Springfest Saturday

"It feels like the first time"...Hell, I can't remember the last time...

Foreigner 

Saturday, May 4, 2013 - 8PM - Tickets: $27-$59

www.ForeignerOnline.com

Winterfest Kick-Off

I love it.  Go OC Stars!




Come one, come all!

Terps to the Big East???

Terps to leave the ACC???  No more Terps/Duke?  No more Terps/Carolina?  This stinks!

Maryland, Rutgers to Big Ten?

Updated: November 17, 2012, 6:02 PM ET

By Dana O'Neil, Brett McMurphy, Andy Katz | ESPN.com

The University of Maryland is in serious negotiations to join the Big Ten Conference, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

If Maryland goes from the ACC to the Big Ten, Rutgers of the Big East is expected to follow suit. The addition of Maryland and Rutgers would give the Big Ten 14 members as the league gears toward negotiations on a new media rights deal when its first-tier rights expire in 2017.

No date has been set for a potential announcement, though it could come as soon as Monday.

Maryland president Wallace Loh has been handling the conversation with Big Ten officials, a source said.

If Maryland goes to the Big Ten, Rutgers of the Big East is expected to follow suit. The addition of Maryland and Rutgers would give the Big Ten 14 members as the league gears toward negotiations on a new media rights deal when its first-tier rights expire in 2017.

One source told ESPN that Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson has informed key staffers that there are ongoing discussions.

One stumbling block for Maryland could be finances. Maryland's athletic department has recently dropped sports because of budget issues, and the ACC recently raised its exit fee to $50 million.

Maryland and Florida State were the only two of 12 schools that voted against a $50 million exit fee out of the ACC, but lost the vote. Loh was quoted in the Washington Post on Sept. 13 that he was against the hike from $20-50 million on "legal and philosophical" grounds. The Post reported that Loh said Maryland planned to be in the ACC for years to come.

A source told ESPN that the Big Ten has been itchy about further expansion since Notre Dame made its official move to the ACC two months ago in all sports other than football. The source said the Big Ten can justify Maryland and then possibly Rutgers since they are all contiguous states to the Big Ten footprint.

One source told ESPN that Loh and Anderson don't have ACC ties so there wouldn't be a strong emotional pull to stay with the conference. Loh is a former provost at Big Ten member Iowa.

However, the chancellor of the Maryland system, Brit Kirwan, has been on the Maryland campus for 30 years and has strong affiliation for being a charter member of the ACC, according to a source.

One source with Maryland ties said there is a strong affinity for the ACC and making the move to the Big Ten may not be a unanimous decision among the school's board of regents.

Big Ten officials did not respond to numerous requests seeking comment. ACC officials also did not respond to a request for comment. Maryland officials would not comment when asked after the Terps' football game on Saturday.

If these dominoes were to fall then Connecticut would emerge as the most likely candidate to fill Maryland's spot in the ACC. The ACC will be at 14 members in 2013-14 with the addition of the Big East's Pittsburgh and Syracuse and 15 in all sports except football when Notre Dame joins, which could be as early as fall 2013.

Rutgers' exit fee from the Big East would be less expensive. The buyout to leave the Big East is $10 million if the school provides 27 months' notice. However, the league has allowed West Virginia, Pitt and Syracuse to leave the league without honoring the 27-month requirement by paying a higher exit fee.

The Scarlet Knights would be the ninth member of the Big East to leave or announce they were leaving the league since 2004. Six of those defections have occurred in the past year -- Pitt, Syracuse and Notre Dame to the ACC; TCU and West Virginia to the Big 12 and Rutgers to the Big Ten.

The Scarlet Knights were charter members of the Big East's football conference, which began in 1991.

Maryland also was a charter member of the ACC, one of eight schools to start the league in 1953.

Both Maryland and Rutgers are members of the AAU (Association of American Universities), something vital to Big Ten presidents.

