TWO QUARTERBACKS, ONE VISION BOLLINGER, SORGI DEVELOP A FRIENDLY, TRUSTING RIVALRY.(SPORTS) - The Capital Times

Byline: Mike Lucas

Brooks Bollinger and Jim Sorgi share a vital position, a common goal and a general fondness for Julia Roberts.

As a tag team, they will be the focal point throughout the 2001 season for the University of Wisconsin football team.

Starting with today's opener against Virginia in the Eddie Robinson Classic at Camp Randall Stadium, their play on the field - and relationship off the field - will be closely watched and widely discussed.

But they would appear to have a lot going for them, not the least of which is their developing friendship, which has only gotten stronger with time and competition.

'We talk more this year, we communicate more,' said Sorgi, a gregarious third-year sophomore from Fraser, Mich., who came off the bench and rallied the Badgers to victories over Michigan State and Indiana last season.

'He knows that I'm not going to sabotage him out there...even though we're fighting for the same job. We just have more trust in each other.

'Last year, I could give him my opinion, but since I really hadn't been in a game and I wasn't sure what was going on, I don't know how far you could take that opinion.'

A year ago, when the Badgers broke training camp, Bollinger was the entrenched leader of a team that was ranked as high as No. 4 nationally in the preseason polls. Sorgi was an unknown.

'Breaking camp last year, we had a pretty different atmosphere than we have right now,' noted Bollinger, a conscientious fourth-year junior from Grand Forks, N.D., who has posted a dazzling 17-3 record as the UW starter.

'Everybody felt great. We had a high ranking and there was a big feeling of excitement to get the season going. It's hard to remember all of it because of what happened next.'

W hat happened was that the Badgers had 26 players suspended for violating the NCAA's extra benefit rule. And the news broke on the day of the season opener against Western Michigan.

'You kind of think of that whole Shoe Box thing as being something that was with us all along,' Bollinger reflected. 'But, in reality, when we broke training camp, we had a really positive attitude.'

That included Sorgi, who had struggled with his confidence and the offense throughout the spring; leaving some doubt on his ability to serve as Bollinger's backup.

'A year ago, when we broke camp, things started to click,' Sorgi said, 'and I started to see receivers and see why we do things and see why we have hot receivers on blitzes.

'The same thing kind of happened in high school going into my junior year. All of a sudden, you start seeing why you're doing certain things.

'But he (Bollinger) was still the No. 1 guy and I was thinking that I wasn't going to get into a game unless he got hurt or we were up by a lot of points.'

At the time, Bollinger was aware of Sorgi's presence and potential. No more, no less.

'We were just teammates, and he was like any other teammate,' Bollinger remembered. 'I don't know if you'd say I didn't trust him. But we definitely have a different relationship now because we've been through a lot more.

'We're a lot closer. And we rely on each other a lot more for seeing things on the field, whether it will be talking to each other about the day's practice or watching film. We communicate a lot more and spend a lot more time together than we did in the past.'

As much as they may be on the same page, Bollinger and Sorgi still have different roles because of their job descriptions: Bollinger is the starter, Sorgi is the backup.

'I would define my role as being a role player,' Sorgi said, matter-of-factly. 'I see my role as being a guy who makes plays and makes things happen when he's in there.'

And that would be the key phrase - when he's in there. When exactly will that be?

Midway through the first quarter? The third series? Midway through the second quarter? The fourth series?

'I'm not really sure how they're going to do it,' Bollinger said. 'I know they've said that Jim is going to play some and he'll play at planned times throughout the game. When I'm playing, I just have to do the best I can and not worry about anything else.'

In that context, Bollinger has a pretty good understanding of his playing role.

'I have to make plays and be consistent,' he said. 'This year, the quarterback position has more responsibility as far as checking things at the line of scrimmage and audibling to different plays.'

V irginia coach Al Groh may be able to offer some perspective on the subject of playing two quarterbacks since he's faced with the same issue.

Groh has fielded repeated questions on his plans to rotate Bryson Spinner and Matt Schaub. He has been coy.

Nonetheless, Groh knows that his quarterback, whoever it may be, must come up with the answers on a consistent basis in order for the team to be successful.

