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Kevin McNamara blogs before, during and after tonights game against Sacred Heart, at

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Top three
BAY VIEW FLEXES MUSCLE VS. CUMBERLAND: View the gallery at HSGameTime.com/rhodeisland
Tim Welsh is the third-winningest coach in PC basketball history:

WINS YEARS AT PC

SECTION C
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2007
Phone: 401-277-7340 Fax: 401-277-7444 E-mail: pjsports@projo.com

SPORTS

Joe Mullaney Dave Gavitt Tim Welsh
For up-to-the-second stats and scores:

COME TOGETHER

With the returning Sharaud Curry (left) joining the high-flying Brian McKenzie (right), PC has three more chances starting tonight to get ready for the Big East season

BY KEVIN MCNAMARA

JOURNAL SPORTS WRITER
PROVIDENCE The clock is ticking. As Tim Welsh and his Providence College Friars juggled practice and study halls during the nine-day semester exam break, dual realities hung over the team. First was the completion of a three-game homestand that will end PCs nonconference schedule. That stretch begins with tonights matchup against Sacred Heart at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The other, starker reality is that the Big East sea-
son is right around the corner. In 15 days, the Friars will be in Milwaukees Bradley Center staring at the 10th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles. Ready or not, here it comes. First things first, of course. PC (6-3) needs to enter Big East play with a 9-3 mark, but getting by Sacred Heart, Florida State and St. Peters is no walk in the park. The FSU game looms as a particularly stiff challenge, with last seasons 92-62 Seminoles win serving as a reminder. If we can get these three and go into the Big East
with three more wins, we should be in good shape, said Brian McKenzie, the most pleasant surprise of the years opening nine games. Unlike many teams around the country, the Friars are still coming together with the Big East schedule just weeks away. Center Randall Hanke has played meaningful minutes in only one game. Sharaud Curry, the teams leading returning scorer, has yet to suit up. He returned to practice during the exam break and ran well the last two days, but Welsh is listing

Sacred Heart at PC

n TIME: 7:30 p.m. n SITE: Dunkin Donuts Center. n TV: None. n RADIO: WEEI-FM (103.7). n ANNOUNCERS: John Rooke and Joe Hassett. n TEAM RECORDS: PC 6-3, Sacred Heart 3-6.

FRIARS, C5

Pats dominance extends to AFC Pro Bowl team
New England places a franchise-record eight players on the roster, seven of them starters.

BY SHALISE MANZA YOUNG

PATRIOTS PRO-BOWLERS
Tom Brady, QB Randy Moss, WR Matt Light, OL Logan Mankins, OL Mike Vrabel, LB Asante Samuel, CB Vince Wilfork, DL Dan Koppen, C
URI gridders will win, Rizzi declares
Darren Rizzi, named the Rams football coach yesterday, is convinced he can lead Rhody to success.

BY MIKE SZOSTAK

Eight New England Patriots players were named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster yesterday, tying the most ever for the franchise since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Quarterback Tom Brady, receiver Randy Moss, left tackle Matt Light, left guard Logan
Mankins, linebacker Mike Vrabel, cornerback Asante Samuel and nose tackle Vince Wilfork have all been selected as starters for the Feb. 10 exhibition; center Dan Koppen was chosen as a reserve. Conspicuously absent from the list are defensive end Ty Warren and receiver Wes Welker.
Mankins, Vrabel, Samuel, Wilfork and Koppen are all first-time honorees. This is the

PATRIOTS, C2

SOUTH KINGSTOWN After thanking teammates with whom he shared memorable experiences playing football and living down the line, and offering his gratitude to his old coach, his old position coach, his current coach, his step-
father, his in-laws, family friends, his five children, his wife, the search committee that interviewed him, the university president and the athletics director who overwhelmed him with his passion and enthusiasm during a 312-hour breakfast meeting, the University of Rhode Islands new football coach made a bold prediction. Make no mistake about it, folks, said Darren Rizzi. This program will win, will consistently win and will win championships. I
wouldnt be standing up here at this podium if I didnt feel that way. Thats going to happen. Win? Consistently win? RIZZI Championships? The words sounded refreshing for a program that has experienced only three winning

URI, C3

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C 1 MAIN 12/19