Daily Blog December 9, 2014 Cam Newton Injured

Today I have some disturbing news to tell you, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton suffered two transverse fractures in his lower back in a two-car collision near Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte Tuesday afternoon. The wreck happened when a truck crashed and overturned on the S. Church Street Bridge at Interstate 277 just before 12:30 p.m. 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Newton and the driver of the other vehicle were both taken to the hospital with minor injuries. 

"Cam Newton is in fair condition and undergoing tests at Carolinas Medical Center and will remain there overnight for observation," the Panthers said in a statement released around 2:30 p.m.

Just before 3:30 p.m. officials delivered the news that Cam had suffered two transverse fractures in his lower back. A transverse fracture consists of a bone being broken perpendicular to the direction the bone runs.

Another car with damage to its front was loaded onto a flatbed tow truck, and a pickup truck reportedly belonging to the quarterback was seen on its side surrounded by debris.

The driver of the second vehicle is expected to be okay, according to police. No word on what led to the accident. 

Newton, 25, was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Panthers. In his first year, he became the only rookie quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a season and the first to rush for more than 700.

His best season with Carolina came in 2013, when he led the team to a 12-4 record and a first round bye in the playoffs. He has started every game since becoming the Panthers' QB, compiling a record of 29-31-1.

In 2010, the Atlanta native led the Auburn Tigers to a 14-0 record in his lone season with the team. The year culminated in Auburn defeating Oregon 22-19 to win the BCS Championship. He also led Blinn College to the junior college national championship in 2009.

A truck reportedly belonging to Cam Newton was seen flipped on its side at the scene. (Source: WBTV SKY 3)

First responders load Cam Newton onto a stretcher and into an ambulance. (Source: WBTV SKY 3)

Emergency officials said Newton was taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Newton is listed in fair condition, and is undergoing tests at CMC, according to the Panthers; he will stay at CMC overnight for observation.

In a press conference late Tuesday afternoon, a Panthers spokesperson said Newton suffered two lower transverse process fractures in his lower back, a similar injury that Dallas Cowboy's quarterback Tony Romo has been playing with this season. Further, Newton suffered no internal injuries in the crash.

If Newton is ruled unable to play, veteran Derek Anderson would be expected to take over as Carolina's starting quarterback. Anderson led the Panthers to a 20-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 while Newton sat out with fractured ribs.

The Panthers play the Bucs this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC1HU5F8-9g

Related Links:  http://www.wbtv.com/story/27585580/carolina-panthers-quarterback-cam-newton-taken-to-hospital-after-car-crash

http://www.wcnc.com/story/news/2014/12/09/cam-newton-involved-in-uptown-wreck/20142873/

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12004613/cam-newton-carolina-panthers-involved-car-accident

Ohio State blows out Wisconsin for statement win in Big Ten title game

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ohio State's No. 3 quarterback looked every bit as good as the other two.

Cardale Jones even did something his two all-conference predecessors could not. He led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title.

Jones threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns and was named the game's MVP in his first career start, leading No. 5 Ohio State to a 59-0 rout of No. 13 Wisconsin in Saturday night's conference championship game -- one of the most lopsided title games in Big Ten history and an emphatic statement to the College Football Playoff selection committee.

More from ESPN.com

As far as closing arguments go, the Buckeyes couldn't have made a stronger case for the College Football Playoff. Story

---

No. 5 Ohio State left little doubt Saturday night about who the Big Ten's best team is, routing No. 13 and favored Wisconsin, 59-0.Story

---

Saturday's results did nothing to make the selection committee's job any easier. It has a tough task on its hands in determining the fourth team to be selected for the College Football Playoff. Story

---

• Top stats to know
• Who's in? Playoff predictions
• Playoff breakdown: What we think will happen
• Eliminator -- College football's Week 15 victims and survivors

"I don't think there's any doubt we're one of the top four teams in America," said Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer, who secured an extra year on his contract worth a total of about $4.58 million and a $100,000 bonus with the Big Ten title game win, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell.

