SB Nation Chicago: All Posts by Bryan Kilpatrickhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2012-11-19T19:06:57-06:00https://chicago.sbnation.com/authors/bryan-kilpatrick/rss2012-11-19T19:06:57-06:002012-11-19T19:06:57-06:00Award nominations rolling in for Te'o
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<figcaption>Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Notre Dame LB Manti Te'o has now been nominated for six awards, adding the Maxwell and Bednarik trophies to his list.</p> <p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish" class="sbn-auto-link">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> linebacker <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/84654/manti-te-o" class="sbn-auto-link">Manti Te'o</a> is a finalist for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards, <a href="http://www.csnchicago.com/ncaa/notre-dame/irish-talk/Teo-a-finalist-for-Maxwell-Bednarik-Awar?blockID=803947&feedID=661&awid=4891789572405779212-914" target="_blank">according to CSN Chicago's JJ Stankevitz</a>.</p>
<p>Prior to the announcement of those nominations, Te'o was already a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy, Lomardi Award, Campbell Trophy and Senior CLASS Award. All that's left for the senior captain is a Heisman Trophy nomination, which is usually a longshot for a defensive players. This year's list of Heisman finalists will be announced after the completion of the regular season.</p>
<p>Texas A&M quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134696/johnny-manziel" class="sbn-auto-link">Johnny Manziel</a> and Kansas State quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36403/collin-klein" class="sbn-auto-link">Collin Klein</a> are the other finalists for the Maxwell Award, which is given to the nation's top collegiate player. Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones and South Carolina defensive end <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/138017/jadeveon-clowney" class="sbn-auto-link">Jadeveon Clowney</a> join Te'o as finalists for the Bednarik Award, which annually honors the top defensive player in the country.</p>
<p>Te'o isn't Notre Dame's only player to be nominated for a major award. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/84675/tyler-eifert" class="sbn-auto-link">Tyler Eifert</a> was named as a finalist for the Mackey Award, given to the nation's best tight end. He is joined by Washington's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136484/austin-seferian-jenkins" class="sbn-auto-link">Austin Seferian-Jenkins</a> and Stanford's Zach Ertz.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/notre-dame-football/2012/11/19/3668746/notre-dame-manti-teo-awards-finalistBryan Kilpatrick2012-11-19T18:43:17-06:002012-11-19T18:43:17-06:00FCS playoffs begin on Saturday
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<figcaption>John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Eastern Illinois will play in the opening round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday, traveling to Brookings, S.D. to face South Dakota State.</p> <p>The first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs begins on Saturday, with the Eastern Illinois Panthers taking part in the action.</p>
<p>Eastern Illinois will face South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D. at 2 p.m. CT. The winner of that game will advance to the next round, where top-seeded North Dakota State awaits.</p>
<p>Colgate and Wagner will kick off all of the action at 11 a.m. in Staten Island, N.Y. Bethune-Cookman and Coastal Carolina will square off at 1 p.m. in Daytona Beach, Fla., while Stony Brook and Villanova will get started at 2 p.m. in Stony Brook, N.Y.</p>
<p>The top four seeds, which are made up of South Dakota State, Eastern Washington, Montana State and Old Dominion, have a bye in the first round, and will draw the lowest-seeded teams in the second round. Several other second-round contests are already scheduled, including the Illinois State Redbirds' game against Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. on Dec. 1.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2012/11/19/3668674/fcs-playoff-scheduleBryan Kilpatrick2012-11-19T18:19:04-06:002012-11-19T18:19:04-06:00Are we in for more BCS chaos?
