#Clemson is in the lead

[sarnai4]

Expectation Subversion

Penguins of Madagascar has some of my favorite examples of subverting expectations for personalities. They also gave me something that I try to use when creating my own characters. It seems like the characters can easily fit into a one-dimensional stereotype, but then there's more. Let's start off with Rico.

At first glance, Rico is just a loose cannon. In lesser shows, he might have been. After all, he just needs to be the silly one who spits up weapons and sure, he is, but that's not all. Rico is also fiercely loyal. He's the same one who was terrified of a "haunted" car and still braved it head-on when it had hurt Skipper. Comically enough, he can just as easily turn on the others when Ms. Perky wants him to do something else (cue Rico attacking them because of that darn voice box). An underrated skill of Rico's is how resourceful he is. He always knows exactly what weapon is necessary for the moment. With these skills, his loyalty, and his fun/unhinged flair, he really comes to life as a character.

Private is seemingly just the nice guy of the group. He's the young one who's innocent. Again, this is a part of him. He is very nice, not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings like when he was supposed to win a rude-off against Clemson. He's also pretty naive with a lot of things, being unsuspecting about Hans actually being bad. Despite this, there's more to Private than niceness. He's got the most common sense of the group, being the only one to see that grabbing the plant needed to save Maurice's life would be easier than continuing to use the jaws of life AND realizing how unlikely it was that Santa was spending Christmas Eve in a random building. I also love how he's got a backstory of being this almost ruthless mini golf player. His underrated skill is that he's the second best fighter of the group. Solely looking at fin-to-fin combat, Private is the only one who's been on par with Skipper.

Kowalski could have just been the "science nerd." He definitely has this as a core part of him, but he's also such a drama queen. I love it. He's the poster boy for book smarts because this penguin has a score of 0 for practical reasoning. Heck, he had to figure out which instincts to use. His struggles with this leads to him continuously making inventions that almost kill everybody. Kowalski is always an invention away from turning into a mad scientist. I'm convinced this actually has happened before and then he just snaps back to his senses (thinking about times like Jiggles and more). Something else which adds an interesting layer to him is how much he wants to be in charge. He's technically the second-in-command and has made it clear that he'd like to replace Skipper when the time comes. "Kowalski's log...too soon?"

Skipper seems like he's just the tough boss. In a comedy like this, he easily could've been an incompetent leader. Rather than that, he's honestly a very good leader who is clever with his plans. Seriously, his escape plans shown in Pets Peeved and more episodes really demonstrate how thoroughly he can think out a strategy even when he's on the spot. Along with this, Skipper tries to act hard and rough, but he makes it clear that he cares about his team more than anything. He even faced his fear of needles (this show singlehandedly taught me what trypanophobia was) for Private when he learned that the soldier would've been hurt otherwise. It even stretches beyond them. Skipper really cares about everyone in the zoo, going so far as to look out for Julien who is probably one of his least favorite zoo mates. I also really like how much being a leader means to Skipper. When he thought he couldn't be in charge anymore, he was having a meltdown. He even put Private as leader just so that he could make it clear who actually deserves the position. It's so petty, that it's almost beautiful.

[emilybeemartin]

Inktober Days 13-15

Day 13: "Rise"

Rangers sometimes talk about their “heart parks”—the intimately special ones that make us go dreamy-eyed and nostalgic. Grand Teton is my heart park. During undergrad, I was going through a rough patch, missing my backcountry work in New Mexico and feeling out of place at Clemson. I told my friend that I “just wanted to go somewhere.” He asked if I wanted to go for a walk. I told him no, I’d like to go to the Grand Tetons. I don’t know why I decided on that particular place in that moment—I’d never been there and had only ever seen photos of the famous mountain group. But my friend said sure, we could go to the Grand Tetons. He proceeded to lead me outside student housing, checked the cardinal directions in the sky, and struck off northwest. I followed him. We walked around campus for hours that night, talking about a hundred different things. It was the first time after returning from New Mexico that I’d felt really heard, really understood, really happy.

A few months later, that friend became my boyfriend, and a few years later, that boyfriend became my husband. There was no question about where we would honeymoon. We went to Grand Teton.

Day 14: "Castle"

I’ve been struggling with what to say about Mesa Verde, because this site was so incredible to visit that I almost can’t put it to words. I experienced it while conducting my master’s research between stops in Navajo National Monument and Chaco Canyon. Visiting these cultural sites, tied together by sociopolitical events and natural disasters over the span of centuries, drove home how vast the network of humanity was in the Ancestral Puebloan era. These places were huge hubs of activity and massive feats of architecture—not castles, but communities humming with life, love, loss, struggle, wealth, and beauty.

Mesa Verde was also the only place I saw a ranger bring an audience to tears with the emotion in his program. I audited over two hundred interpretive programs that summer, but I remember lowering my clipboard during this particular tour of Cliff Palace, in awe of how powerfully the ranger was able to connect visitors with his own familial ties to the Ancestral Puebloans who had lived there so long ago. The goal of interpretation is to facilitate a meaningful connection between the visitor and the resource, but never have I ever seen anyone do it so profoundly as that ranger in Mesa Verde, 2011.

Day 15: "Dagger"

White Sands preserves practically the entire span of human history, from fragments of ancient blades up to the space shuttle and missile launches. But it's the beginning of that timeline that draws me toward this gleaming gypsum dunefield.

I remember where I was when the news dropped—in the Apgar ranger office with a handful of other Glacier rangers. I was working on my hunting and gathering program, where I discussed old facts about projectile points and atlatls, but I stopped when another ranger swore in shock. An email had come through to our NPS accounts with new research out of White Sands. Human footprints preserved in the ancient sediment had been dated--- not to the 13-16 thousand years old we typically associated with the earliest humans in the Americas, but to 23 THOUSAND YEARS OLD. In one short email, our whole office's reckoning of human history almost doubled. Our minds were blown. We celebrated like a bunch of lads after a World Cup win. This world that we walk! Footsteps over footsteps over footsteps! What a privilege.

[odinsblog]

Since the founding of the United States, politicians and pundits have warned that partisanship is a danger to democracy. George Washington, in his Farewell Address, worried that political parties, or factions, could "allow cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men" to rise to power and subvert democracy. More recently, many political observers are concerned that increasing political polarization on left and right makes compromise impossible, and leads to the destruction of democratic norms and institutions.

