Funkerstation » ng forward. If hes right, the Cane

A few years ago, the Big Ten asked its football coaches to vote on whether theyd favor moving to a nine-game conference schedule.Their answer was unanimous: No.We wanted to stay at eight [league games], Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. We liked that. We knew it. We understood it.Like it or not, ready or not, the league is embarking on a (sort of) new path this fall. The Big Ten will initiate its nine-game conference schedule in 2016, joining the Pac-12 and Big 12 among Power 5 leagues to do so. The SEC and ACC will continue to play eight-game conference schedules.The change is part of the Big Tens new scheduling mandate, which directs member schools to play at least one Power 5 nonconference opponent and no FCS teams in addition to those nine conference contests. The rationale for this model: improving strength-of-schedule ratings to impress the College Football Playoff selection committee and boosting attendance and interest.It is, I think, a sign of the times, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. Were looking to try and move forward and play more Power 5 conferences and within the Power 5 conferences.The increased number of high-stakes regular-season games does pose some risks when it comes to the Big Tens postseason chances, however.The additional losses that might come with more competitive schedules could dent a playoff contenders résumé. Perhaps its no coincidence that the Big 12 (in 2014) and the Pac-12 (in 2015) are the only two Power 5 leagues who have missed out on a playoff spot in the events first two seasons. Stanford coach David Shaw has been vocal about the inequality of some leagues going through a nine-game conference grind while others have stayed at eight.So the big question is, do committee members give extra weight to teams that play nine league games instead of eight?It depends on whom they schedule in nonconference games, said Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, who has served on the playoff selection committee since its inception. One of the criteria were mandated with is strength of schedule. Thats important, and a conference championship game is important.So we have criteria that we look at it, but thats up to each individual conference. Thats not our job.Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has acknowledged the possibility that a league playoff contender could get knocked out by the tougher schedules. But the league is willing to gamble that the strength-of-schedule component will be worth it.I would say the champion of our league probably will get in the playoff because of it, provided they can get through with only one loss, said Dantonio, whose Spartans made the playoff last year despite a conference loss. I think its going to give us more credible conference scheduling.The playoff isnt the only place where the nine-game schedule could impact the postseason. An extra week of conference action means a Saturday in which seven league teams are guaranteed to lose. In the past, Big Ten teams struggling to make a bowl could get to 6-6 by playing four soft nonconference games and finding two league victories. Thats what Indiana did last season in qualifying for its first bowl game since 2007.Now teams would need to beat at least three Big Ten opponents to claw their way into the postseason. And, as Fitzgerald points out, those extra losses and potential missed bowl games could lead to more coaches being fired.I dont know why we want to beat ourselves up one more time, Hoosiers coach Kevin Wilson said. Its not going to be easy, but we embrace the challenge.The nine-game league schedule presents other wrinkles. The uneven number means that half the league will play five conference home games in a season, while the other seven teams get only four. The Big Ten will rotate that by division, with the East getting the five league home games in 2016. In some years, that could affect the balance of power.Some teams will have an inherent advantage with five home games, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. In the years that you have that extra away game, you just have to accept it as a little bit of an extra challenge.Every team aims to have seven total home games per season for budgetary reasons. That creates some tricky logistics in years when a team has only four conference home games and also still has the Power 5 opponent requirement. Several Big Ten athletic directors and coaches would actually prefer to play 10 conference games per year so the schedule would have more balance. The league investigated that idea but decided going to 10 games is a little too radical right now.Coaches and administrators may sweat some of the details, but as Alvarez said, the nine-game schedule will be great for our fans. It means fewer cupcake games and more recognizable conference opponents. After expanding to 14 teams, the Big Tens eight-game schedule created some gaping on-field absences between programs; for example, Wisconsin and Michigan will meet this year for the first time since 2010.Adding those kinds of matchups is important. As Delany has often said, Big Ten teams want to play against each other more, not less. (And TV executives apparently agree, as the conference just signed a record media rights deal.)I committed to play in the Big Ten because I know its quality football, Badgers linebacker Vince Biegel said. I wanted to go play in the Big House and those kinds of venues.I love playing against other Big Ten teams, Minnesota senior linebacker Jack Lynn said. Thats kind of our identity. Its more intense, and preparing for each team is a little more strenuous.The Big Ten has actually gone