The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 11

Europe holds off v3 U.S. in Ryder Cup fS Mike Egenes, sports editor, 309-829-9000, ext. 246, e-mail: megenespantagraph.com TUESDAY, October 5, 2010 Extreme stays home in Murray hiring 1 1 ii i i IWU assistant coach named Bloomington head coach Mike Murray, left, receives congratulations from Ed Brady, Extreme President, after Murray was named the Extreme's third head coach in the team's five-year existence Monday during a news conference at Extreme Motors Nissan dealership in Bloomington. stay in place and still work with the organization," said Murray. "He's a fantastic people person, a great recruiter and the most knowledgeable football coach in Blooming-ton-Normal.

So to have him continue to be plugged into the Bloomington Extreme was vital." Murray, who will handle the defensive coordinator responsibilities, said he hopes to build on Schmitz's late-season success to turn the Extreme into a championship-caliber program. "What you want to do is take what he's done and add some levels," Murray said. "Ultimately the goal of any organization is to hang a banner in the coliseum. Ted has definitely laid all the ground work SEE EXTREME PAGE B8 tions that we have here in Bloomington this is a natural fit," Murray said during his introductory news conference held at the Extreme Motors Nissan dealership. "We're so excited to again be part of the Bloomington Extreme and move forward." Murray follows Ted Schmitz, who replaced Kenton Can midsea-son and guided the Extreme to a six-game winning streak to finish the regular season before losing its playoff opener.

Schmitz, the franchise's original head coach, is returning to his role as player personnel director. "Without guys like Ted continuing to be a part of this, this wouldn't be an opportunity for me. It was kind of a combo package that he By Joe Deacon ideacon9pantagraph.com BLOOMINGTON Renewing an emphasis on forging strong community ties, the Bloomington Extreme on Monday introduced longtime Twin City resident Mike Murray as the third head coach in the indoor football franchise's five-year history. Murray, an Illinois Wesleyan graduate currently five years into his second stint as an assistant coach for the Titans, returns to the Extreme after serving as offensive coordinator in the team's inaugural season. "When you start to string all the relationships and all the partnerships and all the family connec The PantagraphDAVID PROEBER PRAIRIETHUNDER Lovie: Cutler looks to be 'OK' Bears QB with team Monday, but doctors will evaluate status By Andrew Seligman ASSOCIATED PRESS 'O 'I NS0 LAKE FOREST Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith sounded optimistic that quarterback Jay Cutler will be back soon from his concussion, although he would not say just how severe the injury is.

Smith said Cutler was back at the practice facility Monday and was "feeling OK" after 0 7S I -r 1 1 1 sitting out the second half of a 17-3 loss the previous night against the New York Giants. Even so, his status READ MORE I Special teams spark Patriots over Miami Page B8 The PantagraphDAVID PROEBER New PriaireThunder head coach Jason Christie uses a blackboard as he instructs players about a drill during the Thunder's first day of training camp Monday at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington. 7 me of ge Thunder embracing new mentality, extra cardiovascular training for this week's game against Carolina is in question. "Jay is here," Smith said.

"It seemed like he was in pretty good shape right now. There are no visual signs or anything that I could tell. I try not to be the doctor, and I leave that to other people. It seems like he's OK today." Smith said the Bears started noticing symptoms after the second-to-last play of the second quarter, when Cutler's head banged the turf while being taken down by Aaron Ross on the Giants' ninth sack. The Bears then went with a run by Chester Taylor, and Todd Collins replaced Cutler to start the third quarter.

Collins actually wound up leaving with a stinger late in the game, forcing Chicago to go with Caleb Hanie. Smith hopes'to have SEE BEARS PAGE B8 -J il Thunder players broke for lunch following a morning skate and then made their way to a nearby gym for a Spin class, an instructor-led son, when players reported for a Sunday night meeting. Forward Craig Macdonald, who played in all 76 games last season and scored a Thunder -best 90 points, said he left the meeting thinking, "I've been a pro for seven years, and I'm actually nervous about training camp. This (year) is different. It's all business.

Everybody is ready to work here." Christie said he's not out to rattle nerves, but he is looking for three things out of his players: Focus, focus and focus. SEE THUNDER PAGE B8 By Mike Egenes BLOOMINGTON The Bloomington PrairieThunder's training camp got under way Monday with the head coach putting players through conditioning drills during separate workouts on the ice at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Nothing out of the ordinary about that. It's what happened between workouts that deviated from previous Thunder training camps.

cardiovascular workouts. "It's a step in the right direction." The extra emphasis on "wind training," as Snowden describes it, comes from new head coach Jason Christie. "He's got a different mentality," Snowden said of Christie. "I like the way he pushes guys, makes sure everybody is accountable for what they're doing out there. It's just the first day of camp, but I like the direction we're headed." Christie set expectations for camp, and ultimately the sea John Snowden workout on stationary bikes.

Also this week, players will enroll for kickboxing classes. "It will be part of our everyday thing," forward John Snowden said of the additional Lincoln senior looking to sink some putts before sinking hoops Railer basketball star Nelson seeks return trip to state golf By Jim Benson vision I and II basketball programs. He plans to wait until the spring to sign a national letter of intent. By then, he might have another top-10 finish at the Class 2A State Golf Tournament on his resume. While the top junior golfers in the state played a heavy summer tournament schedule, Nelson participated in one event, placing fourth in the Decatur Junior Open.

He started taking golf seriously when SEE NELSON PAGE B5 READ MORE I A capsule look at this week's golf regionals Page B5 works in an 18 -hole round. "Other than that, it's basketball," he said. Nelson, a 6-foot guard who made 108 3-point baskets for Lincoln last season while being named a second-team Associated Press All-Stater, has drawn a lot of interest from Di jbensonpantagraph.com LINCOLN When Jordan Nelson talks about going deep in the summer, he's not referring to 300 -yard drives. More like 3-point baskets. Nelson spends most of his summers honing his considerable basketball skills.

Lincoln Elks Country Club is near his home, so he's able to sneak over and play a couple holes sometimes in the early evening. Occasionally, Nelson The PantagraphJIM BENSON Jordan Nelson, a Lincoln High School senior, is equally comfortable with a golf club or basketball in his hands. Nelson finished second in last year's Class 2A State Golf Tournament, but plans to play basketball in college..