'It's the most dynamic position in sports today,' Groh said. 'They've got the ball in their hands every play, they've got to make multiple decisions, they have to perform at their very best with a lot of people running directly at them trying to prevent them from performing at their best.

'There's game management, there's competitive toughness, there's poise, there's decision-making, there's so many things involved. Who gets the team in the end zone the most? That's all it's about.

'It's not jumping over hurdles, it's not who plays the hardest, it's not who stands the tallest in the pocket, it's not who sprints out the best. It's who can get the team in the end zone the most.'

To this end, Bollinger and Sorgi have been humored by the attempts of some writers and sportscasters to put a different spin on their competition and relationship.

'Some of them will come up to me,' Sorgi related, 'and they'll say, 'Do you think there's a quarterback controversy? Is there one?' And then, they'll try to re-phrase it in a different way to get me to say something like, 'I hate Brooks Bollinger.''

Sorgi laughed.

'It's nothing like that,' he stressed. 'We're friends, we're two quarterbacks playing on the same team with one goal. And that is, we want to lead this team to success.'

Bollinger and Sorgi each have their likes and dislikes.

Favorite movie actress? Both like Julia Roberts.

Favorite food? Bollinger likes cheeseburgers, Sorgi likes lasagna and spaghetti.

Favorite movie? Bollinger liked Hoosiers and Braveheart. Sorgi liked American Pie, 2.

Favorite class? Bollinger liked a class he took on the history of the Vietnam War. Sorgi liked a class he took on African-American literature.

Favorite athlete? Sorgi likes Denver quarterback Brian Griese and Ken Griffey, Jr. Bollinger likes Johnny Unitas and Larry Bird.

Johnny Unitas?

'That was my dad's guy, he loved,' Bollinger explained. 'I didn't think much of him until I saw the (ESPN) Sports Century classic on Unitas. And he was an unbelievably tough guy.'

And the guy who led the Baltimore Colts to success. Bollinger and Sorgi would like the same thing for the Badgers, no matter how the quarterback position is eventually divided and defined.

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File Photo

Backup Jim Sorgi (left) and starter Brooks Bollinger give the UW football team stability at quarterback, which coach Barry Alvarez calls 'the most important position on the field.'

Karl's vision for Nuggets focuses on road victories.(Sports) - Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)

Byline: Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News

To see the playoffs clearly, Nuggets coach George Karl would like his team to have 2 0/30 vision.

Karl told his players as much Tuesday, giving them a basic prescription for a 50-win season.

'I'd like to set a Denver Nugget record for most road wins this year. I think that's 21 or 22,' he said. 'I think 30's the minimum we should expect at home.'

Never in 30 NBA seasons have the Nuggets won 20 road games. They were 19-22 under coach Doug Moe in 1987-88 and have managed 18 wins away from the Pepsi Center each of the past two seasons.

The Nuggets have won at least 30 home games seven times, most recently in 2004-05 after Karl took over in midseason and helped them finish 31-10 at home.

'George always got different numbers, depending on the day,' forward Carmelo Anthony said. 'Today is Tuesday. He said he needs 30 home games. Tomorrow it might be 33, so you never know.'

For the fifth year in a row, the Nuggets will open the season on the road as they travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Thursday night.

The Clippers won three or four regular-season games against the Nuggets last season, and then dispatched them 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs.

'They had their way with us the whole season,' Nuggets center Marcus Camby said. 'It was just one of those teams we didn't seem to match up well against. But it's a new year.'

STILL HURTING: Nuggets forward Nene said he plans to play against the Clippers, but he expects to be limited by pain in his surgically repaired right knee.

'Still hurt a little bit,' he said Tuesday. 'We'll see about how much (playing time). I'll see in a day.'

Nene, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the 2005-06 opener, averaged 9.2 points 6.4 rebounds and 18.4 minutes in five preseason games.

He was bothered by tendinitis during training camp but said the pain has moved to the front and sides of his knee.

ZERO TOLERANCE: Karl will have a short leash when it comes to anyone he sees walking, jogging or generally lollygagging on the court.

'We're going to play fast and if we don't play fast, I'm going to play someone that's going to play fast,' Karl said. 'I'm not going to be very diplomatic in accepting anything except fast.'

