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hezigler · 2 years ago
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From CNN: The horror of the Vietnam 'Christmas bombings' 50 years on
The horror of the Vietnam 'Christmas bombings' 50 years on
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usafphantom2 · 11 months ago
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FIFTIETH Anniversary Of Operation LINEBACKER II
December 27, 1972
THE SR-71 PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN LINEBACKER II
The bombing of the supply channels of Vietnam, which led to the ending of the war (Jan. 1973) Linebacker II, an SR 71, was flying with the B-52’s shielding them with their electric countermeasures.. ⭐️by blinding the North Vietnamese radar.⭐️
The following story was sent to me by Chris Cobb, who is my neighbor and went to high school with me, about his father, Colonel Darrel Cobb and Reg Blackwell, “My Dad passed away four years ago. . . .but boy, did we hear some of the stories in the latter years. For example, in this mission, my Dad said that he was watching the SAMs coming toward him and took his eye off the speed. He checked with Reg, the RSO, what speed he showed, and he replied 2150 KTAS (which translates to 2474 MPR).”
Essentially, this mission blinded the North Vietnamese radar by the SR ECM. And within one month, the Paris peace talks were held, and the was over.
An hour before midnight on 27 December 1972, Giant Scale mission GS663 got underway when SR-71 975 lifted off Kadena runway on what would prove to be the only Habu night sortie of the entire Vietnam War.
Col. Darrel Cobb and RSO Capt Reggie Blackwell's mission objective was to conduct a coordinated EMR/HRR sortie to determine if the North Vietnamese had acquired new equipment or employed updated procedures for the SA-2s that was responsible for generating such high B-52 losses. To achieve this, the SR-71’s arrival over the Haiphong/Hanoi areas was timed at precisely the exact moment that 60 B-52s were to begin dropping their bombs on the rail yards at Lang Dang, Duc Noi, and Trung Quant, the Van Dien supply center, and three missile sites.
With the Norths defensive radar systems running at full stretch to cope with the raid, intelligence planners reasoned that this would be an ideal time for such a sortie. In addition, the SR-71, with its unmatched ECM suite, would provide additional electronic support for the bombers.
As they arrived at the collection area on schedule, Cobb and Blackwell observed numerous SA-2 firings. During the fleeting moments when they were crossing the immediate target area, they were able to radiate a blinding ECM blanket. During the course of the raid, only one Guam-based B-52 was lost. Darrel and Reggie landed back at Kadena at 0239 hours. The next day they learned that their mission had produced a wealth of intelligence data.
The two 60-bomber raids launched on the final two nights of Linebacker II saw all B-52s arrive back at their bases safely. Following the action on the night of 29/30 December, the North Vietnamese government expressed a willingness to return to the negotiating table.
The Habus had faithfully recorded a record of Linebacker's enormous level of destruction. The conflict in Vietnam ended for the United States when the Paris Agreement was enacted on 27 January 1973.
Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions by Paul Crickmore
Post~Linda Sheffield Miller
Thank you, Chris Cobb
@Habubrats71 via X
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brookstonalmanac · 11 months ago
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Events 12.26 (after 1950)
1963 – The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "I Saw Her Standing There" are released in the United States, marking the beginning of Beatlemania on an international level. 1966 – The first Kwanzaa is celebrated by Maulana Karenga, the chair of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach. 1968 – The Communist Party of the Philippines is established by Jose Maria Sison, breaking away from the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930. 1972 – Vietnam War: As part of Operation Linebacker II, 120 American B-52 Stratofortress bombers attacked Hanoi, including 78 launched from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the largest single combat launch in Strategic Air Command history. 1975 – Tu-144, the world's first commercial supersonic aircraft, surpassing Mach 2, goes into service. 1978 – The inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally begins. 1980 – Witnesses report the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, an incident called "Britain's Roswell". 1989 – United Express Flight 2415 crashes on approach to the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, Washington, killing all six people on board. 1991 – The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union meets and formally dissolves the Soviet Union, ending the Cold War. 1994 – Four Armed Islamic Group hijackers seize control of Air France Flight 8969. When the plane lands at Marseille, a French Gendarmerie assault team boards the aircraft and kills the hijackers. 1998 – Iraq announces its intention to fire upon U.S. and British warplanes that patrol the northern and southern no-fly zones. 1999 – The storm Lothar sweeps across Central Europe, killing 137 and causing US$1.3 billion in damage. 2003 – The 6.6 Mw  Bam earthquake shakes southeastern Iran with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving more than 26,000 dead and 30,000 injured. 2004 – The 9.1–9.3 Mw  Indian Ocean earthquake shakes northern Sumatra with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). One of the largest observed tsunamis, it affected coastal and partially mainland areas of Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia; death toll is estimated at 227,898. 2004 – Orange Revolution: The final run-off election in Ukraine is held under heavy international scrutiny. 2006 – Two earthquakes in Hengchun, Taiwan measuring 7.0 and 6.9 on the Richter scale kill two and disrupt telecommunications across Asia. 2012 – China opens the world's longest high-speed rail route, which links Beijing and Guangzhou. 2015 – During the December 2015 North American storm complex, a Tornado Outbreak occurs in the DFW Metroplex, with the most notable tornadoes being an EF2, EF3, and an EF4. About a dozen people died due to various reasons, 10 of which due to the EF4, which did substantial damage to the suburb of Rowlett.
