BOULDER, Colo. -- Colorado safety Tedric Thompson remembers going in for the tackle. From there, his memory goes blank until later in the hospital.Being carted off the field two seasons ago after the violent collision? No recollection. Pleading with trainers to call his mom? Doesnt remember it. His teammates gathered around him at the hospital after the game? That was his first memory after suffering a severe concussion.He dipped his head on the tackle -- a habit his coaches helped fix. Now, the senior clearly sees everything coming at him, which explains why Thompsons turned into an elite defensive back on a feisty defense that has the ninth-ranked Buffaloes (10-2, No. 8 CFP) headed to the leagues title game against No. 4 Washington (11-1, No. 4 CFP ) on Friday.After that hit, I didnt know if Id play again, Thompson said. Im just glad Im able to play again.Thompsons been an instrumental part of Colorados turnaround this season. Hes one of the top safeties in the Pac-12 and a turnover machine with a league-leading seven interceptions.To think, he almost gave up football at a young age. After his first practice while growing up in Los Angeles, he vowed to quit. Just too much work, he thought. But a family friend talked to him as they strolled around a park.He changed his mind, returned to practice and developed into a coveted defensive back coming out of high school.Thompson almost went to the University of Minnesota. His brother, Cedric, played for the Gophers before being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2015. Tedric was all set to follow his brothers path until he went on a recruiting trip, where he was hosted by none other than his big brother. They had a heart-to-heart chat, with the message being this: Go to Minnesota because its what he wanted. Dont go because his brother was there.Boulder it was.I have to give a lot of credit to my brother for telling me to be my own person, not just follow in his footsteps, Thompson said.Thompson played some his freshman year and was off to a strong start his sophomore year, leading the team in tackles until that hit against UCLA on Oct. 25, 2014.He was injured in overtime when he banged his head on the knee of a Bruins receiver. Thompson was strapped to a back board and taken off the field on a cart. He lifted his hands and covered his face as he exited the stadium to applause.He remembers nothing.Since then, hes tried to fill in the gaps on that scary afternoon. Hes watched the play on film -- remembers everything up until the actual collision. Hes been told his first thought was for his mom, wanting someone to call her and tell her he was fine. Theyre extremely tight and he didnt want her to worry.His first concrete memory was later at the hospital and seeing fellow defensive back Chidobe Awuzie, coach Mike MacIntyre and other teammates there to check on him.Thompson started all 13 games last season, with three interceptions in 882 snaps from scrimmage -- the second-most on defense.That was just a prelude of things to come as hes taken his game to another level this season.His most clutch performance may have been last weekend against Utah, when he had two interceptions, four pass breakups and a fourth-down stop to help the Buffaloes clinch the Pac-12 South. For that, he was named the leagues defensive player of the week.Next up, a high-powered Washington offense featuring quarterback Jake Browning and speedy receiver John Ross.He knows how to read coverages and defenses, Thompson said. We need to keep studying him and keep studying their offense.The Colorado defensive backs are a close-knit group, even giving themselves a nickname -- The Money Gang. Thompson isnt sure who coined the moniker first, but finds it fitting. After all, Thompson, Awuzie, Afolabi Laguda, Ahkello Witherspoon, Isaiah Oliver and the rest of the secondary have been money for Colorado.It helps that we have some kind of identity that people are starting to know us by, Thompson said. It brought (our) bond that much closer.---More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.orgNike Vapormax Damske . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. Nike Vapormax Cz .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. http://www.vapormaxlevne.cz/vapormax-flyknit-boty/vapormax-flyknit-panska-sleva.html . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Vapormax Flyknit Levně . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. Nike Vapormax Levne . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making.Fast bowler Peter Siddle is set to make his return from an eight-month lay-off after being called into Victorias Matador Cup squad. Siddle was originally not part of the Bushrangers 14-man group for the tournament but has now replaced fast bowler Matt Doric, and is expected to play in Thursdays match against Tasmania at North Sydney Oval.Following Australias Test tour of New Zealand in February, Siddle was diagnosed with stress fractures in his back, and faced an indefinite period on the sidelines. He also had surgery on his ankle during the off-season, but has now been deemed fit to play in the remainder of the Matador Cup, having trained with Victoria for the ppast two months.ddddddddddddIts really good to have someone of Peters experience and talent available to come into the squad at this important time of the tournament, Victoria coach Andrew McDonald said. Hes been travelling with the team so far this tournament and hasnt missed a beat in training.His progress in the nets has been impressive, and were happy to have him fit and firing. From Peters perspective, its obviously been a lengthy recovery period and hes very keen to get back out there with his team-mates and hes itching to play. ' ' '