Dein erstes Forum » TAKEAWAYVillanova: Coach Andy T

FRANKFURT, Germany -- If Mats Hummels, Bayern Munichs experienced defender and World Cup winner, is to be believed, Bundesliga newcomer Leipzig could be a title contender.Bayern has won the last four championships and Leipzig is the promoted team playing in its debut Bundesliga season, but after 10 rounds, Leipzig is undefeated, even on points with Bayern and behind only on goal difference. The two teams are four points clear of the nearest competition, and Leipzig has earned more points away from home than Bayern.Leipzig is riding a five-match winning streak going into Fridays match against Bayer Leverkusen.If we drop points, Leipzig will be a candidate for the title, Hummels said recently. Everything Ive seen from Leipzig has been convincing. They play very attacking football, they defend as a team very well and they have the individual class you need.Hummels said Leipzig reminds him of Borussia Dortmund, which won Bundesliga titles under coach Juergen Klopp in 2011 and 2012 when the Germany central defender still played there.Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuettl doesnt really believe that his team can emulate the Kaiserslauterns run in 1998, when it swept to the title in its promotion season.In football, nothing is impossible, he said recently in a newspaper interview. You saw what happened in England with the championship for Leicester City. But It would be a miracle in Germany. I am not even thinking about it.Hasenhuettl said he still could not really tell where his team stood.Right now, I dont see a limit for us, and I dont know where it should be, he said. We are basically playing with a second-division squad, a team that finished second in the second division last season.Hasenhuettl left Bundesliga rival Ingolstadt before the season to replace Ralf Rangnick, who became the clubs sports director. Rangnick was the architect of Hoffenheims sensational run in 2008, when it led the championship halfway into its rookie season.Incidentally, Hoffenheim is also still undefeated and helped Leipzig pull even with Bayern by holding the champion to a draw before the international break.Leipzig is a project created by the Austrian energy-drink maker Red Bull and its billionaire founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who bought and rebranded a local fifth-tier club in 2009. The booming former East German city had a stadium rebuilt for the World Cup in 2006 but had no team in the major leagues.Rival fans strongly object to Leipzigs links to Red Bull and consider it a test-tube team. The team bus has been stoned and Leipzig players are routinely the subject of derogatory chants, and Earlier this month, a severed bulls head was thrown near the pitch during a match.Hummels is not the only one in Bayern to consider Leipzig a serious rival.Uli Hoeness, who is set to become Bayerns president again after serving a prison term for tax evasion, said in a recent television interview that he found Leipzig very strong.Of course, they have the advantage of being able to lie on the couch during the week while we have to play the Champions League, and if I know Mr. Mateschitz, hell lay out a couple of million more if necessary at Christmas, Hoeness said.Hasenhuettl responded by noting that Bayern was thinking about us.It seems that what weve played so far has been impressive, Hasenhuettl said.The two teams meet on Dec. 21 in the final round before the Christmas break.Leipzig uses a high-pressing style to win the ball and then attacks quickly, often leaving opponents outnumbered in defense.Central midfielder Naby Keita, who arrived from the sister club Red Bull Salzburg, is among Leipzigs key players, as are speedy forwards Timo Werner, Yussuf Poulsen and Emil Forsberg. 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PITTSBURGH -- The comeback James Conner never doubted, not once, officially ended with an unremarkable 1-yard loss.And while the Pittsburgh running back picked himself up and quietly headed back to the huddle early in the first quarter against Villanova on Saturday, thousands inside Heinz Field rose to their feet for a standing ovation that had nothing to do with football and everything to do with perseverance.There will be plenty of time for Conner to nitpick his performance in Pitts 28-7 season-opening win. Just not Saturday. Conners well aware of the significance of his familiar No. 24 jersey sprinting onto the field for the first time in 364 days, a layoff that began with a knee injury last September against Youngstown State then became something far more harrowing when he was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma around Thanksgiving.The road back included months of chemotherapy treatment, sessions that left him drained but undaunted. He soldiered through spring practice wearing a mask during drills to protect his depleted immune system, all the while hoping his example would resonate with those facing similar battles. Its a role he never envisioned having to fill, but one hes willingly embraced.Its why the stands were filled with family members, the medical staff that helped restore him to health and hundreds of friends from back home in Erie, Pennsylvania. Conners two-touchdown performance was as much a testament to their support as it was his resolve. At the same time hes only too happy to put this chapter -- the first chapter anyway -- behind him and get back to football and not the disease that temporarily brought the 2014 ACC Player of the Years blossoming career to a halt.Its not my first game, Conner said. I know its a comeback game but its felt like a regular season football camp really. My battle was already won, beating cancer. Everything else was a reward.There was rust to be sure. There were also signs that hes going to be just fine. The proof came in the second quarter when Conner took a handoff and raced around the left end, stiff-arming a Villanova defender before crossing the goal line to give the Panthers the lead while the teammates who elected him as one of Pitts three captains raced to congratulate hhim.ddddddddddddThat first touchdown couldnt be any better, stiff-arm into the end zone right into the student section, quarterback Nate Peterman said. It was an emotional moment.Conner was at it again just before the half, hauling in a 9-yard score by making a difficult grab in traffic over the middle. He finished with 53 yards on 17 carries and added three receptions for 16 yards as Pitt avoided an embarrassing slip-up a week before a highly anticipated showdown with Penn State.Im sure as we watch the tape were going to have a lot of corrections for him, coach Pat Narduzzi said. Mainly that hes looking for a touchdown every play instead of hitting it up there for three or four yards and be happy with it. Its been a long time since he stepped on the field in a game situation. He made plays when he needed to.Quadree Henderson returned the second-half kickoff 96 yards for a score to break things open. Peterman completed 19 of 32 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns, including a pretty 16-yard lob to Jester Weah with six minutes to go. Still, the Panthers managed just 211 total yards.The Wildcats controlled play for portions of the first half, but three straight drives into Pitt territory failed to produce any points, giving the Panthers time to get going. Rob Rolle returned a Peterman fumble 3 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter for Villanovas only score.THE TAKEAWAYVillanova: Coach Andy Tally said entering his 32nd and final season the Wildcats will have to rely heavily on their defense. Theres reason for optimism as Villanova stayed within striking distance, keeping Pitts running game in check for the most part and preventing big plays.Pitt: The Panthers will need the passing game to develop quickly if they want to make noise in the crowded ACC Coastal Division. Villanova stacked the line of scrimmage and dared Peterman to throw it, which he did with only middling success.UP NEXTVillanova: Host Lehigh in their home opener.Pitt: Resumes its rivalry with Penn State after a 15-year hiatus when the Nittany Lions visit Heinz Field.---AP College Football site: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '