TOWSON, Md. – Senior attack Sean Maguire scored three goals in the final 23 minutes as the Tigers (1-0) rallied from an 8-6 third quarter deficit to pull out a 12-10 win over Jacksonville (0-1) at D.B. Milne Field on Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, the Tigers presented Coach Shawn Nadelen with a win in his coaching debut.

Midway through the third quarter, the Tigers were trailing the Dolphins, 8-6. However, Maguire’s unassisted goal with 7:17 left in the third period ignited a five-goal run that gave the Tigers an 11-8 advantage with 8:23 remaining in the game.

After Maguire made it an 8-7 contest, senior Carl Iacona scored the game-tying goal with 3:53 left in the third quarter off a pass from freshman Justin Mabus, his second assist of the game. With 13:46 remaining in the game, sophomore Thomas DeNapoli scored an unassisted goal to give the Tigers a 9-8 advantage.

When freshman Robby Zoppo added an unassisted goal with 9:32 left, the Tigers upped their lead to 10-8. Maguire tallied his second goal of the game off a pass from Mabus with 8:23 left, giving the Tigers an 11-8 advantage.

Junior midfielder Cameron Mann took a pass from Donovan Lang with 6:48 left in the game to end the Tigers’ scoring spurt and pull the Dolphins to within 11-9. With 4:12 remaining, sophomore defenseman Warren Kalkstein of the Tigers was called for a slashing penalty and Jacksonville had a man advantage. Moments later, junior T.J. Kenary scored off a pass from Max Gurowski to score an extra man goal with 3:54 remaining, pulling Jacksonville to within 11-10.

But, Kalkstein atoned for his penalty by winning the ensuring faceoff. Sophomore Andrew Hodgson picked up the ground ball and fed it to junior Dan Kramer. Kramer passed it to Maguire, who scored only nine seconds after the Dolphins’ goal, giving the Tigers a 12-10 lead with 3:45 left to play.

In the final minutes, the Dolphins managed only one shot, which junior goalkeeper Andrew Wascavage saved. The Tigers were able to run out the clock and win their season opener for the first time since 2007.

Maguire, who scored a career high three goals, led the Tigers with three goals and one assist. DeNapoli added three goals for Towson while Zoppo scored the first two goals of his college career. Kramer had a goal and an assist and junior Matt Hughes also scored a goal with an assist.

Wascavage made eight saves for the Tiger defense as the Tigers forced 11 turnovers.

A third-year program, Jacksonville was led by Ari Waffle, who had three goals and an assist.

The Tigers, who played their season opener on the earliest date ever, return to action next Friday evening when they visit Johns Hopkins University for a 5:00 p.m. start.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Sophomore attackmen Tucker Hull (Charlotte, N.C.) and Sam Jones (Annapolis, Md.) combined to score 17 points, including 11 goals, as the Navy men’s lacrosse team opened the 2012 campaign with a 14-7 victory over VMI on a drizzly Saturday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.  Saturday also marked the beginning of the Rick Sowell era at the Naval Academy, as he directed the Midshipmen to their 11th-consecutive victory in a season-opener.

While Navy has enjoyed success in season openers over the years, the Midshipmen came into the season having lost their final five contests of the 2011 campaign, including three in a row at home.

“It feels good to get the first win of the season under our belt,” said Sowell, who became the program’s eighth coach in what marks the 105th year of lacrosse played at the Academy.  “I couldn’t be happier for the guys because I know it’s been awhile coming.  I know for the boys in the locker room, it feels awfully good to experience a winning feeling.”

The beginning stages of the game indicated it could be a long day for Navy, as the Mids gave up a goal just 25 seconds into the game and fell behind 2-0 with 10 minutes to go in the opening period.

Navy, though, put together a 7-0 run, scoring six goals in four-and-a-half minutes.  The run started at 9:38 when Hull found Jones cutting in from the left wing and after a stick fake, Jones put away his first of five goals.  Just 35 seconds later, Jones sent a thank-you pass back to Hull who was standing on the right crease to even the score at 2-2.

The Mids took a lead it would not relinquish at 8:18 in the first quarter when Jones threaded his pass through heavy traffic and found second-year midfielder Pat Durkin (Germantown, Md.) darting in and caught him on the doorstep.  While Durkin saw action in nine of the 13 games a year ago, the goal marked the first of his career.

