EVANSTON, Ill. Boston Red Sox Jersey . -- Northwestern Universitys football players will cast ballots Friday on whether to form the nations first union for college athletes -- a potentially landmark vote that will be kept sealed for months and possibly years. The National Labor Relations Board said Thursday it will hear an appeal by Northwestern challenging the decision from a regional NLRB director who ruled the players are university employees and thus have the right to unionize. The board said the ballots will be impounded at least until it issues its decision later this year. If the case lands in court, it could be a far longer before the results of the vote are known. The vote comes one day after leaders at the NCAA endorsed a dramatic proposal to give its biggest and most powerful member schools the autonomy to make decisions for its athletes, including more robust funding of scholarships, the ability to address health concerns and other key areas. Union supporters say they are seeking guaranteed coverage of sports-related medical expenses for current and former players. There have been no raucous rallies or demonstrations on the 19,000-student campus just north of Chicago, just official notices about the vote posted near the Wildcats locker room. But there has been plenty of lobbying in the form private meetings, calls and emails, and everyone from coach Pat Fitzgerald to NCAA President Mark Emmert has called for a "no" vote. The 76 scholarship football players eligible to cast ballots know the spotlight is on them, said Ramogi Huma, president of the College Athletes Players Association, which would represent the players at the bargaining table if the pro-union side prevails. Some of the pressure they feel stems from dire Northwestern claims about the consequences of unionization, he said. "Theyre looking at anything and everything to invoke fear in the players," said Huma, a former UCLA linebacker and longtime critic of the NCAA. "We feel like some of the tactics are scare tactics." Northwestern, which is required by law to let the vote proceed, denies applying undue pressure on players to vote "no." However, it recently sent a 21-page question-and-answer document to the players outlining the problems with forming a union. In it, Northwestern said it hoped unionization would not lead to player strikes in the event of a dispute -- but if it did, replacement players could be brought in to cross picket lines. "The tension created in such a situation would be unprecedented and not in anyones best interest," it said. The school also said divisions could emerge between scholarship players eligible for union membership and walk-ons, coaches and staff. "There is no question but that the presence of a union would add tension in terms of creating an us versus them feeling between the players it would represent and those it would not," it said. Northwestern did not release the document publicly, but The Associated Press obtained a copy and a spokesman for the universitys athletic department, Paul Kennedy, verified its authenticity. Alan K. Cubbage, the schools vice-president for university relations, dismissed Humas suggestion that the school was using scare tactics "I would say strongly that Northwestern has conducted an election campaign ... according to the procedures and the rules of the NLRB," he said. When outgoing Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter announced in January that he would lead the drive to unionize, helped by CAPA and the United Steelworkers, he said nearly all of his fellow teammates were behind him. Safety Davion Fleming said his teammates slowly began to understand the issues arent clear-cut. "When the union talk initially started, it wasnt very clear what was going on," said Fleming, who cant vote because his eligibility is exhausted. "I think they didnt understand the implications." Huma said Northwestern seemed to be intentionally misconstruing the facts, and said the schools "subliminal messages" included the suggestion that a "yes" vote could throw their amateur status into question. "No one is taking about striking," he said. "They are trying to rattle players." The fight has been noticed by incoming recruits, too. "I went there for many reasons, more than just football," said Justin Jackson, a running back recruit from Carol Stream. "Theres no possible way that it would have deterred me from signing back in February." Like the players themselves, recruits and their families have a long list of potential questions should a football players union become a reality. One of the biggest issues is whether scholarships would be counted as taxable income. "I dont feel that were really in the position to get involved in anything like that with it yet," said Phil Jackson Sr., Justins father. "But it does obviously would have an impact on the students as far as the scholarship not being a grant but actually being considered income, yeah, that