A new study, however, suggests that the main threat to our democracy may not be the hardening of political ideology, but rather the hardening of one particular political ideology. Political scientists Steven V. Miller of Clemson and Nicholas T. Davis of Texas A&M have released a working paper titled "White Outgroup Intolerance and Declining Support for American Democracy." Their study finds a correlation between white American's intolerance, and support for authoritarian rule. In other words, when intolerant white people fear democracy may benefit marginalized people, they abandon their commitment to democracy.

The World Values Survey data used is from the period 1995 to 2011 — well before Donald Trump's 2016 run for president. It suggests, though, that Trump's bigotry and his authoritarianism are not separate problems, but are intertwined. When Trump calls Mexicans "rapists," and when he praises authoritarian leaders, he is appealing to the same voters.

Miller and Davis' paper quotes alt right, neo-fascist leader Richard Spencer, who in a 2013 speech declared: "We need an ethno-state so that our people can ‘come home again’… We must give up the false dreams of equality and democracy."

Ethnic cleansing is impossible as long as marginalized people have enough votes to stop it. But this roadblock disappears if you get rid of democracy. Spencer understands that white rule in the current era essentially requires totalitarianism. That's the logic of fascism.

(continue reading)

[bearterritory]

Golden Bears Knock Out #2 Duke

Cal Advances To ACC Semifinals

DURHAM, N.C. – The California men's soccer team continued its late-season surge and success in the state of North Carolina on Sunday by upsetting second-ranked Duke 2-0 at Koskinen Stadium. The Golden Bears got two first-half goals – a Duke own goal and a brilliant Arik Duncan strike – and five saves from Marco Brougher in the victory.   Cal, which improved its record to 8-7-2, next plays seventh-ranked Clemson in the ACC semifinals Thursday at 5 p.m. PT in Cary, North Carolina.   At the 1:58 mark, Cal forward Nonso Adimabua earned a free kick when he was fouled in midfield trying to corral Brougher's long goal kick. Forward Alfredo Ortiz served the free kick into the Duke box, Cal defender Kevin Carmichael headed the ball across the face of the goal and Duke midfielder Kenan Hot – trying to clear the ball while defending Cal's Wyatt Meyer – headed the ball into his own net.   The Bears continued to attack and, at 16:37, midfielder Kieran Bracken Serra sent a perfect ball to the top of the six-yard box, and the onrushing Duncan volleyed the ball into the back of the net.   Cal took its 2-0 lead into the break.   In the second half, the Bears weathered a storm of Duke offense, as the Blue Devils outshot Cal 10-2 in the final 45 minutes and 19-5 for the game. Brougher made three of his saves in the second half.   Brougher and Meyer came up big in the 76th minute, when Duke forward Ulfur Bjornsson had a chance to score on a breakaway. Meyer – the 2023 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year – recovered and bothered the Blue Devil enough to affect his shot, allowing Brougher to make an easy save. At 81:34, Brougher saved a deflected shot by Sol Arbib in what was Duke's last shot on goal in the game.

Cal has now won three straight after a difficult stretch of games where many of their best players were out with injury. The game before that stretch was a 1-0 upset victory at then-No. 1 Pitt. The common denominator during the win streak and in the victory over the Panthers is that all four results came against nationally ranked ACC opponents – No. 1 Pitt, No. 2 Duke, No. 14 North Carolina and No. 22 Stanford – on the road, where Cal is 5-4-0. The Bears are 3-3-2 at home.   "These just guys step across the line and become a different beast on the road," Cal head coach Leonard Griffin said. "We talked about being on the front foot from the start, and we were able to get after them early. Goals change games. They changed this one, and we were also able to keep ball out of the back of our net. Credit to our guys up front, but just as much credit goes to Kevin Carmichael, Marco Brougher, Wyatt Meyer, Santiago Hopkins and all the guys defending. And we had a great team effort from the bench.   "This is the team that we knew we could be. We wish we could take some of those early games back but can only control what's in front of us. The players have just bought in and believe we can play with anyone."  

[bongaboi]

Washington: 2022 Alamo Bowl Champions

No. 12 Washington knocked off No. 20 Texas 27-20 in the Alamo Bowl to get its first 11-win season since 2016.

The Huskies weren’t troubled by the Longhorns for much of the game. UW took a 17-point lead early in the fourth quarter thanks to a TD pass from Michael Penix Jr. to Jalen McMillan. Texas cut the lead to seven with 1:40 to go, and got the ball back with a chance for a potential game-winning TD and two-point conversion with 31 seconds left. But the last-ditch drive with no timeouts remaining didn't get a first down.

The win means Washington finishes the season at 11-2 in Kalen DeBoer’s first season as head coach. Washington fired Jimmy Lake nine games into a tumultuous 2021 season and finished the season at 4-8. It hired DeBoer from Fresno State and the former Indiana offensive coordinator quickly landed the former Indiana QB Penix as a transfer.

That move paid off as Penix was one of the nation’s most productive passers in 2022 and the Huskies won seven more games than they did a season ago. Washington made one of the biggest improvements of any team at the top level of college football in 2022 and is well-positioned to be a contender in the Pac-12 again next season.

Penix will be back in 2023 as the Pac-12 will boast one of the strongest quarterback groups in college football. Heisman winner Caleb Williams is returning for USC while Oregon’s Bo Nix is coming back along with Washington State’s Cam Ward. Oregon State landed Clemson QB D.J. Uiagalelei, former Notre Dame QB Drew Pyne is transferring to Arizona State and Kent State QB Collin Schlee is transferring to UCLA.

Texas, meanwhile, finishes the season 8-5. The Longhorns entered the game without running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson among other transfers and NFL draft opt outs. That allowed players like freshman Jonathan Brooks to get playing time and Brooks scored two TDs.

The Alamo Bowl might have also been the last game of the pre-Arch Manning era at Texas. QB Quinn Ewers didn’t have a terrible game by any means — his stats would look a lot better if it wasn’t for drops on back-to-back plays in the third quarter by star receiver Xavier Worthy — but the Longhorns will have the highest-profile QB competition in college football over the spring and summer thanks to Manning’s presence.

Manning signed with Texas earlier in December and plans to be an early enrollee. That will allow him to practice this spring and potentially get the chance to start as a true freshman. Or if Ewers plays well like he has flashed at times in 2022, it’s very possible that he could keep the starting job for his second season with the Longhorns.

[cfbtransferportal]

12/26/2022 CFB Transfer Portal Update #2

Since my last post, 11 of the players that I discussed have made their commitments. In this blog post, I am going to cover the choices these student-athletes made and their potential fit with new programs.

