Football 101 - Uniform Numbers by Kim Rogers

Ladies, all players wear uniforms [jerseys] with numbers, so learning the numbering system will make it much easier to follow what’s happening on the field, therefore taking another step in fully understanding the great game of football. 
The NFL adopted a jersey-numbering system in 1973 where each position corresponds to a range of numbers. 
Covering the full range 1 to 99, the numbers are displayed on both the front and back of the jersey, on both shoulders, and often on the helmet.  The numbers worn on the sleeve or shoulder are known as "TV numbers" so the TV analyst can quickly identify the player for the broadcast.
Below is the numbering system the NFL has used since 1973:
1 - 19 are worn by quarterbacks, kickers, and punters. Since 2004, wide receivers are also allowed to wear numbers between 10 and 19 if they choose, even if a number from 80 through 89 is available.
20 - 49 are worn by running backs, tight ends (40-49, when an 80-89 number is unavailable), cornerbacks and safeties.
50 - 59 are worn by linebackers, defensive linemen and offensive linemen.
60 - 79 are worn by members of both the offensive line (the tackles, guards and centers) and defensive line (the defensive ends, defensive tackles or nose guard).
80 - 89 are worn by wide receivers and tight ends.
90 - 99 are worn by linebackers and defensive linemen. 
0 - 00 are no longer used, though they were issued in the NFL before the number standardization in 1973.
The NFL numbering system is based on a player's primary position. If a player changes primary positions during his career, he does not usually have to change his number unless he changes from an eligible receiver to ineligible or vice versa.
In preseason games, when teams have expanded rosters, players may wear numbers that are outside of the above rules. When the final 53-player roster is established, they are reissued numbers within the guidelines.
Players have often asked the NFL for an exception to the numbering system rule. In 2006, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush requested to keep the number 5 he wore in college. His request was declined, and he was assigned number 25 by the team.  Former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Brian Bosworth wore number #44 in college for the University of Oklahoma and wore that number during the 1987 preseason with the Seahawks. He took the NFL to court for the right to wear #44, but he lost and had to switch to #55.
So now I hope you have a better understanding of the NFL numbering system for uniform jerseys.
Source: Wikipedia

Article reprinted from g3girls.com

http://www.g3girls.com/sports/100-football-101-uniform-numbers.html

Breaking News out of Lubbock Texas: Hocutt Hired as A.D.

According to DBLT1043 in Lubbock Texas, Miami Florida athletic director Kirby Hocutt has been hired as Texas Tech's 13th athletic director replacing Gerald Myers.

Another Successful Playoff Run and More Awards For the Newman Smith Trojan Football Team

For those of you not keeping up (and you know who you are), the Newman Smith Trojan football program has done a 180 the past two seasons. After 30 years of futility and one playoff appearances, coach Paul Ressa (who played on the loan playoff team in 1983) has given students, faculty and alumni a reason to be proud when talking about high school football.

In 2009 Smith made it to the Regional finals, losing a heart breaker to Longview who moved up to 5a in 2010 and lost the state semi finals, by one point.  So, if there was ever any doubt how good the 2009 Trojans were I think Longview answered them with their successful move up.

The 2009 Trojans had 25 seniors and 13 received scholarships!  No wonder the Trojans had high expectations before the 2010 season but they seemed to be snake bit in the regular season from game one when they had first down and the ball with less than two minutes and the only way they could lose is to turn the ball over which is what happened and Keller Central took it in for the win. The injury bug and grades had coach Ressa and the Trojans down to 37 players on the varsity roster at one point.  Most of the Trojan starters went both ways so big leads against teams such as eventual district champion Frisco Liberty evaporated in the second half when the Trojan players wore down from being on the field so much.

When the playoffs began it was like a different team and a new season.  The team seemed to play with much more confidence and energy.  If not for a no call on a John Tyler player who tackled  a Trojan receiver after he had called fair catch we may have seen Smith in their second regional final in a row. I  think a deep playoff run three years in a row would legitimize the Newman Smith Trojans as a state 4a power and there is no reason to think otherwise.  Coach Ressa said "We need to find a quarterback spring training because Jose Martinez graduated but we are very deep everywhere else".

With success more awards and scholarships have come the Trojans' way. Three seniors have already received football scholarships. Braxton Bearden (SFA), Zach Smith (SE Oklahoma) and DJ Johnson (Benedictine). Coach Ressa expects seven more Trojans to have Football scholarships by the time next fall rolls around. They are Alex Fogle, Levi Garza, Jose Marinez, Trai Pickney, Mitch Prosser, Thomas Vollmer and Jaqueal Walker.  Below is a list of Trojan football Players who received all district and all state awards for their play on the field and the class room.

