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Tags: Akron, Alabama, Appalachian State, Arizona, Arkansas, Army, Auburn, Badgers, Baylor, Brett Bielema, Bronco Mendenhall, Buckeyes, BYU, Clark Lea, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, Crimson Tide, Dave Doeren, Ed Orgeron, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Hawkeyes, Hoosiers, Hurricanes, Huskies, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, James Franklin, Jedd Fisch, Jeff Traylor, Jim Harbaugh, Jimmy Lake, Kansas, Kentucky, Lane Kiffin, Lincoln Riley, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, LSU, Mark Stoops, Mel Tucker, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Michigan State, Mike Leach, Mississippi State, NC State, Nebraska, Nittany Lions, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Old Dominion, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Sean Clifford, SMU, Spartans, Tennessee, Texas, Texas State, UCLA, UMass, UTSA, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Volunteers, Wake Forest, Washington, Wisconsin, Wolverines
Wish I were him: Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Glad I'm not him: Ed Orgeron, LSU
Lucky guy: Jimmy Lake, Washington (hon. mention: Brett Bielema, Illinois)
Poor guy: Jedd Fisch, Arizona (hon. mention: James Franklin, Penn State)
Desperately seeking a wake-up call: Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma
Desperately seeking a P.R. man: Jeff Traylor, UTSA
Desperately seeking sunglasses and a fake beard: Dave Doeren, NC State
Desperately seeking … anything: Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
Thought you'd kick butt, you did: Arkansas (defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 45-3)
Thought you'd kick butt, you didn't: Oklahoma (defeated Kansas 35-23)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you did: UMass (lost to Florida State 59-3)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you didn't: Kansas (lost to No. 3 Oklahoma 35-23)
Thought you wouldn't kick butt, you did: Ohio State (defeated Indiana 54-7)
Dang, they're bad: Vanderbilt
Can't Stand Prosperity: NC State
Did the season start? Penn State
Can the season end? Akron
Play this again: Illinois 20, No. 7 Penn State 18 (9OT)
Play this again, too: No. 10 Oregon 34, UCLA 31
Never play this again: Florida State 59, UMass 3
What? Miami (FL) 31, No. 18 NC State 30
Huh? Appalachian State 30, No. 17 Coastal Carolina 27
Are you kidding me?? Iowa State 24, No. 8 Oklahoma State 20
Oh – my – God: Illinois 20, No. 7 Penn State 18 (9OT)
Ticket to die for: No. 6 Michigan @ No. 8 Michigan State
Best non-Power Five vs. Power Five matchup: Virginia @ No. 25 BYU
Best non-Power Five matchup: Fresno State @ No. 21 San Diego State also: No. 19 SMU @ Houston
Upset alert: No. 9 Iowa @ Wisconsin
Must win: No. 20 Penn State @ No. 5 Ohio State
Offensive explosion: Texas @ No. 16 Baylor
Defensive struggle: No. 1 Georgia vs. Florida
Great game no one is talking about: Purdue @ Nebraska
Intriguing coaching matchup: Mark Stoops of Kentucky vs. Mike Leach of Miss. State
Also: Bronco Mendenhall of Virginia vs Kalane Sitake of BYU
Why are they playing? (no game worth mentioning this week)
Plenty of good seats remaining: La. Tech @ Old Dominion
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Texas State @ Louisiana
Penn State vs Illinois
Two weeks ago, Penn State QB Sean Clifford's injury at Iowa was literally a game-changer. After out-classing the Hawkeyes for almost three quarters, the Nittany Lion's loss of their starting quarterback began a negative trend that allowed Iowa to stop their own bleeding and turn things around in a positive direction, resulting in a huge upset, of sorts.
Fast-forward two weeks to the present day. Clifford was back in the proverbial saddle, but no where near his former self. It showed with Penn State's offensive struggles. They could muster only one touchdown in regulation, with the score tied at 13-13 with 0:00 left on the clock, and this against a mediocre – at best – Illinois team.
The game would go into a record nine overtimes, with five consecutive of them being scoreless. In the end, the Illini triumphed by managing just one more two-point conversion than the Nittany Lions.
My takeaway: unless Sean Clifford returns to full health, Penn State's season is essentially lost.
Army vs Wake Forest
In what sane universe does the matchup between these two teams add up to an offensive explosion? The Demon Deacons – on a considerable roll, this year – triumphed over the Black Knights, 70-56.
Purdue vs. Wisconsin
My suspicions that Purdue's ranking of No. 25 was suspect at best was confirmed, as the Boilers experienced a semi-drubbing at home by Wisconsin, 30-13. Conversely, the Badgers played as though their previous week's woes are behind them. What we saw of that team yesterday suggests that they are playing back up to how we would expect a Wisconsin team to perform. This resurgence shall be put to the test next week when Iowa comes calling.
Pittsburgh vs Clemson
Speaking of sane universes (see: Army vs Wake Forest, above), in what sane universe is Pittsburgh ranked and Clemson unranked? This quandary is brought on by Clemson's fearsome reputation which they have rightfully earned since 2015. This is why, despite this Twlight Zone-esque ranking of the two pitted teams, it still feels like an upset when the Panthers triumphed over the Tigers, 27-17.
Indiana vs Ohio State
The fact that Ohio State steamrolled over Indiana 54-7 does not mean that this was supposed to be a body bag game. Far from it. The Hoosiers, in truth, have a solid team this year. Indeed, the game could have been a "trap" one for the Buckeyes, as they face Penn State next week. What the results of this game thus shows is that Ohio State's coaching staff has quietly and gradually made fine-tuning adjustments to their team as the season has progressed. If this game's score is any indications, the Buckeyes' ranking of No. 5 is legitimate, and this rate, they could make the playoffs yet.
Alabama vs. Tennessee
The Volunteers played with heart, and there is some talent there. But the Crimson Tide is still considerably better, talent-wise, and the score (52-24) demonstrated that. It shall take another good recruiting class or two from Josh Heupel to bring this bitter rivalry back up to the level of drama and stakes that it deserves.
Looking ahead: Michigan @ Michigan State
Two top-ten titans clash in East Lansing as a resurgent Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines take on a quietly-rebuilt Spartans squad led by up-and-comer Mel Tucker. How these teams perform against each other – as bitter rivals, no less – shall say much as to how far each respective team has come.
Penn State @ Ohio State
On paper, with one team ranked No. 5 and the other ranked No. 20, this sounds like it could be almost as good a game as Michigan State vs. Michigan, right? Wrong. While Ohio State is currently proven legit at their current ranking, Penn State has been struggling offensively since Sean Clifford's injury at Iowa. If the Nittany Lions continue to struggle to put points on the board, this could be a rout in Ohio State's favor.
Georgia vs. Florida in Jacksonville
Not to call too much attention, but there's this World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party about to commence this upcoming weekend in Jacksonville. Georgia is currently ranked No. 1 (and rightfully so), but historically, Florida has given the Bulldogs fits in this game. Hence, it behooves us all to keep an eye on this game in case things get potentially interesting.
Ole Miss @ Auburn
Coming off a huge win over hated LSU, the Rebels now go into Auburn to take on ranked Auburn. This could be another great slugfest worth watching.
Texas @ Baylor
The Bears have proven to be a potent team. Texas' offensive output has proven to be strong – for three quarters, at least. Regardless, get ready for a potential shootout in Waco.
Louisville @ NC State
Here is an interesting ACC matchup for fans. The Cardinals won over a cagey BC team in the rain. Now they venture into Raleigh to take on the Wolfpack, fresh from an upset loss at the hands of Miami (Fla.). Louisville passed a test (winning a game in adverse weather conditions) this weekend. Now can they pass an even greater one?
