The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league. Featuring 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA franchises, the NBA D-League is a proven developer of talent: 23 percent of players in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season boasted NBA D-League experience, and the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front-office staff for the NBA and its teams. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout the league’s upcoming 11^th season, fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA FUTURECAST, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.

TITUS BROWN SACK

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:01:02 +0000

Titus Brown sacks Bengals QB Andy Dalton following DB Usama Young’s stop in the backfield.

Watch video.

Little man Stefan Logan delivering big returns on NFL dreams

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:58:59 +0000

Standing at his locker after competing in one of the biggest games of his NFL career, Stefan Logan had a Thanksgiving message to share with aspiring young football players at the University of South Dakota.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t make the NFL just because you come from a small school.

Jay Feely booted three field goals.

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:02:28 +0000

Jay Feely booted three field goals — including a game-winning 22-yarder with 4:09 remaining — for Arizona, which has won 11 of its last 12 meetings with the Rams and seven straight in St. Louis. Peterson’s 80-yard punt return for a score late in the … Read more.

Atlanta Falcons give back for Thanksgiving

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:39:37 +0000

On Monday at 5 p.m., cornerback Christopher Owens and safety Shann Schillnger will be treating 100 men from the Shepherd’s Inn, the men’s facility of the Atlanta Mission, to a Thanksgiving meal. The players will be serving food, signing autographs and taking photographs throughout the evening.

On Tuesday at 5 p.m., Kicker Matt Bryant, punter Matt Bosher and long snapper Joe Zelenka will be serving food, signing autographs and taking photographs throughout the evening for 250 women and children from My Sister’s House, the women’s and children’s facility of the Atlanta Mission.

Dan Henderson – Like He Never Left

admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:30:13 +0000

If we’re going by the usual order of the fight universe, at 41 years old, Dan Henderson should probably be either on the tail end of a lengthy losing streak or already retired. Instead, the ageless wonder is still fighting at a high level, is coming off a first round knockout of Fedor Emelianenko, and will be headlining Saturday’s UFC 139 event against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Read more.

Browns players branching into horse racing

admin — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:57:02 +0000

Video: Jordan Norwood, racehorse owner

Fox Sports Ohio
Along with Browns punter Reggie Hodges, friend Jonathan Pippin and a group of other investors that includes New England Patriots running back Danny Woodhead Read more

Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Ryan Succop, right, is congratulated by teammate Thomas Gafford

admin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:20:06 +0000

Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Ryan Succop, right, is congratulated by teammate Thomas Gafford after kicking a 30-yard field goal to defeat the San Diego Chargers 23-20 in overtime of an NFL football game, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, in Kansas City, Mo. Read more.

Photo: Charlie Riedel / AP

It is no surprise that long snapper Thomas Gafford has been the best at the game.

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:02:58 +0000

The beanbag game that saved the Chiefs season When times got tough in Kansas City, the Chiefs coaching staff looked to the beanbag. A story by Randy Covitz in the Kansas City Star Tuesday focuses entirely on the beanbag toss game installed by the team’s coaching staff in the locker room after the team’s 0-3 start. It was the idea of quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn. “We’ve been trying to figure out ways to create togetherness,” said coach Todd Haley, “and it’s been great. It’s a way to keep guys hanging around and interacting with each other, and winning helps out.” It is no surprise that long snapper Thomas Gafford has been the best at the game. He has a lot of competition. “We’re going to get two more because the line to play gets too long,” Haley said. “We’re trying to create an atmosphere that’s fun to hang out in. Had we not won the last two weeks, they might be being used as firewood.” The players are convinced of the beanbag game’s restorative powers. “It was a great idea and hopefully keeps the momentum going,” safety Sabby Piscatelli said. Now if only the beanbag game could schedule more win less opponents for the Chiefs.