Navy pushed its lead to 5-2 following back-to-back goals by Hull, who owned a hat trick by the 6:39 mark in the first period.  Meanwhile, Jones gave the Mids a 6-2 lead at the end of the quarter after rocking back-and-forth on the right side of the crease and pumping in a shot that had absolutely no angle, but caught the inside of the pipe.

Navy capped off its 7-0 run and extended its lead to 7-2 just 20 seconds into the second stanza when first-year starting defenseman Austin Miller (Rockville, Md.) sent a clearing pass from the defensive end of the field to sophomore long pole Pat Kiernan (Ridgewood, N.J.) at mid-field.  Kiernan turned and was untouched as he ran straight to the goal, scoring for the first time on the afternoon and second in his career.

After being held without a goal for nearly 12 minutes, the Keydets finally found the back of the net at 13:32 in the second when senior midfielder Keith Long went high to low on Navy keeper RJ Wickham (Penn Yan, N.Y.) from seven yards out.  VMI trimmed the lead to 7-4 when Navy’s Nikk Davis (Cockeysville, Md.) was unable to get to VMI’s Chris Kitchen and the slide came too slow, as Kitchen punched in an unassisted goal at 7:55.

Navy answered with three-straight goals, including two by Hull, to put the game out of reach.

Hull led all goal scorers with six, becoming the first Navy player to reach the six-goal milestone since Taylor Harris put up six against Holy Cross on March 26, 2006, en route to a 17-3 win by the Midshipmen.  Hull added two assists to reach eight points for the first time in his career.

Meanwhile, Jones led all point producers in the game with nine on five goals and four assists.  While both goal and assist marks were career highs for Jones, his nine points were the most by a Navy player since Dennis Nealon scored 12 (4 goals, 8 assists) against Washington College on March 20, 1991.

“They (Hull and Jones) are awfully fun to watch,” said Sowell.  “I found out probably mid-fall that our offense would be geared around these two.  I think  versatility best describes our attack because all three, including Taylor Reynolds (Babylon, N.Y.), can play on the perimeter, off the ball and have good vision.  Tucker and Sam have differing styles, yet they have some similarities.”

“I have to give thanks to the play of our midfielders today,” said Jones, who along with Hull, led the Mids a year ago with 38 points on 23 goals and 15 assists.  “It really all started with their play.  They had a lot of hockey assists that they don’t get credit for, but it’s a true testament to what they can do.”

Meanwhile, it was a solid effort by the Mids’ defensive unit which is still gaining experience.  Although the Mids gave up five goals in the opening half, the defensive unit held the Keydets to just two in the second 30 minutes of play including zero in the final quarter.  Senior Matt Vernam (Shoreham, N.Y.) is in his fourth season as a starter, however Miller and sophomore Nik Mullen (Wading River, N.Y.) are first-year starters and juniors Jay Mann (Cockeysville, Md.) and Cade Norris (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) continue to adjust to their new roles as short stick defensive midfielders.  Kiernan was the Mids’ primary long pole a year ago and will be a major player for the Mids up top this season.  In addition to showing his versatility as a scorer when the opportunity presents itself, he picked up a team-high tying six ground balls.  Wickham, meanwhile, was held without a save in the opening period, but a four-save effort in the second contributed to his eight for the day.

While senior Logan West (Berlin, Md.) didn’t finish the day winning the faceoff battle, his performance at the beginning of the game contributed greatly to the Mids’ seven-goal run.  West won six of the game’s first nine draws and each of the last two as he faced the nation’s No.-1 ranked faceoff specialist, Stephen Robarge.  VMI won the faceoff battle 15-10, but West surely put the ball in the Mids’ sticks early on to get a jump on the scoreboard.

The Midshipmen will be back in action next Sunday when they travel to Florida to take part in the Moe’s Southwest Classic which will feature Denver vs. Ohio State at 2:00 pm, followed by the Mids against the host Jacksonville Dolphins at 4:00 pm.  Sunday’s contest will be televised live by NBC Sports Network, formerly known as Versus.

2012 Towson University Men’s Lacrosse

Game Notes: Game #1 at Jacksonville

Feb. 11, 2012 | 1 p.m. | Jacksonville, Fla.

TOWSON OPENS SHAWN NADELEN ERA AT JACKSONVILLE SATURDAY

Tigers and Dolphins Meet for First Time Ever in Men’s Lacrosse

Opening Face-Off
Opening their 54th season of college lacrosse, the Tigers will travel to Jacksonville University on Saturday afternoon to face the Dolphins in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. Opening face-off from D.B. Milne Field is set for 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on TowsonTigers.com and joined in progress on WNST-AM 1570 after the Tiger men’s basketball game against James Madison concludes.

