rk Stoops, Kentucky. Has a $12 million buyout. With assistants, firing him could cost more than $17 million .Steve Addazio, Boston College. Received an extension in 2014 that ru

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Matt Bush and Tony Barnette took drastically different and quite unconventional paths to becoming 30-something rookie relievers and locker mates with the AL West champion Texas Rangers.When the Rangers were in the playoffs last October, former No. 1 overall pick Bush was in the final month of a 3 +-year stint in prison for a drunken driving accident that nearly killed a man.The 32-year-old Barnette was finishing a record-setting season as a closer who helped the Tokyo Yakult Swallows reach the Japan Series.Its almost like fate, the 30-year-old Bush said. Here we both are, finally getting our chance, being around the same age, and get to share our experiences and our rookie years together.The right-handers are key setup men for the Rangers, who play the AL Division Series opener at home Thursday against the winner of the American League wild-card game (Baltimore or Toronto).Bush, now a reliever whose fastball touches 100 mph, was initially drafted in 2004 out of high school by his hometown San Diego Padres as a shortstop -- just ahead of 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, also a six-time All-Star.Within weeks after receiving a $3.15 million signing bonus and before even playing his first pro game, Bush was suspended by the organization following his arrest in a bar fight. That was only the first of several alcohol-related incidents before the nearly fatal accident while in spring training with the Tampa Bay Rays in March 2012.Sober since that time, the final nine months of Bushs prison sentence in Florida last year included living in a halfway house while in a work-release program with a job as a baker at a Golden Corral in Florida.It was in the parking lot of that restaurant that Rangers officials watched Bush throw in the mid-90s. After his release Oct. 30, Bush went to Texas with his father to work out for the team for which Josh Hamilton, another former No. 1 overall pick, went from alcohol and drug issues to being a five-time All-Star and the 2010 AL MVP.Everybody in every clubhouse for the most part has a story. Some stand out a little bit more than others, like Matts. Hes handled it tremendously. He shows up, works hard and throws 100 mph. Its fun to watch, Barnette said. Isnt baseball great? It gives guys like us chances.Barnette was a 10th-round draft pick by the Diamondbacks in 2006 from Arizona State, then started 96 games in four minor league seasons before going to Japan in 2010, a year before making the transition from starter to reliever. The Alaskan-born pitcher set a team record with 41 saves and a 1.29 ERA in 59 games for the Swallows last season before signing a two-year contract with Texas.Jonathan Lucroy, the catcher Texas acquired Aug. 1, said Bush and Barnette dont seem like MLB rookies, both having matured and learned from unique situations.While Barnette has spent the entire season with the Rangers, Bush went from spring training to Double-A Frisco after not playing any regular-season games since 2011.I really wouldnt have thought itd work out the way it is, especially with such a good team, a winning team, going to the playoffs now and being the setup guy. Its a dream come true really, Bush said. My true hopes were to finish the year without getting into any trouble, to stay sober, and to go into next year with a chance of getting placed on the 40-man roster.But things happened much faster than that, getting called up by the Rangers in mid-May after 12 relief appearances at Double-A, and converting all five save chances at the highest level he had pitched to that point. He has made 58 appearances for Texas (7-2, 2.48 ERA), and hasnt allowed a run in his last 10 appearances (11 1/3 innings).Its been fun, its been everything that I ever thought of, and being 30, Ive been able to handle myself, being more mature, Bush said. I definitely wasnt ready back then when I was a lot younger.Barnette (7-3, 2.09), who missed three weeks in September with a tight left oblique muscle, has recorded more than three outs in 19 of his last 27 appearances since mid-June, with a 0.79 ERA in that span.We know our roles and we know whats expected of us, and I think it helps being older, and the fact that were comfortable with who we are now, Barnette said. And were not worried about stepping on anybodys toes around us, because were older than everybody.On a team with 28-year-old shortstop Elvis Andrus being the longest-tenured position player in his eighth season, Bush and Barentte are certainly the old rookies.Custom NKeal Harry Jersey . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. 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The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season.The first half of the 2016 college football featured the emergence of a new star quarterback, the re-emergence of an old Pac-12 power and the end of an era at LSU.Texas is back! Nope.Houston to the playoff! Nah.Tom Herman to LSU? Tom Herman to Texas? Tom Herman to the Chicago Bears? This, unfortunately, has only just begun.With seven weeks of the season in the books, we assess the best and the worst of the first half.---MOST SURPRISING UNDEFEATED TEAMNo. 