Vermittelt » NIGHTHill was a 3-pointer away from tying the

IRVING, Texas -- Sarah Thomas was never hit by the pressure of being the first woman to be a full-time NFL game official until after her first season on the job.It wasnt until this past offseason that Thomas pondered what really happened after accomplishing her goal, which was to work full-time at footballs highest level and not necessarily being a trailblazer in doing so.When I first started all this last year, I said I dont feel the pressure of it or anything like that, and I dont feel as if I did during the season, she said. But once I reflected back, I knew that there was a lot of pressure. ... When I reflected back on it, I thought if something major had happened with being a first, not that I recognize myself as that, but just being a first, that it could have gone one of two ways. So Im glad that it was a very smooth, under-the-radar, first year.Thomas is now preparing for her second season as a side judge. While still the only woman on the field in the NFL, she considers it a compliment that there is much less fanfare this time around.Dean Blandino, the NFLs vice president of officiating, agrees and said Thomas had the same bumps as any first-year official.It was obviously big news last year, but she handled everything so well, and she had such a poise and grace about herself, Blandino said this month at the NFLs annual officiating clinic. Its a challenge for any first-year official. For a first-year official to also be the first female official, there were a lot of other challenges that came with that and she handled everything really well, and had a good season.All nine first-time officials from last season are back this season, and there are three rookies among the 124 officials hired for 2016.When Pittsburghs LeVeon Bell scored on a wildcat run as time expired for a victory at San Diego to wrap up Week 5 last season, Thomas was the line judge who signaled the touchdown. Bell initially appeared to be stopped, but pushed forward and reached the ball across the goal line just before his knee hit the ground. A replay review confirmed the call was right.Imagine the uproar on social media and the general reaction had the NFLs first female official blown that call. Most fans never even realized she was there.We just want to be officials, we want to go unseen, Thomas said in general, and not about that particular play. Youve heard it for years and years and years, and it is the truth. If you dont notice the officials then weve done a great job, and thats what set out to do.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said during the first NFL Womens Summit in San Francisco, which was part of Super Bowl 50, that Thomas in her first season did a fantastic job, and were very proud of her.Thomas, the mother of three boys, was part of the NFLs officiating development program in 2013 and 2014 and had worked at minicamps, training camps and exhibition games before getting hired full-time last year. She had officiated for Conference USA since 2007, with assignments including bowl game and two league championship games.I never set out to be the first, but when I did speak or I was encouraged with womens groups, its good to hear them ask questions how did you approach it, and for me to be able to say the National Football League had the utmost respect for me as they did any other official, she said.Last March, Thomas hometown of Pascagoula, Mississippi, renamed its recreational gym in honor of the former high school basketball and softball standout who was also given a key to the city.Blandino said there are more women in the development program.Were seeing more women officiating football in general, and I think were going to see them continue to develop, Blandino said. At some point, were going to see another female official in the NFL. ... Women are officiating and thats part of our program, and I think its really moving in the right direction.---Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Shoes China Free Shipping . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Authentic Wholesale Nike Shoes . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. http://www.shoeswholesaleonlinestore.com/wholesale-air-max.html .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Discount Nike Shoes China . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. Cheap Jordan Shoes China . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. BLACKSBURG, Va. -- BLACKSBURG, Va. -- When asked to give an assessment of his hot shooting Tuesday night, Ahmed Hill described a feeling that every basketball player desires.I didnt really have to aim, Hill said.Hill scored a career-high 20 points to lead Virginia Tech to a 99-73 victory over High Point.Hill missed last season with a knee injury, but in the second game of his return, he hit 7 of 12 from the floor and connected on a career-high six 3-pointers for the Hokies (2-0), who never trailed and hit 12 3-pointers. Seth Allen added 17 points.Andre Fox paced High Point (1-1) with a career-high 23 points.Virginia Tech blitzed the Panthers right from the opening tip. The Hokies made 14 of their first 15 shots, including six 3-pointers in racing to a 24-point lead less than nine minutes into the game. Hill hit half of his 3-pointers in that stretch.I dont know that I could have necessarily predicted his field-goal percentage and things of that nature, Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams said of Hill, who is shooting 52.9 percent (9 of 17) from beyond the 3-point arc this season. He holds himself to an incredibly high standard, and his work ethic is superb.High Point had no answer for the Hokies on the perimeter, as Hill and Allen combined for 25 of the Hokies 60 first-half points. Virginia Tech shot 71.9 percent (23 of 32) in the first half and hit eight 3s. The Hokies shot 56.1 percent for the game (37 of 66).We had a game plan, but we didnt execute it very well, High Point coach Scott Cherry said. We had to help too much and gave them good looks. They had wide-open ones. Give them a lot of credit. They made them.BIG PICTUREHigh Point: The Panthers will need better games from Anthonyy Lindauer -- one of just three seniors on the roster.dddddddddddd He scored just four points after scoring 16 in the season opener for a High Point team that features seven newcomers.Virginia Tech: With Kerry Blackshear Jr. sidelined with a lower leg injury, the Hokies are searching for help in the post, and freshman Khadim Sy may be the answer. Sy scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds.MORE ON HILLS BIG NIGHTHill was a 3-pointer away from tying the single-game school record held by teammate Justin Bibbs. He also set career highs in field goals made and 3-pointers attempted.I was comfortable coming into the season, but Im still shocked that Im playing this way, he said.MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTIONThe Hokies are preparing for a 10-day trip to the West Coast that has them playing three games in the Wooden Legacy tournament in California and then a game in Michigan as part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. After a somewhat lackluster performance in the opener, Virginia Tech took a step forward, according to Williams, whose team leaves Monday.I didnt think we were bad in game 1, but I thought we were trying to justify too much of our inadequacies and playing it on, `Well, it was game 1, he said. We need to hurry up . and take the next step. I thought, for sure, we did that.UP NEXTHigh Point returns home to play in the High Point University Classic. The Panthers play three games in three days, starting with UNC Greensboro on Friday.Virginia Tech will be looking to go 3-0 to open the season for the first time since 2012 when it takes on VMI at home on Saturday. ' ' '