Kennedy's vision the inspiration ; Alison Healy on a world sports event that began as a summer camp in Eunice Kennedy Shriver's garden - The Irish Times

When Eunice Kennedy Shriver began a summer camp in her garden forpeople with a learning disability 40 years ago, she could never haveimagined it would grow into one of the world's largest sportingevents.

Ms Kennedy Shriver, a sister of the late John F Kennedy, is along time campaigner for people with a learning disability. Shebecame director of the Kennedy Foundation in 1957 and travelled theUnited States visiting mental institutions and seeking out expertswith progressive views on learning disability.

Her sister, Rosemary's, learning disability was not widely knownabout until Eunice persuaded her family to allow her to speakpublicly about it. She wrote an article about Rosemary in theSaturday Evening Post in 1962 in the hope that it would highlightthe issues facing people with a learning disability and improve theway society dealt with the issue.

The following June, Ms Kennedy Shriver started the day camp ather Maryland home to encourage children and adults to explore theirsporting and physical capabilities. She believed people with alearning disability were far more capable as regards sport andphysical activities than many experts thought.

When her son, Tim, who is now Special Olympics president, visitedDublin last year, he recalled how his mother had welcomed 100children into her backyard camp. 'These kids came from a gloomy,neglected environment,' he recalled. 'The buses pulled in and therewas dancing and swimming and football. These kids would never havehad a chance to learn to play football. Don't you think everyonedeserves a welcome like that?'

In July 1968, the Kennedy Foundation and Chicago Park Districtheld the first International Special Olympics Summer Games inChicago's Soldier Field. Some 1,000 athletes from 26 states andCanada took part in athletics, floor hockey and aquatic events.

Later that year, Special Olympics Inc. was established as thefirst systematic effort to provide training and competition forpeople with a learning disability, based on the Olympic traditionand spirit. By 1970, the number of athletes competing in the gameshad doubled, and all 50 US states were represented, as well asFrance and Puerto Rico. The event moved from Chicago to Los Angelesin 1972 and Michigan in 1975, with the numbers growing all the time.

In February 1977, the first Special Olympics Winter Games wereheld in Colorado. More than 500 athletes took part in skiing andskating events. The following year, Special Olympics Ireland wasestablished and 200 athletes took part in the first national games.By 1979, more than 20 countries, including Ireland, were taking partin the Special Olympics World Games.

In 1985, the first European Special Olympics Games were held inDublin. Some 2,000 athletes from 17 countries took part in thatevent.

The prestige attached to Special Olympics increased in 1988 whenthe International Olympic Committee signed an agreement thatofficially recognised Special Olympics.

In 1995, Ms Kennedy Shriver and her husband Sargent were askedabout the possibility of holding the Special Olympics World SummerGames outside the US.

It was decided that bidding for the games would be made open tocountries around the world. Two years later, Ireland's bid wassubmitted to Special Olympics International. The Games were awardedto Ireland in 1999, after they edged out a strong application fromArgentina.

Last June, a 'test run' for the world games was held when theSpecial Olympics Ireland National Games were held and attended bydelegations from 22 European countries.

Now, 40 years after that first summer camp in the Kennedy Shrivergarden, 7,000 athletes have descended on Ireland for the 2003Special Olympics World Games.

They have arrived with an entourage of about 30,000 coaches,delegates, family and friends. Worldwide, more than one millionathletes in 150 countries are now involved in Special Olympics,competing in 26 sports.

BEARCATS SENIOR SHARES THE ROCK; SOLVAY BASKETBALL COACH SAYS COURT VISION SETS DAN AIELLO APART FROM THE REST.(Sports)(Column) - The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)

Byline: Tom Leo Staff writer

Solvay High School's Dan Aiello averages 18 points and 10 rebounds a game, which are gaudy numbers for anybody at the scholastic level.

But what really sets Aiello apart is his passing ability, said Solvay coach Joe Barnello.

'He's the most unselfish player, I think, I've ever coached. He is just a great passer from the high post,' Barnello said. 'He has great vision, and that's something you don't teach. His passing is a beautiful thing to see.'

Aiello, a 6-foot-7 senior, scored 29 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in a recent upset of defending Class B state champion Westhill. In another recent game he had 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists against Bishop Grimes.