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<figcaption>Matt Cashore-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Notre Dame is guaranteed a spot in the BCS title game if it can get past USC this weekend. The question is: who <em>really</em> deserves the opportunity to face them?</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish" class="sbn-auto-link">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> are No. 1 in this week's BCS standings, and there's little disputing that. However, there is a boatload of controversy about who should face the Irish in the BCS Championship Game, assuming Notre Dame takes care of business against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/usc-trojans" class="sbn-auto-link">USC Trojans</a> on Saturday.</p>
<p>With Alabama is currently sitting at No. 2, SBNation.com's Samuel Chi makes a case for several other one-loss teams, and also gives a plausible national title scenario for college football's forgotten undefeated team:</p>
<blockquote>Georgia ... will get its shot at Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and will be guaranteed a spot in the BCS title game if it can take care of business there after getting by Georgia Tech this week.</blockquote>
<blockquote>Oregon is essentially out of it after an overtime loss to Stanford, a sin deemed far more egregious than Alabama's loss to Texas A&M by the voters. Never mind that Stanford is ranked one spot ahead of the Aggies in the current BCS standings, as both teams have two losses. The Ducks are so far back in the polls that they'll need a virtual miracle to get back into the BCS title game.</blockquote>
<blockquote>The (Florida) Gators' only loss was at the Cocktail Party to Georgia, but they have also defeated Texas A&M in College Station and LSU and South Carolina at home. Should they defeat Florida State next week, the Gators would have beaten four teams currently ranked in the BCS top 10 - and be shut out of the BCS title game.</blockquote>
<blockquote>...what if (Max) Wittek leads USC to an upset at the Coliseum? Will that be enough to catapult Ohio State to No. 1 in the AP poll next week? If that's the case, the Buckeyes can size for their national title rings even before November is out. How about that - all the BCS chaos for only half of the national championship?</blockquote>
<p>After watching last week's events unfold, one thing is certain: nothing is a given in college football, and the whole thing could get turned on its head before you know it. As Chi mentions, we're only a Notre Dame loss away from the probability of another all-SEC championship game, and even more chaos if Ohio State takes care of Michigan in convincing fashion.</p>
<p>After all of that, Chi doesn't see another weekend full of armageddon, picking Notre Dame and Alabama to square off in the BCS title game.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/notre-dame-football/2012/11/19/3668532/2012-bcs-standings-week-12Bryan Kilpatrick2012-11-19T07:00:22-06:002012-11-19T07:00:22-06:00Top defenses clash on Monday Night Football
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<p>Top defenses clash in Week 11 as the Bears and 49ers square off on Monday Night Football.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bears</a> travel west to face the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco 49ers</a> on Monday night at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Both teams enter the game with their starting quarterbacks banged up.</p>
<p>The Bears hope to bounce back from last week's 13-6 loss to the <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Texans</a>. Quarterback <span>Jay Cutler</span> suffered a concussion in the game, and his status for Monday night is uncertain. 49ers signal caller Alex Smith was also concussed in his team's game, a 24-24 tie against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Rams</a>. Smith returned to the practice field on Wednesday and is on track to start against the Bears.</p>
<p>San Francisco and Chicago come into the game with the NFL's first- and second-ranked scoring defenses. Even with the possibility of Cutler missing the game, the Bears possess enough firepower on the defensive side of the ball to keep the team in the game; Chicago has scored seven defensive touchdowns, which leads the NFL by a wide margin.</p>
<p><b>Game Date/Time:</b> Monday, Nov. 19; 7:30 p.m. CT</p>
<p><b>TV: </b>ESPN</p>
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<p><b>Radio: </b>WBBM (AM 780, FM 105.9); Sirius Channel 92</p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/11/19/3651806/49ers-bears-2012-schedule-game-time-tv-injury-updatesBryan Kilpatrick2012-11-15T16:55:29-06:002012-11-15T16:55:29-06:00Several Bears defenders atop NFC in Pro Bowl votes
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<figcaption>Joe Robbins</figcaption>
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<p>Bears' cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings, along with defensive tackle Henry Melton, are early favorites to earn spots on the NFC's 2012 Pro Bowl roster.</p> <p><a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bears</a>' cornerbacks <span>Charles Tillman</span> and <span>Tim Jennings</span> are the top two vote-getters at the position in the NFC, <a href="https://twitter.com/RLiuNFL/status/268818625782243330" target="_blank">according to the NFL's director of NFC football communications Randall Liu</a>. Bears' defensive tackle <span>Henry Melton</span> leads his position, as well.</p>