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topreviewin · 1 year ago
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As soon as the Las vegas, nevada Raiders hired Josh McDaniels in January 2022, he stated he previously discovered from their very first stint as an NFL mind mentor. But McDaniels’ record in fact had been even worse the next time around than it had been aided by the Denver Broncos during 2009 and 2010, and belated Tuesday evening, the Raiders launched that owner Mark Davis fired McDaniels and basic supervisor Dave Ziegler. “After much thought about what the Raiders need to move forward, I have decided to part ways with Josh and Dave,” Davis stated in a statement. “I want to thank them both for their hard work and wish them and their families nothing but the best.” Although there is no instant statement, linebackers mentor Antonio Pierce will act as interim mind mentor, in accordance with ESPN. Davis had wished to carry the newest England’s success westward as he hired McDaniels, the longtime Patriots offensive coordinator. Ziegler worked in brand new England’s forward company, and involving the two, they changed the Raiders into Patriots west-by signing a few people with connections to that particular company. But despite overpowering a group that made the playoffs in 2021 before dropping towards the Cincinnati Bengals inside wild-card round, the success Davis therefore poorly wished never ever made its method to Las vegas, nevada. The Raiders under McDaniels moved 6-11 in 2022 and therefore are 3-5 to date in 2010 for a .360 winning portion. Their record at Denver had been 11-17 (.393 portion). Even therefore, Davis features stood by McDaniels, together with time for this dismissal is astonishing. But McDaniels had several things working against him. The Raiders failed to get at the very least 20 things in eight of these previous nine games internet dating to final period, and offense is their niche. Perhaps equally damaging had been people displeasure a few of their people have indicated. Celebrity large receiver Davante Adams, particularly, is singing considering that the offseason about their issues about the course for the team. Operating straight back Josh Jacobs whenever expected after Monday night’s reduction towards the Detroit Lions by what might ignite the offense, stated, “I don’t know, that ain’t my job.” McDaniels had been employed after the 2021 period whenever Davis opted not to ever hold interim mentor deep Bisaccia on the full-time job despite he led the group to a surprising playoff run. McDaniels and Ziegler had been hostile inside their very first offseason, trading initially and second-round selections for Adams, offering a big free agent contract to protective end Chandler Jones and expanding the agreements of Derek Carr, Maxx Crosby, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow. But those techniques performedn’t induce excellent results from the area as McDaniels never ever could develop the high-powered offense Davis anticipated as he hired him and struggled to win games. The Raiders destroyed a record-tying five games after using double-digit prospects, including blowing a 20-0 halftime lead-in their house first against Arizona the biggest failure in team record. Las vegas, nevada destroyed to Indianapolis inside Colts’ very first online game with Jeff Saturday as interim mentor after he previously never ever coached above highschool degree and destroyed to Baker Mayfield together with Rams 2 days after Mayfield joined up with their brand new staff. McDaniels benched Carr later final period and in the end slashed him inside offseason, offering the Raiders no return for a starting quarterback whom finished up getting a $150 million agreement from brand new Orleans. McDaniels earned their previous student in brand new The united kingdomt, Jimmy Garoppolo, due to the fact brand new beginning quarterback together with offense seriously regressed, getting initial staff since 2009 to get significantly less than 20 things on offense in each one of the very first eight games for the period. The final fourteen days
had been specifically humbling as Las vegas, nevada destroyed 30-12 to Chicago and undrafted novice previous Division II quarterback Tyson Bagent and seemed totally inept in a 26-14 reduction at Detroit on Monday evening. McDaniels done their tenure aided by the third-worst record of every Raiders mentor with at the very least 25 games. ESPN reported Champ Kelly, who was simply an assistant GM under Ziegler since 2022, may be called the interim basic supervisor. Just before joining the Raiders, Kelly worked inside Chicago Bears front side company for seven periods, in which he had been the assistant manager of player employees from 2017-21 after 2 yrs due to the fact team’s manager of scouting. AP Professional Football Writer Josh Dubow added for this report. #Shocker #Raiders #fire #coach #McDaniels #Ziegler
