.Dantonios accomplishments and support hes getti

Former Sri Lanka cricketer Pubudu Dassanayake, who coached Nepal from 2011 to 2015, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the job of USAs head coach. Dassanayake, who lives close to Toronto, said he is looking for a challenge close to home after spending several years away with the Nepal side.Nepal, they were from Division Four to Division One and played a World Cup and I want to do the same for USA, Dassanayake told ESPNcricinfo in Florida where he is participating in an ICC coaching seminar. I think its a great place. There are great opportunities, a lot of talent in this country. Id really like to see them come up the ranks and be in that World Cup setup.Prior to his success with Nepal, Dassanayake coached Canada from 2007 to 2011, and helped them to the 2011 ODI World Cup in the sub-continent, Canadas last major ICC event. Dassanayake also played for Canada after migrating from Sri Lanka following the end of his Test career and played in the 2005 World Cup Qualifier in Ireland.His ties to North American cricket make him a strong contender for the role. While coach of Nepal, Dassanayake racked up an impressive record against USA in ICC competitions, losing just once - at the 2013 ICC WCL Division Three in Bermuda - in six meetings.Anand Tummala, former USA and Ranji Trophy representative, is also in contention for the post. Tummala played briefly for Delhi before migrating to Atlanta in 2007. He made his only tour with USA in 2011, playing three T20s, including games against Canada and Afghanistan. Tummala, who is a Level Three Cricket Australia certified coach, also served as a guest coaching evaluator at last years ICC Americas Combine in Indianapolis. Tummala has also been in Florida this week as part of the ICC coaching seminar.Both Tummala and Dassanayake attended USAs first training session in their week-long camp which began on Thursday, and will also be present at an exhibition match on Friday between a USA XI and a CPL Invitational XI in Lauderhill.Although the ICC wouldnt comment on the applications, there are believed to be at least two more finalists with interviews beginning on Friday. USA will play three 50-over intra-squad trial matches in Florida next week among a 30-man squad, after which 14 will be selected for ICC WCL Division Four in Los Angeles from October 29 to November 5.Matt Carpenter . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Paul Goldschmidt . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-yairo-munoz-jersey-large-1211q.html . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Tony La Russa . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. Tyler Webb . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference.EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Mark Dantonio closed the door of his spacious office and took a seat.Thats my go-to chair, he said, gesturing to another piece of brown, leather furniture.It might be a good week for him to switch things up at Michigan State.The Spartans (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) have lost five straight games for the first time since 1991. No. 2 Michigan (7-0, 4-0) is up next and the rival is favored to win by more than three touchdowns Saturday at Spartan Stadium.Dantonio, though, is used to being doubted.No one thought he, or any coach, could turn a mediocre program into one of the best in college football as he did in recent years despite the nearby presence of traditional powers: Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame.Few, if anyone, predicted Michigan State could ever dominate the Wolverines as it has under Dantonio with three straight wins and seven in an eight-year stretch for the first time.And when Michigan was punting with 10 seconds left last season and a two-point lead at the Big House, the usually stoic coach was confident his players would find a way to win. They did, swarming around punter Blake ONeill after he bobbled a slightly low snap and returning the football 38 yards for a game-ending, game-winning play for the ages.A huge picture of Jalen Watts-Jacksons return hangs outside Dantonios office, just to the right of his door in a cant-miss spot for any visitor.What jumps out to Dantonio when he sees the picture or thinks about the improbable play?I guess you always have a chance, Dantonio said in an interview with The Associated Press. I would say the chance of that happening relative to the chance of us winning on Saturday, I would say we got a better chance of us winning on Saturday.If Dantonio can help his team extend its streak in the series, it would be the biggest upset in the rivalry since unranked Michigan State stunned the top-ranked Wolverines 28-27 in 1990. Back then, Michigan went for the win on a 2-point conversion with 6 seconds left and Desmond Howard couldnt control the football as he hit the turf after he appeared to get tripped by Eddie Brown.In the same corner of the same end zone 15 years later, Watts-Jackson lay with a broken hip after scoring a touchdown that validated the feeling Dantonio insisted he felt just before it happened.When I looked out there, I saw confident faces when I went out there, he said.These days, Dantonio and his players acknowledge confidence is lacking afterr following up a 36-win, three-year stretch with as many losses as they had from 2013 through 2015.ddddddddddddWhat does Dantonio see when he looks at his players faces this week?Theyve got to answer that on Saturday, he said quietly.Dantonio often has to answer Jim Harbaugh-related questions, but insisted Michigans coach does not consume his thoughts or provide an obstacle he cant overcome in recruiting.Im consumed by too many things. I cant control that, Dantonio said. What I can control, to some extent, is what is going on here. I think hes a great coach.The feeling is mutual.Hes done a great job, Harbaugh said. One of the best college football coaching jobs in the history of the game.Thats not a stretch.After Michigan State was a national power in the mid-1960s under Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans went to only one Rose Bowl and won eight games or more in consecutive seasons just once before Dantonio was hired to replace the fired John L. Smith for the 2007 season.Dantonio took the program back to the Rose Bowl three years ago -- for the first time since the 1987 season -- won a school-record 13 games two years ago and became the first Big Ten coach to have at least 11 victories five times in a six-year span. He won 12 games and a school-record third Big Ten title last year.Coach Dantonio is one of the greatest coaches in the country and has proven that over the last nine years, athletic director Mark Hollis said this week.Dantonios accomplishments and support hes getting, however, are not helping him rest easy. His offense is sputtering with a freshman quarterback behind a banged-up offensive line. His injury-depleted defense is looking overmatched, which is unusual. His mind races, trying to process problems and come up with solutions, day and night and he cant stop it even when his head hits the pillow.It doesnt get turned off. Thats a problem, Dantonio said. Ive always slept really good. Lately, not so good. I talk to my wife and we talk about things. We make sure I laugh. We pray. I dont read too much right now. I should say I should probably read to get my mind off things.---Online: AP college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage ' ' '