Dein erstes Forum » ublic. Britains incredible power in t

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Arkansas State and UCF certainly have a lot in common heading into Saturdays AutoNation Cure Bowl matchup.Both are led by their defenses, have developing high-octane offenses and have made the postseason after impressive turn-around seasons.The Knights are 6-6 and back in the bowl mix after coming off a frustrating 0-12 season in 2015. Arkansas State finished the season strong by winning seven of its final eight games and earning a share of the Sun Belt Conference after beginning this season 0-4.That doesnt happen unless a whole teams buys in and are working together, first-year UCF coach Scott Frost said of Arkansas State. I think thats probably happened on both campuses. So this is exciting game for both teams and I think both teams have some similarities.The two programs are meeting in the second Cure Bowl, which was started to bring more awareness to breast cancer. But with this years matchup, it could easily be dubbed the Comeback Bowl.Both coaches have praised their respective programs for their resolve. The Red Wolves (7-5) appeared on the verge of having their run of bowl appearances come to an end. But they will be appearing in a school-record six straight bowl.It is hard to really explain just how proud of this group I am, Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson said. I dont know really a way to get it across to you that makes a lot of sense. There just arent many teams that go through what we went through and then have the result that we had.Frost shares that sentiment after taking over a Knights program that fell on hard times under George OLeary last season. He came in from Oregon with a new energy and excitement that produced results on the field.Aside from a blowout loss at Michigan and a 17-point season-ending defeat at American Athletic Conference rival USF, the 6-6 Knights were a handful of plays from a possible 10-win season.We had a chance to win a bunch of games this year and we won enough to get to a bowl game, but I expect our young players to enjoy their success and use this as a springboard to keep on improving, Frost said. Were on the right track and were going to keep taking steps in that direction.---Some other things to watch in the AutoNation Cure Bowl matchup between UCF and Arkansas State:SACK TANDEM: Arkansas State enters the game tied for 12th in the country with 37 sacks on the season, thanks in large part to the defensive end duo of senior Chris Odom and junior JaVon Rolland-Jones. Odom led the Red Wolves with 12 + sacks this season, while Roland-Jones -- the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year -- had 11 +. Combined, the two had 36 tackles for losses for the season.FRESHMAN SENSATION: Since taking over as the starter in the third game of the season against Maryland, freshman quarterback McKenzie Milton has been a stabilizing presence for the Knights. He is completing 60 percent of his passes and has a QB efficiency rating of 114.33.RED WOLVES REBOUND: The Red Wolves enter the Cure Bowl having won at least a share of the Sun Belt championship in five of the last six seasons, but theyve lost their last two bowl games. After opening this season 0-4, Arkansas State rebounded with a six-game winning streak and victories in seven of its last eight games to end the regular season.EASY MONEY: Money Hunter had only one interception in the Arkansas State secondary this season, but the senior did what he knows best with it -- returning it 46 yards for a touchdown in a win over New Mexico State.IMPACT PLAYER: It seemed like a reach when the new coaching staff decided to move junior Shaquem Griffin from safety to outside linebacker this season. But after being named AAC Defensive Player of the Year it seems like a great decision. He has 11 sacks this season, which ranks him 12th in the nation. Griffin also ranks 10th nationally in tackles-for-loss with 19.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.orgBart Starr Womens Jersey . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Jaire Alexander Womens Jersey . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Jace-Sternberger-Packers-Jersey/ . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. Rashan Gary Youth Jersey . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Rashan Gary Packers JerseyRIO DE JANEIRO -- Britain may rule the waves on Rios choppy rowing course, but the nations dominance of yet another Olympic regatta has been built on tales of sacrifice and the power of mental strength over physical pain.Following Fridays pair of golds, Great Britain would claim another brace of medals in the space of half an hour on the final day of racing at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas.First the womens eight won silver -- their first ever medal in that class -- before their male counterparts led from start to finish to win their first gold since 2000. It was a ruthless display of British power with those two medals sitting alongside the other three GB have won on these Brazilian waves.For four of the womens eight, plus cox Zoe de Toledo, it was their first Olympics. At the other end of the experience scale was Frances Houghton, appearing in her fifth Games. She will be the self-appointed steward for celebrations Saturday night, and her medal -- which sits alongside silvers in 2004 and 2008 -- capped a remarkable sporting journey.Ive got so many memories I am really proud of, Houghton said. This time I am so proud of my crew. Im really proud of what we put together as nine girls.Im so proud of all the girls since 1997. Our first medal in the world championships in the eight was 1997 and so many girls have put into what you saw today. I am really proud. I am so lucky and privileged to have this experience in a sport I love.Standing in the crowd and willing her on were her mother and fiancee, carrying the flag her late father Robin took to Frances races.With my dad passing away during the racing season in May, it was really hard, Houghton said. But it was also something that gave me great strength. He really helped me get through the hard times in rowing. And we were really under pressure, and there were lots of trials going on at the time.But it made me know for sure that I wanted to be rowing. I could have walked away from it and said, No, this is more important. But he really wanted me to be rowing.He passed away maybe six days before I was selected for the fifth Games. I think he knew that I had done enough. The girls have just been incredible. When I was rowing, it was just all about rowing and I was so lucky to have the rowing to get me through that, and my dad to get me through the rowing.As the women went about their post-race media duties, some cried, some let out their emotion through screams and shouts of celebrations, and all embraced. Then the mens eight stormed to victory behind them on the Lagoa.Cue an immediate return to scenes of British pride and celebration, rivaling the patriotic outpourings of the Last Night of the Proms.But there was no pomp and circumstance about the way the men executed their race. They ignored the opposition and focused on the job in hand, their collectivee thousand-mile stare married with the agonizing pain engulfing their bodies.ddddddddddddAfterwards the rowers struggled to relay their emotions. It was too fresh, but there was a clarity behind their message: This was an effort built on sacrifice, focus and teamwork.The fact that weve done it three years on the trot in the world championships meant we were there to be shot down, Will Satch said. And having the confidence to go out there and do it over and over again -- we havent had the best year, but that was the strongest eight we could have put out.Its awesome, heroic.Rio was Pete Reeds third Olympic gold, following on from triumphs in the coxswainless four at 2008 and 2012. He was reluctant to compare one to another -- unsure whether he will continue to Tokyo 2020 -- but as he weighed up the sacrifices made, it felt like a stream of consciousness as his achievement sunk in.Ive been sacrificing things for a very long time, he said Ive sacrificed my career in the navy, Ive sacrificed relationships, time with family, my dogs and seeing my friends. Im so sorry to my friends for not seeing them enough and Im so sorry to my family to for not seeing them enough. But you ask yourself -- is it worth it?Thats what I had to go through in the middle of this Olympiad. I won in London ... What did I have to prove? Who did I have to prove it to? But you go through these tough times and with the help of [coach] Jurgen [Grobler], Hodgey [Andrew Triggs Hodge] and the crews support.But above all the personal stories, incredible tales of bravery, sacrifice and determination, there was a clear message to the watching public. Britains incredible power in the rowing, despite some disappointments on the water earlier in the week, is still there.And the general hope is that others will have seen this and will want to become the next Grainger, Thornley, Stanning, Glover, Sbihi, Louloudis, Gregory, Nash, Greves, Wilson, Houghton, Swann, Eddie, Carnegie-Brown, Bennett, Lee, De Toledo, Bennett, Durant, Gotrel, Triggs Hodge, Langridge, Ransley, Reed, Satch and Hill.Its times like these that you just think you could do this forever, Reed said. This is the greatest sport, its the greatest feeling. Even the sacrifices are worth it. When you think its too much, when you think you cant do anymore.Those youngsters out there today watching Hodgey, watching me, watching Katherine two days ago, Helen and Heather, and whoever they look up to in the British team -- they will be going through as well.[Theyll think] Blisters hurt, I cant do this for studying, I cant do this because of a job --but just find your inner strength, find time to balance everything because its the greatest sport in the world. ' ' '