The 2012 Mustang Boss 302Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer, with the 2012 Mustang Boss 302.

In this issue of Premier Players, you can peek at this limited edition machine in various colors.

Austin FreemAnGeorgetown, Guard, senior

BrAndon KniGhtKentucky, Guard, Freshman

ChAndler PArsonsFlorida, Forward, senior

eliAs hArrisGonzaga, Forward, Freshman

hArrison BArnesnorth Carolina, Forward, Freshman

JACoBPullenKansas state, Guard, senior

JAJuAn JohnsonPurdue, Center, senior

JAred sullinGerohio state, Center, Freshman

JordAn hAmiltontexas, Guard, sophomore

Jimmer FredetteBYu, Guard, senior

KAlin luCAsmichigan state, Guard, senior

KAwhi leonArdsan diego state, Forward, sophomore

Kevin Joneswest virginia, Forward, Junior

KYle sinGlerduke, Forward, senior

lACedArius dunnBaylor, Guard, senior

mAlColm delAneYvirginia tech, Guard, senior

mArCus morrisKansas, Forward, Junior

nolAn smithduke, Guard, senior

shelvin mACKButler, Guard, Junior

treY thomPKinsGeorgia, Forward/Center, Junior

men

wom

en

AmBer hArrisXavier, Forward, senior

AnGie BJorKlundtennessee, Forward, senior

BrittneY GrinerBaylor, Center, sophomore

ChAstitYreedArkansas-little rock, Forward, senior

CourtneYvAnderslootGonzaga, Guard, senior

dAnielle AdAmstexas A & m, Forward, senior

dAnielle roBinsonoklahoma, Guard, senior

elenAdelle donnedelaware, Forward, sophomore

JAsmine thomAsduke, Guard, Junior

JessiCA BrelAndnorth Carolina, Forward, senior

KAChine AleXAnderiowa, Guard, senior

KAYlAPedersenstanford, Forward, senior

mAYA mooreConnecticut, Forward, senior

nneKA oGwumiKestanford, Forward, Junior

sAmAnthA PrAhAlisohio state, Guard, Junior

sheKinnA striCKlentennessee, Guard, Junior

shenise Johnsonmiami, Guard, Junior

suGAr rodGersGeorgetown, Guard, sophomore

tA’shiA PhilliPsXavier, Center, senior

viCtoriA dunlAPKentucky, Forward, senior

Vote for the 2010-2011Premier Player of Men and Women College Basketball

the Poll will remain open until march 15th, 2011.then Polls for the five men and women finalists immediately open for you to again vote for the

overall winner of the 2011 Premier Player College Basketball trophy.

vote at www.premierplayers.com

features & departments

features

8 Summer of Service

15 NCAA Basketball

20 Can the Lady Huskies Three-peat Again?

24 Polanco Builds Football in Spain

departments

6 Upsets

12 Sound Off

26 Travel (Indianapolis)

28 Community

30 Player’s Ink

PREMIER PLAYERS �

when wisconsin took down #1 ranked ohio state during the regular season, it was madness inside the Kohl Center. now march madness is here, and teams are ready to play to prove who is #1 in college basketball. See story on page 15.

PUBLISHINGCEO & PUBLISHER

Carnell Moore

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSSteve WrightMarc JenkinsSam Smoot

Mark LafranceRoger Kelly

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERJennifer Dufek

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AP PHOTO CREDITSJay LaPrete

Colin E Braley p13Greeley Tribune p12

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Mark Humphrey p12Charles Krupa p28David Goldman p30

OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OFTHE FOLLOWING ATHLETIC

COMMUNICATIONSCinncinnati, USC, Oregon State,

Nebraska, Wisconsin, Notre Dame,Kansas State

Content disclaimer & use the opinions expressed in Premier Players Magazine and on Premier Players Online do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publishers and or their agents. For use of any material used in Premier Players Magazine or on Premier Players Online, please contact the publisher

at 813-833-3495.

15

Ibrahima Thomas (#32), a 6-11 forward for the Cinncinnati Bearcats, leads the defense to shut down a play by Louisville. The unranked Bearcats beat the 16th ranked Cardinals, 63-54, on February 16 in Ohio.

Cinncinnati’s Yancy Gates (#34) goes over Georgetown’s forward Julian Vaughn for a basket. Cinncinnati took down 11th ranked Georgetown,58-46, on February 23 in Washington, DC.

USC guard Jio Fontan runs past the defense of Arizona’s Jordin Mayes. The Trojans upset the 10th ranked Wildcats 65-57 on February 24 at the Galen Center in California.

