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Final Four Team Loyola-Chicago

Another Surprised Team made it to the Final Four.         

On March 30, 2018, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, the Full Court Press covered the Final Four. The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers a team who hasn’t appeared in the Final Four for over five decades were to play Michigan in their Final Four matchup.

For the most part, it’s the powerhouse teams that usually dominate the NCAA tournament however it’s always an unusual team slips up high on the brackets. An 11^th seed team made the semifinal and intended to make a statement for Loyola-Chicago basketball. Loyola-Chicago being the fourth team in NCAA basketball to be an 11^th ranked team to appear in the Final Four. Other teams to accomplish that was LSU in 1986, George Mason in 2006, and VCU in 2011. Last time we recall the Ramblers being this great was back in 1963 when the team went on to win the NCAA National Championship title against Cinncinati.

This past Friday witnessed a team in person a team that was hard working basketball team from a university that was Catholic faith driven. The face of Loyola-Chicago University Sister Jean who receives high praise for her influence on religion. Sister Jean who is the chaplain of the University has a major influence on the basketball team. Unintentionally becoming a celebrity and now a 98-year-old icon. Sister Jean was thrilled receiving the recognition she deserved, “I’m very surprised at the attention I’m receiving for pushing my boys to be great in their profession,” Sister Jean being asked about all the attention she gets from the media. “I’m shocked Sister Jean is this big I honestly wasn’t expecting her to be bigger than us at this,” Marques Townes on Sister Jean. Guard Marques Townes also mentioned her as a good motivator. “Sister Jean would always uplift us whether if it’s talking to us in the locker room,  the greeting us coming in and out of the tunnels, and after every game, she would email us on our performance telling us the good and the bad.”

Townes is a former high school teammate of young NBA Star Karl-Anthony Towns who told Marques Towns after his team making the Final Four said: “Finish it for me.” Marques Townes and Karl-Anthony Towns both attended St. Joseph High School in New Jersey. “He’s a really good person he’s always has been a big brother to me and he talks a lot,” Marques Towns on Karl-Anthony Towns.

 

 

During Loyola’s travels, they’ve come across NBA players of the Oklahoma City Thunder. “It was nice seeing Carmelo, Paul George, especially Westbrook. I ran into Raymond Felton on the elevator and just told me good luck,” Marques Townes on meeting NBA players.

 

Sister has made an impact on Loyola-Chicago basketball just as much she has in the city of Chicago helping those in need with scholarships, mainly targeting those in the inner-city who maybe less fortunate. Having her Final Four charity going towards the Big Shoulder Fund in Chicago. Sister Jean also gave her support to her sisters of Blessed Virgin Mary. BVM principles are freedom, education, charity, and justice. The overall impact and success was a reflection of Loyola’s season to remember. Something of what they call a Cinderella story. A college basketball team that isn’t known for being so dominant has a chance at making a National Championship appearance which hasn’t been done in 55 years.

“We go in every day with the same routine not really changing anything because what we’ve been doing is working,” head coach Porter Moser on the practices with the team. “I’ve really been stressing, in particular, the defensive side of the ball. The level of guard play is at an all-time high and our perimeter defense has to be solid.” Facing up against one the premier guards of NCAA basketball in Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rhahkman and the 6-11 center from Germany Moritz Wagner. Mortiz the 69^th Wolverine player to play a 100 plus games and the 46^th to reach 1,000 points or more. “I am very confident in the versatile style of play,” Wagner when asked about his versatility. “We understand that they are a very talented team across the board the board we just have to match up with them,” said Marques Townes Coming into the semifinals as the underdogs the Ramblers wanted to prove everyone wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The man played 15 seasons in the NFL he finished second in all-time receiving yards, third in total touchdowns amongst wide receivers, eight in all-time receptions, 6-time  Pro Bowler, and has been a 5-time first team All-Pro with three different teams. Terrell Owens only one of three players to be a first-team All-Pro with three different teams. After two years of being not accepted by the unfair voters of the Hall of Fame. You’d be surprised by the wait Owens had to sustain to get into the honorary hall of great football players when his numbers and passion spoke itself.

Terrell Owens was born in Alabama in 1973, had three siblings, single mother and a father who wanted no part in his life. Owens was a star athlete since his younger days in a variety of sports like track, baseball, basketball, and his profession football. Throughout all of Owens’s life, he’s dwelt with hate from his peers. Terrell Owens was a very eager individual who backed it up with many talents and works ethic. The young athlete from Alexander City, Alabama took his talents to the University of Tennessee. After playing for three years in college Owens was drafted in third round by the San Francisco 49ers in 1996.

