Premier League West Brom legend Regis dies aged 59 Nicholas McGee 17:27 1/15/18 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(0) 
Getty Images Premier League West Bromwich Albion Coventry City Aston Villa The West Brom legend was seen as a trailblazer for black players and turned out for England on five occasions West Brom legend Cyrille Regis has died at the age of 59.Regis earned legendary status at West Brom by scoring 112 goals in 297 appearances, and was seen as a trailblazer for black footballers, playing with Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson.He moved to Coventry City in 1984 and won the FA Cup in 1987 as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2. Article continues below Editors’ Picks Lyon treble & England heartbreak: The full story behind Lucy Bronze’s dramatic 2019 Liverpool v Man City is now the league’s biggest rivalry and the bitterness is growing Megan Rapinoe: Born & brilliant in the U.S.A. A Liverpool legend in the making: Behind Virgil van Dijk’s remarkable rise to world’s best player Devastated this morning my hero my pioneer the man behind the reason I wanted to play football has passed away my heart goes out to all his family RIP Cyrille Regis pic.twitter.com/145idFZopb— Andrew Cole (@vancole9) January 15, 2018Regis played five times for England and was the third black player to receive a senior cap for the Three Lions, following in the footsteps of Viv Anderson and Cunningham.Following his spell at Coventry, Regis joined Aston Villa before stints with Wolves, Wycombe Wanderers and Chester City. Check out Goal’s Premier League 2019-20 fantasy football podcast for game tips, debate and rivalries.
Chelsea interested in Burnley striker Barnes
Transfers Chelsea interested in Burnley striker Barnes Nizaar Kinsella Click here to see more stories from this author Chelsea correspondent Last updated 1 year ago 23:22 1/21/18 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(0) 
Getty Images Transfers Chelsea Burnley Premier League Antonio Conte The Blues are looking at a range of options for a back-up striker in the January transfer window, with Peter Crouch also under consideration Chelsea have expressed an interest in Burnley striker Ashley Barnes as they cast a wide net in the search for a new back-up striker to work with Alvaro Morata, Goal understands. A formal approach has yet to be made for Barnes, with the Blues enquiring about a number of centre-forwards as they look to add another option in attack at Stamford Bridge.The Blues want to loan out Michy Batshuayi, their current back-up to Morata, as he seeks game time ahead of the World Cup in Russia, with Sevilla having previously been keen on the Belgian . Article continues below Editors’ Picks Lyon treble & England heartbreak: The full story behind Lucy Bronze’s dramatic 2019 Liverpool v Man City is now the league’s biggest rivalry and the bitterness is growing Megan Rapinoe: Born & brilliant in the U.S.A. A Liverpool legend in the making: Behind Virgil van Dijk’s remarkable rise to world’s best player Roma’s Edin Dzeko is also being sounded out by Chelsea, with the west London club having reached an advanced stage in negotiations to bring in his team-mate Emerson Palmieri for around £25 million. Antonio Conte’s side had targeted West Ham striker Andy Carroll before an injury scuppered any hopes of progressing a deal , and Stoke City’s Peter Crouch is also on the shortlist of players being considered. The club are weighing up their options to as they look to allow Batshuayi to join Sevilla – who are very keen to tie up a loan deal as soon as possible – but will not do so until they secure a replacement.Dortmund are also interested in the Belgium international, while it has been suggested that he could be offered to Roma on loan as part of any deal to take Dzeko back to the Premier League.
