ut their total of 143-6 looked to be a good one when Shamilia

ATLANTA -- In just his third day on the job, Georgia Techs new athletic director made it clear hes a big fan of football coach Paul Johnson.Todd Stansbury, who took over at his alma mater this week, erased any doubts about Johnsons future with a glowing endorsement Wednesday.Stansbury was especially impressed by the final game of the regular season, as Georgia Tech rallied from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to beat rival Georgia 28-27 in Athens. It was the third straight victory for the Yellow Jackets, pushing them to 8-4 and likely improving their bowl prospects.To me, that was a heck of a statement, said Stansbury, who attended Saturdays game. To go between the hedges -- I dont care who you are -- to win a game down there tells you a lot about where youre at.Stansbury also praised basketball coach Josh Pastner, who is in his first season of what will admittedly be a major rebuilding job. Pastner, who previously coached at Memphis State, was hired by the previous athletic director, Mike Bobinski, who left for the same job at Purdue.Hes a dynamo, Stansbury said about Pastner. In fact, in a lot of ways, he reminds me of a young Bobby Cremins, a reference to the longtime Georgia Tech coach who took the program to national prominence after it joined the Atlantic Coast Conference.Johnsons job security was questioned after the Yellow Jackets slumped to 3-9 last season, and the speculation intensified this year amid a three-game losing streak that knocked them out of ACC contention. But, if Stansbury was having any doubts about the coach, they were answered by the strong finish.In nine seasons at Georgia Tech, Johnson has a record of 69-48, which includes three trips to the ACC championship game, two appearances in the Orange Bowl and a 42-30 mark in conference play.Stansbury said his respect for Johnson goes beyond his record.Nobody out there wants to play us. That also tells you a lot about the state of the program and the fear that opposing coaches have of our head coach, the new AD said. I think we have a great coach that is known nationally for what he does, and hes had a lot of success here. My goal, and what I hope to bring to the table, is to help provide him what he needs to continue to build on that success and compete at the highest level.For all his success, Johnson has been a polarizing figure at Georgia Tech.Only a handful of schools use the run-oriented, triple-option offense that is the coachs specialty -- making it a convenient target of fans and media who believe the team should employ a more conventional system. Also, Johnson comes across as abrasive and downright snippy at times, which has rubbed plenty of people the wrong way.Stansbury said hes not the least bit concerned about the triple-option, noting that Johnson has used it to win consistently throughout his career. Pointedly, he noted that in his previous job as Oregon States athletic director, he got an up-close look at the wide-open style of rival Oregon, which carried the Ducks all the way to the national championship game two seasons ago. This year, they plummeted to 4-8 and fired coach Mark Helfrich.If youre winning, I love your offense, Stansbury said. Having just come from Oregon -- where they have the wildest offense in America, an offense that everybody aspired to become for the last decade -- right now they dont like that offense.As for Johnsons personality, Stansbury said thats an area where he can help smooth out some of the rough edges. He intends to spend plenty of time with boosters and fans, pointing out all the positive things happening in the football program -- on and off the field.Its a tough job, Stansbury said. A lot of people only understand what happens on Saturday, what goes across the ticker. Typically, they dont know whats going on the other six days a week. Thats where I can help. ... My job is filling in the blanks of what those things are, regardless of any differences or likability. The proof is in the pudding. These are the results were getting. A lot of young men are benefiting immensely from life-changing benefits.Vans Shoes Clearance Outlet . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Cheap Vans Shoes Australia . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. http://www.cheapaustraliavans.com/ . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Discount Vans Shoes Australia . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Cheap Vans Shoes Wholesale . Jordan Lynch, the all-purpose Heisman Trophy finalist from Northern Illinois, failed to make it into that exclusive club.West Indies Women produced an impressive display to better New Zealand by six runs and reach a first ever World T20 final, where they will face Australia on Sunday. Britney Cooper dazzled with 61 from 48 balls - including five fours and two sixes - as West Indies took 143 runs off a New Zealand attack that had impressed through an unbeaten run in the group stage.Legspinner Leigh Kasperek - leading wicket-taker for the tournament - was wicketless, conceding 30 from her three overs, although Sophie Devine took 4-22 to join her at the top of the table with nine wickets.It was part of a handy all-round display from Devine, who struck 22 from 14 balls with the bat, but the White Ferns lost key wickets at key times - Stafanie Taylor taking 3-26.New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first, but got off to a sloppy start with Lea Tahuhu going for 21 from her opening two overs.Slow-left-armer Morna Nielsen fared better, taking 1-14 from her four, including the first wicket of Hayley Matthews, out lbw for 16.It brought Cooper to the crease, and she put on 60 for the second wicket with skipper Taylor, till Devine picked up her first wicket - Taylor slogging straight to midwicket.Devine added the key wickets of big-hitting Deandra Dottin (20 off 17 balls) and Copper in the 18th over, soon after Cooper had launched Kasperek for back-to-back sixes.ddddddddddddIt slowed the West Indies scoring, but their total of 143-6 looked to be a good one when Shamilia Connell bowled Rachel Priest in the third over with the score on 11.Devine came in and cracked four boundaries inside her first six balls to get New Zealands innings going, before being run out brilliantly by a direct hit from Dottin in the seventh over.It was one of two wickets in five balls which derailed New Zealand, with captain Suzie Bates dismissed by offspinner Afy Fletcher, caught at cover off a leading edge.Sara McGlashan (38 off 30) and Amy Satterthwaite (24 off 29) rebuilt, putting on 59 for the fourth wicket, to take the White Ferns to within 37 of their target with four overs remaining.But another double strike in the 17th all but ended the contest, Taylor removing both caught at cover in two balls, to find herself on a hat-trick.Three more wickets fell in the final three overs as New Zealand desperately searched for runs, the White Ferns ultimately falling short on 137-8.Watch highlights of West Indies Women against New Zealand Women on Sky Sports 2 from 6.30pm. 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