Jared Cunningham (#1), a guard for the Oregon State Beavers, in action against a Washington defender. The Beavers took down the 19th ranked Huskers,68-56, on February 3 in Corvallis.

Nebraska’s Brandon Richardson (#3) makes it look easy against three Texas defenders. The Huskers defeated the 2nd ranked Longhorns, 70-67, on February 19 at the Devaney Center in Nebraska.

UPSeTSF E B R U A R y

Mississippi defeats #11 Kentucky, 71-69

#17 Syracuse over #7 Connecticut, 66-58

Oklahoma State beats #15 Missouri, 76-70

Indiana gets by #20 Minnesota, 60-57

Oregon State defeats #19 Washington, 68-56

#23 Florida takes down #11 Kentucky, 70-68

Baylor over #16 Texas A&M, 76-74

Oregon beats #19 Washington, 81-76

Northwestern upsets #24 Illinois, 71-70

Rutgers takes down #10 Villanova, 77-76

Idaho beats #17 Utah State, 64-56

St. John over #9 Connecticut, 89-72

Illinois downs #25 Minnesota, 71-62

#14 Wisconsin upsets #1 Ohio State, 71-67

#15 Louisville over #13 Syracuse, 73-69

#24 Vanderbilt defeats #18 Kentucky, 81-77

Kansas State beats #1 Kansas, 84-68

#12 Connecticut gets by #9 Georgetown, 78-70

#11 Purdue takes down #10 Wisconsin, 70-62

Cinncinnati beats #16 Louisville, 63-54

San Diego downs #23 Saint Mary’s, 74-66

#16 Louisville over #12 Connecticut, 71-58

Nebraska beats #2 Texas, 70-67

St. John’s gets by #4 Pittsburgh, 60-59

West Virginia beats #7 Notre Dame, 72-58

#24 Utah over #23 Saint Mary’s, 75-65

#11 Purdue beats #3 Ohio State, 76-63

#20 Syracuse takes down #14 Villanova, 69-64

Tennessee over #18 Vanderbilt, 60-51

Cinncinnati beats #11 Georgetown, 58-46

Arkansas gets by #22 Kentucky, 77-76

USC defeats #10 Arizona, 65-57

Marquette beats #15 Connecticut, 74-67

Virgina Tech downs #1 Duke, 64-60

#7 Brigham Young over #4 San Diego State, 80-67

Colorado takes down #5 Texas, 91-89

UCLA beats #10 Arizona, 71-49

#20 Syracuse upsets #11 Georgetown, 58-51

#22 Kentucky defeats #13 Florida, 76-68

#25 St. John’s over #14 Villanova, 81-68

Baylor beats #17 Texas, 58-51

Kansas State downs #21 Missouri, 80-70

#16 Louisville over #6 Pittsburgh, 62-59

Kansas State beats #8 Texas, 75-70

F E B R U A R y wisconsin’s Jordan taylor (#11) and Jon leuer (#30) enjoy their 71-67 victory over #1 ranked ohio state on February 12th in the Kohl Center, wis. must have been deja vu for Buckeye fans who witnessed a #1 ranked football go down against the Badgers last Fall in wisconsin.

� PREMIER PLAYERS

Summer of Serviceby Mark Lafrance

Notre Dame junior defenseman, Jake Brems, with an AIDS orphan in Kkindu Village, Masaka District, Uganda

he typical college student spends summer vacation at home, utilizing free time to lounge by the pool or at the beach, while earning some much-needed cash at an internship or full-time job. For Notre Dame junior lacrosse defenseman Jake Brems, however, the summer of 2010 proved to be anything but typical - a month of humanitarian work that the student-athlete will not soon forget. Partnering with Fields of Growth International and the Center of Concern in Washington D.C., Brems dedicated much of his time off this past summer volunteering to help poverty-stricken families in the African country of Uganda, improving agricultural systems and building homes while teaching lacrosse and leadership fundamentals to children in villages around the third-world nation. Brems learned about the opportunity from Fields of Growth International founder Kevin Dugan ‘01, who is also the director of lacrosse operations for the Fighting Irish. Dugan founded the organization to foster friendships and raise awareness about education and healthcare for children living in third-world countries, and decided Brems would be best served working in Uganda, where Fields of Growth is devoting much of its support.