All State Selections:
 

Jacqueal Walker – Honorable Mention All-State Linebacker

Danny Coonce – 1st Team THSCA Academic All-State

Thomas Vollmar – 2nd Team THSCA Academic All-State

Braxton Bearden – Honorable Mention THSCA Academic All-State

Alex Fogle – Honorable Mention THSCA Academic All-State

Trai Pickney – Honorable Mention THSCA Academic All-State

Jacqueal Walker – Honorable Mention THSCA Academic All-State

All District Selections

Tripp Abbott – 1st Team WR Braxton Bearden – 1st Team RB Cameron Bryant – 1st Team OG DC Dye – Honorable Mention WR Raymon Eldridge – 2nd Team DL Alex Fogle – Honorable Mention OG Geovanni Geter – 1st Team DL Shawn Holmes – 1st Team CB Jose Martinez – 2nd Team QB Allen Melson – 2nd Team OLB

Pablo Ortiz – 2nd Team DL Trai Pickney – 2nd Team CB Mitch Prosser – 2nd Team OT Michael Quiroga – 2nd Team C Zach Smith – 1st Team ILB Karl Thomas – 1st Team DE David Vasquez – Honorable Mention OT Thomas Vollmar – Honorable Mention S Jacqueal Walker – 1st Team OLB 2009-10 College Signees Dontreyl Beckham - Tarleton State University Erin Francis - Dordt University Jonathan Gardner - Dordt University Cameron Harris - Langston University Phillipe Ichter - Ouachita Baptist University Randall Joyner - Southern Methodist University Al Lasker - United States Air Force Academy Scott Orr - Graceland College Aldo Quiroga - Midwestern State University John Sandoval - Graceland College Austin Shipley - Austin College Terrell Wilson - Southern Illinois University 2009 Academic All-State Team Dylan Keepes – 1st Team Erin Francis – Honorable Mention Jonathan Gardner – Honorable Mention Randall Joyner – Honorable Mention Jarrett Mond – Honorable Mention Aldo Quiroga – Honorable Mention Austin Shipley – Honorable Mention 2009 Associated Press 4A All-State Team Jeremy Stallworth – 1st Team Defense LB Randall Joyner – 2nd Team Defense Safety Randall Joyner – Honorable Mention Offense Running Back Al Lasker – 2nd Team Offense WR 2009 10-4A All-District Team Coach Paul Ressa – Coach of the Year Dontreyl Beckham – 1st Team DL Zach Fleming – 2nd Team WR Alex Fogle – 2nd Team OL Erin Francis – 2nd Team CB Jonathan Gardner – 2nd Team DL Ryan Garwood – 1st Team OL Randall Joyner – District MVP, 1st Team RB, 1st Team Safety Al Lasker – 1st Team WR, 1st Team Safety Allen Melson – Defensive Sophomore of the Year, 1st Team LB Danny Morales – 2nd Team OL Scott Orr – 2nd Team DL Trai Pickney – 1st Team CB Aldo Quiroga – District Offensive MVP, 1st Team QB Zac Smith – 1st Team LB Jeremy Stallworth – District Defensive MVP, 1st Team LB Terrell Wilson – 1st Team CB, 1st Team KOR, 2nd Team WR

 

Who is Kirby Hocutt?

http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2593-1;60245-3,00.html

Breaking News out of Lubbock Texas "The Hub"

Sources told Chris Level that Texas Tech officials met with Miami A.D. Kirby Hocutt in Dallas today to formally offer him Tech's athletic director position.

Football -101 For Women, Offense & Defense by Kim Rogers

Article one in a 10-part series

Ladies, I am dedicating this column to helping you better understand the greatness of football by explaining the different positions that make up the team.  
Each team has 11 players on the field at one time.  One team is playing offense while the other is playing defense, except on fourth down when the special teams unit for each team plays.
Offensive Positions  The offensive team begins a play from scrimmage in possession of the ball. The goal of offensive team is to score points.   Below are the positions that make up the offense:

• QuarterbackThe player who receives the ball from the center at the start of each play before either handing it to the running back, throwing it to a receiver or running with it himself.  The quarterback is usually the player in charge of running the offense on the field. He is also the guy that usually informs the offense of the play while in the huddle.
• Running back
  He lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. While a running back's primary role is to run with the football, he is also used as a receiver at times.  Also referred to as a halfback.  
• Fullback
  He lines up in the offensive backfield and generally is responsible for run-blocking for the running back and pass-blocking for the quarterback. Fullbacks are usually bigger than halfbacks, and also serve as short-yardage runners.
• Wide Receiver
  This player lines up on or near the line of scrimmage, but split to the outside. His primary job is to catch passes from the quarterback.
• Tight End
  This player serves as a receiver and also a blocker. The tight end lines up beside the offensive tackle either to the right or to the left of the quarterback.
• Offensive Tackle
  Making up the offensive line, there are two tackles on every play and they line up on the outside of the offensive guards.  Their function is to block on both running and passing plays.  
• Offensive Guard
  Another part of the offensive line, two guards line up on either side of the offensive center.  They also block on both running and passing plays.
• Center
  The offensive lineman who hikes (or snaps) the ball to the quarterback at the start of each play. The center lines up in the middle of the offensive line, between the offensive guards. 