The once five-star prospect will look to take over as the starting Quarterback for the Purdue Boilermakers after Transferring from Texas where he was the backup to Quinn Ewers. This could prove to be a good move for Card because He was already a backup at Texas and next year will have another five-star top-ranked quarterback joining the room to bring even more competition. He joins a system with much less competition at Purdue where last year's starter in Aidan O'Connell is leaving for the NFL draft.

Shedeur Sanders did exactly as most thought he would which was to follow his dad to Colorado. Shedeur will step on campus as the immediate starting QB and be a share to the face of the program with his father, Deion, and teammate, Travis Hunter. He also is a big asset to future recruiting for the Boulder program as he can message players and talk with other athletes in grace periods when his father is not allowed by the NCAA to recruit.

After seeing Oregon State Quarterback Chance Nolan enter the transfer portal earlier in December the program is bringing in D.J. Uiagalelei to compete with last year's starter, Ben Gulbranson. This can be a fresh start for D.J. after a shakey 2 years of starting at Clemson. His brother recently committed to the University of Oregon so they will be able to play each other every year in the Civil-War rivalry game.

LJ Johnson will look to prove why he was so highly touted coming out of high school and take over as the lead back at SMU which had run by committee backfield last season where 5 different running backs split a majority of the workload. In my opinion, this can go either way for LJ. With so many capable runningbacks in one room, it will be hard to steal all of the reps and be a clear-cut #1 on the team. With that being said, if 5 running backs shared the majority of touches last year then Johnson has the potential to show the coaching staff that he is their do it all back and can perform the same capabilities as some or all of the other running backs at SMU.

RaRa Thomas committing to Georgia is huge for the Bulldogs as they add even more weapons to their already #1 ranked team in the country. With Stetson Bennett running out of eligibility and leaving for the NFL before next season, it is unclear who will be the QB throwing RaRa balls in 2023. If Georgia finds a ready-to-win QB for next season, they and RaRa are going to be a force to be reckoned with in CFB.

Ajani Cornelius committed to the University of Oregon where he will most likely make an immediate impact starting at either the left or right tackle position. This was a huge get for Oregon as they look to protect their returning starter at QB, Bo Nix, who was on the fence about going pro or returning for his final season of eligibility. This also brings a lot more national attention to Ajani that he wasn't necessarily getting at Rhode Island.

Amari Kight found a new home at the University of Central Florida where and will hope to shine as one of their best lineman in order to boost his draft stock in his final season of eligibility. The Big bodied tackle the frame and mobility that the NFL loves.

Braden Fiske decided to go with the East coast and commit to Florida State rather than the likes of USC on the West. The massive interior defensive lineman will look to not only prove that he can compete against the best playrs in a power-5 conference but will also hope to gain attention from NFL scouts.

Tunmise Adeleye is leaving the heat of college station Texas for the shivering cold of East lasing Miching to join the Michigan State Spartans. This move makes sense for Adeleye because he in joining a much more run-heavy conference in the BIG10 as compared to the SEC. This will allow Tunmise to display his run-stuffing abilities as there will be far more opportunities.

Travis Hunter decided to follow his head coach and top hall-of-fame cornerback, Deion Sanders to Colorado. Travis will fit right back into Coach Sander's system where he played on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball last season for Jackson State University.

Tony Grimes decided to join the Texas A&M Aggies who have seen the departure of 4 defensive backs through the transfer portal in just this past month. Grimes will make an immediate impact at corner as there isn't much competition for his spot.

Thank you for reading my post that covered all of the now-committed players from the transfer portal who I talked about in my last blog. In the near future, I will post my update #3 and talk about programs that have been the most successful in replenishing their teams with talent from the CFB transfer portal.

[nyaruhodou]

football is going very well for me today on 2 out of 3 fronts

carolina beat clemson for the first time since 2013 💜 and bama is currently leading 35-14 at halftimr

[stubobnumbers]

CFB Breakdown - November 16th, 2024.

CFB Breakdown - Saturday, November 16th 2024.

SEC: Texas at Arkansas - 11 AM ABC. Texas leads the series, 56-23.

LSU at Florida - 2:30 PM ABC. LSU leads the series, 34-33-3.

Tennessee at Georgia - 6:30 PM ABC. Georgia leads the series, 28-23-2.

Missouri at South Carolina - 3:15 PM SEC Network. Missouri leads the series, 9-5.

OOC - UL Monroe at Auburn - 11:45 AM SEC Network. Auburn leads the series, 11-0.

OOC - New Mexico State at Texas A&M - 6:45 PM SEC Network. Texas A&M leads the series, 1-0.

OOC - Murray State at Kentucky - 12:30 PM ESPN+. OOC - Mercer at Alabama - 1 PM ESPN+.

B1G: Oregon at Wisconsin - 6:30 PM NBC. The series is tied, 3-3.

Nebraska at Southern Cal - 3 PM FOX. Southern Cal leads the series, 4-0-1.

Ohio State vs Northwestern - 11 AM BTN. Ohio State leads the series, 65-14-1.

Michigan State at Illinois - 1:30 PM FS1. Michigan State leads the series, 27-19-2.

Penn State at Purdue - 2:30 PM CBS. Penn State leads the series, 16-3-1.

Rutgers at Maryland - 5 PM FS1. Maryland leads the series, 12-7.

ACC: Clemson at Pittsburgh - 11 AM ESPN. Pittsburgh leads the series, 3-2.

Wake Forest at North Carolina - 7 PM ACC Network. North Carolina leads the series, 72-36-2.

Boston College at SMU - 2:30 PM ESPN. The series is tied, 1-1.

Syracuse at California - 2 PM CW. The series is tied, 1-1. (Last meeting was in 1968).

Louisville at Stanford - 2:30 PM ACC Network. First meeting.

OOC - Virginia at Notre Dame - 2:30 PM NBC. Notre Dame leads the series, 4-0.

Big 12: Utah at Colorado - 11 AM FOX. Utah leads the series, 35-32-3.

Cincinnati at Iowa State - 7 PM FOX. Iowa State leads the series, 1-0.

Kansas at BYU - 9:15 PM ESPN. Kansas leads the series, 2-0.

Arizona State at Kansas State - 6 PM ESPN. Arizona State at Kansas State, 5-1.

Baylor at West Virginia - 3 PM ESPN2. West Virginia leads the series, 8-4.

P2: OOC - Oregon State at Air Force - 2:30 PM CBSSN. First meeting.