For his efforts, Aiello has been named The Post-Standard Honor Athlete of the Week.

'Those numbers just show you the complete player that he is,' Barnello said. 'Teams key on him. They double team him. He'll find the open guy.'

Aiello said growing up as a young player, he looked to pass first.

'I wasn't that big on scoring,' he said. 'I like to distribute the ball and get more people into the game.'

Aiello has been a varsity player since halfway through his freshman year.

'Just to see his growth and maturity as not only a player, but a person, has been special,' Barnello said. 'Dan came in as a typical junior high kid; they're all over the place, all loose ends. Through the years they start to connect the dots. Dan has connected the dots.'

The Bearcats have connected the dots, as well. They started the season with six consecutive losses, but going into Thursday's game against first-place Skaneateles in the Liberty Division they were 6-9. Solvay needs two more wins to qualify for sectionals.

'We didn't play as well as we should have been playing at the beginning of the year,' Aiello said. 'Coach had a talk with us. We started practicing a lot harder and taking everything a little more serious. We flipped it around, thank God.'

Aiello is being recruited by Division II Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia and several Division III schools.

'In about two years, after he gets into a college program and gets on their weight training program, Dan's going to be a really special player,' Barnello said. 'He's one of those kids who grew really fast and he's still growing into his body.'

Honorable mention

Nick Holzhauer, boys hockey, West Genesee: Holzhauer scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, and had three assists in a recent 6-5 win over Cicero North Syracuse that clinched the Wildcats' fourth consecutive Division 1-A championship. The 16-2-2 Wildcats (12-0-2 league) are third-ranked in the state.

Mike Palermo, boys basketball, Fayetteville-Manlius: Palermo tallied 27 points in a recent 59-55 upset of West Genesee.

Tom Leo can be reached at tleo@syracuse.com or 470-6013.

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Peter Chen/The Post-Standard

Living: PUNCHING YOUR WAY TO FITNESS; FED up with 'girlie' exercises like aerobics and yoga? Then a spot of sparring could get you fit - and help you lose weight as well. Former world champion Richie Woodhall is launching a new gym concentrating solely on boxing training exercises. And the Midland sports star says he is determined to put the punch back into women's fitness, as CHARLOTTE WARD found out.(Features) - Sunday Mercury (Birmingham, England)

Byline: CHARLOTTE WARD

'YOU, boxing!' my colleague scoffed. 'You are about the least hard person in the office!'

Hardly the words of encouragement I wanted to hear as I psyched myself up for a sparring session with former WBC World Super-Middleweight Champion Richie Woodhall.

As my usual weekly exercise consists of a spot of light swimming and some low-impact aqua-aerobics, I was feeling rather nervous.

But at the same time, the idea of laying into a punchbag after a hard day at work did have some appeal. Maybe this could be the start of an illustrious new career as the Sunday Mercury Mauler!

And what better way to learn the ropes than with Richie, 34, who opens his new gym Box-A-Circuit, in Amblecote near Stourbridge, tomorrow.

Telford-based Richie, who retired from professional boxing in January, says the unique fitness centre will concentrate solely on circuit training using boxing techniques.

Members will be given expert advice by not only the boxer but also his dad Len, 62, who is a qualified ABA coach and trained Richie throughout his career.

Dad-of-three Richie will also be available for one-on-one sessions and says he is keen to attract both men and women to the gym.

'There was an old view that boxing was just for men,' says Richie. 'But in the last five years I have seen a real change. There are loads of women who love boxing as they see it as a great way to train and work out.'

With this in mind Richie and Len have put together several work-outs that will provide both sexes with cardio-vascular exercise to condition their heart and lungs, lose weight and improve their mental alertness.

At first glance the studio where the sessions take place was like a foreign world to me. Several menacing punchbags were hanging from the ceiling and, being a woman who really does hit like a girl, I had visions of Richie collapsing into fits of laughter over my feeble attempts to throw a punch.

Luckily for me, Richie had me sussed. After a warm-up, he set about teaching me the proper position your body should be in before you even attempt to box. 'A lefty, eh?' he teased of my left-handed status. 'I don't like lefties in the ring, you never know what they are going to do!'

