SALT LAKE CITY -- Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott has no issue with players protesting during the national anthem as long as its done in a respectful way.Athletes across the country have staged a variety of pregame protests after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem in protest of police violence against African-Americans and minorities.Very much believe in the idea of freedom of speech and individuals right to express themselves, Scott said. Ive also always seen sport as a great platform for positive social change. To the extent that theyre individuals that want to use their celebrity or use the platform to try to send a positive message and make a positive impact on society, I think thats great.Ive seen plenty of examples in my career of tennis players and others doing that. As long as its done in a respectful way, in a way thats not demeaning to other people and not disruptive, I think its absolutely fine.The entire Indiana Fever team recently knelt during the anthem before a playoff game. Several other NFL players, U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe and scores of high school and college players also have participated in some form.Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade gave an anti-violence speech at the ESPYS and expressed their support of the values behind the Black Lives Matter movement in July.University of California-Berkeley professor emeritus Dr. Harry Edwards told the Associated Press in July that todays athletes have a level of power that Muhammad Ali and others didnt have in the 1960s, and they have begun using it to speak out against violence both by and against police. The newfound power of todays athlete comes from monetary wealth, celebrity status and having the vehicle of social media to communicate directly with the masses. Bobby Orr Jersey . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. Martin Havlat Jersey . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. https://www.cheapblackhawks.com/967b-hughie-lehman-jersey-blackhawks.html . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. Pat Stapleton Jersey . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Ty Arbour Jersey .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Coming off the worst back-to-back defeats in school history, Maryland is in full bounce-back mode as it prepares to face No. 19 Nebraska, which is unbeaten at home and still in contention for the Big Ten title.After starting 4-0, the Terrapins (5-5, 2-5) have five of six -- including 59-3 to Michigan and 62-3 at home against Ohio State.Weve hit a low spot, obviously, defensive tackle Roman Braglio said Tuesday.Theres no guarantee the situation will improve Saturday at Nebraska (8-2, 5-2). Maryland has quarterback issues and might again be without three suspended players, including running back Lorenzo Harrison, whos rushed for 664 yards and five touchdowns.Receiver DJ Turner and linebacker Antoine Brooks also received indefinite suspensions last Saturday for violating the schools student-athlete code of conduct. Coach DJ Durkin would not comment Tuesday on the players status for this week.That, however, is the least of Marylands problems. Quarterback Perry Hills injured his left shoulder in the first quarter against Ohio State, and his availability for Saturday will be determined later in the week.The drop off in talent from Hills to backups Caleb Rowe and true freshman Tyrrell Pigrome is noticeably significant. Hills has three interceptions over 147 attempts; his backups have been picked off five times over a collective 56 throws.With and without Hills, the Terrapins have played far worse over the last two weeks than at any other point this season. The combined 121-6 score of the losses to Michigan and Ohio State finally got the 1892 Maryland team off the hook for largest margin of defeat over a two-game span. That 1892 ssquad -- the first in school history -- lost to St.dddddddddddd Johns of Annapolis 50-0 and Johns Hopkins 62-0.The lopsided blowouts sustained by this Maryland team would seem to indicate the vast chasm in talent between the rebuilding Terrapins and best of the Big Ten.Not taking anything from either team -- both had really good defenses -- but at the end of the day we got away from what we usually do, running back Kenneth Goins said. We didnt execute as well as we did against other teams we played. I just feel like we werent as focused as we should have been.Its difficult to keep a positive attitude in the wake of two straight blowout defeats, and Durkin acknowledged the mood of the locker room is anything but upbeat.When you play the way we did and lose games like that, its not a good mood, Durkin said. If and when we learn to play consistently, a lot of stuff will be different for us. Thats the message. You move on, good or bad. Our guys are resilient. They bounce back.Despite their tailspin, the Terrapins still have a chance to become bowl eligible. Thats just might be the only thing keeping the spirit alive.What were conveying to our guys is this season still has a chance to be a tremendous success for us, Durkin said. We need to go finish strong and play the way were capable and not worry about circumstances or injuries. Its all part of it. We have young guys playing. OK, lets go play and play well. Weve done it at times.---More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '