NORING NIELE: Notre Dame honored longtime assistant and former star

ATHENS, Ga. -- Kirby Smarts first year as Georgias coach has hardly been a rousing success.If anything, the Bulldogs took a step back after dumping Mark Richt.That raises the stakes even higher for the regular-season finale against Georgia Tech.Especially to our older fan base, the history of this rivalry is really important to a lot of people, Smart said Monday. Its really important to me. Its really important to this team.Beating Georgia Tech was never much of an issue for Richt, whose teams won 13 of 15 meetings against the Yellow Jackets. In fact, the Bulldogs probably have more heated rivalries with Southeastern Conference foes such as Florida and Auburn.But this is the one game Georgia fans dread losing more than any other.Smart is certainly aware of that heading into Saturdays contest between the hedges.A lot of passion and energy goes into this game on both sides of it, he said. We tell our kids all the time: `Youre remembered by what your senior class does and what your record is against Georgia Tech.Georgia hired Smart to win a championship, something Richt had not done in a decade, but the Bulldogs (7-4) didnt come close to accomplishing that goal in Year 1. Maybe thats to be expected from someone who had never been a head coach. Smart will be the first to acknowledge that its been a bit of a learning curve, having to deal with everything from practice schedules to player discipline to split-second decisions on game day.There are a lot of things that you learn, he said. You learn more about yourself. You learn about your team. You learn about your staff. You learn about things you like, things you dont like.Smart wants to build a program that dominates on the offensive and defensive lines, which is way his former boss, Nick Saban, does things at Alabama. But the Bulldogs are still several recruiting classes away from reaching that goal, which has been especially evident in their struggles to establish a running game.Even with the dynamic backfield duo of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, Georgia ranks only ninth in the SEC at 179.5 yards rushing per game. The play-calling of offensive coordinator Jim Chaney has also raised some eyebrows, most notably in a shocking home loss to Vanderbilt.Smart said some of the biggest changes hes been pushing are not apparent to those on the outside, and wouldnt necessarily pay immediate dividends.The practice intensity with which we go at things Monday through Friday is a big culture change that Im trying to set, he said. We are going to get work done these days and were going to work really hard and you have to trust that expending this energy, youre going to get to recover on Thursday afternoon, Friday and Saturday before the games. And then as the season goes on, we try to cut back so that youre fresh for the game and you dont wear yourself out.For Smart, its also important to remain flexible, even while recognizing that there are certain standards that will be the same for every team.This team is different than the next team will be, he said. This teams got 11 seniors. This teams really young. Id like to think we are eventually going to have a mature team thats got guys that have played a lot, and I think you treat each team differently.Offensive guard Greg Pyke insists that Smarts philosophy is beginning to take hold, even if it doesnt necessarily show in the statistics.If you turn on the game and watch, as a team were just more physical, Pyke said. Ive really noticed that. Especially in my position group, you want to be very physical and control the line of scrimmage.If nothing else, Smarts energy and enthusiasm is apparent to everyone.I see all these photos of him jumping around on the sideline, Pyke said. Its like hes playing a game out there. He just brings that passion. He wants the guys on the team to do well not only in football but in life.While there has been some grumbling among Georgia fans about the record this season, Smart is the recipient of widespread support and an understanding that its going to take time to put his stamp on the program.Of course, a loss to Georgia Tech would undoubtedly erode some of that goodwill.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---For more AP college football coverage: www.collegefootball.ap.org Nolan Cromwell Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Orlando Pace Jersey . 