COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- DJ Durkin knows exactly what is expected from him in his first season as Marylands head coach.Improving upon last years 3-9 record is a good starting place. Being relevant in the Big Ten is certainly a goal.Mostly, its about providing a measure of hope for a program that never fulfilled expectations under Randy Edsall, who went 22-34 with the Terrapins before being fired six games into the 2015 season.Hired in December, the 37-year-old Durkin is the youngest Maryland head coach since 1954. The former defensive coordinator at Michigan launches a new era on Saturday at home against Howard.I really feel that we have a talented enough team to go play well this year. What equals that, I dont know, Durkin said. I think fans and media equate it to wins and losses. For us, obviously we know the game is about winning.Howard, which went 1-10 last year, probably wont provide the Terps with steep competition. But the game will provide a glimpse of what Durkin accomplished during a tough summer camp.Most of all, Durkin will get a chance to see if the team can play defense the way the Wolverines did under his direction. A year ago, Maryland yielded 413 points.The guys have been filled with a lot of energy, defensive coordinator Andy Buh said, Im really pleased with how their progress has been in the defense.---Some things to know about the Howard-Maryland matchup:PERRYS BACK: New offense, same quarterback. Fifth-year senior Perry Hills returns as a starter, looking to pile up points and cut down on his turnovers. Hills ran for 535 yards and threw eight touchdown passes last year, but he also was intercepted 13 times. He emerged as the winner in a competition during the summer, in part because he proved to the best at being mistake-free. All the things that hes going to have to bring to the table outside of his skills, hes done the best job of taking care of the football, offensive coordinator Walt Bell said. Hes done the best job in terms of mastery of the offensive, operating the line of scrimmage, eliminating a lot of the unforced errors.LIKELY TO SUCCEED: Senior William Likely is widely considered to be the best athlete on the team, and the Terrapins intend to take advantage of that quality. Likely will return kicks, play in the defensive backfield and occasionally line up as a wide receiver. If a guy can play and help us somewhere, were going to use him, Durkin said. Likely started at cornerback last year but also ran the ball 11 times, caught five passes, returned 23 punts and took back 35 kickoffs.EXPERIENCE BEHIND CENTER: Howard quarterback Kalen Johnson threw for 1,174 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Hes also capable of tucking the football and running downfield. Hes a dual threat, Durkin said. He can create plays with his feet and throw the ball.BACKFIELD IN MOTION: Senior Ty Johnson stands atop the depth chart at running back, but Durkin intends to shuffle several players at the position on game day. We have three or four guys that you could make a case for to be the starter, Durkin said. Ty worked really hard and earned the opportunity to be our starter. But well have a good rotation going at that position.CLOSE BY, BUT STILL STRANGERS: This will be the first football game between Maryland and Howard, even though the schools are separated by only 7 + miles. Maryland last played a school based in the nations capital in 1955, when it beat George Washington 19-0.Cheap Nike Shoes Uk Online . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Nike Shoes Wholesale Uk . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. http://www.cheapshoesnikeuk.com/ . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. Nike Shoes Uk Sale . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Nike Shoes Cheap Uk . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury.DOHA, Qatar -- Los Angeles sought to allay concerns over Donald Trumps election, Paris played up its glamorous venues and Budapest set itself apart as a mid-sized alternative as the three cities made their first public pitches Tuesday in the race to host the 2024 Olympics.With 10 months before the vote, the three candidates had a chance to deliver their message in 20-minute presentations to the general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees, a gathering of more than 1,000 delegates from around the world.The meeting occurred exactly after a week after Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton in the American presidential election, a result that could have an impact on Los Angeles hopes of bringing the Summer Olympics back to the U.S. for the first time since Atlanta hosted in 1996.Trumps comments during the divisive campaign about Muslims and Mexicans and some of his foreign policy views may not help the California citys chances with some of the IOCs 98 members, who represent a range of nationalities, cultures and religions.It was American sprinter Allyson Felix, a Los Angeles-born African-American sprinter and six-time Olympic gold medalist, who addressed those concerns during the presentation. Without mentioning Trump by name, her message was clear.We just finished our presidential election, and some of you may question Americas commitment to its founding principles, Felix said. I have one message for you: Please dont doubt us. Americas diversity is our greatest strength.Felix said America needs the games to help make our nation better, now more than ever.She raised the issue of race and slavery in explaining the history and diversity of the country.Were also a nation with individuals like me, descendants of people who came to America, not of their own free will but against it, Felix said. But were not a nation that clings to our past, no matter how glorious -- or how painful. Americans rush toward the future.I believe L.A. is a perfect choice for the 2024 Games, because the face of our city reflects the face of the Olympic Movement itself, she said.IOC vice president John Coates, of Australia, was among the delegates in the audience and said Felixs words hit the mark.I did think Allyson addressed the Trump issue very well, he told The Associated Press. I think the question was hanging. I thought it was very, very well-crafted.Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, a Democrat who was a prominent Clinton supporter, also took up the theme of diversity and openness, saying his city can deliver transformative games.I see an America that remains actively engaged in the world, he said. I see an America that is outward-looking, ready to play its role alongside the community of nations to address our worlds most pressing challenges.Speaking afterward, Garcetti said an Olympic bid stands on a citys own merits and does not depend on who is the president of the country.ddddddddddddToday we just reminded people that any nation is made of its people, not one person, he said. We think that is something that, whether its Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, transcends all of us as Americans. I dont think that the Hungarians or the French or the Americans are making their bid plans based on what the national leader says.Los Angeles hosted the games in 1932 and 1984. New York and Chicago failed in bids for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, respectively.This is our third attempt to host the Olympic Games in the past 10 years and for many reasons ... I must say this is the most remarkable U.S. bid I have ever seen, U.S. Olympic Committee President Larry Probst said. We have learned many lessons from our previous bids, and failure can be a great teacher.Paris, which hosted the games in 1900 and 1924, has been considered in a tight race with Los Angeles. The French team stressed the bids compact nature, with 85 percent of athletes housed within 30 minutes of their venues.In Paris in 2024, we will swim in the River Seine, Mayor Anne Hidalgo told the delegates. We will travel in driverless vehicles. We will celebrate the games on the Champs Elysees, with the Eiffel Tower and all along the Seine from the Grand Palais to Saint Denis.The Spanish-born Hidalgo cited her own background as an example of what Paris offers.To be an immigrant, to be a woman, to have dual nationality and to be able to be mayor of Paris, this city has brought me opportunity and freedom, she said. Paris has an incredible force.Budapest, which has never hosted the Olympics and is making its seventh bid, has been seen as the outsider in the race. The Hungarians said they only need to build three new venues and will harness the city center for the games.Most of all, they said Budapest offers something different.A Games for one mid-sized global city is a Games for all mid-sized global cities, across the world, bid chairman Balazs Furjes said. A Games in Budapest sends the message that the Olympic Games are not simply for the mega-city, but for mid-size cities, too.The Doha audience included officials from 205 national Olympic committees, dozens of international sports federations and, most importantly, dozens of members of the International Olympic Committee, which will vote on the host city next September in Lima, Peru.Under tighter IOC rules, these are the first of only three presentations during the two-year bid race. The second will be at a private technical briefing for IOC members in Switzerland in July, and the third will be the final presentations on the day of the vote in Lima. ' ' '