Gästebuch » Austin to advance to the regional.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Thomas Davis knows his window to win a Super Bowl is closing fast.That doesnt bother the Panthers 33-year-old All-Pro linebacker as much as the fear of not being able to make good on a promise to team owner Jerry Richardson.At this point, its really not about me anymore, Davis said of winning a Super Bowl. My goal and my whole reasoning for playing as hard as I can right now -- knowing that when you get to 12 years (in the league) time is starting to wind down -- is I want to put a Super Bowl ring on Mr. Richardsons finger.The promise stems from the loyalty Richardson showed Davis after he tore the ACL in his knee for the third time in two years back in 2011.Rather than release Davis, who was due an $8 million option that offseason, Richardson met with the former Georgia Bulldogs All-American in his office and asked him to return -- a seemingly generous gesture considering no NFL player had ever returned from three torn ACLs in the same knee.The Panthers restructured Davis deal and hes been rewarding them ever since.Davis has put together four outstanding seasons, helping the Panthers finish in the top 10 in defense every year. Along with earning his first All-Pro selection last year, hes also been an ambassador for the team, winning the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2014 and number of other awards for his community service.But his primary goal is to repay Richardson with the owners first Super Bowl since bringing the NFL to the Carolinas in 1995.That was the promise I made to him, Davis said, becoming emotional as he spoke. Im trying to stay true to that promise.Thats one of the reasons Davis didnt hesitate to play in the Super Bowl last year after breaking his forearm in the NFC championship game. Davis didnt complain about having 12 screws and a metal plate surgically inserted into his arm just 13 days before the game.Davis not only played in Super Bowl 50 but had five tackles and handed out some vicious hits, although the Panthers lost the game 24-10 to the Denver Broncos.He has said the loss has only bolstered his desire to get back.The highly regarded Panthers begin their season Thursday night with a rematch against the Broncos in Denver.Knowing he was that person that believed in me, that said he would give me another shot after everything I went through personally, its definitely something I want to be a part of, Davis said of Richardson.While Davis wants to win a ring for the teams owner -- who declined comment for this story through the teams public relations staff -- the linebackers teammates want to win one for him.Davis is as well respected in the Panthers locker room as any player who has put on the pads in the franchises 22-year history.You look at what Thomas has done for the Carolina Panthers fighting through the knees and with his work in the community, I think getting him a ring would be a final stamp on his resume, linebacker Luke Kuechly said. Hes been All-Pro, been to the Pro Bowl, won Walter Payton Man of the Year and all sorts of awards I cant even name. ... If you look at what the Panthers embody, its Thomas Davis. He fights, he leads and does everything the right way.Then Kuechly smiled and said, I would never say all of this nice stuff in front of him, but hes one of my best buds.Davis feels the same way about Richardson, a former player who brought football to the Carolinas but has never won the games ultimate prize.When you look at Mr. Richardson and what hes been and what hes done for me as a player, I mean, (a Super Bowl ring) is the only thing he doesnt have, Davis said.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Sports Writer Steve Reed on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SteveReedAP Miles Sanders Jersey . 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The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. NEW YORK -- Notre Dame had a good enough start that a tough second half didnt make a difference.Bonzie Colson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth career double-double and the Fighting Irish held off Colorado 89-83 on Monday night in the semifinals of the Legends Classic at Barclays Center.We got off to a great start, really flowing offensively, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. Second half Colorado really guarded us and we had to find different ways to play. We made free throws and it was kind of a grinding game. Im proud of how we held people but we have a lot of guys that have won big games and have big game pressure on them. I thought that experience helped us escape tonight.The Fighting Irish (4-0) will play Northwestern, which beat No. 22 Texas 77-58, for the title on Tuesday.The Buffaloes (3-1) trailed by 15 points at halftime and were able to get as close as four points twice in the final minute but Notre Dame went 14 for 14 from the free throw line over the final 1:33 to keep Colorado at bay in the first meeting between the schools.Matt Farrell had 20 points and V.J. Beacham and Steve Vasturia added 17 each for Notre Dame which went 27 for 29 from the free throw line. Colson, a 6-foot-5 junior, matched his career high with the 12 rebounds.I just wanted to stay composed and just stay focused, make sure I attacked the glass on both ends, Colson said. Coach emphasized before the game trying to get more rebounds and I think as a collective unit we did really well in that. Just stay composed and. we stayed in character.Xavier Johnson scored 23 points, Derrick White had 20 points and nine assists and George King added 17 points and 13 points for Colorado, which was able to rally in the second half by shooting 16 of 34 from the field (47.1 percent). The Buffaloes finished 18 of 19 from the free throw line.Theres a sense of urgency. We were down 15 points. The margin of error was very small, King said. So we had to pick it up defensively. That was our main focus going into the second half.Notre Dame came out firing and gave itself a comfortable 50-35 halftime lead.The Fighting Irish shot 54.5 percent (18 of 33) from the field, including making six of 12 3-point attempts in the first half. Colorado, meanwhile, struggled from the field in the first half shooting 37.1 percent (13 of 35) from the field and only 2 of 8 from 3-point range.I liked our guys fight to get back. You dig yourself a hole in the first half, against a good team its tough, Colorado coach Tad Boyle said. They made free throws down the stretch when theey had to.dddddddddddd I knew they were a good free throw shooting team. So its tough to come back on teams like that. We have to fight for 40 minutes, not for 20.Notre Dame couldnt keep up the shooting in the second half and the Buffaloes were able to make it close but the Fighting Irish sealed it at the free throw line.Weve been in those situations before. I never thought we were going to beat them by 20. Theyre too good a team, Brey said. Theyre an NCAA Tournament team and I think theyre going to be pretty darn good in the Pac 12. Youre not just going to put them away. I expected a run and Im glad that our guys were poised. We made some big free throws.BIG PICTURE:Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish will be looking for their first in-season tournament since winning the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in 2012. ... Former Notre Dame star Kelly Tripucka was honored during the game as a legend for the Fighting Irish. ... As of Nov. 18 Notre Dame was scheduled to face seven teams in the top 15 in the AP poll.Colorado: This was the Buffaloes first game away from home. ... Colorado was picked fifth in the Pac-12 preseason poll. ... The Buffaloes came in allowing 59.3 points per game.NICE PLACE:Notre Dame started its run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last season at Barclays Center. The Fighting Irish beat Michigan and Stephen F. Austin to advance to the regional. They will be back here in March for the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.I said the karma would still be here, Brey said. Were comfortable in this building. Id love to get one more tomorrow night and then to come back in March and try to get some. But theres no question, the familiarity and the memories. We were in the same locker room. Oh it was good stuff, all good stuff.BAD SHOTS:Its a lot easier to list the players who missed free throws rather than making them. Austin Torres missed the two free throws for Notre Dame and Johnson went 5 of 6 for the Buffaloes. Colson led all free throw shooters by going 9 for 9.ON THE MARK:Both teams almost hit their scoring average for the season. Notre Dame came in averaging 88 points per game and the Buffaloes were at 82. The defensive numbers took a hit, however. The Fighting Irish came in allowing 53.7 points and Colorado allowed 59.3.UP NEXT:Notre Dame: will play Northwestern in the championship game of the Legends Classic.Colorado: will play No. 22 Texas for third place in the Legends Classic. ' ' '