Leeds reconsider divisive new crest
Leeds United Leeds United reconsider new crest after backlash Joe Wright Last updated 1 year ago 05:01 1/25/18 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(0) 
Leeds United Championship The club’s managing director Angus Kinnear confirmed they will will reconsider changing to a new badge Leeds United are to reconsider the launch of a new club crest after a strong backlash on social media.The Championship side revealed a new badge on Wednesday, with the revamped design featuring the so-called ‘Leeds Salute’ — thumping the chest with a clenched fist — underneath Leeds United in bold letter.But social media users hit out at the club crest, with some comparing it to a design for a video game, while others labelled the badge “atrocious” and “like a school homework project”. Editors’ Picks Lyon treble & England heartbreak: The full story behind Lucy Bronze’s dramatic 2019 Liverpool v Man City is now the league’s biggest rivalry and the bitterness is growing Megan Rapinoe: Born & brilliant in the U.S.A. A Liverpool legend in the making: Behind Virgil van Dijk’s remarkable rise to world’s best player | Our new crest #MOT #LUFC 6 months of research10,000 people consultedReady for the next 100 yearsWatch video https://t.co/rIIdL2Yz9F pic.twitter.com/pMrd3zTjCl — Leeds United (@LUFC) January 24, 2018 Leeds insisted more than 10,000 people — including “legends, current players, club staff, the owner, partners and representatives from the Leeds and Yorkshire communities” — were consulted before unveiling the design.But a matter of hours after the announcement, managing director Angus Kinnear indicated the club will reconsider switching to the new badge, which was set to be introduced for the 2018-19 season. “We always knew that the introduction of a crest, particularly one that is so bold and such a break away from the traditional conventions of football club crests, was going to create debate and may be controversial,” Kinnear told the Yorkshire Evening Post.”We had confidence in the process we went through to arrive at the design but today we’ve been overwhelmed by the feedback.”From my perspective it’s exactly why I love working for this club because the passion and enthusiasm and the commitment of the fanbase is quite astounding.”We put the supporters at the heart of everything we do and we are here to make them proud and so, based on some of the feedback we’ve received, it’s evident that the process wasn’t extensive enough and we need to seek further consultation with our fans as we don’t want to do anything that the majority of the fanbase don’t believe in.”Leeds are 10th in the Championship table after 28 matches, with Thomas Christiansen’s side sitting three points outside the play-off places.
Conte: Three strikers the minimum for Chelsea
Transfers Three strikers is the minimum – Conte drops transfer hint after Chelsea win Jamie Smith 01:32 1/29/18 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(0) 
Getty Images Transfers Chelsea Chelsea v Newcastle United Newcastle United FA Cup Antonio Conte Michy Batshuayi The manager is keen to increase his options in the penalty area – but despite a strong Batshuayi display, he declined to confirm the striker’s future Antonio Conte wants Chelsea to sign an additional striker before the January transfer window closes on Wednesday.With Alvaro Morata out of form, the Blues have been linked with a string of strikers, including Roma’s Edin Dzeko, Andy Carroll of West Ham and even Burnley’s Ashley Barnes.Michy Batshuayi struck a brace as Chelsea moved into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 defeat of Newcastle United on Sunday. Article continues below Editors’ Picks Lyon treble & England heartbreak: The full story behind Lucy Bronze’s dramatic 2019 Liverpool v Man City is now the league’s biggest rivalry and the bitterness is growing Megan Rapinoe: Born & brilliant in the U.S.A. A Liverpool legend in the making: Behind Virgil van Dijk’s remarkable rise to world’s best player But despite Batshuayi taking his tally in all competitions this season to 10 – two fewer than Morata – Conte still wants another forward to arrive at Stamford Bridge.”If you see our squad, we don’t have three, four or five strikers, we have two,” said Conte.”Morata is out, or sometimes I play with [Eden] Hazard. He is a different striker, but sometimes I play in this way. The striker has to work for the team in the best way, he has improved a lot in this way.”I don’t know what will happen [with Batshuayi], but when you have to play in the Champions League and FA Cup, three strikers is the minimum. Then we have to see what will happen in the transfer market. We are talking about another player, I don’t know if we can.”2000 – Chelsea today became the first English top-flight side to field more than one player born in the 21st century in a single domestic match (Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi). Youth.— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 28, 2018Although Batshuayi provided a pair of first-half goals, Conte held back on praising the Belgian forward.”I don’t know if it was his best game, but it was important for him and the team,” said the Italian. “To score is important for the confidence, we are talking about a young player with a great potential.”Today I showed that for me the most important thing is the present, not the future. Otherwise I would have taken other choices.”Michy, we are talking about a player I have worked with for one year and a half, a powerful player and has a lot of room for improvement. My task is to work with him and every single player.”There is a World Cup and every player wants to play to try to push for the competition. This is another situation. If the club decides to add another player, I don’t know if Michy wants to stay or go on loan.”This is a player decision, not mine. I want to continue to work with my players.”Well done boys!!! #Chelsea #FACup #CHENEW— T.Bakayoko14 (@TimoeB08) January 28, 2018Although Newcastle were not in the game after Batshuayi’s brace put Chelsea in control, Rafael Benitez felt the visitors deserved more from their performance in the opening 45 minutes.”We had chances, in the first half we were better, but in the second half they were a lot better,” said Benitez.”You have to play against Chelsea away, the difference between the top six is difficult. We tried to put them under pressure, but the key moments went against us.”Like Conte, Benitez will be hoping for additions before the transfer deadline, with Kenedy – on loan from Chelsea – the only arrival so far in January.”We have chances,” added the Spaniard. “It is not ideal, but I have some days and we believe we can do something.”
