Newcastle United v Manchester City Barclays Premier League preview

Newcastle United

Newcastle United Football Club  is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892, by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since. The ground was developed into an all-seater stadium in the mid-1990s and now has a capacity of 52,387. The club has been a member of the Premier League for all but two years of the competition's history, and never dropped below the English football's second tier, since joining the Football League in 1893. In 2007, long term chairman and owner Sir John Hall sold his share in the club to Mike Ashley.

They have won four League Championship titles and six FA Cups, as well as the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the 2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup. Newcastle United has the ninth highest total of major honours won by an English club.The club's most successful period was between 1904 and 1910, when they won an FA Cup and three of their First Division titles.They have a fierce local rivalry with Sunderland, and the two clubs have engaged in the Tyne–Wear derby since 1898. The club's traditional kit colours are black and white striped shirts, black shorts and black socks. Their traditional crest takes elements of the city coat of arms which features two seahorses.

The first record of football being played on Tyneside dates from 3 March 1877 at Elswick Rugby Club. Later that year, Newcastle's first football club, Tyne Association, was formed. The origins of Newcastle United Football Club itself can be traced back to the formation of a football club by the Stanley Cricket Club of Byker in November 1881. This team was renamed Newcastle East End F.C. in October 1882, to avoid confusion with the cricket club in Stanley, County Durham. Rosewood F.C. of Byker merged with Newcastle East End a short time later. In 1886, Newcastle East End moved from Byker to Heaton. In August 1882, Newcastle West End F.C. formed from West End Cricket Club, and in May 1886, the club moved into St James' Park.The two clubs became rivals in the Northern League.

Hughton led Newcastle to win the 2009–10 Football League Championship, securing automatic promotion on 5 April 2010 with five games remaining, and securing the title on 19 April 2010; Newcastle were promoted back to the Premier League after just one season away. Under Hughton, Newcastle enjoyed a strong start to the 2010–11 season, recording famous wins against Aston Villa, Arsenal and archrivals Sunderland. Despite his high popularity among fans following these memorable wins, Hughton was sacked on 6 December 2010, following a 3–1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion. The club's board stated that they felt "an individual with more managerial experience needed to take the club forward."Three days later, Alan Pardew was appointed as manager with a five and a half-year contract.Further controversy was caused on 31 January 2011, when striker Andy Carroll was sold to Liverpool for a club record of £35 million.Despite this turbulence, Newcastle were able to finish twelfth at the end of the season, with one particular highlight being a 4–4 home draw against Arsenal which saw Newcastle come back from four goals down to claim a point.

Newcastle United was set up as a private company limited by shares on 6 September 1895.The club traded in this way for much of the 20th century, until April 1997, when John Hall, who bought 72.9% of the club for £3 million in 1991, floated the club on the stock exchange as a public limited company, with less than half the shares sold to the Hall family and the majority holding going to his business partner Freddy Shepherd. Later that year Hall stepped down as chairman and was replaced by Shepherd, with the Hall family represented on the board by John's son Douglas.In December 1998, after buying a 6.3% stake in the club for £10m, the media group NTL had considered a full takeover of the club. This was later dropped after the April 1999 Competition Commission, brought in due to government concerns about football clubs being owned by media companies.

Team squad : 