With my feet in the correct position and my fist clenched and slightly tilted inwards in front of my face, I was beginning to feel a bit more credible.

After helping me to pull on a huge pair of yellow boxing gloves, Richie put on a pair of pads and encouraged me to punch them with my right fist, then my left.

There was a lot to think about. At the same time as throwing a punch with my right and getting the correct position with my fist, I had to remember to keep my face protected with my left hand. 'Where's your left hand going, Charlotte?' Richie seemed to utter again and again as I absentmindedly allowed it to drift down. Moving on, I faced my first punchbag. Richie explained that during the hour-long circuit sessions members would work in pairs, taking it in turns to spend 30 seconds on each punchbag.

'It's not about whacking it as hard as you can,' he told me. 'I want you to concentrate on accuracy.'

Well, I was hardly Muhammad Ali, but with Richie's watchful eye and encouragement I was feeling a lot more confident.

And when my first swing was met with cries of 'Good!' from my enthusiastic mentor, I felt really geared up!

The next punchbag was a speed ball propelled on two springs.

'This'll be good for your reactions,' Richie said.

'Remember - the harder you hit it, the faster it is going to move, so the key is not to hit it too hard.'

I'm not sure how many times I ATTEMPTED to hit the speed ball but my shots-on-target ratio must have been very poor. But Richie, bless him, didn't even smirk as I lashed around like an idiot, repeatedly missing my aim.

'Imagine how much better you'd be after a few sessions,' he enthused. 'It's amazing how quickly it speeds up your reactions.'

After another, slightly better, encounter with a speed ball, I moved on to a punchbag shaped like a body with a face.

'Imagine it's your gaffer!' grinned Richie. Who I actually thought about as I pounded my fists into the face will remain my little secret.

In what seemed like no time at all the session was over and I wound down with some stretch exercises.

I told Richie that I felt great and was keen to go back for another session in the future.

Later that night, back at home, I was still feeling empowered as I circled my friend, menacingly showing off my new moves.

'I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee,' I snarled at him.

'You wish,' he replied dryly. The next morning, I was feeling a lot less cocky. It felt as if every muscle in my upper body was aching and even changing gear in my car left me wincing.

Overnight I was transformed from Mauler to Moaner - and didn't my colleagues know about it!

But despite my whimpering I would definitely go back for more. I may be no match for Lennox Lewis but boxing training is great fun.

Membership for Box-A-Circuit costs pounds 15 per quarter and pounds 10 per session. For more information call 01384 394949.

BOXING CHAMP'S GUIDE TO THROWING A RIGHT JAB

TOP TIPS... clench your fists in front of your chin with your wrists slightlyturned inwards. Keeping your chin down, look up and step into the punch, twisting your wrist so your fist is facing into your target. Keep your guard up

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CLIPPERS NOTEBOOK: CBA VISIONS KEEP HUDSON WELL MOTIVATED.(Sports) - Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)

Byline: Randy Hill Staff Writer

After conceding their staggering mismatch at the position of team owner, the Clippers' most critically disclaimed job description is point guard.

For the sake of rebuttal, the floor now belongs to Troy Hudson.

``Come to the games and watch the performance,'' said Hudson, who will co-star with recently acquired veteran Eric Murdock as Clipper playmakers.

But skeptics who missed Hudson's audition last season, have predicted a point-guard horror show.

``I don't take it personally,'' Hudson said while winding down after a spirited training-camp workout at L.A. Southwest College. ``I just go out and try to prove them wrong.''

He began gathering evidence at the University of Missouri, where rare playing time inspired Hudson's transfer to Southern Illinois University in his hometown of Carbondale.

After averaging 21 points per game in his junior season, Hudson entered the NBA Draft and couldn't find his way out. With an assist from a training-camp injury to John Stockton, he made the Utah Jazz as an undrafted rookie. When Stockton returned, Hudson took his eight-game NBA resume all the way to the CBA.

He remained stuck there in his second pro season, until being rescued by the Clippers midway through the post-lockout disaster of 1999. In 25 games, Hudson produced 6.8 points, 3.7 assists and enough fearlessness per game to hang around.