down this road once before, albeit briefly.The league moved to a nine-game conference schedule from 1981-84, though Ohio State and Iowa refused to play the extra conference game in 1981 and 1982. Illinois remains the only team to go 9-0 in regular-season league play, doing so during its 83 Rose Bowl season. After Ohio State won the Big Ten with a 7-2 conference record, the league ditched the nine-game plan.Athletic directors had some of the same issues then as they have today, especially with the five home games versus four, senior associate Big Ten commissioner Mark Rudner said.Of course, those were much different times, with no playoff, less intense media coverage, and little emphasis on any bowl postseason besides the Rose Bowl. How will the nine-game schedule work in this era?I look forward to seeing how it plays out, Fitzgerald said.So does everybody else. Malcom Brown Jersey . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Dave Waymer Jersey . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. http://www.customsaintsjersey.com/custom-david-onyemata-jersey-large-2412e.html . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Nick Easton Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Marshon Lattimore Jersey . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. After the Carolina Hurricanes were dumped 5-1 by the?New Jersey Devils?on Dec. 3, they officially became the worst team in the NHL. The Hurricanes were 30th in the standings, and 29th in goal differential, the power play and the penalty kill. Carolina called up some youngsters, and the youth movement, already in progress, was in full bloom.And then a funny thing happened to the Canes: They got younger and then they got better. They went 27-18-12 over their final 57 games -- a 95-point pace, projected over a full season -- and finished sixth on the penalty kill. It wasnt until Game 79 that Carolina was officially eliminated from the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.And we did that with a lot of young pieces, Hurricanes general manager and Hall of Famer Ron Francis said recently. Uncertainty remains at the ownership level as longtime owner Peter Karmanos continues to try to sell a portion of the team, sparking periodic rumors that it will relocate. That talk will die down -- and perhaps it will be easier to sell part or all of the team -- if the Canes continue to evolve on the ice.Biggest new facesFrancis was busy during the offseason, continuing to try to rebuild a franchise that had fallen into disrepair since its last playoff berth, a surprise trip to the 2009 Eastern Conference finals. Smallish but skilled Teuvo Teravainen joins an emerging young cast of forwards that includes new No. 1 center Victor Rask. Rask?had 21 goals last season, behind only team leader Jeff Skinner (28).Bryan Bickell came in the Teravainen deal as part of a salary dump by the?Chicago Blackhawks, but Francis is hoping Bickell can regain the form that saw him become an integral part of Chicagos 2013 Stanley Cup run. Veterans Lee Stempniak and Viktor Stalberg will help provide leadership in a room in which eight of the teams top nine returning scorers were born in the 1990s. The ninth in that group is graybeard?Jordan Staal, who just turned 28.Biggest unknownsWhile the Canes ended up middle of the pack in terms of goals allowed after a slow start, they were 27th in goals scored per game and 24th with the man advantage.Skinner, Rask and Staal are the only returnees who scored 20 or more goals last season. A more dynamic offense could pave the way to a long-awaited return to the playoffs.ddddddddddddCan the youthful defense continue its evolution? Noah Hanifin, Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce look to form half of Carolinas back end. All are big and skilled with tremendous upside. In fact, Slavin may yet turn out to be the best of the bunch. Jaccob is every underrated, I think, outside our team, Francis said.The plan, however, is to play the heck out of the group, says the GM. We dont hide them, said Francis. If they make a mistake, we put them right back out there.Finally, and this may be the most critical of the uncertainties, how will the goaltending shake out? There were more than a few arched eyebrows when longtime Carolina netminder Cam Ward was re-signed by the team. Eddie Lack had been extended after Lack came over from the?Vancouver Canucks,?but neither netminder was particularly good early last season. Francis did explore some trades and free agents but ultimately figured the two goalies he has represent the best options moving forward. If hes right, the Canes will be in the playoffs.Sure thingsIts still a bit hard to believe that Justin Faulk wasnt among those asked to represent the United States at the World Cup of Hockey, especially given the teams poor showing at the tournament. But Faulk may use that as incentive to continue his strong play in Carolina. He had 16 goals last season, tied for seventh among NHL defensemen, and his four game-winners were tied for fifth most.Head coach Bill Peters missed part of training camp because he was part of Canadas coaching staff at the World Cup. But there seems to be little doubt that Peters and his coaching staff, which includes longtime former Hurricane Rod BrindAmour and veteran NHL defenseman Steve Smith, are keys to keeping this young team marching forward.PredictionTheres so much uncertainty at the bottom end of the Eastern Conference standings that you can make a case for most, if not all, of the division teams that didnt make the playoffs to bounce back and sneak into one of the final few? postseason spots this season. Carolina is one of those teams. Third in the Metropolitan Division. ' ' '