OOC - Washington State at New Mexico - 8:30 PM FS1. Washington State leads the series, 2-0.

[marylcna]

Leading Accredited Online CNA Programs: Your Path to a Rewarding Healthcare Career

Top Accredited Online CNA Programs: Your Path to a Rewarding‌ Healthcare Career

As‍ the healthcare ⁢industry continues to⁣ grow,⁢ the demand for qualified nursing assistants is rising. If you’re⁣ looking for a⁣ fulfilling career where you can make a ⁣difference, becoming a Certified ​Nursing Assistant (CNA)⁣ could be⁤ the perfect fit.⁤ Numerous accredited online CNA programs ⁣are available, allowing you to learn at⁤ your own pace while maintaining your current responsibilities. This article will provide​ essential insights into the top accredited ‍online CNA programs, their benefits, practical tips for success, ​and personal experiences that illustrate the journey of becoming a CNA.

Why Choose an Online CNA ‌Program?

Flexibility: Online programs offer the flexibility to study at your⁢ own pace, making them ideal for busy individuals.

Convenience: ⁢ You can attend classes ⁤from the⁤ comfort of your⁤ home, reducing commuting time and costs.

Quality⁤ Education: Many ‌online‍ programs are accredited and provide high-quality training⁢ to prepare you for the workforce.

Networking Opportunities: Online cohorts often provide networking opportunities with fellow students and ​professionals in the⁤ field.

Top Accredited Online CNA Programs

When selecting a CNA ⁤program, accreditation is a crucial factor that ensures the quality and recognition of⁣ your education.​ Here are ​some of the top accredited online CNA programs you should consider:

Program Name

Institution

Duration

Estimated Cost

Online⁣ CNA Program

Southern New Hampshire University

8 ‌weeks

$1,200

Certified ‌Nursing ⁣Assistant

Penn Foster College

5 – 9 months

$999

CNA Certificate Program

Clemson University

6 weeks

$1,500

CNA Training Program

University of Phoenix

4 ‍- 6 weeks

$1,250

CNA Online Training

Ashworth College

4 months

$1,199

Benefits of Becoming a Certified⁢ Nursing Assistant

Working as ​a CNA comes with various advantages⁤ that attract ‍individuals to this career path:

Job Security: With an ⁣increasing aging‍ population, the demand for CNAs is projected to⁢ grow significantly.

Opportunity ⁣for Advancement: Experience as a CNA can lead to further ⁣education and advancement opportunities, such as LPN or RN roles.

Rewarding Work Environment: CNAs play a vital role ⁣in ‌patient‌ care,‌ which can be incredibly fulfilling for compassionate individuals.

Flexible⁤ Scheduling: Many healthcare facilities offer flexible shifts, allowing for ⁤a better work-life balance.

Practical Tips for Success in an ​Online CNA Program

Enrolling in an online ‍CNA program is an exciting‌ step forward, but ⁤it comes with ⁢its own set of challenges. Here are some practical⁢ tips to help you succeed:

Create a Study Schedule: Establish a consistent study ⁢routine‍ that ⁤balances coursework, assignments, and certifications.

Stay Organized: Use planners or digital tools to keep track ⁢of deadlines, class schedules, and important tasks.

Engage in Discussions: Participate in online forums and discussion groups⁢ to ⁣gain insights from peers and instructors.

Seek ‍Help‍ When Needed: Don’t hesitate to reach out‌ to instructors or classmates for assistance if ⁣you’re ⁢struggling with course material.

Practice ‌Clinical⁢ Skills: Find‍ opportunities to⁢ practice your ⁢clinical skills in-person, whether⁣ through ⁢labs ‍or clinical rotations.

First-Hand‍ Experience: A Case‌ Study

To understand the⁢ impact ⁢of⁤ an online CNA program, let’s explore a first-hand experience from Emily, a graduate of⁢ an online CNA program at Southern New Hampshire‌ University:

Emily’s Journey: ⁤“I was‍ working ⁤full-time at a local grocery store when⁣ I ⁢decided to pursue a career in healthcare. ⁣The ‌flexibility of the online CNA program allowed me to manage my studies while keeping ‍my job. It was challenging, but the instructors were supportive, and⁢ the virtual ⁢simulations helped me prepare for real-world scenarios. After completing the course, I landed​ a CNA‌ position at ‌a nearby nursing home and couldn’t ‍be ⁢happier with my decision.”

Career Outlook for CNAs

Aging Population: ‌As the baby boomer generation ages, the⁢ need⁢ for​ healthcare services increases.

Rising Chronic Conditions: A higher prevalence of chronic diseases⁢ means more ​patients require long-term care.

Focus on Preventive Care: An emphasis⁤ on preventive and patient-centered care leads to increased support staff in‍ healthcare facilities.

Conclusion

Embarking on a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant is an excellent ‌way to enter the healthcare field. With​ various accredited online CNA programs‌ available,​ you can find the right fit for ⁣your needs and goals. ⁣The benefits of⁢ becoming a CNA, including job security, ⁣advancement opportunities, and ​a fulfilling work​ environment, make this profession rewarding. By following⁢ the practical ​tips‌ discussed and learning from‍ real-world experiences, you can successfully navigate your online CNA journey and build a robust career in healthcare. Take the first step today, and open the ⁢doors to a promising⁤ future!

https://www.cnacertificationschools.net/leading-accredited-online-cna-programs-your-path-to-a-rewarding-healthcare-career/

[watchworldlive]

Danny Ford: A Legacy Beyond the Gridiron

Danny Ford's legacy at Clemson University remains one of excellence, resilience, and inspiration. Serving as the Tigers’ head coach from 1978 to 1989, Ford left an indelible mark on college football, securing Clemson’s first national championship in 1981. However, Ford’s influence extends far beyond his coaching achievements. After his departure from football, Ford embraced a unique path, one that intertwined his roots in farming with his commitment to community and the Clemson spirit. Today, he is celebrated not only as a former coach but also as a dedicated farmer, mentor, and philanthropist.

Ford's Football Glory at Clemson

Revolutionizing Clemson's Football Program

Ford became Clemson's head coach in 1978, transforming the program with his disciplined, results-oriented coaching style. Leading Clemson to its first national title in 1981, Ford quickly gained recognition for his impressive achievements:

Youngest Coach: At just 33 years old, Ford became the youngest head coach to win a national championship.

ACC Dominance: Ford secured five Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) titles during his tenure, solidifying Clemson’s position as a powerhouse in college football.