6 Texas A&MThe Aggies were unranked and appeared to be an unsettled program to start the season. Assistant coaches made offseason headlines for the wrong reasons . The five-star quarterbacks had fled and were replaced by former inconsistent Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight. There is no more hot-seat talk about coach Kevin Sumlin as the Aggies head to No. 1 Alabama for a game that could decide the SEC West on Saturday. There is still potential for things to go sideways for Sumlin and the Aggies, but so far A&M has replaced the swag with substance.---MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAMNotre DameThere are some serious candidates here. Oregon, but the Ducks were showing signs for crashing coming into 2016. Michigan State, but the Spartans were probably due for a reset season. Notre Dame, however, is a big hot mess . Seven games in and coach Brian Kelly has fired his defensive coordinator and created an unnecessary quarterback controversy. Even allowing the Fighting Irish some leeway for over inflated expectations, 2-5 and scrambling to get bowl eligible is unacceptable.---BEST COACHING JOB-HEAD COACHNick Saban, Alabama, and Urban Meyer, Ohio State.We often reward the coaches who exceed expectations and do the most with the least. Thats all well and good, but sustained excellence is really where its at. No. 1 Alabama won the national championship last year and is better this season with a freshman quarterback . No. 2 Ohio State lost one of the great NFL draft classes from one school of all time and the Buckeyes have not missed a beat.---BEST COACHING JOB-COORDINATORJustin Wilcox, defensive coordinator, Wisconsin.Could go back to Alabama for Lane Kiffin or Ohio State for Greg Schiano, but Wilcox is the pick as he re-establishes himself as one of the better defensive coordinators in the country. He took over a well-stocked group after Dave Aranda left for LSU, but the 10th-ranked Badgers are as feisty as ever.---BEST TURNAROUNDColoradoIt has been a long hard road back to relevance for the Buffaloes, but Mike MacIntyre has Boulder interested in its college football team again. CU has not won more than six games since 2004 and had just two Pac-12 victories in MacIntyres first three seasons. Now the Buffs (5-2) are a win away from bowl eligibility and 3-1 in conference with a legit chance to take the Pac-12 South. Props also to defensive coordinator and former USF coach Jim Leavitt for the most improved part of the team.---BREAKOUT PLAYER-OFFENSE (not named Lamar Jackson)Dede Westbrook, WR, OklahomaLots of good candidates here among receeivers, most notably Cals Chad Hansen and Syracuses Amba Etta-Tawo.ddddddddddddWestbrook was the Big 12s offensive newcomer of the year last year so its not as if he is coming out of nowhere. His recent surge (26 catches for 574 yards), though, has him playing like an All-American and he has already surpassed last years numbers for receptions and yards.---BREAKOUR PLAYER-DEFENSEJoe Mathis, LB, WashingtonMathis has gone from solid player to an absolute force for the fifth-ranked Huskies in his senior season. He has already topped his career total for sacks with five and nearly doubled his career tackles for loss with 7.5 this season. Oregon coaches could still be searching game tape for play in which the Ducks handled Mathis.---BEST GAMEClemson 42, Louisville 36.Two great quarterbacks doing spectacular things. Talented players everywhere. Huge swings in emotion and momentum. Comebacks on both sides and clutch performances . All played in one of the best venues in college football. And it came down to 1 yard. Sure it was sloppy at times, but so much fun.---WORST GAMEMichigan 78, Rutgers 0Maybe the most noncompetitive conference game in the last 25 years of college football.---WORST OFFICIATINGThe officials who worked the Central Michigan-Oklahoma State.It is one thing to blow a judgment call. It is quite another to badly misinterpret a rule and that have that mistake cost a team a game. Both the MAC officials on the field and Big 12 replay officials earned suspensions.---WORST FIRINGLes Miles, LSULSU athletic director Joe Alleva wanted Miles out last season, but botched it and allowed Miles to gain a groundswell of support. So at first chance this season, after an ugly loss at Auburn dropped the Tigers to 2-2, Alleva canned Miles before the coach could go out and save himself again. It was time for a change in Baton Rouge. And if handled properly it could have been done 10 months earlier.---HOT-SEAT COACHESCooling contractsMark Stoops, Kentucky. Has a $12 million buyout. With assistants, firing him could cost more than $17 million .Steve Addazio, Boston College. Received an extension in 2014 that runs through 2020.WarmPaul Johnson, Georgia Tech; Mark Helfrich, Oregon; Gus Malzahn, AuburnWarmerCharlie Strong, TexasToastyDavid Bailiff, RiceCookedTim DeRuyter, Fresno State---HOT COACHES-GROUP OF FIVE (not named Tom Herman)Jeff Brohm, Western KentuckyP.J. Fleck, Western MichiganScott Satterfield, Appalachian StateWillie Taggart, USF---HALFWAY HEISMAN1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville2. Jake Browning, QB, Washington3. Greg Ward Jr., QB, HoustonThree more to watchDalvin Cook, RB, Florida StateJ.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio StateJalen Hurts, QB, Alabama---TOP FOUR NOW (doesnt matter)1. Alabama2. Ohio State3. Michigan4. Clemson---TOP FOUR ON DEC. 4 (matters)1. Alabama2. Ohio State3. Clemson4. Washington---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP ' ' '