Defensive Positions
The defensive team is not in possession of the ball and their goal is to prevent the other team from scoring. Below are the positions that make up the defense:

• Defensive EndThis player lines up at the end of the defensive line. His job is to contain the running back on running plays to the outside, and rush the quarterback on passing plays.
• Defensive Tackle
  This player lines up on the interior of the defensive line. His duties include stopping the running back on running plays, getting pressure up the middle on passing plays and occupying blockers so the linebackers can roam free.
• Nose Tackle
  This guy lines up directly across from the center. Also known as the nose guard, his primary responsibilities are to stop the run and occupy the offensive lineman to keep them from blocking the linebackers.
• Linebacker
  This guy lines up behind the defensive linemen and in front of the defensive backfield, performing various duties including rushing the passer, covering receivers and defending against the run.
• Cornerback
  This guy lines up on the outside of the formation and is usually assigned to cover a wide receiver, preventing them from catching the ball by swatting it away or catching the pass themselves. In rushing situations, their job is to contain the rusher.
• Safety
  The safeties are the last line of defense (farthest from the line of scrimmage) and usually help the cornerbacks with deep-pass coverage.

Special teams
Special teams are units that are on the field during kickoffs, free kicks, punts, field goal and extra point attempts. Most special teams players are second- and third-string players from other positions.  Special teams are unique in that they can serve as offensive or defensive units and that they are only seen sporadically throughout a game.

• Placekicker
  Placekicker or kicker is the player who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points, and often kickoffs.
• Punter
  On a fourth down, a punter receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then punts (kicks) the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage. Punters can also ‘fake punt’ in those same situations, by throwing or running the football instead of punting to achieve a first down. 
• Kickoff Specialist
  A kickoff specialist kicks the ball in the kickoff. Due to roster restrictions, most NFL teams do not have a Kickoff Specialist, and instead use their punters or kickers on kickoffs. 
• Long Snapper
  This is a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible.
• Holder
  Positioned between seven and eight yards behind the line of scrimmage, this player receives the snap during field goal and extra point attempts.
• Punt Returner
  This guy catches the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position (or a touchdown if possible) by returning it. 
• Kickoff Returner
  This guy is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction.

Now that you better understand the positions that make up a football team, I hope this will help you enjoy watching games!   

Storms in Europe have created larger than normal waves for surfers

Check out Benjamen Sanchis take on this Monster wave in Europe where the waves are usually considered "soft" compared to those in places like northern California and Maui. A rash of storms this winter have made the waves more challenging and Sanchis is the favorite to win in multiple categories of the Billabong XXL global Big Wave awards after  this awesome ride!



http://www.grindtv.com/surf/blog/24493/surfers+monster+ride+puts+big-wave+spotlight+on+europe/

Blake Griffin Jumps a car in the finals of the NBA Dunk Contest! (Worth Seeing)

This was not even Blake Griffin's best dunk of the night but the presentation is worth a look.

Golf Channel Sends Jim Gray Packing at Northern Trust Open

I figured that Jim Gray would pop off to the wrong athlete one day and get knocked out. Or, maybe I just hoped that would happen after he ambushed the great Pete Rose with questions about his gambling at an inappropriate time and place, Game 2 of the World Series after he had been introduced as one of the All Century Team members.  Pete Rose was there to answer questions about the All Century Team and Gray not only ambushed "Charlie Hustle", he never let up.

Jim Gray has had many run ins with athletes over the years.  The way he treated Pete at the World Series in 1999 makes perfect sense now.  Jim Gray has very little talent and the only way for him to move up was to be the arrogant jerk he is when he is working.  I hope this move by the Golf Channel is just the beginning  of the end for Mr. Gray.  If the other networks put a leash on Gray and his "National Enquirer" style of reporting, his lack of talent and knowledge will be exposed.  Jim Gray's talent is to infuriate athletes so the spot light is put on Jim Gray for ruffling feathers.  Mr. Gray wont be on cable access for his knowledge of any sport.

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/devil_ball_golf/post/Jim-Gray-removed-from-Golf-Channel-coverage-af?urn=golf-323395

Is this reporting or crossing the line?