College Football Awards, Week 13 (2019) November 25, 2019
Tags: Air Force, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Army, Auburn, B1G, Baylor, Buckeyes, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, college, Colorado, football, Gary Patterson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Hawaii, Herm Edwards, Iowa State, James Franklin, Kansas State, Kevin Sumlin, Lincoln Riley, Mario Cristobal, Maryland, Memphis, Michigan, Minnesota, Navy, NCAA, Nebraska, Nick Rolovich, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Old Dominion, Oregon, Penn State, Rice, Rutgers, Ryan Day, Samford, San Diego State, SMU, Sonny Dykes, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State, Tom Herman, Troy, UCLA, UMass, USC, UTEP, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Glad I'm not him: James Franklin, Penn State
Lucky guy: Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma
Poor guy: Gary Patterson, TCU
Desperately seeking a wake-up call: Sonny Dykes, SMU
Desperately seeking a P.R. man: Nick Rolovich, Hawaii
Desperately seeking sunglasses and a fake beard: Mario Cristobal, Oregon
Desperately seeking … anything: Tom Herman, Texas
Thought you'd kick butt, you did: Auburn (defeated Samford 52-0)
Thought you'd kick butt, you didn't: Georgia (defeated Texas A&M 19-13)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you did: Maryland (lost to Nebraska 54-7)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you didn't: TCU (lost to No. 9 Oklahoma 28-24)
Thought you wouldn't kick butt, you did: USC (defeated UCLA 52-35)
Dang, they're bad: Troy
Did the season start? Texas
Can the season end? UMass
Play this again: Arizona State 31, No. 6 Oregon 28
Never play this again: No. 5 Alabama 66, Western Carolina 3
What? Colorado 20, Washington 14
Huh? Hawaii 14, San Diego State 11
Are you kidding me?? Navy 35, No. 25 SMU 28
Oh – my – God: Arizona State 31, No. 6 Oregon 28
Ticket to die for: No. 2 Ohio State @ No. 13 Michigan
Best non-Power Five matchup: No. 19 Cincinnati @ No. 18 Memphis (Friday, Nov. 29)
Upset alert: Kansas State @ No. 22 Iowa State (hon. mention: No. 5 Alabama @ No. 15 Auburn)
Must win: No. 12 Wisconsin @ No. 10 Minnesota
Offensive explosion: No. 9 Oklahoma @ No. 21 Oklahoma State
Great game no one is talking about: Wyoming @ Air Force
Intriguing coaching matchup: Kevin Sumlin of Arizona vs Herm Edwards of Arizona State
Who's bringing the body bags? No. 4 Georgia @ Georgia Tech
Why are they playing? Rutgers @ No. 8 Penn State
Plenty of good seats remaining: Texas State @ Coastal Carolina (dishon. mention: Rice @ UTEP)
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Charlotte @ Old Dominion
Baylor vs Texas
Once again the Longhorns disgraced themselves with tepid outputs on both offense and defense. The Longhorns had such high expectations going into the season. Now, they sit at 6-5. What happened? For starters, they graduated lots of experienced players after their Suger Bowl win. This year, they have a young team, made younger with lots of injuries on defense and at running back. For that, they need time for the injuries to heal. Much more systemic are the questions of Texas' identity on offense. For that, they cannot excuse injuries. Nor can they excuse their lack of player development despite good recruiting classes during Tom Herman's tenure. So how can they do better? Three things: develop an offensive identity; do better at developing your players; also, learn to get out of your own way. Oklahoma and A&M have figured out how to do so: what is Texas' excuse?
Ohio State vs Penn State
The game was a good game, and it should not have been as good as it was. Some key mistakes, namely turnovers in the 3rd quarter, allowed for Penn State to come within less than a touchdown of the Buckeyes. Ohio State will have to button things up better if they expect to defeat their bitter rival up north come rivalry weekend. Such urgency for discipline is even greater for the B1G championship game in Indianapolis, be it Wisconsin or Minnesota. This is a reminder that the road to the playoffs still has a critical amount of potholes that only vigilance shall help avoid.
All that said, on to Rivalry Weekend!
Tags: Alabama, Alabama State, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Bi1G, Big Ten, Bill Mallory, Central Florida, Chad Morris, Cincinnati, Commodores, Copper Bowl, Ed Orgeron, Florida, Florida State, Floyd of Rosedale, Gators, Georgia, Hoosiers, Houston, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, James Franklin, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Les Miles, Lincoln Riley, Louisville, LSU, Luke Fickell, Maryland, Matt Campbell, Memphis, Michigan State, Mike Gundy, Minnesota, New Mexico State, Nick Saban, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Penn State, Rutgers, Scott Satterfield, TCU, Temple, Texas, Tulane, Tulsa, UCF, UCLA, UMass, Utah, Vanderbilt, Washington, Western Kentucky, Wisconsin
Wish I were him: Ed Orgeron, LSU (hon. mention: P.J. Fleck, Minnesota)
Glad I'm not him: Nick Saban, Alabama
Poor guy: Matt Campbell, Iowa State
Desperately seeking a P.R. man: Luke Fickell, Cincinnati
Desperately seeking sunglasses and a fake beard: James Franklin, Penn State
Desperately seeking … anything: Chad Morris, Arkansas
Thought you'd kick butt, you did: Ohio State (defeated Maryland 73-14)
Thought you'd kick butt, you didn't: Michigan State (lost to Illinois 37-34)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you did: Vanderbilt (lost to No. 10 Florida 50-0)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you didn't: Oregon State (lost to Washington 19-7)
Thought you wouldn't kick butt, you did: Western Kentucky (defeated Arkansas 45-19)
Dang, they're bad: UMass
Can't Stand Prosperity: Penn State
Can the season end? Northwestern
Play this again: No. 17 Minnesota 31, No. 4 Penn State 26
Never play this again: No. 1 Ohio State, Maryland 14
What? Tulsa 34, UCF 31
Huh? Texas 27, No. 16 Kansas State 24
Are you kidding me?? No. 2 LSU 46, No. 3 Alabama 41
Oh – my – God: No. 17 Minnesota 31, No. 4 Penn State 26
Ticket to die for: No. 5 Georgia @ No. 13 Auburn
Next-best game of the week: No. 24 Indiana @ No. 11 Penn State
Best non-Power Five matchup: Tulane @ Temple
Upset alert: UCLA @ No. 8 Utah
Must win: No. 8 Oklahoma @ No. 10 Baylor
Defensive struggle: Kentucky @ Vanderbilt
Great game no one is talking about: Texas @ Iowa State
Intriguing coaching matchup: Les Miles of Kansas vs Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State
Who's bringing the body bags? No. 2 Ohio State @ Rutgers
Why are they playing? Alabama State @ Florida State
Plenty of good seats remaining: UMass @ Northwestern
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? UIW @ New Mexico State
Alabama vs LSU
What more can be said about this dramatic and incredibly consequential game? On paper, was it LSU's victory really an upset? They were ranked No. 2 in the polls ahead of Alabama at No. 3, after all. So what made the Tigers' win an upset? Call it a mental block. Call it a [proverbial] monkey on LSU's back. They had, after all, lost to the Crimson Tide eight straight times, often with national championship aspirations on the line. This time, they finally won, and now, the Tigers control their own destiny to Atlanta and to the Playoffs as well.
Minnesota vs Penn State
The Golden Gophers have earned their biggest win in more than a decade. They currently lead the Western Division of the Big Ten. While they control their own destiny to the conference championship, they have a challenging road ahead if they want to make it to Indianapolis. Their next game is at No. 18 Iowa, a border rivalry where they play for one of the most prominent trophies in college football, the Floyd of Rosedale. After a respite against a down Northwestern, they close out the regular season at home against Wisconsin. The Badgers alone are a tough out, and they usually are the perennial Western representative in the B1G championship. Factor in the border rivalry and the fact that both teams play for the Paul Bunyan Axe (have you seen the size of that thing?), and one is apt to anticipate a high-stakes, high-drame showdown in Minneapolis come Nov. 30. But first, the Gophers have to win their other remaining games, starting with Iowa, which is never easy these days, Floyd or no Floyd.
Florida vs Vanderbilt
This blowout only merits mention because the Commodores attempted a "sad field goal" and failed. The definition of a "sad field goal" is if your team is down by more than two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and yet you go for a field goal anyhow. That sounds sad just saying it, does it not? Well, Vandy attempted the saddest of field goals as they were down 49-0 to Florida in The Swamp late in the 4th quarter. Instead of going for it with nothing to lose, they attempted a sad field goal, which went wide left. Like a train wreck, you can't not watch.
Looking ahead: Indiana at Penn State
When was the last time that Indiana was ranked in football? Give up? It was 1994. Bill Mallory was the head coach at that time. He built a decent program, too, winning the 1991 Copper Bowl. But his labors went unnoticed because IU was more basketball-obsessed than it is today, which saying something. Frankly, I don't hold out much hope for the Hoosiers, but if they put up a fight against wounded Penn State, it should be an entertaining game.