1 GK Tim Krul

2 DF Fabricio Coloccini (captain)

3 DF Davide Santon

4 MF Yohan Cabaye

5 DF Danny Simpson

6 DF Mike Williamson

8 MF Vurnon Anita

9 FW Papiss Cissé

10 MF Hatem Ben Arfa

14 DF James Perch

15 MF Dan Gosling

16 DF Ryan Taylor

17 MF Romain Amalfitano

18 MF Jonás Gutiérrez (vice-captain)

19 FW Demba Ba

20 MF Gaël Bigirimana

21 GK Rob Elliot

22 MF Sylvain Marveaux

23 FW Shola Ameobi

24 MF Cheick Tioté

25 MF Gabriel Obertan

27 DF Steven Taylor

28 FW Sammy Ameobi

29 MF Haris Vučkić

30 FW Nile Ranger

31 DF Shane Ferguson

32 FW Xisco

34 DF James Tavernier

37 GK Steve Harper

39 MF Mehdi Abeid

42 GK Jak Alnwick

49 FW Adam Campbell

Manchester City

Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's (West Gorton), they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894. The club has played at the City of Manchester Stadium since 2003, having played at Maine Road from 1923. The club's most successful period was in the late 1960s and early 1970s when they won the League Championship, FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup under the management team of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison.After losing the 1981 FA Cup Final, the club went through a period of decline, culminating in relegation to the third tier of English football for the only time in their history in 1998. Having regained Premier League status, the club was purchased in 2008 by Abu Dhabi United Group and became one of the wealthiest in the world. In 2011, Manchester City qualified for the Champions League and won the FA Cup. In 2012, the club won the Premier League, their first league title for forty-four years.

City gained their first honours by winning the Second Division in 1899; with it came promotion to the highest level in English football, the First Division. They went on to claim their first major honour on 23 April 1904, beating Bolton Wanderers 1–0 at Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup; City narrowly missed out on a League and Cup double that season after finishing runners-up in the League but City became the first club in Manchester to win a major honour.In the seasons following the FA Cup triumph, the club was dogged by allegations of financial irregularities, culminating in the suspension of seventeen players in 1906, including captain Billy Meredith, who subsequently moved across town to Manchester United. A fire at Hyde Road destroyed the main stand in 1920, and in 1923 the club moved to their new purpose-built stadium at Maine Road in Moss Side.

Team squad :

1 GK Joe Hart

2 DF Micah Richards

3 DF Maicon

4 DF Vincent Kompany (captain)

5 DF Pablo Zabaleta

6 DF Joleon Lescott

7 MF James Milner

8 MF Samir Nasri

10 FW Edin Džeko

11 MF Scott Sinclair

13 DF Aleksandar Kolarov

14 MF Javi García

16 FW Sergio Agüero

17 MF Jack Rodwell

18 MF Gareth Barry

21 MF David Silva

22 DF Gaël Clichy

28 DF Kolo Touré

29 GK Richard Wright

30 GK Costel Pantilimon

32 FW Carlos Tévez

33 DF Matija Nastasić

42 MF Yaya Touré

43 FW Alex Nimely

45 FW Mario Balotelli

46 MF Michael Johnson

60 FW John Guidetti

62 MF Abdul Razak

Fulham vs Newcastle United, Premier League preview

Alan Pardew takes his men to Craven Cottage as Newcastle United face Fulham in a Monday night Premier League fixture. Martin Jol's side are 13th with 17 points from 15 games and the Magpies trail in 14th on an inferior goal difference.

Overview

Fulham have not won a game since the 1-0 win over Aston Villa in October. And Jol will be aware that the longer the Cottagers winless stretch (now at seven) extends, the harder it will be to avoid relegation. The last game ended in a poor 0-3 home defeat to Tottenham and Fulham have now lost three of the last four games played. Worse still, Fulham have now gone close to 300 minutes with scoring in the Premier League, which is surprising considering they rank eighth in the table in terms of goals scored (25).

Meanwhile, Pardew has something to cheer about before this game - Newcastle progressed to the knock-out stages of the UEFA Europa League, despite a midweek defeat at French side Bordeaux. The Magpies' domestic form, however, is starkly different to that in Europe and, importantly, from last season. Newcastle were superb in the 2011/12 campaign, after winning promotion from the Championship that season, finishing fifth.

So far this year, the St James' Park club have won only four of 15 games played, with only one win in the last six league games... and three in the last 10 across all competitions. They come into the game with a good league result behind them though. Newcastle hammered Wigan Athletic 3-0 at home last weekend, with Senegal forward Demba Ba scoring twice.

The Dutch manager has few injury concerns as Costa Rican striker Bryan Ruiz (hamstring) is and will be out of action this year while loanee from German side FC Koln Sascha Riether (knee) is also expected to sit out of the game. Former Welsh winger Simon Davies is long term absentee for the Cottagers and is expected to be missing most part of this season with a hip injury.

Fulham skipper Brede Hangeland is set to return to Jol's back four as he sat out for three matches after picking up a red card against Sunderland while midfielder Alexander Kacaniklic is also fit enough to start against Newcastle.