The addition of the two East Coast schools would dramatically stretch the Big Ten's footprint. With Maryland holding down the Beltway, Rutgers offering up the New York market and Penn State's strong eastern ties, the league has a solid anchor in the mid-Atlantic states.

Maryland and Rutgers also would make the nation's richest conference even wealthier. Last season, each Big Ten school received a record $24.6 million in shared revenue, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. One source said the success of the Big Ten Network is an intriguing factor for Maryland.

If the two schools join the Big Ten, it would reopen what many thought was a stable time in the conference realignment process. The Big Ten joins the SEC as a legitimate 14-team superconference, while the ACC drops to 13 football members and likely will pursue another all-sports member to get back to 14.

ACC commissioner John Swofford said at ACC media day and during the news conference when the Irish were added that the league wouldn't go beyond 14 football members and could easily exist with an odd number (15) in men's and women's basketball. But if a football member were to leave, the ACC would likely have to make a move.

Maryland, meanwhile, will become only the second school to leave the ACC. South Carolina was the other, leaving in 1971 to become an independent. The Gamecocks are now members of the SEC.

In the past few years, the nation's top five conferences -- SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and ACC -- have added a total of 10 new members, causing a domino effect throughout the college landscape from coast to coast.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncf/story/_/id/8644587/maryland-terrapins-rutgers-scarlet-knights-talks-join-big-ten-conference-sources-say

Best Fries in the U.S.?

Just as I suspected...

Best french fries in the U.S.

By Laura Kiniry | Travel+Leisure – Tue, Nov 13, 2012 1:51 PM EST

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French fries are one of the true crowd-pleasers—a food that friends agree upon, that turns up at both five-star steakhouses and roadside dives, and that is familiar but can also surprise you. They can be cut thick or curly, cooked with or without skins, served Belgian-style in paper cones or in a parchment-lined basket with malt vinegar on the side. No matter how you slice it, the deep-fried spud is king.

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Of course, restaurants do slice—and serve—them many different ways: frying them in duck fat, seasoning them with truffle oil, and pairing them with a variety of dipping sauces.

Yet there are still purists who keep the focus on the traditional French fry. At Thrasher’s in Ocean City, Md., if you want ketchup, you’d better bring your own.

The Breslin Bar & Dining Room, New York City(Photo: Courtesy of The Breslin Bar & Dining Room)

It’s no secret that French fries served crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, are the golden standard. But this Manhattan hipster favorite goes a step beyond others to assure the crunchiness of its spuds: introducing The Breslin’s thrice-cooked chips.

These long, medium-thick slices of Idaho russet potatoes are first boiled, then fried twice in a sunflower and canola oil blend before receiving a dash of salt, and presented either as a stand-alone dish or alongside a feta-topped, chargrilled lamb burger. Only thing left to request: a side of cumin mayo for dipping.





(Photo: Lee Meredith)Boise Fry Company, Idaho

With a slogan that reads “burgers on the side,” you know this is a place serious about its spuds. The potato reigns supreme in this state, and between the vast selection of sauces, seasonings, and spritzers, it’s possible to never try the same thing twice. The ordering goes like this: walk in, choose from six varieties of potato including purple, yam, and sweet, then decide how you’d like it cut.

Next up, the dressing. Perhaps you’d like your curly Yukon gold fries topped with malt vinegar and served with a side of blueberry ketchup (that’s right: blueberry), or you might be craving a russet fry with rosemary garlic salt and Thai sour cream. Or why choose at all? Enlist some friends, and sample away.

The Original Hot Dog Shop, Pittsburgh(Photo: Courtesy of The Original Hot Dog Shop)

At this family-run stalwart, the mountain of fries that comes in even a small order borders on the ridiculous—so no wonder the college kids keep coming back. Located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, “The Dirty O” has a reputation for decadent spuds: hand-cut and peeled Idaho potatoes, twice fried in peanut oil, and served golden and crunchy on a cafeteria tray. The Original even has its own dedicated fry station, where you can order them with sides of gravy, cheese, or ketchup.


(Photo: Christine Tsai)Duckfat, Portland, Maine

When it comes to delivering the perfect fry, it’s all in the name at this Portland sandwich shop. The locally sourced potatoes are twice fried in a healthy coating of duck fat that results in a crunchy exterior but leaves each fry’s interior fresh and tender. They’re then served in paper cones with a handful of specially made dips like smoked mussel mayo and chopped egg and caper mayo. Being close to Canada, Duckfat also offers its own version of poutine, topping those same crispy fries with a heaping of local cheese curd and house-made duck gravy.

(See also: The easiest (and most delicious) way to make french fries)



Jasper’s Corner Tap, San Francisco(Photo: Courtesy of Jasper’s Corner Tap & Kitchen)

Since its 2011 debut, Jasper’s has won a following for its bar offerings, including a menu devoted exclusively to fries. Seriously. You get to choose your fry (thin, thick, or sweet potato), your seasoning—options include smoked paprika and truffle, Parmesan, and herb—and, for an extra $3, add a cheese curd–based poutine. Word on the street is that the smoked cheese fondue is “to die for.” Jasper’s also obliges with a late-night menu ideal for entertaining the Tenderloin neighborhood’s after-hours crowd. The highlight? A helping of thick-cut fries, naturally, topped with buffalo mozzarella curds and hot brown gravy.


(Photo: Johnny Wang)Pike Street Fish Fry, Seattle

Late-night crowds line up at the counter of this tiny Capitol Hill neighborhood eatery for some of Seattle’s best fish and chips; after all, the fries alone are worthy of the wait. They’re hand-sliced, fried to perfection, and served in paper cups with dipping sauce (the tangy chili mayo is a perennial favorite). And while it’s hard to beat a helping of these crispy gems after an evening out boozing, Pike Street Fish Fry outdoes itself every third Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. by serving its fries for free.


(Photo: Courtesy of The Green Room)The Green Room, Greenville, S.C.

This go-to source for upscale comfort food also has a reputation for creativity (ever heard of a Philly Cheesesteak soup?), and its fries are no exception. Chef Patrick Long specializes in Parmesan truffle fries, shoestring cut and tossed in truffle oil immediately after he takes them out from the fryer. He then tops them with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Pair them with a plate of BBQ pork biscuit sliders, and you’ve got yourself a satisfying southern meal.


(Photo: Courtesy of Mina Group)Bourbon Steak, Miami

Celebrity chef Michael Mina’s dinner-only restaurant offers up generous cuts of beef that are both organic and hormone-free—and its fries get the same attention to quality and detail. Mid-thick cuts of potato get dunked in duck fat to provide both their rich flavor and crispness, and an order covers three seasoning and sauce combos: rosemary herb accompanied by a side of spicy ketchup; onion-dusted with sour cream sauce; and smoked paprika with smoked barbecue sauce.


Jonesy’s EatBar, Denver(Photo: Kristin Olson)

The fries at this Uptown neighborhood gastropub are consistently voted Denver’s best: they’re thick-cut, extra crispy, and simply put, phenomenal. They also come in four “World Famous” and original varieties, including Buffalo (doused in wing sauce and blue cheese crumbles with a side of dressing), and a Bacon Mac & Cheese that regular costumers swear by. Factor in a dash of nostalgia from the setting within a restored 1950s soda fountain.



(Photo: Wonjin Kim)Thrasher’s, Ocean City, Md.

It may have something to do with the salty air, but there’s a certain je ne sais quoi in a boardwalk fry that just can’t be found elsewhere—and Thrasher’s has been preserving and protecting that quality for the last 80-plus years. No wonder there’s always a wait. It’s hard to beat a bucket of hand-cut spuds that have been fried in peanut oil with skins on, especially when served with nothing more than a little salt and vinegar.

Purists believe there’s no messing around with the fry’s intense potato flavor, so if you really want ketchup you’ll have to bring it yourself. And while you’re at it, invite a few friends to share: Thrasher’s smallest fry order is a 16-ounce bucket, and its largest is a whopping 53.

See more of the best french fries in the U.S.

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/best-french-fries-in-the-u-s-.html

No More Twinkies?

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Twinkies maker Hostess going out of business

Nearly 18,500 workers will lose their jobs as the company succumbs to the crippling effects of a nationwide union strike.

By Tanya Agrawal, Reuters

Hostess Brands, the bankrupt maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread, said it has sought court permission to go out of business after failing to get wage and benefit cuts from thousands of its striking bakery workers.

Hostess said a national strike by members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union that began last week had crippled its ability to produce and deliver products at several facilities.

The liquidation of the company will mean that most of its 18,500 employees will lose their jobs, Hostess said on Friday.

The 82-year-old company said it took the decision to shut down after determining that not enough employees had returned to work by a deadline on Thursday.

Complete article HERE.

Ray Lewis - A Football Life

There's nothing to say except - GOAT!

Winterfest Starts Tomorrow

Ocean City's Winterfest of Lights Celebrates 20 Years, OC Tri-Running Joins Holiday Tradition with Festive Run

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November 14, 2012
Written By: Andrea Bowland - Executive EditorTags: Ocean City MD, Winterfest of Lights, Winterfest 20th Anniversary, Ocean City traditions, Ocean City holiday celebrations, OC Tri-Running, Winterfest of Lights Jingle Bell 5K, OC Stars, Holiday Lights

There’s a chill in the air, kids bounce up and down in anticipation, not certain whether the approaching train, or Santa Claus—who happens to be tucked inside his house just a few yards away—is more exciting. Soon, these children and their families will board the Ocean City boardwalk tram and take a holiday journey through close to one million lights at Northside Park in Ocean City, MD.

They’ll see the Wizard of Oz, the 12 days of Christmas, and a myriad assortment of holiday characters who twinkle and move in time to traditional holiday songs, just before the music shifts, taking an ominous turn. As the train rounds the bend, with the familiar opening riff to Jaws in the background, an illuminated shark will seem to burst from the water! It’s a comedic take on an iconic image, which could only be featured in a waterfront holiday display, found at the beach.

The Winterfest of Lights, Ocean City’s renowned holiday lights display is celebrating its 20^thAnniversary this season. Thursday, November 15^th at 5:30 pm, Mayor Rick Meehan, joined by a large crowd of community members and the youthful congregation of Ocean City Elementary’s OC Stars singers, will officially usher in the 20^thyear when he “lights” the huge Christmas tree at Winterfest's entrance. Immediately thereafter the entire display will be illuminated, welcoming thousands of visitors to celebrate the holiday season.

Aside from the scenic train ride, a huge indoor tent serves as the waiting grounds for the ride, and also houses Yukon Cornelius’s Gift Shop, Santa’s House, and a refreshment area. So much of the Winterfest of Lights experience is tradition, providing a wonderful way for the community and visitors alike to celebrate the holiday season on the shore.

“I think it [Winterfest] is great for everyone—the children, the parents, and everyone getting ready for the holiday season. It takes a lot of effort between the Rec Department and Public Works. I was out there the day they started, and it was amazing the amount of work involved,” said Chris Klebe, President of OC Tri-Running Sport Inc., a local Endurance/Multi-Sport Event Management company.

Klebe’s OC Tri-Running has become actively involved with the Winterfest of Lights this year, putting into action an idea they’ve had for at least five years.

“It’s been something that Mark Shipley, a part of our staff had – he thought of running through the lights,” explained Klebe.

The idea came to fruition jointly with the Ocean City Parks and Recreation Department, who also helped map out the entire 5K course. On Sunday, December 2^nd at 5pm, runners in the Winterfest of Lights Jingle Bell 5K will start their course in front of the registration tent, make one loop through the lights, continue on into a neighboring residential area, then back through the lights, finishing where they started. The registration fee includes a ride on the tram through the lights once the course is completed, a t-shirt, cookies, and hot chocolate.

With time fast approaching on this inaugural event, Klebe says it’s a bit of a sense of urgency to get things going as quickly as they can. He plans to promote the race at OC Tri-Running’s next event, the Baltimore Ravens Vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers 5K Challenge coming up this Saturday, November 17^th.

“We hope to get anywhere between 100 – 150 participants for the first year. I think this could build—certainly when we have more time to plan and advertise throughout the year—and grow into a very nice event for the holiday season,” Klebe said, indicating the Winterfest Jingle Bell 5K, like the Winterfest of Lights, may very well turn into a venerable holiday tradition in Ocean City.

If You Go:

20th Annual Winterfest of Lights

Northside Park 125th Street and the Bay, Ocean City, MD

Begins Thursday, November 15th; Ends January 1st

Sunday – Thursday 5:30 – 9:30 pm

Friday – Saturday 5:30 – 10:30 pm

Admission: $5 for anyone age 12 and older. Free for 11 and under.

Santa is available for photographs through December 23rd.

To commemorate the 20th Anniversary, there will be a special fireworks display on New Year’s Eve.

 

To Participate in the OCMD Winterfest of Lights Jingle Bell 5K:

Sunday December 2nd

5 pm – 8 pm

Included in Registration Fee: Tram ride through the lights, t-shirt, hot chocolate

$20 for age 12 and under; $25 for age 13 and over.

All participants are asked to bring a toy for Toy for Tots

Registration can be done in advance on OC Tri-Running’s website, or on-site the day of the race.

http://shorebread.com/eastern-shore-coastal-living-social/2012/11/14/Ocean-Citys-Winterfest-of-Lights-Celebrates-20-Years-OC-Tri-Running-Joins-Holiday-Tradition-with-Festive-Run#.UKP7eod9JRw 

Return of the Stallion

He started with a whisper...



Taking you to the promised land...

QBs Talkin' on Facebook

A glimpse of this week's edition LOL...

See the whole thing HERE.

Decorating Delmarva

Looking for something to do this Christmas season?  Check out what's new in Delmar...

This 36-night event will consist of six major destinations on a 2 mile drive through an animated tour of the North Pole, including holiday lights and community built displays. The tour will conclude in an area recognized as Santa’s Village.

In Santa’s Village there will be nightly festival events in an activity area for children of all ages.  The events will include Mr. & Mrs. Claus, holiday music, fire pits and nightly entertainment. The Delaware International Speedway and U.S. 13 Dragway located in Delmar, Delaware along with it’s 120 acres will be the host of this one-of-a-kind event which will become a new Eastern Shore Tradition and destination spot for visitors and residents on Delmarva!

The show will operate every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening beginning November 15, 2012 through December 23, 2012. On December 25, 2012 the event will be open consecutive nights until January 5, 2013.

Gates will open week nights at 6pm and close at 10pm. On Friday and Saturday evenings, Gates will open at 6pm and close at 11pm. On December 31, we will host an outdoor New Years Eve party with the gates opening at 6pm and close at 1am. Patrons will drive their own vehicles through this 2 mile course with the option at the end of the route to park and visit Santa's Village or proceed out the exit road home

This charity event will support several groups on the Peninsula including, but not limited to, local schools, charity groups, non-profit organizations and clubs, churches and volunteer fire companies.

Check out all of the details HERE.

Torrey Smith

Great article from ESPN.com...

At the heart of Torrey Smith

His NFL journey is a story of perseverance, loyalty -- and sadness

Updated: November 14, 2012, 11:05 AM ET

By Kevin Van Valkenburg | ESPN.com

BALTIMORE -- There is a Biblical verse -- Proverbs 27:17 -- that Ravens coach John Harbaugh frequently references in team meetings. He loves the imagery of it, the larger meaning, and so he repeats it almost daily. It's a way of summarizing much of what he believes and loves about the game of football, about the devotion and fellowship a team must possess in order to be successful.

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Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/MCT/Getty ImagesRavens coach John Harbaugh says Torrey Smith is a "rare player" who displays no agenda.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Repeating that line of scripture is also the easiest way for Harbaugh to explain how Torrey Smith, a quiet, sensitive, second-year wide receiver from Colonial Beach, Va., became one of most important players on a team that is stuffed with Pro Bowlers and at least two future Hall of Famers.

"We talk a lot about the cauldron of competition, and the fire that refines us, that forges us," Harbaugh said. "We talk about whether you're the type of person that will sharpen the next guy or dull the next guy, because that's how teams are made. To me, no championship team will ever be divided. And to me, Torrey is the perfect example of how the right kind of person is made of the right kind of stuff."

Smith's impact on the franchise this season goes well beyond his 31 catches for 548 yards and seven touchdowns. Though the strides he has made as a wide receiver since the Ravens drafted him in the second round out of the University of Maryland in 2011 have been significant, his emergence as a unifying force in the locker room is a big reason why Baltimore, which visits Pittsburgh on Sunday night, is on track to be the only franchise in the NFL to make the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season.

"He's one of those rare players where there is no agenda," Harbaugh said. "He just wants to know what's expected of him, so he can do the best he possibly can. He's not trying to fool you, he's not trying to impress you, he's just trying to be himself."

Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesLinebacker Ray Lewis hugs Smith after the Ravens beat the Patriots on Sept. 23.

---

Smith's journey to this point in his NFL career is a story of perseverance and loyalty, but also one of great sadness. On Sept. 23, Smith's younger brother Tevin Jones was killed in a motorcycle accident in Montross, Va., less than 24 hours before the Ravens were scheduled to host the New England Patriots. Smith left the team hotel in the middle of the night to be with his family, and the Ravens prepared to face the Patriots the next day without him.

"I got a call from our security guy at 1:30 a.m. telling me what had happened, and at that point you're like a parent," Harbaugh said. "It was just shock. I felt sad of course. But just shocked. You're trying to make heads or tails of it. Our team got wind of it in the morning, and you could just see it on their faces. The guys came in and they were almost ashen."

[+] Enlarge

Zuma Press/Icon SMIOne of two touchdowns Smith caught in the Ravens' 31-30 win over New England on Sept. 23.

What happened next was as moving as it was surreal. Smith returned to the team, having slept little more than an hour. He attended the team chapel, decided his brother would have wanted him to play, and then he went out and caught six passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns in a dramatic 31-30 win. When he caught his first touchdown, a leaping 25-yard catch, he pointed toward the heavens and jogged to the sideline with tears in his eyes.

"My teammates, I love them to death, and they helped me get through this," Smith said after the game.

More than a month later, Ravens players and coaches still talk about what took place that night in M&T Bank Stadium. When they talk about Smith's character, they use a tone that closely resembles awe.

"It was unbelievable," said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. "I just don't even think we can imagine what that was like for him. For him to play that kind of game under those circumstances is pretty special. I don't even think I would be able to function if I were in his shoes."

"That was his way of relieving his pain for a few hours," said Ravens wide receiver LaQuan Williams, who was also a teammate of Smith's at Maryland. "Football was his outlet."

It's still a difficult subject for Smith to discuss publicly. He has asked the Ravens' media relations staff to politely decline all interview requests that focus on what happened to his brother. It's too soon, too raw. But he understands why people found his performance so inspiring.

"Football is one of those games that definitely relates to life in a lot of ways," Smith said. "Everything can be going good, and just like that, you have a turnover. Things are going south, you're going the opposite direction. How are you going to recover from it? That's the beauty in this game. It brings a lot of people together, and you can also learn a lot of life lessons. For me, I've been through a lot before, so there is nothing that this game can throw at me that I can't handle."