Player Development: His mentorship fostered the growth of 21 NFL players and developed numerous All-Americans, reinforcing Clemson as a breeding ground for talent.

Ford’s success wasn’t just about winning games; it was about instilling values of teamwork, resilience, and community in his players.

Challenges and Departure from Coaching

In 1990, Ford’s relationship with Clemson administration took a turn, primarily due to disagreements and controversies surrounding NCAA recruiting practices. While Ford was not directly implicated, the strain with Clemson officials ultimately led to his resignation. Despite leaving the gridiron, Ford’s connection to Clemson and his players remained strong. Many still speak highly of his mentorship and enduring impact on their lives.

Transitioning from Football to Farming

Embracing a New Way of Life

After stepping down from his coaching career, Ford turned to farming in Central, South Carolina, near Clemson University. For Ford, farming wasn’t just an occupation; it was a return to his roots. He credits childhood visits to his uncle’s farm with sparking a lifelong love for agriculture, a passion that stayed with him through his coaching years.

Ford's Eco-Friendly Approach

Ford's farming practices emphasize sustainability, an ethos that aligns with his dedication to learning and growth. His 174-acre farm is home to various livestock, including cows and horses, and greenhouses that cultivate vegetables. His agricultural pursuits extend to the cutting-edge cultivation of hemp, a crop he began growing under South Carolina’s Industrial Hemp Pilot Program:

Hemp Farming: As an early adopter, Ford faced challenges in the competitive CBD market, planting 54,000 seeds across 170 rows. Despite the hurdles, he views hemp farming as an educational journey.

Innovative Techniques: Ford’s farming methods highlight his commitment to sustainable practices, including crop management techniques that enhance soil quality and environmental health.

Philanthropy and Community Involvement

Ford’s Commitment to Youth Development

In addition to his agricultural pursuits, Ford has dedicated significant time to philanthropy. He actively participates in community programs and educational initiatives, particularly those aimed at empowering youth through sports and education. His efforts include:

Youth Sports Programs: Ford supports sports programs that provide young athletes with resources and guidance, aiming to foster both athletic and personal growth.

Educational Initiatives: He has contributed to educational programs in his community, helping to create opportunities for young people to succeed academically and in life.

Mentorship and Giving Back

Ford’s dedication to mentorship extends beyond his days on the sideline. He continues to offer guidance to young athletes, emphasizing the importance of hard work and perseverance. His transition from coach to mentor reflects his belief in fostering a supportive environment where future generations can thrive.

A Lasting Connection to Clemson

Maintaining the Clemson Spirit

Though he no longer coaches, Ford remains deeply connected to Clemson. He frequently attends games, reconnecting with former players, coaches, and alumni. For Ford, these gatherings are a cherished opportunity to celebrate his legacy and stay connected to the institution that shaped his career.

Reflection on Modern College Football

Ford has also expressed concerns regarding the current state of college football. He believes the increasing focus on player endorsements and financial incentives has altered the sport’s traditional values. Ford worries that the emphasis on profit may detract from teamwork and loyalty, core principles that he championed throughout his coaching career.

Conclusion

Danny Ford’s life journey from the gridiron to the farmland is a testament to his resilience, dedication, and commitment to growth. His contributions to Clemson football, his community, and agriculture embody a legacy built on hard work, perseverance, and service to others. Whether on the field or in the field, Ford’s impact continues to inspire, marking him as a true icon of Clemson’s history and a remarkable example of purpose-driven living.

[whitesinhistory]

On September 11, 1895, South Carolina officials met to rewrite the state constitution with the express purpose of disenfranchising the state’s African American voters and restoring white supremacy in all matters political. The convention’s most prominent figure was Benjamin Tillman, a senator and former governor nicknamed “Pitchfork Ben." A well-known orator, Tillman spoke at great length during the convention.

"[A]ll that is necessary to bring about chaos," he warned the convention delegates, "is for a sufficient number of white men, actuated by hate, or ambition, or from any unpatriotic motive, to climb up and cut it loose, mobilize and register the negroes, lead them and give them a free vote and fair count under manhood suffrage." He continued:

The poor, ignorant cotton field hand, who never reaped any advantage, nor saw anything except a pistol, blindly followed like sheep wherever their Black and white leaders told them to go, voted unanimously every time for the Republican ticket during that dark period, and these results were achieved solely and wholly by reason of the ballot being in the hands of such cattle. Is the danger gone? No. How did we recover our liberty? By fraud and violence...How did we bring it about? Every white man sunk his personal feelings and ambitions. The white people of the State, illustrating our glorious motto, "Ready with their lives and fortunes." came together as one. By fraud and violence, if you please, we threw it off. In 1878 we had to resort to more fraud and violence, and so again in 1880. Then the Registration Law and eight-box system was evolved from the superior intelligence of the white man to check and control this surging, muddy stream of ignorance...

The delegates followed Tillman's guidance and enacted a constitution that effectively disenfranchised Black residents, with little federal interference, for nearly 70 years. Today, a statue of Tillman stands in front of the South Carolina State House and his name adorns a number of buildings throughout the state—including the main building on the campus of Clemson University.

[mybookplacenet]

