AUSTIN, Texas -- Charlie Strong left a Louisville program that needed to punch its way into the national spotlight for the Texas Longhorns, who live smack in the middle with their enormous wealth, swagger, political intrigue and championship expectations. Bills Jersey . And thats just the off-the-field stuff. On the field, he inherits a team mired in mediocrity with a 30-21 record over the last four years, but still talented enough to come within 30 minutes of winning a share of the 2013 Big 12 title. Strong will be introduced as the Texas football coach Monday. In a statement released by the school Sunday, Strong said he was excited to be taking over one of the "premier programs" in the country. "Texas is one of those places that is always on your radar and a program anyone would dream of being a part of because you have a chance to compete on a national level every year," Strong said. "Its special because it has such great history, pride, tradition and passion for football." In the 53-year-old Strong -- the first black head coach of a mens program at Texas -- new athletic director Steve Patterson landed a coach whose teams went 23-3 the last two years, including a BCS bowl win over Florida and a blowout of Miami to end the 2013 season in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, who has the No. 1 Seminoles in Monday nights national title game, praised the hire. Fisher was previously considered a possible target for Texas and would have faced Strong in the ACC when Louisville moves to that league next season. "I think hes done a tremendous job at Louisville, turning those guys around," Fisher said Sunday. "I think Charlies an excellent coach." Strong succeeded at a school that had to fight its way onto the national radar even in the good years. At Texas, the bad years draw just as much attention as the good ones, and college football will be watching to see how well he can unite a powerhouse program with a discontented fan base aching to return to the national elite. And how quickly he can win a lot of games. Strongs predecessor did that. Over 16 years, Mack Brown had 158 victories, and in 2005 he won Texas first undisputed national title in 36 years. From 2000-09, Texas averaged more than 10 wins a season and played in four BCS bowls, winning three. That success helped spur unprecedented financial growth. Texas ranks as the wealthiest athletic program in the country. A partnership with ESPN created the Longhorn Network, a 20-year deal worth at least $300 million to the university. But for all its wealth, Texas has struggled to deliver a championship legacy that lives up its sense of grandeur. Brown won just two Big 12 titles, while his archrival across his northern border, Bob Stoops at Oklahoma, won eight. Texas lone national championship in 44 years pales in comparison to Alabamas three from 2009-12. And the recent drop-off that started with a 5-7 record in 2010 got ugly by the end. When Texas started last season 1-2, some Texas fans even booed a public service announcement from Brown encouraging donations to charities. The turmoil also exposed on a national level the political fighting that embroiled the university and attempts by some school officials and prominent supporters to push Brown out a year ago. For more than two years, university regents have been fighting over whether to fire school President Bill Powers, who had been a key ally of Brown. Some of the same regents also were involved in talks with Alabama coach Nick Sabans agent in January 2013 in efforts to coax Saban into coming to Austin. That Strong will be the first African-American head coach of a mens program at Texas is significant at a school that resisted integration in the 1950s and 60s and had college footballs last all-white national champion in 1969. "This is a historic day for The University of Texas and a historic hire for our football team," Powers said. Until 2010, Texas had a residence hall named after former law school professor William Stewart Simkins, a Confederate colonel who also was an early organizer of the Ku Klux Klan in Florida after the Civil War. Texas is still fighting legal battles over race. Only now the school wants to keep an affirmative action admissions policy that allows the school to consider race for some applicants. But former Texas womens track coach Bev Kearney, who was pressured to resign in 2013 after revelations of a relationship with one of her athletes, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against Texas, arguing race was a factor in her case. Kearney is black. In 2009, just before he was hired at Louisville, Strong complained that hed been passed over for another job in part because his wife is white. Strong said it was difficult to leave Louisville, the school that was willing to give him his first head coaching job. "They have been great to me and my family, and it was very hard to say goodbye," Strong said. "But they know this was an opportunity I couldnt pass up." Authentic Richie Incognito Jersey . The NBA began