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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow faces a major step up in competition on Tuesday in his pursuit of a baseball career.Tebow, after playing three games in the fall instructional league in Florida, is set to bat seventh and start in left field for the Scottsdale Scorpions at 3:35 p.m. ET at Camelback Ranch in his Arizona Fall League debut.The league is for top prospects on the brink of a major league career and a handful of players who already have debuted in the big leagues, including teammates Greg Bird of the Yankees and Gavin Cecchini of the Mets.Tebow signed a minor league deal with the Mets for $100,000 last month.Youre talking about a guy who has won a Heisman Trophy but also been cut four times. I think he knows what the challenge is, said Scottsdale manager Tom Goodwin, who also is the first-base coach for the Mets. I think hes up for the challenge. Im definitely looking forward to putting him out there. Its a huge jump for him, but I dont think its anything he cant handle. I know hes looking forward to it. And I think a lot of people out there are looking forward to seeing what he has and what he can do.As Tebow said, I think it will give me a good idea where Im at.Tebow homered on his first pitch in the instructional league. It was the first pitch he had faced in a game since his junior year of high school. He ultimately hit .286 (4-for-14) with two RBIs and two walks in three games.In his Arizona Fall League debut, Tebow is due to face Washington Nationals right-handed prospect Austin Voth. Voth, a University of Washington product, went 7-9 with a 3.15 ERA in 27 appearances (25 starts) at Triple-A Syracuse this past season.So much of the pressure is taken away because I get to go out here and pursue something that I love, that Im passionate about, Tebow said. Ive always been a believer that perfect love casts out all fear. So when youre scared about something, remember why youre doing something, why you love it. And have that mindset and approach.Why is failure the worst thing? I know sometimes it gets talked about that it is. But, in my opinion, regret is the worst thing, followed by not trying. And a lot of times, those go hand in hand. So, for me, when I do something, I want to go all-out for it. I can look back in 20 years and if I wasnt good enough, I wasnt good enough.Tebow will continue with his SEC Network and ESPN football broadcasting responsibilities, so he will miss Friday and Saturday games. The Arizona Fall League is dark on Sundays. So Goodwin will have Tebow play as many games as the ex-quarterbacks body allows midweek.Tebow has the Alabama-Tennessee game this weekend in Knoxville, and he suggested there is no awkwardness with leaving new teammates.They totally understand it, Tebow said. And its also an obligation for me. For me, when I give my word about something, I want to fulfill it.There is considerable buzz for Tebows participation in the Arizona Fall League. The Scorpions averaged 504 spectators per home game last season at Scottsdale Stadium. The stadium can accommodate 9,700 fans, including lawn seating. The team expects a serious attendance bump, like when NBA star Michael Jordan played for the club in 1994 and league attendance for the season nearly tripled, to more than 100,000.Jordan hit .252 (31-for-123) with 34 strikeouts in the Arizona Fall League. Of course, Jordan already had played a full season at Double-A Birmingham. Tebow, on the other hand, essentially has not played baseball since high school, except for a few weeks of training at the Mets complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida. That Arizona Fall League tune-up was cut short a few days by Hurricane Matthew.Jordans someone that was extremely talented -- everything he did, Tebow said. I think what you hear most about him on the baseball field was his effort and what a good teammate he was. Thats something I obviously want to bring, as well.Tebow readily acknowledged competing in the Arizona Fall League will be a great challenge.I think it will be awesome, he said. I think it will not only will be a challenge as far as competing, but also, I think it will be blessing as far as learning from a lot of guys that are doing it at a high level -- a lot of them getting ready to be at the highest level. So thats great.Its a great opportunity for me. Im thankful and also looking forward to it. Custom Phil Niekro Jersey . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Peter Moylan Jersey . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. http://www.custombravesjersey.com/custom-a-j-minter-jersey-large-1747z.html . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Dallas Keuchel Jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Custom John Smoltz Jersey . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. CLEMSON, S.C. -- James Conners smile said it all -- Pittsburgh was happy to once again shuffle up the national championship picture.Hey, sorry to do that. But we wanted this one bad, said Conner, who had two touchdowns and ran for 132 yards in the Panthers 43-42 stunner over No. 3 Clemson on Saturday.Conners 20-yard TD run with 5:17 left inched the Panthers into striking range and Chris Blewitt -- after a kiss on the cheek from coach Pat Narduzzi -- struck a perfect, 48-yard field goal with six seconds left for the winning points.Well remember this one forever, Conner said.So, too, will Clemson (9-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) which saw its run at perfection halted after escaping so many other jams this season. A fourth-down stop a yard shy saved the Tigers 42-36 win over No. 5 Louisville on Oct. 1. North Carolina States missed field goal at the end of regulation boosted Clemson to a 24-17 overtime win.This time, it was the Panthers (6-4, 3-3) who made the critical plays.When Clemson was driving for a touchdown already up 42-34, linebacker Saleem Brightwell picked off quarterback Deshaun Watson -- his third interception -- and returned it 70 yards to set up a 20-yard TD by Conner that drew Pitt within 42-40.When Clemson attempted to run out the clock, the Panthers defense (despite allowing 630 yards) stuffed Wayne Gallman a yard short on third and fourth downs to take over near midfield with 58 seconds left.We had a chance to put the game away and they stopped us, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. We had been making those kinds of plays this year.Nathan Peterman moved Pitt to the Clemson 30 and Blewitt steadily knocked through.It was Pitts highest-ranked win since defeating Backyard Brawl rival, No. 2 West Virginia, 13-9 in 2007 and spoiling the Mountaineers chances at playing for the national title.Our team had a lot of guts tonight, Narduzzi said.And a whole lot of playmakers to topple the defending ACC champs.Peterman had a career-best five TD passes and 308 yards. Conner rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also caught one of Petermans scoring throws.Blewitt, who had a kick blocked at the end of the opening half, was steely eyed and ready. Narduzzi gave his senior a kiss on the cheek and sent him out for the winning kick.As soon as I saw the kick go up, I knew it was going in, Scott Orndoff said. It was jubilation.Clemson had its offense going. Watson threw for an ACC record 580 yards and three touchdowns.dddddddddddd Gallman ran for three TDs and Mike Williams had 15 catches for 202 yards and a touchdown.In the end, it was Clemsons first loss to an unranked opponent in five seasons, a span of 46 games.Come Monday, well start over because its a long season, Watson said. Get ready for Wake Forest. Hopefully, we can clinch the ACC (Atlantic) and punch our ticket for the championship game next week.THE TAKEAWAYPittsburgh: The Panthers showed that Narduzzis program is taking hold. Peterman stayed calm in the face of Clemsons strong pass rush and Conner was able to avoid the Tigers middle duo of Carlos Watkins and Dexter Lawrence to keep Pitt moving.Clemson: Many non-Tiger fans will say this team had it coming after escaping with close wins at home against No. 5 Louisville (42-36 on Oct. 1) and North Carolina State (24-17 in overtime on Oct. 15) after the Wolfpack missed the potential game-winning kick to end regulation. Clemsons path is still clear -- win out and hope its one-loss season is better than most others.POLL IMPLICATIONSA rankings fall seemed likely for Clemson after the loss but that is likely to be mitigated by losses suffered by No. 2 Michigan and No. 4 Washington later in the day. After Wake Forest, the Tigers face revived rival South Carolina at Death Valley before potentially heading to Orlando, Florida, for the ACC championship game.RECORD DAYWatsons passing yards broke the 21-year-old mark of Wake Forests Rusty LaRue, who passed for 545 yards against North Carolina State on Nov. 18, 1995. Watson said the record doesnt console him after the loss. Id rather go 0-for-30 with no yards and get the W, he said.SAYING GOODBYEThis wasnt the farewell Clemsons offense wanted. Watson, Gallman, Williams and receiver Artavis Scott are all juniors who were honored with Clemsons seniors Saturday after Swinney said they would all be leaving the program for the NFL after this season. Watson acknowledged wild emotions. Still, Im going to keep a smile on my face, he said.UP NEXTPittsburgh closes the year with two games at home, starting with Duke next week.Clemson will try to earn the ACC Atlantic Division title with a win at Wake Forest next Saturday.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '