Pirate Galaxy » as a good career record at Val dIsere, wi

TAMPA, Fla. -- South Florida co-offensive coordinator T.J. Weist will lead the 25th-ranked Bulls in the Birmingham Bowl following coach Willie Taggarts departure to Oregon.Taggart resigned Wednesday to take over a program that appeared in the national championship game just two seasons ago. He went 24-25 in four years at USF, including 18-7 and two bowl berths the past two seasons.Weist will serve as interim coach the rest of the season, which concludes with a Dec. 29 matchup against South Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl.Meanwhile, athletic director Mark Harlan said a national search for a permanent successor will begin immediately.We will work quickly, but with careful thought and discussion to find our next football coach. ... I want to thank Willie Taggart for the leadership, energy, and excitement he brought to our program over the last four years, Harlan said, adding that the strides the Bulls made under the former Jim Harbaugh assistant both on and off the field speak for themselves.Taggart lost 21 of his first 28 games at USF before going 17-4 over his past 21.We now have the foundation of our football program in place, school president Judy Genshaft said. We have a terrific group of student athletes who are laser-focused on the Birmingham Bowl and next years season.Taggart leaves USF (10-2) with four seasons remaining on a five-year, $9 million contract he received for turning around a program that fell on hard times after climbing as high as a No. 2 ranking in 2007. The deal he received last winter included a provision for a $1.7 million buyout.The Bulls won a school-record 10 games this season -- losing only to Florida State and Temple -- with quarterback Quinton Flowers and running back Marlon Mack leading Taggarts high-paced Gulf Coast offense.The Oct. 21 road loss to Temple cost the team the American Athletic Conference Eastern Division title and an opportunity to play in last weeks AAC championship game.Weist, completing his first season at USF, shared offensive coordinator duties with Darren Hiller.The trajectory of USF athletics is strong. It has elevated the spirit of our campuses as well as our national profile, USF Board of Trustees chair Brian Lamb said. I know that the young men in our football program will continue to be highly successful on the field and in the classroom.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . Air Max 270 Outlet Italia . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. Air Max 270 Scontate .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. http://www.airmax270outlet.it/ . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Air Max 270 Saldi . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. Air Max 270 Prezzo Basso .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. VAL DISERE, France -- Lara Gut is not spending any time thinking about Mikaela Shiffrin, even though the American slalom specialist is a serious threat to Guts overall World Cup title.Last weekend, Shiffrin won the 11th consecutive World Cup race that she has entered in that discipline, extending her overall lead over Gut to 105 points.As she seeks her first overall title, the 21-year-old Shiffrin is branching out into the speed disciplines of downhill and super-G.However, Shiffrin is not competing in those events this weekend in Val dIsere, giving Gut a great chance to overtake her.Its already enough hard work to try and make everything work for me, Gut said Thursday after finishing third in downhill training. Im not going to start to worry about the others, what their plans are, whether theyre skipping a race or when theyre coming back. My 24 hours are already full enough.The 25-year-old Gut is focusing only on herself.When youre in the start gate, its just you and the slope, the Swiss said. Im not racing against someone. Im racing for myself.The chances of Gut retaining her overall title look good, considering the current situation in womens skiing.Four-time overall World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn is recovering from a broken arm; 2013 World Cup winner Tina Maze has retired; and two-time World Cup winner Anna Veith -- known as Fenninger before getting married earlier this year -- is working her way back from a serious right-knee injury.But Gut does not like to think about her chances.Im not defending anything, because the overall (title) I won is at home and no one can take that away, Gut said. I understood last year that perfection has nothing to do with sport. I always thought that to win the overall you would need a perfect season. Last year I was crying after races -- it happened that I had no idea what was going on, what I should do, what I should change.So far this season, Gut has wonn the giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, in late October and super-G at Lake Louise, Canada, earlier this month.ddddddddddddI had a good start, better than last year, Gut said. Soelden wasnt perfect, but it was amazing because I just realized how much I just love to ski and how lucky I am.There are no half-measures with Gut.When she gets on the podium, she often finishes first and her ratio is 20 wins from 37 podium finishes.If I just go outside and ski the way I can and it works, then I know I can win, she said. Its not going to be second or third.Last year, Gut clinched a downhill-Alpine combined double in Val dIsere.This year, she has a chance for a hat trick. There is an Alpine combined race on Friday, a downhill on Saturday, and a super-G on Sunday.Everything is possible. Thats the good thing in sport, she said. But Im not going to start thinking about winning the race. Because thinking about winning doesnt bring you anything; thinking about skiing brings you a fast finish.Gut has a good career record at Val dIsere, with five podium finishes.She credits her special affinity with the French Alpine resort to her childhood days holidaying in France with her family.When I was a kid we used to come skiing to Val dIsere in the winter, and in the summer we often went to the Cote dAzur, she said. I just have good memories. Im probably just keeping that.Her brother will be attending this weekend, which is good news because Gut says she has a special task for him if she wins.As is the custom in Val dIsere, race winners are offered a cow. Gut did not take up the offer last year, much to the annoyance of her brother.Last year it was a big issue because I didnt bring it (the cow) home, she said. Hes coming tomorrow and, I think if I win, then thats his thing to think about. ' ' '