Jacksonville Sports News*

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Players begin accepting invitations to 85th East-West Shrine Game

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TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 9, 2009) — Thirty-seven top NCAA athletes from across the country have accepted invitations to play in the 85th East-West Shrine Game. Rosters for the East and West Teams will continue to grow leading up to the Game, which will be held at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Jan. 23.

“This is an outstanding group of players,” said East-West Shrine Game Executive Director Jack Hart. “These young men are high-level players from top schools around the country. We look forward to continuing to receive acceptances from many other quality players to round out our East and West Teams prior to our January 23 date in Orlando.”

The team rosters, which will be updated regularly as players accept invitations, are posted on the East-West Shrine Game Web site at www.shrinegame.com/rosters.

The East-West Shrine Game is the longest-running college all-star football game in the country and features some of the highest-rated players in the projected NFL draft ranking. In April 2009, 90 percent of players from the 84th East-West Shrine Game (played on Jan. 17, 2009) were either drafted or signed as free agents by NFL clubs. A total of 307 East-West Shrine Game alumni were on 2009 NFL opening-day rosters.

While the teams are divided by East and West, the players come together for the beneficiary of the event, Shriners Hospitals for Children, an international pediatric specialty health care system. The 85th East-West Shrine Game will kick off at 3 p.m. EST and be televised live on ESNP2.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: News and Notes from National Football Foundation

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Marshall will open the 2013 and 2014 seasons against Miami (Ohio).

Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews announced he will retire at season's end after 47 years of coaching... The EagleBank Bowl extended its contracts with the ACC (2010-13), Conference USA (2010), Navy (2011) and Army (2012). The bowl also has a new agreement with the Big 12 for the 2013 game.

The New Orleans Bowl has signed a four-year contract extension with Conference USA and the Sun Belt that runs through the 2013 season... Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas will play host to the Dallas Football Classic, a New Year's Day bowl, beginning in January 2011 between the Big 12, Big Ten and Conference USA. The Big 12 and Conference USA will alternate playing in the bowl every other year through 2014... The ACC has renewed its agreements with the FedEx Orange, Chick-fil-A, Champs Sports, Meineke Car Care, Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl and EagleBank bowls along with new partnerships with the Brut Sun and Advocare 100 Independence bowls for the 2010-13 campaigns.

Conference USA has signed commitments with a record seven bowls from the 2010-13 seasons, and they are the AutoZone Liberty, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces, EagleBank, R+L Carriers New Orleans, Sheraton Hawai'i, St. Petersburg bowls and the new Dallas Football Classic... Under Armour and IMG announced an exclusive partnership that will establish a global measurement standard for improved sports performance, health and fitness called "Combine360"... Chris McCloskey, has joined NBC as Vice President of Communications, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics.

The University of Connecticut will host a "Celebration of the Life of Jasper Howard" on Thursday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the Jorgensen Auditorium... Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich will receive an honorary Lott Trophy, given to a defensive player with strong personal character. NFF Distinguished American Award winner Pat Tillman is a former recipient of the award... Scott and Kay Dawson donated the second largest gift in Arkansas State University Athletics Department history that will be used to improve the academic environment for all ASU student-athletes.

Currently 49 teams are bowl eligible and 21 teams have five wins... Texas Tech coach Mike Leach appeared in last Wednesday's episode of Direct TV's "Friday Night Lights"... 2009 NFF National- Scholar Athlete Eric Decker wrote an article for Sporting News detailing the rehabilitation process ahead of him as a result of season-ending ankle surgery.

Twenty-two former major award winners from Oklahoma and Nebraska gathered together prior to the game in Lincoln on Saturday night. Those in attendance included College Football Hall of Famers and Heisman Trophy winners Johnny Rodgers (Nebraska), Mike Rozier (Nebraska), Steve Owens (Oklahoma) , and Billy Sims (Oklahoma)... Former NFL coach Tony Dungy spoke to Louisville on Tuesday to give them a motivational speech about going through tough times... Wilbur D. Jones, Jr. has written book entitled Football! Navy! War!: How Military "Lend Lease" Players Save the College Game and Helped Win World War II.

Upcoming stops for the EA Sports NCAA Football 10 Campus Challenge Tour include: University of Miami (OH), 11/11/2009, Miami (OH) vs. Bowling Green, 11/12/2009, Maryland vs. Virginia Tech, 11/14/2009, University of Maryland, 11/15/2009... CBSSports.com College Network is rolling out a set of new IPhone and ITouch apps that give college sports fans live audio and on-demand video clips from USC, North Carolina, Oklahoma State and others.

FSU: Ponder facing season-ending shoulder surgery

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State redshirt junior quarterback Christian Ponder, who leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing and total offense, will miss the remainder of the season with a right shoulder injury that will require surgery.

“Christian suffered a grade-3 right shoulder AC (acromioclavicular) separation,” FSU director of sports medicine Randy Oravetz said. “It has been determined that this is a season-ending injury and surgery will be performed in the next few weeks.”

The course of action was determined after Ponder was examined Monday by team physicians and specialists with the Tallahassee Orthopedic Center.

