worked with offensive coordinator Kurt Roper at Duke.Muschamp he wo

It has been an odd season at Kent CCC. They could not make it past the group stages in the competition they were tipped to fare best in, the T20 Blast, but are right in the mix for promotion to Division One in the County Championship, and are preparing for a home quarter-final - against Yorkshire on Thursday - in the Royal London Cup.Equally, their players continue to reach for higher honours and the areas deep well of talent shows no signs of drying: Sam Billings has been to the IPL and with England, while Daniel Bell-Drummond shone for the Lions.And yet, theres been a quiet but constant state of turbulence at Canterbury.On April 18, Kent legend Robert Key returned from India, having taken to broadcasting like a duck to water during the World T20, and decided the hunger to reach 60 first-class centuries had dipped. The 54 he had, a bit of telly and a bucketload of golf would do just fine. His team-mates were shocked, and the beating heart of the dressing room and 18 seasons of experience (nine as captain) were gone, taking a roomful of laughs with it.Then, on May 23, Kents high performance director (and former wicketkeeper), Simon Willis, left to take up a similar role with Sri Lanka, under former Kent coach Graham Ford. Willis, as director of Kents newly-formed academy from 2003, had overseen the development of a charmingly homespun young squad, and six internationals. Off went another lynchpin.To top things off, on June 27, bowler Matt Coles behaviour during a trip to Cardiff was investigated by the club. He would not play for a month as he - not for the first time - addressed his relationship with alcohol. Were the first and third events linked? Certainly Key had been Coles mentor, and the man known for keeping him in check.At the eye of the storm sits Sam Northeast, Kents new captain, top run-scorer and full-time busybody. Batsman Joe Denly describes Northeast as first in the nets, last to leave. Sams always trying to be better. When arranging this interview, there are three delays. First, because Northeast is in a selection meeting; then hes travelling to Hampshire to watch Kents second team; finally hes looking at his squads contract situation for next season. Only James Vince is a younger county captain - Northeast is 26 - but few can be more hands-on.Such is life at a club like Kent, where the resources are stretched and the staff small. We dont… he says, pausing, have the luxury of millions of backroom staff and scouts and whatever. Its a big effort from a small group of people, we pull together and from the academy, the youth structure, everyone. There can be benefits to this - everyone knows each other, its a family environment, and that helps. We have to put in a big shift. All of us.Northeast is as Kentish as Key; its where he grew up and his name is one that has been whispered since he scored 19 hundreds in a term at Wellesley House prep school aged 13. He played plenty for England Under-19, and his success leading Kents limited-overs sides last season meant his elevation to the top job, in time, seemed a given.Im learning on the job, just like anyone else. I took a lot from Keysy, both tactically and in work ethic. He was a great mentor, as well as having a pretty serious cricket brain, and all those runs. He pretty much ran Kent cricket for all those years…Its been very different not having him around, for all of us. People look to you for inspiration and leadership because he did that for so long, and maybe we took that for granted. I only noticed when I stepped into the role how much of a big hole was left when he moved on.What of those tough patches? Its been an interesting season, certainly, he says, whilst swiftly citing the support of senior players like Denly, Darren Stevens and James Tredwell, plus Billings itinerant experience. Willis, he says, is a huge loss - not just a vital, visible cog at the club, with his pawprints all over the squad, but a key player in Northeasts own development as a hands-off coach who never imposed himself on his charges.Denly has been mighty impressed. He hasnt let the pressure of captaincy bother his batting, and his on-field persona is very calm. He can be a bit fiery when he gets out, but who isnt? Hes dealt with distractions well, and he has good people around him with lots of experience, and the powers that be at Kent are in pretty good shape.Despite their losses, Kent are in pretty good shape. Last year they earned headlines for not being able to afford an overseas player, but this year - one way or another - Tom Latham and Kagiso Rabada were recruited. Denly has signed a new deal and Northeast is confident they will not lose young stars and can, in Willis absence, with Min Patel at the helm, continue to produce talent.For the first team, starting against Yorkshire, it is business time. We go in as underdogs, says Northeast. The pressure isnt on us, they will have all the internationals which is great. It would be awesome to get a sellout, the club deserves a big day like this, and hopefully we get out on top. We are up there in Division Two because we have been pretty solid all season, but I think we are well suited - especially the bowlers, Treddy, Stevo - to 50-over stuff. But every game is massive now. Were young, so inconsistent, but are learning fast. Northeasts own form - not least 995 Championship runs, including four massive hundreds (the smallest being 166) - has been a vital factor in Kents rise. After some mixed seasons opening, he is settled in the middle order, and knows his game: I have found a spot where I like to bat, especially with the captaincy, after however long in the field, its quite nice to have that little period where you dont have to strap the pads on. I have a lot of sympathy for Alastair Cook when he does it. Thats pretty extraordinary. I look back and