T After their meeting in the spring, Dugan contacted the Center of Concern, the Catholic Church’s think tank for economic and social justice, and set up a series of summer meetings for Brems at the organization’s offices while the Kensington, Md., native was home on break. During these meetings, Brems met with Washington area officials who were knowledgeable about cultural issues facing the people of Uganda, including disease, poverty and hunger. While in Washington, Brems also learned of his primary assignment for his Uganda trip. In addition to the lacrosse teachings and other humanitarian work he would be experiencing, his main task involved helping a widow of an AIDS victim care for her family’s poultry farm and brainstorming solutions to help make the process more efficient for the widow, who has seven children, and is also infected with the disease. “I researched poultry as much as I could before leaving for Africa,” said Brems, who is a science-business major at Notre Dame. “I went out to a chicken farm on the eastern shore of Maryland during my break to learn about raising chickens and running a successful farm.” Once Brems arrived in the village of Kkindu on July 14, he

Notre Dame LacroSSe PLayer

Notre Dame LacroSSe PLayer

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discovered a serious issue with the widow’s farming system that he attempted to troubleshoot. In addition to a number of environmental concerns that could disrupt the egg-laying process, Brems realized that there was a major problem with getting proper hydration for the chickens. “A chicken will drink about a liter of water a day and they have 100 chickens, but don’t have plumbing,” Brems said. “So Mama Fort [the widow] and her children have to walk to the well a half mile away, multiple times a day, and carry all the water back every day. We designed a rainwater collection system that will make it easier for her to run her family business, because she’s HIV positive and doesn’t have very much strength.” Brems’ assistance in designing the irrigation project meant more to Mama Fort and her family than simply solving the water issue with the chickens. According to Dugan, the process served as a powerful symbol of what a relatively simple task can mean to underrepresented individuals in impoverished nations. “Women are so devalued in this region of the world and it’s just really special to see a Division I male athlete like Jake serving a marginalized woman in rural Uganda,” Dugan said. “When you think about it, that’s a really, really powerful thing. Jake stepped in as a voice for the voiceless and that’s what it means to be a man of Notre Dame.” In addition to helping develop the irrigation system during his trip, Brems also traveled south to the village of Mukono on the perimeter of the Bwindi Impenetrable Rainforest where he, along with five other American college students, helped mud houses for the Batwa Pygmies, a group of people who have been displaced from the nearby rainforests. The project, which Fields of Growth oversees with the Batwa development program in the Bwindi region, aims to uplift and empower pygmy families in the village. While in Bwindi, Brems also got an up-close and personal look at some of the incredible wildlife that call Uganda home. “While we were down there, we had the opportunity to see some mountain gorillas,” Brems said. “We were 10 feet from a family of them walking by, which was a really cool experience.” As well as the service projects Brems undertook while in Uganda, Jake also worked with Fields of Growth to promote the game of lacrosse to children in Kkindu and gave presentations to large groups within the

Kevin Dugan ’01 and Oscar McBride (former Notre Dame & NFL tight end) after a life skills class and Play Like A Champion Flag Football Clinic at a primary school in Jinja, Uganda.

A “team” picture after a lacrosse clinic at the Hopeful Schoolfor orphans and vulnerable children in Masaka, Uganda

Lacrosse player Jake Brems playing defense for the Fighting Irish. Brems took his skills all the way to Africa to teach kids how to Play Like A Champion.

village. While teaching the sport to the kids was an extremely enjoyable experience, Brems also found the lessons challenging. “The toughest part was definitely the language barrier,” Brems said. “The teachers acted as the translators, so it was hard to teach the sport to the teacher who then had to teach it again to the kids in Luganda. So we mostly taught them the basics like throwing, catching, how to pick up the ball, how to shoot and how to score goals.” Now, looking back on his trip, Brems is grateful for the opportunity, which opened his eyes to how faith and a sense of community often inspire the people of third-world countries to make the most of what they have. “You hear a lot about how there’s so much poverty and disease in Africa, but the people are spiritually richer than those in more developed parts of the world,” Brems said. “It’s amazing how happy everybody is and it’s refreshing to see that kind of happiness you don’t always find here in America where we tend to take things for granted.”

To read Jake Brems journal entries from his trip to Uganda, go tohttp://www.und.com/sports/m-lacros/spec-rel/072910aaa.html.

The 2012 Mustang Boss 302

The limited-production 2012 Mustang Boss 302, set to become the quickest, best-handlingstraight-production Mustang ever offered by Ford, was previewed to the media in February

in a drive event along the California coast and at Laguna Seca Raceway. [ ]

12 PREMIER PLAYERS

Northern Colorado fans cheer as their team closes in on winning the Big Sky Conference season title on March 2. Northern Colorado defeated Sacramento State 84-54.