Although Owens played outstanding throughout his career, his image was tarnished by him making headlines a lot of locker room outbreaks and personal downfalls amongst his peers. It took him three years to get voted into the Hall of Fame due to the writers who ignored Terrell Owens the football player who put up great numbers. Instead, they looked at Terrell Owens who wasn’t an easy going person and who wasn’t liked by many people to hold him out of the Hall of Fame. Sooner or later Owens drive and hard work in the NFL paid off. Now he can say he is earned the level of respect he deserved.

 

 

The NFL’s off-season programs and mini-camp have come to a close. Teams have signed free agents and have been finalizing their rookie contracts. The Dallas Cowboys are going into the 2017 season raising many eyebrows, having many concerns with their that defense.

The Dallas Cowboys let go of four defensive  backs this past off-season all four had which started games this season for them and played major roles. Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Barry Church, and J.J. Wilcox were all not re-signed by the team. They weren’t the most spectacular, productive, and playmaking secondary, however secondary group that has been with Dallas through thick and thin. Brandon Carr has started his whole career and has yet to miss a game in his career playing 144 games. He’s nice physical corner who they like to use up against big receivers played five seasons with Dallas has had his inconsistencies and clutch moments. I know many people may through Carr under the bus because of the Odell Beckham Jr. one handed catch back in 2014. Yes I would say he is not so good at covering fast receivers their has been games he has shut some receivers down and in some games the ball isn’t being thrown to his side. In the postseason of 2014 Carr kept Calvin Johnson and Jordy Nelson out of the endzone limiting them to a combine of 7 catches allowed with 107 receiving yards. Carr would’ve been a great asset to keep around as a leader for the young guys on and off the field. Being a veteran you have experience and knowledge of the game to pass down to the rookies he was also a two nominee of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award  with the work of his Carr Cares Foundation. Brandon Carr had really good impact on the community of Dallas and he will be missed for that cause. Barry Church was the captain of the secondary leading the group with 85 tackles and two interceptions. A good mind for the game Church would call out the coverages for the secondary. Had versatility being able to play safety and down in the box as a linebacker. A good character with his time in Dallas being one of the most productive players on defense. Church has delt with injuries in his time however Church had the toughness to play through those injuries. Cornerback Morris Claiborne who was drafted 6th overall by Dallas in 2012 career has been plagued with injuries. Not always having the best attitude when approaching the game a time back in 2014 Orlando Scandrick was coming off a two game suspension, it was right than at the start of practice Claiborne loss his spot and left the field. He’s improved on that since and has played better coming off his best season however only played 8 games including the playoffs.  Claiborne’s level of production hasn’t reached expectation consistently enough for a good amount of time to surpass those injuries. J.J. Wilcox you lose a physical aggressive presence on the defense not the best tackler, however giving the defense energy can really uplift a team considering the defense as the weakness. One of the positive minded players on the team and rarely had injuries.

All four players departed to different teams due to Dallas lack of salary to spend or their willing in to commit with the player. Now you have veteran cornerback Orlando Scandrick as well newly signed veteran Nolan Carroll who was released from their division rival the Philadelphia Eagles back in March. These two cornerbacks are the only ones on the roster the that have played more than one season. Very important groom the younger players. Since loosing four secondary players in free agency Dallas drafted four to replace. Three corners and a safety Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, Xavier Woods, and Marquez White. Players who they all worked out individually before pursuing and each see potential in the future with the team.

Scandrick has been with the team his whole career since 2008 one of the few players other than Sean Lee who have been with the team for several years. Scandrick being the teams best corner considering his athletic ability, production, and experience. Yes he was suspended for violating the drug policy in 2014, however he was still able to maintain productivity that season until getting hurt the following.  Scandrick is really a key piece to this secondary going into his 10th season it’s really important that he establishes his role as a leader guiding younger players and developing that chemistry. Orlando Scandrick is the type of player who plays with something to prove always with a chip on his shoulder. Giving the defense energy before every game prepping before kickoffs Scandrick rallies up the defensive backs before every game getting them fired up a part of his role as a team leader. May have been a bit inconsistent playing last season after coming off a major knee injury which would take some time fully gain recovery and confidence in the knee. Scandrick finished the season with 46 tackles, three forced fumbles, two sacks, nine pass deflections, and an interception.

Nolan Carroll now landing on his third team of his career with the Dallas Cowboys signing a 3 year deal worth  $10 million with $4 million in guaranteed dollars involved. He’s a versatile corner can play either man or zone coverage able to play out wide in the nickel or dime package, and is willing to battle at the line of scrimmage. It was reported on May 29, 2017 that Carroll was arrested for DWI something that could possibly have him suspended which could cost him a chance at being a starter to begin the season. He’s already in somewhat of a bad rep for being arrested for DWI and we have yet to him play a game with the team. He can only now just show his leadership by example with hard work ethic. Be the first one on the practice field, the last one to leave, spend extra time watching film, and mentoring the younger players on how to improve their game. Carroll started all 16 games last year with Philly finishing with 55 tackles, 11 pass deflections, a forced fumble, and an interception.