``Troy's a guy who just competes all out,'' said Clippers coach Chris Ford. ``That's the energy I love.''

For Hudson, vivid memories of CBA life make it easy to stay motivated.

``There were more down times than good times in the CBA,'' he admitted. ``But I always thought I could play here. To stay here, I have to continue to play hard and be a leader on the court.''

And his objective review on the state of Clippers point guards?

``Between myself and Eric Murdock, we have a solid backcourt.

Unfortunately, they don't seem to be grooming owners in the CBA.

BIG VISIONS DANCE IN KICKERS' HEADS.(SPORTS)(MIKE LUCAS)(Column) - The Capital Times

Byline: Mike Lucas

During his summer workouts, Scott Campbell would line up his kick in front of the uprights, measure the distance and the wind and visualize a sellout crowd of more than 79,000 cheering on the University of Wisconsin football team at Camp Randall Stadium.

This was pretty heady stuff for the 21-year-old Campbell, a junior college transfer from Georgia Military Academy, the JC national champion.

Helping him form these visual images was his father, Gary, a former defensive back at the University of South Carolina, who spent a week in Madison. His mom, Jennifer, also made the long trip from their home in Clemson, S.C.

'My dad would give me some different scenarios,' Campbell said. 'Like, 'This is the game-winning field against Michigan.' And I would just visualize that kick in my head. I could see the picture.'

Many can still see the same picture - the picture of a dejected Mark Neuser, head lowered, walking off the field after missing a 36-yard field goal in the final 1:26 of last year's Michigan game.

Neuser had a chance to break a 17-17 tie. Instead, the Wolverines capitalized on a fluke play - a Hayden Epstein punt bouncing off freshman Brett Bell - to shock the Badgers with a late field goal.

Neuser is no longer with the program. And that's why Campbell is here today.

'There is pressure,' Campbell conceded during Friday's media session at the UW's training camp at the O'Connor Center. 'But I like pressure.'

R.J. Morse can relate. While Campbell must beat out Adam Espinoza and Mike Allen for the placekicking assignment, Morse must live up to some high expectations, too, especially since he's the only proven punter on the roster.

'I never really thought about it that way,' said Morse when asked if the departure of Kirk Munden had placed additional pressure on his broad shoulders. Last season, they shared the punting duties with Munden getting 35 kicks, averaging 39.7 yards a boot. Morse had 28 kicks (41.6).

'Me and him (Munden) always used to back each other up, and keep each other going. So I guess now it does put more pressure on me.'

If nothing else, the Badgers may have the largest specialists in college football with the Campbell and Morse tag team.

'Coach Palermo has already told us that,' said Morse, alluding to UW defensive line coach John Palermo.

A year ago, Morse reported at 275 pounds. But, then, the Badgers got what they recruited: a punter-slash-nose guard from Walpahu, Hawaii.

Last spring, the 6-foot-1 Morse got his weight under control and dropped under 240. But he's back up to 250 and his only intention during training camp is to stay at a weight 'I can kick the best at.'

When it was suggested that he might be put on the salad diet with Campbell, he noted, 'They're not watching me as tightly as him any more.'

On the 2002 numerical roster that was released Friday to the assembled media, Campbell is listed at 225 pounds.

'I know that's how I'm listed,' he said, laughing. 'But that was back in January.'

Campbell is presently carrying 240 on his 6-foot frame.

'But I'm trying to lose some; they've got me on a strict diet,' he said. 'They haven't given me a (target) weight. But I'd like to be 220 or 225. I'm working at it.'

Despite his size, Campbell never played a position in high school football. He was a soccer player who didn't go out for another sport until the seventh grade. Even with a late start, he had immediate success as a kicker. He was a three-time all-state selection.

Even more impressively, Campbell was a Street & Smith All-American as a prep, and, at one time, the nation's all-time leading kick-scorer. He had a very good teacher in his older brother, Chris, who kicked for the hometown school, Clemson University.

'I still really look up to him,' he said. 'I always went to all of his game, following him through his career at Clemson. And he taught me a lot of fundamentals.'

Lately, he has been preparing himself to kick in front of big crowds. Or bigger than he had at Georgia Military. What was the normal turnout for a junior college game?