Fulham will be boosted by the return of captain Brede Hangeland. The central defender has finished serving a three match suspension for a red card against Sunderland and should slot straight back in, at the expense of former Arsenal man Philipe Senderos. Jol will also welcome Alex kacanikilic and Sascha Riether from injury but Bryan Ruiz (hamstring) will be unavailable for at least another month. Simon Davies (hip) is also out and will be missing till the New Year.

Probable Line-Up: Schwarzer; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise; Duff, Sidwell, Diarra, Kacaniklic; Petric, Berbatov

Pardew can now call on defender Davide Santon, midfielder Chieck Tiote and playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa but last week's Premier League hero, Demba Ba, may struggle to be fit; he strained his hamstring in the game against Wigan. Ryan Taylor (knee), Steven Taylor (hamstring) and Yohan Cabaye (groin) remain long-term absentees, while there is still no confirmed return set for Dan Gosling and Haris Vuckic (both knee).

Probable Line-Up: Krul; Simpson, Coloccini, Perch, Santon; Gutierrez, Tiote, Anita, Ben Arfa; Cisse, Ba 

Barclays Premier League:Sevilla FC and Valladolid square up

Sevilla FC and Valladolid may have started the Primera Division season with wildly differing expectations, but it is Monday's hosts and not the visitors who are on the backfoot with nearly half the campaign gone.The Rojiblancos have flattered to deceive over recent weeks, a 5-1 derby victory over Real Betis and a 6-1 aggregate win over Espanyol in the Copa del Rey arriving during a woeful run of results that has left Michel's men struggling in 11th place.

Promoted Valladolid are one place better off and in the top half, with only a poor away record denying the Pucela a loftier position in the standings.But Sevilla boss Michel now wants his players build on recent positive results in a bid to engineer a swift return to the European places.He told AS: I expect to see more of the Sevilla that these players have shown me recently, a Sevilla side that is starting to enjoy more good games than bad ones.

Sevilla FC vs Valladolid

Date : 03/12/2012

Time : 20:30 GMT

Venue:Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan

The players are high on confidence and they showed as much in the Copa del Rey.When the first-team squad is running low on energy we give games to those who want to play. Cala has always responded well and Botia has played in a lot of games.Chilean midfielder Bryan Rabello, 18, is another player who has impressed Michel of late, with young striker Alex Rubio also entering Sevilla's short-term plans.

Rabello has proved to be a quiet and sensible player,Michel added.He's been playing very well for the youth team recently and it's possible that he will get some game time.

Alex is not scoring that many goals in the youth team but I hope he will take advantage of an opportunity to join up with the first team.

Valladolid fell foul of Sevilla's city rivals Betis in the Copa del Rey this week, slumping to a 3-1 aggregate defeat having won the first leg 1-0.Pucela head coach Miroslav Djukic is wary of suffering a similar capitulation at the hands of Sevilla, telling Marca:They will play the same way and we have to be prepared.We have to play with personality and play our own game. The players have the chance to prove they have the character to stay above their rivals and this game is as tricky as they come.

Newcastle United will play against Wigan Athletic tonight

After four successive defeats Newcastle United could do with an ego-repairing win at the start of a busy week, during which Alan Pardew's side also visit Bordeaux in the Europa League on Thursday. Wigan have never won a Premier League game at St James' Park but little has gone right for Pardew since he signed an eight-year contract in September. No Newcastle side have ever lost five successive Premier League fixtures but the visitors will hope to capitalise on the absence of Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye and Steven Taylor from an injury-hit home squad. Louise Taylor

Venue St James' Park, Monday 8pm

Last season Newcastle 1 Wigan 0

Referee M Jones

This season's matches 9 Y33, R0, 3.67 cards per game

Odds Newcastle 10-11 Wigan 14-5 Draw 5-2

Newcastle United

Subs from Elliot, Harper, Tavernier, Marveaux, Ferguson, Amalfitano, Abeid Bigirimana, Ranger, Shola Ameobi

Doubtful Shola Ameobi (groin) Injured Ben Arfa (hamstring, Dec 8), Cabaye (groin, Feb), S Taylor (hamstring, Feb) R Taylor (knee, Aug), Vuckic (knee, Aug), Gosling (knee, unknown), Obertan (toe, unknown) Suspended Perch (one match)

