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AUSTIN - Case McCoy talked first.

If he'd been at any other team's spring practice, or played any other position, or been at Texas at just about any time other than the second decade of the third millennium, that information would have been wholly insignificant.

But in this place, at this position, and in this time, there are no meaningless details. When McCoy beat teammate David Ash into the interview room after a Longhorns workout this week, it might have just been because he had a study hall to attend or was quicker in the shower.

In a quarterback controversy like the Longhorns have created, however, nothing seems so innocuous. At UT, where every public move is deliberated, putting McCoy in front of the cameras before Ash easily could've been intended as another subtle reminder that despite the overwhelming perception, McCoy is no backup.

And then McCoy's words, which sounded an awful lot like his head coach's, reiterated the same message.

"Nothing's been given to anyone," McCoy said.

Because UT's quarterbacks give interviews so rarely and because we're now in the second year of Mack Brown's staff's continual evasiveness about committing to one or another, each of McCoy's words carried weight. And it wasn't much of a stretch to assume "anyone" meant "Ash."

Still no hint

Ever since the sixth game of last season, when Ash played the entirety of a loss to Oklahoma State, the vast majority of evidence has pointed to Brown and offensive play-caller Bryan Harsin believing in Ash as their quarterback of the future. He started six of UT's last eight games, including the Holiday Bowl, where he was named the most outstanding offensive player.

But at no point has either Brown or Harsin acknowledged that Ash is even the slightest bit ahead of McCoy. When pressed repeatedly about the issue last week, Brown spent an hour employing the verbal contortionism of a politician trying to avoid a debate question.

Read more from the original source:
UT notebook: Speaking of QB job, mum's the word

Manchester United striker Michael Owen is at the focal point of Friday's round-up, with the 32-year-old reacting angrily to coverage of his England criticism in the British press.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid man was left fuming after newspapers printed his Tweets out of context following the Three Lions' 3-2 loss at home to the Netherlands.

Elsewhere Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone keeps us up to date with his injury progress, and on-loan QPR striker Federico Macheda reveals a guilty pleasure.

Once again, Goal.com has wrapped up the best of the best from the past 24 hours in the world of Twitter.

"Stitches being taken out!! Looooong 2weeks since the ankle surgery"

Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone kicks us off, with a quick update on his injury status after undergoing surgery that will keep him out for the rest of the season.

"Typical of the British Media. Invent a quote to create a storm and then fill the paper with experts slamming me for things I never said.

"By doing so, they get to fill their paper for a couple of days and in doing so short change their readers with a total 'non story'.

Continued here:
Word on the Tweet: Owen left fuming with British press following England criticism & injury updates from Tottenham's ...

Last weeks political theater staged by Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero was the latest act in a professional relationship with PR executive Kelly Rossman-McKinney that shows things are getting personal.

Berneros biting, 323-word press release calling for Rossman-McKinney to step down from the Lansing Economic Development Corp. board accused her of sour grapes for not getting a contract on the casino; her aggressive opposition to the Kewadin Lansing Casino plan; and a conflict of interest.

Rossman-McKinney has denied the first two claims and came to realize she may have had a conflict of interest by representing the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians on the Greektown Casino until she left the firm of Rossman, Martin & Associates in 2004. Rossman-McKinney said she would have voted yes last week when the EDC board unanimously approved selling a small parcel worth $280,000 at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Cedar Street. Rossman-McKinney stepped down at the behest of Bernero, who had appointed her.

While the administration sticks to its claims that Rossman-McKinneys recusal came too late indeed, Rossman-McKinney told City Pulse on Jan. 30 that she didnt have a conflict of interest with the Kewadin Lansing proposal its not the first time Bernero showed public disdain for Rossman-McKinneys actions.

This news release was a perfect example of the kind of thing you write in the heat of the moment and should put in a desk drawer and review again the following day. It was done in haste and it was bereft of a lot of facts. It called into question my integrity, which I take great offense at, Rossman-McKinney said in a telephone interview Monday.

Based on follow-up questions Monday night, it appears that administration would rather forget about the latest incident.

The statement speaks for itself, said Berneros new chief of staff, Randy Hannan. When asked why the press release included claims that could not be substantiated, Hannan said: Shes entitled to her opinion. Factual information can be subject to interpretation.

In 2007, following the murder of Ruth Hallman the mother of Berneros political enemy, Carol Wood Rossman-McKinney delivered the eulogy at Hallmans funeral. As you may know, my firm paid dearly for that because it had been the lead on community relations and strategic communications surrounding the combined sewer overflow project, Rossman-McKinney said.

