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IRVING, Texas -- Sarah Thomas was never hit by the pressure of being the first woman to be a full-time NFL game official until after her first season on the job.It wasnt until this past offseason that Thomas pondered what really happened after accomplishing her goal, which was to work full-time at footballs highest level and not necessarily be a trailblazer in doing so.When I first started all this last year, I said I dont feel the pressure of it or anything like that, and I dont feel as if I did during the season, she said. But once I reflected back, I knew that there was a lot of pressure. ... When I reflected back on it, I thought if something major had happened with being a first, not that I recognize myself as that, but just being a first, that it could have gone one of two ways. So Im glad that it was a very smooth, under-the-radar, first year.Thomas is now preparing for her second season as a side judge. While still the only woman on the field in the NFL, she considers it a compliment that there is much less fanfare this time around.Dean Blandino, the NFLs vice president of officiating, agrees and said Thomas had the same bumps as any first-year official.It was obviously big news last year, but she handled everything so well, and she had such a poise and grace about herself, Blandino said this month at the NFLs annual officiating clinic. Its a challenge for any first-year official. For a first-year official to also be the first female official, there were a lot of other challenges that came with that and she handled everything really well, and had a good season.All nine first-time officials from last season are back this season, and there are three rookies among the 124 officials hired for 2016.When Pittsburghs LeVeon Bell scored on a wildcat run as time expired for a victory at San Diego to wrap up Week 5 last season, Thomas was the line judge who signaled the touchdown. Bell initially appeared to be stopped, but pushed forward and reached the ball across the goal line just before his knee hit the ground. A replay review confirmed the call was right.Imagine the uproar on social media and the general reaction had the NFLs first female official blown that call. Most fans never even realized she was there.We just want to be officials, we want to go unseen, Thomas said in general, and not about that particular play. Youve heard it for years and years and years, and it is the truth. If you dont notice the officials then weve done a great job, and thats what set out to do.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said during the first NFL Womens Summit in San Francisco, which was part of Super Bowl 50, that Thomas in her first season did a fantastic job, and were very proud of her.Thomas, the mother of three children, was part of the NFLs officiating development program in 2013 and 2014 and had worked at minicamps, training camps and exhibition games before getting hired full-time last year. She had officiated for Conference USA since 2007, with assignments including bowl game and two league championship games.I never set out to be the first, but when I did speak or I was encouraged with womens groups, its good to hear them ask questions how did you approach it, and for me to be able to say the National Football League had the utmost respect for me as they did any other official, she said.Last March, Thomas hometown of Pascagoula, Mississippi, renamed its recreational gym in honor of the former high school basketball and softball standout who was also given a key to the city.Blandino said there are more women in the development program.Were seeing more women officiating football in general, and I think were going to see them continue to develop, Blandino said. At some point, were going to see another female official in the NFL. ... Women are officiating and thats part of our program, and I think its really moving in the right direction.---Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---This story has been corrected to children instead of boys in 12th paragraph. Cheap NCAA Jerseys . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. NCAA Jerseys . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. https://www.cheapncaajerseysjustwholesale.com/ . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. NCAA Basketball Jerseys . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. 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IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Seton Hall no longer has star Isaiah Whitehead to lean on.The Pirates have depth and balance though -- and that was enough for them to pass their first road test of 2016-17.Myles Powell scored 26 points off the bench, Desi Rodriguez had 25 and Seton Hall beat Iowa 91-83 on Thursday night.Khadeen Carrington added 20 points for the Pirates (3-0), who shot 51 percent from the floor with eight 3s and outscored the Hawkeyes 50-24 in the paint.Our team will be much more balanced this year, said Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard after Whitehead left for the NBA.Powell buried a 3 and followed by a layup to put Seton Hall up 82-74 with 3:15 to go -- and then drilled another long 3 to make it a 10-point game a minute later. Rodriguez followed with a 3 that sent the fans to the exits.Iowa made a few late 3s to make it close before falling for the first time in 2016-17.Senior Peter Jok had 30 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, and freshman Tyler Cook scored a career-high 24 points for the Hawkeyes (2-1).I would have liked to have seen us play better defense over the duration, especially in the second half. We tried defenses, we changed defenses; press, we went to zone. We just didnt perform to the level thats necessary, Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said.BIG PICTURESeton Hall: The Pirates should be a factor in the Big East. They started five upperclassmen who were unfazed by their first road game -- although a 9 p.m. ET tip-off time on a week night kept the crowd down a bit. Seton Hall forced Iowa to commit 17 turnovers.Iowa: Win or lose, a matchup against a tough, veteran team halfway through November was exactly what the Hawkeyes needed.ddddddddddddMcCaffery is still trying to find a rotation that can win in the Big Ten, using 11 players in the first half alone. But it looks like Jok has found a more than capable sidekick in Cook, who can seemingly do everything but knock down free throws.NOT-SO FREE THROWSCook was a mess at the free-throw line, going just 5 of 12. But neither team could covert its freebies, as Seton Hall was 17 of 31 and Iowa was 19 of 32.SMOKE SHOWIowa brought out two sets of pyrotechnics during its player introductions. The smoke lingered in the air for roughly half of the first half. But Iowas other new wrinkles, including a new court, lighting and a massive new scoreboard over center court, has vastly improved the game-day experience at Carver-Hawkeye Arena -- which had begun to show its age until recent renovations.HE SAID ITTheres not a time where he shoots the ball where I think its not going in. He plays with a lot of confidence. He plays like I think all kids should play, just having fun, Willard said of Powell.UP NEXTSeton Halls schedule doesnt let up much. The Pirates play Florida next Thursday and, if they win, likely Gonzaga on Thanksgiving.Iowa gets another cupcake in Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Sunday. But the Hawkeyes will face No. 8 Virginia next Friday in Florida.---More college basketball at www.collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '