s playing for its playoff lives. The Racers, behind quarterback

UCLA is banking on young talent to turn its fortunes around while Pacific is counting on an experienced player with name value as head coach to resurrect its program.The 16th-ranked Bruins, who are coming off a 15-17 season a year ago, host Pacific in the season-opening game for both teams on Friday. The Tigers, who finished 8-20 in 2015-16, have 13-year NBA veteran Damon Stoudamire at the helm, his first experience as a head coach.UCLA coach Steve Alford, in his fourth season with the Bruins, recruited one of the best freshman classes in the nation that includes 6-foot-6 point guard Lonzo Ball, 6-10 power forward T.J. Leaf (who can extend to the perimeter) and 6-10 center Ike Anigbogu. Alford has indicated that Anigbogu was expected to miss at least three games at the start of the season with a torn meniscus in his right knee.The influx of young talent matched with veterans such as senior guards Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton and junior forward Thomas Welsh has Alford confident that the Bruins will become relevant after missing the NCAA tournament last year. UCLAs losing record a year ago prompted Steve Alford to write an apologetic letter to fans in which he stated he returned to the school his one-year contract extension signed after the 2013-14 season.I dont think our team is concerned about what money I make or what money I give back, Steve Alford said, referencing his letter. I dont think thats an issue to our guys at all, so that part hasnt been talked about. Its about where that bar is.Coach (John) Wooden, whether its me, guys before me or guys after me in the future, same with players that played for Coach Wooden and guys that are playing in Westwood now, that bar was raised a long time ago by a guy that won a bucket load of games and championships, and established something that quite honestly hasnt been established anywhere else in the country.Depth is not a concern for UCLA evidenced by guard Aaron Holiday, who started all 32 games last year as a freshman. He is projected to be the sixth man this season.UCLA experimented with different lineups during a recent exhibition game against The Masters University, including a four-guard up-tempo version with Ball, Bryce Alford, Hamilton and Holiday.We have four very talented guards who know how to take care of the ball and know how to put the ball in the basket, Steve Alford said.Stoudamire, who has coaching experience as an assistant at Arizona (where he starred in college) and Memphis, is taking over a Pacific program that was in turmoil last season. Former coach Ron Verlin and an assistant were suspended for three months before being terminated in March in the midst of an NCAA investigation into allegations of academic misconduct.The Tigers have a balanced lineup as they return 11 of their top 13 scorers from last season, including junior wing Ray Bowles (11.1 points per game) and senior guard T.J. Wallace (10.8). In an exhibition win over Bristol on Nov. 4, senior guard David Taylor had 19 points (including five 3-pointers) and junior forward Jacob Lampkin had 15.Stoudamire, who was part of the UCLA-Arizona rivalry from 1991-95, has noted that the wealth of Pacifics returning players are buying into his coaching.If you have guys at the top of your team, your best players that are willing to be coachable, then that makes it easy for you as the head coach, he said. Air Max 90 China Wholesale . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. Cheap Air Max 90 . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. http://www.outletairmax90cheap.com/outlet-air-max-90-womens-cheap.html . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Off White x Air Max 90 All Black . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Air Max 90 Ultra Outlet . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. (STATS) -- It was a combination of frustration and desperation when Eastern Washington inserted a third-string redshirt freshman for his first significant playing time at quarterback in the second half of a blowout loss at rival Montana last November.It wasnt until spring practices earlier this year that many people perked up to Gage Gubruds ability.Could an unknown sophomore supplant the two returning quarterbacks ahead of him, including one who threw for over 3,000 yards last season?Not only did Gubrud provide the answer in his first career start in early September, but he, Cooper Kupp and Eastern Washington have a chance to finish as one of the greatest passing offenses in FCS history.The No. 3-ranked Eagles have soared behind an air attack that produces 445.6 passing yards per game. Its an average that at the end of the season would rank second in FCS history.Mississippi Valley States 496.8-yard average in 1984 behind quarterback Willie Totten and wide receiver Jerry Rice may never be topped, but the Eagles are ahead of the next-best passing offenses, Steve McNair and Alcorn State in 1994 (442.3 