10 months agoCeltic boss Rodgers: Liverpool sack led to hospital admission
Celtic boss Rodgers: Liverpool sack led to hospital admissionby Paul Vegas10 months agoSend to a friendShare the loveCeltic boss Brendan Rodgers admits his Liverpool sacking led to admission to hospital.The Northern Irishman, now in charge at Celtic, told The Coaches Voice after his sacking he was rushed to hospital having spent time on holiday.Rodgers said: “I went to Spain for a week. Then I came back, and flew to Dubai. Within a couple of days in Dubai, I was rushed into hospital.“I went through all the tests. It was felt that I was having some issues internally, but then they got into the process of what had happened with work, with my life.“They pieced it all together, and it was simply a case of my body being so tense, so tight, from all that had happened in finishing my time at Liverpool.”It reinforced for me that it was time to find a calmness, to re-energise and make sure I was genuinely ready for the next challenge.” TagsTransfersAbout the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say
10 months agoArsenal inform Juventus of Ramsey January price
TagsTransfersAbout the authorCarlos VolcanoShare the loveHave your say Arsenal inform Juventus of Ramsey January priceby Carlos Volcano10 months agoSend to a friendShare the loveArsenal have informed Juventus they can sign Aaron Ramsey this month.The midfielder, off contract in June, is understood to have settled pre-contract terms with Juve.The Wales international has agreed to a €6.5m-a-year deal.And Gazzetta.it says Arsenal have told Juve they can sign Ramsey immediately for £20m.Juve’s board are now weighing up whether to match Arsenal’s valuation. 
9 months agoWife of Man Utd, Arsenal target Carrasco: Many clubs interested
Wife of Man Utd, Arsenal target Carrasco: Many clubs interestedby Paul Vegas9 months agoSend to a friendShare the loveThe wife of Dalian Yifang winger Yannick Carrasco admits offers are arriving this month.The Belgium international is being linked with Manchester United and Arsenal.And Carrasco’s wife Noemie told RTBF: “There are a lot of things going on. “He has been called by many clubs. Many clubs are interested. Now nothing concrete, nothing has been signed yet.”Carrasco’s deal at Dalian Yifang runs to 2021. TagsTransfersAbout the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say
12 days agoAubameyang in line for new pay-rise at Arsenal
Aubameyang in line for new pay-rise at Arsenalby Paul Vegas12 days agoSend to a friendShare the lovePierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in line for a new pay-rise at Arsenal.Sport says Arsenal have opened negotiations with Aubameyang over a new contract at the club.Aubameyang has two years remaining on his existing deal at the Emirates, but the Gunners are keen to secure his future through to 2023.Since joining from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018, Aubameyang has scored 49 goals in 75 appearances for Arsenal. The Gabon star has made it clear he’s happy with the Londoners. TagsTransfersAbout the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say
3 days agoMan Utd legend Neville: Solskjaer tactics spot on against Liverpool
About the authorFreddie TaylorShare the loveHave your say Man Utd legend Neville: Solskjaer tactics spot on against Liverpoolby Freddie Taylor3 days agoSend to a friendShare the loveManchester United legend Phil Neville says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got his tactics “spot on” against Liverpool on Sunday.Solskjaer’s decision to play with five in defence nullified Liverpool’s attacking threat at Old Trafford for the majority of the game, before Adam Lallana equalised in the final minutes.”Tactically, Ole got it really spot on,” the England women’s manager told Optus Sport.”Five at the back, they defended the middle of the pitch really well, the three centre-backs, in particular, defended the goal really well, every cross that came in from wide areas they were set.”Just that cross at the end when it gets fired across the box. Rojo just lost a little bit of concentration and it got punished.”Liverpool did finish really strong and United will feel like that’s two points dropped.” 
