Tree of Life

26 Apr

Steelers Take RB Bell

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, April 26th, 2013 – 9:08 pm

LE’VEON BELL
Running Back
Michigan State University Spartans
6-1 – 244
Columbus, Ohio
Groveport Madison High School
2nd Round – 48th Overall

CAREER NOTES
Bell appeared in 40 games for Michigan State, starting his final 19 contests…Carried 671 times for 3,346 yards (4.99 avg.) and 33 touchdowns for the Spartans…Caught 78 passes for 531 yards (6.81 avg.) and one TD…Added 219 yards on 11 kickoff returns (19.91 avg.), 18 yards on three punt returns and completed his only pass attempt for 29 yards…Scored 204 points and 34 touchdowns…Touched the ball 763 times for 4,114 all-purpose yards, the ninth-best total in school history, and averaged 102.85 yards per game…His rushing attempts rank sixth in school history…His 3,346 rushing yards rank seventh in school annals…Bell’s 33 rushing touchdowns stand sixth on the MSU all-time record chart…His 34 total touchdowns are tied for fifth in school annals…In 19 starts, Bell rushed 477 times for 2,309 yards (4.84 avg.) and 19 touchdowns to average 121.53 yards per game…In three bowl games, Bell gained 206 yards on 53 carries (3.89 avg.)…Michigan State went 18-3 (.857) when Bell scored at least one rushing TD (2010: 5-0; 2011: 7-1; and 2012: 6-2).

2012 SEASON
Bell was named to the All-America Super Sleeper Team by The NFL Draft Report, a squad consisting of the most underrated player in college football at each position…Added All-America honorable mention from Sports Illustrated and received fourth-team accolades from Phil Steele…The consensus All-Big Ten Conference first-team choice and Doak Walker Award semifinalist was the recipient of the College Football Performance Awards Elite Running Back Trophy; winners of the award are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams…Voted Most Valuable Player (Governor’s Award) by his teammates…Won the Big Ten rushing title, averaging 137.92 yards per game, the third-best mark in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision…Became the first Spartan to win the Big Ten overall rushing title since Tico Duckett in 1990…Totaled 1,793 rushing yards, the second-most in a season in MSU history and the fifth-most in the nation in 2012…Ranked first in the FBS in carries (382) the third-most in program history and fourth-most in the Big Ten record book…Ran for 12 touchdowns and scored 78 points…Totaled 32 receptions for 167 yards (5.22 avg.) with one TD…Added 46 kickoff-return yards on four attempts, 18 punt-return yards on three attempts and also completed a pass attempt for 29 yards (vs. Texas Christian)…Finished second in the conference and 14th in the nation with 155.69 all-purpose yards per game…His 2,024 all-purpose yards rank fourth on the school season-record chart…Became the 13th player in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season…Gained 922 of his 1,793 rushing yards (51.42 percent) after contact, which ranked first among all NCAA FBS running backs…Broke 16 tackles…Recorded eight 100-yard rushing games, the second-most by a Spartan in one season…One of just four players in the FBS in 2012 to record three 200-yard rushing games…Became just the second Spartan to record three 200-yard rushing games in a season…During the 2012 regular season, named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week three times – vs. Boise State; Eastern Michigan; Minnesota…The Columbus, Ohio, native produced the top single-game total in the NCAA FBS this season for carries (44 vs. Boise State) and eighth-most rushing yards (266 vs. Minnesota)…Carried 32 times for 133 yards vs. Northwestern…Gained 188 yards on 36 carries and scored two touchdowns vs. Nebraska…With 77 yards on 21 carries in MSU’s 16-13 overtime victory at Wisconsin, eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career, becoming the 13th running back (21 times overall occurrences) in Spartan history to record a 1,000-yard rushing season. His first career touchdown reception came on a 5-yard shovel pass from Andrew Maxwell with 1:08 left in the fourth quarter and sent the game into overtime…Rushed 29 times for 140 yards and one TD vs. Iowa…Rushed for a game-high 121 yards on 37 attempts in MSU’s 31-27 win at Indiana. The 37 rushing attempts were the second-most in his career (44 vs. Boise State)…Set career highs for receptions (eight) and receiving yards (58) in a 17-16 loss to Ohio State…Earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for 253 yards on 36 attempts with one TD vs. Eastern Michigan. His 253 yards mark the seventh-highest single-game rushing total in school history…Scored on first-half runs of one and seven yards as MSU gained a
24-0 halftime lead en route to a 41-7 win at Central Michigan…Named CBS Sports Heisman Player of the Week and Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 210 yards on a career-best 44 carries vs. Boise State. His 210 rushing yards were the most by a Big Ten running back in a season opener since Purdue’s Ralph Bolden in 2009 (234 vs. Toledo) and the most by a Spartan in an opener since T.J. Duckett in 2000 (219 vs. Marshall). He also had six catches for
55 yards vs. the Broncos…Rushed 35 times for a career-high 266 yards – the most by a Big Ten player this season – and a touchdown vs. Minnesota as the Spartans became bowl eligible for a school-record sixth consecutive season. Bell was named CFPA National Running Back of the Week and Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his career day vs. the Gophers. His 266 rushing yards are the sixth-highest single-game total in MSU history. He carried the ball eight consecutive plays for 51 yards and capped an 11-play, 57-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter that iced the game for the Spartans. Accounted for a career-best 275 all-purpose yards – the ninth-best single-game total in MSU history – vs. Minnesota…Selected Offensive Player of the Game after accounting for 187 combined yards (rushing, passing and receiving) in the Spartans’ 17-16 come-from-behind win over Texas Christian in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. He carried 32 times for 145 yards vs. the Horned Frogs with 107 of those rushing yards coming in the second half including a four-yard touchdown run that gave MSU its first lead at 14-13 with 7:00 left in the fourth quarter. His 32 rushing attempts and 145 rushing yards mark the fifth-highest single-game bowl totals in Spartan history. He became the first Spartan back to post a 100-yard rushing game in a bowl since Javon Ringer carried 21 times for 101 yards vs. Boston College in the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl. Bell also completed a 29-yard pass to TyQuan Hammock to set up MSU’s first touchdown and caught two passes for 13 yards.