Heading into championship weekend, it looked like the Buckeyes would be the first team out. They still might, but Ohio State hopes Saturday's impressive blowout at least keeps them in the conversation as the final deliberations take place Sunday.

Ohio State (12-1, 8-0 Big Ten, No. 6 AP) has won 11 straight since losing at home to Virginia Tech and has beaten nine bowl-eligible teams, all but two by double digits. Still, some wondered whether losing record-setting quarterback J.T. Barrett with a broken right ankle in the regular-season finale after losing Heisman Trophy candidate Braxton Millerwith a right shoulder injury in August, would be too much to overcome.

Not a chance.

Jones was efficient and effective Saturday, going 12-of-17.

Ezekiel Elliott carried 12 times for 150 yards and two scores in the first half and finished with 20 carries for a career-high 220 yards.

Devin Smith caught four passes for 137 yards and three scores.

The defense completely shut down Wisconsin (10-3, 7-1, No. 11 AP) and kept Melvin Gordon, the nation's leading rusher, under control. Gordon ran 26 times for 76 yards, his second-worst game of the season.

Ohio State handed the Badgers their first shutout since August 1997 and their worst loss since a 59-0 rout, also to the Buckeyes, in 1979.

All of it came after an emotional week for the Buckeyes, who learned of the death of defensive lineman Kosta Karageorge one day after Barrett's season-ending injury.

Ohio State honored Karageorge by wearing a decal with his jersey number, 53, on the back of its helmets. Defensive tackle Michael Bennett changed his jersey number from 63 to 53, and before the national anthem, there was a moment of silence to honor Karageorge, who was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

OSU's Biggest Shutouts vs. Ranked Teams

Ohio State's 59-0 shellacking of Wisconsin is tied for the fourth-largest shutout ever against a ranked team, and by far the largest for Ohio State. This is the first time the Buckeyes have shut out an AP-ranked opponent since 1975.

Largest Ohio State Shutouts --
All-Time vs. AP-Ranked Teams

Date	Opponent	Score
Sat.	*No. 11 Wisconsin	59-0
1964	No. 2 Illinois	26-0
1954	No. 20 Pittsburgh	26-0
1975	No. 11 Michigan State	21-0
*Ranked 13th by CFB Playoff Committee
-- ESPN Stats & Information

Have the Buckeyes done enough on the field to make college football's inaugural final four?

They beat a team that had won seven straight overall, had rushed for 435.8 yards in its previous five games in the Hoosier State and was a four-point favorite coming into the game.

But against a quarterback and the motivated Buckeyes, Wisconsin never had a chance.

"We can play with anybody, and we're going to work extremely hard whoever we play against," Smith said.

They were outgained 364-91 in first-half yards when Ohio State scored on five of its first six possessions against the nation's No. 4 scoring defense. Ohio State had a 558-258 advantage overall.

And the Buckeyes made it look easy.

Just six plays into the game, Jones hooked up with Smith on a pretty 39-yard floater for a 7-0 lead. Elliott then found a whole in the middle and sprinted 81 yards for a score. After Wisconsin finally held the Buckeyes to a field goal, Jones hooked up again with Smith on a 44-yard TD pass to make it 24-0 with 11:09 left in the second quarter, then capped the half with Elliott's 14-yard TD run and Joey Bosa's 4-yard fumble return for a score to make it 38-0.

Not much changed in the second half.

Smith made a nifty two-handed, off-balance catch as he was going backward into the end zone for a 42-yard score early in the third quarter, and the Buckeyes closed it out with two Curtis Samuel touchdown runs in the fourth.

Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhzHYEaXYjU

Brady Hoke ousted at Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Brady Hoke had enough time at Michigan, but not enough wins, interim athletic director Jim Hackett said Tuesday night. Hackett formally announced his decision to fire the Wolverines' head coach shortly after Hoke shared the news with his team Tuesday afternoon. Hoke ends his four-year tenure in Ann Arbor with a 31-20 record. Hackett said the universal respect players and peers held for Hoke made his choice a difficult one.

