WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016 SPORTS New coordinators in spotlight as spring football blooms

ARIZONA: Spring comes early in college spring game back to the big stage. Narduzzi, the architect of Michigan an NFL skill set in Christian Hackenberg. were excellent. The Vols have talent (DL Derek football - or at least spring practice does. Pittsburgh will wrap up its workouts with an State’s great defenses while working under There was plenty of blame to go around, but Barnett, CB Cameron Sutton) and high expec- Arizona, Duke and Northwestern have intra-squad game on April 26 at Heinz Field. , brought in former North offensive coordinator John Donovan was tations. There will be no patience in Knoxville. already started spring practice. Stanford It will be the first time since 2011 the Carolina State offensive coordinator Matt the one who got fired. In steps Moorhead, does today. Soon after the calendar flips to Panthers have held a spring game at the Canada to replace Jim Chaney, who left for who spent the last four seasons as the head STERLIN GILBERT, TEXAS March there will be football on college cam- home they share with the Pittsburgh Georgia. Rodriguez parted ways with long- coach at Fordham, leading the Rams to The Baylor offense has been ripping up puses all over the country. Steelers. Construction at Heinz last year time assistant Jeff Casteel, who had been his three straight FCS playoff appearances with the Big 12 for most of Art Briles’ eight years Off campus, too. Michigan opens its forced Pitt to hold its spring game at nearby defensive coordinator at West Virginia, and a high-powered spread offense. as coach of the Bears. But can it save Charlie spring practice on Monday in Bradenton, Highmark Stadium, a 4,000-seat facility used brought in Marcel Yates from Boise State to Strong at Texas? The Longhorns coach Florida, at the IMG Academy. Maybe you by a professional soccer team. In three sea- fix an Arizona defense that ranked 93rd in NOEL MAZZONE, TEXAS A&M plucked the 37-year-old Gilbert from Briles’ have heard? sons under previous coach , Pitt the nation in average yards allowed per play. The swag left Texas A&M’s offense with , luring him away from Tulsa, Coaches get 15 practices to sort through either played its spring game at local high Here are six more teams breaking in coor- Johnny Football. Highly recruited quarter- where he was the offensive coordinator last their rosters and implement new schemes, schools as a way for the new staff to build dinators for whom much will be expected backs have not developed. The running season under former Baylor OC Philip leading up to a spring game which in some relationships in the area or did not have one. next season. Brady Hoke, Oregon. Second- game has been spotty at best. The overall Montgomery. One of the best parts of places will pack game day-sized crowds into The Panthers’ average attendance last year coordinator Don Pellum, who has been inconsistency led to the dismissal of 30-year- Baylor’s offensive system is it usually doesn’t stadiums. At Arizona, Rich Rodriguez has year was 48,150, up 17 percent from the year on staff for 25 years, was demoted after the old Jake Spavital, who as it turned out was take long to get it up and humming. For decided to take a different approach this before as new coach helped Ducks’ defense finished 98th in the nation in not quite ready to be the next Kliff Strong’s sake, that better be the case for spring. The Wildcats are focusing almost exclu- excite fans. Coming off an 8-5 season, average yards allowed per play. Oregon Kingsbury. Coach Kevin Sumlin hired the Gilbert in Austin. sively on fundamentals instead of schemes, Narduzzi hopes playing the spring game at prides itself on being a promote-from-within veteran Mazzone away from UCLA hoping to and they won’t be playing a spring game. Heinz helps Pitt develop a home-field program, but coach Mark Helfrich knew the trade some swag for production. MANNY DIAZ, MIAMI “Half the scrimmages you have, or the advantage that has been challenging to cul- Ducks were in need of a fresh perspective. Diaz has fully rehabbed his reputation spring game, you either don’t play your top tivate off campus. “It’s always important to Hoke, the former Michigan coach, came BOB SHOOP, TENNESSEE after it was dragged down by ’s guys or you cross your fingers that nobody get into your home field and get our kids through the ranks as a defensive line coach The Volunteers’ defense was OK last sea- sinking ship at Texas. The Hurricanes will gets hurt,” Rodriguez told reporters last comfortable