Rossman-McKinney served on the EDC board for four or five years, she said, and had to recuse herself on votes relating to Pat Gillespie and Sam Eyde projects. So why did Bernero ask her to step down in this case? Hannan said it was the timing.

When asked how she sees her professional relationship with Bernero moving forward, Rossman-McKinney paused for a moment, looking for the right words. Do you think less of him as a politician? I asked.

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It's personal

SMARTRAC further strengthens its trusted brand * KSW Microtec AG changes company name to SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY Dresden GmbH * Launch of group-wide branding activities to reinforce global visibility of the SMARTRAC brand

Amsterdam, March 1, 2012 - SMARTRAC N.V., a leading developer, manufacturer, and supplier of RFID transponders and inlays, announced that the company has launched group-wide branding activities to further strengthen its well-known and trusted brand. As part of the branding measures, KSW Microtec AG (KSW) changed its company name to SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY Dresden GmbH.

KSW was acquired by SMARTRAC on December 14, 2011. The integration of KSWs business into the SMARTRAC Group commenced shortly after the acquisition. The change of name of KSW to SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY Dresden GmbH is a result of the Groups strategy to unite its core business under the family brand SMARTRAC and is a sign of togetherness and commitment to the same values and principles.

We have established < Combining the Best> as guiding principle for the current integration processes, said Dr. Christian Fischer, CEO of SMARTRAC. This basic idea is not only expression of our mindset on how we want to realize the integration processes. It is also expression of the value we aim to generate for our joint customer base and business partners.

Combining KSWs long-term expertise in the high frequency (HF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID inlay production and proprietary know-how with SMARTRACs strengths and capabilities fortifies SMARTRACs technology base, product portfolio, and market position.

As a result of the integration, customers will benefit from the best product portfolio in the access control, e-payment, e-Ticketing, and asset management application fields as well as for high-security products for government identification documents.

In addition, the combined business activities aim at delivering customers the best service, highest quality, innovation, and best value within the proven and dedicated business model as a developer, manufacturer, and supplier of RFID transponders and inlays.

We are very pleased that the integration process developed fast and smooth. The fact that we were able to complete the integration within two months only after the acquisition clearly shows that the teams and businesses ideally complement each other, said Thomas Hitzer, CEO of former KSW, new Head of Business Unit Cards and Member of the Group Executive Team at SMARTRAC.

The Combining the Best guiding principle also includes the integration of UPM RFID into the SMARTRAC Group. The acquisition of UPM RFID is not completed yet; closing of the transaction is still subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to be completed within the first quarter of 2012.

The group-wide branding activities which include among others the launch of a new company logo are scheduled for a period of 14 months and aim at reinforcing the global visibility of the SMARTRAC brand.

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DGAP-News: SMARTRAC further strengthens its trusted brand

NORMANDY Parkway South was able to deal with Lafayettes smothering pressure defense in an upset of the Lancers in a Class 5 district final Friday.

The Patriots, however,didnt have the same luck against Incarnate Word in Wednesdays Class 5 girls basketball sectional at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Red Knights turned the Parkway South offense inside out as they came up with 23 steals on their way to a63-28 victory.

We knew where they double (team), and we had a plan to attack it, Parkway South coach Thomas Williams said. Its tough when they keep coming at you for 32 minutes, not so much physically, but mentally it wears on you. We had some unforced mistakes, but youve got to give them credit, too.

The Red Knights, 24-6 and No. 1 in the STLhighschoolsports.com large-schools rankings, advance to Saturdays state quarterfinals. Incarnate will playSt. Josephs, the area's No. 2 team, at 6 p.m. Saturday. St. Joe's advanced by beatingJackson 54-21 in its sectional game.

Anytime youre in a playoff game and you win youre happy thats for sure, Incarnate coach Dan Rolfes said.

The game was tight for the first five minutes. In fact, Parkway South (15-14) had a 9-7 lead with 3:16 left in the first quarter. But when Parkway South standout center Becca Steins picked up her third foul late in the first quarter the game changed in a hurry. The Red Knights, helped by a flurry of steals, went on an 8-0 run.

Steins came right back in, but once IWA was rolling Parkway South couldn't find a way to slow the Red Knights.

Theyre obviously a different team with her, Rolfes said of Steins. She does a lot for them. She helps break the press, shes a good passer, she can step away from the basket. So, yeah, losing her really hurt them. To be honest with you, I didnt think we took advantage of it enough.

After falling behind by14 points, the Patriots scrambled back to within 10near the end of the first half thanks tofour quick points by Steins, who finished with a game-high 10.Nakiah Bell , however, nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give IWA a 30-17 haltime lead.

Thats kind of a momentum shift right there, Thomas said.

The rest is here:
Incarnate Word's defense puts the squeeze on Parkway South