Valverde: Barca ‘have space’ for new striker
Amid rumours of interest in Alvaro Morata, Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde admitted there is room in his squad for a new striker.On Friday, the La Liga leaders agreed a €1 million fee with Sevilla for Munir El Haddadi, who was set to depart the club at the end of the season when his contract expired.Instead, Munir will leave in January, opening up a spot in the Barcelona team. Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? With a strong forward line, there wasn’t a lot of gametime available for Munir, who made one start for Barca this season, along with six substitute appearances.However, the publication Sport reported the club had joined the hunt for out-of-favour Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata.And while Valverde did not comment on those rumours, he did admit the team will be looking to add to their strike force, if not from outside the club, then from within.“There’s space [for a new striker] with Munir leaving,” Valverde said. “The window’s open and we’ll see if we can bring someone in. If not, we will look to the B team.”Morata has come in for frequent criticism the last two seasons, though he has scored nine goals for Chelsea in all competitions this season.A midweek defeat to Levante in the Copa del Rey round of 16 arguably showed Barca’s need for depth in their forward line.The La Liga champions struggled in a 2-1 defeat away, as Valverde elected to rest several of his starters, including Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, though they have a second leg at Camp Nou to overturn the deficit.Barca’s only goal came from the penalty spot from Philippe Coutinho, and was won by Denis Suarez, who is expected to join Arsenal during the January window.Valverde is likely to restore his starters as his Barca side host 13th placed Eibar on Sunday.They will be aiming to maintain or extend the five point lead at the top of the table held coming at the start of the weekend.
Liverpool’s £20m asset? Wilson making waves at Derby
It is getting on for two years since Adam Lallana gave an interview in which he was asked about the plethora of rising stars at Liverpool.He had a few to choose from at the time. Trent Alexander-Arnold had recently made his Premier League debut, Ben Woodburn had become the club’s youngest ever goalscorer a couple of months previously, while Ovie Ejaria was a regular with Jurgen Klopp’s first-team squad at Melwood.Lallana, though, chose to wax lyrical about another of the Reds’ teenage talents. Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? “I see great potential for Harry Wilson,” he told the cameras. “Everyone is talking about Ben, Trent, Ovie, but Harry keeps his head down, works hard, and I think he has a great future ahead of him. He has a great left foot.”The world knows all about that left foot now. “The wand,” they used to call it at Liverpool’s Academy up in Kirkby, but Wilson has since taken his magic on the road, away from Merseyside.Manchester United know what he can do, Southampton too. He impressed against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and has been delivering for Wales on the international stage. Frank Lampard loves him and so does Ryan Giggs.The question now is whether Klopp can find a place for him in his Liverpool squad.Wilson’s loan at Derby could hardly have gone better. With 10 Championship goals, and 12 in all competitions, the Wrexham-born wideman is catching the eye on a weekly basis. He’s already putting together his very own ‘Goal of the Season’ compilation, with a series of sublime left-footed strikes from outside the area. His 30-yard free-kick at Old Trafford, surely, is the best of all.Impressive stuff, though the idea that Wilson is a ‘highlights reel’ player has recently been dismissed by Lampard.“Ten [league] goals is a great return, and his spectacular goals have been great on the eye but my biggest pleasure is seeing his performances in the past month,” said the Rams boss.”His all-round game, the energy, the personality to receive the ball and be pivotal in the game has gone up a notch, and I think there are more notches to go.”That is credit to Harry and hopefully he can continue that progress in the second half of the season.”
