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Category: College

Big 12 / Big Ten announce women’s basketball challenge matchups

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Matchups have been set for the 2011 Big12/Big Ten Women’s Basketball Challenge.

The inter-conference series began in 2010 and features a home-and-home format over a two-year agreement. Texas Tech will represent the Big 12 in two games while Big Ten member Nebraska will sit out in 2011 due to the uneven number of teams among the two leagues.

“We are looking forward to the second year of our challenge with the Big Ten,” said Dru Hancock, Big 12 senior associate commissioner. “Last year’s games provided exciting early-season matchups for both conferences and their fans.”

The 2011 Challenge will be played Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4, with the exception of three games – Wisconsin at Kansas (Dec. 8), Michigan State at Texas (Dec. 10) and a neutral site game between Texas Tech and Illinois at the United Center in Chicago (Dec. 17).

The Big 12 will have six home games while the Big Ten has five home contests in 2011. This year’s series will be referred to as the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge.

“The Big 12/Big Ten Challenge serves as a great showcase for both conferences’ women’s basketball programs,” Big Ten associate commissioner Andrea Williams said. “Year two provides the opportunity for re-matches, and we are looking forward to competitive and exciting games.”

Matchups for 2011 can be found below. Dates, times and television information will be released in the coming months.

2011 Big 12/Big Ten Challenge
Baylor at Minnesota
Iowa State at Michigan
Wisconsin at Kansas
Iowa at Kansas State
Northwestern at Missouri
Ohio State at Oklahoma
Penn State at Texas Tech
Texas A&M at Purdue
Oklahoma State at Indiana
Michigan State at Texas
Texas Tech vs. Illinois (Chicago)

**Texas Tech will play two games in the 2011 Challenge.

— Big12Sports.com —

Nebraska’s David on Butkus Award watch list

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Nebraska Senior linebacker Lavonte David earned a spot on his fourth watch list of the fall, as he was named to the Butkus Award Watch List on Thursday.

David is one of the favorites for the 2011 Butkus following a record-setting campaign in 2011. The Miami, Fla., native racked up a school-record 152 tackles in his first season at Nebraska, breaking Barrett Ruud’s mark of 149 set in 2003. His emergence helped the Blackshirts rank in the top 12 nationally in both scoring defense and total defense in 2010.

A first-team All-Big 12 pick and the league’s newcomer of the year, he ranked 11th nationally in tackles per game and was second on the team in sacks (six), tackles for loss (15 for 60 yards) and pass breakups (10) to earn first-team All-America honors from several outlets. David had eight games with at least 10 tackles, including a season-high 19 against South Dakota State and 17 in the Big 12 title game against Oklahoma.

He is one of five Big Ten players on the Butkus Award list this season, representing the nation’s top linebacker. David has already been named to watch lists for the Bednarik and Lombardi Awards, as well as the Nagurski Trophy.

— NU Sports Information —

KU’s Hatch on watch list for Rimington Trophy

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The Rimington Trophy committee has released its 2011 Fall Watch List with Kansas senior Jeremiah Hatch as one of 43 players from across the nation to be recognized.

Hatch has started 23 games at center for the Jayhawks in his career after playing tackle as a freshman. The Dallas, Texas, native earned Rivals.com Freshman All-America Second Team honors in 2008, while helping lead the Jayhawks to a victory at the Insight Bowl.

The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I-A College Football. Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy has raised over $2 million for its benefactor, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The 12-year old award is overseen by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis and has raised $86 million for CF Research.

Dave Rimington, the award’s namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy’s only double winner as the nation’s finest college interior lineman.

Hatch is one of three players from the Big 12 to find his name on the list, which includes 13 returning players from the 2010 Watch List.

The winner will be honored at Rimington Trophy Presentation banquet at the Rococo Theater in Lincoln, Neb. on January 14, 2012.

— KU Sports Information —

MU’s Smith, Madison named to Lombardi Award watch list

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University of Missouri football standouts Jacquies Smith (Dallas, Texas) and Brad Madison (Bethany, Mo.) have been named to the pre-season watch list for the 2011 Rotary Lombardi Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate down lineman.

Smith, a senior defensive end, makes the list after enjoying a stellar junior season in 2010, when he was a 2nd-Team All-Big 12 honoree.  He started all 13 games at end and was second on the team in both tackles for loss (10.0) and quarterback sacks (5.5).  He finished his junior season with 35 tackles, and added two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles (one of which he returned 53 yards for a score against Kansas State, and blocked one field goal.

Joining Smith on the Lombardi watch list is junior DE Brad Madison (Bethany, Mo.), who enjoyed a breakout year in 2010 as well.  Despite not being a full-time starter, Madison led the Tigers in tackles for loss (11.0) and quarterback sacks (7.5), while earning 2nd-Team All-Big 12 acclaim.  Madison is also on the pre-season watch list for the Nagurski Award, and he joins junior LB Zaviar Gooden (Pflugerville, Texas) as Tigers on multiple watch lists (Gooden is on the Bednarik and Nagurski lists).

