sports
TUESDAY | 08.26.2014 | EXPRESS | 11
THREE POINTERS
Hot teams since break
A rare feat for Maryland’s coaching staff MARYLAND TERPS Andre Powell was always determined to coach at the highest level, to be a head coach. But sometime in the 1990s, his goals gave way to a singular purpose: to become the best coach and recruiter he could possibly be, wherever he was. He started as a student assistant at Indiana in 1988 and made eight stops before joining Randy Edsall’s staff as a running backs coach at Maryland in 2011. The following season, Powell became the team’s special teams coordinator. It was his third time holding that title, yet it also marked a rarity. With Powell joining offensive coordinator Mike Locksley and defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, Maryland had three minority coordinators in 2012 — and two years later the trio is still together. Maryland enters
this season as the only school in Division I to hold that distinction. “Thinking back to 15 to 20 years ago, when I was beginning to coach, I don’t even remember black coordinators. I’m sure there were a few. I wasn’t aware of them,” Powell said. “I just think that things are changing. I think some of the stereotype’s lifted, and people see that you need to just find the best that you can hire.” A report released last month by the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport found that 15 of the 125 FBS head coaches were minorities in 2013. That number is 14 heading into this season — and alongside Texas, Vanderbilt and Tulane, Maryland is one of four schools in the country to have three minorities in the top four positions on staff. The Rooney Rule, an NFL policy that requires teams to interview minorities for head coaching positions, doesn’t exist in the NCAA. According to the NCAA’s website, Division I
JONATHAN NEWTON (THE WASHINGTON POST)
Terrapins only college football team that has 3 minority coordinators
The Nationals entered Monday with an eightgame lead in the NL East — having won 12 of their past 13. Here are a few other teams that have also made a run since the All-Star break.
Mike Locksley is one of three Terps coordinators who is African-American.
Stewart’s take The fact that Maryland has three minority coordinators is not lost on defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, although he said it’s not discussed among the staff. “I know that I have to do well if other African-Americans want to have that opportunity,” he said. “If you’re a coach — white, black or Hispanic — if you have an opportunity, take advantage of that opportunity.” (THE WASHINGTON POST)
athletic directors adopted similar hiring guidelines in 2008, although that practice is voluntary. Locksley said Maryland’s coordinator staff is a reflection on Edsall as a person — and as
a coach looking to fill his staff with the best-fitting candidates. For Powell, there have been some schools in his past that were afraid of “black leadership,” he said, but Maryland hasn’t been one of them. It’s the most diverse staff he’s ever been on, which in his mind is both a point of pride and a sign of progress. “I think in the past, there’s been some guys across the country that were probably the best guy available for coordinator jobs and they were passed over because some of the stereotypes or some of the backlash that could’ve taken place,” Powell said. “I think head coaches are more comfortable with that idea now.” ROMAN STUBBS (THE WASHINGTON POST)
JEFFREY TOMIK (EXPRESS)
3 Los Angeles Angels Record: 20-15 since break
The Angels’ team ERA was 3.84 in the first half, but it’s dropped to 2.93 since. The loss of Garrett Richards (knee) will test the staff.
2 Tampa Bay Rays Record: 20-13
The Rays traded away ace David Price on July 31, yet they somehow have the best team ERA (2.28) since the All-Star break.
1 Kansas City Royals Record: 24-11
The AL Central leaders are 9-0-1 in their past 10 series. In 35 games played since the break, Alex Gordon is hitting .315 with six homers. *STATS ENTERING MONDAY’S GAMES
REDSKINS
Meriweather suspended 2 games
Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather has been suspended for the first two games of the regular season for a blow to the head to a receiver. The NFL announced the suspension Monday, saying it was the sixth time Meriweather has violated rules aimed at improving player safety. Meriweather was flagged for a personal foul when he hit Torrey Smith in the second quarter of Saturday night’s game against the Ravens. (AP) Redskins cut offensive lineman Adam Gettis and rookie cornerback Bryan Shepherd
Jets cornerback Dimitri Patterson suspended “indefinitely” after puzzling absence