Gästebereich » mieux talking about the lessons he learned

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Rick Stockstill insists what happens Saturday wont determine how the rest of the season goes for his Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.For the Vanderbilt Commodores, it certainly could.The Commodores blew a 10-point lead in losing their season opener to South Carolina, and now they host an in-state rival Saturday whose home is about 40 miles southeast of Nashville. Middle Tennessee rebounded from a loss to Vanderbilt last season to reach the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, while the Commodores finished 4-8.After opening the season with two straight home games, Vanderbilts schedule gets much tougher with road trips to Georgia Tech and Western Kentucky before diving back into the Southeastern Conference to host Florida.Our motivation is right in front of us, Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said. We need to play well.Vanderbilt leads this series 13-3 but needed two touchdowns in the final 6 minutes, 14 seconds to pull out a 17-13 win that ended a three-game skid to Middle Tennessee now in Conference USA. Now the Blue Raiders (1-0) are coming off a 55-0 rout of Alabama A&M with quarterback Brent Stockstill having thrown five touchdowns and trying to start 2-0 for the first time since 2001.Absolutely I think this is a big game, Vanderbilt linebacker and safety Oren Burks said. Anytime you have an in-state opponent where you have bragging rights ... Were ready to go out and compete.---Some things to watch Saturday afternoon:RUN DEFENSE: Middle Tennessee is very familiar with Vanderbilt junior running back Ralph Webb who beat the Blue Raiders by running 39 yards for a TD with 1:12 left. Webb ran for 97 yards in the opener for Vandy and now has a complement in converted linebacker Khari Blasingame as Vandy ran 42 times against South Carolina. Rick Stockstill notes Middle Tennessee played Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry at Alabama last season. Hes going to break arm tackles, so you cant do that, the Middle Tennessee coach said.PROTECT THE FOOTBALL: Vanderbilt has no turnovers, something the Commodores did only twice last season when they finished with 25 turnovers. Middle Tennessee was intercepted twice in its opener, something the Commodores are working on defensively after breaking up so many passes last season.WHOS CATCHING: Stockstill completed his first 22 passes, a nice accomplishment considering how injuries have decimated the Blue Raiders receiving corps. They lost three receivers to injuries this preseason with Demetrius Frazier was hurt in the first quarter of the opener. Richie James caught a team-high eight passes for 73 yards for a team that moved running back Desmond Anderson to receiver in August and freshman Tyshawn Brown from safety to a week before the opener.TACKLING MACHINE: Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham has picked up where he left off last season. He finished 2015 with at least 10 tackles in the final four games, and he had a game-high 12 against South Carolina. He will be tested by Middle Tennessee running back Itavius Mathers, whos playing after sitting out last year as a transfer from Ole Miss.QB RHYTHM: Mason says Kyle sophomore Shurmur remains Vandys starting quarterback after he was 8 of 22 for 73 yards in the opener. Shurmur could use some help from his receivers because C.J. Duncan is the only player at that position to catch more than one pass in the opener. Webb was the top target with three receptions.---Online:AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org and AP-Top 25 Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker Pedro Chelsea Jersey . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Victor Moses Chelsea Jersey . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. http://www.chelseafcproshop.com/Kids-Antonio-Rudiger-Jersey/ . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Olivier Giroud Chelsea Jersey .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Marcin Bulka 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. PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- A picture was taken a couple of years ago in the Pittsburgh Penguins dressing room.One of the owners of the Penguins, Mario Lemieux, is in it. So, too, is the Penguins captain, Sidney Crosby. In the middle, flanked by one Hall of Fame center and one sure-fire Hall of Fame center, is a highly touted and broadly smiling prospect named Connor McDavid.A moment in time, to be sure.Three No. 1 overall draft picks.And maybe more than that. Maybe the kind of intersection of greatness that transcends time.When McDavid steps into the PPG Paints Arena here Tuesday night, it will not be to pose for more pictures -- it will be in search of two points for his Edmonton Oilers (9-3-1) against the Penguins (8-2-2). The Oilers captain will no longer be an awestruck teenager imagining what it might be like to live the life, as was the case two seasons ago when that picture was taken.McDavid is still a teenager, at least for a few more months. But early in his second NHL season, he is the catalyst to a buzz that hasnt come out of Edmonton for a decade or more, as well as being the standard