San Diego State fans hold up cutout pictures as NewMexico takes a free throw. San Diego State won, 68-62.

Kansas State fans and players celebrate after the unranked Wildcats defeated their rival the #1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks, 84-68, on February 14th.

Vanderbilt fans celebrate after a basket in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky on Feb. 12. Vanderbilt upset Kentucky 81-77.

Fans storm the court after Nebraska takes down #2 ranked Texas, 70-67. sound off

Utah State cheerleaders perform at an NCAA college basketball game againstNevada in Logan, Utah, Feb. 2, 2011. #21 Utah State won 67-45.

Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger drives past Michigan State with a 71-61 win last month in Columbus, Ohio. He now seeks to help the Buckeyes clinch a national title.

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frenzy to madness: that’s entertainment

by Marc Jenkins

With the Frenzy of February now over in college basketball, it is officially time to look forward to the Madness of March. A special time of year when power houses can either dominate or crumble, and Cinderella’s wear high top basketball shoes and unheard of jerseys instead of glass slippers and ball gowns. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is must-see entertainment because you never know what could happen. In fact, two of the most unproductive work days each year in the United States are the initial Thursday and Friday of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. So with that being said let’s take a look at what and who to watch for during the 2011 rendition of March Madness. Throughout the tournament’s history, there have been countless players who have put their teams on their backs and led them to an exciting run and/or national title. Can anyone this year pull-off a Lew Alcindor, Danny Manning or Carmelo Anthony?

Watch these players:Jimmer Fredette – G – BYU Cougars It’s only fitting to begin this segment with the nation’s leading scorer because if any single player can change the outcome of a game single handedly, it’s Jimmer Fredette. Fredette is currently averaging 27.9 points and 4.3 assists per contest while shooting the rock at a devastating clip of 46%/40%/90% (FG%/3PFG%/FT%). His shooting range is unlimited and his knack for making big plays rivals his stroke so it would be wise to pay attention to every step Jimmer takes during the big dance.

Jared Sullinger – C – Ohio State Buckeyes Jared Sullinger is the only underclassman to make this list and that is largely due to the fact that without him the Ohio State University would probably be an unranked bubble

team hopping the selection committee does them a favor. Instead, Sullinger and his 17.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game have the Buckeyes poised to earn a number one seed and a favorite by a few to cut down the nets at the end of it all.

18 PREMIER PLAYERS

JaJuan Johnson – F/C – Purdue Boilermakers JaJuan Johnson can do just about everything on the court; score (20.5 PPG), rebound (8.1 RPG), defend (2.4 BPG and one steal per contest) and shoot from both the charity stripe (82%) and behind the arc (32%). The Boilermakers are only going to go as far as Johnson takes them and as good as this fourth-year big man’s post and perimeter games are he should be able to take them on some type of run.

from David Lighty, William Bufford and Jon Diebler in order to reach their full tournament potential. Ohio State has also been very impressive against the RPI top 50 posting a 7-2 record. Thad Motta should once again make a solid tourney run.

BYU Cougars The BYU Cougars are here for one reason and one reason only, Jimmer Fredette. This team can and will go far as long as

1� PREMIER PLAYERS

Jacob Pullen – G – Kansas State Wildcats Jacob Pullen is yet another senior on this list because experience usually pays off this time of year. After a rough start to the season, Pullen has pulled his game together playing at the exceptional level many are accustom to witnessing from him. On the year Pullen is putting up 19.6 points, 3.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. His big-game ability was definitely showcased in February during his 38-point performance against Kansas.

Nolan Smith – G – Duke Blue DevilsNolan Smith has the skill set and leadership to carry Duke deep into the tournament no matter who they are matched up against. Smith can get to the rim better than anyone in the nation. Once he gets there, he can either finish strong or create opportunities for his teammates. During the year, Smith averaged 21.6 points per contest along with 5.2 assists and 4.8 boards per night. Duke’s chances of repeating completely rest on the shoulders of Nolan Smith. Others to watch for include the likes of Kemba Walker from UConn, Ben Hansbrough of Notre Dame, Dwight Hardy from St. Johns and North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes.

teams to Watch for: Kansas JayhawksThe Kansas Jayhawks have looked good all season long and I doubt that it’s going to change during the tournament. The Jayhawks have a terrific balance of presence in the paint and talent on the perimeter. The Morris twins will have plenty of say during the tourney if Kansas is to do what many expect them to do and advance at least to the elite eight and possibly beyond. Kansas is 8-2 against the RPI top 50 which means that they have fared extremely well against other top competition.