Tags: Akron, Arizona State, Arkansas State, Auburn, B1G, Badgers, Big Ten, Big XII, Boston College, Bowling Green, Brian Kelly, Buckeyes, Central Florida, Clemson, college football, Dana Holgorsen, Ed Orgeron, Florida, Georgia, Gus Malzahn, Houston, Illinois, Iowa State, Jim Harbaugh, Josh Heupel, Kansas, Kansas State, Lincoln Riley, LSU, Maryland, Memphis, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi State, NCAA, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Purdue, SMU, Sonny Dykes, Sooners, South Alabama, Steve Campbell, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Tom Herman, UAB, UCF, UCLA, USC, UTSA, Wildcats, Wofford
Wish I were him: Jim Harbaugh, Michigan (hon. mention: Ed Orgeron of LSU)
Lucky guy: Sonny Dykes, SMU
Poor guy: Dana Holgorsen, Houston
Desperately seeking a wake-up call: Lincoln Riley
Desperately seeking a P.R. man: Josh Heupel, UCF
Desperately seeking sunglasses and a fake beard: Tom Herman, Texas
Desperately seeking … anything: Steve Campbell, South Alabama
Thought you'd kick butt, you did: Minnesota (defeated Maryland 52-10)
Thought you'd kick butt, you didn't: Texas A&M (defeated Mississippi State 49-30)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you did: Boston College (lost to Clemson 59-7)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you didn't: Illinois (defeated Purdue 24-6)
Thought you wouldn't kick butt, you did: Michigan (defeated Notre Dame 45-14)
Dang, they're bad: Purdue
Can't Stand Prosperity: Iowa State (hon. mention: Oklahoma)
Can the season end? South Alabama
Play this again: No. 2 LSU 23, No 9 Auburn 20
Never play this again: No. 4 Clemson 59, Boston College 7
What? UCLA 42, No. 24 Arizona State 32
Huh? Oklahoma State 34, No. 23 Iowa State 27
Double-Huh? TCU 37, No. 15 Texas 27
Are you kidding me?? No. 19 Michigan 45, No. 7 Notre Dame 14
Oh – my – God: Kansas State 48, No. 5 Oklahoma 41
(rankings are current AP (post-week 9, pre-week 10)
Ticket to die for: No. 8 Georgia vs No. 6 Florida in Jacksonville
Best non-Power Five vs. Power Five matchup: UAB @ Tennessee
Best non-Power Five matchup: No. 16 SMU @ Memphis
Upset alert: No. 7 Oregon @ USC
Must win: Georgia vs. Florida (in Jacksonville)
Offensive explosion: SMU @ Memphis
Defensive struggle: Mississippi State @ Arkansas
Great game no one is talking about: Kansas State @ Kansas
Intriguing coaching matchup: Mack Brown of North Carolina vs Bronco Mendenhall of Virginia
Who's bringing the body bags? No. 14 Michigan @ Maryland
Why are they playing? UTSA @ Texas A&M
Plenty of good seats remaining: Akron @ Bowling Green
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Wofford @ No. 4 Clemson
Am I the only one who has noticed that waaaaay too many teams have bye-weeks for upcoming week 10?
Kansas State vs Oklahoma
Oh, Kansas State. What are we to do with you? You play under your potential all season long, then, when folks least expect it, you unleash your top potential against the toughest opponent all year, and produce one of the biggest upsets of the year in the process. Does this mean than the Wildcats are the new world-beaters of the Big XII? Hardly. One might expect a regression to the mean starting next week. It is not inconceivable that KSU could lose three of their remaining five games. Then again, it is not inconceivable that they could win out.
Kansas State has started to intrigue us to see if their sudden improvement is an anomaly, or if it's here to stay. Next week they play in-state rival Kansas, who also shows continued improvement. The game's outcome will be of little consequence in the grand scheme of things, but it shall be a "discovery game" all the same for both teams. Who says one cannot continue to learn new things as the college football season progresses?
Texas vs. TCU
Texas losing to LSU is more than understandable. Indeed, they acquitted themselves well. Losing to OU was also excusable, given that the Sooners are on fire and one of the favored teams to make the playoffs at the time. But losing to unranked TCU? That was at least raise a few questions, right? Actually, it raises fewer questions than one would think. The Longhorns' problem is that they were always a little more vulnerable to the pass than they were to the run. It was LSU's key to defeating them, after all. But as the season wore on, Texas' injuries on their defense kept piling up, especially in their secondary, making them even more vulnerable to the pass.
The bottom line for the Longhorns is that it is going to take an offseason for the injuries to heal up and for Tom Herman to bring in another solid recruiting class (especially some top-rated defensive backs).
LSU vs Auburn
Here we witnessed a hard-fought "discovery game" in which LSU passed another key test and Auburn proved they deserve to be a top-ten team, even with a close loss. Note to Auburn fans and administration: Gus Malzahn has proven he is a good coach. Keep him and pay him.
Meanwhile, all the LSU faithful who doubted where Ed Orgeron was the right man for the job are now eating some serious crow.
Michigan vs Notre Dame
What to make of this outcome? Many had left Jim Harbaugh for dead by now. Then again, if Michigan had played all four quarters against No. 6 Penn State last week the way they played against them in the second half, they would have won that game, too. Sure, the Wolverines started out ranked No. 5 only for their offense to sputter and for them to take a nose dive in the polls and in the esteem of fans. Not anymore. After thrashing the Fighting Irish at home in prime time, they appear to finally play like a team that belongs in the top ten. What gives? The most likely explanation is that it took this long for the team to finally gel. These things sometimes happen it football it's part of the game, and always yields new discoveries in the process. We continue to learn new things as this college football season progresses.
Ohio State vs Wisconsin.
Personally, I predicted that the Buckeyes would beat the Badgers, maybe by two touchdowns, if that. Instead, we witnessed a 38-7 thrashing of Wisconsin at the hands of Ohio State. Is anybody going to contend that OSU should not be ranked No. 1 in the nation by now?
Two body bag games are up next for the Buckeyes (after a bye-week at that. Maybe their QB's lower back and can heal some during that time). Then, Ohio State closes out the season with two solid challenges, first against Penn State, then against Michigan (now that the Wolverines are finally playing up to par). We'll see if their current roll continues strongly enough to steamroll over their last two worthy opponents.
Tags: Akron, Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Badgers, Ball State, Baylor, Boise State, Brian Kelly, Buckeyes, BYU, Cal, California, CHip Kelly, college, football, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Herm Edwards, Illinois, James Franklin, Jim Harbaugh, Kansas, Kansas State, Les Miles, liberty, LSU, Maryland, Matt Rhule, Miami, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Navy, NCAA, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Paul Chryst, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Texas, Toledo, Tom Arth, Tom Herman, Tulane, UCLA, Utah, Vanderbilt, Washington, Washington State, Wisconsin
Lucky guy: Tom Herman, Texas
Poor guy: Les Miles, Kansas
Desperately seeking a wake-up call: Tom Herman, Texas
Desperately seeking a P.R. man: Matt Rhule, Baylor
Desperately seeking sunglasses and a fake beard: Paul Chryst, Wisconsin
Thought you'd kick butt, you did: Ohio State (defeated Northwestern 52-3)
Thought you'd kick butt, you didn't: Texas (defeated Kansas 50-48)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you did: Arkansas (lost to Auburn 51-10)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you didn't: Illinois (defeated Wisconsin 24-23)
Thought you wouldn't kick butt, you did: Ball State (defeated Toledo 52-14)
Did the season start? Washington
Can the season end? Arkansas
Play this again: No. 10 Penn State 28, No. 16 Michigan 20
Play this again, too: No. 15 Texas 50, Kansas 48
Never play this again: No. 4 Ohio State 52, Northwestern 3
What? Ball State 52, Toledo 14
Huh? Georgia Tech 28, Miami (Fla.) 21, OT
Double-Huh? Vanderbilt 21, No. 22 Missouri 14
Are you kidding me?? BYU 28, No. 14 Boise State 25
Oh – my – God: Illinois 24, No. 6 Wisconsin 23
Ticket to die for: No. 13 Wisconsin @ No. 3 Ohio State
Next-best game of the week: No. 9 Auburn @ No. 2 LSU
Best non-Power Five vs. Power Five matchup: Liberty @ Rutgers
Best non-Power Five matchup: Tulane @ Navy
Upset alert: Kansas State @ No. 5 Oklahoma
Must win: No. 11 Auburn @ No. 2 LSU
Offensive explosion: No. 15 Texas @ TCU (hon. mention: WSU @ No. 11 Oregon)
Defensive struggle: (inconclusive)
Great game no one is talking about: Cal @ No. 12 Utah
Intriguing coaching matchup: Jim Harbaugh of Michigan vs Brian Kelly of Notre Dame
(honorable mention: Herm Edwards of Arizona State vs Chip Kelly of UCLA)
Who's bringing the body bags? Arkansas @ No. 1 Alabama
Why are they playing? Liberty @ Rutgers
Plenty of good seats remaining: Akron @ Northern Illinois
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Maryland @ No. 17 Minnesota
Two more undefeated teams bite the dust. First No. 6 Wisconsin in the noon time slot, who went down to defeat at lowly Illinois on a last-second field goal. Then, late at night, the second undefeated team lost today when No. 14 Boise State lost on the road to BYU. The latter, however, is not nearly as massive as the former.
The shame of such an upset is that it takes some of the [proverbial] starch and the all-too-real excitement out of next week's upcoming matchup between the Badgers and the Buckeyes. But it will still be a great game.