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Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup.With Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel having extended his unbeaten record under Guus Hiddink to 25 games, Adam Bate examines his impressive record and the reasons for his success… John Terry is Chelseas captain, leader and legend and one of the definitions of leadership is making others better as a result of your presence. Its a hard one to identify in sport as it is in business but its customary to examine results. Its here that John Obi Mikel might feel entitled to a claim.The Nigerian midfielders unbeaten record under Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has become well documented in recent weeks and that sequence continued at Watford on Wednesday. Over two spells under the Dutchman, Mikel has gone unbeaten in 25 appearances for the Blues. Hiddink is adamant that John Terry could still have a future at Chelsea. Its not been straightforward. The run has included shut outs away to Barcelona and Manchester United, while there have been wins at Arsenal seven years apart. The only game that Hiddink has lost so far as Chelsea boss came against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in 2009. Mikel was injured. Mikel under Hiddink - First spell 2008/09 season Total Won 14 Drawn 3 Lost 0 There was another game that ended badly for Hiddinks Blues - Andres Iniestas stoppage-time equaliser winning that years Champions League semi-final for Barcelona. It wouldnt be a shock if the boss regrets leaving Mikel on the bench that day rather than having him shutting the Spaniard down. Hiddink favourite John Obi Mikel has now started six Premier League games in a row for the first time since 2012. So what is it about Mikel? At Vicarage Road, there were four tackles, two clearances and three interceptions to emphasise his influence. The 28-year-old was the only midfielder on the pitch to win possession of the ball more times than he surrendered it. It was classic Mikel. Patrolling the midfield area, Chelsea have fared better with Mikel around The Premier League tracking data that records distance covered and sprints is not so remarkable, but perhaps theres some sense in that too. Protection for the back four is provided by his presence. As a result, mobility in midfield isnt always a virtue when its vacating the position thats the problem.Ostensibly, Nemanja Matic is the more capable player in many ways but Mikels appreciation of the holding aspect of the holding-miidfield role might make him, rather that the talented Serb, the man that Chelsea needed during their period of poor form earlier in the campaign.dddddddddddd Mikels simple use of the ball against Crystal Palace was impressive Mikels domination of this key central zone was particularly apparent in the recent 3-0 win at Crystal Palace, a game in which his name was chanted vociferously by the visiting supporters. I dont think Ive ever seen John Obi Mikel play so well, Graeme Souness told Sky Sports. He bossed that area.Hiddink, on the other hand, has seen it all before. Hes the ideal player to bring balance to the team, he said. If the team is not willing to defend well, or hasnt got the right balance, then youll concede a lot of goals. I think John Obi can be one of the key figures in bringing back that balance. Hes the ideal player to bring balance to the team. Guus Hiddink on John Obi Mikel He reads the game very well, he knows where the strength of the opponent is and knows how to combat that. He has very good sense, he doesnt do it in a brutal way, hes very elegant. Someone who can defend so smoothly is very beautiful.Its also effective. Since being restored to the starting line-up, Chelsea have kept four clean sheets in six games. Thats as many as they managed in the previous 18 matches. Getting the basics right has been a feature of Hiddinks approach. Hes kept things simple, and thats just how Mikel likes it. Midfield enforcer? Mikel has a habit of making life difficult for opponents Its the way he communicates with the players and maybe thats what the players felt they didnt get from the previous manager, said Mikel in a surprise dig at former boss Jose Mourinho. You need to speak to them and dont just ignore them because players like to be communicated to.For the midfielder, the instructions are crystal clear now. Hes good in short passing, explained Hiddink. I dont expect and I dont ask him to make the decisive final pass. He can but no, we let the other players do that. The talented players can then explore their qualities. Mikel under Hiddink - Second spell 2015/16 season Total Won 3 Drawn 5 Lost 0 Mikel has the best passing accuracy of any Chelsea midfielder, finding a team-mate 89.4 per cent of the time. Its almost a throwback to the pure holding midfielders of the past, such as one-time Chelsea team-mate Claude Makelele. Mikel doesnt fashion the chances. But thats not his job.Of course, this lack of creativity might lead some to conclude that this is no long-term solution. Not everyone is comfortable with the man they call the final whistle due to the regularity with which he has been introduced from the bench in order to defend leads, blowing right from the kick-off. But whatever the future holds, his presence isnt doing Chelsea too much harm right now. The simple approach is helping. This was about steadying this ship. And even now, six-and-a-half years on from Hiddinks last spell, they dont come much steadier than John Obi Mikel. Also See: Is Pedro in danger? Hiddink v Van Gaal ' ' '

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