2011 SEASON
Bell was named All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention by the league’s coaches and media…College Football News selected him to their Sophomore All-America team (honorable mention) and he was the recipient of his team’s Most Outstanding Underclass Back Award for offense…Led the Spartans and ranked eighth in the Big Ten in rushing with 948 yards on 182 carries (5.21 avg.)…Started the Spartans’ final six games at tailback…Led the team and ranked fifth in the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns with 13, finishing 11th on the school’s season-record chart…Had a team-best 10 20-yard rushing attempts…Ranked second on the squad with 1,246 all-purpose yards (948 rushing, 267 receiving, 31 kickreturn)…Finished third on the team with 35 receptions for 267 yards (7.63 avg.)…After entering the starting lineup, Bell carried 95 times for 516 yards (5.43 avg.) and seven touchdowns and 86.00 yards per game…Rushed for 48 yards on 17 carries, including touchdown runs of eight yards and one yard, in the triple-overtime win over Georgia in the 2012 Outback Bowl and added five receptions for 39 yards. His one-yard touchdown vs. the Bulldogs with 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter sent the game into overtime…Recorded his second 100-yard rushing game of the season in the Big Ten Championship Game vs. Wisconsin, collecting 106 yards on 18 carries, including a six-yard score…Ran for 86 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown, on 16 carries at Northwestern…Named Spartan Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 112 yards on 20 carries, including a 25-yard score vs. Iowa and posted two catches for 49 yards…Selected Spartan Co-Offensive Player of the Week after accounting for a season-high 165 all-purpose yards vs.Minnesota…Scored on a one-yard and 35-yard run and posted 15 carries for 96 yards and five receptions for 38 yards vs. the Gophers…Posted 114 all-purpose yards vs. Wisconsin, 87 yards on 16 attempts and four catches for 27 yards…Earned Spartan Offensive Player of the Week honors after tying his career high with three rushing touchdowns while leading MSU with 81 yards on eight attempts vs. Central Michigan.

2010 SEASON
Bell earned Big Ten Conference All-Freshman honors from ESPN.com and Rivals.com and was a midseason addition to the Doak Walker Award Watch List…Appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman…Ranked second on the team in carries (107), rushing yards (605) and rushing touchdowns (eight)…Averaged 5.65 yards per carry…28 of his attempts resulted in either a first down or a score, including three 20-yard attempts…Added 11 receptions for 97 yards (8.82 avg.) and six kickoff returns for 142 yards (23.67 avg.) and compiled 844 all-purpose yards (64.92 yards per game).

HIGH SCHOOL
Bell attended Madison (Groveport, Ohio) High School, where the lettered three times in football for head coach Tim Brown and also excelled in basketball and track and field…A teammate of former Michigan State and New York Jets safety Eric Smith, Bell first earned postseason honors as a sophomore as the All-Ohio Capital Conference second-team choice scored nine touchdowns with 789 rushing yards…The following season, he amassed 1,100 rushing yards with 13 TDs, to again earn All-OCC recognition…Bell’s senior campaign was his finest as he accounted for 1,750 all-purpose yards and 25 TDs…The Super Prep and Prep Star All-Midwest pick and first-team All-OCC pick carried 200 times for 1,333 yards (6.7 avg.) and 21 touchdowns …Bell rushed 30 times for a career-best 336 yards and four scores vs. Dublin Jerome and gained 228 yards and four TDs on 26 attempts vs. Marysville.