'Small,' Campbell said sheepishly. 'Very small.

'About 500.'

He had no troubling focusing. Last season, Campbell nailed 12 of 16 field-goal attempts, including three kicks from beyond 52 yards. In turn, he made a smooth transition from kicking off a tee in high school to kicking off the turf.

Morse has undergone a transition of his own, a complete makeover. As a true freshman, he showed that he had plenty of leg strength, booming six punts of 50 yards or longer. He had kicks of 63, 61 and 53 yards in his debut at Oregon.

But he struggled with his timing and techniques, resulting in some blocked punts. During the off-season, Morse changed his stance, the way he held on to the football, his drop and his leg swing.

'I'm trying to get my punts off a lot quicker,' he said, 'and have more flexibility to give me more height on my ball rather than straight shots.'

Morse confided that he had a lot of things on his mind during the spring game and it showed in his punting.

'It was about me not focusing and not feeling comfortable with the new techniques,' he said. 'But it has gone a lot better this summer.'

Does he feel like he has prove himself this fall?

'In a way, I do, because I want to contribute to this team,' he said, 'in the way they know I can and I know I can. It's time to grow up. I can't baby myself any more. It's time for me to step up to the plate and perform.'

An interesting choice of words for someone who's trying to push away from the table and a full plate. But you get the picture. So does Campbell.

'He's got a strong leg, a great leg,' Morse marveled.

What about his mindset, the placekicker's mentality?

'You have to keep your composure as a kicker,' Campbell said. 'The rest of the guys are getting hyped up, but the kicker has got to keep it calm, especially since it could come down to a game-winning field goal. You just have to keep calm, focused and relaxed.'

During his summer workouts, Campbell lined up the ball in front of the uprights and visualized a full house at Camp Randall. In the background, his dad was yelling out the scenario: Final seconds, tie game against Michigan.

And the kick?

'It was good,' Campbell said with a big grin.

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Football: Euro vision led to my snub for Moyes.(Sport) - Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England)

ROBBIE SAVAGE intends to make the most of his decision to snub Everton by targeting a European place with Birmingham.

The midfielder will today sign a new four-year contract with the club, ending doubts over his future after Everton tried to lure him from St Andrews.

After stalling for eight weeks, Savage was quick to respond after boss Steve Bruce made it clear he could be tempted to let the Wales international go if the offer was right.

Savage thrashed out the situation with Bruce yesterday, his delight heightened by the fact he has been given the all-clear to play in the club's pre-season campaign after a back operation.

``It has been a bit of a worrying summer what with my back op and the contract, '' stated Savage.

``The best news for me is that my operation went well, so I am in full training now and ready to play again later this month. ''

Bruce has been busy in the transfer market this summer.

Emile Heskey, Mario Melchiot, Jesper Gronkjaer, Muzzy Izzet and Julian Gray have all been signed, and there is the prospect of another capture before the start of the season, according to co-owner David Sullivan.

``I think we will give it a major tilt this season, '' insisted the 29-year-old.

``When you look at the signings the gaffer has made and the whole structure of the club, it signifies it is ambitious.

``If we can keep everybody fit our aim is to at least finish higher than we did last year, which was 10th.

``But you never know. The new boys who have come in may help us get a European spot. ''

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Kerry outlines vision for future in game.(Sport) - Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales)

Byline: By Chris Smart Western Mail

Danny kerry, Great Britain women's head coach, took time out from his busy programme to speak to a group of Welsh Hockey Union High Performance coaches this week and to share his long-term vision for hockey, particularly the women's game in Wales, writes Chris Smart.

Using some footage from recent Test matches in Argentina and South Africa, as well as training sessions back at Bisham Abbey, Kerry explained and discussed the technical and tactical areas that need to be addressed to enable the GB women's side to play in a way that they are truly competitive in Beijing next year and London in 2012 in the Olympics.

Chris Marriott, the Welsh National Development manager, said, 'We are aware of the need for a single, consistent and shared vision for the development of players from regional academies and under-16 national squads.'

In the under-16 four counties challenge at Swansea, meanwhile, the Glamorgan Valleys won when they beat South East Wales 4-1 in the final after leading the pool stages and beating Afan Nedd Tawe in the semis.