AP Photo/Patrick SemanskySmith and his teammates celebrate beating the Patriots.

---

Smith's wisdom and maturity were forged, at least in part, by his atypical childhood growing up in Virginia. The oldest of seven siblings, Smith spent many of his formative years changing diapers, preparing meals and getting his siblings ready for school while his mother, Monica Jenkins, worked multiple jobs and attended night school. By the time he was 7, he was practically an adult.

"He's been like the dad of his family for quite a while," said Williams.

His position coach at Maryland, Lee Hull, used to joke that after a big victory, the whole football team would be out celebrating on the College Park social scene, all except for Smith, who would be bunkered down in his dorm room, hoping to finish his homework. It's one of the reasons Smith was able graduate with a degree in criminology and criminal justice even though he left Maryland with a year of eligibility remaining.

Harbaugh says the Ravens took all that into account when they drafted Smith in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft, ignoring the skeptics who thought that he was stiff getting in and out of routes, that he didn't have great hands, and that he'd never develop into a starting NFL wide receiver. He was viewed as a speed guy, but not a complete wideout. A number of Ravens fans, having been burned by wide receiver busts like Travis Taylor andMark Clayton, were among his biggest critics, especially after Smith dropped a litany of passes in the preseason. Few people seemed to remember the lockout erased an entire offseason of organized team activities, and Smith was scrambling to digest a new style of route running and a new playbook.

"It was crazy, man," Smith said. "I guess it just comes with being a high draft pick. I was kind of behind the eight ball anyway. Everyone assumes that [general manager] Ozzie [Newsome] can't draft a wide receiver. I heard that a million times before I even stepped foot in the Ravens facility."

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James Lang/US PresswireSmith, in his second season, has learned from teammate and veteran receiver Anquan Boldin.

When he failed to record a catch in the Ravens' first two games, the criticism grew loud enough that both Harbaugh and Flacco felt compelled to fire back at what they perceived as unreasonable expectations.

"Here is a guy who obviously was successful very quickly as a wide receiver. He's exceeded expectations for us," Harbaugh said. "And yet people were still calling him a bust. He couldn't have been successful any quicker than he was. That kind of shows you the expectations are pretty unrealistic."

The chorus of doubters, however, started to sing his praises, especially after the third game of Smith's NFL career, a game against the St. Louis Rams.

"I remember we had a hitch called, and the guy came up to press him and he changed to a nine route [a go route], just like he was supposed to do," said Flacco.

Flacco launched a perfect pass that hit Smith in stride for his first NFL catch, and by the time he stopped running it was a 74-yard touchdown. Minutes later, Smith caught another touchdown from Flacco on a deep post route. A few minutes after that, Smith caught his third touchdown -- all of this in the first quarter -- when Flacco audibled out of a run near the goal line and lofted a perfect fade to the corner of the end zone.

"It was a great opportunity for him to get in and gain some confidence," Flacco said. "Those plays can be so important for a guy's confidence -- really for the rest of his career. We live in such a now, now, now world, you have to kind of leave a good first impression, and for him to be able to do that on that stage was pretty important for him."

Smith's progression from there was much more gradual, but by studying the footwork and work ethic of veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin with religious devotion, he gradually became a consistent route runner.

"Last year he was considered just a one-route guy," said Ravens running back Ray Rice. "But we knew what we had as a player in Torrey. He had the perfect example [to follow] in Anquan, the ultimate pro and the ultimate leader. He already had a high motor. I remember a coach saying 'This guy will fall down on the field before he comes out of the game.'"

The Ravens, unlike teams that use a West Coast passing attack, don't want their receivers making sharp, 90-degree breaks when they come out of their routes. Baltimore's Air Coryell offense asks its receivers to instead bend their routes while running full speed, a change that might seem subtle, but one that -- to a wide receiver -- is like trying to learn to write left-handed after spending your entire life as a righty.