<p>With the help of those three players, the Bears boast the league's second-best scoring defense and a top five total defense. Jennings has a league-leading eight interceptions, which is three better than the second-place player. Meanwhile, Tillman has picked off two passes, both of which were returned for a touchdown, and forced a league-best seven fumbles. Melton has 22 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles.</p>
<p>Tillman was selected to this first Pro Bowl last season, while Jennings and Melton would be first-timers. The Bears' defense is loaded with multiple-time Pro Bowlers, including <span>Julius Peppers</span> (seven times), <span>Lance Briggs</span> (seven times) and <span>Brian Urlacher</span> (five times).</p>
<p>On Monday night, the Bears' elite defense will take on another superb unit on that side of the football in the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco 49ers</a>. The Niners are the NFL's top-ranked scoring defense in 2012.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/11/15/3651372/nfl-pro-bowl-voting-bears-charles-tillman-tim-jennings-henry-meltonBryan Kilpatrick2012-11-15T16:27:47-06:002012-11-15T16:27:47-06:0049ers' Harbaugh undergoes heart procedure
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<figcaption>Peter Brouillet-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Former Bears QB and current 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh was forced to have a minor procedure on Thursday at Stanford University to correct an irregular heartbeat.</p> <p><a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco 49ers</a> head coach and former <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bears</a> quarterback Jim Harbaugh underwent a minor procedure on Thursday to correct an irregular heartbeat, <a href="http://blog.49ers.com/2012/11/15/statement-on-head-coach-jim-harbaugh/" target="_blank">according to the 49ers' official website</a>.</p>
<p>Harbaugh could be back at the 49ers practice facility on Friday, according to the team, which added that no other information is currently available. Assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Brad Seely assumed Harbaugh's duties at Thursday's practice.</p>
<p>In a season and a half under Harbaugh, the 49ers are 19-5-1. The team lost in the 2012 NFC Championship Game to the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Giants</a> to end Harbaugh's first season at the helm.</p>
<p>As a player, Harbaugh spent parts of 14 seasons as a quarterback, half of which came with the Bears. He took over starting duties in Chicago in 1990, and proceeded to hold that role for four seasons, throwing for nearly 10,000 yards and 45 touchdowns. Harbaugh also threw 45 interceptions during that period.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/11/15/3651278/bears-vs-49ers-jim-harbaugh-underwent-minor-heart-procedure-onBryan Kilpatrick2012-11-15T16:01:56-06:002012-11-15T16:01:56-06:00Notre Dame signs agreement with Orange Bowl, ACC
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<p>The Notre Dame Fighting Irish could face the top-ranked ACC team, four-team playoff scenario excluded, in the Orange Bowl twice over the next 12 seasons.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish" class="sbn-auto-link">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> have the opportunity to play in at least two Orange Bowl games over the next 12 years, according to the agreement reached between the ACC, the bowl committee and the school on Thursday.</p>
<p>The Big Ten and SEC are guaranteed to have a representative in the game three times apiece, <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-notre-dame-football-orange-bowl-berths-limited-in-new-deal-20121115,0,4788706.story" target="_blank">according to Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune</a>. Notre Dame is now guaranteed two appearances, but with no minimum set for the school.</p>
<p>Irish athletics director Jack Swarbrick is excited about the prospect of facing tough ACC competition in a top-flight game:</p>
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<p>"The Orange Bowl qualifies as one of the most prestigious events in college football's postseason and Notre Dame has played a part in that history, three times playing No. 1-ranked teams in our five previous appearances"</p>
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<p>The Irish will still be bound to their agreement from September, in which it was decided that Notre Dame will slide into the ACC's bowl schedule if the school is not selected for the Orange Bowl and doesn't finish in the top four. In addition to the two possible Orange Bowl games, the Irish will also have a five-game ACC schedule every season starting as soon as 2014.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2012/11/15/3651164/notre-dame-orange-bowl-announce-limited-dealBryan Kilpatrick2012-11-15T15:38:24-06:002012-11-15T15:38:24-06:00Cubs P Garza resumes baseball activities
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<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Cubs P Matt Garza has been cleared to resume baseball activities.</p> <p><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Cubs</a> starting pitcher <span>Matt Garza</span> will resume offseason workouts after being cleared by medical staff, <a href="http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/8635830/matt-garza-chicago-cubs-cleared-resume-offseason-work?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">according ESPN Chicago's Doug Padilla</a>.</p>
<p>While he won't be able to throw initially, Garza will be allowed to take part in his strength and conditioning routine without any other restrictions. Since he can begin his workout regimen now, Garza will be allowed to begin a winter throwing program at the same pace that he would in any other year.</p>
<p>Garza suffered a stress reaction in his right arm during a July 21 start against the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Cardinals</a>. The team says the injury is healing well, a fact that was confirmed by a scan of Garza's throwing elbow.</p>
<p>If not for the injury, he could have been traded away at the 2012 deadline, something that could happen this season instead if the 28-year-old hurler stays healthy.</p>
<p>Garza finished with a 3.91 ERA in 18 starts with the Cubs in 2012, striking out 96 batters and walking 32 in 103 2/3 innings. He has a career 57-61 record with a 3.84 ERA, 7.6 K/9 and 2.46 BB/9.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2012/11/15/3651088/cubs-offseason-matt-garza-cleared-to-resume-workoutsBryan Kilpatrick2012-11-12T16:59:46-06:002012-11-12T16:59:46-06:00McCaskey pays tribute to military veterans on NBC
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<figcaption>Jonathan Daniel</figcaption>
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<p>Virginia McCaskey paid tribute to active troops and military veterans in a short video spot during the Bears' Sunday night game against the Texans on NBC.</p> <p><a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bears</a> owner Virginia McCaskey showed her appreciation for veterans and active troops in a <a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/49784716#49784716" target="_blank">short Veteran's Day tribute</a> put together by NBC during the team's game against the <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Texans</a> on Sunday night.</p>
<p>McCaskey is the daughter of longtime Bears owner, player and head coach George Halas, who served in the Navy during both World Wars. In addition, McCaskey's husband, brother and grandson have served in the military.</p>
<p>NBC Sports broadcaster Al Michaels referred to the Halas family as "the First Family of Football" after the segment aired. George Halas was the active owner of the Bears for 63 years, while playing for the first eight years of his ownership tenure and coaching for 40 the initial 47 seasons.</p>
<p>The Bears and the Halas family have a history of supporting the military. In 1946, upon his return from serving in World War II, George Halas set up an annual charity football game to benefit relief agencies of the armed forces. Total proceeds from 12 annual games between 1946 and 1957 totaled over $2 million.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/11/12/3637392/bears-owner-virginia-mccaskey-pays-tribute-on-veterans-dayBryan Kilpatrick2012-11-12T16:31:11-06:002012-11-12T16:31:11-06:00Bears WR Jeffery still nursing fractured hand
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<figcaption>Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>On Sunday night, Bears WR Alshon Jeffery sat out for the team's fourth consecutive game with a fractured bone in his right hand. He could play in Week 11 against the 49ers.</p> <p><a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bears</a> wide receiver <span>Alshon Jeffery</span> missed his fourth consecutive game on Sunday while recovering from a fractured right hand.</p>
<p>Jeffery returned to practice on Friday, but was held out of the Sunday night contest against the <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Texans</a> for precautionary reasons, according to team sources (<a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/post/_/id/4680139/bears-jeffery-out-for-fifth-straight-game?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">via ESPN Chicago's Michael C. Wright</a>). He could play in the Bears' Week 11 game against the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco 49ers</a>.</p>
<p>The rookie receiver has been targeted 23 times in five games this season, catching 14 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Over three seasons at South Carolina, Jeffery racked up more than 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2010, he caught 88 balls for 1,517 yards and nine scores.</p>
<p>The Bears and Niners are set to square off on ESPN's <i>Monday Night Football </i>on Nov. 19 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT.</p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/11/12/3637264/texans-vs-bears-alshon-jeffery-misses-fourth-straight-gameBryan Kilpatrick