Texas vs. Kansas
Texas had to score 50 points to beat Kansas. Yes, Kansas. Granted, Les Miles has the Jayhawks continually improving. Still, this does not bode well for the Longhorns. Clearly, injuries have depleted their defense, especially their secondary. Any team with a good quarterback can thus score points on them. The question becomes, can the Horns still stop the run? Assuming they can, then they stand a chance yet against TCU next week.
Tags: Arizona State, Arkansas, Army, Auburn, Boston College, Bowling Green, Buckeyes, BYU, Cal, California, Central Florida, Clemson, Cornhuskers, Dabo Swinney, Florida, Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech, Golden Bears, Huskers, Iowa, Iowa State, Jeff Brohm, Justin Wilcox, Kansas State, Kent State, Louisville, LSU, Mack Brown, Mario Cristobal, Mark Stoops, Maryland, Michigan, Middle Tennessee State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Ryan Day, Scott Frost, SMU, Sonny Dykes, South Florida, Stanford, Tarheels, TCU, Temple, Texas A&M, Toledo, Tom Osborne, Tulane, UCF, UCLA, USF, Utah State, Washington, Wisconsin
Glad I'm not him: Scott Frost, Nebraska
Poor guy: Mark Stoops, Kentucky
Desperately seeking a wake-up call: Justin Wilcox, Cal
Desperately seeking a P.R. man: Sonny Dykes, SMU
Desperately seeking sunglasses and a fake beard: Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech
Thought you'd kick butt, you did: Michigan (defeated Rutgers 52-0)
Thought you'd kick butt, you didn't: Clemson (defeated North Carolina 21-20)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you did: Middle Tennessee (lost to No. 14 Iowa 48-3)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you didn't: North Carolina (lost to No. 1 Clemson 21-20)
Thought you wouldn't kick butt, you did: SMU (defeated USF 48-21)
Can't Stand Prosperity: Cal
Did the season start? Purdue
Play this again: No. 1 Clemson 21, North Carolina 20
Play this again, too: No. 23 Texas A&M 31, Arkansas 27
Never play this again: No. 12 Penn State 59, Maryland 0
What? Temple 24, Georgia Tech 2
Huh? Oklahoma State 26, No. 24 Kansas State 13
Are you kidding me?? Toledo 28, BYU 21
Oh – my – God: Arizona State 24, No. 15 Cal 17
Ticket to die for: No. 7 Auburn @ No. 10 Florida
(Possible second choice): No. 14 Iowa @ No. 19 Michigan
Best non-Power Five vs. Power Five matchup: Utah State @ No. 5 LSU
Best non-Power Five matchup: Tulane @ Army
Upset alert: Michigan @ Iowa (also: No. 15 Washington @ Stanford)
Must win: Boston College @ Louisville
Offensive explosion: Cal @ No. 13 Oregon
Defensive struggle: Northwestern @ Nebraska
Great game no one is talking about: TCU @ Iowa State
Intriguing coaching matchup: Justin Wilcox of Cal vs Mario Cristobal of Oregon
Who's bringing the body bags? Purdue @ No. 12 Penn State
Why are they playing? Bowling Green @ No. 10 Notre Dame
Plenty of good seats remaining: Oregon State @ UCLA
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Kent State @ No. 8 Wisconsin
North Carolina vs Clemson
Mack Brown remains full of surprises. Not the least of which was the stunning near-upset over previously-No. 1 Clemson, in which the Tigers escaped the Tarheels by only a point. A botched [surprise] two-point attempt on the part of UNC allowed the escape. Had such an attempt been successful, it would have set the college football rankings on fire. As it is, nobody in their right mind should protest Brown's surprise move at the end. If they went for the tie with an extra point, then the game would have gone into overtime, where Clemson would quite likely have outlasted North Carolina. The two-point attempt thus, after further analysis, remained the Tarheels' best bet.
Time will tell if this valiant performance on North Carolina's part is a harbinger of better football to come from this team.
Nebraska vs Ohio State
Ohio State drubbed Nebraska 48-7 in Lincoln. It could have been even worse. All but 10 of those 48 points were scored in the first half (meaning, the Buckeyes put in lots of backups in the second half). This game and its outcome are a tale of two teams in two different directions.
For Ohio State, this is another key test the Buckeyes have passed in their assertion that they belong in the national conversation. Indeed, this performance helped them supplant LSU as the No. 4 team in the nation, currently. That has typically been good enough to make the playoffs, should such shadows remain unchanged.Will such shadows change? After all, nothing is a given in the Big Ten. Such was the case in its late-1990s glory days, and such is the case since roughly 2014 as well. Next week the Buckeyes face an arguably tougher test when Michigan State comes to Columbus. But the ultimate showdown in the conference is still likely when Wisconsin take on the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium on Oct. 26 in what could be one of the games of the year. Why this fixation on OSU's fortunes? Because the more teams from more regions outside of the Southeast contend for the national title, the better it is for college football.
On the other side of the coin is Nebraska. Head coach Scott Frost, one might recall, left a Central Florida program that he had built into arguably the strongest non-Power Five team in the land so he could coach his alma mater. Last year's campaign only resulted in a 4-8 finish. Currently the Huskers stand at 3-2, and even some of those wins were struggles over South Alabama and Illinois. What gives?
No, it would stand to reason that Frost has not forgotten how to coach. Rather, the systemic problem of geography has come into play. Frost had the advantage of being right in the middle of [embarrassingly] talent-rich Florida when he built up the UCF program. Nebraska does not produce any top-caliber players, save for the possible offensive lineman or two. Much of Nebraska's unstoppable linemen during theTom Osborne (especially the latter era) came from much more lax standards and screening mechanisms for steroid use. Those days are now gone.
Also gone are the days of Prop-48 players, which gave Nebraska an easy pipeline to high-caliber talent without the normal barrier of NCAA eligibility standards found elsewhere. Perhaps even more devastating, though, is that Nebraska prospered in the days when only a relative handful of teams were consistently on national television. This made the program in Lincoln an attractive destination for top recruits despite its cold weather and geographic isolation. That advantage, too, was nullified when cable channels greatly expanded college football coverage in the 2000s, giving prized recruits many more options than in earlier times. Given this current environment, how is one to attract top recruits to this cold, isolated place? Scott Frost has his work cut out for him.
Tags: Akron, Appalachian State, Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Bobby Petrino, Bowling Green, Camp Randall Stadium, Charlotte, Cowboys, Dana Holgorsen, Delaware, Florida, Florida State, Gary Patterson, Georgia, Iowa, Iowa State, Jeremy Pruitt, Jim Harbaugh, Kansas, Kansas State, Kent State, Kirby Smart, Les Miles, Longhorns, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisville, Mack Brown, Maryland, Memphis, Miami (OH), Michigan, Middle Tennessee, Navy, Nebraska, North Carolina, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Pitt, Pittsburgh, San Jose State, Sanford Stadium, Scott Satterfield, SJSU, SMU, Stanford, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Tulane, UCLA, UMass, USC, Utah, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Washington State, Willie Fritz, Willie Taggart
Glad I'm not him: Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee
Lucky guy: Willie Taggert, Florida State
Poor guy: Scott Satterfield, Louisville
Desperately seeking a wake-up call: Mack Brown, North Carolina
Desperately seeking a P.R. man: Willie Fritz, Tulane
Desperately seeking sunglasses and a fake beard: Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Desperately seeking … anything: Dana Holgorsen, Houston
Thought you'd kick butt, you did: Ohio State (defeated Miami, Ohio 76-5)
Thought you'd kick butt, you didn't: Georgia (defeated Notre Dame 23-17)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you did: Charlotte (lost to Clemson 52-10)
Thought you'd get your butt kicked, you didn't: SMU (defeated TCU 41-38)
Thought you wouldn't kick butt, you did: Kent State (defeated Bowling Green 62-20)
Dang, they're bad: Arkansas
Can't Stand Prosperity: TCU
Can the season never end? Iowa State
Play this again: No. 3 Georgia 23, No. 7 Notre Dame 17
Play this again, too: No. 12 Texas 36, Oklahoma State 30
Never play this again: No. 6 Ohio State 76, Miami, Ohio 5
That will leave a mark: Iowa State 72, Louisiana-Monroe 20
What? Appalachian State 34, North Carolina 31
Huh? San Jose State 31, Arkansas 24
Double Huh? USC 30, No. 10 Utah 23
Are you kidding me?? SMU 41, No. 25 TCU 38
Oh – my – God: No. 13 Wisconsin 35, No. 11 Michigan 14
Possible best game of the week: No. 18 Virginia @ No. 10 Notre Dame
(Possible second choice): Nebraska @ No. 6 Ohio State
Best non-Power Five vs. Power Five matchup: Northern Illinois @ Vanderbilt
Best non-Power Five matchup: Navy @ Memphis
Upset alert: Maryland @ No. 13 Penn State
Must win: UCLA @ Arizona
Offensive explosion: Washington State @ No. 19 Utah
Great game no one is talking about: Kansas State @ Oklahoma State (also: Iowa State @ Baylor)
Intriguing coaching matchup: Les Miles of Kansas vs. Gary Patterson of TCU
Who's bringing the body bags? Towson @ No. 9 Florida
Why are they playing? Delaware @ Pitt
Plenty of good seats remaining: Akron @ UMass
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Middle Tennessee @ No. 18 Iowa
Week 4 has been arguably the best week for college football thus far in the 2019 season. Friday started off the weekend with a bang with an engaging matchup between USC and Utah. The following first time slot of Saturday (noon EDT) was great, at least on paper. Michigan faced Wisconsin in Camp Randall Stadium, and left the game exposed for having severe weaknesses on offense that must be addressed or Jim Harbaugh's future with his alma mater may be in doubt.
