2012 » w three minutes 27 seconds behind Froome.I thought Quintana

LOS ANGELES -- Southern California wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was upset.After fighting with two defenders, he walked to the other side of the practice field with cornerback Adoree Jackson in pursuit. After Smith-Schuster and Jackson spoke for several minutes, Trojans coach Clay Helton and offensive coordinator Tee Martin eventually convinced Smith-Schuster to return, though he did not participate in any drills afterwards.It was not the conventional way to build team morale, but might have been exactly what the Trojans needed after being demolished 52-6 by No. 1 Alabama.We got a mad football team right now. Wish we could play today to be honest with you. It was ultra-competitive out here today, which is a good sign as a head coach, Helton said. Id rather have it like that than the other. Saturday cant get here quick enough for us.Smith-Schuster wasnt the only one mad about an offensive performance in which USC did not score a touchdown for the first time since 1997 and was held to just 194 yards of total offense. An offensive line that returned the second-most career starts in the FBS allowed three sacks and nine tackles for loss. As the Crimson Tide was able to create consistent pressure with only four rushers, the defense could double-team Smith-Schuster, who had one reception for nine yards.Sometimes that first game lets you know where you are and where the holes are and what you got to fix, and for us it was kind of a blessing in disguise, Martin said. No, you dont want to lose in that way, you dont want to perform the way that we did, but it put the mirror in our face as to some things we got to work on and get better at.When asked what USC needed to improve on, Martin replied a lot of things.More troubling than the physical gap between USC and the defending national champions was the lack of mental fortitude to match Alabama, running back Justin Davis said. After cornerback Marlon Humphrey returned an interception 18 yards late in the first half to give Alabama a 17-3 lead, there was no belief that USC could mount a comeback.It just died down after that one mistake. We cant have that going forward, Davis said. We let the name Alabama get in our heads and then it took off. `Oh well, theyre too good. They are about to win the national championship. Thats not the case, I didnt believe at least. We had the team to go out there and compete against them for four quarters.Utah State, which travels to the Coliseum on Saturday, has the belief it can compete with USC after a 17-14 loss in 2013, a sentiment that was reinforced by the Trojans meek performance against Alabama.I definitely feel that we have an opportunity to go in there and win, Aggies defensive end Rick Aliifua said. To be quite honest, this time Im coming for blood.The intensity of Tuesdays practice was a positive sign to Davis that USC is rediscovering a winning outlook, Smith-Schusters scuffle and all.Its just that we need to keep having that something in our belly, the desire to want to be great, Davis said. I think were starting off this week great with that.Game notesLB Osa Masina and DE Don Hill will not play against Utah State, Helton said. Masina and Hill are under investigation for sexual assault, but neither player has been arrested or charged. The university is allowing Masina and Hill to attend classes, practice and participate in team meetings, Helton said.College Jerseys Black Friday . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. Wholesale College Jerseys . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. https://www.fakecollegejerseys.com/ .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Cyber Monday College Jerseys . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Fake College Jerseys From China . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad.FINHAUT-EMOSSON, Switzerland -- For a fleeting moment in the dying minutes of the 17th stage of the Tour de France Wednesday, it was like the good old days for Chris Froome.The Tour leader was inside the last two of 184 kilometres from Berne to the summit of Finhaut-Emosson, racing at his limit but on Australian Richie Portes wheel. It was a scene that had been played out time and time again in past races as teammates, foremost being in the Tours of 2013 and last year which eventually saw Froome win overall.While still good friends, they are no longer teammates. Porte is now the leader of the American BMC team following five years with Sky. The Australian is intent on taking back as much overall time on Froome as possible, but the Briton responded with an important counter-chase to extend his lead to second-placed Dutchman Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo).I dont think it was really possible to go much faster there. Richie seemed to be doing just fine there on his own, Froome said. Tactically for me there is no really need for me get on the front and starting pulling in the final.Tomorrow is going to be crucial and this is the first day of a four day block. Richie is one of strongest guys in the mountain I think. It was clear for me today just about following him. Its a massive bonus to take more time on the rivals.It was an important chase also to ensure that Porte, while starting the day in seventh place four minutes and 27 seconds off the lead, did not gain time on him with with three hard days the Alps still to come.Yet it was also about minimising his effort to be as fresh as possible for Thursdays stage 18 mountain time trial, which Froome did. His overall lead grew on Mollema to two minutes 53 seconds and on fellow Briton Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) to two minutes 53 seconds.Pressed on racing in the break with Porte, Froome said: It did bring back a few memories. It was nice to ride with an old teammate again. But this time he was putting me under pressure. I was just staying on his wheel and I followed him to the finish. I definitely feel as if there was quite a battle going on for top five positions especially for podium positions.Among the overall contenders, Porte was the one who gained most from Wednesdays stage. He was naturally pleased with his ride in a Tour that had been marred by a time costing flat tyre in stage two with five kilometres to go and the Mont Ventoux fiasco on stage 12.I really want to be on the podium so [they are] the moves you have to pull. I have felt strong.dddddddddddd I am happy with how it all went, Porte said after the stage, adding that he his relishing his role as a BMC team leader after five years riding at Sky as Froomes wingman.Its different for me now at BMC. I am riding for myself. Its a bit different to the role I have had before. I am enjoying it day by day. The team has put some confidence into me. I am happy with how today went but there are three more hard days until [the finish in Paris.]Porte said his attack was not planned before the stage begun. It happened after a number of other moves. After the collective attempt by Astana of Italian Fabio Aru to set tempo and crack the Sky train that has controlled the Tour so well failed, Valverde and Irishman Dan Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) attacked separately ... both reeled in by Froomes teammates.Then when Skys tempo eased ever so slightly, Porte struck, as he explained: I spoke with the sports directors this morning and they said to me, Use your head, and if you feel like it, attack ... I have to [gain time] anyhow. So when the tempo was not so fast there it was a good time to get a gap like that. They chased hard. I suppose it was a good sign.Porte expected an attack from Colombian contender Nairo Quintana who clearly suffered, finishing 16th. While he is still fourth overall, he is now three minutes 27 seconds behind Froome.I thought Quintana was the one that was going to go so I sat on his wheel, Porte said.With one Alpine stage down, the Tour now faces a second on Thursday, but it will be a mountain time trial -- stage 18 from Sallanches to Megève.It is a crucial one, said Porte. I know I need to have a good time trial to try to take some more time. I have shown today that I am climbing well so I will take confidence out of today.Quintana is still hopeful of a late charge. But he also appeared to be looking beyond this years Tour to future editions of the race for opportunities to win it overall.I still have a lot of years, Quintana said. I am 26, and there are a lot of people ahead of me who have more experience. I still have a lot of years ahead of me to fight for the yellow jersey dream.I didnt have a great day today. I expected more because I had good sensations, but my body didnt feel good in the end. I did the best I could. I hope I can recover as best I can so I can react well, just like I have the past few years. ' ' '