Mizzou has now had seven different players receive mention on seven different pre-season watch lists.  Gooden and Madison are on two apiece, and they are joined by senior OL Dan Hoch (Outland), senior TE Michael Egnew (Mackey Award), junior WR T.J. Moe (Biletnikoff Award) and senior PK Grant Ressel (Lou Groza Award) on the pre-season watch lists.

— MU Sports Information —

K-State sets kickoff times for Eastern Kentucky, Kent State games

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Kansas State athletics officials have set kick times for the Wildcats’ first two football games as both the K-State Family Reunion against Eastern Kentucky and the Kent State games will carry 6 p.m. start times at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

Kansas State, the Big 12 Conference and its television partners will determine what digital or telecast distribution opportunities are available for the two games.  Further details will be released as soon as information is available.

The September 3 season opener against Eastern Kentucky will serve as the third-annual K-State Family Reunion as a home-opening record crowd of 51,059 watched the Wildcats knock off UCLA in the opener last season. A postgame fireworks show at the stadium will conclude the opening weekend’s activities.

The game against Kent State on September 17 is University Family and Band Day at Bill Snyder Family Stadium and across the K-State campus as families, prospective students and band members from all across the region will be in attendance.

— KSU Sports Information —

Former Jayhawk Boogaard signs pro contract with French team

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Former Kansas center Krysten Boogaard has signed a professional contract to play basketball in Nice, France. The 6-foot-5 post player will depart the U.S. in early August to suit up for Cavigal Nice for the 2011-12 season.

Boogaard, a Regina, Saskatchewan native who played at KU from 2008-11, finished her four-year career with 1,051 total points as she became only the 22nd player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. She also played in 132 games during her time in Lawrence, which is the second most among any other Jayhawk. For her career, Boogaard averaged 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game and hit 54 percent of her shots from the field.

“It’s important to me to continue the goals I set for myself when I was younger,” Boogaard said. “This is something I have always wanted to achieve because of the opportunities on the court and the cultural experiences off of it.”

“I am really excited for Krysten and her opportunity to play at the next level,” said KU head coach Bonnie Henrickson. “In one of the first conversations I ever had with Krysten, she said she wanted to play professionally overseas one day. I am so proud of her that she is getting the opportunity she has always wanted.”

Cavigal Nice is one of 14 teams that play in the Ligue Feminine De Basketball (LFB), which began play during the 1998-99 season. Boogaard will suit up for her first game with her new club as they open their season on Sept. 24 versus Bourges.

— KU Sports Information —

Fall Classic X tickets go on sale Tuesday

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Chiefs Media Relations

Tickets to the 10th edition of the Fall Classic between Northwest Missouri State University and Pittsburg State University will go on sale to the general public Tuesday at 10 a.m. The 2011 version of the rivalry is slated for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1st at Arrowhead Stadium.

Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State have combined to win outright or share the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title in 20 of the last 22 seasons dating back to ’89. The Pittsburg State Gorillas have advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 15 of the last 21 years while the NWMSU Bearcats have qualified in 13 of the last 15 seasons, including five-straight national championship game appearances from 2005-09.

Tim Beck begins his second campaign in 2011, leading the Gorillas to a 3-6 record in 2010. Before being named to the head coaching post following the 2009 season, Beck served as an assistant coach at Pittsburg State for 22 years, serving as offensive coordinator for 16 seasons.

Northwest Missouri State Head Coach Adam Dorrel succeeds Scott Bostwick who died June 5th after suffering an apparent heart attack. Dorrel begins his first year at the helm of his alma mater after spending seven seasons as the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at NWMSU.

Tickets for the game are $25 for Lower Level seating and $37 for tickets on the Scout Investments Club Level. Student tickets are available for $10. Parking for the game is $20 per car and $30 for RV/bus parking.

Tickets can be ordered by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com or at the Arrowhead Stadium Ticket Office located between Founder’s Plaza and the Hy-Vee Gate on the north side of the stadium.

For more information, please contact the Northwest Missouri State sports information office at (660) 562-1900 or Pittsburg State Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Communications Dan Wilkes at (620) 235-4147.

Northwest Missouri State promotes two football coach

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NWMSU Sports Information

Northwest Missouri State University head football coach Adam Dorrel announced today that defensive coordinator Richard Wright has been promoted to assistant head coach, and Charlie Flohr, who served as the Bearcats’ quarterbacks coach, quality control and passing game coordinator, has been promoted to offensive coordinator.