ypg) and Neil Lomax and Portland State in 1980 (434.9).Six teams have averaged over 400 passing yards in FCS history.As Eastern Washington (6-1, 4-0) gets sets to host No. 16 Montana (5-2, 2-2) in the Big Sky Conference on Saturday, Gubrud is getting better. In last years matchup, he only entered the game behind Reilly Hennessey and Jordan West when, at 50-9, the outcome was no longer in doubt.This season, Gubrud helped lead Eastern Washington to a 45-42 upset at Washington State in the season opener -- passing for 474 yards and setting a school record with 551 yards of total offense -- and theres been no looking back.I like to break the season down to thirds, to get a feel for how someone is playing early in the season, in the middle of the season and late in the season -- especially when you are talking about young quarterbacks, EWU coach Beau Baldwin said.The thing I love about Gage compared to his first three games is that hes playing incredibly patient and disciplined. Hes continuing to take what a defense gives him, and teams can sometimes frustrate you when they force you to continually take everything underneath. Hes handling that really well, and regardless of the statistics and yards, hes taking care of the football a ton better than he did at the beginning of the year. Those are the steps hes taken that Ive been most impressed with, and how hes growing as a quarterbackGubrud has completed 212 of 299 passes (70.9 percent) for 2,886 yards and 27 touchdowns with six interceptions (all before the Big Sky season began). His 520 passing yards at Montana State last Saturday set the Eagles single-game record, and he raised the teams run of consecutive passes without an interception to 169 (140 by Gubrud).The offense also features Kupp, the greatest receiver in FCS history (most receiving yards and touchdown receptions, and soon-to-be most receptions). But when the 2015 STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year missed 1? games with a shoulder injury last month, the production was seamless.The Eagles have the Big Skys three leaders in receiving yards -- Kupp, 866; Kendrick Bourne, 696; and Shaq Hill, 669. In their careers, the trio has combined for 694 receptions for 10,580 yards and 111 touchdowns in their career.Its all come together for the Eagles -- in a historical way.---=FCS CO-GAME OF THE WEEK=The Matchup: No. 16 Montana (5-2, 2-2 Big Sky) at No. 3 Eastern Washington (6-1, 4-0)Kickoff: 3:35 p.m. ET at Roos Field (8,600) in Cheney, WashingtonTelevision: ROOT SportsSeries: Montana leads 27-15-1 (most recent meeting: UM won 57-16 on Nov. 14, 2015 in Missoula)The Skinny: Bitter rivals meet with Eastern Washington leading the Big Sky Conference in total offense (571.7 ypg) and Montana top-ranked in total defense (318.1 ypg). UM kicker Tim Semenza (62 points) and leading rushing Jeremy Calhoun (60) rank 1-2 in the conference in scoring. QB Brady Gustafson (2,195 yards, 22 TDs) will be even more dangerous if and when leading receiver Jerry Louie-McGee returns from injury. While the Griz employ a 4-3 defense, they might have to keep LB Josh Buss (14.5 tackles for loss) back in pass coverage with DE Caleb Kidder (4.5 sacks) supplying the pressure on EWU QB Gage Gubrud. EWU is one of the three unbeaten teams in Big Sky games (4-0 Weber State plays at 5-0 North Dakota on Saturday). The Eagles have trailed at halftime in five of their seven games, then outscored opponents 207-78 in the second half. On an often-maligned defense, seniors Samson Ebukam (DE), Miquiyah Zamora (LB) and Zach Bruce (S) form a strong trio.Prediction: The stakes would be higher if Montana hadnt lost at Northern Arizona last weekend. A rainy day could slow down the Eagles. Eastern Washington, 34-30.---=FCS CO-GAME OF THE WEEK=The Matchup: No. 4 North Dakota State (6-1, 3-1 Missouri Valley) at Northern Iowa (3-4, 2-2)Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET at the UNI-Dome (16,324) in Cedar Falls, IowaTelevision: ESPN3 (KVLY, NBC North Dakota network, Panther Sports Network)Series: Northern Iowa leads 26-23 (most recent meeting: North Dakota State won 23-13 in the FCS quarterfinals on Dec. 12, 2015 in Fargo)The Skinny: The Missouri Valley Conference rivalry, in its 50th meeting, is usually one of the highlights of the FCS season, although UNI has been disappointing, losing four times by a combined 17 points. Its a bit of a revenge game for five-time defending FCS champ NDSU, whose gaudy 77-6 record since the start of the 2011 season includes only one loss by more than threee points -- 23-3 at the UNI-Dome two years ago, which ended the Bisons FCS-record 33-game winning streak.dddddddddddd NDSU ranks eighth in the FCS in total defense (239.4 ypg). The Bison will try to rely on the ball-control rushing of RBs King Frazier and Lance Dunn as well as QB Easton Stick on draws. The Panthers are 16-6 at the UNI-Dome against NDSU. QB Eli Dunne, replacing Aaron Bailey, threw for 418 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start last Saturday against Missouri State. The defense has forced 17 turnovers, returning four pick-sixes. DE Karter Schult has been exceptional with 15 tackles for loss and an FCS-high 9.5 sacks.Prediction: North Dakota State usually wins the line of scrimmage in a decisive way, but Northern Iowa is formidable, too. Expect a grind-it-out battle. NDSU, 20-17.