Liverpool had the option to recall Wilson earlier this month, but chose to let him remain at Pride Park. They have tracked his progress closely through Julian Ward, their loan pathways manager, and have been delighted with the 21-year-old’s development. In Lampard, and particularly in Derby assistant Jody Morris, the Reds have found coaches with both the patience and personality, as well as skill, to handle such a talent.Wilson’s decision to snub other offers in the summer has paid off. He could, for example, have chosen Aston Villa or Stoke, big clubs with Premier League aspirations, fanbases and infrastructures. Both, though, have changed managers following underwhelming starts to the season. For a young player on loan, stability is key.So, at Derby, he has been able to find his feet in a vibrant, possession-focused team. Lampard has used him on both flanks, as well as centrally as both a No.8 and a No.10. No wonder Wilson’s all-round game has come on. Remember the callow teenager who struggled in League One with Crewe three years ago? He’s been replaced by a confident, decisive attacker who makes an impact almost every time he steps onto the field.Suddenly, Liverpool have a huge asset on their hands. Wilson will return to Merseyside in the summer hoping he can be a part of Klopp’s plans for the future. Given his performances in the second half of last season at Hull, and before that as the free-scoring captain of the Under-23s, he could hardly have done more.So far, he has managed just one senior appearance for the Reds, as a substitute against Plymouth in the FA Cup back in January 2017. He impressed during the last pre-season, but the presence of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, and the signing of Xherdan Shaqiri, meant that a loan made more sense than a year on the fringes of the first team.It’s proven to be a good decision, for all parties. Wilson will play for Derby at Accrington in a televised FA Cup fourth-round tie on Saturday, and his next appearance will be the 50th of his professional career. He is adding to his game by the week, getting stronger and fitter, learning about game management and the importance of consistency. He’s performing home and away, against Premier League opposition as well as Championship. His development is obvious.
What would Liverpool get if they chose to sell in the summer? Wilson signed an improved five-year contract before moving to Derby, and his value has rocketed since. He surely has a higher ceiling than either Dominic Solanke or Danny Ings, each of whom will fetch the Reds close to £20 million, and he will have no shortage of Premier League suitors next summer, you can be sure. Liverpool have already fielded enquiries from clubs asking to be kept in the loop.A nice dilemma to have, for sure. For now, though, the debate can wait. Wilson has his eyes on a successful end to the season.“I want to help Derby get into the Premier League,” he says. “I want to keep scoring and assisting, helping the team and getting us as high up the league as I can. I’m loving it.”If he carries on as he has been, he’ll give Liverpool – and Klopp – plenty to think about in the coming months. A new signing? Not quite, but the Reds have built themselves a £20 million footballer, for sure. Subscribe to Goal’s Liverpool Correspondent Neil Jones’ weekly email bringing you the best Liverpool FC writing from around the web
The Tom Herman Contract Details Have Been Released
The Tom Herman contract at Texas is a large one.After being hired as Texas’ head football coach, reports immediately came out about what his contract could look like. Now, the wondering is over as the details of his five-year deal have been released.According to USA Today, Herman is set to receive $28.75 million in basic compensation under financial terms for a five-year deal which was approved Saturday by the board of regents.As far as a year-by-year breakdown, he’ll be receiving a raise each season.“Herman will be paid $5.25 million during the first year of the deal, and his compensation is scheduled to increase by $250,000 in each subsequent year.”Year one: $5.25 millionYear Two: $5.5 millionYear Three: $5.75 millionYear Four: $6 millionYear Five: $6.25 millionHere is a look at his non-guaranteed incentive payments via USA Today:
Herman is now the sixth highest-paid college football coach in the nation. Herman was making $3 million as Houston’s coach.
