CHAMPAIGN, Ill. Clearance Nike Air Max 270 . -- When Illinois players talk about the differences between this summer and last, they talk about excitement and calm.They use both words to describe changes that have begun under their first-year leader, longtime NFL coach Lovie Smith. And both words illustrate the sharp contrast between this summer and last, when their coach was fired just a week before the opening game.I think thats a great feeling. Its a feeling we havent felt in a while, just as players, senior quarterback Wes Lunt said.Part of Smiths job has been trying to repair both the reputation of Illini football and the teams morale, both damaged when Tim Beckman was fired last summer amid allegations that he mistreated players and interfered in medical decisions.Of course, Smith is at Illinois to do more than polish a tarnished brand. Under Beckman and replacement Bill Cubit, wins were scarce. Cubit was thrust into the interim role when Beckman was fired and the team finished 5-7 (2-6 Big Ten). Illinois never won more than six games in Beckmans three seasons.We were a five-win team last year, I understand that, Smith said. I know were going to be a better team.A few things to keep an eye out for as Illinois prepares to open the season:A LOAD OFF LUNTLunts history of injuries and a lack of proven pass-catchers -- another anterior cruciate ligament tear is expected to sideline Mike Dudek for a second straight season -- mean Illinois will need to be able to run the ball. That means sophomore KeShawn Vaughn, the only experienced back on the roster, will see a lot of carries.In order for us to have success at the running game Keshawn Vaughn has to have a good year. He realizes it, Smith said.Vaughn carried the ball 157 times for 723 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman.DEFENSE FIRSTSmith pointed out before preseason workouts that defense should be Illinois strength. But the Illini lost a half-dozen starters from a defense that was ranked eighth in the Big Ten in points given up at 23.3 per game and ninth in yards allowed at 350.8. The emergence of Dawuane Smoot at defensive end gives Illinois a strong pass rusher. He led the team with eight sacks and 15 tackles for losses in 2015. Transfer Hardy Nickersons arrival from Cal -- his father, also Hardy Nickerson, is the defensive coordinator -- should strengthen a thin group of linebackers.KEY GAMESIf the Illini can finish the nonconference schedule 2-1 with wins over Murray State and Western Michigan, the Big Ten schedule offers four games that would not require dramatic upsets to win. Illinois hosts Purdue and faces Rutgers on the road. If the Illini win those, the Oct. 29 home game against Minnesota and the Nov. 26 game at Northwestern could be make-or-break games for a bowl berth.PREDICTIONThe Illini are energized by their new coach and his NFL pedigree, but this is essentially the same team that was 5-7 last season, minus a number of key starters. Lunts ability to stay healthy will be a major factor. The home-heavy schedule and a handful of winnable Big Ten games give Illinois a path to a bowl game. But given the likelihood of injuries and first-season hiccups for a brand-new coaching staff, 5-7 and sixth in the Big Ten West seems about right.SEASON OPENERThe Lovie Smith era begins at home on Sept. 3 against Murray State. The Illini and Racers have never played. The Racers, a Football Championship Subdivision school, were 3-8 last season.---Online: AP College Football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org/---Follow David Mercer on Twitter: (at)davidmercerAP Fake Nike Air Max 270 . 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He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. https://www.cheapnikeairmax270china.us/ .