Nadelen to Make Debut as Tigers’ Head Coach
After spending seven years as an assistant coach, including the last two seasons as the associate head coach, Coach Shawn Nadelen will make his head coaching debut when the Tigers travel to Jacksonville on Saturday afternoon. A 2001 graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Nadelen was named as the seventh head coach in the 54-year history of Towson men’s lacrosse on May 31. He replaces Tony Seaman, who posted a 99-93 record in 13 years with the Tigers.

A Quick Look Back at Last Year
The Tigers posted a 3-10 record last year and missed the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament for just the second time since joining the league in 2002. Five of the Tigers’ losses were by a one-goal margin and two of the Tigers’ three wins occurred at Johnny Unitas® Stadium. Junior attackman Matt Hughes was the Tigers’ leading scorer with 18 goals and 6 assists while defenseman Marc Ingerman was a second-team All-CAA selection. 

Scouting the Dolphins
Entering their third season as a Division I program, the Dolphins posted a 5-10 record last year, including a 3-3 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Led by TJ Kenary, the Dolphins advanced to the MAAC semi-finals for the first time in program history before losing to Siena. Kenary scored 21 goals with 7 assists while goalkeeper Peter DeLuca posted an 11.60 goals against average while stopping 50.8 per cent of the shots he faced. Coach Guy Van Arsdale is in his first season at Jacksonville.

Nice to Meet You
The Tigers and the Dolphins will be facing each other for the first time in men’s lacrosse when the two teams meet on Saturday afternoon. Jacksonville is one of two teams that the Tigers will be playing against for the first time; Towson will host Mercer on Mar. 21 at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.

For Openers
The Tigers will be playing in the 54th season opener when they visit the Dolphins on Saturday afternoon. However, the Tigers will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak in season openers after losing a 10-6 decision against Johns Hopkins last year at Unitas Stadium. The Tigers enter the 2012 season with a 23-30 all-time record in season openers.   

For Openers, Part II
Towson first-year Coach Shawn Nadelen is looking to become the fifth coach in the program’s history to open his head coaching tenure with a victory. Of the previous six coaches at Towson, only Bob Melville and Ross Sachs have lost their first game as the Tigers’ coach.    

Nadelen Among Nation’s Youngest Division I Head Coaches
Towson Coach Shawn Nadelen begins his head coaching tenure as one of the youngest head coaches in Division I men’s lacrosse. Nadelen, who will turn 33 on Apr. 16, is one of 12 coaches who are under the age of 40 years old. Marist College Coach Keegan Wilkinson is the youngest head coach in the nation at 27 years old while Robert Morris first-year Coach Andrew McMinn is 29 years old.    

Boys of Winter
Saturday’s game between the Tigers and the Dolphins will mark the earliest start to a season in the 54-year history of the Towson men’s lacrosse program. The previous record for the earliest start in school history occurred last year when the Tigers hosted Johns Hopkins on Feb. 19. It is also the earliest start in the brief history of the Dolphins’ program.   North Caro

Heading Down South
Saturday’s game between the Tigers and the Dolphins will mark the furthest south that Towson has ever traveled for a men’s lacrosse game. Prior to Saturday, the Tigers’ southern-most travel was to North Carolina for games against Duke, N.C. State and North Carolina. The Tigers will fly a total of 735 miles to Jacksonville for the game on Saturday.      

A Friend Turned Foe
When the Tigers open the season on Saturday afternoon, they will be playing against a former Tiger midfielder as Brock Armour, ‘10 is a member of the Jacksonville coaching staff. A four-year letter winner for the Tigers from 2007-10, Armour played in 52 career games and scored 15 goals with 19 assists. As a senior, he played in all 15 games and tallied four goals with 10 assists. Armour, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, is in his first season as a member of the Dolphins’ coaching staff.   

Pack Your Bags
The Tigers will open the season by playing their first three games away from Johnny Unitas® Stadium. It is the first time since the 1994 season that the Tigers have played three straight true road games to open the season (Towson played three games away from home in 2005, but one of them was a neutral site game against Air Force that was played at the University of Denver). In 1994, the Tigers opened the season with three straight road wins at Villanova, Maryland and Penn State.

Close Calls
Of the Tigers’ 13 games last season, 10 of them were decided by four goals or less. In addition, the Tigers played in six one-goal games and lost five of those six contests. Since the start of the 2010 season, the Tigers have played in 22 games that have been decided by four goals or less, including 11 one-goal games.

A Little Something Extra
Senior midfielder Michael Brashears ranked second on the Tigers last year with three extra-man goals, including a pair of extra-man goals against Drexel on Apr. 23 at Vidas Field. In fact, all seven of Brashears’ career goals have been scored in extra-man situations. He scored four extra-man goals as a sophomore, including a pair of extra-man goals against Drexel.

Hughes is Huge for Tigers Away from Home
Junior attackman Matt Hughes enjoyed playing away from Unitas Stadium last year, scoring 11 of his team-high 18 goals in the Tigers’ six road games. He posted a pair of three-goal efforts against Mount St. Mary’s on Mar. 5 and at Navy on Mar. 15. Hughes also had two goals with an assist at Delaware on Mar. 26 before a two-goal performance against Penn State on Apr. 16. It was a large contrast to Hughes’ freshman season when he tallied 11 of his 13 goals at home.

Iacona, Kenyon Named as Tigers’ Team Captains
Senior midfielder Carl Iacona and senior defenseman John Kenyon were named as the Tigers’ 2012 team captains prior to the team’s scrimmage against Albany on Feb. 4 by a vote of the team. Iacona is a two-year letter winner who has played in all 28 games for the Tigers since transferring from St. John’s University after his freshman season. He has scored 14 goals with seven assists in the last two years. Meanwhile, Kenyon is a three-year letter winner who ranked second on the team with 38 ground balls last year. He has played in 42 career games and has 50 ground balls.

Up Next for the Tigers
The Tigers will continue their season-opening three-game road trip next Friday when they travel to second-ranked Johns Hopkins for a 5 p.m. match-up against the Blue Jays. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and ESPN3.com in addition to airing on WNST-AM 1570. It will mark the 40th all-time meeting between the two teams in a series that Johns Hopkins leads by a 36-3 margin. The Blue Jays earned a 10-6 victory last year at Unitas Stadium in the season opener for both teams.

(Updated: 3:10 p.m.)

Two weeks after saying he planned to return for the 2012 season, Ravens running back Ricky Williams has decided to call it a career.

The 34-year-old will retire from the National Football League after 11 seasons that also included a retirement in 2004 and a stop in the Canadian Football League in 2006. Williams eclipsed the 10,000-yard mark for his career in the Ravens’ regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 1, becoming the 26th player in league history to reach the mark.

“The NFL has been an amazing page in this chapter of my life,” Williams said in an official statement released by the Ravens. “I pray that all successive adventures offer me the same potential for growth, success and most importantly, fun. I want to thank all my fans, teammates, coaches and supporters for the strength they’ve given me to overcome so much.”

Williams signed a two-year contract with the Ravens in August and served as the backup to Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice. In limited duty, he rushed for 444 yards and two touchdowns, gaining 4.1 yards per carry — his career rushing average.

Following the Ravens’ heartbreaking 23-20 loss in the AFC championship, Williams appeared upbeat about returning to the team next season. Though considered a loner who kept to himself in the locker room, Williams was liked by teammates and Rice credited him as a major reason why he led the NFL in yards from scrimmage in 2011.

“I was a big fan of Ricky before we were teammates, but being around him this year is the best thing that happened to me in my NFL career,” Rice said in a team statement. “As a young player, you need to be around a guy who knows what he is doing, and Ricky was tremendous to learn from. The way he took care of his body and the way he prepared, he always showed that he is a true professional.”

With Rice set to become an unrestricted free agent in March, the Ravens are now faced with the task of not only retaining their Pro Bowl running back but also finding a suitable backup. Anthony Allen, Baltimore’s seventh-round pick in 2011, rushed for eight yards on three carries and is the only other running back still under contract from this past season’s 53-man roster. Damien Berry, an undrafted free agent from the University of Miami who spent last season on the practice squad, is also on the Ravens’ off-season roster.

Should Williams stay retired, the Ravens would save roughly $1.5 million on this coming season’s salary cap.

The No. 5 overall pick of the 1999 draft, Williams spent three years with the New Orleans Saints before being traded to Miami, where he spent seven productive but tumultuous seasons where he failed several drug tests and temporarily retired from the NFL in 2004. After being suspended by the NFL for the entire 2006 season, Williams played football in Canada for the Toronto Argonauts.