Wigan Athletic 

Subs from Pollitt, Caldwell, Boselli, McManaman, Golobart, Redmond, Orsula, Fyvie

Doubtful Caldwell (hamstring), Jones (calf)

Injured Maloney (groin, 3 Dec), Miyaichi (ankle, 3 Dec), McArthur (hip, 3 Dec), Crusat (knee, 3 Dec), Alcaraz (groin, 3 Dec), Watson (leg, Feb), Ramis (hamstring, unknown) Suspended None

Real Madrid will play against Barcelona today

Real Madrid CF travels to Barcelona for playing this match. This match will be held at Camp Nou Stadium which is in Barcelona. The match is in between Real Madrid and Barcelona in the LA LIGA Match and it will be playing at 7th Oct, 2012. This match will be begins at 18:45 GMT. This will be a very big and very great match. Both teams are very great and it will be a very interesting match to seeing. We will provide you Real Madrid vs Barcelona live stream link before the match.

In this year, last 5 matches of both teams are which was playing against each other. First match was played on 18th Jan, 2012 in the Copa Del Rey match. This match was won by Barcelona and made 2 goals where real Madrid loses the match. 2nd match was played on 25th Jan, 2012. This match was drawn by 2-2. 3rd match was played on 21st April, 2012 in the LA Liga match and this match was won by Real Madrid and made 2 goals where Barcelona only made 1 goal and lose the match. 4rth match was played on 23rd Aug, 2012 in the Spanish Supercup. This match was won by Barcelona and made 3 goals where real Madrid made 2 goals and lose the match and last 5th match was played on 29th Aug, 2012 in the Spanish Supercup. This match was won by real Madrid and made 2 goals. All over result of both the teams which was playing against each other was that Barcelona won 2 matches. Real Madrid also won 2 matches and 1 match was drawn.

Laura Robson loses to Su-Wei Hsieh in Guangzhou Open final

Chinese Taipei's Hsieh took the first set but the British number one saved five championship points at 5-3 down in the second and battled to win it 7-5.

Robson continued to build momentum into the third set, taking a 3-0 lead.But Hsieh won five successive games and sealed victory in two hours 48 minutes.

Sara Gomer was the last Briton to win a WTA singles title in 1988, while Jo Durie was the last to reach a final in 1990.However, teenager Robson, who made it as far as the fourth round of the US Open at the start of this month, will rise into the top 70 of the world rankings for the first time on Monday.

The first set began on even terms as Robson broke her opponent's serve in the third game then trailed 40-15 on her own serve in the fourth, and saved two break points before Hsieh prevailed.

Hsieh, who won her first title in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year, was using her drop shot to great effect and won the next three games and, though Robson took the eighth after a long battle, Hsieh held her nerve to take the first set 6-3.After some encouragement from coach Zeljko Krajan, Robson broke Hsieh in the second game of the second set to lead 2-0, but once again Hsieh won four successive games to go 4-2 up.It left the Taiwanese player only needing to hold serve to close out victory, and it looked like a straight-sets defeat was on the cards for Robson as, despite a spirited rally, she dropped the eighth game to trail 5-3.But despite the searing Chinese heat, Robson dug deep to save match point on those five occasions in the ninth game, eventually winning four games in a row to seal the second set in style.

And a first British WTA title for 24 years looked on the cards when London-based Robson won the first two games of the third set and saved three break points in the third game to take a 3-0 lead - having won seven games on the trot.But the pendulum began to swing towards Hsieh as she won the next five games, breaking Robson twice to claim a 5-3 advantage, and although Robson held serve in the ninth game, Hsieh powered to victory.Meanwhile, British number two Heather Watson reached the main draw of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo with a 5-7 6-3 6-2 win over world number 62 Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic in the final round of qualifying.In Seoul, top seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark beat Russia's Ekaterina Makarova 6-1 5-7 6-4 to reach the final of the Korea Open.Wozniacki will meet Estonia's Kaia Kanepi, who beat United States player Varvara Lepchenko 6-4 2-6 6-4 in the other semi.

Frustrating Liverpool, Nolan's nose for goal

It wasn't quite deja vu but there were certainly similarities. It will probably prove a simplification, if not wrong altogether, to say that one system and one approach is a guarantee of success against Liverpool but Sunderland's gameplan was rather reminiscent of West Bromwich Albion's four weeks earlier when they won 3-0. 