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday.Hong Kong squad for 2016 ICC World Twenty20: Tanwir Afzal (captain)- Took 4-21 in just his second T20 match against Denmark in ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2011/12- First played for Hong Kong at Under 15 level in Asian Cricket Council Under-15 Cup Elite Division 2007/08- Part of the Hong Kong side that reached the final of the Asian Cricket Council Twenty20 Cup 2011/12Nadeem Ahmed- Player of the match for his 4-21 as Hong Kong defeated Bangladesh in ICC WT20 2014- Took six wickets in six matches in the qualifying competition in 2015- His figures of 5-12 against Namibia at Dublin were the best in the competition- Made his ODI debut against Pakistan in 2004 at the age of just 16 Kumar Sangakkara gives a brief history of the ICC T20 World Cup Haseeb Amjad- Leading wicket-taker for Hong Kong in the qualifying competition with 12 wickets in seven matches- His figures of 4-16 against Nepal in that competition are the best for Hong Kong in T20I cricket- He is Hong Kongs leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket (24)- He took 5-12 in his first-ever Twenty20 match - against Italy in ICC WT20 Qualifier 2013Tanwir Ahmed- Awaiting his T20I debut- Took 2/4 for Hong Kong A against Japan in the East Asia Mens T-20 Championships last NovemberMark Chapman- Made his maiden fifty with an unbeaten innings of 63 against Oman in November 2015- Studied at the University of Auckland- Became just the 10th player to score a century on his ODI debut with 124* against the UAEAnshuman Rath- Part of Middlesex CCC Cricket Academy - represented Middlesex Second XI in 2015 while attending Harrow School- Scored 43 on his Twenty20 debut against Jersey at Bready in July 2015- Made three fifties in first five ODIs, including an innings of 97 against Scotland at Townsville Who will walk away with the trophy? James Atkinson- Captained Hong Kong in four Twenty20 Internationals, winning the toss every time- He was the first player born in the 1990s to play in a One Day International- His father Steve played in the ICC Trophy for both the Netherlands and Hong KongWaqas Barkat- Scored 130 runs in six matches in ICC U/19 World Cup 2010- Scored an undefeated 51 against Italy in ICC WT20 Qualifier 2013Ryan Campbell- Played two ODIs for Australia in 2002- Moved to Hong Kong in 2012 to become Head Coach at Kowloon CC- Scored 55 and took 2-26 in just his second Twenty20 match for Western Australia in 2006- Represented Ahmedabad Rockets in the 2008 Indian Cricket League, scoring 237 runs in eight matchesChristopher Carter- Scored 34 and dismissed Joe Root as Hong Kong took on an England XI in Abu Dhabi in November 2015- Toured England with Hong Kong in the summer of 2015- Made his first-class debut in the 2015-17 ICC Intercontinental Cup against the UAE last NovemberBabar Hayat- His innings of 122 against Oman in the recent Asia Cup qualifiers is the highest for Hong Kong in this form of the game- Scored 113 and 73 in Hong Kongs 276-run victory over the UAE at Dubai last November in the ICC Intercontinental Cup- His century was the first ever in first-class cricket for Hong KongNizakat Khan- Took 3-19 in his four overs in Hong Kongs victory over Bangladesh in the 2014 competition- Scored his maiden fifty in Twenty20 cricket with an innings of 57 against the USA in ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013/14- A regular wicket-taker earlier in his career, his best Twenty20 bowling figures came in the same tournament, when he took 3-10 against the NetherlandsAizaz Khan- First played for Hong Kong at U-15 Level in the Asian Cricket Council Under-15 Cup Elite Division 2007/08- Player of the Match for his figures of 2-4 in four overs as Hong Kong beat Nepal by two wickets at Colombo in November 2014- Took 5-25 against the USA at Dubai in the 11th place play-off in ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2011/12Waqas Khan- He is the youngest player to ever participate in a Twenty20 International match at the age of 15 years 259 days- His twin brother, Sarfaraz, has played for Hong Kongs Under 19 team- Played against both England and Pakistan In November 2015- Won the Hong Kong Premier League One-Day Tournament 2015/16 with his side Diasqua Little Sai Wan Cricket ClubKinchit Shah- Took 4-21 in just his second Twenty20 match against Denmark in ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2011/12- First played for Hong Kong at Under 15 level in Asian Cricket Council Under-15 Cup Elite Division 2007/08- Part of the Hong Kong side that reached the final of the Asian Cricket Council Twenty20 Cup 2011/12Sky Sports is the only place you can watch all 35 games in 27 days of the 2016 ICC World T20, starting with Zimbabwe v UAE on Tuesday 8th March at 9am on Sky Sports 2 HD. 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