military under Colangelo and Krzyzewski, a West | Forum

Transfer Kurt Benkert has won the battle to be Virginias starting quarterback. Custom Chicago Bears Jerseys .First-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall made the announcement Wednesday.Ive really been impressed with how hes moved the team. When I look at a quarterback, what I look first and foremost for is do they move the team into the end zone because points determine outcome, Mendenhall said. Kurt has been the one that I think has consistently and can continue to be consistent in terms of moving our team forward regardless of the type and caliber of opponent that we play.Hes a good decision maker, very strong arm, and he has natural leadership skills.A transfer from East Carolina, Benkert beat out incumbent Matt Johns and Connor Brewer, both fifth-year seniors, for the job. Johns started all 12 games last season and threw 20 touchdown passes, but also was intercepted 17 times.Mendenhall said Johns and Brewer will begin the season as co-backups.Benkert, who got married this summer, was to be the starter at East Carolina last season before an injury ended his year. He will be more than a year removed from surgery when the Cavaliers open on Sept. 3 against highly regarded Richmond of the Championship Subdivision.In practice, Benkert felt like the deciding factor to getting the starting nod was consistency and big play ability. Weve had a lot of big plays throughout camp and stretched the field a lot, so its definitely helped.Coach Ruffin McNeill was fired by ECU after last season, and when McNeill joined Mendenhalls staff, Benkert followed him to Virginia. He had already graduated, making him eligible to play right away, and said reuniting with McNeill was a benefit in the move.I feel really lucky to be able to see him every day. Hes a great person and hes always fun to be around and he always brings a lot of wisdom to the room, Benkert said of McNeill, the Cavaliers assistant head coach and defensive line coach.Mendenhall, who led BYU to 99 wins and 11 bowl games in as many seasons as coach, replaced Mike London as coach following the season. He said when he was hired that his preference is for a dual threat quarterback, and Benkert believes he is that kind of QB.Im not the fastest guy on the field by any means, but I definitely break tackles inside the pocket and outside the pocket whether its subtle movements or just extending plays on the run to throw the ball downfield, Benkert said. I feel like thats a big strength of mine.Benkert said the coaching staff has stressed the need for him to slide to prevent injury, but at a chiseled 231 pounds he said, If I need a first down or the game is on the line, Ill take over from there.That might out well for Virginia, which finished 4-8 and failed to qualify for a bowl game for the fifth consecutive season last year.---The APs college football page: www.collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Hank on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hankkurzjr Custom New Orleans Saints Jerseys . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. Custom Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. http://www.footballcustomjerseys.com/ . PAUL, Minn. Jerry Colangelo wont seek a third term as chairman of USA Basketball, instead focusing on his role as managing director of the mens national team program.Colangelo said Thursday that he will concentrate on the transition from coach Mike Krzyzewski to Gregg Popovich and building the player pool for the competition cycle through the 2020 Olympics.Retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the leading candidate to replace Colangelo, according to an official who has been briefed on the plans. USA Basketballs board of directors will vote on Dempseys candidacy at its annual meeting on Nov. 14, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were to remain private ahead of the vote.Colangelo is the only person to serve two terms as chairman.Given the coaching change and the challenge of assembling a group of players for (the International Basketball Federations) new competition schedule, this is a good time to devote my full attention to the mens national team, Colangelo said in a news release.Under changes made by basketballs governing body, the Americans will have to qualify for the 2019 Basketball World Cup in China over a two-year cycle during 2017-18. The World Cup will then serve ass the qualifier for the Tokyo Games. Custom Tennessee Titans Jerseys. The Americans won gold again in mens and womens basketball in Rio de Janeiro and are 267-6 since Colangelo began overseeing the organization in 2009. The U.S. is also ranked No. 1 in the world at the boys and girls levels.Colangelo began his role as national team director in 2005 and was elected to his first term as chairman after the American men won the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics. The men have won 53 straight games in major international competitions.NBA commissioner Adam Silver said USA Basketball had been a model organization under Colangelo that has set the standard for international competition.Jerry has not only overseen outstanding success on the court, but he has shaped the culture of the entire program and strengthened USA Basketballs commitment to youth development, Silver said.USA Basketball has worked closely with the military under Colangelo and Krzyzewski, a West Point graduate and former Army captain, and Dempsey has been involved with the organizations youth initiatives. His candidacy for the USA Basketball position was first reported by The Vertical. ' ' '