Football: The tie that binds -- baltimoresun.com

December 30, 2007

Part 13

Ravens' Gaither studying up

By his own admission, Jared Gaither wasn't much for academics while attending the University of Maryland. But he has become more of a student since leaving college.

December 23, 2007

Part 12

Tradition on tap

The words just tumbled out of Tony Della Rose's mouth.

December 16, 2007

Part 11

On a fast track

The question made Darrius Heyward-Bey chuckle. And roll his eyes.

December 9, 2007

Part 10

Of good cheer

It's easy, if you want, to diss The Cheerleader.

December 2, 2007

Part nine

Army-Navy rivalry often a family affair

It happens, inevitably, at every sporting event. Katie Odierno Funk hears the national anthem and her eyes well up with tears.

November 30, 2007

Part eight

First aide station

In 1989, Ken Niumatalolo's college football career, a frustrating four-year ride at Hawaii, was coming to a close.

November 25, 2007

Part seven

Ravens fanatic

The thoughts tug at Bruce Raffel's mind and tumble his guts.

November 18, 2007

Part six

Wearing a Ravens baseball cap and an old No. 31 jersey, Charlie Carnaggio was a beacon of Baltimore pride sitting among several hundred fellow gamblers packed into the Las Vegas Hilton's cavernous sports and race book last Sunday. There were Romos and Bradys and Mannings all over the place, but Carnaggio was the only one sporting purple and black.

November 11, 2007

Part five

The throwback

Art Donovan saw a lot of stuff during his 12 years in pro football, but as the grizzled Hall of Famer settled in to watch the Ravens' game Monday night, something flashed on the TV screen that gave him pause.

November 4, 2007

Part four

Having a run on walk-ons

Walk-ons are a rich part of college football lore. For decades, overlooked athletes have paid their way into school in search of opportunity, beaten the odds and made the team.

October 28, 2007

Part three

Ravens talk the talk

Bart Scott, the Ravens' 27-year-old, loquacious linebacker, was sitting on a stool recently inside Della Rose's Avenue Tavern in Canton, nibbling at a plate of nachos, when something made him visibly annoyed.

October 21, 2007

Part two

The next big thing?

Wearing slightly faded jeans that hang low but comfortably over white sneakers, Tavon Austin glides through the busy hallway of Dunbar High.

October 14, 2007

Part one

Crummey no less a leader

Love can be cruel. Poets and songwriters have tried to explain this to us for centuries.

October 14, 2007

About the series

America's game

Its noises become the soundtrack to our autumn. The grunts, whistles, cheers, the sharp crunch of two swift bodies violently colliding. It's all part of the mix tape that echoes and hums inside our stadiums, classrooms, households -- and in our heads --over the course of the fall.

Football: The tie that binds

Football: The tie that binds

Ravens' Gaither studying up

Tradition on tap

On a fast track

Of good cheer

Army-Navy rivalry often a family affair

First aide station

Ravens fanatic

All booked up in Vegas

The throwback

Having a run on walk-ons

Ravens talk the talk

The next big thing?

Crummey no less a leader

America's game

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Football: The tie that binds

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Going deep

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