Dein erstes Forum » It also means the fans are right on top of you

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- For Mark Richt, the first nine months back at Miami have been hectic.The first order of business was assembling a staff and salvaging a recruiting class. Then came legal issues for a handful of players, though none of those matters will have a decided effect on the season. That was followed by a probe into players having access to luxury rental cars, which led to Miamis top three tacklers from a year ago being jettisoned.Plus, there was the small matter of figuring out what he had for a football team.Our coaches and players have really just done all we can do, Richt said. Now its time to go line up and play -- and see what we got.In other words, finally, football.Miami opens its first season of the Richt coaching era Saturday night at home against Florida A&M. The Hurricanes new coach will be calling plays, something he hasnt done in a decade and a decision he says has energized him in ways he didnt expect. And hell be relying on quarterback Brad Kaaya, who would unquestionably be considered Miamis most important player.Its something weve all been looking forward to since last December, honestly, said Kaaya, who turns 21 on Saturday. Im just eager to get out there with this team to see what we can do and put on film.Kaaya said he had trouble sleeping this week, his mind loaded with dreams about what Saturday will be like. Richt said he expects to experience some sleeplessness and nerves as well.First time I called plays in the scrimmage in the spring, I didnt sleep that night, Richt said. Wired. Excited.The same applies now to his homecoming. Richt graduated from Miami in 1982.On the other sideline Saturday, theres going to be some homecomings as well.Florida A&M has no shortage of players from the Miami area, and Rattlers coach Alex Wood is a former Hurricanes assistant -- helping the team win two national titles during his time in Coral Gables.Itll be fun to go back, said Wood, who was 1-10 in his debut season at Florida A&M a year ago. They dont play at the Orange Bowl anymore like they did when I was there, but we are, and I am, looking forward to it.Most of Miamis unanswered questions going into the opener are on the defensive side of the ball, especially after Al-Quadin Muhammad and Jermaine Grace were dismissed from the program after an investigation found violations related to the rental-car matter.Miami native Manny Diaz, the Hurricanes new defensive coordinator, offered a succinct answer about how a defense overcomes depth issues.Unbelievable effort, Diaz said, and unwavering violence.---Heres some of what to know going into Saturday night:HONORING THE PAST: Richt wont be the only Miami alum getting cheered Saturday. The Hurricanes invited Ray Bellamy -- the first black player to receive a football scholarship from Miami back in the late 1960s and now a longtime academic advisor at Florida A&M -- to serve as an honorary captain. And Hurricanes grad Sam Dorman, a diving silver medalist at last months Rio Olympics, will be recognized in an on-field ceremony after the first quarter.AT RUNNING BACK: Joe Yearby rushed for 1,002 yards for Miami last season, but Mark Walton -- who had some off-field and now resolved legal issues overshadow his offseason -- earned the starting job. Miami also gets back Gus Edwards, who missed last season with injury.WHATS IN A NAME?: Miami plays at the the newly canopied, newly renamed Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Dolphins home has been renamed every three years, on average, since it opened in the 1980s so confusion is understandable. Is it Pro Player Stadium? Hard Rock Cafe Stadium? Wood asked, before being told what the actual name is. For the record, it hasnt been Pro Player Stadium since 2005.FOR OPENERS: Richt will try to become the sixth consecutive Miami coach to win his opening home game with the Hurricanes. Also Friday, the Hurricanes announced that theyve sold more than 40,000 season tickets for 2016.THE HISTORY: Florida A&M is 1-9 all-time against Miami, losing the last nine matchups. The lone Rattlers win came in 1979, when Richt was a backup quarterback for the Hurricanes. Since then, the Hurricanes have outscored the Rattlers 441-56 -- an average of 49-6. Their most recent meeting was 2014, a 41-7 Miami victory that was the first of Kaayas collegiate career. Chuck Howley Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Trysten Hill Womens Jersey . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. https://www.cowboyssportsgoods.com/Womens-Taco-Charlton-Inverted-Jersey/ . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Taco Charlton Youth Jersey . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. Michael Gallup Womens Jersey . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Buster is on vacation this week, but hes still compiling roundups. View Tuesdays here.USA Today recently ranked all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums, lining up the venues worst to first, based on the overall fan experience. A stadiums design and layout, location and accessibility, food and amenities were all taken into account.When Buster Olney told me I could write again while hes on vacation -- I wrote about life on the DL last season and playing for the Oakland Mathletics in 2014 -- I decided what the world really needed was a ranking of the stadiums with the best bullpens in the league. So here is a list of ballparks based on the overall relief pitcher experience, taking into account the view, seating and accommodations, the condition of the mounds and interactions with fans.As a reliever, youre sort of like an animal at the zoo. People spend innings standing above the bullpen, just waiting to get a glimpse of a pitcher in his natural habitat. Fans will heckle you or yell your name or jersey number, in hopes that youll turn around so they can wave or