---=STATS FCS TOP 25 SCHEDULE=Saturday, Oct. 24All Times ETX-Predicted WinnerBucknell (3-4) at X-No. 9 Charleston Southern (4-2), 11:45 a.m. -- With his team stepping out of conference one last time, CSU coach Jamey Chadwell will serve his one-game NCAA suspension for an assistants recruiting violation on social media.No. 22 Stony Brook (5-2, 4-0 CAA) at X-New Hampshire (5-3, 4-1), noon -- Without a win here, UNH will be hard-pressed to make the FCS playoffs for a 13th straight year. None of the Wildcats wins are against a team with a winning record.Florida A&M (3-5, 3-2 MEAC) at X-No. 12 North Carolina A&T (6-1, 4-0), 1 p.m. -- Bethune-Cookman coach Terry Sims says its time to stop calling A&Ts Tarik Cohen, the MEACs all-time leading rusher, the best running back in black college football and count him among the best in college football.X-No. 24 Harvard (5-1, 3-0 Ivy) at Dartmouth (3-3, 0-3), 1:30 p.m. -- The Crimson are a different team when quarterback Joe Viviano is in the lineup.East Tennessee State (3-4, 1-4 Southern) at X-No. 5 The Citadel (7-0, 5-0), 2 p.m. -- The Bulldogs have tied their program record for consecutive wins in a single season. Theyll set a new mark here as ETSU hasnt scored more than seven points in their last four SoCon games.Weber State (5-2, 4-0 Big Sky) at X-No. 17 North Dakota (6-2, 5-0), 2 p.m. -- The ability to stop the run isnt a strength of Webers, so thats an advantage to Brady Oliveira, John Santiago and the Fighting Hawks, who have rushed for over 200 yards in six straight wins.X-No. 18 Coastal Carolina (5-2) at Presbyterian (2-5), 2 p.m. -- After linebacker Alex Searces two touchdowns last week, the Chanticleers have scored 44 non-offensive points this season.Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-6, 1-4 SWAC) at X-No. 21 Grambling State (5-1, 4-0), 3 p.m. -- Gramblings two opponents out of a three-week layoff have a combined one win. Just how did UAPB beat two-time defending SWAC champ Alcorn State last month?X-No. 7 South Dakota State (5-2, 4-0 Missouri Valley) at Illinois State (3-5, 1-4), 3 p.m. -- The surging Jackrabbits are trying for a five-game sweep in October, which would include all three MVFC schools from Illinois for the first time since they joined the conference in 2008.No. 23 Eastern Illinois (5-3, 3-2 OVC) at X-No. 2 Jacksonville State (6-1, 3-0), 3:30 p.m. -- The last time the Gamecocks lost in the regular season to an FCS opponent was against EIU, 52-14 on Nov. 16, 2013. Its been 27 wins in a row since then, including 20 straight in the Ohio Valley Conference.X-No. 13 Western Illinois (5-2, 2-2 Missouri Valley) at South Dakota (4-3, 3-1), 3 p.m. -- WIU senior Lance Lenoirs next reception will tie him for the MVFC all-time record (250, Illinois States Tyrone Walker from 2009-12).Rhode Island (1-7, 0-5 CAA) at X-No. 8 James Madison (6-1, 4-0), 3:30 p.m. -- If its 4th-and-36, URI should go for it because JMU is averaging 37.4 yards per punt return. At least run a BYU fake.No. 20 Samford (6-1) at X-Mississippi State (2-5), 3:30 p.m. -- Stay out of the SEC. Samford is 2-75-3 all-time against members of the SEC, but one of the wins is against Mississippi State (6-0 in 1909).X-No. 19 Central Arkansas (6-1, 5-0 Southland) at Southeastern Louisiana (4-3, 4-1), 3:30 p.m. -- On a strong Bears defense, senior cornerback Tyler Williams is tied for the FCS high in passes defended with 13 (one interception and 12 breakups).X-No. 10 Chattanooga (7-1, 5-1 Southern) at Western Carolina (1-6, 0-5), 3:30 p.m. -- In the last three meetings, the Mocs have outscored Western Carolina 94-6 in the first half.No. 25 Tennessee State (5-2, 2-1 OVC) at X-Murray State (2-5, 2-2), 4 p.m. -- A Murray State upset last week has Eastern Illinois playing for its playoff lives. The Racers, behind quarterback KD Humphries, will try to put Tennessee State in the same situation.Indiana State (4-4, 2/3 Missouri Valley) at X-No. 15 Youngstown State (5-2, 3-1), 4 p.m. -- A season after Zak Kennedy was the FCS freshman leader in field goals (19), the Penguins have the freshman leader in punting average, Mark Schuler at 41.8 yards.Texas Southern (3-4) at X-No. 1 Sam Houston State (7-0), 7 p.m. -- This game came about after FBS member New Mexico canceled a matchup with Sam Houston. The top-ranked Bearkats must be rooting for McNeese (4-4) this week because none of their wins are against a team currently with a winning record.X-No. 14 Cal Poly (5-2, 3-1 Big Sky) at Sacramento State (1-7, 1-4), 9 p.m. -- Although Cal Poly has the No. 2 rushing attack in the FCS, quarterback Dano Graves has a 207.9 pass efficiency rating.Idle: No. 6 Richmond (7-1, 4-1 CAA) and No. 11 Villanova (6-2, 4-1 CAA) ' ' '