with playing in that stadium,” but has never been a coordinator. son (39th in the country in yards per play) so have one of the best (Brad month. “It’s good to look at schemes, but Narduzzi said. While Narduzzi and Rodriguez it was a little surprising when coach Butch Kaaya) in the country, leading an experi- what are you trying to win? Beat your own are taking different approaches to spring, JOE MOORHEAD, PENN STATE Jones fired coordinator John Jancek. Then it enced offense for new coach Mark Richt. If team? It’s not nearly as important as teach- they do have something in common: Both The Nittany Lions’ first two seasons under all made sense when Jones quickly pulled Diaz can fix a defense that has been an ing them how to play.” are breaking in new coordinators on the side James Franklin have produced some ugly Shoop away from Penn State. Even burdened underachieving mess, maybe Miami can At Pitt, the Panthers are taking their of the ball that is not their specialty. offenses, despite having a with by limp offenses, Shoop’s Penn State defenses finally reach the ACC title game. — AP to lead British Davis Cup defence against Japan

LONDON: Andy Murray is set to make his Wimbledon champion, endured heartache first competitive appearance since becom- when losing the Australian singles final to ing a father after being confirmed yesterday Djokovic in January, Melbourne proved a in the team that will begin Great Britain’s happy hunting round for Jamie who, defence of their Davis Cup title against together with Brazil’s Bruno Soares, won the Japan. Murray has not played since losing to Australian Open doubles title last month. Novak Djokovic in last month’s Australian “Jamie Murray is arguably the most in form Open final, opting instead to spend time doubles player in world tennis, currently at with new daughter Sophia, born on a career high ranking of number two and February 7, and wife Kim Sears. continues to show signs of improvement,” But having inspired Britain to their first said Smith. “He made vital contributions to Davis triumph in 79 years with victory over our 2015 Davis Cup campaign and is play- Belgium in Ghent in November, it was no ing the best tennis of his life right now.” surprise that the 28-year-old was included However, Smith added: “Japan have a in captain Leon Smith’s team for next week’s very strong team, progressed well in recent first-round tie against Japan in Birmingham, years and with Kei Nishikori have an estab- central England. lished top-10 player. “Andy Murray has once again demon- “It will be a test for us but I’m confident strated his commitment to the team and his in our team and I’m sure when the guys pull country in making himself available to play, on their GB shirt they will give their all. “We especially so soon after becoming a father,” are lucky to have another home tie and it’s Smith told the Lawn Tennis Association’s exciting to be returning to Birmingham.” website. Britain were languishing in the third tier “His outstanding performance at the of the Davis Cup, the sport’s leading inter- Australian Open is further evidence that he national men’s team event, before Smith is one of the world’s best players,” Smith took over as skipper in 2010 but, thanks added. Also included in a five-man squad, mainly to Andy Murray, have enjoyed a rap- which will eventually be trimmed to four for id rise in recent years. ST LOUIS: San Jose Sharks’ Brent Burns, right, congratulates teammate Joe Thornton after Thornton scored a hole during the third period of an the tie proper, was Murray’s older brother The winners of the Britain-Japan tie will NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues on Monday, in St. Louis. The Sharks won 6-3. — AP Jamie, a doubles specialist. face either Serbia or Kazakhstan in a July While Andy, a former US Open and 15-17 quarter-final. — AFP Sharks tops Blues 6-3 on the road in NHL

ST. LOUIS: Tomas Hertl, Logan Couture and Joe Thornton each scored two goals, powering the San NHL results/standings Jose Sharks to a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues in the NHL on Monday. Thornton also had two assists as San Jose improved to 21-9-2 on the road, Montreal 1, Nashville 2 (SO); St. Louis 3, San Jose 6; Boston 4, Columbus 6; Washington 3, Arizona 2. matching their total road wins from last season. Eastern Conference Western Conference At home, the Sharks are just 11-12-3. The Blues lost Atlantic Division Pacific Division goalie Brian Elliott to a lower-body injury in the first W L OT GF GA PTS Chicago 38 19 5 176148 81 period. San Jose defenseman Matt Tennyson left in Florida 34 18 7 164 137 75 Dallas 37 17 6 194 169 80 the first after he was driven into the glass. Hertl had Tampa Bay 33 22 4 163 148 70 St. Louis 35 18 9 156 150 79 two of San Jose’s three goals in the first. He also Boston 32 22 6 185 169 70 Nashville 28 21 11 156 155 67 scored in the Sharks’ 5-2 loss at Carolina on Friday. 