flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Even as a senior, Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde learned a few things from talented freshman Ezekiel Elliott before entering the 2014 draft.Elliott taught Hyde the value of being an asset without the ball in his hands.Running backs as talented as Hyde, who ran for 3,198 yards in college, get notoriety for making tacklers miss. Hyde appreciates Elliott for showing him how to make defenders miss his teammates by throwing blocks downfield.He came in and set the tone with that, said Hyde, without the ball, running down the field, throwing a cut block. ... He changed our (running backs) room at Ohio State with that.Elliott went on to get drafted fourth overall by the Dallas Cowboys last spring, in part because of his complete skill set. Not only did he eclipse Hydes Ohio State rushing total by 763 yards in three seasons (Hyde played four), Elliott was widely considered the best blocking back in the 2016 draft.Hes not a guy that you have to take off the field, 49ers coach Chip Kelly said of Elliott. Hes got speed. Hes got power. You know, hes kind of the best combination. ... and I think everybody agreed, that he was the top back in the draft last year.Elliott entered the NFL two years after Hyde was taken in the second round by the 49ers. They square off Sunday at Levis Stadium when Dallas (2-1) visits San Francisco (1-2).For the season, Elliott has 274 yards rushing on 71 carries with one touchdown. His former teammate has four touchdowns with 225 yards on 58 carries for San Francisco.Hyde said he hasnt paid attention to the fact hes playing against his college pupil. After all, hes going against Dallas 10th-ranked rushing defense, while Elliott will be looking to make his mark against a 49ers defense that allowed 947 yards combined in its consecutive losses to Carolina and Seattle.But Hydes All-Pro teammate NaVorro Bowman thinks the game Sunday has personal meaning for the running back.I think Carlos had (Elliott) underneath his wing for sure at Ohio State, Bowman said. So he cant let the young guy get the best of the game. I think Carlos will be holding this one special in his heart.Ohio State won a national championship during Hydes rookie season with San Francisco. Hyde made sure to be on the sideline during the championship game against Oregon that January after the 49ers finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.The Buckeyes rolled 42-20, with Elliott setting a season high with 246 yards rushing and four touchdowns. It was the third straight game Elliott had at least 200 yards.When I was there, (Elliott) was in the room with us and my position coach, coach (Stan Drayton), made us feel like a family in that room. . . . It was just exciting to see that, Hyde said.Game notes 49ers TE Vance McDonald (hip) returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesdays session. ... CB Jimmie Ward missed practice (quadriceps) for the second straight day. ... Cowboys WR Dez Bryant (knee), QB Tony Romo (back), LT Tyron Smith (back) and G Lael Collins (toe) have not practiced this week.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys China .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Stitched Nike NFL Jerseys . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. http://www.wholesalejerseysfromchinacheap.com/ . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Nike NFL Jerseys China . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. ATLANTA -- Alabama?coach Nick Saban isnt worried about joining likes of Paul Bear Bryant, no matter how many times hes compared to the legendary Crimson Tide icon.Saban, however, is one national championship away from tying Bryants record of six. Saban currently has four with Alabama -- 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015 -- after winning his first at LSU in 2003.Still, when asked Friday about catching Bryant, Saban had no interest in discussing legacies.I havent thought about it. Im not thinking about it, Saban said. Im focusing on what can I do for our players so we can have a chance to win the SEC championship tomorrow. Thats really all Im focusing on.Ive talked about, Be where your feet are. Im right here, right now. This is whats important and this is what we have to focus on.Saban, who has a record of 111-18 in his 10 years at Alabama, needs a win over No. 15 Florida (8-3, 6-2 SEC) in the SEC championship game on Saturday and two wins in the College Football Playoff to earn his fifth national championship with the Crimson Tide.As great as Sabans leadership has been during his time in Tuscaloosa, Saban chose to deflect the praise thrown at him back onto the players and other coaches who have helped No. 1 Alabama (12-0, 8-0) get into position.Theyve worked hard. Theyve done a lot, said Saban, who is riding a 24-game winning streak, tops in the nation. The coaches and the players on this team have worked hard and theyve contributed and deserve all the credit for all the success that this team has created for itself.Hopefully, we can just do enough to help them finish so that they can do something of significance that will define their legacy as a team.The 65-year-old Saban was also asked if hed given any thought to how long hed like coach. Saban has more than 30 years of coaching experience, including 23 years as a head coach -- 21 in the college ranks and two with the NFLs Miami Dolphins -- but said one day hell have to face his fear of age catching up with the quality of his coaching and his health.I want to do itt as long as I feel like I can do a good job of it and Im healthy enough to do it, Saban said.dddddddddddd Thats always been what Ive wanted to do. And as long as I can keep doing that, Ill be happy doing it.While Saban could have plenty more years of head coaching left in him, he thinks one of his assistants is ready to get that same chance again. Saban said that offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is absolutely ready to be a head coach again.Saban praised Kiffins ability to mold his offensive systems around his Alabama players during his three years with the Tide, despite working with three different starting quarterbacks. Kiffin was able to help Alabamas offense evolve from its normal run-first, pro-style and play-action attack to a more spread look that has featured a lot more zone-read in 2016.Alabamas offense, which is led by true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts, currently ranks first in the SEC in scoring (39.4 points per game) and is second in the league in rushing offense (245.9 yards per game) and total offense (479.6 YPG).Those are signs of tremendous maturity as a coach who is not just committed to a system, but is committed to doing things that he has to help players be successful, Saban said.I think hes proven when he was a head coach he had a reasonably good amount of success -- much more than I think he gets credit for -- and hes done a phenomenal job in the three years hes been with us.Kiffin previously served as USCs head coach for three years, compiling a 28-15 mark before he was unceremoniously fired in September 2013 after a 3-2 start. He also went 7-6 during his only year as the Tennessee Volunteers head coach in 2009. He also was the head coach of the NFLs Oakland Raiders for 20 games.Kiffin reportedly has emerged as a candidate for the head-coaching vacancy at Houston and also is the top choice to join LSU coach Ed Orgeron as the Tigers offensive coordinator. ' ' '