AUSTIN, Texas -- While Charlie Strong stood at a podium Monday and answered questions about whether hes about to lose his job, his Texas?football players stood behind him.The players crowded together behind reporters and cameras inside the Centennial Room at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium and listened to Strong insist his fate hasnt been decided and that he wants to return in 2017.When Strongs 28-minute news conference ended, the players gave him a round of applause. Strong hugged and thanked each of his players, who say they are upset about reports that Strongs tenure will come to an end after Texas faces TCU on Friday and that they are hopeful one more win will buy Strong another year in Austin.Texas defensive tackle Paul Boyette Jr. was moved to tears while making his passionate defense of Strong on Monday. A senior, Boyette said Strong taught him to become a man and hasnt been given enough time to turn the program around. Hes hoping for a swift resolution to all the uncertainty, too.No person deserves to be in this type of limbo at all, Boyette said.Boyette said he never thought Texas would end up in this predicament this season. He said he believes that, despite his coachs 16-20 record in Austin, Strong has built a foundation for the program and set it up for big success in 2017 and beyond.Players agreed with Strongs argument Monday that the Longhorns will play for a national championship again in the near future. They believe theyre close, even after a 24-21 overtime loss to 2-9 Kansas that made them 5-6 and 3-5 in the Big 12.Boyette praised the personal bonds Strong has build with his players and said most people dont understand what he and his team have gone through with the persistent speculation about Strongs job.I dont think youre ever going to find a head coach who loves his players like he does and genuinely cares, Boyette said. The things people see on Saturdays ... life is way more than that.Texas quarterback Shane Buechele said hes confident the team will fight hard against TCU (5-5, 3-4 Big 12) to try to save Strongs job, even if they dont know what will come next after the game.Were just trying to come together as a family, trying to support our coach and a guy we feel is really important to our family, Buechele said. I cant say enough. It shows how much support we have for him today.Texas players shot down the speculation that they might boycott the regular-season finale. Wide receiver Jacorey Warrick said Strong would never let that happen. They know how important a win would be for Strong and for his senior class clinching a bowl bid.Fellow quarterback Tyrone Swoopes and the rest of the Longhorns departing senior class have already gone through a coaching change before, when Mack Brown resigned after the 2013 season. When asked about going through this all over again with Strong, Swoopes replied, Its normal.The Longhorns players know all they can do right now to support their coach is give him a win Friday afternoon.Said Warrick: Well leave it all on the line. Wholesale NCAA Jerseys . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. Cheap College Jerseys . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. http://www.cheapcollegejerseys.net/ . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Stitched NCAA Jerseys . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste. Cheap Jerseys From China . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. ATLANTA -- When Carolina made its most recent visit to Atlanta, all the talk was about the 14-0 Panthers try for a perfect season.Now that the Panthers are 1-2, theyre hearing more questions about their imperfections as they enter Sundays game against the Falcons.Quarterback Cam Newton says the Panthers werent perfect even before their undefeated regular season was spoiled by the 20-13 loss to the Falcons late in 2015.Its not that we didnt have mistakes happen last year, Newton said.We had a lot of mistakes. The fact we were winning kind of blew it under the rug, so to speak. Now that were 1-2, it just feels like we cant get in a rhythm of winning. A lot of things have been magnified. ... What trumps that is when we just find ways to win football games.Among Carolinas mistakes in last weeks 22-10 loss to Minnesota were allowing eight sacks . Newton said he must improve his pressure recognition.Just getting the ball out of my hands, he said. Thats what it comes down to.Newton wasnt in the mood for too many questions this week about last seasons loss in Atlanta.Not talking about last year, he said. Im sorry, I just cant. ... Im just focused on trying to get to 2-2. ... As far as talking about last year, I could really care less about it.The Panthers have bitter memories of the loss, which Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short grouped with the Super Bowl loss to Denver.Its a sour taste, Short said. That game and the Super Bowl both. Its one of those games where the next time you play them you wanted to come out fired up.The Falcons (2-1) lead the NFC South after Monday nights 45-32 win at New Orleans. Quarterback Matt Ryan said the Falcons havent talked about their previous home game against Carolina.Last year was last year, Ryan said. Its different teams. Weve got a lot of different players and theyve got some different players, too. Im sure theyll be ready to play. Theres no question about that.Here are some things to watch in the Panthers-Falcons game:REBOUND FOR JULIO: After All-Pro receiver Julio Jones shared the NFL lead with 136 catches in 2015, its notable when he had only one reception last week against the Saints.dddddddddddd His quiet day came after he was limited all week by a calf injury.Jones was more active in practice this week. He will be looking to move back into his normal prominent role and could be covered by Panthers rookie cornerback James Bradberry. Jones is a tough assignment for any rookie, perhaps especially when coming off a one-catch game.BOUNCE-BACK FOR BENJAMIN: Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin was targeted only once by Newton last week against the Vikings and failed to register a catch. That cant happen, Newton said. If I am speaking for it, that wont happen again. Hes too good of a player.FLYING HIGH: A quiet week from Jones didnt stop the Falcons. Ryan already has seven touchdown passes for the Falcons, who boast the NFLs top offense .The tandem of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman has given more balance to the running game. Second-year receiver Justin Hardy has touchdown catches in two straight games, a good sign he could emerge in his second season.If we play our best ball I feel like we can go toe to toe against anybody, Ryan said.STILL NO STEWART: With running back Jonathan Stewart missing his second straight game with a hamstring injury, coach Ron Rivera said he expects that his running back rotation will be similar to last week against the Vikings.Cameron Artis-Payne had 12 carries for 47 yards against Minnesota. Fozzy Whittaker was used more as a change-of-pace back with five carries for 22 yards and five catches for 34 yards. Whittaker had a 56-yard touchdown reception called back because of a penalty.GOOD START: The Falcons already have matched their one division win last season -- the upset of Carolina. The 1-5 division record spoiled the 8-8 season.We know when we play well in the division, good things can happen, coach Dan Quinn said.---AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '