Shoemate gets chance to play tailback at UConn
NCAA Football Betting Lines
09/01/2010 -
STORRS, Conn. (AP) -Connecticut tailback D.J. Shoemate still wears his 2009 Rose Bowl championship ring.
The junior, who transferred to UConn from Southern California in July, says he's not trying to show off to any of his new teammates. Instead, he wears the ring as a reminder of what it takes to become a champion.
He believes UConn has what it takes, and hopes to replace the ring in February with one from another BCS bowl game.
The team's depth chart, released Tuesday, has Shoemate backing up Jordan Todman, who rushed for almost 1,200 yards a year ago for the Huskies.
Coach Randy Edsall says Todman, Shoemate and junior Robby Frey all will play against Michigan. Shoemate, who played fullback at USC, is expected to be the Huskies short-yardage back.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
PARK RIDGE, Ill. (AP) -Two people familiar with the Big Ten's decision say the league has decided to put Ohio State and Michigan into separate divisions starting next season.One person also says Michigan and Ohio State will continue to play each oth
<< BYU signs football deal with ESPN
PROVO, Utah (AP) -BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe says the Cougars' move to independence in football has plenty of risks and he hopes even bigger rewards.Holmoe gave some details Wednesday about BYU's athletic future. While football will play witho
<< In the FCS Huddle: Week 1 Preview
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After months of anticipation, FCS football
has finally arrived. Enough of predictions and previews, camp updates and
coaches talk. Now it is time to play the games.
The Sportsbook Betting Lines/Fathead.com FCS Top 2
<< Indians recall P Carrasco, two others
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians recalled pitcher Carlos
Carrasco from Triple-A Columbus, in time to start the team's finale of a
three-game set against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
The Indians also promo
<< Ailing Azarenka retires from U.S. Open second-rounder
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tenth-seeded Victoria Azarenka retired
from her second-round match Wednesday amid extremely hot conditions at the
2010 U.S. Open.
Argentine Gisela Dulko was pasting Azarenka 5-1 in the first set when t
Istanbul, Turkey (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Love scored 13 points and Kevin Durant added 12 to lead a balanced attack, as the United States remained unbeaten at the 2010 FIBA World Championship with an 88-51 rout of Iran. Derrick R
St. Louis Rams 2010 Season Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One of the toughest decisions television executives have to
make is how to effectively replace a starring character on a popular program.
More often than not, the swap leaves the presentation falling flat on its
face.
Lat
Sharks' president to step down >>
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - San Jose Sharks president and chief executive
officer Greg Jamison has decided to step down.
Jamison will continue to be involved with the franchise, but will step away
from the day-to-day operations of th
Red Bull defender Petke to retire following season >>
Secaucus, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Red Bull New York defender Mike Petke will
retire after the 2010 MLS season, the Major League Soccer club announced on
Wednesday.
"After many months of contemplation, I know that this is the best choi
Missouri drops Washington from football team >>
Columbia, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Missouri has permanently
suspended running back Derrick Washington from the football team.
Washington had been suspended indefinitely by head coach Gary Pinkel last week
and the senior wa
FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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