"This was not an easy decision," Hackett said. "Everywhere I go there is zero question about Brady's values."

Hoke did not leave through the front doors of Schembechler Hall, the team's practice facility, but released a statement about his departure.

It said, in part: "I want to thank all of the sons that played for our teams and appreciate the commitment that our coaches and support staff made to the program every day. I will miss the relationships that I've been fortunate enough to make within this university and community."

Players left the team's practice facility teary-eyed after meeting with Hoke. Hackett said he spoke briefly with the team this afternoon, but didn't want to interfere with Hoke's final meeting with his players. He said he intends to talk more with the players about what criteria they feel are important in a new coach at a later date.

The search for Hoke's replacement will begin immediately, according to Hackett. He defined the criteria for candidates as "winning with the shared values of the University of Michigan."

Hackett said he has a specific deadline in mind for when he wants to have a new coach in place, but did not share that date publicly. He plans to use an executive search firm that is familiar with Michigan and its athletic department to help make the process run smoothly.

He was explicit in saying that having a history at Michigan and being a "Michigan man" was not a prerequisite for getting the job.

Dazed And Blue

Michigan will start 2015 with its third coach since 2008. Quite a difference from the stability the program once enjoyed.

	1969-07	2008-15
Coaches	3	3
Win pct	.776	.523
Conf titles	21	0
Losing years	0	3
-- ESPN Stats & Information

    

"I want to get rid of the word 'Michigan Man,' " said Hackett, who stepped into temporarily run the athletic department one month ago. A former center at Michigan under Bo Schembechler and CEO of office furniture company Steelcase, Hackett plans to be the man who will hire Hoke's replacement.

Hoke, who is owed a $3 million buyout, earned the title of a Michigan Man when he told reporters he would've walked to Ann Arbor to accept the Wolverines' job when he was introduced as the head coach four years ago. He served as an assistant at Michigan from 1995 until 2002, when he left to take the head coaching job at Ball State.

With his Michigan tie, Hoke was hired to stabilize the program following the tumultuous tenure of Rich Rodriguez. Rodriguez, now the head coach at Arizona, was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year on Tuesday.

The Wolverines' underwhelming performance also led to the resignation of former athletic director Dave Brandon, the man who had hired Hoke.

Hoke won 11 games and the Sugar Bowl in his first season as Michigan's head coach, but his team's trended steadily downward in the three years that followed. The Wolverines' loss to rival Ohio State last weekend dropped their record to 5-7 and ended their first losing season since 2009. Michigan is just 1-10 in their last 11 games against the Buckeyes and have not won a Big Ten title since 2004.

Information from The Associated Press and ESPN.com's Darren Rovell contributed to this report.

My Blog November 27, 2014 Thanksgiving Feast

To all you youtubers Happy Thanksgiving and This Thanksgiving Turned out to be outstanding. My Dad's Girlfriend, And My Dad Cooked Turkey and We had Turkey and Stuffing with all the trimmings. On the side were mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potato soufle, and corn. Enjoyed every bit of it. Along With Banana Pudding, Pumkin Pie, Cherry Cheesecake and Yeast Rolls. It was all good. Even Carrie Voirol , and her sons Bryceden, Isaiah, and Landen spent time with us on Thanksgiving. Later That Night I Drank 10 beers and Crown Royal over coke. And you know that Thanksgiving Day is Family Time.

Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo08UkG_Z5E&feature=youtu.be

Happy Thanksgiving from 1986bettszachary

If you could create just one Thankgiving plate, what would you include?  Most underrated/overrated Thanksgiving grub?  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Several buildings burn after grand jury declines to indict Ferguson officer

FERGUSON, MO (RNN) - Violent protests have emerged in Ferguson after a grand jury declined to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.  

Protesters set fire to several buildings in Ferguson, including this auto parts store. (Source: CNN)

Because of the unrest, Gov. Jay Nixon ordered additional Missouri National Guardsmen to Ferguson to provide security at the police department, allowing law enforcement to respond to other areas.

President Barack Obama urged peace after the decision Monday evening, saying, "We are a nation built on the rule of law. We must accept that this decision was the grand jury's to make."

"I join Michael's parents in asking anyone who protests this decision to do so peacefully."

Prosecuting Attorney Robert P. McCulloch announced the grand jury's decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson. (Source: CNN)

Still as Obama called for calm, tensions rose in the crowd of hundreds that had gathered outside the police department after the decision.

As soon as the grand jury decision was announced, police officers started getting hit with rocks and other debris, but no serious injuries were reported, according to St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar. "There's not a lot left on West Florrisant," he added, saying the violence was worse than the worse night in August.

Cars blaze at a dealership in Dellwood, MO, Tuesday morning. (Source: Pool/CNN)

He estimated that he heard at least 150 shots fired, at least a dozen buildings were burning, and at least two patrol cars were incinerated. Belmar said 29 people were arrested, though records released to the Associated Press on Tuesday morning indicated that 80 people were arrested. 

The St. Louis County Police also stated that some people threw bricks at officers.

       

Violent protests have emerged in Ferguson after a grand jury declined to indict Officer Darren Wilson. (Source: CNN)

"Officers did a great job tonight ... but our community has been torn apart," Capt. Ron Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol said. "Change is created through our voice and not through destruction of our community."

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said at least 21 people were arrested there as a result of unrest in that city overnight, and stated that the city will not tolerate violence.

Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson, MO, police officer; shot and killed Michael Brown, an 18-year-old, unarmed black man; on a street Aug. 9.(Source: Justice for Michael Brown/Facebook/MGN)

In Ferguson, Protesters tried to flip a police car and broke out the cruiser windows. Another car was soaked in lighter fluid. Officers fired off rounds of smoke and tear gas to clear the streets. 

A beauty store was broken into and looters targeted the Ferguson Market and Liquor Store. Two police cars, a pharmacy and other businesses were set on fire, including the Red's barbecue restaurant that had served as a backdrop during the protests in August.

Several cars were burned at a Dellwood car dealership Tuesday morning.

Related Links: http://www.toledonewsnow.com/story/27342964/grand-jury-wont-indict-ferguson-police-officer

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wbFn5Puw_o

My Blog November 18, 2014 Winter Wrath in Middle November

It's been snowing for six straight days dating back to last Thursday in West Michigan. The sun peeked through then it started snowing again. I saw a person across the street beginning to shovel the driveway, and down across the road I saw another man use a snow blower to shovel the snow from the driveway.

A man across the road was shoveling snow on the driveway.

The entire deck was covered with snow.

Two Pickup trucks, one car and one SUV are parked at the curb.

I saw four cars parked at the curb, one was a car, one was an SUV,the other two were pickup trucks. I looked up the school closings on woodtv.com and there were 227 closings online because of winter weather. Nothing good on a cold day is better than Cambell's Chunky Soup. I had the spicy chicken quesadilla soup, i cooked it on the stove.

Nothing beats Cambell's Chunky Soup on a cold day.I had the spicy chicken quesadilla soup, i cooked it on the stove.

So that's going to be my blog today, tanks for watching and i will see you tommorrow.

Related Links: http://woodtv.com/weather-alerts/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hclfn-0-ZGU

My Blog Novemeber 17, 2014 Winter Blast in Mid November

Hello Again You tubers, It's your good buddy Zachary Alan Betts, and yes winter weather has
returned to West Michigan and It's been snowing since Thursday and the snow started to fall at 12:21 A.M. this past Thursday and I looked it up on weather underground and their website is http://www.wunderground.com/ and you can look up weather history ever if you like weather history.

It Has Been Snowing the last five days here in Hudsonville,Michigan and as you can see in this video and in these pictures that the kids table and the deck is covered with snow which was fallen and cars on the side curb, well one actually on the curb belonging to my cousin Sean Murphy. It was a Pontiac G6, I don't know what year it was, but it was a nice car.

The deck and kids picnic table covered with snow and it was like that for the last five days.

The trampoline was covered with snow for the last five days.

One car on the side curb which was the Pontiac G6 belonging to my cousin on parked on the curb.

It was so obvious that the trampoline was covered with snow and it was like that for the last five days. I was watching the weather on WOOD-TV 8 and a winter storm warning was in effect until 9PM EST Tuesday.

For supper my dad's girlfriend made french toast, sausage gravy, biscuits, hash browns, eggs and sausage.and that sounded good for a cold and snowy day. So that's my blog for today and I will do another blog tomorrow.

Related Links: http://www.wunderground.com/

http://woodtv.com/weather-alerts/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbsM_i1nFKE

Cincinnati-Ohio St. Preview

Though the Buckeyes have long been the top dog in the state of Ohio, this version of theCincinnati Bearcats are more than willing to show their claws as the intrastate rivals clash Saturday at Ohio State.

Ranked 22nd, the Buckeyes (2-1) haven't lost to an in-state school since a 7-6 defeat against Oberlin in 1921. Ohio State hasn't lost in 44 consecutive games against other Ohio teams.

Cincinnati (2-0) came as close as any to ending that long-standing streak. Ohio State came toPaul Brown Stadium unbeaten in 2002 and watched the Bearcats drop two passes in the end zone during the closing minutes of a 23-19 Buckeye win. Ohio State went on to win the national championship.

The Buckeyes, who also posted lopsided home victories in 2004 and 2006, were supposed to come back to Cincinnati in 2012, but paid $1 million to buy out the deal and move the game to Columbus. They'll play again in 2019 in Columbus.

"We've been looking forward to it for a while," Cincinnati defensive end Silverberry Mouhon said Tuesday. "It's been on our minds since the summertime when we first heard about it. It's an opportunity for us to show what we can do on that much of a stage.

"At the same time, we're just going to show that we are the best school in the state of Ohio."

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer -- a Cincinnati graduate -- is well aware the Bearcats feel they have a point to prove in this game and has drilled his squad hard throughout its bye week and this week leading into this contest.

"We have to be at our best," Meyer said Monday. "I expect us to be that. On the bye week we practiced Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, last week, back at it today and we're ready to go."

Meyer isn't the only one with ties to both schools, adding former Cincinnati assistant and highly regarded prep school coach Kerry Coombs to his staff as a means of keeping a pipeline open in the Queen City. Ohio State has four players from Cincinnati on its roster.

"Cincinnati is our home. My wife and I grew up two miles apart, we both went to (Colerain). Our kids went there, our families, our parents -- everybody was there," Coombs said. "When Urban called (with a job offer), I called my wife and said, 'I got this phone call today. Before I tell him no, I just wanted to tell you that.' She said, 'Don't you tell him no.'

The Buckeyes demolished Kent State 66-0 on Sept. 13, rolling up 628 total yards as J.T. Barrett threw for 312 yards and a school record-tying six touchdowns and Curtis Samuelcontributed 100 rushing yards and two scores. Yet it is Ohio State's defense that figures to be the focus since it gave up 52 points and 495 rushing yards in its first two games before overwhelming the Golden Flashes.

The big question for Cincinnati is how quarterback Gunner Kiel handles the pressure of this big-time environment.

Kiel transferred from Notre Dame, sat out last season and tied the school record with six touchdown passes in his debut, a 58-34 win over Toledo. He threw for four more touchdowns, but was erratic during a 34-21 win over Miami of Ohio last Saturday.

"He needs to quit pressing," coach Tommy Tuberville said Tuesday. "He also needs some help. He got a lot of help the first game. The good passes he threw, we didn't drop any of them. And he threw three last week that should have been caught, one of them for a touchdown."

Ohio State has won the last 10 games between the teams and leads the all-time series 13-2. Cincinnati's victories came in back-to-back home games in 1896-97.

Read More: http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=400547674

Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW33bwc5ATU