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Rookie QB Flacco impressive both on and off the field

Sunday's AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't go the way Baltimore Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco was hoping.

In the Ravens' 23-14 loss to the Steelers, Flacco completed just 43.3 percent of his passes (13 of 30) for 141 yards, and threw three interceptions (after not throwing an interception in his first 49 playoff passes). His quarterback rating of 18.2 was his lowest in his 19-game NFL career.

Despite his struggles this past weekend, Flacco made history during the Ravens' run in the playoffs. He became the first rookie in NFL history to win two playoff games after Baltimore's upset win over the Tennessee Titans two Saturdays ago.

He guided Baltimore into the NFL's version of the Final Four, an awesome feat for a rookie signal-caller.

Flacco isn't your ordinary rookie NFL quarterback. He didn't play at a high-profile Division I school. He never played in a BCS bowl game. Heck, he never saw the field in any college bowl game.

Instead, Flacco competed at Delaware, a Division I FCS program. In 2007, he led the Blue Hens to the FCS National Championship game against Appalachian State. Flacco set 20 school records in his two seasons at Delaware.

In last year's NFL Draft, Flacco was taken by Baltimore with the 18th overall selection, He become the highest drafted FCS quarterback since Steve McNair was taken third overall in 1994.

While Flacco's on-the-field success on both at the college and professional level has been impressive, his off-the -field story is equally as compelling.

Flacco was raised in a small, blue-collar New Jersey town. His high school graduating class only had 167 kids.

After initially attending Pittsburgh and sitting behind quarterback Tyler Palko, Flacco decided to transfer. However, there wasn't much demand for Flacco's services from high-level Division I schools, and as a result, he settled on Delaware.

To complicate matters even further, Pitt Coach Dave Wannstedt wouldn't release Flacco from his scholarship when he wanted to transfer. This forced Flacco to sit out the 2005 season, and he also wasn't eligible for a scholarship for the 2005-06 school year.

When you read this Baltimore Sun feature on Flacco, written after April's NFL Draft, you'll realize how special Flacco really is. He's a simple, hard working kid who has earned everything he's ever achieved. How many NFL quarterbacks were accounting majors in college and had never owned a car when they entered the league?

In a society where athletes often become role models for the wrong reasons, Flacco is a humbling reminder of what is good in professional sports. From hearing about Flacco, it appears the fame and money that go along with NFL stardom have not altered him in the slightest bit.

Take a few minutes to read the Baltimore Sun story about Flacco and you'll be impressed too.

IN THE ZONE

Obama: 'A New Era of Responsibility'

Barack Obama took the oath of office today as the 44th president of the United States and pledged, "starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."

President Obama addressed a huge crowd estimated at more than 2 million people, on the capital's Mall and millions of others watching on television and the Internet.

He delivered a sobering assessment of where America stands and a broad vision of what it can become. He also pledged to improve the education system.

"We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do."

Fan confronts referee on court

After Providence's Jeff Xavier was hit in the face going for a layup, his brother came out of the stands to yell at the referee. The man, Jonathan Xavier, yelled at the referee but ever touched him. Security guards grabbed him and took him off the floor. He was charged with disorderly conduct.

UConn dominates UNC is battle of women's top two squads

Last night, the top two women's basketball teams in the nation squared off, and it wasn't much of a contest. On the road, No. 1 UConn rolled past second-ranked North Carolina, 88-58. Have you ever seen a more lopsided one versus two matchup in college basketball?