In both games, the home side played like the away team. Both played 4-2-3-1 - as Arsenal also did in their 2-0 win at Anfield - and both dropped deep, ceding both possession and territory and then counter-attacking. Liverpool had the ball for 66% of the game at the Stadium of Light. While Sunderland had spells of pressure, for the majority of the game they retreated to conserve energy and challenged Liverpool to break them down. 

Just as Albion's two holding midfielders, Youssouf Mulumbu and Claudio Yacob, stayed close to their two centre-backs, so did their Sunderland counterparts, Lee Cattermole and Jack Colback. The aim is to limit the space between the lines, to force Liverpool to operate in wider positions and further from the opposition's goal. 

That Sunderland's focus was on position, not pressing is evident from the statistics. Liverpool's anchor midfielder, Joe Allen, was allowed to be on the ball and completed 103 passes, more than Cattermole, Colback, James McClean and Seb Larsson managed between them. Their importance lay less in their efforts on the ball than off it and the absence of the injured Adam Johnson, a more attack-minded but less defensively-disciplined winger, may have helped Sunderland's shape as Larsson moved to the right and they stationed two banks of four in front of Simon Mignolet's goal. 

As in the Albion game, being organised wasn't quite the same as keeping Liverpool quiet. The visitors had 23 efforts on goal and six before Sunderland's first - and only - attempt on target. But, in another common denominator, they did not score the opening goal of the game, which would have drawn the home side out. 

In both games, too, Luis Suarez has had a series of shots: eight at the Hawthorns and six at Sunderland, one bringing his second goal of the season, but only three of those 14 have been on target. 

Liverpool were the superior side at 0-0 in both games, but then trailed 1-0. As with the majority of goals they conceded last season, individual errors, rather than tactical failings, were the cause. The immediate issue was poor defending by Martin Skrtel, allowing Steven Fletcher to get beyond him, but the build-up was also notable for mistakes. As Craig Gardner, Sunderland's right-back, came forward, Liverpool had two players in reasonable positions: left-back Glen Johnson and, tracking back from as the left of the front three, Suarez. The problem was that both made flimsy challenges, allowing Gardner to go past them and cross. 

That Suarez was on the flank was notable. Rodgers tweaked his tactics in two ways: Steven Gerrard, who had been the most advanced of the three central midfielders, operated further back and closer to Allen and Jonjo Shelvey, and the front three alternated more often. At various points four players - Suarez, Raheem Sterling, Fabio Borini and the substitute Stewart Downing - were the left winger with the Uruguayan taking the longest turn there. Sterling, who had spent virtually all of his embryonic career on the left, was on the right for much of the match. It gave Liverpool a different threat: whereas Borini, as more of a striker, looks infield when on the right, Sterling was prepared to go outside his full-back, Danny Rose, and that led to Suarez's goal. 

The statistical anomaly that Liverpool have not led, let alone won, against a team with a back four (Manchester City played 3-4-1-1 at Anfield) suggests more teams may play 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1 against them and the reality that they have not been ahead in those matches means Albion, Arsenal and Sunderland have never had to chase the game. One advantage of Rodgers' philosophy for opponents is that they can predict his formation and set up accordingly. Perhaps a blueprint has been established by West Brom and now Sunderland. 

Jacoby Ford officially done for season

Jacoby Ford's season has come to an end, cornerback Ron Bartell is on hiatus and cornerback Coye Francies and long snapper Nick Guess have had theirs resuscitated by being signed to the Raiders roster from the team's practice squad.with Ford undergoing season-ending Lisfranc surgery on his left foot Tuesday and Bartell suffering a broken left shoulder blade in Oakland's opener the night before, as well as Pro Bowler long snapper Jon Condo still trying to come back from a concussion suffered against San Diego, the Raiders needed reinforcements. So none of the four moves are all that surprising.

Ryan Mathews Likely to Miss Titans Game

It appears as if the San Diego Chargers will be without running back Ryan Mathews for another week.Michael Gehlken of the Union-Tribune San Diego, who covers the team on a daily basis, tweeted Friday that he doesn't believe Mathews will suit up Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.Mathews is on his way back from a broken clavicle that was suffered in the Chargers' preseason opener back in early August. He's only been through a few practices, so he's not likely anywhere ready be step in and be effective.