PERSONAL
Sociology major…Son of Lisa A. Bell…Born 2/18/92 in Reynoldsburg, Ohio…Resides in Columbus, Ohio.

— No Comments ↓
Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

26 Apr

Steelers Sign Stephens-Howling

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Friday, April 26th, 2013 – 6:48 pm

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent running back LaRod Stephens-Howling, the team announced today. Financial terms of the one-year deal were not disclosed.

Stephens-Howling was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round (240th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. He has played in 57 career games, two postseason contests and has made 10 starts. Stephens-Howling has three career kickoff returns for touchdowns.

— No Comments ↓
Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

26 Apr

Pitt Suspends Three Players

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Friday, April 26th, 2013 – 1:48 pm

PITTSBURGH—University of Pittsburgh head football coach Paul Chryst announced the immediate suspensions of junior tight end Drew Carswell, junior defensive tackle Khaynin Mosley-Smith and junior defensive back Eric Williams from the program.

The three players were indefinitely removed from all team activities this morning.

“We have strict and clear standards regarding these types of behaviors,” Chryst said. “What has occurred with these three young men does not represent the standards of our program or university.”

— No Comments ↓
Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

26 Apr

Steelers Draft Analysis

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Friday, April 26th, 2013 – 10:27 am


— No Comments ↓
Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

25 Apr

Steelers Draft Jarvis Jones

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers, Sports Talk Radio on Thursday, April 25th, 2013 – 10:47 pm

 

JARVIS JONES

Outside Linebacker

University of Georgia Bulldogs

6-2 – 245

Columbus, Georgia

University of Southern California

George Washington Carver High School

1st Round – 17th Overall

 

CAREER NOTES

Jones appeared in 34 games, including eight at the University of Southern California…Started all 26 games he appeared in at Georgia…Recorded 168 tackles (96 solos) for his entire career, including 155 tackles (91 solos) as a Bulldog…At Georgia, he posted 28.0 sacks, tying Jimmy Payne (1978-82) for third in school history…Registered 45.5 stops for loss, generating 44.0 hits for minus 235 yards during his playing days at Georgia…Caused nine fumbles, ninth-best among active NCAA FBS players…He also recovered two fumbles…Recorded 88 quarterback pressures as a Bulldog, as he broke up five passes and intercepted another.

 

2012 SEASON

Jones earned All-American first-team honors from The NFL Draft Report, Walter Camp, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association, Sporting News and Phil Steele…Named a finalist for the Lombardi Trophy, Butkus Award, Bednarik Trophy and Nagurski Award along with the LOTT Impact Trophy, the Bulldogs’ permanent captain was the recipient of the Vince Dooley Most Valuable Player of the Year Award and named one of

team’s Most Valuable Defensive Players…Unanimous first-team All-Southeastern Conference choice…Started 12 games at outside linebacker, ranking third on the team with 85 tackles…Led the SEC and placed second in the nation with an average of 1.21 quarterback sacks per game, as his 14.5 sacks for minus 103 yards broke the previous school season-record of 14 by David Pollack in 2002…Had four tackles and a sack in Georgia’s 35-7 loss at South Carolina…Jones showed his versatility in a 42-10 win over Georgia Tech recording nine tackles and 1.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage…Closed out his career with eight tackles (5 solos), two sacks for minus 15 yards, a pressure and a pass break-up in a 45-31 victory over Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl.

 

2011 SEASON

In his first season wearing a Georgia Bulldogs uniform, Jones was a finalist for the Butkus Award\ and winner of the CFPA Elite Linebacker Trophy…Added first-team All-American honors from The NFL Draft Report, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association, Walter Camp, ESPN.com, Phil Steele and Sports Illustrated…The unanimous All-SEC first-team choice was named the Atlanta Sports Awards Collegiate Player of the Year and elected one of the team’s defensive captains…Recipient of the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player Award, as he started all 14 games at strong-side outside linebacker, ranking second in the league and tied for fifth in the nation with an average of 0.96 sacks per game…Led the SEC and placed 16th in the FBS with an average of 1.39 stops-for-loss per game…Ranked second on the team with 70 tackles, as his 13.5 sacks for minus 90 yards is the third-best season total by a Bulldog, topped by his school record 14.5 sacks in 2012 and David Pollack’s 14 in 2002…Had 19.5 stops for losses of 103 yards and made 49 of the team’s 158 quarterback pressures…Posted eight tackles, including a sack at Georgia Tech…Recorded seven tackles with 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a pass break-up vs. Kentucky….Added five tackles, including two sacks, vs. Auburn…Named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Payer of the Week, Walter Camp Award Defensive Player of the Week, CFPA National Defensive Player of the Week, SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week and the Rivals.com SEC Player of the Week after he recorded five tackles, including four sacks, the second most in school history for a single game vs. Florida, as he also forced a fumble….Produced five tackles, including 3.5 for a loss at

