s a San Diego Chargers tight ends coach when Harbaugh was finishing his NFL

MONTREAL -- Quebec has found a place to play soccer on the international stage, but it is not in a World Cup or any other event with national teams. A group of 18 players patched together and coached by former Montreal Impact player Patrick Leduc will begin play Sunday in the International Tournament of Peoples and Cultures in Marseille, France. The week-long event has teams from provinces and regions that are not independent --although some wish to be -- but feel unique enough to have their own teams. The other squads are from Tibet, Iraqi Kurdistan, Aram in Syria, Western Sahara, the northern Indian regions of Ladahk and Nagaland and the host French region of Provence. "Its the first time that a senior male team (from Quebec) will play at the international level," said Yannick Saint-Germain, president of the team that calls itself Les Quebecois. "We have under-14 or under-16 teams that have played against France or Mexico, but as seniors, its the first time. "Its an historical moment for us, and I hope it wont be the last tournament for us." Leduc scrambled to find players whose clubs were willing to release them in mid-season and ended up with some decent talent in former Impact players Reda Agourram, Alex Suprenant and Kevin Cossette, former FC Edmonton member Fabrice Lassonde and others. Sovereigntists in Quebec have pushed for a "national" hockey team to play against Canada and other countries, but it has never come close to happening. Saint-Germain turned to soccer, where there is an international body called the Non-Federated Board overseeing soccer among cultures and regions that are not members of the sports world governing body FIFA. He attended the Viva World Cup, or non-FIFA world cup, last year in Kurdistan. Now he hopes to enter the Quebec team in next years tournament in Lapland. "Im not the only one who has dreamed of having a national team in hockey or soccer or any sport," said St-Germain. "Many people think about it. "I wanted to see if it was feasible. I Googled to see if there were other non-independent states with national teams and I discovered theres a lot." Zanzibar, and island off the coast of Tanzania in east Africa, for example. Or North Cyprus, which lost to Kurdistan in last years non-FIFA World Cup final. Saint-Germain and Leduc said the teams mission is cultural rather than political, but Quebecs independence movement is solidly behind it. The team is partly funded by the sovereigntist Parti Quebecois government and has backing from the ultra-nationalist St-Jean-Baptiste Society. The schedule includes a game against Tibet on June 24, Quebecs national holiday. "There are a lot of non-independent nations that play internationally in their confederations, like Puerto Rico, for example," said Saint-Germain. "As I say, football independence has nothing to do with political independence. "Its two different things. Of course people who are for the independence of Quebec are very happy about this project, and I understand that, but theres no relation. You can be a province and play. Ontario or New Brunswick could play, why not?" Leduc said the team has not taken a political position. "We didnt base our selection on whether you vote for the Parti Quebecois or the Liberals," he said. "I have francophones, anglophones, allophones, but I only wanted to know if they were forward, midfielder or defender. "Ive realized also that whether they vote blue or red, it doesnt matter. Theyre proud to represent Quebec. A 25-year-old player is really happy to be part of a select team and to play at the elite level once again in his career." It was a proud moment to put on the blue and white shirt with the fleur-de-lys on the front for Cossette, who plays semipro in Quebec City. "At 16, I played for Quebec in a Canadian championship, but to represent it at the senior level and to play with the best in Quebec is a source of pride," he said. "Im completely a Quebecer. "I have no other nationality." Tommy Lucas, the bilingual former captain of the McGill Redmen, has no problem with it. "Its my home and its always been my home," he said. "My parents are from England but I was born here. "Especially Montreal, this is where I belong. Im excited to represent Quebec. I feel a strong sense of pride and thats definitely going to help me perform during the tournament." The team is not sanctioned by the Quebec Soccer Federation, which was in the spotlight last week for its controversial decision to ban turbans and other religious headgear, only to rescind the order when FIFA clarified its rules. The QSF is affiliated with FIFA through the Canadian Soccer Association. Leduc said they approached the federation for support and found them "ambivalent. "In future, maybe long term, wed like to be sanctioned by the federation and play official games, whether it be against teams like Catalonia or other regions, or official games. Haiti is coming here this summer, so why not have a Quebec team play them?" The players gathered for one last fundraiser Tuesday night at a bistro called Massila, the ancient name for Marseille, which was designated by the European Union as European Capital of Culture for 2013. They held their first practice later that night. They wont have much of a budget. The trip will cost about $40,000, with the team staying in a university dorm and getting around on public transit. But they hope to do well on the pitch, even if they have no idea of the level of play of most opponents. "I expect varying levels," said Leduc. "I expect Provence will be a tough game. "Kurdistan I know will be a really tough team, but I dont know how strong Tibet will be. Its fun that theyre participating." It will be a grind. Quebec opens with games on consecutive days against Western Sahara, Tibet and Provence. The semifinals are on June 27 with the final the following day. There are consolation games for those that dont make the semis. They are entering the unknown, but Agourram was adamant it is not vacation and they will give their best on the pitch. "We know nothing about the teams were going to play against, but I think we have a good team and Im confident well have good results," he said.Thon Maker Jersey . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Mateen Cleaves Pistons Jersey . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. https://www.pistonsrookiesshop.com/Tim-Frazier-City-Edition-Jersey/ . 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That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique.While No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Michigan are among the nations top five scoring teams, the Big Ten Conference is just as good on defense.After the first month of the season, the league has seven of the nations top 25 defensive teams in terms of scoring defense, led by No. 8 Wisconsin. The Badgers are seventh, giving up an average of 11.8 points.Ohio State (12.3 points) is ninth, Iowa (13.5) is tied for 11th, Michigan (13.8) is 13th, Maryland and Northwestern are tied for 22nd at 17 points and Nebraska (18.0) is tied for 25th.Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said the conference was in a similar position halfway through last season.The defensive coaches in this league are very sound, he said. You dont see typically a lot of guys running uncovered on plays that go for 60, 70 or 80 yards. Most of the defenses have become very sound, team orientated and very athletic, talented and physical.Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said that many coaches have long adhered to the practice of putting their best recruits on defense.Looking at Michigans defense for this weekend, Chryst said there isnt one player to stop. There are a lot of playmakers.You take those good players and you coach them up, so with a good scheme and good players who understand what they are doing, that makes for good defense, Chryst said.Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh sees the same thing on Wisconsin, which is giving up just 80.5 yards rushing and 277 yards in total.I had the pleasure of coaching (former Badger linebacker) Chris Borland in San Francisco, and I say this as the highest form of compliment, it looks like 11 Chris Borlands out there, the way they play, said Harbaugh, whose team is giving up an average 269.8 yards.If there is a common link between the better defenses, its their ability to force turnovers. All seven teams have a plus figure in the turnover differential, with Ohio State being plus-9.Surprisingly, the Buckeyes retooled their defense this season after seeing defensive end Joey Bosa and cornerback Eli Apple taken in the first 10 picks of the NFL draft.Rutgers coach Chris Ash, who was the Ohio State co-defensive coordinator last year, is not surprised the Buckeyes have made the transition.Ohio State recruits at a high level, its just really reload, the next man in, he said.dddddddddddd When someone goes to the NFL or their career is over, there is another talented player waiting to burst on the scene and became another Ohio State legend.Other notes from around the Big Ten:PROMISING PURDUEPurdue (2-1) has its first winning record entering October since 2012.I think we are work in progress, said Purdue coach Darrell Hazell, who won six games in his first three seasons. I think they are starting to understand all the things it takes to win games. They are playing hard and fast and with confidence. I am sitting here feeling good about the team but we have a long way to go.HARBAUGH-CHRYST FRIENDSHIPMichigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst have been friends for almost three decades, when Chrysts father, George, was the head coach at Wisconsin-Platteville.Its been a family friendship, the Chrysts and the Harbaughs going back to 1987, said Harbaugh, whose No. 4 Wolverines host the No. 8 Badgers on Saturday. Our dads were friends, the sons were friends, and its been a 30-year friendship.Chryst was a San Diego Chargers tight ends coach when Harbaugh was finishing his NFL career. Chrysts brother, Geep, was the offensive teams offensive coordinator. Geep Chryst also served as an assistant coach under Harbaugh when he coached the San Francisco 49ers.BALL CONTROLMaryland (3-0) has not turned the ball over under new coach DJ Durkin. It is the only Power Five program and one of just three in the FBS that have not committed a turnover this season.FRUSTRATED FERENTZIowa coach Kirk Ferentz is a little frustrated with the inconsistency of the calls regarding cut blocks by offensive linemen.In four games, he said, he has seen four different interpretations. He lost a 75-yard touchdown run last weekend against Rutgers on a cut-block penalty and voiced his concern after the game.Once we start conference (play), I think there will be an effort made to get everyone on the same page, Ferentz said. Hopefully, thats coaches, players and the guys working the game. Clarity is always a good thing on any issue. ' ' '