29 20 11 151 157 69 Colorado 31 27 4 165 173 66 DOHA: This file photo taken on February 11, 2013 shows Fatma al-Nabhani of Oman Vladimir Tarasenko had a and two assists for Ottawa 28 26 6 172 186 62 Minnesota 27 22 10 156 148 64 St. Louis. David Backes and Jay Bouwmeester also returning the ball to Caroline Garcia of France during their match on the first day of MontrÈal 28 27 5 163 165 61 Winnipeg 25 29 4 149 171 54 scored. Buffalo 24 29 7 144 166 55 the WTA Qatar Open in the capital Doha. —AFP Central Division Toronto 20 27 10 140 172 50 34 20 4 157 137 72 CAPITALS 3, COYOTES 2 Metropolitan Division Pacquiao negotiating new Mike Richards scored his first goal in more than Washington 44 10 4 194 133 92 Anaheim 31 19 8 146 141 70 a year, leading the Capitals to the victory. Alex NY Rangers 34 19 6 171 150 74 San Jose 32 21 5 174 157 69 deals after Nike axe Ovechkin put Washington ahead with his league- NY Islanders 31 19 7 164 144 69 Arizona 27 26 6 163 183 60 leading 39th goal of the season and had an assist. Pittsburgh 30 20 8 154 151 68 Vancouver 23 24 12 142 168 58 MANILA: Philippine boxing hero Manny Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas in April and then Evgeny Kuznetsov also had a goal and an assist for New Jersey 29 24 7 133 141 65 Calgary 26 29 3 160 180 55 Pacquiao is holding sponsorship negotiations retire from boxing. NHL-best Washington, which won its fourth Carolina 27 23 10 148 160 64 Edmonton 22 32 6 150 184 50 with sports apparel companies after US giant Pacquiao, a national hero in the straight and ninth in its last 10 games. Defensemen Philadelphia 26 21 11 144 158 63 Note: Overtime losses (OT) worth 1 pt and not Nike dropped him over his controversial com- Philippines, has made a fortune endorsing Connor Murphy and Kevin Connauton scored for Columbus 24 29 7 155 188 55 included in loss column (L) ments on same-sex couples, his business products and brands ranging from automo- Arizona, which began a five-game East Coast road manager said yesterday. Nike cut ties with the biles, motorcycles, car batteries, pizzas, beer, a trip with its second consecutive loss. eight-time world champion last week after he bank and even property firms. Louis Domingue made 31 saves. Only seconds Arvidsson scored in the first period for the Brandon Saad and Dalton Prout also scored for the described gay couples as “worse than ani- A devout Christian, Pacquiao has issued a after Ovechkin’s goal made it 2-1, Domingue Predators (28-21-11), who are 3-0-3 in their last six Blue Jackets, who avoided a sweep in the three- mals”. The 37-year-old’s comments, which Nike public apology while also defending his com- appeared to have the puck covered with a glove in games. Brendan Gallagher scored his 16th goal for game season series by picking up a point for 10th described as “abhorrent”, touched off a ments, saying he was merely quoting the his crease when Washington’s Tom Wilson reached Montreal (28-27-5), which has recorded at least one time in their last 12 games (7-2-3). Columbus goal- firestorm of international criticism, particularly Bible. He remains widely popular in the a stick in to poke it away. It found Richards, who point in its last five home games (4-0-1). Nashville tender Joonas Korpisalo made 26 saves. Matt from US athletes and the lesbian, gay, bisexual Philippines, where he is running for a seat in rifled home Washington’s second goal in 26 sec- outshot Montreal 29-27 in regulation time and 30- Beleskey and Loui Eriksson each had two goals for and transgender community. the Senate in May elections, a higher-profile onds. Coyotes coach challenged the 29 overall. Boston, which continued its inexplicable home national post than his current seat in the goal, but it stood. woes. Backup goalie Jonas Gustavsson made 29 House of Representatives representing a BLUE JACKETS 6, BRUINS 4 saves. The Bruins were coming off an impressive 4- southern province. Surveys have shown that PREDATORS 2, CANADIENS 1, SO Boone Jenner scored two goals and Scott 2 road trip, but they were unable to build on that despite Pacquiao’s lacklustre performance in Craig Smith scored the only goal in the Hartnell had a goal and an assist, leading momentum back at home. Boston is 20-7-3 away parliament, he