Curtis Brinkley and Ronnie Brown shouldered the load last week in the win over the Oakland Raiders, but they were extremely ineffective. The pair combined for just 17 yards on 16 carries. Yes, 17 yards on 15 carries. Neither back did anything to deserve more playing time than the other. So you can expect it to be another mixed bag against the Titans.But the Chargers will likely only have to be without Mathews for one more week, though. Gehlken believes that Mathews will be ready by Week 3, which is great news for Norv Turner's offense. If San Diego can't run the ball with any effectiveness, Philip Rivers is going to have a tough time with an extra defender dropped back while only rushing four.The only good news here is that Mathews is one week closer to a return. 

Pierre Garcon out for Washington Redskins

Pierre Garcon is unlikely to play for the Washington Redskins when they take on the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.Officially listed as questionable on the team's injury report, Garcon hurt his right foot during Week 1's victory over the New Orleans Saints an injury Redskins coach Mike Shanahan described as similar to turf toe. He has been limited in practice all week.

If Garcon doesn't play, first-year wide receiver Aldrick Robinson is expected to take his place. He had four catches for 52 yards last week after Garcon was hurt.Robinson was a sixth-round draft pick out of Southern Methodist University in 2011 who played on the Redskins' practice squad last season."He's got a lot more confidence in his hands," Shanahan said, according to The Washington Post. "Being here at the OTAs and summer camp, he is a lot more comfortable in the system. He made a couple of big plays in preseason where he has a lot of confidence. You can see that. He has a lot of speed to separate from defensive backs throughout the league. Especially when you take a look at the first game and the catches he made, he should have a lot of confidence.

UCF Knights vs Akron Zips ncaa college football on August 30.

UCF Knights :

The UCF Knights athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. These teams are collectively referred to as the Knights, with the women's teams sometimes referred to as the "Lady Knights." UCF participates in the NCAA's Division I (Division I FBS for football). The Knights joined Conference USA in 2005, and compete in the East Division in any sports split into a divisional format. UCF will join the Big East Conference for all sports on July 1, 2013.

The Knights field 16 varsity teams, 6 men, 9 women and one co-ed sport, that have won numerous national and conference titles. The Knights football team was Conference USA champions in 2007 and 2010, and the Knights women's basketball team were the 2009 and 2010 C-USA champions. The UCF cheerleading team has captured two national titles at the College Cheerleading and Dance Team Nationals, in 2003 and 2007.

UCF, its athletic program, and the university's alumni and sports fans are sometimes jointly referred to as the "UCF Nation," and are represented by the mascot Knightro. The "Knight" was chosen as the university mascot in 1970 by student election.The "Knights of Pegasus" - as it was originally called - was a submission put forth by students, staff, and faculty, who wished to replace UCF's original mascot, the Citronaut, which was a mix between an orange and an astronaut. The Knights were also chosen over "Vincent the Vulture," which was a popular unofficial mascot among students at the time.In 1994, Knightro debuted as the Knights official athletic mascot.

NCAA College Football

UCF Knights vs Akron Zips 

THURSDAY AUGUST 30

Time : 7:00 pm ( E.T.)

Akron Zips :

The intercollegiate athletic teams at The University of Akron are known as the Zips. Teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level and in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for college football. Since 1992, the Zips have been members of the Mid-American Conference. The Zips name is unique in college athletics and comes from "zippers", rubber overshoes made by the BF Goodrich Company that were popular in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1925, a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the university's athletic teams. Suggestions submitted by students, faculty, and alumni included Golden Blue Devils, Tip Toppers, Rubbernecks, Hillbillies, Kangaroos, and Cheveliers. The winner, freshman Margaret Hamlin, received a prize of $10 for "Zippers". Athletic director Kenneth Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to Zips in 1950. The university's mascot is "Zippy", a kangaroo. Zippy is one of only a few female college mascots in the United States.

NCAA College Football Schedule 2012

College football is American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States.The first ever intercollegiate football game between two American teams played under rules which would eventually become the rules under which modern American football is governed occurred between Princeton and Rutgers University in 1869. The completion of the first ever American football season came as a result of only two total games being played.