Featured Post: Do You Believe in Magic | Book 1 by Jim Melvin

About Do You Believe in Magic | Book 1: Recommended Review by Kirkus Reviews (top 25% of Indie books): "A delightful beginning to a promising series that’s sure to appeal to teen readers who feel like outsiders." — Kirkus Reviews, October 2024 The winner of 11 international awards. In this exciting and enchanting fantasy novel, readers are invited to journey into a world where magic is not merely a fairy tale but a powerful reality. This gripping story revolves around an everyday boy leading an ordinary life until a chance encounter transforms his world forever. Suddenly, faced with inexplicable happenings and being able to perform magical feats, Charlie grapples to understand his newfound abilities. Little does he know, he has become central to a battle between forces beyond his comprehension, a war underway in the invisible realms around him. Book 1 of the teen fantasy adventure "Dark Circles" explores the timeless human question – do you believe in magic? – in a context that feels entirely fresh and unpredictable. It takes readers on a fantastic adventure, filled with wit, mystery, action, and a touch of romance to tie it all together. Targeted Age 13 and older Written by: Jim Melvin Buy the ebook: Buy the Book On Amazon Link to Series Buy the Audio Book: Buy the Book On Amazon Buy the Print Book: Buy the Book On Amazon Author Bio: I grew up on the shores of western Florida and spent much of my childhood swimming in shark-infested waters long before the movie Jaws put a scare into everyone. At the time, I was too skinny to attract a shark’s attention. About ten other boys my age lived on my same street, and we hung out morning, noon, and night playing the usual sports that young boys love — football, baseball, “kill the carrier,” etc. — but as a group, we also played fantastical games that contained magic, monsters, and superheroes. It was in this setting that my imagination as a writer of magical fantasy was born and nurtured. I moved from Florida to Upstate South Carolina about twenty years ago and drove from Tampa-St. Pete to the Clemson area on Interstate 75 many times. It’s about a 10-hour drive, which is quite wearisome. And the traffic around Atlanta can be horrendous. I’ve always found the rest stops to be a bit spooky, especially at night. My MC Charlie Magus also found them to be spooky. If you read Do You Believe in Magic?, you’ll get the picture. My first home in SC was on forty wooded acres that included a creek that wound through a forest to a waterfall. It wasn’t as magnificent as described in my books 😀, but it did serve as the inspiration for the story. I am at home in the mountains. It’s where I now live, and I do long hikes at least three days per week. Characters in fantasy novels tend to wander around a lot in the wilderness, so I feel comfortable writing about natural surroundings. I have written “Dark Circles” with young teens in mind. I tell potential readers that it is appropriate for 13 and older, though readers as young as 10 and as old as 80 have enjoyed it. When I say appropriate, I mean that there are no sex scenes and only very limited profanity. But like most epic fantasies, the series has its violent moments — sort of like the later Harry Potter books. But just because a series is appropriate for young teens doesn’t mean that it has to be sophomoric. To the contrary, “Dark Circles” is a sophisticated work with a lot going on between the lines in terms of themes, allegorical elements, symbolism, foreshadowing, literary tropes, etc. My newsletter (Jim Melvin’s Realms of Fantasy) goes into extensive depth about this. Some of the themes in my series are obvious: bullying, good vs. evil, coming of age, heroism. But in the end, the most important theme of all is the idea that only the best among us are willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good — the literary equivalent of a soldier throwing himself on a hand grenade. Follow the author on social media: Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author's Website Facebook Fan Page Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Read the full article

[tsmom1219]

‘Clean’ hydrogen research led by Clemson University could have broad impact

Read the full story from Clemson University. Clemson University researchers are leading a project aimed at creating a new way of producing hydrogen with renewable energy instead of natural gas, a critical step toward weaning the world off fossil fuels. The research focuses on developing new advanced materials and manufacturing methods to produce solid oxide electrolysis cells, or SOECs. Those…

[bearterritory]

Bears Sweep Clemson

Li Records Double-Double As 3 Cal Players Post 11 Kills

BERKELEY – California volleyball bounced back from their loss to #16 Georgia Tech in tremendous fashion this weekend, sweeping Clemson 25-21, 25-15, 25-13 at Haas Pavilion and earning their 11th win of the season.   Three Cal players – Mikayla Hayden, Peyton DeJardin and Xuemeng (Maggie) Li, recorded 11 kills on the night; for the second match in a row, Hayden did not post a single error, bringing her weekend hitting percentage to .605 with 23 total kills. Li also matched a season-high 12 digs for her fourth double-double of the season, while Sophia Johnson led both teams with a 14-dig performance – the best of her career in a three-set match and just two shy of her overall collegiate best.   As a team, the Bears hit .321 – their best outing of the year in conference play.   The first set was by far the most competitive of the match, with Cal out-hitting Clemson .324 to .297 despite the furious efforts of the Tigers' Mia McGrath, who posted seven kills (.357) in that period alone. The Bears scored the first two points off a Clemson error and a block from Li and Sawyer Thomsen, the latter of whom led all players with five total stops in addition to eight kills (.667) on the night. Although Cal allowed the Tigers to take the lead twice off a pair of three-point runs, it regained its advantage for good thanks to a 6-1 sequence to bring the score to 21-18; finally, Li's fifth kill finished the job to put the Bears up 1-0.

Both Li (six kills, .307) and Hayden (five kills, .714) were at their offensive best in Set Two, helping the Bears post a .371 hitting percentage while the defense held the Tigers to just .114. Although Clemson scored the first point with a service ace, the Bears took the next two points (with an ace of their own from Li) and did not trail for the rest of the set, with Cal stringing together three-or-more points on four separate occasions; the last of those was a 5-0 run that included four Li kills.   DeJardin was the offensive star of the third set with six kills, while Li recorded seven digs for the best single-set total of the night. Once again, Cal started in a 0-1 hole but quickly rebounded by scoring the next three points and maintaining control of the lead for the rest of the match, despite a late 5-0 streak from the Tigers. The Bears scored the final eight points of the night – capped off with a kill from Ava Mehrten – to close out the evening for their fifth sweep of the year.   UP NEXT The Bears will host Virginia Tech Thursday at 7 p.m. PT and Virginia Friday at 7 p.m. at Haas Pavilion. This will be the inaugural matchup between Cal and the Hokies and just the Bears' second time facing the Cavaliers.

[bongaboi]

Georgia: 2022 Southeastern Football Champions

ATLANTA - Georgia swatted away the field goal attempt, the ball spinning to a stop at its 4-yard line. The LSU players trudged off the field, thinking the play was over.

Christopher Smith knew better. He suddenly scooped it up and took off the other way, sprinting 96 yards for a touchdown that epitomized the Bulldogs program.

They were a step ahead of LSU on Saturday.

They've been a step ahead of everyone for two years now.

With all sorts of turmoil behind them in the rankings, Georgia headed to the College Football Playoff as the clear No. 1, dismantling the No. 11 Tigers 50-30 in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday.

Stetson Bennett's threw a season-high four touchdown passes in another stellar postseason performance, while Smith's heads-up play gave the Bulldogs an early spark.

"I've got good players around me. I'm not that bad at football, either," Bennett said with a smile. "We've got a good team."

Georgia (13-0, No. 1 CFP) also caught a big break when Smith deflected a pass that bounced off an LSU receiver's helmet and wound up being picked off by the Bulldogs, setting up a score that contributed to a 35-10 lead by halftime.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels re-injured a sore right ankle late in the second quarter, giving way to Garrett Nussmeier in the second half.

The backup guiding the Tigers (9-4, No. 14 CFP) to three second-half touchdowns, but it wasn't nearly enough.

