www.theaustinvillager.com THE VILLAGER Page 5 ~ December 23, 2011 SPORTS Carolina too much for VILLAGER SPOTLIGHT the Texans Rick Smith Leads the Texans Front Office By: Terry Davis The Houston Texans has had the best season in franchise history. The person behind the success may not be the coach Gary Kubiak or defensive coordinator Wade Smith, but that person may be By: Terry Davis Rick Smith. Rick Smith is the Execu- @terryd515 tive Vice President and Gen- eral Manager of the Texans. The Houston Texans re- This is Smith’s six season as turn home to Reliant Stadium the general manager and first for the first time as 2011 AFC season as executive vice- South Divisional Champs. president, overseeing all as- The Texans faced the Caro- pects of football operations. lina Panthers and rookie sen- This is the second winning sation Cameron Newton. The season with the Texans and Texans dug a hole early in the the first time in franchise his- game and were not able to get tory to make the playoffs. out of it. The Panthers would Smith graduated from lead wire to wire in a 28-13 win Purdue University in 1992. Af- over the Texans. ter graduation Smith began On the first drive of the coaching as a graduate assis- game Arian Foster fumble the tant for the Boilermakers. At ball and the Panthers recov- Conner Barwin tires to block Cam Newton pass. Photo the age of 24 he became the ered on the Texans 26 yard Courtesy of Carolina Panthers secondary coach, becoming Rich Smith. Photo courtesy of the Houston Texans line. Cam Newton hit Steve spired. In many of the eight 7:45 left in the game and a the youngest position coach Smith with a 26 yard touch- losses by the Panthers, they chance to come within one in the Big Ten at the time. The Texans have to four season or multiple games due down two plays later. The had double digits leads. score to tie the game. The In 1996 Smith would ser- rookies starting in key posi- to some type of injury. Panthers would turn two This week the offense of the Texans would never get the vice as assistant defensive tions this year. The four rook- Smith philosophy is to turnovers into 14 points from Panthers would dominate ball again. backs coach the Denver Bron- ies that have started are: Derek build a team through the draft the Texans errors. Foster the time of possession in the The Texans will had a cos. Smith would coach for Newton, Brooks Reed, JJ and to supplement with qual- rushed for 109 yards and went four quarter with 11 minutes short week and have to play four years and would earn two Watts and TJ Yates. Most ity free agents. Smith has over the one thousand rush- to keep the Texans offense the Colts, who got their first Super Bowl Championships rookies do not even make most done a great job getting free ing yards for the second year off the field. win of the season last week while coaching. After leaving rosters must less starting for a agents. Last year the Achilles in a row. TJ Yates’ magical in Indianapolis. Although the the coach ranks, Smith would contending team late in the heel of the Texans last year Cam Newton is the real comeback would not be Texans has secured a playoff move to the front office of the year. was the defense. Six of the deal and his teammates re- done on this day. Yates had spot they are looking to one Broncos. Smith would run the Smith has been known eight draft picks in this years’ spect him as a leader. Before, two interceptions on the day of the top two seeds in order pro personnel department not to be swayed by public draft was defensive players. during and after the game but none more critical that to have not have to play in from 2000-2005. pressure. There was pressure Smith also has a habit of draft- Newton’s energy was infec- the one on third down from the first round of the play- Smith is responsible for to fire the current head coach, ing good quality players with tious and his team played in- the Panthers 9 yard line with offs. hiring all coaches, signing Garry Kubiak, because of his great characters. players and deciding what in ability to make the playoffs. Texans players are not Cowboys Back into First Place roster moves. Smith does not Those same fans are calling for known to take many un- call any plays, but his work Kubiak and or defensive coor- sportsmanlike conduct pen- allows the coaches to have the dinator Wade Phillips to be alties, are in the newspaper best possible players on the named Coach of the Year. Both for off the field actions or are field for the Texans. Smith coaches have done an excel- known to have a disruptive deserves a lot of the credit for lent job this season, despite locker room. This is a direct the depth that Texans has this the fact that the Texans has trait of Smith’s personality year. lost any key players for the and his character. They’re Playing Basketball in the By: Terry Davis NBA Houston The NBA is closing out training camps and seph. Ford is trying to make teams are looking to blend the roster and revive his ca- new additions to the previ- reer and if healthy should be ous season’s roster. New a valuable addition to the draft picks are trying to learn lineup. a new system that was cut The Spurs will be in the short due to the owner’s im- mix again this season. As a posed lockout. veteran team, the Spurs have There are many inter- learned that you do not win esting story lines are on-go- Championships in November Kyle Lowry. Photo ing with many teams. We but in June and will play as a Courtesy of the Houston Tony Romo lead a goal line stance. Photo Courtesy of the Dallas Cowboys will explore some the team until the final buzzer. Rockets storylines for area teams. Dallas By: Terry Davis redeemed itself from last tain control of the offensive The Rockets were hurt This off season there has The Dallas Cowboys week, by limiting the Bucca- line and to protect the foot- most by David Stern voiding been a new set of rules to traveled to Tampa Bay and neers offense to less than ball. the original Chris Paul to the play by and some players clearly dominated the Bucca- two hundred net total yards. The Cowboys have a big Los Angeles Lakers and Pau who thought the season neers. After the last two games The defense had 3 sacks did game on Saturday when they Gasol to the Rockets. Now would be lost signed with coming down to the last a good job of stop the pow- face the Philadelphia Eagles at the Rockets are looking for countries are not going to minute, the Cowboys did not erful running of LeGarrett Cowboys Stadium. Michael another face of the franchise release them. want a repeat of that. The Blount to only 21 yards. Vick has been playing betting in order to connect with the San Antonio Cowboys scored early and of- Felix Jones had 108 the Vick’s last two games since community. Gasol is a qual- ten and would march to a 31-15 rushing yards to assist in his return. The Eagles left for ity All-Star that currently still win. The Cowboys recovered handling the ball control of- dead to make the playoff have with the Lakers. a fumble by Josh Freeman and fense. Tony Romo had 249 an outside shot to be divisional Jason Terry. Photo Gone from the Rockets converted that into an eight passing yards and even had champions. The Cowboys will Courtesy of the Dallas Maver- are Tracey McGrady and Yao yard touchdown pass to Miles a rushing touchdown. The make the playoff if they defeat icks Ming. Kevin Martin and Austin on their first drive. key to the game was the abil- the New York Giants in two The Dallas Mavericks Luis Scola will have to lead The Cowboys defense ity for the Cowboys to main- weeks. fans will get the benefit of the team in scoring most seeing their team play the nights. Kyle Lowry will have Toros Entertains Area Fans season after winning the to manage the offense to The Austin Toros had a ter would lead the Toros in a Toro and would finish with NBA Championship. The blend a lot of new pieces to- very good four days of basket- points with 25. Dawson has 22 points. The Toros came into Tony Parker. Photo Mavericks will raise the gether in the very tough ball. The Toros had a rare three been with the team in previ- the game flat and without ag- Courtesy of the San Antonio Championship banner on western conference. Spurs games at home in four days. ous years and is familiar with gression. Toros Coach Brad Christmas Day when they The Rockets won 43 On Thursday the Toros de- the system that the Toros op- Jones stated, “We have a young The San Antonio play the Miami Heat. games last year and barely feated the Texas Legends 118 - erate. The Legends would team and we have stressed the Spurs are often forgotten Gone from the Champi- missed the playoffs.