THURSDAY AUGUST 30

TIME (ET) VISITING TEAM   HOME TEAM  

7:00 pm UCF Knights vs Akron Zips    

7:00 pm Eastern Michigan Eagles vs Ball State Cardinals  

7:00 pm Southeast Missouri State Redhawks vs Central Michigan Chippewas  

7:00 pm Towson Tigers vs Kent State Golden Flashes  

7:00 pm 9 South Carolina Gamecocks vs Vanderbilt Commodores

7:15 pm Northern Colorado Bears vs Utah Utes  

7:30 pm Massachusetts Minutemen vs Connecticut Huskies    

7:30 pm Texas A&M Aggies vs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs    

7:30 pm McNeese State Cowboys vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders  

7:30 pm UCLA Bruins vs Rice Owls  

7:30 pm Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners vs South Alabama Jaguars  

8:00 pm Sacramento State Hornets vs New Mexico State Aggies    

8:00 pm Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs Utah State Aggies    

9:00 pm Eastern Washington Eagles vs Idaho Vandals    

10:15 pm Washington State Cougars vs Brigham Young Cougars    

10:30 pm Northern Arizona Lumberjacks vs Arizona State Sun Devils    

11:00 pm Minnesota Golden Gophers vs UNLV Rebels 

Wallabies turn to Roos to get the jump on All Blacks under high ball

The Wallabies have sought advice from several AFL big guns to improve their often-flawed aerial work. Former Swans coach Paul Roos has been seen at several recent Wallabies' training sessions helping the players improve their skills under the high ball and at restarts. It's not before time, as their poor kicking and catching skills has been a main problem area for the Wallabies for some years, prompting the SOS call to the AFL experts. Roos was brought in again yesterday, working with the players near the end of their training session at Leichhardt Oval. For some time the Wallabies and AFL clubs, in particular the Swans, have enjoyed a healthy relationship. Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has also developed a strong link with the Adelaide Crows assistant coach Dean Bailey. Bailey was in the Wallabies coaches' box when they defeated Wales in Melbourne this year.

The most extraordinary Test performance of the year remains Wallabies five-eighth Berrick Barnes's match-winning effort against Wales in Melbourne on the same day his first child Archie was born. Barnes had to make a mad dash from Sydney after witnessing the birth to get to the game in time. In tomorrow night's Test program, teammate Adam Ashley-Cooper said another highlight of that day was when Barnes received the players' player award after the game. ''He then took us through the week and how special it was to him to share what went on with the guys in the change room. It was probably one of the best moments I've had in the Wallabies and one that everyone in the sheds that night will never forget,'' Ashley-Cooper said.

Olympic 2012 hockey : New Zealand and Belgium suffer stalemate

They needed a positive result - and one in the Germany v Netherlands match - to keep open the slenderest avenue to the top four, but neither could force a winner.After a goalless first half, Belgium opened the scoring through Tom Boon in the 48th minute.But that lead lasted just six minutes as Nick Wilson dribbled along the left byline to squeeze a shot under Vincent Vanasch.New Zealand almost won it in the final minute when Andrew Hayward's penalty corner hit the post but the point means both sides will now contest the lower places.

Olympic 2012 hockey :Netherlands and Argentina claim wins

The Netherlands edged out the Republic of Korea 3-2 in Pool A, making it four successive wins.Korea took a fifth-minute lead through Cheon Seul Ki's penalty corner but the Netherlands bounced back quickly with a simple goal as Maartje Paumen's straight free-hit was deflected in by Lidewij Welten.Goals from Ellen Hoog and Carlien van den Heuvel gave their side a two-goal advantage before Cheon converted her second corner with six minutes to go to set up a tense finish. Argentina overcame Germany 3-1, helping them move back to the top of Pool B on goal difference.

If Argentina and third-placed Australia draw in Monday's final match, then Germany will miss out on the top four irrespective of their result against New Zealand.Australia overcame South Africa 1-0 thanks to Jade Close's goal in the seventh minute.Pool A's bottom-of-the-table clash ended all-square as Japan fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against Belgium.Great Britain suffered a setback with a 2-1 defeat against China.Second-half penalty corner goals from Fu Baorong and Zhao Yudiao - Crista Cullen pulled back a late set-piece - did the damage as the Chinese took advantage of a lacklustre performance from the Host Nation.New Zealand boosted their chances of making the semi-finals and ended the USA's in an entertaining Pool B encounter, which the Black Sticks edged 3-2.

Super Rugby XV Final Chiefs will play against Sharks

The longest season in Super Rugby history comes to an exciting conclusion this weekend, with the Super Rugby Final between the Chiefs and Sharks guaranteed to provide a new champion.The New Zealand Conference champion Chiefs and the sixth placed overall wildcard qualifier Sharks, the last two franchises standing, will offer a wonderful encounter considering their different paths to the final match of the 2012 season.The Chiefs, courtesy of their standing as a top-two regular season finisher, had a break during the Super Rugby Qualifiers, but then had to account for the Crusaders in the Semi-Final, with a 20-17.

This came after an outstanding regular season where the Chiefs finished with a New Zealand record regular season ledger of 12 wins from 16 matches, while establishing a franchise record nine straight wins and a franchise record six straight home wins – although question marks were raised when they slumped to back-to-back defeats to the Crusaders and Hurricanes to close out their campaign.

The Sharks have had to do it the hard way, having to mount an incredible late season finish to qualify for the Super Rugby Finals Series, winning six of their last seven matches, with their only blemish being against the Lions – a result that cost the Sharks a South African clean sweep towards the end of the regular season.Celebrations in Durban in reaching the Super Rugby Finals Series were tempered by the long haul to face the Reds in Brisbane, and even that victory over the defending champions merely booked another long flight to battle the Stormers in Cape Town.

While the Crusaders may have set Super Rugby’s travelling record last season due to the Christchurch earthquake, the Sharks are looking at breaking the Super Rugby Finals Series travelling ledger, with their trip clocking over 30,000km so far.At least the Sharks had six of their last eight regular season matches in Durban, although that late run of home comfort must seem a distant memory for the South Africans.This Super Rugby Final, the Sharks first since 2007, also represents the first time since that season that the decider has featured two combatants still to win the championship.

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie and Sharks coach John Plumtree have both said that history doesn’t count for much coming into this match, but the fifteen clashes between the two sides represent a colourful rivalry.The Chiefs have won the last three matches, a run that gives them a one-win advantage (8-7) over the Sharks, who actually won seven of their first twelve encounters between the sides.Further to this is that fact that Chiefs territory won’t hold too many fears for the Sharks (despite the Chiefs six from eight record at Waikato Stadium this year), as the South African visitors won in Taupo in 2001, and in Hamilton in 2003 and 2009.Statistically, the head to head is one of the most even in Super Rugby competition, with just eight points and two tries separating the teams since first clashing in 1998.The Super Rugby Final, the Chiefs second and the Sharks fourth, is the first time that the two franchises have come up against each other in a Super Rugby Finals Series match.

MATCH DETAILS AND REFEREES:

Saturday, 4 August, 2012

Chiefs vs Sharks

Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand

Kick Off (1935 local, 0735 GMT, 1735 NSW/ACT, 0935 SAT)

REFEREE Steve Walsh

AR Craig Joubert

AR Keith Brown

TMO Garratt Williamson

HEAD TO HEAD:

Played 15: Chiefs 8, Sharks 7

Points aggregate: Chiefs 367, Sharks 375

Tries aggregate: Chiefs 42, Sharks 44

Last match: Sharks 12 – 18 Chiefs @ Mr Price King’s Park, Durban (2012SR, RD9)

Record in Hamilton/Taupo - Played 7, Chiefs 4, Sharks 3

Record in Super Rugby Finals Series – MAIDEN MATCH

Chiefs 2012 Record – Played 16, Won 12,Lost 4

444 PF (4th overall), 358 PA (6th overall), 47 tries (3rd equal overall)

Sharks 2012 Record – Played 16, Won 10, Lost 6

436 PF (5th overall), 348 PA (5th overall), 47 tries (3rd equal)

TEAMS:

Chiefs: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Andrew Horrell, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 

6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (c), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Sona Taumalolo.

Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Lelia Masaga.

The Sharks: 15 Pat Lambie, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Paul Jordaan, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (c), 

5 Anton Bresler, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Steven Sykes, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Riaan Viljoen.