Ohio State BuckeyesThe Ohio State Buckeyes have been near the top of the polls all seasons long and for good reason, they have one of the top players in the country in Jared Sullinger and a solid supporting cast around him. The Buckeyes will need strong performances

Fredette continues to compete at the all-world level which he has played in just about every single contest this year. The dismissal of Brandon Davies for violating the school’s honor code will leave the team a little bit thinner upfront and on the depth chart so they will need everyone to step up and assist Fredette. Jackson Emery and Noah Hartstock will have to play huge in order to get the Cougars to where they need to be, but that’s not a stretch of the imagination. The Cougars are an impressive 9-1 versus the RPI top 50 and 4-0 against the top 25.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have much more than a punchers chance in the big dance largely because they are a team built on experience and senior leadership. Fourth year players Ben Hansbrough, Carleton Scott and Tim Arbromatis look to have one last good ride playing NCAA ball and attempting to lead the Irish to the Final Four. There is a very good chance of that

happening as these players have played with each other for quite some time and know each other’s strengths and weaknesses on the court. Notre Dame was a very successful 7-4 versus the RPI top 25 and 10-4 against the top 50.

North Carolina Tarheels The North Carolina Tarheels are arguably the hottest team in the nation entering the tournament, winning 17 of their last 19 games of the regular season (including a seven game winning streak highlighted by a blowout of Duke). The Tarheels have seemed to correct the issues which were troubling them during the beginning of the year. They will only go as far as fabulous freshmen Harrison Barnes and Kendal Marshall take them. Both players have served as the lightning rods for the Heels during their resurgence, but they will also need big time performances out of Tyler Zeller and John Henson down low in the paint. UNC posted a 6-4 record versus the RPI top 50 during the regular season and will be sure to improve on that in the tourney.

Also look out for Pittsburgh, Texas, Purdue, UConn, Florida, Louisville and Kentucky as possible threats to make a legitimate run during the dance. Enjoy hoops fans, it should be riveting as always.

Can theLady

huskiesthree-peat again?

by Steve Wright

Where would we be without Pat Riley and the three-peat? How else would we be able to describe this rarest of achievements in sports in such a succinct and to the point term? Sure it is a little odd that thanks to his trade marking of the term Riley actually gets royalties whenever the word three-peat is used on clothing (even more odd when you consider that Riley’s Lakers actually lost the series that would have given them their third straight title) but if the UConn women have any say in the matter then Riley will be seeing dollar signs again in early April.

If the Lady Huskies are able to claim yet another National Championship on April 5th then they will join the 2002-2004 teams and have two three-peats in a 10 year period. This is a feat only matched by the UCLA Men’s hoops squad (7 in a row 1967-73), the Boston Celtics (8 NBA Titles 1959-66), and Michael Jordan’s Bulls who won 6 titles in the 90’s. What Coach Geno Auriemma has built in Storrs is nothing short of remarkable, and once again he has all the pieces in place to be one of the tournament favorites.

Yes the UConn women were unable to repeat the ridiculous season from last year and go undefeated for two straight seasons but by overtaking the consecutive win streak that was held by the UCLA men’s squad they shone a brighter light than ever on the women’s game. Somehow 30 win seasons have become routine at Connecticut, this was the sixth straight year the women hit that mark.

“I think the standard is winning national championships right now,” stated Coach Auriemma.

The gold standard for the Lady Huskies is senior forward Maya Moore. The three time Big East player of the year has averaged around 19 points and 9 rebounds per game over the course of her UConn career. At her best, when the chips are down, Moore has the ability to double those numbers on a given night and she

20 PREMIER PLAYERS

Maya Moore

displays all those intangible leadership qualities that separate the superstars from everybody else.

The Huskies are far from a one woman show, however. Big East freshman of the year Bria Hartley has grown into her role as point guard as the season has gone on. Being thrust into the control of a team chasing history at the start of the season would phase many people just a few months out of high school, but Hartley, after an inconsistent start, is relishing the challenge and averages around 12 points and 3 assists a game. Along with fellow freshman Stefanie Dolson (an All-Big East selection), they compliment what Moore can do and make UConn firm favorites to win the hardware in Indianapolis. There are a number of strong contenders to Uconn’s potential crown in 2011. Here is a look at some of the other teams that will be a factor in the tournament.