“Our biggest loss this weekend was losing Christian Ponder right there at the end of the game when he made a tackle on the sideline,” FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. “It shows his competitiveness, but he’s out for the year now.”

Ponder was injured while making a fourth quarter tackle of Clemson safety DeAndre McDaniel, following an interception near the end of a 40-24 defeat.

“I felt it pop,” Ponder said. “I didn’t know it was going to be that serious. It [the tackle] was out of frustration. I let that get the best of me.

“I’m definitely upset. We had three games left – hopefully four. There were still goals we could accomplish. I wish I could be out there.”

Redshirt freshman EJ Manuel will make his first career start Saturday at Wake Forest.

“It’s a shame, but it’s part of ball,” FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said. “You always know you’re one play away from being in there.”

Fisher said Ponder will be back to full strength following surgery and rehabilitation, but is confident that Manuel can lead the Seminoles through the balance of the season, in part because he shares many of the same attributes as the player he will replace.

“[Christian] embodies what you preach as a coach – being on time, work hard, have the right principles, go to school, carry yourself the right way,” Fisher said. “All the things you preach to your players all of the time.”

Ponder was in the midst of one of the finest statistical seasons for a Florida State quarterback. He leads the ACC in passing yardage (301.9 ypg) and total offense (321.8 ypg), and also ranks among the top 10 leaders nationally in four categories. His performance had earned him semifinalist honors for the Maxwell Award, presented to college football’s player of the year, and he was also in contention for the Manning Award and the Wuerffel Trophy.

Ponder, who was drawing the attention of NFL scouts for his play on the field, said the injury will most likely lead to his return to the program next season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Ponder’s separated shoulder to be further evaluated

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TALLAHASEE, Fla. – Florida State junior quarterback Christian Ponder suffered a right shoulder separation while making a tackle in the fourth quarter at Clemson, which will sideline him for Saturday’s game at Wake Forest.

According to FSU director of sports medicine Randy Oravetz, Ponder will have his throwing shoulder examined Monday, which will include an X-ray and additional tests. The results of that examination will determine the course of his rehabilitation.

Ponder was injured when he tackled Clemson safety DeAndre McDaniel along the sideline following an interception in the Tigers’ 40-24 victory.

Redshirt freshman E.J. Manuel is expected to make his first career start at Wake Forest on Saturday.

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Sunday that the FSU-Wake Forest game will kick off at 12 noon and be televised by ESPNU.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Dolphins race past Valparaiso, 49-20

Rudell Small's 57-yard touchdown run on the opening possession of the game set the tone for the Jacksonville University offense as the Dolphins rolled up 581 yards in a 49-20 rout of Valparaiso in Pioneer Football League play.

JU's (5-4, 3-2 PFL) offensive output was led by Small's 151 yards on the ground with Josh McGregor throwing for 305 yards. The JU defense did its part as well, picking off two passes and holding the Crusaders to just 62 yards on the ground.

"This was a good win after last week's game," said JU head coach Kerwin Bell. "We set the tone early on offense and stayed in a good flow throughout the game. Anytime you don't use your punter, you must be doing something right."

Small's 57-yard run is the longest of his career, surpassing his previous best of 54 set at San Diego. It is the third straight 100-yard rushing day for the junior and the fifth of the season. As a team, JU piled up 266 yards on the ground, with Keith Dawson getting 74 yards on 10 carries and J.J. Laster getting 31 yards on seven carries.

McGregor was the maestro directing the offense, completing 16-of-24 passes with three touchdowns - connecting with 10 different receivers. Larry Thompson led the Dolphins with three catches for 63 yards.

JU scored on its first two possessions in the first four minutes of the game. Small busted his 57- yard scoring run on the second play from scrimmage, which was followed by McGregor hooking up with Josh Philpart on a 12-yard touchdown pass.

The reception was Philpart's 15 touchdown catch of his career, tying the school record set by Geavon Tribble last season.

Valpo (1-8, 0-6 PFL) scored 13 unanswered points to get back into the game. Ryan Myers caught a 4-yard pass from Nate Goergen for the first touchdown followed Nick Jones running in from two yards out.

The Dolphins were not to be denied this game. J.J. Laster scored on a 3-yard run with 39 seconds left in the first half to give JU momentum entering halftime with a 21-13 lead.

Jacksonville came out in the second half and scored on three of its first four possession to take a 42-13 lead. McGregor threw two 11-yard scoring passes - the first to Chris Kuck and the second to Rodney Sumter.

Small put the game away with his 1-yar run with 10:26 left in the fourth quarter. Dawson added a late touchdown after a Valpo score for the final margin.

The defense harassed the Crusaders all day, racking four tackles for a loss, two sacks, six pass breakups and two interceptions. Jason Wood and Lacy McDougald each had a pick while Kennan Bowe led the unit with two breakups.

Shaun Lewis added to his school record chase with two sacks, raising his career total to 20. Senior Allen Fennell had 10 tackles to lead the unit.

Valparaiso's Nate Goergen threw for 261 yards, completing 21-of-35 with one interception, with two touchdowns.

Jacksonville will wrap up its home schedule next week as they host PFL co-leader Butler. Kickoff is set for Noon.