is likely to win a Senate seat. shootout, lifting Nashville to the road win. Viktor Columbus to the road win. William Karlsson, from TD Garden, and just 12-15-3 at home. — AP Meanwhile, undefeated world champion Keith Thurman was hurt in a car accident, forc- ing his March 12 welterweight title defense in Connecticut against Shawn Porter to be post- Wales’ Charteris to poned, organizers said Monday. Promoter Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment, made the announcement. The nature of Thurman’s injuries were not given, but accord- miss France clash ing to his doctors is expected to be cleared to resume training in the coming weeks, a state- ment from DiBella said. LONDON: Wales lock Luke Charteris has been has not recovered in time after being sidelined know where we are earlier than expected and “While it’s unfortunate that we must tem- ruled out of the Six Nations international against from duty with Paris-based Racing 92 last have told the squad, hence announcing (the porarily postpone this marquee matchup, a Manny Pacquiao France in Cardiff on Friday with a knee injury, the Saturday. team) today (Tuesday) as well.” main event of the magnitude of Thurman vs. Welsh Rugby Union said yesterday. Cuthbert has been given his first start of this Wales, who drew against defending champi- “There are several already now in the Porter requires both fighters be healthy and at His place in coach Warren Gatland’s starting Six Nations in place of Cardiff team-mate Tom ons Ireland in their opening fixture of this sea- pipeline. They (the Pacquiao camp) were actu- their best,” the promoter said. Thurman, 26-0 XV has been taken by Bradley Davies. Gatland James, who is now no longer even in the match- son’s Six Nations, face a France side bidding to ally negotiating with some already,” Pacquiao with 22 knockouts, was preparing for the sec- has made two other changes to the side that day 23. “We have made a couple of changes, one make it three wins out of three under new coach business manager Eric Pineda told AFP with- ond defense of the title he won last March beat Scotland 27-23 at the Millennium Stadium injury enforced with Luke missing out with a Guy Noves after victories over Italy and Ireland. out naming the companies. with a unanimous decision over compatriot 10 days ago, with wing Alex Cuthbert and flanker knee injury, but Bradley deserves a starting spot However, Wales have not lost to France since He said they included a “multi-million-dol- Robert Guerrero. Thurman stopped US south- Dan Lydiate drafted into the New Zealander’s as well, so it’s a good opportunity for him,” said an agonising 2011 World Cup semi-final defeat in lar” brand that would likely replace Nike as the paw Luis Collazo in the seventh round last July run-on team. Meanwhile, in a positional switch, Gatland in a WRU statement. Auckland-a match where Warburton was sent supplier of Pacquiao’s sports gear. Pineda also in his first title defense. Wales captain Sam Warburton moves to open- “We have made two other personnel changes, off-and have won their last four Six Nations clash- said no Philippine-based companies had Porter, 26-1-1 with 16 knockouts, owned side flanker from blindside, with Justin Tipuric with Alex and Dan coming into the starting team. es against ‘Les Bleus’. dropped Pacquiao as a commercial endorser the International Boxing Federation version of dropped to the bench. They have trained well and will suit the game “France come to Cardiff unbeaten in the cam- despite the furore over his comments. the welterweight title until losing it in 2014 by Behind the scrum, centre Jonathan Davies has France will potentially bring as well.” Wales were paign so far, and impressing under Guy (Noves),” “They will still be sponsoring Manny. Just majority decision to Britain’s undefeated Kell been given the all-clear after missing French club not due to reveal their team until today but said Gatland. “We are looking to continue our look at his shorts,” he said, referring to com- Brook. Porter bounced back last year with side Clermont’s Top 14 match against Castres last Gatland, explaining the change, said: “We initially unbeaten run and will be looking for another mercial logos that cover the training togs of wins over Ecuador’s Erick Bone and American weekend because of a groin problem. But thought we would have to wait until later in the step up after the victory over Scotland,” he Pacquiao, who is preparing to fight US foe Adrien Broner. — AFP Charteris, who also plays his club rugby in France, week to have a final update on injuries, but we added. — AFP