STaNFOrD Of all the teams that will be in the NCAA Tournament this year, the Stanford Cardinal stand alone as the only team to have beaten UConn in the last two plus seasons. While the Huskies legitimately

PREMIER PLAYERS 21

strike fear into all the teams they play, that mind game advantage has been lost to the Cardinal who have had an outstanding regular season with only two losses (back to back games against Tennessee and DePaul). The Cardinal finished on a tear which saw them go undefeated in conference play and are an upper class laden team that has the experience needed to win in pressure situations. The guard play of senior Jeanette Pohlen will be vital as she looks to feed the ball to the Ogwumike sisters down low and let them use their size and athleticism to create matchup problems for other teams. If both Chiney and Nnemkadi can stay healthy and be productive, then Stanford may be able to beat UConn in a far more meaningful game in early April.

BaYlOr Two words: Brittney. Griner. With her 6’8” size and 86” wingspan, the sensational sophomore has gone from YouTube sensation into perhaps the one player in women’s college basketball who can take over a game on both ends of the floor. As a freshman in last year’s NCAA Tournament Griner set an NCAA record with 14 (yes, fourteen) blocks in a game against Georgetown. This year, Griner is back a year older, and a year wiser, with improved shooting and rebounding as well as her unmatched ability to alter shots and keep Baylor’s opponents out of the paint. Odyssey Sims and Melissa Jones will both have some say, but when all is said and done, the Lady Bears will go as far as Griner and her almost 23 points per game can take them.

TeNNeSSee If there is one statement that should be considered law in women’s college basketball it’s as follows - Never underestimate a Pat Summitt coached team. With that in mind, the Lady Vols are all but guaranteed to be there or there abouts as the season winds down and more and more teams find themselves watching on TV as opposed to playing on the hardwood. Tennessee are SEC champions once again after a 90-65 dominating performance against Kentucky in the championship game. The team can score points in bunches with players like Angie Bjorklund and Shekinna Stricklen, who can heat up in an instant and fuel the kinds of big runs that are needed to take a National Title. UConn deserves to be favorites once again, but if the Lady Huskies think they can just cruise to another session of cutting down the nets, then one of the aforementioned teams will likely be on top of the world come April 5th.

Brittney Griner

JeanettePohlen

Angie Bjorklund

24 PREMIER PLAYERS

Polanco

Builds a FootBall

dynasty in sPainby Roger Kelly

Coach Teo Polanco is a player’s coach. This young native New Yorker is making history in Spain with a winning philosophy comparable to young NFL coaches.

PREMIER PLAYERS 2�

He is self-effacing, unassuming and believes players should get all the credit for the success of the teams he has coached. But be warned, he has been building a juggernaut in Spain. His name is Teo Polanco and under his guidance, the L’Hospitalet Pioners, in Barcelona, have won the Spanish league crown three of the last five years. Last year, in 2010, the club won it for the second time in the last three years. He was finally named Coach of the Year in Spain last season as well as Coach of the Year for the province of Catalana, a major accomplishment. Not that he is resting on his laurels. The Pioners have opened the 2011 season in equally convincing fashion with two lopsided wins. In fact, since arriving in Europe in 2005 as the head coach of the Pioners, his record both as a head coach and assistant is a stunning 65-12. This native of New York City began his coaching career at Iona College in New York where, after finishing his playing career, he started as a defensive assistant. He began to develop his own unique philosophy of coaching back then. He went on to St. John’s University (NCAA Div I) and then to William Patterson (Eastern College Athletic Conference, Div I) in New Jersey as defensive coordinator. “Working at these schools really gave me valuable experience. I began to discover that by giving the players “ownership” of the team they take responsibility,” said Polanco. The validation of this approach came in his very first year as a head coach with the L’Hospitalet Pioners. That was 2005, and his team posted an amazing 14-1 record and boasted the best offense and defense in Spain. The Pioners captured all three big titles, “The Triple Crown”, in Spain: The Spanish League Championship, the Catalan Cup and the Spanish Cup. This was the first time in 20 years that L’Hospitalet had won the Spanish title. The team achieved a number six ranking among all the clubs in Europe. The following season Polanco took over a faltering Barcelona Bufals team and turned the team into winners. They finished that year with a 6-3 record but defeated the top ranked Pioners and Badalona Dracs in the process and reached the Spanish semifinals for the first time in years. Again, his approach of “players first” resonated with the team reaffirming his conviction. “When you win all credit goes to the players and when you lose, we coaches take the criticism,” Polanco says. Sensing a need for a different league and experience, Polanco accepted the defensive coordinator’s job with the Stockholm Mean Machine of Sweden’s top division for the

The success of a coach in football depends, not only on the knowledge of the game, but also on the intangible known as instinct, or a feel for his players. A coach has to be able to rely on the fact that his instincts are correct. To achieve that, a coach has to know his players. One of the most successful coaches in Europe over the past six years knows his players better than most because that is his philosophy. And he is not coaching in Germany, Austria or Italy.