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casbooks · 1 year ago
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Books of 2023
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Book 45 of 2023
Title: A Backseat View from the Phantom Authors: Fleet S. Lentz Tags: A-6 Intruder, A-7 Corsair II, Air Liaison Officer, B-52 Stratofortress, F-4 Phantom II, F-8 Crusader, FAC, KC-130 Hercules, KHM Angkor Temples, KHM Cambodia, KHM Cambodian Civil War (1967-1975), KHM Pol Pot / Saloth Sar, KHM Tonle Sap (Great Lake), LAO Hmong Meo Tribesmen, LAO Laos, LAO Laotian Civil War (1959-1975), LAO Pathet Lao, LAO Plain of Jars / Plaine des Jarres, LAO Saravane, LAO Tchepone, LAO USAF Steve Canyon Program - Ravens FAC (Laotian Civil War), LAO Vientiane, lineback, MiG-15 Fagot, MiG-17 Fresco, MiG-19 Farmer, MiG-21 Fishbed, PHL Philippines, PHL Poro Point, PHL US USAF Clark Air Force Base, PHL US USN NAS Cubi Point, POW, SA-2 Guideline SAM, SA-7 Strela SAM, SAM, THA Bangkok, THA RTAF Royal Thai Air Force, THA RTAFB Nam Phong Royal Thai Airbase, THA RTAFB Nam Phong Royal Thai Airbase - The Rose Garden, THA RTAFB Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, THA RTNAF U-Tapao Air Field, THA Thailand, THA Udon Thani, THA Udon Thani - Charoen Hotel, THA Udon Thani - Yellow Bird Bar, THA US USA Port Samae San (Vietnam War), THA USMC TF Delta (Vietnam War), US President Richard M. Nixon, US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, US USAF JEST Jungle Environment Survival Training, US USAF United States Air Force, US USMC 9th Marines, US USMC 9th Marines - 3/9, US USMC MAG-15, US USMC MALS-41, US USMC MCAS Cherry Point NC, US USMC MCAS El Toro CA, US USMC MCAS El Toro CA - SERE School, US USMC United States Marine Corps, US USMC VFMA-115 Silver Eagles, US USMC VFMA-115 Silver Eagles - Blade, US USMC VMFA-112, US USMC VMFA-115, US USMC VMFA-232 Red Devils, US USMC VMFA-312, US USMC VMFA-533, US USN NAS Dallas TX, US USN NAS Glynco GA, US USN NAS Miramar CA, US USN NAS Miramar CA - Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), US USN NAS Oceana VA, US USN NAS Pensacola FL, US USN United States Navy, US USN VF-96, US USN VFA-192 Golden Dragons, US USN VT-10, VNM 1972 Easter Offensive / Nguyen Hue (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM Cam Lo, VNM Camp Carroll (Vietnam War), VNM Da Nang, VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV NVAF North Vietnamese Air Force, VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM Gia Lam, VNM Hanoi, VNM Hanoi - Ho Lao Prison (Hanoi Hilton) (Vietnam War), VNM Hanoi - Metropole Hotel, VNM Operation Arc Light (1965-1973) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Combat Skyspot (1965-1973) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Linebacker I (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Linebacker II (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Sunset (1973) (Vietnam War), VNM Phouc Tuong (Dogpatch), VNM Quang Tri, VNM RVN SVNAF Da Nang Airbase, VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), WSO/RIO Weapons Systems Officer/Radar Interecept Officer Rating: ★★ (2 Stars) Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Aviation.USMC.Fighters, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Laotian Civil War.Aviation.FAC.Ravens, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Laotian Civil War.Aviation.USMC.Fighters
Description: As a 26-year old Marine radar intercept officer (RIO), Fleet Lentz flew 131 combat missions in the back seat of the supersonic F-4 B Phantom II during the wind-down of the Vietnam War. Overcoming military regulations, he and his fellow Marines at The Rose Garden (Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong) kept sorely needed supplies moving in while moving combat troops out of Southeast Asia. His personal and accessible memoir describes how pilots and RIOs executed dangerous air-to-ground bombing missions in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos—quite different from the air-to-air warfare for which they had trained—and kept themselves mission-capable (and human) while surviving harsh circumstances.