That said, two key games in the following time slot (Louisville at Florida State and Auburn at Texas A&M) lived up to their billing. Louisville is clearly headed in the right direction as a program, but much improvement remains. Perhaps it is unreasonable for Scott Satterfield to turn things around so quickly, given the mess that Bobby Petrino left in his wake. Meanwhile, the Aggies fought the good fight at home, but came up short against a gradually but steadily ascendant Auburn. Both were good game, regardless.
The evening time slot proved that the best was yet to come that day. Oklahoma State came calling at Texas, for one. The Longhorns had failed to beat the Cowboys the previous five seasons, so the urgency was clearly there to get that proverbial monkey off the Horns' collective back.
Then, a half-hour later, the "ticket to die for" lived up to its billing as Notre Dame put up a strong fight against Georgia in Sanford Stadium. The game was a close defensive struggle for three and a half quarters before the Bulldogs finally asserted themselves in accordance with their full potential. In other words, in the latter half of the fourth quarter, the cream finally rose to the top.
With so much great football having been played on Sept. 21 from noon through 11 PM Eastern, such will be a very tough act for Week 5 to follow. Case in point: no game for Week 5 offers a "ticket to die for", which is more the pity.


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Woman Who Claims She Slept With 20 Ghosts Says She's Now Engaged To One [VIDEO]
DJ Digital
A woman who says she has been intimate with 20 ghosts claims she's now engaged to a spirit.
Before she got "boo'd up," 30-year-old Amethyst Realm says she's been with at LEAST 20 ghosts in her lifetime but she's here to say she's off the market. She appeared on a British morning show to announce that she is now engaged to a ghost.
According to Realm, she met her fiance ghost while taking a walk. He approached her and they've been in love ever since. She even discussed having a baby with the ghost after she's married.
If you think that's wild, wait until you hear how she consummated the engagement.
Filed Under: ghosts

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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SHEIKH M ABDUL worked in company MELA ARTS	as BUSINESS MAN.
SHEIKH M ABDUL was from 2014.04.11 to 2016.03.01 at MELA ARTS employed as Director (BUSINESS MAN).
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text:
Josh Proctor, DS #999 SS, Ohio State
Name: Josh Proctor (+) Coming off 09-11-21 Leg INJ
College: Ohio State Number: 41
Position: SS Pos2: FS
Class/Draft Year: rSr/2023
40 Low: 4.40 40 Time: 4.49 40 High: 4.56
Data Scout Notes: 2022: NAC...2021: (+) 09-11-21 Leg INJ/Out for 2021...2020: HMC
Josh Proctor, Ohio State, Player News
01/23/23 - SS Josh Proctor, rSr/2023, Ohio State, 6-1, 205 (DS#999 SS) + More +
Josh Proctor will be returning for a sixth season as an Ohio State football player, according to the Columbus Dispatch. His return - despite participating in senior day - provides some added depth to a safety room already losing two starters in Ronnie Hi ckman and Tanner McCalister. Proctor was expected to be a starter for the Buckeyes in 2022 and came into the season as such. But one bad play against Notre Dame opened the door for Lathan Ransom to demand more playing time, and he gradually started to ta ke on more over time.
That meant less for Proctor, who finished the season playing just 192 snaps in eight games, with most of his time being spent on special teams. He only played over 20 snaps in a game three times all year, finishing with 21 tac kles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and two pass breakups. His 2022 season was much different than what his role would've been in 2021 had he not broken his leg in the second game of the season against Oregon. His absence that year was only part of the re ason why OSU's defense wasn't up to par. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
(DS#999 SS) rSr/2023 SS Josh Proctor, Ohio State
News Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Ohio State football went through its first two days of fall camp in preparation for the 2022 season showing off some interesting things on defense. The Buckeyes are installing a new scheme under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles that's been described as "safety-driven." That means three spots for a safety room that already has plenty of depth, and that could result in a potential six-man rotation. Linebacker also brings back a ton of depth but also questions of if a five-star true freshman is the most t alented option long term. The same can be said on the defensive line, where a mixture of veterans and young talent gives coach Larry Johnson options. OSU's defense returns a ton from a team that played a ton of youth but struggled to live up to the expec tations that the program should produce a top-10 defense. After gaining a year of experience, it looks like it might be capable of doing that in 2022, at least on paper. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
Josh Proctor was not the Ohio State football coaching staff's first choice to solve the free safety position last season. The senior may be the only choice - or at least the most obvious and experienced once - to solidify the back end of the Buckeyes' de fense in 2021. Proctor's ascendancy to stardom did not unfold as some expected. He spent most of 2020 in an important yet part-time role. He said he emerged from the experience with a better understanding of what Ohio State wants - and needs - from him a s a potential leader in the defense. "I think it was really just being consistent," Proctor said. "Always being in the right spot and knowing what I'm supposed to do and not trying to make that big play or do everything by myself, really."
Proctor seemed poised for big things while backing up Jordan Fuller in 2019. A year ago at this time, he was still considered the front-runner to succeed Fuller -- now with the Los Angeles Rams -- as OSU's starter. Instead, Marcus Hooker emerged as the coaching staff's preferred free safety option. At the time, then-assistant defensive backs coach Matt Barnes - who now oversees that position group - said Hooker's rangy skills fit that position better. He described him as having "freakish" ball skills and comple mented his ability to track the ball. Proctor was considered a better fit for man-to-man responsibilities. He spent most of the season playing cover safety on passing downs. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
2020 ALL-BIG TEN FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): Josh Proctor,...With the help of Wade, Werner, Garrett and the rest of the All-Big Ten Buckeyes, Ohio State possesses the nation's No. 6 rushing defense (95.0 yards/game) and has allowed an average o f just 1.8 yards per carry over the last two games. - Ohio State Football
News Source: Ohio State Football
OSU has seen players go from non-contributors to All-American, first-round draft pick status. Proctor's skill set suggests he can do the same, and Ohio State might need him to be all that and more. The Buckeyes haven't had a safety lead in interceptions since Damon Webb's five in 2017. It was the fifth straight season with a safety atop the team in picks. That was an Ohio State secondary that relied heavily on press-man coverage and having a free safety with the capability of sideline-to-sideline playma king. Last season, the defensive scheme shifted to more of a zone look, which meant a player doing what Malik Hooker did in 2016 wasn't a necessity. That made Jordan Fuller the perfect fit to compliment two first-round draft picks in Okudah and Damon Arn ette along with a potential 2021 first-round pick in Shaun Wade.
Defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs has a reputation of turning cornerbacks into first-rounders. Still, he's not returning to a room with two returning veterans combined with two forme r five-stars with plenty of experience. Last year's coordinator Jeff Hafley didn't rotate in the secondary, meaning Wade is the only returning player with more than just a handful of meaningful snaps. Proctor's playmaking ability fits what could be requi red from a single-high safety in 2020. When he had opportunities in 2019, Proctor showed why he has a high ceiling. But his mistakes in the Fiesta Bowl were concerning. Or perhaps it was just the result of a player put in an unfamiliar situation against Clemson's abundant talent. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
Tweet #JoshProctor, Tweet #Football,


text:
Gerry Broome/Associated Press
President Trump responded to supporters Wednesday during a rally in Greenville, N.C.
By Toluse Olorunnipa Washington Post July 19, 2019
After days of inflaming the nation's racial tensions, President Trump stood before a mostly white crowd of supporters Wednesday and observed what he had wrought.
''Send her back! Send her back!'' the crowd chanted as Trump looked on silently for 13 seconds, basking in the response to his attacks on a Somali-born Muslim congresswoman whom he had accused of supporting terrorists and hating America.
The new rallying cry of Trump's supporters unleashed emotional responses from people across the country, with some outraged and others overjoyed by the president's latest polarizing act.
''I think he's tearing the world apart with what he says and how he says it,'' Lu Norman, 88, said while visiting the library in the rural West Texas town of Stanton. ''I don't think he's presidential.''
Also at the library Wednesday, Lori Valles said the president was being ''petty'' and turning ''people against each other.''
Trump claims he was 'not happy' with 'send her back' chant, but did nothing to stop it
President Trump claims that he thought he ended the chant at the rally, saying '''I felt badly about it.'' But video shows him pausing his remarks and not admonishing his supporters.
Read: Fact check: Trump's North Carolina rally
Trump ''needs to be impeached,'' the 42-year-old certified nurse's aide said.
Dan Wendel, a Boston contractor, had a different view about Trump's criticisms of Representative Ilhan Omar, Democrat of Minnesota, and three other congresswomen.
''You really want to know? I love it!'' he said Wednesday outside a building he was working on in South Boston, a gentrifying working-class neighborhood of Boston.
Wendel said Trump was right to call out Democratic lawmakers for ''bad-mouthing America.''
During his rally in Greenville, N.C., on Wednesday, Trump accused Omar and Democratic Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Boston, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan of being unpatriotic. Following up on his tweets Sunday, in which he urged the four minority lawmakers to ''go back'' to their countries of origin, Trump told the crowd that the four women ought to leave the United States.
All four lawmakers are US citizens, and only Omar was born outside the country.
By Thursday, Trump expressed a measure of regret for how things had escalated at his rally, saying he ''felt a little bit badly about'' and was ''not happy with'' the chants that have been roundly condemned by Democrats and several Republicans.
But the president's attacks have reverberated across the country, injecting yet more division into a nation fraught with tension over issues such as immigration, religion and changing demographics.
Trump has long rejected the traditional presidential role of a unifying figure for America's broad and diverse population, and his decision to spread such inflammatory rhetoric was bound to escalate beyond his control, said Russell Riley, a presidential historian at the University of Virginia's Miller Center.
''You can't strike a match near gasoline and not expect something to happen, and when you're trafficking in highly charged racial language — which he was doing, regardless of his denials — then you're playing with incendiaries,'' he said. ''You simply cannot disavow the explosion after you have struck the match.''
The division Trump has seized on for political benefit is reflected by voters across the country, who have widely differing views about the president's spat with Omar and the three other lawmakers, known as ''the Squad.''
While some voters see Trump's attacks as evidence of deep-seated racism, others have defended him from charges of bigotry and say he is simply standing up for the country.
A 10-minute drive from Southie, in the racially mixed neighborhood of Dorchester, Trish Mullen said she has never felt as unsafe as she does with Trump as president.
''It's just embarrassing that we have someone representing our country that's just foul,'' said Mullen, who came to the United States from the Philippines a couple of decades ago, when she was 5. ''We have a loose cannon for a president.''
Mariah Gladstone, 25, a member of the Blackfeet Nation who lives in Kalispell, Mont., saw video clips of the audience chanting during Trump's rally. To her, the event displayed a familiar strain of racism.
''Obviously, the major factor is race, and it is particularly notable that white Americans are never told to go back where they came from,'' said Gladstone, who owns a business that educates people about indigenous American cuisine. ''It is the overwhelming notion that people of color should go back to where they came from.''
In Baton Rouge, La., Tammy Harrison said Trump's comments were being exaggerated by the media. The 60-year-old Republican said she didn't think the president's comments were racist.
''I just think if you don't want to follow the policies of the United States, you are free to go wherever you want,'' said Harrison, who is white.
In Harrison's view, Trump's remarks targeting the four congresswomen were about ideology, not race.
''I know they are ladies of color, but there are extremists in the Democratic Party no matter what color they are,'' she said.
Mary Thomas, who works at a restaurant near Wayne State University in Detroit, says the country's racial climate is the worst she's seen in her 60 years — a period that includes Detroit's 1967 race riots when the National Guard was deployed.
Thomas, who is black, blames Trump.
''I think he's racist,'' she said. ''I really think he is.''
Immigrants in Colorado said the chants that emanated from the North Carolina rally reminded them of fraught political situations in countries they left to come to the United States.
''The situation in my country right now is not in good shape, and now I'm not so sure how safe this country is becoming,'' said Diana Higuera, 47, who came to the United States in 2005 from Venezuela to study for a master's degree in international communications at the University of Denver. ''As a foreigner, now I don't feel safe — even though I'm naturalized — I still have an accent, and I speak Spanish to my kids.''
With more than a year until the next presidential election, many potential voters aren't following the daily drama rippling from Beltway politics.
News of the uproar over the ''Send her back!'' chants drew blank stares and quizzical looks from people sitting in the shade in downtown Lancaster, Pa. Among the 20 or so people queried, none had heard about the chants, and only some were aware of the skirmish between Trump and the four female members of Congress.
Alex Garcia, 48, of Lancaster, arrived in the United States illegally from Mexico in 1989. Starting as a dishwasher in New York, Garcia now owns Señor Hoagies in Lancaster, a restaurant that sells Mexican food and sandwiches. He shook his head when told about the latest controversy, but he said the president's rhetoric doesn't bother him.
During his 30 years in the United States, he said no one has told him to go back to Mexico.
''People helped me,'' he said. ''This country opened the door to me.''
In Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood, Marie Sanon-Jules, 48, said that while Trump's comments were ''disrespectful,'' she expects him to win reelection. Sanon-Jules, born in Haiti and now an American citizen, said Trump's words disparage the country's history as a refuge for immigrants.
''If everybody had to go back to their country, Americans would be the first ones to go back where they're from,'' she said. ''You're not better than me. I'm not better than you. President Trump, you have to change your way.''
Trump distanced himself from the crowd at his rally after several Republican lawmakers told Vice President Mike Pence they were uncomfortable with the ''Send her back!'' language. But even as he backpedaled, Trump also stood up for his chanting supporters on Thursday.
''Well, these are people that love our country,'' Trump said when reporters asked him what he would tell the people who had participated in the chants calling for Omar to be deported. ''I want them to keep loving our country.''
He then continued attacking the four lawmakers.
''They have such hatred,'' he said. ''They should love our country.''
Bryan Lanza, an adviser to Trump's 2016 campaign and transition, said he ''hated the chants'' but did not view them, or the president, as racist.
''I've been yelled those comments in the schoolyards of L.A. and heard the same thing in the street of Bolivia,'' said Lanza, who is Hispanic. ''It's never a pleasant experience, but I never viewed it as racial.''
Conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt said in a tweet that the chant was ''nativist'' and also dangerous politically, as crucial states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan have hundreds of thousands of resident who, like Omar, are naturalized US citizens.
''It is a very risky strategy,'' said Chase Untermeyer, who served as an adviser to President George H.W. Bush. ''It may make loyalists' hearts beat faster and minds get more convinced, but it doesn't do a thing to expand the potential voter base.''
Robert Hall, 33, who designs Blackfeet language curriculum for schools on the nation's reservation in northwestern Montana, said he was entirely unsurprised by way the crowd responded at the rally.
''We know it's racism,'' Hall said. ''To me it's baffling. I don't understand why racist people don't just look us in the eye and say, 'Yes, I'm racist.' Liberate yourselves, then we can have an honest conversation.''


Because I really needed to be fat-shamed this morning when I already woke up aching all over from my stupid bad back and awful mattress. Between that and the "you look tired"s I've been getting I feel even worse about my body and kind of don't even want to leave the house. I don't understand why someone who says they care about me does this without realizing it offends me.
Actually it's probably a good thing I'm going to work otherwise I'd just sit here and stew over this all day.


text:
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics Approaches for Nutrition Research (R01)
R01 Research Project Grant
November 1, 2017 - This PA has been reissued as PA-18-034 for due dates on or after January 25, 2018.
May 10, 2017 - New NIH "FORMS-E" Grant Application Forms and Instructions Coming for Due Dates On or After January 25, 2018. See NOT-OD-17-062.
PA-16-332
93.847, 93.393, 93.213 and 93.321
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to promote application of nutrigenetics and/or nutrigenomics approaches to nutrition research through collaborative interaction among nutrition researchers and experts in omics technologies.
Any due dates on or after Jan 25, 2018 must use reissued FOA.
Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.
Standard AIDS dates apply by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of AIDS and AIDS-related applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.
New Date January 24, 2018 per reissuance of FOA (Original Expiration Date: September 8, 2019)
It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
The importance of diet and nutrition in the etiology of a number of metabolic and autoimmune diseases, affecting mortality and morbidity is well recognized. However, the exact nature of how diet impacts health and disease is not clearly understood. Several studies involving children of famine cohorts clearly demonstrate that nutrition is not only important at every stage in life of an individual but also plays a critical role in the health and disease from in utero to old age, thus providing a broad window of opportunity for nutrition in disease prevention. In addition, nutrients and dietary components alter gene expression, modulate protein and metabolite levels in target tissues, modify cellular and metabolic pathways, affect epigenetic phenomena, and modify response to drugs. These nutrient-host interactions thus influence an individual's predisposition to disease and potential therapeutic response. However, the exact nature of these interactions and underlying causal mechanisms are poorly understood. Current nutritional research methodologies often fail to explore nutrient-host interactions beyond associations. For this reason, there exists a critical need for novel approaches and methodologies employed in nutrition research that allow for the characterization of nutrient host interactions and how they play a critical role in health and disease.
In the genomic era, the high throughput omic technologies are emerging as reliable technical platforms for generating high dimensional biological data, for studying the impact of environmental exposures such as diet, on multiple biological pathways affecting human health and disease in ways that complement conventional scientific approaches. In the recent years, there is a lot of enthusiasm for the application of these methodologies to nutrition research. Specifically, the field of nutrigenetics explores the impact of genetic variants on nutrient metabolism whereas nutrigenomics explores the gene expression, function and regulation in response to nutrient intake and collectively comprises the approaches namely transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics and metabolomics that enable analysis of multiple mRNA species, proteins and metabolites respectively. Such approaches can be targeted to a defined set of analytes, or untargeted allowing the analysis of global molecular species. The molecular signatures from these approaches can provide valuable insights into pathophysiological processes and yield potentially clinically relevant markers of diseases.
While the field is still in its initial stages, the application of these omic approaches to well-designed animal and human nutritional intervention studies and disease models holds great promise for understanding the impact of nutrients and dietary constituents on host metabolism and allow for identification of unique metabolic signatures critical for patho-physiological processes, in response to multiple, cumulative nutrient exposures. When applied to various transgenic and disease models and target tissues, these approaches have the ability to yield mechanistic information on the role of nutrients in the etiology and provide temporal changes associated with the disease process. The initial literature in this area already indicates a great promise on how omic approaches can be successfully applied to nutrition research to unravel nutrient-gene interactions both at the basic and population level.
The goal of this funding opportunity announcement is to foster collaborative research between nutrition researchers and experts in omics technologies and encourages applications that employ nutrigenetics and/or nutrigenomics approaches to basic, translational and clinical nutrition research. Collaboration between investigators with demonstrated expertise in nutrition research and omics techniques is highly encouraged. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, both hypothesis-driven and hypothesis-generating nutrigenomic studies targeted to specific nutrient metabolic pathways are appropriate.
Examples of the application of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics approaches to nutrition research include but are not limited to:
Impact of genetic polymorphisms on nutrient absorption, transport and metabolism
Impact of nutrients and dietary components on gene expression that affect nutrient absorption, transport and metabolism in target tissues and relevant bio-specimens in health and diseases relevance to participating NIH Institutes
Mechanisms by which specific nutrients/dietary components modulate intestinal physiology (transporters), barrier function, inflammation, and/or microbiome composition
Mechanisms by which nutrient sensing in the gut is transduced to extra- intestinal organs and tissues
Studies that explore the interaction/competition between various nutrients for their absorption, transport, metabolism and elimination
Studies that explore the interaction/competition between various nutrients and drugs for their absorption, transport, metabolism and elimination
Impact of nutrient excess and deficiency in health and diseases relevant to participating NIH Institutes
Mechanism of action of prebiotics and resistant starches on intestinal function and host metabolism, and
Mechanism of action of probiotics and secreted probiotic factors on intestinal function and host metabolism
Potential applicants to National Cancer Institute and National Center for Comprehensive and Integrative Health are also encouraged to read the following information on IC-specific research interests.
The National Cancer Institute [NCI]
The National Cancer Institute has multiple interests in nutrigenetic and nutrigenomic-based mechanistic studies including vitamins, minerals and other nutritive agents present in food that reduce the risk of cancer. Genetic variations present in individuals may alter their susceptibility to cancer. Specific interests include strategies to facilitate precision medicine using nutrition-focused interventions to reduce cancer risks in various populations including those mediated by host-microbiome interactions.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health [NCCIH]
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Houston Astros Minor League News
TCB 2017 Top 30 Astros Prospects: 11-20
Part II of our annual rankings featuring several new faces
By Spencer Morris Feb 28, 2017, 9:00am CST
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The next portion of our top 30 prospects is a diverse group, featuring a combination of new and old faces. You can refer to the previous portion of our list here for the grading guidelines and the first batch of players. Without further ado, the list continues with former Vanderbilt standout Tony Kemp.
#20: Tony Kemp, Age 25, LF/2B (4.40, C+)
2016 (AAA): .306/.389/.396 (116 wRC+), 11.3 K%, 10 SB
2016 (Majors): .217/.296/.325 (71 wRC+)
Tony Kemp was drafted out of Vanderbilt in the 5th round of the 2013 draft. The former commodore quickly caught the attention of scouts with his ability to hit for a high average.and draw walks. Kemp was moved to the outfield from second base since Jose Altuve blocked Kemp's path to Major League playing time. In 2016, Kemp made it to the big leagues, playing in 59 games for the Astros. His stats weren't great. He's probably going to wind up as a super utility player. - Stephen
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
#19: Jandel Gustave, Age 24, RHRP (4.42, C+)
2016 (AAA): 57 IP, 55 K, 23 BB, 3.79 ERA
2016 (Majors): 15.1 IP, 16 K, 4 BB, 3.52 ERA
After losing him in the Rule 5 draft in 2014, Jandel Gustave has really put himself on the prospect radar after having a brief hiatus in the Red Sox and Royals organizations. A power righty out of the pen, Gustave will go after hitters with a blazing fastball that sits at 98-99 MPH and can even reach triple digits. His signature pitch is his slider. When his two pitches are on, he's unhittable. But sometimes he has trouble controlling his stuff, having in 3.63 BB/9 in Fresno last year. In his brief stint with the major league club last year, he impressed, striking out 16 in 15.1 innings. Hitters have trouble lifting the ball off him (0.3 HR/9 in his career), as he can induce a fair amount of ground balls. I can see a future setup man here. - Patrick
#18: Ronnie Dawson, Age 21, OF (4.50, C+/B-)
2016 (SS): .225/.351/.373 (123 wRC+), 7 HR, 14.1 BB%
Dawson was drafted by the Astros in the 2nd round of the 2016 draft. Dawson's junior year at Ohio State was phenomenal. He hit .331 with 25 2B, 13 HR, 51 RBI and 21 SB in 65 games. Dawson was assigned to Tri-City after signing with the Astros. He started a bit slow but managed to turn it up and finish strong. In his limited time with the Astros he showed off his power, speed, and patience package. Although he hit just .225 (mainly due to a rough start), he finished with a respectable 123 wRC+. His best tool is his above-average raw power, thanks to his 6'2" 225 lbs frame. He also is a smart runner and has a strong arm for the outfield. - Astros Future
#17: Gilberto Celestino, Age 18, OF (4.64, C+/B-)
2016 (R): .279/.388/.434 (142 wRC+), 2 HR, 9 SB
The Astros signed Celestino for $2.25M in 2015. Celestino was seen as one of the most polished prospects available with elite athleticism and instincts in center field. He has above average speed and a strong ability to hit for average and power. In his first taste of professional ball he started out playing for the DSL Astros where he hit .279 with .388 OBP and 25 BB/23 SO in 38 games. He also had 14 extra base hits in those 38 games. He got moved up to GCL Astros where he .200, though in just 18 games. He could start the 2017 season with Quad Cities. - Astros Future
#16: Freudis Nova, Age 17, SS (4.80, C+/B-)
Yet to play professional ball.
Freudis Nova was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2016. MLB.com rated Nova as the number 8 international prospect last summer. Brian McTaggart said this about Nova: "He has a good arm with soft hands and playable range on defense. He is considered an offensive-minded player who shows good bat speed and features a slight uppercut swing."
It is way too early to predict anything about Nova. That being said, a few of the reports that I have seen suggest a position change from shortstop to third base is in his future. - Stephen
#15: Miguelangel Sierra, Age 19, SS (4.82, C+/B-)
2016 (App): .289/.386/.620 (170 wRC+), 11 HR, 6 SB
2016 (SS): .140/.216/.183 (25 wRC+)
Sierra, who I like to call "Michelangelo Mountain" is one of the top middle infield prospects in the system and signed for $1 million out of Venezuela in 2014. He showed surprisingly good power potential in a solid stint in rookie ball last season, slugging .620 with 11 homers in Greeneville, but struggled upon a promotion to Tri-City. At 19, he has a ways to go before proving himself as a capable hitter, but currently projects as a plus defender up the middle and shows up in the top 10 of most industry prospect lists on the Houston system. - Curtis
#14: Cionel Perez, Age 21, LHSP (4.83, C+/B-)
Did not pitch professionally in 2016.