"I was taught in college to break down," Smith said. "There are other teams in the league that run it like we did in college. But the way we do it, we round everything off because it's faster. You're still making sharp cuts, but it requires a brand-new technique, and we didn't have an offseason to work on it."

In Week 9, in a crucial road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Smith played a game that might as well have been a microcosm of his entire rookie season. He dropped four passes, including a beautifully thrown ball by Flacco that looked like it could have been the game winner. But in the game's closing seconds, Flacco gave him yet another chance, and he responded by making a dramatic, tumbling, one-handed grab behind Steelers cornerbackWilliam Gay that secured a 23-20 victory.

Harbaugh was so excited, he dashed into his postgame news conference -- still soaking from a Gatorade bath he received on the sideline -- and quoted Teddy Roosevelt's famous "It's not the critic who counts ..." speech when asked about the past struggles of Flacco and Smith.

"We all have our issues and we all struggle," Harbaugh said. "So I'm not judging anybody. But to get criticized for overreacting to a win like that? Like you shouldn't get excited? Look, if you can't get excited about the success of a friend or someone that you coach or teach, if you can't do that, what is life even worth? You can't get excited about anything. I don't want your life. I was just so thrilled for Torrey."

This season, the feeling was different. The Ravens knew they had a burgeoning star in Smith, a quiet leader people in the locker room would gravitate toward. "He's been one of those very few players that you can say 'He's a Raven,'" said linebacker Terrell Suggs. "You go throughout the history of the organization there are very few players you can say, 'They are a Raven.' I think Torrey is shaping up to become one of them."

David Butler II/US PresswireSmith stretches for a touchdown against the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, but New England won 23-20.

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Tevin Jones, 19, idolized his oldest brother. He was the starting quarterback at King George High School his senior year. According to Virginia State Police, on the night of Sept. 22, Jones was riding his motorcycle on Route 672 in Westmoreland County in northeast Virginia when he ran off the right side of the road and hit a utility pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. He was wearing a helmet, and alcohol was not a factor. The next day, Smith posted about Tevin on his Twitter account: "I can't believe my little brother is gone ... be thankful for your loved ones and tell them you love them ... this is the hardest thing ever."

On the day his brother died, no one on the team wanted to make Smith feel like he was obligated to play against the Patriots. Yes, it was an important game, a rematch of the AFC Championship Game, but this was much bigger than that. One after another, Ravens players and coaches walked up to offer him a hug, or their condolences. Harbaugh wanted Smith to understand his extended family would be there for him no matter what he decided to do.

Hours before the game, Smith still hadn't made up his mind about whether he wanted to play. But he did decide he wanted to attend the Ravens' team chapel, a Bible study that's held in the team hotel before every game. When he walked in, the players, a few coaches and team chaplain Rod Hairston stood up and formed a circle. They spent several minutes in prayer, arms draped around him.

"It was just a handful of guys standing there, but it was really powerful," said Ravens assistant coach Craig Ver Steeg. "We were asking the Lord to give him the strength to get through this tough time. It was a faith-filled family moment. You could just feel Torrey get strength from that. It was an illustration of how a football team sure can be a family."

Like iron sharpening iron, each man tried to give Smith a piece of himself in that moment. When he walked out of the room, he saw Harbaugh and quietly told him he wanted to play. The Ravens held a moment of silence before the game for Tevin, and not that much later, Smith was standing in the end zone with the ball in his hands, pointing to the sky.

"Let's be honest, this thing we do, it's a diversion," Harbaugh said. "But it pushes fathers and sons together, or husbands and wives or buddies. It gives you something simple to talk about. If someone is going to associate themselves with our team, I want them to be proud of it. And that, to me, was a shining moment where character was revealed in all of our guys, most especially Torrey. It's like OK, if you're a fan of the Ravens, you can say, 'Hey it's worth it. I'm attached to this thing, and it's a good thing. It's better than just me. It's bigger than just me.'"

Kevin Van Valkenburg is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com. He can be reached at kvvespn@gmail.com.

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