The most productive season of his career came in 2002 when Williams won the rushing title with 1,853 yards and finished with a Miami single-season franchise-record 16 rushing touchdowns. His 24 100-yard performances are also a Dolphins’ team record.

“Ricky is one of the most productive rushers in league history, and he was a tremendous asset to our team this past season,” general manager Ozzie Newsome said. “We enjoyed having him as a member of the Ravens, as his leadership, work ethic and commitment contributed to our success. We are grateful for his contributions, and we wish him nothing but the best going forward.”

Williams also battled clinical depression and social anxiety disorder and was often misunderstood by coaches, teammates, and media during his career. He has said in numerous interviews that he hoped to one day become a doctor after his playing career was over.

The highly-intelligent Williams has always done things his way, never wanting to solely be defined as a football player, so his decision shouldn’t come as a major surprise despite his recent comments. However, a change of heart is certainly possible given the healthy relationship he enjoyed with the Ravens this past season.

“Thank you all, but this ain’t it, I’m gonna do something really special,” Williams said through his Twitter account shortly after the news broke about his retirement on Tuesday afternoon. “‘Be you and change the world.’”

Honorable Mention: Women’s College Basketball-Miami @ Maryland (Sunday 2:30pm from Comcast Center live on ESPN2); High School Basketball: Dulaney @ Perry Hall (Wednesday 6:30pm), Towson @ Perry Hall (Friday 7pm); Baltimore Ravens Regional Scouting Combine (Saturday 1 Winning Drive Owings Mills)

10. Anthrax/Testament (Tuesday 7pm Rams Head Live), Black Stone Cherry/Cavo (Thursday 6:30pm Rams Head Live), Umphrey’s McGee (Sunday 7pm Rams Head Live); Wayne Static (Wednesday 6pm Recher Theatre); Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Presents the Rolling Stones’ album Sticky Fingers in it’s entirety (Friday 8pm Baltimore Soundstage); George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic (Tuesday 7pm 9:30 Club), The Darkness (Wednesday 7pm 9:30 Club), Jack’s Mannequin (Friday & Saturday 6:30pm 9:30 Club); Eric Benet (Tuesday & Wednesday 7:30pm Birchmere); The Fray “Scars and Stories” and Van Halen “A Different Kind of Truth” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

I probably enjoy Cavo a little bit more than I’m willing to admit publicly…

I both enjoy Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe…

AND I enjoy the Rolling Stones’ album Sticky Fingers. So I’ve got that going for me…

I really don’t care…at all…what you think. The new song by The Fray is freaking awesome.

9. Mike Epps (Friday 7:30pm & 10pm D.A.R. Constitution Hall); Nick Cannon (Thursday-Sunday Baltimore Comedy Factory), Alonzo Bodden (Monday 8pm Baltimore Comedy Factory); “Safe House” opens in theaters (Friday); “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas” available on DVD/Blu-Ray (Tuesday); Wanda Sykes (Friday 8pm Strathmore); Motor Trend International Auto Show (Thursday-Sunday Baltimore Convention Center); Sex at the Zoo (Thursday 6pm Maryland Zoo in Baltimore); Wishful Drinking feat. Carrie Fisher (Tuesday-Sunday France Merrick Performing Arts Center-Hippodrome)

This is a bizarre combination of events for sure. Me personally, I’d watch Denzel Washington act his way out of a cardboard box, so I’m excited for Safe House.  Of course, there’s no way humanly possible it’s as good as Training Day (language NSFW)…

I don’t know if Eli Manning would be willing to donate his new car to the event at the Convention Center this weekend, but I’d certainly appreciate the opportunity to drool over the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition…

Courtesy of Bovada, (www.Bovada.lv, Twitter: @BovadaLV). Included below are 2013 Super Bowl odds, updated odds on where Peyton Manning ends up, and a quote from Bovada.lv Sportsbook Manager, Kevin Bradley on why next season’s SB odds where so tough to make.