2007 season. He thoroughly enjoyed his sojourn in Sweden while shaping one of the best defensive units in the league, helping the team reach the Swedish semifinals. Returning to Spain in 2008 and to the Pioners, he pulled off the Spanish “Triple Crown” again, running away with the Spanish championship as well as winning the Spanish Cup and the Catalan Cup. The Pioners lost only one game that season, posting a 15-1 record including EFAF Cup play, and led the league in both offense and defense. Coach Polanco continued to develop a very unique approach to coaching in Europe, which again, demonstrates his “players first” attitude. “I never bring an import player in for more than one year,” he says. “I want three new players a year to have the opportunity to enjoy the experience of playing in Spain and in Europe.” He also asks each of the import players to take on leadership roles, not just for the senior team but also to help out with the younger teams. The system continues to work as his 2009 team reached the Spanish semifinals, won the Catalan Cup and finished 7-2. “I take my time in selecting our imports,” Coach Polanco continues. “I look for young men who I feel will appreciate the experience and are mature enough to provide guidance and leadership for the rest of the club.” He has the loyalty of his players. “Teo was the soul of our undefeated Spanish season in 2008. He was able to motivate players from 5 different countries using two separate languages to join together and fight as one. It was remarkable to see him accomplish that. I’m not surprised that since he’s arrived the Pios have won 3 of their 4 league titles and their only 2 international victories; and as long as he’s there, expect a whole bunch more,” said Joey Stein, Eurobowl veteran. After capturing the Triple Crown of Spain for the third time in six seasons in 2010, winning the team’s first ever EFAF Cup game and rising to the number 10 spot in the European rankings, Polanco’s Pioners started the 2011 season the same way. They have already won the Catalan Cup and the Spanish Cup and the initial games of the Spanish regular season. Whatever Coach Polanco decides to do, this New York City transplant who is fluent in Spanish, has established a legacy hard to follow in Spain or anywhere else. He has helped change the way people think about football and football coaches.

26 PREMIER PLAYERS

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SOLDIERS & SAILORSMONUMENT1 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN

THE CHILDREN’SMUSEUM OFINDIANAPOLIS3000 N. Meridian St.,Indianapolis, IN 46208317.334.3322www.childrensmuseum.org

LUCAS OIL STADIUM500 S Capitol Ave, Indianapolis, IN317.262.8600

VICTORY FIELD501 West Maryland StreetIndianapolis, IN317.269.3545

NCAA HALL OFCHAMPIONS700 W. Washington St.Indianapolis, IN 46204317.916.HALLwww.ncaahallofchampions.org

ROCK BOTTOMBREWERY10 W. Washington St.Indianapolis, IN 46204317.681.8180www.rockbottom.com

SUN KING BREWING CO.135 N. College Ave.Indianapolis, IN 46202317.602.3702www.sunkingbrewing.com

RAM RESTAURANT &BIG HORN BREWERY140 S. Illinois St.Indianapolis, IN 46225317.955.9900www.theram.com

BAzBEAUx PIzzA 811 E Westfield BlvdIndianapolis, IN 46220317.255.5711www.bazbeaux.com

BRUGGEBRASSERIE 1011 E Westfield BlvdIndianapolis, IN 46220317.255.0978www.bruggebrasserie.com

PEPSI COLISEUM1202 East 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 317.927.7622

WHITE RIVERSTATE PARK801 West Washington StreetIndianapolis, IN317.233.2434

SOLDIERS & SAILORSMONUMENT1 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN

THE CHILDREN’SMUSEUM OFINDIANAPOLIS3000 N. Meridian St.,Indianapolis, IN 46208317.334.3322www.childrensmuseum.org

ROCK BOTTOMBREWERY10 W. Washington St.Indianapolis, IN 46204317.681.8180www.rockbottom.com

SUN KING BREWING CO.135 N. College Ave.Indianapolis, IN 46202317.602.3702www.sunkingbrewing.com

RAM RESTAURANT &BIG HORN BREWERY140 S. Illinois St.Indianapolis, IN 46225317.955.9900www.theram.com

PREMIER PLAYERS 27

INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY4400 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46222-2512317.484.6572

INDIANAPOLIS zOO11200 West Washington StreetIndianapolis, IN 46222-4500317.630.2001

INDIANAPOLIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS1202 East 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 317.927.7500

INDIANAPOLISMUSEUM OF ART4000 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN317.923.1331

Just the Factsto make room for the indiana Convention Center expansion, demolition of the rCA dome began in the summer of 2008. Completed in 1984 at a cost of $82 million, the dome had been home to the nFl’s indianapolis Colts since that time. it was finished nearly a year before the Colts relocated to the city from Baltimore.

the rCA dome – with a seating capacity of 57,980 – was the smallest venue in the nFl. the stadium originally was named the hoosier dome but was renamed in 1994 when rCA paid $10 million for naming rights for 10 years, with two five-year options.

Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, right, makes a stick save on a breakaway by Boston Bruins right wing Nathan Horton (1�). Off the ice, Miller is trying to save kids from the pain of cancer.

2� PREMIER PLAYERS

community

Ryan Miller is the founder of the Steadfast Foundation where he reaches out to the public to raise awareness of cancer with an emphasis on childhood leukemia. The foundation is dedicated to assisting individuals and families who have been affected by cancer by providing them with support. The foundation helps them to keep a positive attitude by creating a great environment to help cure their disease with the least amount of pain possible. The Steadfast Foundation also sponsors the Roswell Park Cancer Institution and the Carly’s Club that conduct research to help cure young cancer patients. The foundation holds

many different fun and unique events in order to raise money for research. In November, Miller held the Catwalk for Charity where all proceeds went to charity. He also introduced his own cereal called Kick-Save Crunch. The honey nut toasted oats cereal comes in at 14oz limited edition collector’s box and can be purchased in Buffalo area stores and online. In addition, Miller sells memorabilia online to raise funds for cancer research. Ryan Miller has become a great role model by using his success on the ice to help less fortunate people off the ice. In order to help the Steadfast Foundation and their efforts you can visitwww.thesteadfastfoundation.com.

There is no question that Ryan Miller is a great athlete on the ice. He is the returning Vezina Trophy recipient as the best goaltender in the National Hockey League. He was also a silver medalist with the United States Men’s Hockey Team at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, where he was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

MILLeR’S STeADFASTAPPROACH TO HeLPING KIDSby Sam Smoot

However, what people may not know about Miller, is that he is one of the most generous athletes off the ice.

help2buildMERRILL LYNCH IS PROUD TO BE PART OF THE TAMPA COMMUNITY.

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Merrill Lynch Wealth Management makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (MLPF&S) and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.Investment products:

MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, member Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. © 2010 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value

30 PREMIER PLAYERS

player’s ink

Mike Bibby brings a fourth scoring option to the Big 3 (Wade, LeBron & Bosh) of the Miami Heat. The 6’2” guard was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards before landing in South Florida with a team he hopes can win a championship. In this picture, two words are very prominent among his many tattoos - Darcy (his wife) and Loyalty.

Mike Bibby

Mike Bibby

Custom Game Gear$85

SLK 9

100% NYLON PRO MESH with 100% NYLON DAZZLE Panels

and accent trimPro tapered V-Neck

Wide shoulder tank top

2” Waistband with drawstringStandard inseam 10.5” for Men’sStandard inseam 9.5” for Women

Standard inseam 9” for Youth

PRINTED OR WITH TACKLE TWILL LETTERING!!!!

Reverse Game Gear $80

SLK 3609

Great for both home & away! 100% DRI-MAX Polyester on the

HOME SIDE (WHITE)100% NYLON PRO MESH on the

AWAY SIDE (Colors)100% NYLON DAZZLE accent trimThe perfect combo of style & wear

Pro tapered V-Neck2” Waistband with drawstring

Standard inseam 10.5” for Men’sStandard inseam 9.5” for Women

Standard inseam 9” for Youth

The Ultimate Practice Gear $45

STYLE 247RT-247S

100% DRI-MAX polyesterWHITE side

100% NYLON PRO MESH on COLORED side

Standard Scoop neck tank top,1’ straight hem, closed

2” Waistband with drawstring

Standard inseam 10.5” for Men’sStandard inseam 9.5” for Women

Standard inseam 9” for Youth

- Available in Men’s, Women’s & youth sizes. - Premier Players BRAND MARK on left hip -

TO ORDER CALL 813.833.3495 or VISIT WWW.PREMIERPLAYERS.COM

Custom Game & Practice UniformsPREMIER P LAYER

2011 Lincoln Navigator

Timeless Lincoln design and luxury amenities meet full-size SUV capability in the opulent 2011 Lincoln Navigator, a vehicle withperformance and style that set it apart in the premium full-size SUV market.