cant believe I ever opened. Its mad.He uses former Kent team-mate Martin van Jaarsveld as inspiration because he was a guy who just never settled and never stopped trying to improve. Ahead of the 2015 season, he and Willis worked on making him a more adaptable batsman, particularly in the shorter forms, so he did not just hit to cow corner. The results were instant, as only two players scored more T20 Blast runs than him, and his century famously trumped Chris Gayles as Kent won a thriller in Taunton.Another run glut, this time against red balls, has flowed lately. Across my career, Im a guy who tends to make the most of my form. Ive felt great recently, and when you feel a millions dollars its key to capitalise. Unfortunately Ive been stuck in the nervous 190s lately.Those big centuries have caught the eye, and Northeast is unashamedly ambitious, making no bones about being desperate for England recognition, having - surprisingly - never even made a Lions squad. He is aware, too, that playing in Division Two naturally does hold you back in peoples perceptions, and there is a gap. In the past, particularly in 2013, there were questions about whether he might leave, but he has remained loyal, even as the more eye-catching - but no less effective - talents of Billings and Bell-Drummond have created more headlines.So is he - as captain of a promising squad, building something (and sometimes holding things together), at his home club, his team - left in a quandary?At the moment, I wouldnt leave to further my England case, no, he says. But can you ever say never? My heart is very much in Kent cricket and wanting to achieve something here. I want to play for England through Kent, and I want to get Kent into Division One and back up there as a force, one of the leading counties in England. Its been an ambition of mine to captain Kent and take the club as far as possible. Im very lucky.So, you sense, are Kent. Custom New York Jets Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Cheap Ny Jets Jersey 2019 . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. http://www.jetsofficialsshop.com/sam-darnold-jersey.html .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Sam Darnold Jersey Sales . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Sam Darnold Color Rush Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina coach Will Muschamp is looking at more than just preparing for the Birmingham Bowl during his postseason practices.Muschamp believes what the Gamecocks (6-6) do the next two weeks in prepping to play South Florida (10-2) on Dec. 29 will carry over with his team into spring workouts and next season.You can feel the buzz in the building, Muschamp said Thursday.There was far less buzz at the midseason point of the year when South Carolina was 2-4 and couldnt get anything done on offense or defense. The Gamecocks, though, turned things around going 4-2 the second half of the season, including a 24-21 upset of then-No. 18 Tennessee to qualify for a bowl.The resurgence means two more weeks of improving freshmen starters like quarterback Jake Bentley, tailback Rico Dowdle and receiver Bryan Edwards who otherwise wouldve been left to get better on their own before the next team workouts come spring.Muschamp said hell concentrate on fundamentals the first four practices -- Seniors arent practicing the first two practices, he said -- before turning his attention to South Florida on Monday.Its all about us and how we can get better, Muschamp said. Hand placement, pad level, strike and play.Muschamp also does not think his players will be held back by how the regular-season ended with an embarrassing, 56-7 loss to rival, No. 3 Clemson , where the Gamecocks came apart after a couple of early scores by the Tigers.Ill look at the totality of the season and not one game, Muschamp said. There was a glaring issue that we had a bunch at the end of the day, our ability to run the football consistently against good people and our ability to stop the run on defense. Weve got to get better.South Carolina finished last in the Southeastern Conference rushing at 138 yards per game, even with Dowdle gaining 100 or more yards in three of the last five games.ddddddddddddThe Gamecocks did a bit better at stopping the run, ending ninth in the 14-team SEC in allowing an average of 202 yards on the ground.Muschamp said it was more than any one thing that led to South Carolinas issues, including playing two freshmen quarterbacks this season, and all areas will receive attention during bowl practices.One, the offensive line, will practice with a new, temporary face in charge. Retired longtime assistant John Latina will replace offensive line coach Shawn Elliott, who was hired by Georgia State as its head coach last week. The Gamecocks brought in Latina, who worked with offensive coordinator Kurt Roper at Duke.Muschamp he wont hire a permanent replacement until after the new year.Muschamp is eager to see the extra practice time help young players like Bentley, who saw his first college action after South Carolina struggling first half.Bentley, at 6-foot-3 and 223 pounds, jazzed up South Carolinas offense with his strong and accurate arm. He completed better than 66 percent of his passes for six touchdowns and just one interception his first five starts.However, he and the rest of the Gamecocks crashed with a loud thud at Clemson three weeks back. Bentley threw for only 41 yards against the Tigers and the offense was outgained 622-218 in the blowout.Muschamp is certain Bentleys past that poor performance and ready to help the Gamecocks show out strongly against the Bulls.We didnt do much very well, the coach said. Weve gotten better in some areas, but I think we have a lot of improvement to make on both sides of the bowl.And the Gamecocks have a few more practices to make that happen.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '