Pirate Galaxy » passion thats happening here and the fans interest in this

AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn tailback Kamryn Pettway came into the regular season as a converted fullback who had blocked for the ball carriers in college but never actually been one.He ended it contemplating, at least briefly, a jump to the NFL. In between, the 6-foot, 240-pounder emerged as one of the Southeastern Conferences top running backs when healthy and helped propel the 17th-ranked Tigers to the Sugar Bowl Jan. 2 against No. 7 Oklahoma.For him to step up and play running back and really only be healthy or starting running back for eight of those games and be first-team All-SEC, I think that says a lot, Auburn guard Alex Kozan said. It says all that needs to be said. Hes a hell of a player.Pettways emergence boosted a backfield that had lost three tailbacks from last season to the NFL (Peyton Barber), dismissal (Jovon Robinson) or transfer (Roc Thomas).The Tigers didnt miss them much when Pettway was healthy. He missed two of the final three games with an injury to his left quad and didnt even log a carry in the first game.Or all of last season, for that matter.Pettway wound up rushing for 1,123 yards and averaging a league-best 124.8 yards per game. He felt he could be an elite back entering the season, but his college resume consisted of a redshirt year and, statistically, an 8-yard kick return last season.Pettway said his emergence as an elite SEC back wasnt a surprise to him but adds: I surprised a lot of other people.I believed deep down in my mind that I could, but I mean, everybody else hadnt had a chance to see it, he said. I just felt like I needed an opportunity to show it.The season put Pettway on the radar of some NFL teams as a potential draft pick, but he announced on social media that he planned to return for his fourth season to complete some unfinished business.The married father of 1-year-old daughter Kaisley talked about the decision with his parents and wife Natonya, whom he met as a freshman at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama. That unfinished business includes graduating and presumably proving hes not a one-year wonder.Its my degree for one, but I want to have a good, healthy season, Pettway said. A full, complete season.He returned to action in the regular-season finale against No. 1 Alabama but was held to 17 yards by the nations top defense.Pettway, who was injured at the end of a long run against Vanderbilt , said he was about 90 percent healthy for that game. Now, he and quarterback Sean White (shoulder) are both back and apparently recovered for the Sugar Bowl.Pettway played a starring role in Auburns six-game winning streak that propelled the Tigers into SEC Western Division contention. During the final four games of that stretch, he averaged 30 carries and 192 yards.Now, hes back in the backfield with White and 862-yard rusher Kerryon Johnson, who was also slowed by an ankle injury late in the season.Theyll face a big challenge in the Sooners, who are riding a nine-game winning streak. A healthy backfield certainly helps Auburns chances.It feels great being healthy, Pettway said. Im 100 percent now. I can run full speed, so Im just ready for the bowl game.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Custom New Orleans Pelicans Jerseys .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? 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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that hes optimistic the league will return to Mexico City in the years ahead.Speaking with ESPNs John Sutcliffe on Mexicos NFL Live, Goodell said the league will evaluate the entire experience before making a decision.its been an incredible success so far, Goodell said prior to Monday nights game. Im optimistic well be back.Were going to get to work right away on this ... This is a priority for us. We see the passion thats happening here and the fans interest in this game continues to explode. We want to feed that. ... We want to continue that relationship and be back for more.Goodell says the NFLs plans will not be impacted by President-elect Donald Trumps previous comments on Mexicans.I dont see that changing our perspective at all, Goodell said. For us, this is about the future and continuing to grow and to reach more fans.dddddddddddd ... This isnt about politics.For us, this is about uniting people. I think youll see fans in Mexico enjoying Americas favorite sport, football, and thats a great thing for us to all come together behind.Goodell viewed Mondays game as another attempt to grow the sport both in the U.S. and internationally.We know that we have tremendous fans around the globe and we know the Hispanic fan base is particularly interested in our game. Thats why we were so focused on getting back here, Goodell said. We feel its a great way to build the support we want within the Hispanic community. ...This is really a big moment for us. And if were successful -- and were confident we will be -- we want to do more. ' ' '