take a picture.At zoos, there are signs asking that patrons refrain from throwing food into the cages. In bullpens, there are signs asking fans to refrain from asking for autographs during games.Look! Theres a left-handed one! Those are very rare.Over there! Hes stretching. I wonder if he will throw soon.I think that one might be asleep.Look at that ones stupid red beard.Without further ado, here are my favorite bullpens:AT&T Park: San Francisco GiantsAT&T Park is a beautiful ballpark, right on the water with great views of the Bay. Its also a great place to pitch. For a member of a rival team, the atmosphere is always electric. But my favorite part about it -- after the giant Coca-Cola slide, of course -- is the bullpen (or lack thereof). The bullpen mounds are on the field, in play down the right field line, but there is no bench for the visiting relievers to sit on during the game. I dont mind, though, because that means that during the game, I get to sit in the dugout with the other players until I have to warm up.Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum: Oakland AthleticsHome, sweet home. Naturally, this is one of my favorite bullpens because its the one Ive spent the most time in. Situated on the field, in play, down the left-field line, it provides a unique and unobstructed view of the game. We have only a flimsy, wooden overhang to protect us from the elements, but we have great weather in the East Bay, and it allows for good interaction with the home fans. One downside is there is no restroom, so when you run to the dugout between innings, all the fans know its because you have to pee.U.S. Cellular Field: Chicago White SoxEssentially a rectangular grass area with concrete walls tucked in front of the seats in right field, this visitors bullpen might not look special or unique. You can pull up a folding chair against the chain link fence, and you end up with a pretty good view through the outfield wall. But what sets this bullpen apart is whats behind the scenes. White Sox fans use some pretty creative sign language to communicate their feelings about you and your team through the glass windows of the sports bar next door. Visiting relievers can also enter the bullpen by walking through The Patio restaurant, where they can snag an unsuspecting fans French fry or chicken wing if they need a last-minute snack before the game.Fenway Park: Boston Red SoxThere is a unique energy and atmosphere at Americas oldest ballpark. Its a long walk across the field from the third base visitors dugout to the visiting bullpen in right field, but once youre there, you have an amazing view of the game.dddddddddddd Fenway is a living museum full of history, from Peskys Pole to the Green Monster. Its a tight fit out there too, with the mounds no more than an arms length from the seats, so fans are wicked close. The first time I entered a game while the faithful were singing along to Sweet Caroline, I got goosebumps, and it will always be one of the highlights of my career.Yankee Stadium: New York YankeesHaving grown up in New Jersey, I always look forward to playing in front of friends and family at Yankee Stadium. No, the new stadium doesnt have the mystique of the original ballpark, but its still a beautiful stadium and one of my favorites to pitch in. The visitors bullpen in deep left-center has an elevated bench above the wall that provides a unique vantage point of the action. Theres also a climate-controlled room out there, and even though it doesnt have a great view of the game, it has plenty of seating, a coffee machine and, yes, a bathroom. There isnt much fan interaction besides me yelling Heyyy, forget about it! to nobody in particular in my best New York accent when my team hits a home run.Oriole Park At Camden Yards: Baltimore OriolesThe bullpens out in left-center field at Camden Yards are tiered, with the visitors bullpen situated above the Orioles pen, farthest from the field. This does a few things. It provides for a great view of both the stadium itself -- the warehouse and Eutaw Street, especially -- and the action on the field. It also means the fans are right on top of you, which would be a lot more fun if they shared their crab fries every once in a while. There is also a long cobblestone walkway, which one must carefully navigate in metal spikes, that leads from our bullpen down to the entrance to the field, so please cut me some slack if I take a few extra seconds before entering the game.Safeco Field: Seattle MarinersThe visiting bullpen in Seattle gets high marks across the board. Elevated above the left-field wall, theres a great view from beneath our covered bench that even has heaters for the colder nights at the beginning and end of the season. Both die-hard sports fans and hipsters post up on the railing behind the bullpen to heckle you. Relievers must be extra careful when opening the bathroom door. Based on the bullpen layout, pranksters have been known to booby trap the bathroom door so that when it opens, you might find yourself covered in sunflower seeds or doused with water. Between the hecklers and the hijinks and, of course, the action on the field, theres never a dull moment in this bullpen.Coors Field: Colorado RockiesWith this ballpark being such a hitters paradise, I dont particularly look forward to pitching in Coors Field, but ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL FOREST OUT THERE! YOU CAN GO ON A NATURE HIKE AND WALK AMONG THE EVERGREEN TREES AROUND A POND! DURING THE GAME!The reality is, there is no such thing as a bad bullpen in Major League Baseball. After all, if you find yourself sitting in one, that means youre in The Show, and you have a chance to pitch in a big league game. I do my best to enjoy every second I have in this game, so every time I sit down in the pen, I try to take a second to look around and take it all in.Sorry, but I gotta go. I think I just heard the phone ring. ' ' '