to issue punishments last season for flopping, the art of exaggerating contact to deceive referees into calling a foul, but only retroactively. If a player is determined to have flopped after a postgame review, he is given a warning for the first offence and a $5,000 fine for the second. Authentic John Miller Jersey . - Eries top line of Dane Fox, Connor Brown and Connor McDavid combined for six goals and 14 points as the Otters crushed the visiting Windsor Spitfires 9-0 on Sunday in Ontario Hockey League play.UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The New York Islanders won the game. And then, they didnt. And theyre still trying to figure out why. Kevin Shattenkirk and Alexander Steen scored in the shootout to give the St. Louis Blues a 4-3 win over the Islanders on Saturday following a puzzling goal reversal call in overtime. After T.J. Oshie tied it for the Blues with 27 seconds left in regulation, Thomas Vanek appeared to score the winner for the Islanders on the power play with 1:15 left in overtime -- but the play was overturned on review at the NHL offices in Toronto. The puck hit Vaneks skate blade and dribbled past Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak, but a distinct kicking motion that usually negates goals wasnt apparent. "I thought it was a terrible call," Vanek said. "I think we all know what a kicking motion is. My skate never elevated, it was on the ice the whole time. I dont know if its because who we are. I think if thats Pittsburgh or some of those top teams, its maybe a goal. "For that to be overturned is just too bad." Islanders coach Jack Capuano wouldnt be drawn into the controversy -- but knew what he saw. "The referees made the right call on the ice," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "Then they must have seen something in Toronto that was conclusive." Added Blues coach Ken Hitchcock: "They arent going to make a mistake when it goes to Toronto." The Islanders had an early 2-0 lead for the second straight game. And again, they found themselves tied and in a battle. The Islanders (21-25-8) have led by two or more goals 15 times in 54 games this season -- and are 6-4-5 in those contests. Matt Martin put the Islanders ahead 3-2 midway through the second period. The home team was almost able to withstand the Blues relentless pressure in the games closing minutes. Earlier in the period, Oshies shot hit both posts but didnt cross the goal line behind Islanders goalie Kevin Poulin. Vanek and Kyle Okposo scored in the first for the Islanders, who lost for the fifth time in 15 games. Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice for the Blues. Poulin made a number of acrobatic saves for New York, with hiss best being a point-blank pad save on Blues leading scorer Steen midway through the second. Kyle Williams Jersey. He also denied Steen and Oshie during a power play midway through the third. But the Blues (35-11-5) wouldnt quit, leaving Hitchcock pleased. "This was good, gritty road win," he said. "I like the way the team played in the third period." Vanek opened the scoring at 4:01 of the first, slapping the puck by Halak for his 19th of the season. Vanek has points in 17 of his last 19 games with nine goals and 16 assists during the stretch. The 30-year-old left wing was acquired from Buffalo on Oct. 27 for Matt Moulson and two high draft picks. The line of Vanek, John Tavares and Kyle Okposo was at it again at 15:11 when Okposo jammed the puck past Halak for his 22nd goal of the year. Fans at Nassau Coliseum also chanted "U-S-A! U-S-A!" for Okposo, who wasnt picked for the U.S. team for the Winter Games next month in Russia even though hes having a breakout season. Okposo already has a career-high 54 points. Tarasenko cut the margin in half at 17:17 of the first, beating Poulin high from about 30 feet out. The 22-year-old right wing scored again at 1:17 of the second, his 17th goal this season. He hit the left post late in second and had a golden chance midway through the third when his rebound shot appeared to hit both posts without going into the net. The Blues won the previous meeting this season, 5-1 at the Scottrade Center on Dec. 5. They were completing visits to all three local teams. They defeated the Rangers 2-1 on Thursday after losing 7-1 in Newark to the Devils. "This a great way to end the trip with a bonus point," Oshie said. "We found a way to battle back and well have a fun ride home." NOTES: The Blues host the Devils on Tuesday. St. Louis is 16-3-1 against the East this season. They are 40-10-6 against the East since 2010-11, league-best intra-conference play. ... The Islanders are 19-6-3 when they score at least three goals and are 2-19-5 when they do not. ... Ten members of the Blues will represent their countries at the Olympics, tying Chicago and Detroit for the most among NHL teams.Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Authentic China Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NHL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '
