Courage galore. On Wednesday, it was announced that Kentucky linebacker Terry Clayton had been nominated for the Courage Award given by the FedEx Orange Bowl and the Football Writers Association of America. At the age of five, Clayton went deaf after a severe case of chicken pox, but persevered to become an integral part of the Wildcat roster. Advances in technology allow Clayton to use a device that gives him limited hearing, but the senior cannot wear it during practices or games. This is an amazing story of dedication and strength, and Clayton deserves all the recognition that comes his way. Also deserving of recognition are the students and student-athletes at Gallaudet University, a liberal arts school in Washington, D.C. for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. A Division III school that competes in the Capital Athletic Conference, Gallaudet sponsors 12 varsity programs, many of which have found success. This fall, Gallaudet’s football team is 2-1 and its women’s volleyball squad is 7-5.

Aces, aces. In yesterday’s coffee, we mentioned the outstanding start to the golf career of Ohio Valley freshman Sean Burke, who connected on a hole-in-one earlier this month. Yesterday afternoon, Mount Olive sports information director and friend of the Double-A Zone David Shulimson sent a note my way after finishing his cup o’ joe. Apparently, Mount Olive golfer Johan Hagsund also recorded an ace on the links as a freshman, drilling a perfect shot on a par-3 last February at the Don Scalf Invitational. Hagsund is now a sophomore, and in keeping with our sound mathematical practices established yesterday, is on pace for four aces in his career.

Want a job in college sports? NCAA Online has always been a leader in helping folks find jobs in intercollegiate athletics, but today, that opportunity has expanded for our future athletics administrators. The new and improved NCAA Market is the premier online career resource for collegiate sport professionals and now offers advanced features. Participants can set their own job criteria and have selected jobs come via e-mail, and there are also really neat ways to manage and refine job searches – the program allows for users to post resumes, published articles, papers and portfolios. If you’re an employer looking to fill a position, the NCAA Market can also help you out, as more than 230 candidates have posted their resumes in the last 24 hours. If you want a job in college sports (who doesn’t?), visit this Web site soon.