Perez is a prospect who offers both floor and ceiling. With two strong years in Cuba under his belt, he bolted for freedom and the Astros signed him twice, with the first, more expensive deal, having been scuttled by health concerns. Still just 20 years old, Perez's heater already touches 95 MPH, and with room left to grow, that number may rise further. A solid curve and a developing change up and slider complement it; the former two could both be easy plus pitches in the future, with average-at-worst command. Good floor of a hard-throwing lefty reliever, maybe even closer, and the ceiling could see him as a strong #2 rotation man. - Brian
#13: Daz Cameron, Age 20, OF (4.90, C+/B-)
2016 (SS): .278/.352/.418 (134 wRC+), 2 HR, 8 SB, 29.2 K%
2016 (A): .143/.221/.221 (32 wRC+), 37.9 K%
Part of a long lineage of elite prep outfielders from the state of Georgia, Daz Cameron, son of Mike, was considered a huge get for Luhnow and the Astros when they were able to sign him overslot in the supplemental round two years ago. Known best for his defense and hit tool, Cameron shows outstanding versatility and his fans- myself included- believe he possesses five average or better tools. While he has been streaky with the bat, and on the whole slower to start than the other prep outfielder the Astros selected on the first day of the 2015 draft, Cameron is still just 20 years and one month old at the time of this writing and was very young for both levels at which he played in 2016. Likely to start the year in Quad Cities, Daz will look to hone his center field chops and hit for consistent average as he continues his climb up the ladder. While it will likely take more time for his average power to manifest, the upside for Cameron remains extremely high entering 2017. - Spencer
#12: Jason Martin, Age 21, OF (5.20, B-)
2016 (A+): .270/.357/.533 (134 wRC+), 23 HR, 20 SB, 11.9% BB%
Drafted in the 8th round out of a California prep school, the very athletic Jason Martin quickly found the right step in the Astros organization. He can play all the three outfield positions. Most believe he will end up in LF due to the lack of arm strength. His best asset is his speed. A very instinctive baserunner, Martin can swipe bags with the best of them. His speed plays well with his route efficiency. He stills need overall tuning on his defense, but when that happens, he could turn into a very above-average defender. As for his bat, he has a very simple stance that helps him spray the ball all over the field. He had a huge power surge this year, with 23 homers, but I wouldn't expect that to stay. I see Martin ending up as a borderline staring outfielder that will hit for a nice average with some decent pop. - Patrick
#11: Teoscar Hernandez, Age 23, OF (5.43, B-)
2016 (AAA): .313/.365/.500 (128 wRC+), 4 HR, 4 SB
2016 (Majors): .230/.304/.420 (93 wRC+), 4 HR, 25.0 K%
Signed as an unheralded prospect from the Dominican for just $20,000 in 2011, Teo continued a rapid ascent through the system, earning a second-half call-up in 2016. Though Hernandez homered against Toronto in his first major league game, he only produced a .230/.304/.420 line in 112 plate appearances in part-time outfield duty. Hernandez is an average defender with good speed and a solid but inaccurate arm and is better suited to a corner. Offensively, he could stand to add some weight to his frame to better leverage his power potential. At this point, Hernandez is ready for a big-league role and has an outside shot to win a backup outfield spot over Jake Marisnick with a good spring, but will most likely open the season in Frenso. - Curtis
The Crawfish Boxes 2017 Top 30 Astros Prospects
The Crawfish Boxes 2017 Top 30 Astros Prospects breakdown podcasts


Each year in May there is a big market in Norderstedt's municipal park, where you can find art, craft and regional food by retailers from Northern Germany. I really love strolling such markets on a Sunday afternoon. Not only do you find a lot of extremely delicious snacks there, but you also get the chance to support local producers and businesses – which is something I find very important. Last time I went to Norderstedt, I was particularly excited because I knew that Sandra and Thomas of Whisky Südholstein would have a stand on the market. Among others, they brought along many bottlings by Mackmyra, Scotch Universe and Douglas Laing, which you could try for very moderate prices. Since I went there by car and had to drive back home, I asked Thomas to fill a few sample bottles for me. It must have been my lucky day, because on top of the samples I was also able to bring home one of only 291 bottles of this Tamdhu 16yo from a refill hogshead. If you like a dram with an outstanding vanilla aroma in combination with fruity notes, you will love this whisky. As usual, the people at Douglas Laing chose the perfect point of time for bottling this delicious Speysider.
Eye: A shimmering straw-yellow with gold.
Nose: Lots of vanilla combined with sweetness, malt and green fruits.
Palate: Very sweet and creamy with a full load of vanilla. Imagine you cut some bananas, mangos and honeydew melons into pieces, season it with lots of vanilla sugar and then douse it with vanilla sauce. Maybe you could better describe it as a fruit salad marinated in vanilla sauce.
Finish: Sweet banana develops into a medium long finish with a pleasant vanilla sweetness.


Great excerpt!!! Can't wait to read,this series is on my Amazon wish list and tbr gr list!!! Great giveaway too! Shared on all my socials!!
This looks good. Hope you enjoy when you get a chance to read it. Thank you for sharing!
I've seen some great reviews on this novel. I've got the first book on my TBR in the series to try. I've found that I really enjoy Romantic Suspense.
great showcase and thanks for the giveaway!
Good luck in the giveaway. Glad you enjoyed the showcase.


Provide more than expected for less than expected.
The Entrek USA line of high quality knives consists of over 30 models ranging from the Lynx at an overall length of under 6 1/2 inches to the Strike Eagle at over 14 1/2 inches. We continue to listen to the people who use Entrek USA knives and design knives to meet their needs. Hunting, utility, tactical we make knives to fit many uses.
At Entrek USA we realize and believe that almost any steel with enough carbon in it to harden properly will make a good useable knife. We also realize one steel cannot be all things to all people. With 36 years experience we just aren't that impressed with the glamour steels. Therefore we chose to use an old standby that has proven itself for many years, 440C Stainless Steel. When heat treated, subzero stabilized and double drawn to 57-58 RC it will hold an edge as well as almost any other steel and with 17% chromium it is one of the most corrosion resistant steels available.
Heat treating of the steel is the most important step in the making of an Entrek USA knife. We have our heat treating done at Blanchard Metals Processing in Salt Lake City, Utah. The blanks are heated in a vacuum furnace, air quenched, subzero stabilized and double drawn to 57-58 RC which gives the best all around performance in 440C.
At Entrek USA we combine the latest technologies such as laser blanking and some old but reliable methods like drill fixtures, add 36 years of experience (especially nice when grinding blades) to make the highest quality hand made production knives. Every step is important and receives the time needed to do it right. Every knife goes through many steps in the production process such as blanking, surface grinding to flat and parallel, marking the blade for grinding, freehand rough grind (40 grit), freehand finish grind (120 grit), drill handle for guards, handle screws, and thong hole, tapping the screw holes heat treat, assembly of handle components, hand shaping the handle, sand blast for a nonreflective finish, marking and sharpening. We use the best materials available to us and we have a reason for using what we do. For instance we use only black canvas micarta from one company, Accurate Plastics, in Yonkers, New York. Why? They have consistent quality and color we can even use pieces from different sheets for handles and can't tell the difference. All work except blanking and heat treat are done in house.
Entrek USA knives are hand made in the USA from the highest quality materials. There are lots of good knives on the market, and some not so good, but there are fewer and fewer top quality knives that are made in the USA. If you are looking for value compare Entrek USA to any other knife on the market, we think you will go with Entrek USA.
If this Entrek USA knife fails for any reason it will be repaired or replaced at the option of Entrek USA at no cost to the original owner. To date we have replaced four knives in 12 years, all were damaged while being used for other than their designed purpose.
Ray Ennis made his first knives by cold forging and filing barn spikes into knives when he was a teen. He made and sold his first custom knife in early 1973. It was made from a car spring and was still curved, the selling price was $10.00. This was when he was in the US Air Force making about $7000.00 a year (some things never change) so it was quite a bit of extra money. He bought his first piece of O-1 tool steel from Young Manufacturing in Grand Forks, ND (they still do the laser blanking for us) shortly there after, learned to heat treat, grind and polish. In 1977 & 1978 Ray attended the Colorado School of trades for gunsmithing where he learned better polishing techniques and machine skills which were incorporated into his knife making. During the time since he sold his first knife he has continued to learn new skills which have helped improve his knife making. Working as a gunsmith, machinist, tool and die maker, welder (heli-arc, mig and oxy-acetylene) tool designer, and CAD have all made him a better knife maker. His devotion to the craft, loyalty to the people who use his knives, and a determination to give more than they expect define his trek.


Functional art is prevalent in this sculptural mid-20th century design coffee table. It is crafted from a single solid African mahogany slab and counter-levered on powder coated cast aluminium legs. It features raised Tasmanian oak bowtie inlays for durability.
This heirloom piece will stand the test of time and bring vibrant, natural beauty to any living room.