Georgia accomplished something that not even last season's national championship squad could could do - win its first SEC title since 2017. The Bulldogs were denied in this game a year ago by Alabama, before bouncing back to beat the Crimson Tide in the title game.

"I don't want one kid to walk out of our program without an SEC championship ring in their careers," coach Kirby Smart said. "That could've happened. They said enough is enough and got 'em one tonight."

Georgia heads into the playoff assured of a return trip to Atlanta for a de facto semifinal home game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, just 75 miles from its Athens campus.

LSU's outside hopes of crashing the four-team playoff field were wiped out a week ago by a stunning loss at Texas A&M, one of several upsets that will give the selection committee plenty to think about before its announcement Sunday.

Tennessee and Clemson also ruined their playoff hopes with losses late in the regular season, while No. 4 Southern California is presumably out after getting blown out by Utah in the Pac-12 title game Friday night.

Just as the SEC game was kicking off, No. 3 TCU lost to Kansas State in overtime for the Big 12 championship, further clouding a playoff picture that suddenly looks much more favorable for No. 5 Ohio State and No. 6 Alabama.

No matter who makes the elite field, Georgia is firmly focused on becoming the first repeat national title since Alabama in 2011-12, having won all but one game this season by double-digit margins.

"I've tried not to play attention to any of it," Smart said of all the chaos. "It didn't matter to me. That's so far away."

The Bulldogs showed they are more than just a bunch of talented athletes - this is a smart, well-coached group.

When Nazir Stackhouse burst through the middle of the line to block LSU's 32-yard field goal attempt late in the first quarter, Smith knew what to do.

"That's a scenario we go over a lot in practice," he said.

He looked toward the sideline to see if it was OK to grab it.

"You're not allowed to pick it up unless you can score with it," Smart said.

Smith took care of the rest.

LSU coach Brian Kelly blamed himself and his staff for allowing the play to happen.

"Obviously, we did a poor job if coaching," he said. "It's our responsibility to have our guys alert in that situation. They were not alert."

LSU quickly tied it up on Daniels' 53-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte, only to have Bennett take control from there.

The sixth-year senior, a former walk-on who was offensive MVP of both Georgia playoffs wins a year ago, struck for four TD passes in a less than 15-minute span: 3 yards to Brock Bowers, 22 yards to Ladd McConkey, 14 yards to Darnell Washington and 3 yards to Dillon Bell.

Just like that, Georgia led 35-7.

"I was in a zone," Bennett said.

It's been that way for two years now.

THE TAKEAWAY

LSU: Kelly's debut season turned a bit ugly the last two weeks, but the Tigers are on the right track. "We want to get back here next year. That's our goal," Kelly said. "Get back here and win it."

Georgia: Win or lose in the SEC title game, the Bulldogs were assured of a spot in the playoff. But Smart continues to impress with his ability to keep the team motivated. While there were some huge defensive lapses in the second half, this game was never in doubt.

GOING FOR 2

When Georgia scored its final touchdown early in the fourth quarter for a 48-23 lead, Smart surprisingly called for a 2-point conversion.

The Bulldogs converted it with a trick play, but Smart insisted that he wasn't trying to run up the score.

"The books says you go for 2 there," he said.

When asked about the play, Kelly stumbled over his words a bit before finally saying, "I don't get too caught up in what other teams are doing."

INJURY REPORT

While Daniels went down for LSU, Georgia also lost a couple of players to injuries in the first half.

McConkey landed awkwardly making a catch along the sideline, inflaming a knee issue that's been bothering him all year. Tight offensive tackle Warren McClendon sustained what appears to be a mild MCL sprain.

Neither returned after halftime.

[themeatlife]

the Meat Life College Football Preview 2024

Hey hey!

This is probably the latest and closest to the start of week 1 that I have made this post. Week 0 has already come and gone! I've been spending a lot of my spare time (outside of family time) like I did 20 years ago on the newly resurrected EA Sports College Football 25 game. I'll have a separate College Football 25 appreciation post soon, but for now I'm going to take a look at the upcoming season.

Lots of change. The Pac-12 is now the 2Pac for one last season. Lots of schools starting their first season in a different conference, Oklahoma included. And there is a new 12-team playoff debuting at the end of the season with home games for the higher ranked seeds in the opening round!

I'm going to try to keep my preview pretty much the same as before. Since there are now only four power conferences, my four categories will go well to parallel: Heisman Hopefuls, Conference Champ Predictions, College Football Playoff Predictions, and my Oklahoma Sooners Outlook. I'll follow the same format that I've followed the last few years - Frontrunners, Contenders, Darkhouses, and my prediction. For the playoff predictions, I'll do things slightly different and actually make my picks for who will make the playoff and then my national championship matchup and predicted champion.

Word of warning, this will probably be the most chalk filled preview I've ever done.

So let's get started!

Heisman Hopefuls

Dillon Gabriel emerges as the Heisman frontrunner

The Frontrunner: Dillon Gabriel - QB, Oregon The Contenders: Carson Beck - QB, Georgia; Jalen Milroe - QB, Alabama, Ollie Gordon - RB, Oklahoma State The Darkhorses: Quinn Ewers - QB, Texas; Jaxson Dart - QB, Ole Miss; Nico Iamaleava - QB, Tennessee; Shedeur Sanders - QB, Colorado the Meat Life Prediction: Dillon Gabriel - QB, Oregon

I had a conversation with some Sooner friends who found it funny that DG is now a Heisman favorite when there wasn't as much hype behind him when he was at OU. This is my take on it, Gabriel is coming off a 10-2 season at Oklahoma where he had 42 total TDs and the offense at times moved very well. The season before, OU went 6-6, DG essentially missed 2 games to injury, and there were various times where the offense looked stalled. So DG is going to Oregon with some momentum. And Oregon turned Bo Nix (who previously struggled as the starting QB at Auburn) into an NFL ready QB in the two years he was a starter. The long way of saying both Gabriel and Oregon have positive momentum to thrust DG to Heisman frontrunner status in his sixth year of college football.

Out of the others that I listed, I really like Milroe and am interested to see what new Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer will do with him. Beck is on there because Georgia is a powerhouse right now. If Gordon from OSU has a big year rushing, we could see him in New York. Ewers is on there because you have to have a Texas QB hyped so he can disappoint. The Dart and Lane Kiffin combination is good and will lead to some numbers, I'm just interested to see how Kiffin manages a team of basically free agents picked up in the transfer portal. Nico out of Tennessee has a shot under Heupel to do great things, so we'll see how that goes. Shedeur is just on there because he has the talent, but that Colorado o-line and defense will hold him back.

