The frustration was more than evident in the moments following the Aggies’ first loss of the season. USU not only thought it could beat Wisconsin, it expected to win.

"Do I think we’re where we should be as a program? No," coach Gary Andersen said. "But we’ve gotten these kids to believe that they should be competitive in every game they play. They think they can win every game, and that’s big. But we still have improvements to make, no question."

Saturday brought a defeat USU didn’t need to endure. Special teams once again proved to be the Aggies’ undoing. A shaky punt led to a touchdown return. Air Max 95A second shaky punt supplied the Badgers with a short field and another score. Lastly, a field-goal attempt that could’ve won the game sailed wide right.

In many respects, the loss to Wisconsin was as bad as the loss at Auburn a year ago. Certainly the same formula was in play: A double-digit second-half advantage, special-teams play that contributed greatly to the loss and a failed chance to make a statement nationally.

A closer look closer shows the Wisconsin loss could be the most hurtful of all. Utah State surprised Auburn with a great game plan, a rookie quarterback in Chuckie Keeton, who few thought would perform well under intense pressure, and the advantage of it being the season opener for both teams.

The Badgers were different. Wisconsin lost to Oregon State the week before then promptly fired its offensive line coach. The Badgers never were going to overlook the Aggies. And still, Utah State looked like the better team for large stretches.

"That’s the really hurtful part," Suite said. "To play as hard as we did and to come up short, it’s hard to deal with."

Utah State players and coaches also spoke of the need to put away the Wisconsin loss and move on to Colorado State. A road game with the Rams and a home game against UNLV both look like winnable games for the Aggies. USU could be 5-1 heading into a road game at BYU in three weeks.

 EDMOND — It takes a heck of a defensive performance to overshadow a quarterback who tosses five touchdown passes to five different receivers, but that is the kind of game Deer Creek linebacker Austin Loomis had Thursday night in the Antlers' 45- 14 win over Edmond Memorial. Multimedia Photoview all photos Article Gallery: High schools: Deer Creek linebacker Austin Loomis is The Oklahoman's Player of the Week Loomis, the middle linebacker for the unbeaten Antlers, is The Oklahoman's Player of the Week after making 30 tackles against the Bulldogs. “It was one of the best games I've seen at linebacker in a long time,” said Deer Creek coach Grant Gower. “It was pretty impressive. He was truly sideline to sideline all night.” Loomis (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) recorded 18 solo tackles, seven assisted tackles, four tackles for loss and had one quarterback sack. While most of the attention immediately after the game was on Deer Creek quarterback Joel Blumenthal's five touchdown passes, it wasn't until Friday while watching game video that Antlers coaches learned just how great Loomis had played on Thursday night. Defensive coordinator Ryan Laverty was compiling the statistics from the video, and Loomis' numbers just kept rising, Gower said. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “We knew he was playing extremely well (Thursday night), but obviously you don't have any idea until you go through the video and count it up. We knew live it was pretty good, but it was even better on video.” It even surprised Loomis how many tackles he had made. “They ran the ball a lot more then they passed it,” Loomis said of Edmond Memorial. “I knew it was a lot, but I had no idea it was 30. I was figuring about 15 or 20.” Gower couldn't recall ever having a Deer Creek player with 30 tackles in a single game before. Loomis credited his teammates for his big statistical night. “I got to give it up to my defensive line and the defensive ends,” he said. “They are the ones that hold up the (offensive) linemen for me so I can get good reads. “They take on the double teams and split the double teams so the linebackers can get good reads and fill holes. Without them, I would pretty much be getting blown up every play.” Loomis was the only one of the Antlers' three regular inside linebackers to play Thursday night. The other two were sidelined with injuries. “Austin really stepped up,” Gower said. Loomis, a senior, is the brains on both sides of the ball for Deer Creek. A three-year starter on both offense and defense, Loomis is responsible for making the defensive calls as middle linebacker. As the starting center, he also communicates the pass protection assignments on the field to his fellow offensive linemen. They kept Blumenthal's jersey clean against Edmond Memorial so he could throw for 248 yards and five touchdowns. “He doesn't leave the field a whole lot,” Gower said of Loomis. “A big asset of his is his intelligence. He really understands things well. What he brings to the table on both sides of the ball is pretty invaluable for us.” Loomis is so smart that he is considering playing football in the Ivy League. Loomis has a grade-point average of 4.03 and scored a 29 on his ACT. He visited Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Brown earlier this year. But he also made a recruiting visit last weekend to Tulsa and earlier this year to Indiana. He has official visits scheduled later this year to Kansas State and New Mexico, which also is heavily recruiting Blumenthal. Gower said New Mexico has shown interest in several Deer Creek players. “That would be one of my dreams to play college football with one of my high school friends,” Loomis said. “Me and Joel talk about it all the time. That would be really sweet.” This week, Deer Creek opens district play by meeting perennial 5A power Carl Albert on Friday night in The Oklahoman's No. 1-ranked Game of the Week. Loomis said it is critical test for the unbeaten Antlers. “This is one of the games that we always circle on our calendars,” Loomis said. “Carl Albert is a really tough, physical team. They will run the ball right at you. No doubt, they are one of the top teams in 5A. There is a reason why they have won eight state championships. “For us to beat them, it would show that Deer Creek is for real this year and we are not just a fluke. We really want to make a statement. We are looking to match them blow for blow.”

NORMAN — The Little Apple mindset regarding injuries hasn't fallen too far from Bill Snyder's coaching tree. The Kansas State coach and Bob Stoops, his apprentice-turned-adversary, each saw their best defensive player — Arthur Brown and Tony Jefferson, respectively — exit their most recent game in the first quarter with a right ankle injury. COLLEGE FOOTBALL / MUG: Tony Jefferson (1) speaks to the press at a media availability for the University of Oklahoma Sooner (OU) football team following practice on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012 in Norman, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman Multimedia Videoview all videos Bob Stoops press conference Sep 17After an early bye week, the Sooners head coach looks... Photoview all photos Article Gallery: Oklahoma football: Bob Stoops says defensive star Tony Jefferson expected to play against Kansas State NewsOK Related Articles Oklahoma football: Bob Stoops knows how much Bill Snyder loves coaching 09/17/2012 Stoops: “I know how much he enjoys the game and the preparations.” Oklahoma football: Running K-State quarterback Collin Klein making more plays with his arm 09/17/2012 JENNI CARLSON COMMENTARY — Kansas State isn't throwing more this season. Its quarterback is just throwing it better this season.Cheap Nike Air Max  Wildcats QB Collin Klein... Stoops briefly popped into the post-practice interview room Monday to tell reporters that Jefferson, his junior free safety and premier defensive player, took every practice snap and is expected to play Saturday, when the No. 6-ranked Sooners host the No. 15 Wildcats for both teams' Big 12 opener on Owen Field. “No more questions about Tony, OK?” Stoops added before turning around and leaving. Snyder, who had Stoops on his staff from 1989-95, rarely discusses injuries, and Monday wasn't an exception. No update was given on Brown, KSU's senior middle linebacker who left Saturday's win over North Texas, but returned and recorded a career-high 13 tackles. After the game, Snyder said: “We'll have to wait and see. It's going to be a couple of days before we know for sure.” Jefferson left OU's 69-13 rout of Florida A&M two weeks ago with the bum ankle. He returned for one play before calling it a night, and didn't practice last week at all during the Sooners' bye. Stoops said, after his team routed the Rattlers, an Football Championship Subdivision squad, that Jefferson could've returned to action had the game been tighter. But since then, Stoops hasn't been eager to discuss his defensive star's status. Earlier Monday, at his weekly news conference, Stoops said he didn't want to give an update before seeing Jefferson practice, and that he'd “peek my head in after practice and let you know how well he practiced.” True to his word, Stoops popped into the interview room to quickly report his good news. Junior linebacker Corey Nelson and other teammates talked a little more extensively about it. They were encouraged to see Jefferson back on the field. “He looked very, very good,” Nelson said. “Seems like he's back, man. He came out there and was making plays; I was kind of excited.” Jefferson and his unique skill set will be important for Oklahoma's overall defensive effort against the Wildcats and their powerful run attack. He spent much of his first two seasons in Norman as a hybrid safety/linebacker, where he often began plays close to the line of scrimmage. Jefferson moved to free safety during the offseason, but he isn't exclusively deep; before many snaps he's had in 2012, he's crept closer to the line and has darted in to tackle opposing running backs. Kansas State has averaged more than 250 rushing yards per game and is led by senior quarterback Collin Klein, who scored 27 scores on the ground last season. “An offense like theirs, where they run the ball and just smash-smash-smash-smash, it wears you down a little bit,” said OU senior defensive end R.J. Washington. “It's important for us to make plays when you can make them. It's important to do our jobs.” Jefferson's clean bill of health should make that a little easier. As for Brown, it seems safe to assume he'll be good to go Saturday; after the North Texas game, Wildcats defensive tackle Javonta Boyd said of the All-Big 12 linebacker, “He's a warrior. If he's got one leg, he'll be out there.” KSU will certainly need Brown, who led the team with 101 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, and added two sacks and an interception last season. His presence in the middle of Kansas State's defense will be important if the Wildcats are to slow OU's offense, which averages over 540 yards of total offense and includes dynamic, yet powerful, running back Damien Williams. “We're going out of the pan and into the fire, so to speak, and that improvement that we had the first couple of weeks has to come back in a hurry,” Snyder said Monday.

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Every WWE fan under the sun knows that Randy Orton is desperate to turn heel. It must fill The Viper with great jealousy to witness CM Punk's slow-burning move to the dark side these past few weeks, as he himself tries to bounce back from a two month suspension that concluded at the end of July. These suspicions have now been confirmed, according to a report from F4WOnline which reveals that, "Sources close to Randy Orton note that he desperately wants to go heel and that may be happening before the year is over" (h/t WrestlingInc.com). The fact that Orton's pleas aren't falling on deaf ears will come as a delight to many in the WWE Universe, who believe that his true calling has always been as the villain of the piece. The same source goes on to claim that, "The plan has been for Orton to turn once Sheamus was popular enough to carry SmackDown on his own." Orton is coming off the back of an impressive Night of Champions win over another superstar, Dolph Ziggler, who's also due for a big push later this year. Despite the match having nothing but pride at stake, the two have combined well,air max 2012  their fights at times overshadowing the main events on a card. But if we know anything about Orton, it's that he believes his rightful place is in the main event. The Apex Predator may have a point. Since his return, his pops have been as big as any on the SmackDown roster, and perhaps on par with the crowd reaction to CM Punk. Orton currently is due to take time off from the secondary live show though to, "begin work on WWE's 12 Rounds: Reloaded movie," which is due to be releasedin June of next year.(via WrestlingInc.com). Fans of Orton will be hoping the movie's production schedule doesn't prevent their favorite superstar from getting the push he feels he deserves later in the year. What do you think? Should WWE turn The Viper heel later in the year?

 The Carolina Panthers picked up a huge win this past Sunday against the division-nemesis Saints. While the final score of 35-27 looks fairly close, the Panthers played well and dominated the Saints from the second quarter until the final whistle. The offensive line that played horribly in the season opener at Tampa Bay turned it around and not only gave Cam Newton time to throw but also opened up running lanes for the team's esteemed running backs. Brandon LaFell had a great game, reeling in six catches for 90 yards. He has definitely solidified himself as the No. 2 wide receiver on this team. Godfrey's pick six enabled the Panthers to get back into the game Grant Halverson/Getty ImagesThe defense had its share of great plays as well. A couple of key turnovers were instrumental in the Panthers' victory, one of which served as a momentum-changer early in the game. When the Panthers' first offensive series stalled after the Saints opened the game with a touchdown series, the feeling among the fans was that this would be a long day. However, after a great punt by Brad Nortman pinned New Orleans deep in their own territory, cheap Air Max 95 the stage was set for a change in momentum. The defensive line played very well, and the pressure from defensive end Charles Johnson forced Drew Brees to make an uncharacteristically bad throw, which was intercepted by Charles Godfrey, who returned it easily from nine yards out to get the score. This would not only make the game a 7-7 affair, but it breathed new life into the team and rejuvenated the fans at the stadium. Stewart made this score look easyThen the offense started to get its act together and began to play like the team everyone expected them to be entering the season. Jonathan Stewart was sorely missed in Week 1. His production and especially his 17-yard touchdown reception proved why against the Saints. Stewart comes out of the backfield on a play action and looks to block for Newton. He finds himself open at the line of scrimmage, and Newton dumps a pass off to him that he takes up the left sideline for the touchdown. This is just a shining example of why the Panthers re-signed him. He has a knack for not only running the football but can be a receiving threat out of the backfield, too. While Steve Smith made the play and picked up the yards, it should be noted that he was wide open. This was due to the fact that the Saints had committed double-coverage to Brandon LaFell, who was picking up where he left off last week. Because of the added coverage on LaFell, there was no one around to cover Smith, who probably wasn't that wide open since he became a full-fledged starter over a decade ago. That being said, LaFell is the real deal and should be instrumental in the offense's success down the road. Back to the play at hand. Smith's reception was not only amazing in terms of how open he was but also due to the fact that he was injured and carted off the field in the previous quarter. His catch and gain of 66 yards allowed the Panthers to get deep into Saints territory and set up Cam Newton's touchdown run at the goal line. Smith was wide open due to the double team on LaFell Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIREGreg Hardy was noticeably absent in his performance during the preseason and in Week 1 at Tampa Bay. However, he did his part to help restore a pass rush to Carolina's defensive front. During the third quarter, he was able to get heavy pressure on Drew Brees, and despite not getting the sack, he was able to make Brees throw the ball to the turf, which netted the Saints an intentional-grounding penalty. Hardy recorded only four tackles and the Panthers defense only came away with one sack, but Brees was harassed throughout much of the game, with this play showing exactly what this defensive unit felt they were capable of doing when the season opened up. Jon Beason's absence during last season was felt terribly, and it showed. There were some concerns when the preseason opened due to him being held out of games because of an injury. However, his return has seemingly put any reservations to rest, and he cemented that notion on the Panthers' final defensive series. The Saints got the ball back with 48 seconds left to go in the game. After Brees completed a nine-yard pass to Jimmy Graham, he tried going back to him on the next play only to have Beason step in front of it and make the pick. While Beason may have been able to return the interception for a score, he made the smart move and went to the ground so the Carolina offense could just take a knee to end the game. Beason's interception helped the Panthers drop the Saints to 0-2 Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesThere is no doubt the Panthers had many playmakers and key moments that earned them the victory in this game, but Beason's interception ensured the highly potent New Orleans offense were not given another chance to move the ball.

 The shift of the NFL toward high-powered passing attacks has changed the landscape of fantasy football. Running backs were king for awhile, but now quarterbacks hold that title and a poor performance from a starter likely sinks a team's chances. That's why it's so important to make the right choice. There are a couple QB options in Week 3 that owners will surely spend most of the week debating. Let's take a look at three possibilities who should remain on the bench due to tough matchups. How many fantasy points will Luck score this week? How many fantasy points will Luck score this week? 7 or less6.4% 8-1234.0% 13 or more59.6% Total votes: 47 Andrew Luck Luck posted the first good fantasy game of his career on Sunday. The new face of the Indianapolis Colts tossed two touchdowns and no interceptions against the Minnesota Vikings, finishing with a total of 18 points—10 more than his Week 1 total. cheap air max shoesIt's not time to go all-in on the promising rookie, though. He faces a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that held a potent Houston Texans passing game to just 195 yards and no touchdowns. That makes Luck a risky start. Like all rookies, he will go through a lot of ups and downs during his first year. When he has a favorable matchup, he's worth starting. This week doesn't fall into that category. Donald Miralle/Getty Images Philip Rivers Rivers was a fantasy disappointment last season. Instead of solidifying himself as one of the elite producers at the position, he took a step back due to a high interception rate and didn't live up to the hype he had going in. He's bounced back nicely to start the new season. The San Diego Chargers' signal-caller scored 34 points in two games and has thrown just one interception. It's a signal that last year was just a bump in the road, and not a sign of things to come. That said, he faces an Atlanta Falcons defense that made Peyton Manning look clueless at times on Monday night. If Rivers owners have another reliable option available, put him on the bench for a week. Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images Sam Bradford Bradford turned some heads in Week 2 with a 23-point performance. He was viewed as a post-hype sleeper before the season began and it's games like that which lend credence to the label. The former Oklahoma star definitely has the talent to succeed. His rise is likely to take a one-week hiatus, however. The St. Louis Rams face off with the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The Bears defense has gone against the aforementioned Luck and Green Bay Packers superstar Aaron Rodgers and has only allowed 18 fantasy points to QBs. It's tough to imagine Bradford outperforming Rodgers' 10 points against the Bears, mostly because he lacks weapons to utilize. He has some upside, just not in Week 3.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Despite a three-game lead in the American League Central after an emotional victory over rival Detroit, Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura insists his team isn't overlooking Kansas City on Tuesday night in the first game of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

"You can take positives from it, but you cannot take the Royals for granted," Ventura said. "They’ve played us well. We realize the position we’re in, but if you let down, what you did in the last four days gets washed away.

"You look at energy level and effort. What (Alex) Rios did yesterday effort-wise, that’s what you’re looking for. That’s all you can really ask of them. Whether you get a hit to win a game is one thing, but effort is what you’re looking for."

Alejandro De Aza, returning after a 2-for-21 slump,Nike Air Max 95 hit a leadoff home run. But the Royals quickly erased that when Billy Butler hit a two-run single in the bottom of the first off Gavin Floyd for a 2-1 lead with two out in the top of the fourth.

After allowing the home run, Luke Hochevar retired 10 consecutive batters.

It won't get any easier for the Sox after Tuesday, as Kansas City adjusted their rotation so that left-hander Bruce Chen will start on Wednesday night and Jeremy Guthrie, who hasn't allowed an earned run against the Sox in 23 2/3 innings, will start Thursday night.

Luis Mendoza was scratched from Wednesday night's start because of strep throat.

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The NHL lockout has begun taking its toll on jobs across the league as some organizations have begun laying off employees or forcing pay cuts.

On the day the Florida Panthers laid off between 8-12 employees -- including the one who plays mascot Stanley C. Panther -- to join other teams trimming staffs, a spokesman for Chicago Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz said the team will not make any personnel changes "for the foreseeable future."

"Things are status quo," the spokesman added.

Teams that reportedly have either laid off Cheap Nike Air Max employees or cut salaries include the Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames.

The lockout entered its third full day Tuesday and there are currently no plans for a formal negotiating session between the league and the NHL Players' Association. Training camps are scheduled to open Friday and an announcement is expected soon that they will be postponed.

The Hawks are scheduled to begin the exhibition season Sept. 25 against the Flyers in Philadelphia.

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