Confidence

COLLEGE PARK -- No one knew quite what to make of Alex Len when he arrived at the University of Maryland a year ago. On the one hand, he was a 7-foot-1 center with enough athletic ability to execute a perfect cartwheel before dunking the basketball at Maryland's Midnight Madness celebration. On the other, he was a kid who spoke so little English that he sometimes struggled with coaching instructions, who appeared timid when jostled by the well-muscled inside players of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

As the Ravens spent their week preparing for another vital showdown against the arch-rival Pittsburgh Steelers, the words and images from Owings Mills could have come from any recent season. There was linebacker Terrell Suggs, showing off his tattooed arms in defiance of the 40-degree chill as he mused over the infinite "alley fight" between Ravens and Steelers. There was running back Ray Rice, speaking through his gentle grin of how it's time to don "big boy pants" for the tough games ahead.

Members of the Baltimore school police union cast a vote of "no confidence" in their police chief last month, pointing to what they said was his lack of responsiveness to their concerns, union leaders announced Thursday. In a letter addressed to city schools CEO Andrés Alonso, Sgt. Clyde E. Boatwright, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5, said that between Oct. 14 and Oct. 21, 84 of 110 officers cast a vote of "no confidence" in Chief Marshall "Toby" Goodwin's ability to run the school system's police department.

Embattled Coppin State University President Reginald S. Avery will step down in January, nearly a year after faculty gave him a vote of no confidence for lacking vision and before his initiatives to improve the state's lowest graduation rates have shown any progress. Avery, 66, who announced the move Wednesday, said that the vote did not factor into his decision, but that he felt the time was right to "step aside" after five years leading the West Baltimore institution. He acknowledged that a turnaround hadn't occurred, but said he plans to return to the classroom where he would continue seeking to improve student engagement on the campus and in the community.

Since my family and I made the decision to leave New York and come back home to Baltimore, I have been fascinated by the reaction of so many of my friends and family who still call Charm City home. For them, the response can be summed up in one word: "Why?" Many, not sure why I would leave New York to come back to Baltimore, have asked me if everything was all right. The wonder doesn't stop at my immediate circle; even the underwriters for my mortgage asked me to write a letter of explanation.

Consumers plan to spend the same or more than last year on holiday shopping, new consumer research shows. A holiday spending survey by market research firm The NPD Group shows that 10 percent of consumers expect to spend more than last year, while 67 percent plan to spend about the same amount. The percentage of consumers who plan to maintain or boost spending  has grown slightly from NPD's 2011 holiday spending survey. Meanwhile, the share of consumers who will spend less than they did last year is decreasing.

The fall air was crisp and chilly as Towson football players practiced at Johnny Unitas Stadium earlier this week. Watching them play, it appeared as though their recent losses to LSU and James Madison were already out of their minds. In the brisk weather that was perfect for football, the athletes seemed to exude confidence and energy. "The confidence is coming from the defensive side of the ball," coach Rob Ambrose said. "There's a lot of older guys with a lot of experience, and they're feeding off each other right now. " The Tigers (2-3, 1-1 Colonial Athletic Association)

On the eve of the release of a comprehensive Baltimore school system audit, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said Wednesday that the lapses in financial management outlined in a draft report were "unacceptable" and called on school officials to take measures to restore confidence in the system. "My expectation is for the CEO, Dr. [Andrés] Alonso, and the school board to take corrective action immediately," Rawlings-Blake said after the city's Board of Estimates meeting. The preliminary findings of the state legislative audit, due to be released today, were obtained last week by The Baltimore Sun and described problems in managing overtime, contracts and other financial matters.

Placing 27-year-old rookie Wei-Yin Chen on the mound in Monday's ALDS Game 2 wasn't a difficult decision for Orioles manager Buck Showalter considering the experience the left-hander has against the New Yrok Yankees this season. Chen, who hasn't won a decision since Aug. 19, is 0-4 in his last 7 outings and 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA in four starts against the Yankees. But he's allowed three or fewer earned runs in three of those four starts, and he was one out away from recording quality starts in all of those games.

PHILADELPHIA // After Michael Vick tossed four interceptions, was sacked twice, and finished with a 50.9 rating in the Philadelphia Eagles' 17-16 win against the Cleveland Browns, the quarterback has been poked and prodded by media and fans alike. One line of questioning has involved Vick's state of mind as the Eagles prepare for their home opener against the Ravens this Sunday. But offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg simply pointed to Vick's ability to engineer the game-winning, touchdown drive against the Browns as Exhibit No. 1 in his faith in Vick's confidence level.