Barca face Napoli in La Liga-Serie A Cup
Barcelona have confirmed that they will face Napoli across a two-legged clash in the United States in the inaugural La Liga-Serie A Cup during their pre-season preparations this year.The Spanish champions and Italian heavyweights will square off in two games played across two states in early August as part of their schedule ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.The first encounter, on August 7, will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, at the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? Barcelona were set to face Girona in a regular season La Liga fixture at the venue earlier this year, though the endeavour was ultimately shelved after it was met with strong opposition from FIFA and UEFA.The second, three days later on August 10, will see the duo take in Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, at the University of Michigan, in what will be the largest venue either side has ever played in.Affectionately known as ‘The Big House’, it is the second-largest stadium in the world after North Korea’s national football ground, with a current capacity of 107,601.The fixtures represent Barcelona’s first visit since pre-season last year, when they played three International Champions Cup games in Pasadena, Arlington and Santa Clara, while Napoli make their first trip stateside for three decades.Both teams professed their excitement at the upcoming fixtures, with club presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Aurelio de Laurentiis expressing their delight for the encounters.”Visiting the United States and being able to get closer to our fans is always a great thing for Barca,” Bartomeu stated.”On top of that, we will also have the chance to play at two iconic stadiums: at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where in 2017 we played the LaLiga Clasico, and at Michigan Stadium, the largest in the United States.”While there, we hope to put on a show and entertain our American fans with our style of play.””We could not be happier to be playing against Barcelona in the United States,” added de Laurentiis.”Our club has not visited the country for thirty years and the chance to go back to the American market for these two games and against an opponent like Barca is extraordinary for us.”Barcelona have already confirmed an additional pre-season trip to Japan, where they will face Vissel Kobe and Premier League outfit Chelsea.
Argentina lucky to be alive at Copa – Scaloni
Lionel Scaloni admitted Argentina were “lucky” to still be alive in the Copa America after a 1-1 draw with Paraguay on Wednesday.Lionel Messi’s second-half penalty cancelled out Richard Sanchez’s goal in the Group B clash in Belo Horizonte.But Argentina also needed goalkeeper Franco Armani, who saved a spot-kick from Derlis Gonzalez to earn his side their first point of the tournament. Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? Scaloni, whose team are facing a group-stage exit and need a win over Qatar on Sunday, said Argentina were fortunate.”The solution is that we have to win. We are lucky to be alive,” he told a news conference.”We have to look more like the second half, but be more balanced and thus be able to manage the game.”He added: “Our first half was not good, we played with desperation at times and we couldn’t control the play or create attacks.”We had a very clear plan but couldn’t execute it as we kept losing the ball.”They scored with their first attack and that caused us a lot of uncertainty.”For a team like Argentina, which feels like it always has to win, the first blow is hard to take, but we assured the players at half time that it was just one goal.”The introduction of Sergio Aguero at the interval led to a more dangerous Argentina as the forward played alongside Messi and Lautaro Martinez.But an unhappy Martinez was substituted in the 67th minute with what was later described as a glute injury.”I don’t know if it was the best version [before Martinez came off], but without a doubt it was the most dangerous,” Scaloni said.”Sergio entered very well.”Argentina remain bottom of the group on one point, behind Colombia (six), Paraguay (two) and Qatar (one) ahead of Sunday’s games.
