League continues at the weekend with the S

Houston coach Tom Herman and his defending American Athletic Conference champion Cougars have moved on from one of the best seasons in the history of the program.The words Peach Bowl are banned from the football facility. All the gear and swag the Cougars brought back from Atlanta after beating Florida State is not allowed to be worn at team gatherings.I havent sensed an ounce of complacency, which is good, Herman said.There is a similar feeling throughout the conference as the American tries to build on a season in which the league set itself apart as the strongest outside the Power Five conferences.Temple, Memphis and Navy all spent time in the AP Top 25 and by the end of the season South Florida was playing as well as any of those teams.The AAC notched 10 wins in 2015 against Power Five conference teams, including Mississippi, Miami, Penn State and Louisville. The Cougars 38-24 victory against Florida State was the highlight, a final statement that helped the American recover from what was otherwise a blah bowl season. The conference heads into 2016 with chests puffed with pride.We have forged a powerful Power Six narrative as a nationally relevant and respected conference, Commissioner Mike Aresco said.A true Power Six is not happening anytime soon, but the realistic goal for the American in 2016 is to again lock up the spot in the New Years Six bowls that goes to the highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion.THE FAVORITESEast: USF coach Willie Taggart was heading toward the hot seat before redirecting the Bulls to seven wins in eight games to end the regular season. The Bulls return the talented threesome of quarterback Quinton Flowers, running back Marlon Mack and receiver Rodney Adams and most of the back seven on defense.Temple, retooling what was the best defense in the conference last year, and Cincinnati figure to push the Bulls. UConn is hoping to improve its offense enough to be a dark horse contender.West: Houston is an overwhelming favorite to repeat. Quarterback Greg Ward Jr., who accounted for 38 touchdowns last season, returns to lead a potent offense. The defense will rely on a talented front.Contenders Memphis and Navy are both replacing star quarterbacks. Keep an eye on SMU and Tulsa with their second-year coaches and prolific offenses.TOP PLAYERS- Ward could be a legitimate Heisman contender if he can lead the Cougars into playoff contention with big games in the opener against Oklahoma and a late-season meeting versus Louisville.- QB Dane Evans, Tulsa, passed for 4,332 yards in his first season running coach Philip Montgomerys Baylor offense.- RB Marlon Mack, USF, has led the American in rushing the last two seasons.- DT Foley Fatukasi, UConn, eight sacks last season.- QB Matt Davis, SMU, threw for 2,263 yards and 16 touchdowns and led the Mustangs with 761 yards rushing and 10 scores.NEW FACES- Tulane coach Willie Fritz. The Green Wave lured Fritz away from Georgia Southern. Dont expect a typical triple-option in New Orleans. Fritzs offenses when he was at FBS Sam Houston could air it out.- East Carolina coach Scottie Montgomery. The 38-year-old former Duke offensive coordinator brings an all-business approach to the Pirates.- UCF coach Scott Frost. The former Oregon offensive coordinator takes over a team that went winless last season. This rebuild is likely to take a while.- Memphis coach Mike Norvell. The 34-year-old offensive coordinator from Arizona State has a tough act to follow in Justin Fuente.ON THE HOT SEATNone. Another disappointing season for Tommy Tuberville at Cincinnati could generate some heat. In the AAC, its about retaining the rising-stars the way Houston did with Herman and Temple did with Matt Rhule. How much longer can they keep those guys around?PREDICTIONEASTUSFTempleUConnCincinnatiEast CarolinaUCFWESTHoustonNavyTulsaMemphisSMUTulaneConference champion: USF.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP Vapormax Schwarz Qualität . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. Nike Vapormax Sale . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. http://www.vapormaxschuhe.de/vapormax-weiss-deutschland.html . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. Nike Vapormax Schwarz Billig .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Vapormax Weiß Deutsch .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6.Manchester Uniteds FA Cup win over Shrewsbury came at a price as Louis van Gaals injury woes continued on Monday night. It wasnt all doom and gloom for the United boss as he saw his team set up a quarter-final clash with West Ham and received the news that the injury to David de Gea is not as bad as initially feared.The Spanish goalkeeper missed a second game after suffering a knee injury in the warm-up ahead of last weeks FC Midtjylland defeat, but scans were positive with Van Gaal hopeful he may be available for the second leg. LVG jokes about sacking Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal shares joke about being sacked Goals from Chris Smalling, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard ensured the visitors conquered their League One opponents to secure a last-eight spot in the FA Cup, but their burgeoning injury list clouded an otherwise positive evening.Youngster Joe Riley made his debut for the club, replacing Cameron Borthwick-Jackson forced off at half-time after a knock, while substitute Will Keane limped off with 14 minutes left, leaving United to finish the match with 10 men having made all their changes.The United boss also revealed that goalscorer Lingard picked up a knock, leaving the Dutchman with further selection problems ahead of their crucial Europa League second leg clash with FC Midtjylland on Thursday. Louis van Gaal shared a joke about being sacked after Monday nights FA cup win Their increasingly tough battle to secure a top-four spot in the Premier League continues at the weekend with the Super Sunday clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford.ddddddddddddUnited now have seven players who can play at full-back currently sidelined, with injuries to Matteo Darmian, Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw, as well as Borthwick-Jackson.Striker Wayne Rooney will also be on the sidelines for six weeks with a knee problem.Van Gaal told Sky Sports News HQ: The second half I wanted to rest Anthony Martial and Mata but unfortunately Will Keane was injured again. United Cup joy Man Utd ease past Shrewsbury in fifth round We played with 10 men and in the end with nine because Lingard was struggling so it was very heavy for the other players.He joked that his substitutions had been not so good.Asked if the fresh injury concerns made it hard to pick a team for Thursdays Europa League clash with Midtjylland, Van Gaal said: Its much easier because I dont have many choices!United trail 2-1 from the first leg. Also See: United ease past Shrewsbury Committed United pleases LVG Round: Key spell for Van Gaal WATCH: LVG jokes about sacking ' ' '