Kritik und Lob » ur. And it is this battle to make the England

HOUSTON, ARLINGTON and AUSTIN, Texas -- His entire team had already trickled into the locker room, but Texas coach Charlie Strong lingered on the field at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Sunday, stopping for extra photos, hugs and handshakes as fans in each end zone chanted, Char-lie! Char-lie! Char-lie!Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary ran toward him, giving him the signal to wrap it up.Man, youre the last one at the party! he yelled. Lets go!Texas hasnt partied like this in years.We needed tonight to get this program back in the spotlight, and this is a big win for us to get the program headed back, Strong said after an instant-classic, 50-47 double-overtime win against Notre Dame. I know one game does not make a season. We have many more to go, but this is a great start for us, a record crowd.Our fans really needed that. Weve been down for so long and people have been talking about us. It was a night for us to just make it right. At least for one game, for one game.It was an epic culmination to a Texas-sized tripleheader that featured Houston-Oklahoma, USC-Alabama and Notre Dame-Texas. Those three games revealed the juxtaposition of college footballs newest contenders in the College Football Playoff conversation -- the Cougars and Longhorns -- and its mainstay, the Crimson Tide.In a whirlwind tour of three games in two days in one state, it became clear that Alabama is still No. 1; Houston is to be taken seriously until it loses; and Texas has the potential to be a dark horse under the two-quarterback system of 18-year-old phenom?Shane Buechele?and senior battering ram Tyrone Swoopes.We know how to win, Buechele said.Texas won in the most entertaining fashion, but it was Houstons shocking 33-23 upset of No. 3 Oklahoma that resonated most in the premature playoff picture.Houston freshman defensive tackle Ed Oliver, the No. 4 recruit in the country last year, bounced through a swarm of his celebrating teammates on Saturday evening, soaring from the Cougars shocking upset of the Big 12s front-runner.I knew I made the right choice when I committed here, Oliver shouted to nobody in particular as he disappeared into the red-clad celebration at NRG Stadium.Houston seems to be winning everyone over lately.Oliver and the Cougars, though, are like the freshmen in the fraternity -- theyve pledged, but havent exactly been initiated into the exclusive CFP house. A few hours after Houstons win and about 270 miles away, Alabama reminded us who has lasted the longest in a sport steeped in tradition.Were still rollin, center Bradley Bozeman said after his teams 52-6 dismantling of USC in Arlington. Were still trying to hold up to the Alabama name.This weekend in Texas was tangible proof that college football isnt just alive again; it was inhaled with every grill that was fired up, and consumed with every beer, brat and burger in sight. Fans have been thirsty for these high-risk, high-reward marquee matchups, and Week 1 delivered, thanks in large part to the emphasis placed on strength of schedule by the CFP selection committee.The beauty of these games is that nobody was eliminated. Notre Dame is not doomed if it wins out. USC certainly wont be penalized for losing to the defending national champs if it goes on to win the Pac-12. And OU still has Ohio State and Big 12 play on tap -- but it certainly cant afford to lose to Texas again.Each game was significant to the CFP race, and it felt like all signs in the state of Texas pointed to the biggest opening weekend in the history of college football.At Hobby International Airport in Houston, there was a vibrant Welcome Sooners sign on a flat-screen TV on the way to baggage claim that had the O and U in red in the word Houston. On Highway 35 East en route to Arlington, a billboard proclaimed, Roll Dallas! Proud home of Bama students, fans and alums. A few miles later there was another sign, reminding commuters Notre Dame vs. Texas tomorrow.Who knew it would be the kind of thriller well be talking about for tomorrows to come?It was a fitting end to a Week 1 party that stretched across the state, linked together by a fondness for cowboy boots and hats, folding tables and chairs, tents and tailgates.On a plane from Dallas to Austin, a flight attendant said, Go Longhorns!Boo! yelled some Notre Dame fans, waking up some USC fans who were sleeping off the previous evenings nightmare.What made the entire scene so unique, though, was the combination of college footballs most storied programs (Texas, Notre Dame, Alabama, USC and Oklahoma) joined by rising star Houston.Oliver, the big-time, baby-faced five-star recruit, had seven tackles and two sacks in his first collegiate start -- a statement win that legitimized the Group of 5 programs playoff hopes.Wait, the Group of 5?It has nothing to do with where theyre playing at, said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops. The bottom line is theyve got a really good football team.The question is whether they can sustain it.Last year, Houston was 10-0 before it was derailed by an unexpected 20-17 loss at unranked UConn. At 12-1 it was still the selection committees highest-ranked team from the Group of 5, guaranteeing Houston a spot in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, where it beat No. 9 Florida State, 38-24. That game flipped the switch on the expectations for this fall, but it wasnt until Houstons performance against OU that they were validated.We all believed we could do it, said Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. We shocked the nation.With Saturdays win over Oklahoma, Houston defeated back-to-back top-10 teams for the first time. The Sooners were left sulking, but hardly as embarrassed as USC. It was the Trojans worst opening loss of the season. Alabama, meanwhile, was having fun and dancing in the locker room.Its a whole different team than last season, said Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. We had a lot of people leave and we have a lot of experience at the same time, but I think the way we play, its a new identity. Were trying to establish a new identity every game that we play.Texas has also been searching for a new identity, and it found it with Buechele and first-year offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert.It feels different because we know that we put it all out there, said receiver John Burt. ... The team last year wouldnt have done that. This is a different team. This is a better team.Linebacker Malik Jefferson described the feeling on the field after the game as a deep breath, a relief.All of the pressures off, he said. Now we just go play Texas football like its always been.Well, not always.Texas and Strong have been desperate for a signature win, and this was the kind that could get the Longhorns into the real party at the end of the season. Problem is, its a short guest list.Houston wants an invitation, Alabama never left, and Texas is looking to crash -- even if Strong is the last one in. Air Force 1 Shell . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. Air Force 1 Alte Graphic . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. http://www.airforce1outletitalia.it/scontate-air-force-1-alte-nere.html . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. Air Force 1 Alte Bianche Italia . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No. Air Force 1 Mid Uomo . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Owen Farrell has been Englands standard-bearer and is the spirit of the team that has won 14 matches on the bounce, according to Eddie Jones.As Jones reflected on Englands 37-21 win over Australia and a year which has seen his side win all 13 of their matches, he singled out Farrell as the player pushing the standards in the squad. He hailed Ben Youngs and outstanding Courtney Lawes as the players who have impressed him most from the autumn Tests, but it is Farrell who has emerged as their key player.Owen Farrell is the spirit of the team, Jones said. Hes an absolute competitor and always wants to do things well.He hasnt been at his best this autumn -- its quite clear hes still recovering from his back injury, Id say hes probably been at 80 per cent of his total fitness.To win those four Test when your inside centre is nowhere near his best is a pretty good effort. Hes enormous for us. Hes the standard-bearer.Jones knows him well having handed the then 16-year-old Farrell his debut during his time in charge of Saracens. The England coach remembers being impressed by the way Farrell dealt with big hit from Sonny Bill Williams in a trial match between Saracens and Toulon.Sonny Bill Williams was making his debut for Toulon, Jones continued. Owen got the ball and Sonny Bill Williams whacked him and stood over the top of him. He just bounced up on his feet and continued on like nothing had happened. You could tell he was going to be a good player.Farrell started all four of Englands end-of-year Tests with his goal-kicking, communication and work-rate integral to their unbeaten year. The 9-10-12 axis with Ben Youngs, George Ford and Farrell is continuing to develop and winger Marland Yarde also impressed Jones in their win over Australia.I remember going to a Quins game about eight months ago, sitting in the crowd and the Quins supporters were going: Hes crap. This guys hopeless. I dont know why they play him all the time, Jones said. And hes really worked hard at his game and had a storming game today, really good game.Jones singled out their win over Argentina - a match they won despite being down to 14 men for 75 minutes - as their performance of the autumn Tests and said they went through a growth spurt in that game. On-field leadership has been a constant theme running through the series with Jones impressed by how they rectified their dreadful start against Australia to get a foothold and then push on in the second-half to win convincingly.Central to that was Dylan Hartley but even he is not guaranteedd a place in Jones England side as he says no one, not even Farrell, can take their spot for granted.ddddddddddddDylans been absolutely outstanding, Jones said. Physically hes not at his best for this series, hes probably 80-90 per cent mark.He needs to rectify that for the 6Nations. But his leadership has been enormous. Hes one of these guys who give added value.He leads from the front, hes proactive. If he senses things are wrong, he fixes them. He has really driven this side. The credit he deserves is enormous.Jones gave individual feedback to the players on Sunday and will meet the coaches on Monday as attention shifts to the Six Nations where England will be chasing back-to-back grand slams. He says the championship will be an altogether different challenge to the end-of-year Tests and is expecting the players to come into camp fatigued.But he has already prioritised one area for England to focus on and improve: the scrum.The only thing Im interested in now is winning the Six Nations and to win the Six Nations we need more consistency in our set piece, Jones said. I want to have the most dominant scrum. The scrum in the Six Nations is enormously important so we want that dominance.Jones says he has already picked his Six Nations squad but it will be fascinating to see how he integrates those players who missed the autumn Tests through injury. Maro Itoje and Manu Tuilagi have made their returns to club rugby at while Anthony Watson, Jack Nowell, Billy Vunipola and James Haskell are all set to return in the coming months.The England coach is expecting players to be left disappointed if they miss out on selection but is predicting as many as 15 players may be picked for the British & Irish Lions tour. And it is this battle to make the England team and ultimately the Lions tour which he feels will ensure his team stay on this upwards trajectory.If players arent hungry and you see it in their performance straight away, then they wont be here, Jones said. We have enough depth to change the squad if we need to. You want intrinsically the players to want to do it.Were developing players like that. Theres a tipping point in the team when you get six, seven, eight players with that absolute desire to want to do well then if youre not in that group, you tend to fall out. Thats how great teams keep on getting better. We havent got that tipping point yet but were moving towards it. ' ' '