Kritik und Lob » spite being fired midway through last

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State coach Urban Meyer doesnt waste a lot of time thinking about kickers, but even he had to admit that Tyler Durbin is a pretty cool story.A walk-on kicker who played in his first football game at any level last Saturday, Durbin got the start and was perfect converting 11 extra points. He buried half of his dozen kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks, and even made a tackle. Ohio State named him special teams player of the week.I dont know where the hell he came from, Meyer said this week. And he was only half kidding.Meyer had never met Durbin until the coach saw him booming punts in training camp a few weeks ago, walked over and introduced himself. The former collegiate soccer player kicked a 62-yard field goal in practice and won the starting job after veteran kicker Sean Nuernberger was sidelined with a groin injury.A Virginia native, Durbin, 22, played soccer for two years at James Madison University but left because the school didnt have the civil engineering program he wanted. Thats when he decided to give kicking a football a try.I had thought about trying to kick in high school, but with my soccer schedule I just never found the opportunity, he said.After working with a kicking tutor, Durbin sent tapes to schools that had recognized civil engineering programs as well as top-notch football teams: Ohio State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. He included Ohio State because his girlfriend-now-wife, Kristin, is from Dayton and comes from a Buckeyes family. Ohio State gave him a shot.Durbins first day on campus was the day Ohio State won the national championship in January 2015, but he didnt get a chance to show what he could do until training camp opened last month.Ive always had a big leg, and it came pretty naturally to me, he said.Now hes the starting kicker for the No. 4 team in the country, and Meyer is raving about the hang time on his booming kickoffs.I dont really know how all this happened, but its been an incredible ride, Durbin said. I went out to dinner with my family and my wifes family (after the game) and we were just talking about it, how surreal it was that I played in a game for the Buckeyes.Durbin didnt get to attempt a field goal yet, but may get a chance before another home crowd of 100,000-plus when Tulsa visits Ohio Stadium Saturday.At least his coach can pick him out of a crowd now.Hes a really good guy, man, Meyer said. I love that kid. His effort is outstanding.TRAINERS ROOMOutside linebacker Chris Worley is questionable for Saturdays game with a knee injury suffered against Bowling Green. Meyer said Joe Burger or Jerome Baker would replace him in the starting lineup.Meyer said wide receiver Corey Smith had a tight hamstring that affected his speed and hampered his performance last week. Smith was one of the few Ohio State receivers who didnt catch a pass as the Buckeyes piled up a school record 776 yards of offense.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacyFor some of his other recent stories: www.collegefootbal.ap.org Mauricio Llovera Jersey . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Pat Burrell Jersey . 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CLEVELAND -- David Blatts second season with the Cavaliers ended long before they won an NBA title.However, hes been rewarded for his stay.The former Cleveland coach accepted a championship ring from the team despite being fired midway through last season.Blatt was dismissed when the Cavs were 30-11 and replaced by assistant Tyronn Lue, who guided the Cavs to an historic comeback in the finals to capture the first major sports championship by a Cleveland team since 1964.Blatt told Israel-based reporter David Pick that he accepted the ring from the Cavs because they presented it to me in a way that was very respectful.The Cavaliers wanted to give me a ring because the organization felt that I contributed to the championship, he said. Its not my championship, I recognize that, but I also feel that I did something there, and I graciously accepted because it was a gracious offer on their part. The big thing for me was that I felt that they felt that it was earned, not given, therefore I was happy to accept.?The Cavs confirmed that general manager David Griffin offered the ring to Blatt and he accepted.ddddddddddddAfter Cleveland defeated Golden State in Game 7, Lue said he hoped the Cavs would offer a ring to Blatt.Thats the first thing I said when we won, that we need to get coach Blatt a ring, Lue said Wednesday night after the Cavs defeated Orlando in their exhibition opener. I had to fight him a little bit. He didnt want to do it. But he definitely deserves one. Im glad he accepted it and Im glad the organization is going to get him one.Cavs superstar LeBron James, who had an up-and-down relationship with Blatt, said he was behind the teams decision.Thats an organizational thing and if thats what they wanted to do, then were all for it, he said. Who am I to say who can or cant get a ring?One of Europes most celebrated coaches before he was hired in Cleveland, Blatt, now coaching in Turkey, went 83-40 in his tenure with the Cavs.The Cavs will get their rings and raise a title banner before the Oct. 25 season opener against New York. ' ' '