Photos Emerging From The ‘Urban Meyer Rally’ At Ohio State
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 02: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on as they play the Wisconsin Badgers during the second half of the the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)Tonight, a number of Ohio State fans are gathering outside Ohio Stadium to support Urban Meyer. They are rallying for the Buckeyes’ head coach, who is on administrative leave while being investigated for his handling of alleged domestic violence committed by former assistant Zach Smith.The rally starts at 6 p.m. ET. However, people arrived at The Shoe early, forming a sizable crowd.You can see in the photos below some of the signs on display and the amount of fans in attendance.More pics from the fan-led Urban Meyer rally at Ohio Stadium (thread)… pic.twitter.com/rmPHK22iXq— Geoff Redick (@GeoffWSYX6) August 6, 2018More pics from the fan-led Urban Meyer rally at Ohio Stadium (thread)… pic.twitter.com/rmPHK22iXq— Geoff Redick (@GeoffWSYX6) August 6, 2018More pics from the fan-led Urban Meyer rally at Ohio Stadium (thread)… pic.twitter.com/rmPHK22iXq— Geoff Redick (@GeoffWSYX6) August 6, 2018Buckeye fans lining up for 6pm rally to support coach Urban Meyer. pic.twitter.com/3qTq9wQ5se— Rob Wells (@robwsyx6) August 6, 2018I’m at a rally outside Ohio Stadium in support of OSU head coach Urban Meyer, who was placed on administrative leave while under investigation. @DispatchAlerts pic.twitter.com/K0HBRdeTOs— Abbey Marshall (@AbbeyMarshall) August 6, 2018RALLY IN SUPPORT OF URBAN MEYER: Buckeye fans with signs are starting to gather outside of Ohio Stadium. pic.twitter.com/j9S4Da3Aw5— Dan Pearlman (@danpearlman) August 6, 2018The Meyer rally is going to be an interesting one for sure.We’ll see if anything noteworthy comes of it later tonight.
ESPN Releases Prediction For Ohio State-Northwestern
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)Ohio State and Northwestern are set to meet in the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.The Wildcats locked up their Big Ten Championship Game berth earlier in the month, while the Buckeyes secured their spot with a win over rival Michigan on Saturday.Ohio State heads into the game as a massive favorite, needing a win to stay in the College Football Playoff hunt.Northwestern, meanwhile, will be looking to play spoiler. A Wildcats’ win could send Pat Fitzgerald’s team to a major bowl game and knock Urban Meyer’s squad out of championship contention.Who’s going to emerge with the win? ESPN has made its prediction.ESPN’s Football Power Index is giving No. 10 Ohio State an 84.2 percent chance of winning this game, giving Northwestern just a 15.8 percent chance of pulling off the upset.Ohio State and Northwestern are set to kick off at 8 p.m. E.T.The game will be televised on FOX.
Tate Martell Exploring Transfer From Ohio State
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 08: Tate Martell #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes breaks free on a 47-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 52-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)Tate Martell expected to be the heir apparently for the Ohio State quarterback job, with Dwayne Haskins’ decision to head to the NFL after one year as starter.Justin Fields’ abrupt transfer from Georgia threw a wrench in those plans.Fields, the No. 2 player in the 2018 class behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, is one of the most highly touted quarterbacks to come out of high school in recent memories.He did not beat out incumbent Jake Fromm at UGA, and made the somewhat surprising decision to leave after just one year, with his sights on immediate eligibility.Fields and Ohio State reportedly expect a decision on that front in the next few weeks. They better be confident in the case, because Martell may be on the way out now.According to Lettermen Row’s Jeremy Birmingham, Tate Martell has entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.Miami and West Virginia are two potential landing spots, per his report.West Virginia loses Will Grier to graduation, while new Miami coach Manny Diaz inherits a talented but messy quarterback room, and has openly said that he is looking at outside options at the position.Can confirm that Tate Martell is now in the NCAA transfer portal. He’ll begin to explore options outside of Ohio State — believe Miami and West Virginia are two schools that are worth watching.— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) January 10, 2019This does not mean Martell is definitely leaving. There’s a good chance that it may hinge on whether Fields can play in 2019 or not.Martell was a four-star recruit in the class of 2017, and the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the country.As a redshirt freshman this year, he appeared in six games, completing 23-of-28 for 269 yards, and one touchdown. He also ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
James Franklin Addresses Starting Quarterback Battle