bearer of an unprecedented influx of world-class young talent populating the league.No doubt there will be butterflies as McDavid prepares for the first time to face Crosby, who has shaken off a concussion sustained before the season to explode for eight goals and two assists in just six games. Just as there will be more than a passing interest from Crosby, who is almost 10 years McDavids senior.Once you get out there, I think thats the best part, Crosby said Monday. The competitive side kind of takes over.Bob Nicholson has seen hundreds of the games best players, including McDavid and Crosby, come and go, playing on hockeys greatest stages at various points in their careers. The former longtime head of Hockey Canada understands the bond that exists between the best of the best, a kind of organic link that exists in spite of geography and age, and even experience.He recalled, for instance, Lemieux talking about the lessons he learned from having played with Wayne Gretzky during the 1987 Canada Cup. Nicholson knows that Crosby reached out to McDavid after McDavid was selected first overall in 2015 amid a tumult that hadnt been seen since Crosby himself was the first-overall pick after the 2004-05 lockout.Those guys, theyre there for each other, Nicholson said. They dont know each other real well, but they respect each other.Nicholsons words of advice for Tuesday night?Take a deep breath and enjoy it, said Nicholson, who now presides over the Edmonton Oilers renaissance, having two years ago taken over as vice chair of the Oilers Entertainment Group.Theyre generational players, he said of Crosby and McDavid. Theyre different players. Not too often do players like this come along.As time passes, Crosby and McDavid -- who broke his collarbone and missed more than half his rookie season, including a game against Crosby -- might well play alongside each other soon, whether its at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea or the 2020 World Cup of Hockey. But until that time comes, this stands as a chance to savor something unique, two iconic stars playing against each other, one well-established as the greatest player in the world, the other just starting to fulfill those kinds of lofty expectations.ddddddddddddMaybe therell be a moment like the night Gretzky first played against his idol Gordie Howe, when Gretzky thought Howe was winking at him in warmups (it was more likely Howes constant blinking) or how Howe at one point gave Gretzky a sharp rap on his wrist after Gretzky stole the puck from him, the legendary Howe admonishing Gretzky not to do it again.Coming into the league and youre thinking, Geez, Ive got to show everybody I belong, Gretzky said. So each and every night it was, Wayne Gretzky and, well, can he play against Dionne? And then it was, Gretzky and can he go against Lafleur? Gretzky and Trottier? And you know those things kind of get you excited when youre a kid: Youre 18, 19 years old, youve got nothing to lose. Youre just going out there to play.Crosby always dreamed about playing against childhood hero Steve Yzerman, although Yzerman was injured during Crosbys rookie season, 2005-06, and the two never did play against each other.Peter Forsberg was another guy that growing up I really liked to watch, Crosby added. I got a pretty hard lesson, I think: One of the first couple times I played him, I was minus-5. So I think I was watching him a little too much that night.I saw him a lot and learned pretty quick that now Ive got to compete against him, not necessarily watch him.In a week, former Philadelphia Flyers great Eric Lindros will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2016.He recalled playing with his boyhood idol Mark Messier in the 1991 Canada Cup, even before Lindros had played a single NHL game. But in his subsequent rookie season with the Flyers, the path to acceptance, to understanding he belonged, went through Pittsburgh and Lemieux.Youve also got a job to do, Lindros said. You get over the situation and you try and just get yourself focused and win two points.Memories? Lifelong.But when you win a faceoff against Mark Messier and he crosschecks you, you know its on, Lindros said with a laugh.When Crosby and McDavid step onto the same ice for the first time Tuesday, its a chance to observe -- heck, celebrate -- those kinds of intersections.Why not care? Lindros asked. Why not celebrate it?And heres the thing. Mark the moment, savor it, because these moments pass quickly.It probably seems like yesterday that Sid was going through the same thing, being compared to guys ? when he first came in, Gretzky said. And before you know it, youre the guy thats on the other side of that.I remember all of a sudden thinking, Wasnt it just yesterday I was being compared to Lafleur? the games all-time leading scorer added with a laugh. And before Auston Matthews and Connor know it, theyre going to be in the same situation that Sid is in, that hes the old guy.But its more than that, according to Gretzky, who proved in a heartbeat that he not just belonged but that he belonged at the top of the hill.I always tell people, youre the king of the castle until someone knocks you off, and right now these kids are all pretty good, Gretzky said, but Sidneys still the best player in the game. ' ' '