Almost every week day at 5:30am I turn the coffee pot on, feed my dogs and log on to my laptop where I have yahoo.com as my home page. I usually scan the headlines making sure that nobody has blown anybody up over night and I read their sports articles while I enjoy my java. Today there is a story about Blake Griffin. Blake Griffin for those who don't know is a one man wrecking crew for the Los Angeles Clippers. He was an all american at Oklahoma and drafted #1 in the 2009. He was MVP in the rookie league that year but a stress fracture sidelined him for the regular NBA season. This year he is putting on nightly dunking clinics across the NBA. He is predicted to win the dunk contest all star weekend and he will walk away with the rookie of the year award. There are plenty of things a sports writer could write about Blake Griffin who is a model citizen but Kelly Dwyer of yahoo sports couldn't find anything better to write about Griffin than The National Observer could have if they had a reporter in the locker room. Griffin had just taken a call and found out a good friend from back home had passed. Griffin sat head in his hands crying moments after a win over the Timberwolves. About that time the reporters were let in. It's my opinion that if a reporter sees a player in this kind of distress they should give him a little space and find something else to write about besides his tragedy. There are plenty of sports to write about Kelly Dwyer. Is it really necessary to let the world no Blake Griffin was crying in the locker room after the game due to the loss of a friend or should that be a private moment?

Iowa Wrestler Forfeits Match Instead of Wrestling a Female Counterpart in State Tournament

It is my opinion that girls can compete in any sport boys do. Just ask my friend Jen Welter who has been playing professional woman's football for 11 seasons.  I do believe that do to the physiological make up of males and females they should not be competing against each other in full contact sports. I mean does anybody really want to see a man and woman go at it in MMA, boxing or wrestling? I would like to believe that most people would not find it fair or entertaining but in the state of Iowa they have been making the girls compete with the boys for eleven years.That is if they wish to wrestle. Hello Mcfly! It's 2011 why do the girls not have their own teams and tournaments with everything equal with what the boys have? The reason it's been able to go on for two decades without a lot of people giving it a second thought is a girl had never made the state tournament. That is until this year where two girls have made the tournament . Both in the 112 pound class. Casey Herkelman a freshman at Cedar Falls and Megan Black of  Ottumwa (Iowa) High. Casey Herkelman became the first girl to win a match in the state tournament when one of the favorites in the weight class Joel Northrup reported and withdrew from the match or in other words forfeited. This way he earned a loss but was able to continue wrestling but can do no better than third. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan [Black] and their accomplishments," Northrup said in a statement given to the media following his official forfeit. "However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times.
"As a matter of conscience and faith, I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most other high school sports in Iowa."  It seems that Joel has a much better grasp of right and wrong that the adults running high school wrestling in Iowa. Northrup could be faced with the same scenario later in the tournament. Northrup is in the losers bracket after his forfeit and will be wrestling  losers from the winners bracket  so he could easily be matched with black or Herkelman. Another forfeit and he is done. The sad thing about it is Northrup was a 3rd place finisher last year as a freshman. Would anyone expect Laila Ali to be matched with Wladimir Klitschko? The fight would never be sanctioned but in the state of Iowa Joel Northrup had to forfeit any chance at a state title this year because to win a state title he was going to have to do something he had been taught was wrong. Engage a girl in combat. I think the governing body of high school wrestling in Iowa owes young Mr. Northup an apology.

Shades of Darvin Ham!

This reminds me of Darvin Ham from Texas Tech smashing the back board against North Carolina in route to Tech's1996 sweet 16 appearance. By the way. What has happened in Lubbock?

http://deadspin.com/#!5758740/high-school-basketball-game-ends-with-shattered-backboard

Keep in mind this kid is 14 and in 8th grade

This 14 year old in Canada has a 39 inch vertical leap. Some of his dunks are off the hook. If you listen close you will hear the announcer say he is actually 13 when some of this video is shot.

http://deadspin.com/#!5757349/theres-a-14+year+old-in-canada-with-a-39+inch-vertical-leap

Madden Video Game Predicts Super Bowl Winner!

EA sports has used the Madden video game to predict the winner of the Super Bowl the past seven years and has been correct six out of seven times. The lone wrong prediction was the Giants upset of the unbeaten Patriots in Super Bowl XLII which might be the biggest upset in Super Bowl History. Check out Madden 11's prediction for Super Bowl XLV and how close the Madden video game point spread predictions have been over the past seven years.

http://blog.games.yahoo.com/blog/355-steelers-will-win-super-bowl-xlv-predicts-madden-11/

Don't forget! Coming this Spring: Newman Smith Trojan Football 2011

Newman Smith Trojans please read

You can follow The Newman Smith Trojan football team here starting this spring with my weekly blog with coach Paul Ressa! Just follow my blog and get your weekly update as the Trojans try to get deep into the playoffs for the third year in a row.