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Pridružen/-a: 03.06. 2018, 03:33
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 Objavljeno: 03 Sep 2018 05:41 Naslov sporočila: the Patriots team that won the |
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Jon Gruden is football through and through. It doesn’t matter what level Chad Kelly Jersey , what age, or where.
The former and now current coach of the Raiders displayed that again Tuesday by overseeing the distribution of funds and equipment to four Oakland youth football programs through the DICK’S Sporting Goods Sports Matter Program. Gruden has been a major spokesman for that initiative for more than four years.
In the afternoon at Raiders headquarters, Gruden presented grants of $15,000 to the head coaches of McClymonds High School and Oakland Tech. He invited the coaches of both teams to the Raiders main office for a ”special behind- the-scenes tour” and discussion of football in Oakland. When the tour ended, Gruden handed over the checks to the surprised coaches.
At night, coaches and players from the East Bay Panthers and San Leandro Crusaders headed to a ”friendly scrimmage” at Burrell Field. When the teams ran onto the field, they were stunned to see new football helmets, pads, balls and water bottles laid out on the field for them.
Each league received a $50,000 grant.
”Being back in Oakland and getting back into coaching has only fired me up more to work with DICK’S Sports Matter program to help more kids have the opportunity to play,” said Gruden Greg Zuerlein Jersey , who also gave the Panthers and Crusaders a pep talk. ”Like so many other cities in the U.S., we have an issue with youth sports funding here in Oakland. Costs are rising – kids can’t afford to play and coaches can’t afford to coach.
”Seeing these kids’ faces light up and knowing that sports will teach them so many valuable lessons they will carry with them off the field is really special.”
Gruden encourages other youth sports program struggling to get by ”to visit SportsMatter.org to apply for help.”
”If you give your absolute best effort on the field, the lessons that sports teach will stay with you forever, and help you to be your best in every part of your life,” he said.
Oakland has an 18.9 percent poverty rate, and the highest crime rate of any city in California.
Many areas in cities across the country need funding for their youth sports and school athletic programs. According to Up2Us Sports, a nonprofit whose research, training, and on-the-ground initiatives empower sports programs to become an agent of positive social change, billions of dollars have been cut from school sports budgets in recent years. These cuts disproportionately impact students in low income areas, and students from low-income families are four times more likely to decrease participation in sports due to costs.
Student athletes have an 11 percent higher graduation rate than non-athletes Andre Hal Jersey , Up2Us Sports reports. The U.S. Department of Education adds that students who participate in sports are four times more likely to attend college.
DICK’S and its foundation created Sports Matter in 2014, pledging more than $50 million to support youth sports programs in need and raise awareness of the funding crisis. To date, Sports Matter has helped fund tens of thousands of youth sports programs and impacted hundreds of thousands of young athletes nationwide.
”It’s days like today that make it all worth it, and we can’t thank coach Gruden and DICK’S enough,” said Jacob Davis, president of the East Bay Panthers. ”We love these kids and know how important sports are to keep them off the streets and doing positive things in their lives. This money will go a long way in helping our leagues survive and thrive.”
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The Tennessee Titans have a definite New England Patriots influence these days.
Running back Dion Lewis believes the Titans’ acquisition of ex-Patriots like himself and cornerback Malcolm Butler says more about their talent than their background.
”I wouldn’t say (they’re trying to replicate New England here),” Lewis said Thursday.
”I’d just say they’re trying to bring good football players here – good, smart football players. I’m just happy they thought I’m one of those players to help.”
The Titans announced their latest free agent additions Thursday after both players came in and signed their new multi-year deals.
The Patriots’ connections in Music City began prior to the 2016 season, when the Titans hired Jon Robinson as the team’s general manager. In the 2017 offseason, Robinson signed starting cornerback Logan Ryan, a former Patriots starter.
A few months ago Josh Ferguson Jersey , the Titans made Mike Vrabel – a former Patriots linebacker – the team’s head coach, and then agreed to terms with Butler and Lewis on Tuesday.
”The New England Patriots are the New England Patriots, and the Tennessee Titans are the Tennessee Titans,” Butler said. ”But it’s all about having great players, great coaches, no matter what organization it is. You know everybody has the same, equal opportunity in the NFL.”
Lewis is looking forward to working in a backfield with one of Robinson’s first draft picks, 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. The 5-foot-8, 195-pound Lewis said he’s used to sharing carries and that the 6-3, 247-pound Henry should make for a diverse running game in new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur’s offense.
”I think it will be a huge challenge for defenses because you’ve got a guy a lot bigger than me, and then a guy like me that is quick and can break tackles Brendan Langley Jersey , too,” said Lewis, who ran for a career-best 896 yards last season . ”So I definitely think it will make the defense be on their toes on who is in the game. I think that we’ll definitely be able to work together and use each other’s skillset to benefit each other.”
Lewis also caught more than 30 passes in two of the past three seasons.
”It’s just using my quickness, using my smarts,” Lewis said. ”When I see a linebacker trying to guard me, I know I’m expected to win. So anything short of that is not acceptable to me.”
Lewis, Butler and Ryan were all part of the Patriots team that won the Super Bowl after the 2016 season. Butler said he’s looking forward to re-uniting with Ryan after his former teammate encouraged him to join him.
”Me and Logan together, man, (it was) I got the fast guy and he got the biggest guy (in New England),” Butler said. ”We’ve just got great communication and chemistry over the three years we played together. He’s a good friend of mine.”
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