After devoting a post yesterday to Oregon’s slim chances at earning a national title game bid despite one regular season loss, it’s probably important to note that Virginia Tech faces the same dilemma, likely more so. For while Oregon’s schedule lacks SEC luster, the Ducks will travel to Stanford to take on a very good Cardinal team, and may end up facing one or two additional ranked teams — maybe U.S.C., maybe Arizona State — when all is said and done. The Hokies won’t, if most projections hold, which makes their regular season all the more vital. Even more so than the Ducks, the Hokies need some help.

In a strange turn of events, Virginia Tech will be rooting for the rest of the A.C.C. to run the table. Well, if no

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After months and months of camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, the Maroone High School Gridiron Report shifts the focus to the real season this week.

Larry Blustein gets the season started on Thursday night with an impressive group of guests from 9-10 on WQAM (560 AM).

Joining Larry on this week’s show are Miami Monsignor Pace linebacker/safety Trenton Greene, Hollywood Hills head coach Scott Barnwell and Miami Ferguson head coach Gene Chew.

HE’S ONE OF THE BEST If you’ve had the chance to watch Greene play for the Spartans the past two years, you know that this gifted football player is easily one of the top prospects in south Florida.

His ability to make plays all over he field has colleges and universities from all over the country keeping a close eye on his gifted 5-11, 195-pounder who was one of the premier players on a team that is looking to rebuild this coming season.

Among the schools showing interest in this gifted prospect include Kansas State, Marshall, Bowling Green, Memphis, FAU, FIU, Memphis and Kentucky – with more programs coming aboard.

While he has played linebacker for Pace, many coaches see him as a safety because of his quickness, ability to cover and physical strength.

HILLS IN THE MIX – AGAIN No matter where you go in the off season, Barnwell and his Hollywood Hills Spartans are always attending, gaining an edge on the competition.

One of the most talented programs every year, Barnwell led his alma mater to a district title this year, and despite those who have not watched this team over the past six months, they will be surprised by the speed and size of this team.

Despite losing top flight running back Jeremy Donaldson who transferred to Pines Charter, the Spartans are loaded with quality athletes.

FERGUSON, CHEW A TALENTED GROUP Despite a 3-7 record last season, Ferguson High and Coach Chew believe that the time and effort put in during the off season will give this program a huge edge in 2011.

Senior running back Steven Braddy is one of the catalysts for a Falcons team that won the district two years ago, and with a number of rising young talent, it appears they are headed in that direction once again.

Coach Chew is regarded as one of the top teachers on the football field, which should give this team a boost.

Around the region in a forward-lean three minutes

Rohit Sharma is a fan of McClatchy High School football coach Malcom Floyd, admiring him one moment, ribbing him the next. Sharma is an assistant coach..

A former NFL wide receiver, Floyd is working for his alma mater and is eager to kick-start a program starving for success. In 1989, Floyd hauled in touchdown bombs for the Lions from Tony Whitehead, another Lions assistant. Floyd and staff stress effort, academic achievement and pride. And it’s OK to laugh a bit in practice, too, Sharma said.

“Malcolm is humble, and we give it to him,” Sharma said. “The shipping cost on his NFL card on eBay is worth more than the card’s signature.”

All of the great basketball coaches have stopped through these parts.

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Pat Summitt (Photo courtesy of the University of Tennessee)

Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with early onset dementia that will eventually lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Experts from the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center explain what a diagnosis might mean for patients like Summitt.

In contrast to what many people think, Alzheimers disease does not only affect older persons. It can also affect persons in their middle adult ages, said Dr. Zoe Arvanitakis, a cognitive neurologist at Rush University Medical Center’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center.

We know that Alzheimer’s disease is synonymous with aging and the elderly — with nearly half of people over the age of 85 being afflicted with the devastating disease. But it’s not

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When it comes to further education, there are plenty of options these days which mean that you can learn flexibly and easily, fitting your studies around your lifestyle.

If you don’t fancy paying over the odds for continuously rising tuition fees, then you might be looking at alternative options. One of the most popular ways to learn, as an alternative to traditional universities, is with
computer courses, where you learn exclusively online.

Online courses mean that all you need to study from home is a computer to access the learning materials and you can learn flexibly and at your own rate, fitting your studies around anything else you may have going on, including family commitments or a full time job.

So, what kind of subjects can you study online? T Read full post…