2013 SUPER BOWL XLVII ODDS

Green Bay Packers                    6/1

New England Patriots                 7/1

New Orleans Saints                   8/1

Philadelphia Eagles                    12/1

Pittsburgh Steelers                    12/1

Houston Texans                         12/1

Baltimore Ravens                       14/1

New York Giants                        15/1

San Diego Chargers                   16/1

New York Jets                           16/1

San Francisco 49ers                  18/1

Dallas Cowboys                         18/1

Detroit Lions                              18/1

Atlanta Falcons                         22/1

Chicago Bears                           30/1

Arizona Cardinals                       30/1

Miami Dolphins                          35/1

Cincinnati Bengals                     40/1

Indianapolis Colts                       50/1

Tennessee Titans                       40/1

Oakland Raiders                        50/1

Carolina Panthers                      50/1

Denver Broncos                         50/1

Kansas City Chiefs                    50/1

Seattle Seahawks                      60/1

Buffalo Bills                               60/1

Washington Redskins                60/1

Minnesota Vikings                     75/1

St. Louis Rams                          75/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers             75/1

Cleveland Browns                       100/1

Jacksonville Jaguars                   100/1

What team will Peyton Manning be a member of for game 1 of the 2013 Regular Season?

Arizona Cardinals                       2/1

Washington Redskins                5/2

Miami Dolphins                          3/1

New York Jets                           7/2

Indianapolis Colts                       7/1

“With Peyton Manning’s situation it has made setting next year’s Super Bowl Odds very difficult and a reason you will see teams like Arizona and Miami at lower odds than what they would be in case Manning signs there.  As for the Colts, even though there is a slim chance he stays they are at 50-1 but if he does leave will shoot up to around 100-1 and if stays would drop down to around 15-1, just goes to show the importance of a guy like Peyton.”

-Kevin Bradley, Bovada.lv Sportsbook Manager

TOWSON, Md. - After battling each other in practice for the last three weeks, the Tiger men’s lacrosse team got a chance to face a different opponent on Saturday afternoon by hosting the University at Albany in a scrimmage at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.

While the Tigers were able to take away many positives from the five-quarter scrimmage, first-year Coach Shawn Nadelen knows that there is still plenty of work to do.

“I thought we came out today with a lot of good energy and good emotion,” Nadelen said. “We settled in and were pretty productive during the early part of the scrimmage. As we got into the later part, I am not sure if we got too comfortable and we got complacent, which I was not happy about.

“We wanted to see how we stacked up against another team,” Nadelen added. “After three weeks of just practicing against each other, you can get familiar with each other. We were looking to see how we compete against another team and how our sets worked. It was a great scrimmage on both sides.”

Junior attackman Matt Hughes, who was the Tigers’ leading scorer with 18 goals last year, scored three goals with three assists during the scrimmage. Meanwhile, freshman midfielder Justin Mabus scored twice with an assist.

“It’s nothing that we don’t expect from both Matt and Justin,” Nadelen said. “Justin has been pretty impressive during practice so far and he has taken on a lot at the midfield position.”

One thing the Tigers will be looking to improve this season is their face-off play and the effort showed against the Great Danes as Towson won 16 of 29 face-off attempts. Junior midfielder Matt Thomas posted 11 face-off wins to lead the Tigers.

“Face-offs are a unique thing in lacrosse,” said Nadelen. “You can be great one day and the next day, you are looking for the next guy in line. Our wing players did a pretty good job of working through the scrum and getting the possession for us.”

The Great Danes were led by sophomore attackman Miles Thompson, who tallied five goals with an assist during the scrimmage. Sophomore attackman Ty Thompson added two goals with an assist while sophomore Lyle Thompson scored a goal with three assists.

With the scrimmge complete, the Tigers will now turn their attention to next week’s season opener at Jacksonville. The first-ever meeting between the Tigers and the Dolphins will start at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on TowsonTigers.com. 

It was another incredible week of Super Bowl coverage for us here at AM1570 WNST.net. Both “The Morning Reaction” with Drew Forrester and Luke Jones as well as “The Reality Check” with Glenn Clark emanated from Radio Row at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis every day. “Nasty” Nestor Aparicio was also part of the daily fun.

In case you missed anything we did, here is a list of the guest segments available for your consumption right now in the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault here at WNST.net.