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks on after the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Beaver Stadium on November 10, 2018 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)With Trace McSorley off to the Baltimore Ravens and Tommy Stevens transferring to Mississippi State, there’s going to be a very green quarterback under center for Penn State in 2019. Head coach James Franklin recently provided an update on his quarterback situation.Speaking to Rivals’ Blue-White Illustrated, Franklin made it clear that he has no intention of naming a starter even if one quarterback sets himself apart from the others. As of writing, sophomore Sean Clifford is widely expected to win the job.“What I don’t want to do is, I don’t want to ever make promises or make statements and then don’t live up to them,” Franklin told BWI. “We don’t do that in recruiting. A lot of schools do that in recruiting. They promise a guy a number, they promise playing time. We just don’t do that.“To me, we’re supposed to be using the game of football to teach kids life, and you earn things in life and you earn things in college football.”McSorley was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the NFL Draft after three years as Penn State’s starter. Stevens, his backup, decided to transfer to Mississippi State for his senior year.Franklin is heading into his sixth year with Penn State, but only his second quarterback controversy. AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p He inherited Christian Hackenberg from his predecessor Bill O’Brien in 2014, who went on to lead the Nittany Lions for Franklin’s first two seasons.McSorley beat out Stevens for the starting job in 2016, and maintained the job through the 2018 season.Whoever takes over for McSorley in 2019 will have some big shoes to fill.[Blue-White Illustrated]
Analyst Predicts College Football’s No. 1 Offense In 2019
Jalen Hurts, of course, is now at Oklahoma, while Georgia and Texas are surging back to the top of the college football world, too.Which college football program will have the best offense in 2019?Bleacher Report believes it’s Oklahoma:1. Oklahoma SoonersOklahoma didn’t just lead the nation in yards per play last season. It blew everyone else out of the water. Same goes for the 2017 season. A lot of that was the supreme skills of eventual No. 1 picks Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield, but the brilliant offensive mind of Lincoln Riley and the laughably bad defenses in the Big 12 were also key elements of that offensive dominance. With those latter two factors and a ton of proven talent still on Oklahoma’s side, it should continue to move down the field at will.It feels weird to not have Clemson, led by future No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, at No. 1 here, but it’s tough to argue against the success of Lincoln Riley’s Sooners in recent years.OU has won the last two Heisman Trophies, after all. Can Hurts make it three in a row this fall? 
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: A general view of the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Georgia Bulldogs at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)We’re basically three months away from the start of the 2019 college football season, which begins at the end of August.Who’s excited?We certainly can’t wait.The 2019 college football season should be a thrilling one, with Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa leading Clemson and Alabama, respectively, while Justin Fields is taking over at Ohio State.
Penn State Player Announces Transfer Destination
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – SEPTEMBER 30: Ayron Monroe #23 of the Penn State Nittany Lions waves to the crowd as he runs out for the game against the Indiana Hoosiers on September 30, 2017 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeats Indiana 45-14. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)With one year of eligibility remaining, Penn State safety Ayron Monroe has decided to try getting more playing time at a different school. After identifying his transfer destination, it looks like he won’t be moving too far though.Taking to his Twitter account on Thursday, Monroe announced that he will be spending his final year of college football at Temple. The announcement makes Monroe the seventh Penn State player to enter the transfer portal and find a new school.Monroe didn’t have to travel far to find his new school. Penn State and Temple are less than four hours away from each other.Over the last three seasons at Penn State, Monroe recorded 40 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two passes defended and one fumble recovery. On a mission to reach the point in which I stand before my vision 👁. #TempleTuff let’s rock! pic.twitter.com/fwkyqjLXZI— AyRonny wheres Ron? (@ay_ronnyron) May 30, 2019As a recruit in 2015, Monroe was a three-star prospect ranked No. 587 in the country. He was the No. 37 ranked safety in the country, and the No. 5 prospect from Washington D.C.Per Penn Live, Monroe is expected to be immediately eligible for the Owls.Temple is coming off a fourth-straight bowl game, and will be entering the 2019 season with new head coach Rod Carey.