December 29, 2014 Table Of Contents
INBOX
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW
After waiting four years to get a shot to start, Blake Sims caught on instantly to the hurry-up attack, guiding the Tide to a record-breaking season
A SPECIAL TEAM'S ACE CAN FLIP THE FIELD AND PUT OHIO STATE'S QB IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION
By Andy Staples
A GAME OR A SEASON CAN SOMETIMES SWING ON A SINGLE PLAY. HERE ARE THREE KEY MOMENTS IN ALABAMA'S RUN TO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
Marcus Mariota hails from a Hawaiian culture steeped in humility and respect. But don't let the laid-back demeanor of the Heisman Trophy winner fool you
By Greg Bishop
A MAINSTAY WHOSE RETURN SHORED UP A LEAKY LINE FACES HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE
By Andy Staples
A GAME OR A SEASON CAN SOMETIMES SWING ON A SINGLE PLAY. HERE ARE THREE KEY MOMENTS IN OREGON'S RUN TO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
Jameis Winston may be the leading talent in the playoffs, and the Seminoles' fate hinges on his (likely) college farewell. After that, he's the NFL's problem
By GREG A. BEDARD
THE FRESHMAN RUNNING BACK'S MIDSEASON RISE ADDED A DIMENSION TO THE 'NOLES' ATTACK
By Andy Staples
A GAME OR A SEASON CAN SOMETIMES SWING ON A SINGLE PLAY. HERE ARE THREE KEY MOMENTS IN FLORIDA STATE'S RUN TO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
The Buckeyes are down to their third signal-caller, but the ebullient Cardale Jones has never struggled on the field—only off of it
By Pete Thamel
IF THE BUCKEYES HAVE ANY CHANCE TO HOLD BACK THE TIDE, THE SECONDARY MUST STAND TALL
By Andy Staples
A GAME OR A SEASON CAN SWING ON A SINGLE PLAY. HERE ARE THREE KEY MOMENTS IN OHIO STATE'S RUN TO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
NFL
In his breakthrough season with the Saints, Mark Ingram II is trying to help some of the many kids dealing with an incarcerated parent—and reconciling himself to his own father's impending release from prison
HOCKEY
BU center Jack Eichel has the speed, skills and temperament to become a top draft pick and change an NHL franchise for years to come. But first the 18-year-old would like to finish his freshman year of college
SOCCER
F√∫tbol fever reached an alltime high in the U.S. during the World Cup this summer. So, where to from here? The answer will depend a lot on three newbies
By Grant Wahl
SPORTS SCIENCE
WANT TO AVOID INJURY? COME SEE ME
MARCUS ELLIOTT'S HIGH-TECH TRAINING CENTER HAS BECOME A PRIME DESTINATION FOR PRO ATHLETES SEEKING NOT ONLY TO SHARPEN THEIR PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO TO PROLONG THEIR CAREERS
The Lives They Led
THE TRACK STAR WHO WAS UNBROKEN, THE LITTLEST (AND LOSINGEST) GENERAL, A SUPERSUB QUARTERBACK AND A BON VIVANT SLUGGER WITH A GIFT FOR BROADCASTING GAB—THOSE LEGENDS AND MORE PASSED AWAY IN 2014
By Mark Bechtel
PRO FOOTBALL
How do you salute a group of men, the 1974 Steelers, 40 years after they revived a franchise, enlivened a city and reshaped the NFL? Simple: You sit back and listen
By Don Banks
POINT AFTER
By S.L. Price
Departments
A tribute to the profane, ridiculous and just plain stupid things that happened this year
By Steve Rushin
Sports and social media continued to be interlinked in 2014. Below are some of the highlights of the past 12 months on Twitter
Edited By Alexandra Fenwick
By Brian Straus
By Interview by Dan Patrick