David Blough leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game at

DAKAR, Senegal -- Former British police officer Ben Hooper hopes to make history by swimming every mile of the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to South America. After more than three years of preparation, he set off on Sunday.The 38-year-old walked down a beach in Dakar and into the Atlantic Ocean, launching a swim for 1,635 nautical miles, or nearly 2,000 land miles (3,200 kilometers), from Senegal to Brazil.This is for my daughter, said Hooper, who filled a water bottle with sand to keep for the 8-year-old who he said inspired the swim. Its been a long time coming.Flanked by two boats and a crew of less than a dozen, Hooper aims to be the first person to swim every mile of the Atlantic Ocean from continent to continent, stepping on land again in March.He says he trained three years as he gathered a crew for the Big Blue, the main boat on which he will eat and sleep when he is not swimming for about eight hours each day through waters infested with sharks and jellyfish.Water has loomed large in his life.I nearly drowned when I was 5 in a swimming pool in Belgium, Hooper told The Associated Press. Ever since ... Ive had this affinity with water. It was the calmest Ive ever felt.Hooper said he had a bout of depression about 3 1/2 years ago and decided to turn his life around for his daughter. So he looked to water.Nobody had swum a full ocean. More people have landed on the moon than have tried this, so at that point I thought maybe this is my calling, said Hooper. If I can inspire myself, other people and raise money for charity, why not do it?Inspired by British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Hooper said he hopes to motivate others, especially children, to swim.Funding for the expedition has taken time, and the launch was set back several times as various crew members dropped out and the boats faced mechanical issues.This will be a major achievement overall, said Nigel Taylor-Schofield, the captain of Big Blue. If anybody can accomplish this, it would be Ben. He is very determined.The crew, including a paramedic, will track the miles, and Hooper has said if he gets to Brazil with the help of currents, he will swim until he fulfills the full Atlantic mileage.The challenges, be it marine life, dehydration, and more, will be vast, but Hooper says his biggest fear is letting the team and his daughter down. Hell listen to a playlist on customized earphones that he said will include eurotrash music, Eminem and The Scripts Hall of Fame. Hooper will also wear various gear that helps camouflage him from sharks, and a tracking device so supporters can follow his nearly five-month swim online.Around 10:30 a.m. on the beach outside the Monaco Plage hotel in Dakar, Hooper and the crew were ready.See you in Brazil, he said, before eventually swimming off into the sunlit waters toward his goal.---http://www.swimthebigblue.com/--Follow Carley Petesch on Twitter at www.twitter.com/carleypetesch Anthony Swarzak Braves Jersey .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. Chris Martin Braves Jersey . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. https://www.cheapbraves.com/2193o-nick-markakis-jersey-braves.html .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Francisco Cervelli Braves Jersey . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. Bob Horner Jersey ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- It might be easy to understand if Purdue is ready for this season to be over.Their coach of four seasons, Darrell Hazell, was fired after a 49-35 homecoming loss to Iowa last month. Theyve lost every game since despite the energetic efforts of interim head coach Gerad Parker. The Boilermakers (3-8, 1-7 Big Ten) will end the season Saturday, win or lose, on the road against rival Indiana in the traditional Old Oaken Bucket game.Parker says his team will be ready.They absolutely do have enough left, and you cant disregard that, Parker said Tuesday. I believe we have more to play for. Were all in. I know that on Sunday, our energy was the best it has been. In our Monday night practice, our guys ran around full of energy. They know what this is about. They know its a rivalry game. We arent going to have to ask our guys to play.Purdue has lost six in a row and has been outscored 276-141, an average of 46-23.5. The Boilermakers are tied for last in the nation in turnover margin at minus-18, including 23-8 in interception differential. Purdue is last in the Big Ten in scoring defense (allowing 39.4 points per game) and last in total defense (461.9 yards).Toss in the fact Purdue has lost 16 consecutive games played in November and the uncertainty surrounding the head coaching position and the situation appears daunting. A loss would give Purdue a 9--39 overall record in the past four seasons, including 3-30 in the Big Ten.dddddddddddd.Sophomore quarterback David Blough leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game at 284.3 but also leads the conference in interceptions with 19 to go with 23 touchdowns. To say the least, it has been a difficult season for him.I have to do my job, Blough said, The turnovers are the same story, just different days. Its frustrating. We cant turn it over and expect to win a game. Last week (against Wisconsin) is gone, and now were going to give Indiana everything weve got.Parker is 0-5 as the interim head coach -- opponents have outscored Purdue 128-27 in the second halves of those losses -- but he said he is proud of the fact the Boilermakers never failed to compete for him.Our players and coaches have kept everything in the locker room in order and have held each other accountable, Parker said. We had a great practice Monday night and plan to have great practices the rest of the week to get ready for a very good Indiana team.We have -- in my opinion -- just as much to play for as Indiana. Its about the legacy of our seniors and how we all want to leave this program.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. ' ' '