Wright, who will continue his defensive coordinator duties, is entering his eighth season as a full-time Northwest assistant. The Bearcats are 87-14 (.861) with five MIAA championships and a national championship since he came aboard in 2004. He also was the tight ends coach at Northwest in 1995 and 1996 while earning his master’s.

Wright, a 1995 graduate of Dana (Neb.) College, has been both an offensive and defensive coordinator during his coaching career. He was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at St. Ambrose (Iowa) University from 2000 to 2004. During that time, the Fighting Bees won four straight conference titles and set the league record for consecutive wins. He also has made stops at William Penn College, Central Methodist University, Dakota State University and Cortland State.

“Coach Wright has been a huge part of the success of this program. He brought a toughness back to our football program that has paid big dividends in the national playoffs,” Dorrel said. “He has worked his way up through the ranks. He was a GA, defensive line coach, strength and conditioning coach, special teams coordinator and now the defensive coordinator. He is a great teacher and a motivator and will help me with the day-to-day operations of our football program.”

Wright and his wife, Sarah, a 1998 Northwest graduate, live in Maryville with their daughters, Grace and Kate.

Flohr served as a graduate assistant at Northwest during the 2002 and 2003 seasons following a four-year playing career at Dakota State University where he was a two-time honorable mention all-conference selection at wide receiver and graduated as the program’s all-time leader in punt returns.

After receiving his master’s in health and physical education at Northwest, he was hired at Truman State University where he served as the Bulldogs’ wide receivers and recruiting coach for two seasons. Since his return to Northwest, the Bearcats are 65-8 and 45-0 in MIAA play.

“Coach Flohr has been an integral part of our offensive success since he arrived at Northwest,” Dorrel said. “He has a great football mind and is dedicated to challenging our student-athletes to be the best they can be. He is hard working, loyal and organized, and he is continually striving to find new ways to make us better. These are all great qualities in an offensive coordinator.”

Flohr and his wife, Amy, 2004 Northwest graduate, live in Maryville and have two sons, Adam and Austin.

Dorrel, who was the team’s previous offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, will continue to call offensive plays for the 2011 season.

“We just feel that since training camp is just weeks away, this will be the best for our team,” said Dorrel, who, as offensive coordinator, helped lead the Bearcats to an unprecedented five straight NCAA Division II championship appearances and the program’s third national title in 2009.

Northwest opens its season at Truman State University with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Thursday, Sept. 1, in Kirksville.

Two Western golfers named to NGCA All-America Scholar Team

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MWSU Sports Information

Griffon women’s golfers Natalie Bird (Carl Junction, Mo.) and Shelby Stone (St. Paul, Neb.) were named to the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-American Scholar Team. This marks the second consecutive season that Bird has received this honor and first time for Stone.

Last season Bird was an All-MIAA performer finishing in the top ten four times with her best finish coming at the Northwest Missouri State Fall Invite on October 8, 2010. She finished 3rd out of 42 players at the invite.  She also finished 6th out of 56 players at the MWSU Spring Invitational on March 27, 2011. Bird played 20 rounds averaging 84.9 shots per round. Bird will be a junior and is majoring in recreation sports management.

Shelby Stone had a very solid freshman campaign finishing in the top 15 in five events. She finished 1st at the Fort Hays State Women’s Invite on September 27, 2010 and 8th at the Green and Gold Spring Shootout on April 4 and April 5, 2011. She played 20 rounds averaging 85.8 shots per round. Stone will be a sophomore and is majoring in nursing.

The NGCA All-American Scholar Teams consisted of a total of 566 women’s collegiate golfers from Division I, II and III. In order to be eligible for this prestigious honor the student-athlete must hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 and must have competed in at least 50% (Division I) or 66% (Division II & III) of the regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year.

K-State’s Brown named to Nagurski Trophy watch list

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KSU sports Information

Kansas State junior linebacker Arthur Brown was named to the watch list for the 2011 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club have announced.

The Nagurski Trophy is awarded annually to the nation’s best defensive player. Brown is the first Wildcat to be named to the watch list since defensive end Ian Campbell was a preseason candidate in both 2007 and 2008.

A captain and player representative for the 2011 season, Brown is one of 87 players nationally, including 31 linebackers and nine Big 12 defensive players, up for the award. The Wichita, Kan., product transferred to K-State prior to the 2010 season from Miami and will be eligible this fall. Brown carded 14 tackles, including one for a loss, in the Purple-White Spring Game and was named to the Rivals.com All-Spring Team.

Brown was regarded as one of the top prep players coming out of high school in 2008 as he was selected as a Parade All-American and named to USA Today’s All-USA team. He played in 24 career games for the Hurricanes, carding 17 tackles and recovering one fumble.

The Wildcats open the 2011 campaign September 3 with the third-annual K-State Family Reunion against Eastern Kentucky. Kick time for the opener will be announced at a later date.

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