Power Four Conference Predictions

ACC

The Frontrunner: Florida State Seminoles The Contenders: Miami Hurricanes, Clemson Tigers, NC State Wolfpack The Darkhorses: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets the Meat Life Prediction: Miami Hurricanes

Is it cheating that we already saw one ACC game? Florida State is the defending ACC champ, but they looked nothing like a defending champion. The offense seems stale with DJ U under center. Georgia Tech on the other hand looks tough and should be in a dog fight every game. The popular pick this preseason is Miami with transfer QB Cam Ward at the helm of the offense. Clemson still has Dabo calling the shots so they will still be a contender for the conference he dominated for so many years. NC State taking the same approach as Miami with an experienced transfer Grayson McCall of Coastal Carolina fame.

No love for the new teams in the ACC though. SMU looked rough having to scratch out a win against Nevada last weekend. Stanford and Cal have not made an impact on the national or even conference scene in quite some time and probably still won't this season.

Big Ten

The Frontrunner: Oregon Ducks The Contenders: Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions The Darkhorses: Nebraska Cornhuskers, Iowa Hawkeyes the Meat Life Prediction: Oregon Ducks

This is probably the opposite of impact pick ups on the conference level. Oregon may not have won the Pac-12 in its last season, but they have all the pieces including the trigger man to win in their first season of the Big Ten. They'll get to prove it as they host Ohio State and travel to defending champ Michigan.

Michigan will be in its first season of the official Sharrone Moore era as Jim Harbaugh has moved on to the Los Angeles Chargers. They will still have the defense and run game that won the Big Ten last year. Ohio State will have transfer QB Will Howard and new OC Chip Kelly to try to get over the hump in probably the most pressure-filled season for Ryan Day since he got there. Penn State will only have to face Ohio State on the schedule this year, though they do have conference newcomer USC. And then I just put Nebraska and Iowa as dark horses because it'll be interesting to see two of the teams that benefited from the divisional format in a division-less Big Ten.

On a related note, is USC's Lincoln Riley on the hot seat? Riley's squad will have LSU in the opener and then play Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame on the schedule. Oof.

Big 12

The Frontrunner: Utah Utes The Contenders: Oklahoma State Cowboys, Kansas State Wildcats, Kansas Jayhawks, Arizona Wildcats The Darkhorses: West Virginia Mountaineers, Colorado Buffaloes the Meat Life Prediction: Utah Utes

Another former Pac-12 school getting picked as the front runner of their new conference. Utah is stacked on defense and QB Cam Rising entering his 20th year (haha) leading the offense. Arizona is also another interesting former Pac-12 team, having returning many of the same personnel they had for the bowl win against Oklahoma last season.

The stallworths of the remaining "old guard" of the Big 12 will be in contention. Ollie Gordon running the ball and 22nd year QB Alan Bowman (haha) will have OSU in a good position to contend for the conference. Kansas State's QB Avery Johnson and Kansas's QB Jalon Daniels are great stories and will keep the offenses flowing.

I feel like West Virginia always overperforms and will make the conference race interesting. And I have to put the hype train Colorado as a dark horse, but I don't believe they will go to the title game. Too many variables, even with the talent in certain spots.

SEC

The Frontrunner: Georgia Bulldogs The Contenders: Alabama Crimson Tide, Ole Miss Rebels, Texas Longhorns, Tennessee Volunteers The Darkhorses: Oklahoma Sooners, Missouri Tigers, LSU Tigers, Texas A&M Aggies the Meat Life Prediction: Georgia Bulldogs

Until anyone else can knock Georgia off, they will be the lead. So much talent, particularly on the lines of scrimmage. They took the torch from Nick Saban's Alabama dynasty from a few years ago. I do thing DeBoar will have a great team to challenge Georgia.

The rest of the field has strengths to varying degrees. On offense - Ole Miss, Tennessee, and LSU will have it cranking. Ole Miss just has a lot of great talent but most of them just got there from the transfer portal so that'll be interesting to see how they mesh. Tennessee is breaking in a new QB in Nico. LSU as well, but LSU does not have a defense.

Missouri I put on there as a dark horse mainly because they have the easiest schedule outside of Austin. A&M has talent, and has been having talent. But they are the opposite of West Virginia, constantly underperforming. And then there is Texas. Many key pieces from last year are gone but they have a ton of talent. It will be interesting for them because they have lost two RBs to injury in Christian Clark and CJ Baxter, both trying to fill the void left by Jonathan Brooks who has moved on to the NFL.

The 2024 Outlook for the Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners break in new co-offensive coordinators in Seth Lattrell and Joe John Finley and a new defensive coordinator Zac Alley. While this might cause some pause, Lattrell is a former head coach at North Texas whose offenses ranked among the top in the country. Alley is a Venables disciple from his days at Clemson who DC's at Jacksonville State to the top third in the country in total defense. And all three are former Sooners.

Oklahoma breaks in sophomore QB Jackson Arnold, the 5-star phenom who has talent and is surrounded by talent but who will be behind a bit of an experiment in line ups at offensive line.

The defense has many familiar faces in the second and third levels and is probably the strongest unit. LB Danny Stutsman and S Billy Bowman are difference-makers and have made most of the preseason player award and All-American lists. They have a mix of established players and newcomers on the defensive line.

Looking at all of this, I think this team is a contender in the SEC. Now, the SEC didn't do any favors with the schedule. 6 ranked opponents, the most of the SEC team schedules. But as they say, diamonds are created under pressure.

I think it is realistic to say that this team goes 9-3 and be in contention for a playoff spot. I think if OU does that, the season will be a success given this is the first season in the SEC. I can easily see a case where the Sooners finish anywhere between 7-5 and 10-2, but I think 9-3 is correct. I think the losses will be Ole Miss and LSU on the road and Alabama at home. I hope I'm wrong and we go into the Alabama game undefeated and in the hunt for an SEC championship spot. But wishful thinking, I suppose.

College Football Playoff Prediction

The seeding is a bit funky since the top four seeds are the top four ranked conference winners and then the top Group of Five conference winner gets a bid (in my prediction - Boise State). The rest are just based on who I think would make it in the seeds left. This is the first year doing one of these, so I would imagine it would feel more natural every year following this one.

I'll drop my EA Sports College Football 25 appreciation post soon. I've also been working on a Christopher Nolan post that's saved in my drafts.

Enjoy the college football season, everyone!