each out to league and union officials to create positive change in

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- His Illinois team is a double-digit underdog, but Saturday will bring the kind of game Hardy Nickerson has been waiting for since he decided to transfer from Cal.Michigan. The Big House and 100,000-plus fans. A Wolverines fullback lined up across from him.This is the football that I always thought the Big Ten was about, the Illini linebacker said as his team prepared to face the No. 3 Wolverines (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten). Pro-style offenses for a linebacker are the most fun games. Youre getting downhill, youre making plays and it really comes down to how the linebackers are playing in those games if the defense does well.A lot is riding on Nickerson this week and every week at Illinois (2-4, 1-2).He made the move from Cal as a graduate student, following his dad, former NFL linebacker Hardy Nickerson, when the older Nickerson took the job as Lovie Smiths defensive coordinator at Illinois.At Cal, Nickerson led an eight-win Bears team with 112 tackles, 8.6 a game. That defense, though, gave up just over 30 points a game, living in the shadow of a Cal offense that scored close almost 38.Smith, on the other hand, is a defense-first coach. He needed a player like Nickerson, a linebacker to plug into a slot that had no ready-made starter.Nickerson has done what Illinois has asked and then some. He is leading the Big Ten in tackles with 58, good for 9.7 per game. That puts him at 21st in the country.Nickerson and his father bear a strong resemblance on and off the field.At Cal, the younger Nickerson wore his fathers old number, 47. Both flash easy smiles and both say that, after the past two years of the son playing football on the West Coast while the father coached in Florida as part of Smiths Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff, they are happy they met in the middle.As a dad to just have him around, thats been just an unbelievable experience, the older Nickerson said.As good as it has been to be close, theres a difference now: Coach Nickerson was used to watching linebacker Nickerson in the way a dad does when they were a country apart. For those two years, we talked every night, especially after games, the older Nickerson said.Now, much like when he coached his son at Bishop ODowd High School in Oakland, California, the coach says now hes just too busy thinking about the next play call and analyzing whats happening to his defense as the game progresses.That is one place, the younger Nickerson says, that the two are close in a different way.On the field were able to diagnose things fast, and Im able to tell him if I have a problem with something or if he has a coaching point, Nickerson said.The linebacker is accustomed to that role of on-field analyst, as well as catalyst.Stanford, he says, was the one downhill, Michigan-type team the Bears faced every season, but the other teams they saw tended to be more up-tempo, like Oregon.Highlights from last seasons Oregon game include Nickerson making big plays, but with each play the scoreboard in the corner of the screen showed the Ducks pulling further away. No matter, after each hit Nickerson popped up, clapping hands hard at teammates, trying to keep them in a game they would eventually lose, 44-38.After the game, Nickerson uncharacteristically let just a bit of an edge come through as he talked to reporters : I think guys are pissed off right now. It hurt.This week, Nickerson laughed when asked if he knew where he ranked in the Big Ten in tackles, saying hed just seen the stat on Twitter. He said he would give up that top spot if it meant something better in the one area that hasnt worked as well as he would like Illinois -- wins and losses.If that means me making 19 tackles or that means me making three tackles, Ill take it.---Follow David Mercer on twitter: (at)davidmercerAP---Online: Associated Press college football coverage: http://collegefootball.ap.org/ Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. 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But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Thursday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Jimmy Garoppolo is listed as doubtful, meaning the Patriots (2-0) could start a rookie quarterback for the first time under Bill Belichick when they play the Houston Texans (2-0). Game starts 8:25 p.m.- CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- With Charlotte in a state of emergency following violent protests over a police shooting, coaches and players discuss whether Sundays Vikings-Panthers game should be moved or postponed.- ATLANTA -- No. 5 Clemson takes on unbeaten Georgia Tech in a prime-time game, needing to avoid an upset to set up a showdown in Death Valley against No. 3 Louisville. Game starts 7:30 p.m.- The Big Ten this year joins the Big 12 and Pac-12 with a nine-game conference schedule; the ACC and SEC play eight league games. Nebraska coach Mike Riley wants Power Five schools to play the same number of league games.- His voice resonating across the seasons and decades, Vin Scully has weathered the ravages of time well. Hes still a remarkable broadcaster at 88, but wants to get out before people start whispering about his age.- CHICAGO -- Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg thinks this edition of the Cubs might be uniquely positioned to succeed where so many others failed.- ARLINGTON, Texas -- Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish are the next two scheduled starters for the Texas Rangers, who are on the verge of their second straight AL West title.dddddddddddd- MIAMI -- NBA players are being urged to reach out to league and union officials to create positive change in communities, a move that comes in response to protests over racial oppression and other matters.- MINNEAPOLIS -- The closer the Minnesota Timberwolves get to training camp next week, the more likely it is they will be without Kevin Garnett. Its unclear if the 40-year-old star will be retiring.- ATLANTA -- Dustin Johnson leads the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup into the final event at the Tour Championship. Johnson is coming off a victory at the BMW Championship.- COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Now that the medals have been won, the U.S. goes after the next big prize. The countrys Olympic leaders want to bring the 2024 Summer Games to Los Angeles.- TORONTO -- The United States scored all of two goals in two World Cup of Hockey games before being eliminated. Hope, however, may be found in Team North America and a wave of promising young Americans.- TORONTO -- Two World Cup of Hockey games: U.S. vs. Czech Republic (8 p.m.) and Finland vs. Russia (3 p.m.).- Stories from selected NHL training camps. ' ' '