Tennessee…Registered five tackles, including two sacks vs. Mississippi State…In the Boise State clash, had a season high 11 tackles, including 2.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

 

2010 SEASON

Jones red-shirted at the University of Georgia under NCAA transfer rules after being granted a release from the University of Southern California…Jones attended school as a recipient of the Paul and June Martin Football Scholarship while also performing with the scout team.

 

2009 SEASON

Jones saw significant action as a backup outside linebacker and key special team coverage unit member at the University of Southern California…Appeared in the first eight games recording 13 tackles (5 solos), including 1.5 stops for losses of two yards…Had a season-high five tackles vs. San Jose State.

 

HIGH SCHOOL

Jones attended George Washington Carver (Columbus, Ga.) High School, playing football for head coach Dell McGee…Received a four-star prospect grade from Scout.com, as that recruiting service regarded him as the third-best strong-side linebacker in the nation… Was also a four-star pick by Rivals.com, as they regarded him as the nation’s fourth-best weak-side defensive end, placing him seventh overall on the Rivals100 list and third on the Georgia Top 75 chart…After playing tight end in his first two seasons, Jones moved to linebacker before his junior season in 2007…That year, he was named to the Rivals.com All-American first team, earned All-State Class AAA Defensive MVP and Columbus Ledger-Enquirer All-City Defensive MVP honors after posting 157 tackles, 26 tackles for a loss, four sacks and two interceptions to help Carver win the 2007 Georgia state AAA title…Was the 2008 Super Prep, Prep Star, USA Today and ESPN All-American…Also earned ESPN 150, Super Prep Elite 50, Prep Star Dream Team, Sporting News Top 100, Super Prep All-Dixie, Prep Star All-Southeast, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11, All-State Class AAA first team and Columbus Ledger-Enquirer All-City Defensive MVP as a senior…That year, Jones recorded 77 tackles, with four tackles for a loss, four interceptions and two forced fumbles, despite being sidelined late in the season for four games with a broken thumb…Concluded his gridiron career by playing in the U.S. Army All-American Game…Lettered in basketball, earning 2008 All-State honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Georgia Sports Writers Association…Also did well academically, graduating with a 2.9 grade point average.

 

PERSONAL

Human Development & Family Science…Born 10/13/89 in Richland, Georgia…Resides in Columbus, Georgia.

— No Comments ↓
Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers, Sports Talk Radio

 

25 Apr

NFL Draft Coverage

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Thursday, April 25th, 2013 – 10:37 am

We are broadcasting live Thursday night from the Main Street Brew House in Washington, PA 8pm to 11pm. Stop by to win prizes at our Draft Party with Pittsburgh Steelers and 2-Time Super Bowl Champion Ike Taylor, Former Steeler and Super Bowl Champion Mike Logan, Trib Columnist John Harris, Ken Laird and Daniel Dudley. We will be giving pick-by-pick analysis all night long throughout the first round of the NFL Draft. If you can’t make it out to the show tonight, listen live to our show from 8p-11p.

Friday night-we are broadcasting live from Uncle Buckles in Plum from 7pm to 10pm as we bring you the second and third round of the NFL Draft including the Steelers picks. Stop by to win prizes at our Draft Party with Pittsburgh Steelers and 2-Time Super Bowl Champion Ike Taylor, Former Steeler and Super Bowl Champion Mike Logan, Trib Columnist John Harris, Ken Laird, Michael Grau and Daniel Dudley.

Then Monday live at 9am, Ken Laird will start all of the analysis of how the Steelers did in the NFL Draft and how the AFC North and the rest of the league did as well.

— No Comments ↓
Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

23 Apr

Ryback Repeats Himself

published in category: Wrestling Reality on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013 – 3:37 pm


— No Comments ↓
Posted in Wrestling Reality

 

23 Apr

DK on Steelers Draft

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013 – 3:00 pm


— No Comments ↓
Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 



Podcasts