definitely would be a concern. "But at the same time we also understand theres some important issues that need to be hashed out and were kind of letting the process play itself out for right now." Trevor Siemian, who is expected to replace Colter as the starting quarterback, has said he will be voting against a union. "Ill say theres a significant number of guys on the team who feel the same as me," Siemian said earlier this month. Fleming also said doesnt support unionization, though he said the drive has prompted a much-needed debate about conditions for players. After weeks of both sides vying for votes, he said he detects a common sentiment among players. "They just want this to be over -- and to focus on football," he said. Jim Rice Jersey . The game marks the rare occasion when two homegrown running backs, Jon Cornish of the Calgary Stampeders and Andrew Harris of the B.C. Lions, will start in the West Divisions battle for a Grey Cup berth. Rusney Castillo Jersey . Lexie Lou earned a commanding 4 1/2-length win Sunday in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks. http://www.officialredsoxfanstore.com/authentic-steve-pearce-red-sox-jersey/ . Carcillo was a little of both for New York in Game 3. Derek Stepan, Martin St. Louis, Dan Girardi and Carcillo scored goals, leading the Rangers to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.KITZBUEHEL, Austria - The disputed and sometimes dangerous jump at the end of the Kitzbuehel course is back.Seven years after American skier Scott Macartneys near-fatal crash, racers in Saturdays downhill will be airborne again just before crossing the finish line.Organizers changed the bottom of the hill after Macartney in 2008, and Switzerlands Daniel Albrecht the following year, suffered life-threatening brain injuries when they lost their balance in the air and smashed on the icy slope in two similar, horrifying crashes.However, the section was better marked and less dangerous, organizers said. And the jump hasnt caused major troubles in the two trainings this week.Its working pretty good, Hannes Trinkl, the FIS director for mens speed races, said. Its wide enough, and its very important that its not too high. Its a really nice jump.Bringing back one of the marquee segments of the classic downhill was a wish from local organizers.It belongs to Kitz and it isnt something dangerous, chief of race Peter Obernauer said. Its precisely marked now. The racer knows exactly where he will take off and can prepare for it.That was the problem in 2008 when Macartney, racing on his 30th birthday, approached the finish while going nearly 140 kph (90 mph) and misjudged the jump, as U.S. mens head coach Sasha Rearick recalled it.We have to be careful to make sure that the take-off point is very well defined because that was the cause of the accidents in the past, Rearick said. In Scotts case, they brought the cats in to do some work on the jump. It changed where the take-off point was so that was not easily seen at inspection.Macartney slammed his head on the snow, lost his helmet and slid unconscious across the finish line.Twelve months later, Albrecht leaned backkward on the same jump, failed to adjust his position, and landed on his back and head. Bobby Doerr Jersey. .Macartney and Albrecht, who was the super-combined world champion at that time, were kept in an induced coma to prevent brain damage. They finally returned to the World Cup but retired after failing to reach their old level.Weeks ago, the International Ski Federation discussed restoring the jump with the racers.They asked us about it in Santa Caterina, American downhiller Steven Nyman said. The biggest thing is the in-run needs to be clean, and its fine. They made a great in-run to it, and the jump is shaped well.According to Nyman, the section wasnt built as well the year Macartney crashed.They just kind of put it in there and they had waves in it, Nyman said. It was bad.Like Nyman, Rearick didnt expect the jump to be an issue on race day, even if skiers will jump at a higher pace than during training.The finish jump is fine, is good. Its well done, Rearick said. For me, its built in the right spot, at the right height.Course workers made tweaks to several potentially dangerous spots on the course following the first training on Tuesday, as Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada and Christof Innerhofer of Italy were thrown off-course.The Italian was unhurt, but Osborne-Paradis withdrew, as he also crashed in a downhill in Wengen, Switzerland, last Sunday.Its tough to not race the Super Bowl of skiing but accidents happen and luckily its only bruises, the Canadian said.Another jump, at the so-called Mausefalle (mouse trap), was lowered after complaints from athletes representative, Kjetil Jansrud.They took away just a little bit but its good, the Norwegian said after his final training run Thursday. 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