We've got a nice, well-rounded bunch of links for everyone today in our bye week lull. There's some info on a study that Virginia Tech and Wake Forest conducted about youth football and head injuries, some news on former Deacs in the NBA, tidbits about football recruiting and the NFL Combine and more.
Find all today's hot and fresh news after the jump...
Music City Bowl brings $22.2M economic impact | The Tennessean | tennessean.com
The 14th annual Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl generated a $22.2 million economic impact last December, bowl officials said Tuesday. The Dec. 30 game between Mississippi State University and Wake Forest University drew 55,208 fans to LP Field and a TV audience of 4.2 million. Almost 37,000 fans came to Nashville for the game, generating 25,805 hotel room nights, an economic analysis of the event found.
Bud Withers | Outlook for Pac-12 basketball: It will get better | Seattle Times Newspaper
USC: The Trojans' wreck of a season will be transformed with several transfers, including bullish 6-5 Eric Wise from UC Irvine; and J.T. Terrell (now at Peninsula JC) and Ari Stewart from Wake Forest, plus the return of their multiple injured. "We're going to be a totally different-looking team," says coach Kevin O'Neill. That's a good thing.
Haas optimistic about Wake Forest golf | JournalNow.com
Junior Charlie Harrison, who will start at No. 3 in the lineup behind Lee Bedford and Evan Beck, said that the Deacons have high expectations, despite their No. 42 national ranking by Golfweek. "It's high for ourselves and for our team," Harrison said. "We want to do big things for our school and for coach Haas."
Scout.com: Natron Gidney to visit Wake Forest
One of the visitors for Wake Forest’s big Junior Day event this Saturday is Natron Gidney from North Carolina 3-AA state runner-up, Boiling Springs Crest High School. After a sophomore season hampered by injury and illness, Gidney came back to take the starting role at tight end and backup five-star Jonathan Bullard on the defensive line.
Ten players with much riding on NFL scouting combine - Wire - Lifestyle - bellinghamherald.com
WR Chris Givens (Wake Forest) The Wylie product could have used another year in college, but he chose to turn pro after 21 all-purpose touchdowns in three seasons and 163 catches for 2,473 yards. Wake Forest listed Givens at 6-foot. He likely will measure shorter than that, but how much shorter? Without the height, he needs a fast 40.
Hawks’ Emerging Point Guard Jeff Teague Is Next Up for Lin - NYTimes.com
"It’s difficult running a team," Teague said. "You got so many different personalities out there. But that comes with the job. I’ve always been a point guard. I’ve always tried to find ways to relate to everybody. It definitely is tough when you got veterans used to getting the ball a certain number of times, and you hear about when they don’t. But I’m getting better at that."
James Johnson reinventing his jumpshot | Basketball | Sports | Toronto Sun
"For me it was three years in the NBA and four different head coaches," said Johnson who began his career in Chicago before moving to Toronto after a year and a half. "I couldn’t earn the confidence of any of the head coaches," he said. "I just didn’t have enough time. I was on a very short leash in terms of what I would get in the offence. I know my defence will always (keep me in the picture) but I couldn’t control my offensive shot or what I was doing or even what plays would be run for me."
'You can't be OK with losing,' Clippers' Chris Paul says - latimes.com
"It's like the good and the bad with our team," Chris Paul said after practice Tuesday. "I think it's great that we're mad about losing. I think that's a good thing. The bad part about that is that we did lose. So we've got to correct some things and we've got to come out tomorrow night and give a good showing against Denver. We owe those guys."
Virginia Tech, Wake Forest University announce youth football publication, new head impact study | Science Codex
"In 2011 we collected the first data on one team of youth football players. This new study for 2012 allows for dramatically increased sample size and head exposure mapping for all age groups," said Stefan Duma, the Virginia Tech Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Department Head of the Virginia Tech – Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES) who directs this project. "Through our biomedical engineering partnership, we are able to capitalize on world class faculty and facilities at both Virginia Tech and Wake Forest University. A project of this size would not be possible without our long-term partnership."