-Adam Sandler (Actor)

-Matt Birk (Baltimore Ravens C)

-Chuck Pagano (Indianapolis Colts Head Coach, former Ravens DC)

-Curt Schilling (Former Baltimore Orioles/Boston Red Sox/Arizona Diamondbacks/Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher)

-Shannon Sharpe (Former Baltimore Ravens/Denver Broncos Hall of Fame TE, CBS)

-AJ Green (Cincinnati Bengals WR)
-Ingrid & Sarah Harbaugh (Wives of John & Jim Harbaugh)

-Jim Schwartz (Detroit Lions Head Coach)

-Mike Smith (Atlanta Falcons Head Coach)

-Marcus Allen (Hall of Fame RB)
-Larry The Cable Guy (Comedian)

-Priest Holmes (Former Baltimore Ravens/Kansas City Chiefs RB)

-Vanilla Ice (Musician/Actor)
-Will Forte (Actor/Comedian/Saturday Night Live alum)

-Lynn Swann (Former Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame WR)
-Greg Ballard (Mayor of Indy)

-Dustin Keller (New York Jets TE)
-Jason Taylor (Former Miami Dolphins DE)
-Frank Caliendo (Comedian)

-Jay Mohr (Actor/Comedian)

-David Feherty (Golf Channel)

-Mike Haynes (Former New England Patriots Hall of Fame CB)
-Brian Billick (Former Baltimore Ravens coach FOX/NFL Network)
-Herm Edwards (Former New York Jets/Kansas City Chiefs coach, ESPN)

-Dick Vermeil (Former Super Bowl winning St. Louis Rams coach)
-Marv Levy (Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame coach)

-Joe Theismann (Former Washington Redskins QB, NFL Network)

-Lorenzo Neal (Former Baltimore Ravens/San Diego Chargers FB)
-Rich Gannon (Former Oakland Raiders QB, CBS)
-Antonio Pierce (Former NY Giants LB)

-Jack Youngblood (Los Angeles Rams Hall of Fame DE)

-Dhani Jones (Former Cincinnati Bengals LB)

-Robbie Gould (Chicago Bears Kicker)
-Morten Anderson (Former New Orleans Saints/Atlanta Falcons Kicker)
-Bonnie Bernstein (ESPN/University of Maryland alum)
-Peter King (SI/NBC)
-Lesley Visser (CBS)
-Sal Paolantonio (ESPN)
-Laura Kaeppeler (Miss America 2012)

-Chrissy Teigen (SI Swimsuit Issue model)
-Will Witherspoon (Tennessee Titans LB)

(More on Page 2…)

NEW YORK – With Super Bowl XLVI around the corner and the spotlight on the field, the NFL is recognizing excellence off the field by announcing today the two finalists for the League’s inaugural Salute to Service Award presented by USAA.

USAA, a leading provider of insurance and other services to members of the U.S. military and their families, is the NFL’s first Official Military Appreciation Sponsor.

Tennessee Titans owner K.S. “Bud” Adams Jr. and Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh were selected for their exceptional efforts to honor and support members of the military community. The first Salute to Service Award will be presented to one of the finalists at the inaugural NFL Honors event that will air on NBC Saturday, February 4 at 9 PM ET. In addition, a $25,000 contribution will be made by USAA in the winner’s honor to the aid societies representing all five military branches.

“We should never take for granted the tremendous sacrifices made daily by our nation’s military,” said Steve Speakes, executive vice president of USAA’s external affairs and a retired Army lieutenant general. “Together with the NFL, we are launching the Salute to Service Award as a way to recognize those in the NFL community who appreciate and honor that sacrifice, enrich the lives of military members and encourage others to do the same.”

An ardent backer of the military in his 52 years as owner, Bud Adams’ enthusiasm for the military began with his service in the U.S. Navy from 1942-46.  His commitment to supporting the military followed him and the franchise to Tennessee where he focused his efforts on recognizing the service men and women of nearby Fort Campbell, home to the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, as well as the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers) and the 5th Special Forces Group (Green Berets).

Since 1999, more than 11,000 Fort Campbell soldiers have been guests of Adams at Titans home games, and it’s very common for Adams to host military members in his suite and award game balls as a tribute to their service. Adams’ support at Fort Campbell includes directing the team to make several visits during the year where Titans players, cheerleaders, and staff can participate in autograph sessions at the PX, greet patients at the Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, provide programs to the on-base middle school and visit with the on-base high school football team.

Similarly, John Harbaugh’s dedication includes frequent base visits, and he relishes interaction with the military community. His passion for supporting the troops was felt immediately by the Ravens’ organization after being named head coach in 2008. Harbaugh was the main driver in the team’s decision to institute a Military Appreciation Day, an annual event which was established during his first training camp with the team. Since then, an estimated 2,000 service members have enjoyed preferred seating and opportunities to meet with players and coaches during Ravens’ camp.

