Pirate Galaxy » Everton dressing room, taking it as an insult

Virginia Tech doesnt have long to lick its wounds after a surprising loss at Syracuse, but the Hokies could hardly ask for a better motivator to get back to work. They face longtime rival Miami on Thursday night.The former Big East rivals have played 33 times, with Miami winning 20, including three of the last four. The Hokies (4-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) were 21-9 in Thursday night games under former coach Frank Beamer but were 0-3 against the Hurricanes (4-2, 1-2). Miami has lost two straight, to Florida State and North Carolina.In the now wide open Coastal Division race, the game likely qualifies as a must-win.Its very critical, Hokies defensive end Ken Ekanem said. Any ACC opponent is like a championship game, so I think we cant just hype up in our minds. We have to just take it one game at a time, like I said before. Weve just got to focus on going 1-0. Any ACC opponent, especially Miami -- a big rival of ours -- is a big game.Virginia Tech is a half-game behind North Carolina in the Coastal standings but holds the head-to-head advantage against the Tar Heels after a 34-3 victory two weeks ago in Chapel Hill. Pittsburgh also is 2-1 in the division and will host the Hokies next Thursday night.The Hurricanes spent much of the early part of the season in the Top 25 before their recent slide, and with every team in the division having at least one loss, they are far from eliminated in the division championship race.Weve got to just recuperate and just focus in and hone in on the game plan, quarterback Brad Kayaa, who is in his third season as the Hurricanes starter, said this week. It is a short week, so its time to get going.Cant dwell on the last two losses. Just got to get going and get this thing on the road.Running back Mark Walton was not as diplomatic.Right now, its all or nothing, he said. Weve got to try to win out and get our groove back, man.Miami won its last visit to Lane Stadium, on a Thursday night two years ago, 30-6.Both programs are in their first seasons under new coaches, with Mark Richt calling the shots in Miami and Justin Fuente in Blacksburg. Fuente is eager to experience the atmosphere of a Thursday night home game.Im looking forward to taking part in it. Im confident our kids will be ready to go, but weve got a long way to go and a short time to get there and a lot of work to get done this week, Fuente said Monday.Ekanem, meanwhile, wants his teammates to remember the Hurricanes last visit.You cant make it bigger than it actually is. Youve got to keep everybodys head really level, so I think we definitely owe them and weve got to be able to bring it on Thursday, he said.Getting everyone on the same motivational page will be critical, quarterback Jerod Evans said.We have to bring our own energy, our own emotion, and this is a very team-oriented sport, he said. We have most guys bringing it and some guys not, and that can lead to certain things. As far as bringing our own stuff, we as a unit didnt bring it all the way. That was kind of the case for Syracuse.---AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.---Online:The APs college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Hank on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hankkurzjr Cheap Seahawks Jerseys . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. Authentic Tre Flowers Jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. http://www.cheapseahawksjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-rashaad-penny-jersey . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Seahawks Jerseys China Cheap . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Authentic Shaquem Griffin Jersey . 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.Tim Howard feels criticism aimed at Everton boss Roberto Martinez this season should more have been directed at the clubs players. Saturdays 2-1 win over Bournemouth was marred by protests towards the Spaniard, with more than 100 fans remaining inside Goodison Park after the game finished to continue their demonstration.Everton had not won since their FA Cup quarter-final victory over Chelsea on March 12, a stretch of seven games, and Martinezs style of play has been the subject of criticism from supporters. Martinez calm amid fan protests Everton boss Roberto Martinez calm amid fan protests But his players have escaped the worst of that and Howard feels that is unfair on Martinez, whose side are next in action against title-chasing Leicester on Saturday.Everyone talks about the manager but he hasnt kicked one ball this season, said the United States goalkeeper, who is leaving Everton at the end of the season to join MLS side Colorado Springs. Everton supporters flew a banner from a plane protesting against manager Martinez during their sides win over Bournemouth It is down to us as players. We are the ones who have to be resilient and dig in. If that hasnt been good enough, fair dos. We have to take that on the chin. The table doesnt lie.Everyone is entitled to their opinion so I dont want to comment on plans and banners but we have to kick the ball, try to save it, try to score. Martinez has come under increased pressure because of a winless run of seven games that ended on Saturday Whatever happens on the outside is where the game has gone, whether that is right or wrong people have a right to voice their opinion and that is what people do.Every manager needs to be given time. People cant have it both ways. Often you get everyone outside of a club talking about players who are not loyal but it works the other way too.People need to be given time when they come to a club - players, managers, the board, it is no different. Everton old boys talk about the current situation at Goodison and the mounting pressure on Roberto Martinez Howard bristled at suggestions Martinez had lost sections of the Everton dressing room, taking it as an insult to their professionalism.ddddddddddddI love this club and I feel it is the greatest club I have ever played for but we have no divine right to win games and we have to roll up our sleeves and dig in, and we havent done that enough, he added.When you play professional sports you are open to criticism good and bad and I always say you are never as good or bad as people say you are. Everton held a tribute to the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster before their game with Bournemouth One thing I can assure everyone is we are going to work and we try our tails off to win football matches, no-one chucks it in. I think as senior players you try to protect the younger ones because theyve not seen it before but Im an old dog and Ive seen it all before.No criticism fazes me; not from the media, outside sources or social media. It is just words. We have to go to work every day and try to get it right. It isnt fantastic and we will try to reel off three more wins and try to get ourselves up the table. Also See: Martinez calm amid protests Supplement on Martinez Howe plays down Everton link Baines earns Everton win ' ' '