Away from the field, Harbaugh often recruits Ravens players and coaches to join him during base visits, and even took members of his team to the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, Calif., last December in the middle of the Ravens’ playoff run. He has also spent significant time and funds putting together care packages for soldiers overseas, and caches of school supplies for military families.

In December, 22 NFL clubs nominated for this award coaches, active and retired players, and team executives and personnel who best demonstrated support for the military community. The submissions were evaluated by a panel of judges based on the positive effect of the individual’s efforts on the military community, the type of service conducted, the thoroughness of the program and level of commitment.

The panel of judges, consisting of representatives from the U.S. military, the NFL and USAA, includes:

*         Roger Staubach, Naval Academy graduate, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and Super Bowl MVP

*         Chad Hennings, Air Force Academy graduate, three-time Super Bowl champion

*         Rocky Bleier, U.S. Army veteran, four-time Super Bowl champion

*         Jim Mora, Sr., Marine Corps veteran, former NFL head coach

*         General Stephen Speakes, U.S. Army veteran, USAA executive vice president

*         Eric Grubman, Naval Academy graduate, executive vice president-NFL Ventures and Business Operations

“Bud and John’s efforts demonstrate how members of the NFL family can inspire us both on and off the field,” said Roger Staubach. “Their service to the military community is a reminder that we can never do enough to show our appreciation for all the men and women in uniform who defend and protect us.”

All Salute to Service nominees are listed below:

KS Bud Adams Jr. Tennessee Titans Founder, Owner, Chairman of the Board

Jared Allen Minnesota Vikings Defensive End

Jason Baker Carolina Panthers Punter

Tom Coughlin New York Giants Head Coach

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

Kris Dielman San Diego Chargers Left Guard

Mark Dominik Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager

Anthony Fasano Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver

Mike Flood Seattle Seahawks Vice President, Community Relations & Special Projects

Drayton Florence Buffalo Bills Defensive Back

John Harbaugh Baltimore Ravens Head Coach

Robert Wood Johnson IV New York Jets Chairman & CEO

Gary Kubiak Houston Texans Head Coach

Lonie Paxton Denver Broncos Long Snapper

Troy Polamalu Pittsburgh Steelers Strong Safety

Marco Rivera Green Bay Packers Guard (Retired)

Joe Thomas Cleveland Browns Offensive Lineman

Charles Tillman Chicago Bears Cornerback

Chad Walker Detroit Lions Community Affairs Coordinator

Washington Redskins Cheerleaders

Roddy White Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver

Kurt Wisenbaugh Jacksonville Jaguars Manager, Events and Game Operations

Glenn Clark’s Rankings…

32. St. Louis Rams (Last Week:  32)

At least Indy has their coach?

31. Indianapolis Colts (LW:  31)

Best loss ever.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW:  26)

This was historic.

29. Minnesota Vikings (LW:  30)

I hope they have faith in Christian Ponder.

28. Cleveland Browns (LW:  28)

You’d imagine they’ll spend a lot of time looking at a certain Heisman Trophy winner.

27. Washington Redskins (LW:  27)

Need a lot.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars (LW:  29)

What if Blaine Gabbert really isn’t any good?

25. Buffalo Bills (LW:  24)

That win over the Pats earlier in the season could go down as the last great moment in Buffalo Bills history.

24. Carolina Panthers (LW:  23)

Defense needed.

23. Miami Dolphins (LW:  21)

The Matt Moore situation is intriguing.

22. Kansas City Chiefs (LW:  22)

Neither Kyle Orton nor Matt Cassel is a long-term option.

21. Seattle Seahawks (LW:  17)

Marshawn Lynch is a nice piece to build around at least.

20. Arizona Cardinals (LW:  20)

Step 1-who’s your quarterback?

19. New York Jets (LW:  16)

I think they have to stick with Mark Sanchez.

18. Chicago Bears (LW:  25)

They have real reason to have high hopes for 2012.

17. Tennessee Titans (LW:  15)

Matt Hasselbeck might be the better quarterback, but they’ll need to turn to Jake Locker next season.

16. Oakland Raiders (LW:  12)

This Hue Jackson/new GM situation could be interesting.

15. Dallas Cowboys (LW:  13)

I’m not sure how they go about improving.

14. Philadelphia Eagles (LW:  19)

Right move to bring back Andy Reid…I think.

13. San Diego Chargers (LW:  18)

How in the hell can Norv Turner stay employed?