Review: This book should actually have been called A Frontseat View of Nam Phong. The amount he wrote on flying and being in the air and in combat is miniscule - barely a footnote - when compared to his detailed rememberances of people, what they did at the bar, what he did as a building inspector on base, and details on scrounging for stuff at Cubi Point and elsewhere. But to really get a feel of what it was like to fly combat in Laos and Cambodia and both South and North Vietnam, you'd better get a different book because this one barely mentions any of that. Definitely a 2 star book simply because of the misleading title and description. If this was supposed to be a book about life at an Air Base, it'd be a 3 at least, but NOPE.
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toonqueen · 4 years ago
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Duckvember 2020
PART 1 OF 2
Part 2 is Here
Frenemy AND Paramour
This is my Negaverse Gladstone (Grimstone) and Nega Magica in my 87/Comics headcanon. SHELDRAKE is @cataradical 's and he’s a cool jerk. Wheee.
THERE IS CUSSING and dirty things said. It’s the Negaverse that's just what goes down there. PG-13ish?!
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Sheldrake was glad to have a very easy mission this time. It was planned to be the typical “act natural at a party, steal a thing, and then slip out” kind of job. And it was a solo mission; no coworkers to be annoyed with him (and vice versa). To top it off, he was actually invited to this shindig. Well, his paladin sect received the invite, but that meant he didn’t have to sneak in. With everything added up, it was practically a vacation!
What Shel expected to be a boring hunters’ gala was anything but. The leaders of different groups were trying to appeal to a modern, younger crowd. Instead of a stuffy meeting with the typical job fair flair, it was a real, honest to God party. A full bar! And dancers in cages! Sheldrake couldn't help but chuckle at how hard old fogey hunters were trying to get new blood. Crimey.
The paladin went to the bar and ordered a drink. He sat on a stool facing the crowd, keeping an eye out for his target. 
"Well, hello there," a sultry voice greeted him. A tall redheaded duck leaned up against the bar beside him. She motioned to the bartender to get his attention. "I'll have what he's having."
Sheldrake wasn't caught off guard by the attractive duck's flirting. Despite his cursed energy that often drove others away or made them immediately dislike him, people that were intentionally and professionally deceptive could overcome it in an attempt to get something they wanted. Lord, it was a test, though.
The lady’s tight red dress and orange wavy locks were clearly up to no good. She was a literal red herring if Shel ever saw one. However, he played it cool.
"First hunter's gala?" He sipped his drink and gave the mystery woman a smile.
"Oh, I've been to a few--none quite like this though. Luckily I dressed for the occasion," she paused like she was turning a knob to up the seduction. She moved around, but kept looking back at Shel. "It would be even more exciting if I had one of those VIP passes I've heard others whisper so much about."
Sheldrake smirked. He knew this overtly sexy duck was trying to weasel her way to being a plus one on a special invite. However, he was curious as to why. "Yeah, it would be great to have one of those. But what is it even for? To join an exclusive party with more go-go dancers in cages?"
The redhead let out a giggle. A high pitched one, as if Sheldrake were just the funniest, most charming guy in the room. "I heard it was for a special auction. A bunch of rare items retrieved and uncovered by different hunters,” she replied. “My, I couldn't afford any of them, but I would love to look. Be some nice arm candy for a kind gentleman."
Sheldrake just chuckled before taking a sip of his drink. The lady hadn't touched hers yet. She watched him, slowly drawing her finger around the rim of the glass with a bewitching glow in her eyes.
Finally, Sheldrake said bluntly, "I'd give your performance a 9 out of 10. It might work on those first year hunters over there.” He waved vaguely to a group of younger bachelor-types chatting and laughing on the dance floor. “However, not quite buyin’ what you’re sellin’.”
The redhead shot them a quick look before turning back to Shel. "But they're not my type," she pouted. She leaned in a bit toward the paladin, and placed her hand over his on the bar. "I’d rather have someone more seasoned who can answer any questions I may have about the artifacts."
"Oh, I see, I see; switching gears, okay, okay. Stroke my ego first, then go for my intellect? If sex doesn't sell, then try brains? Gettin’ any warmer?" Sheldrake downed the rest of his drink in one gulp. "Well, this has been very amusing, and I wish you all the luck. Unfortunately, my VIP pass is just for me and doesn't allow a buddy. Boo dang hoo. Maybe try one of those light paladins in the white capes over to the left. They're way more sociable and have to travel in pairs." He gave another general hand wave… everywhere.
The redhead narrowed her dusky eyes. It was the first time she had shown any annoyance with Shel--ah, there it was, back to normal. The paladin slid off his stool, but before he could stand, the lady pressed her entire body flush against his side, beak in his head feathers..
Sheldrake expected a final desperate plea. Something to the effect of “I really need to see this event for my research,” or “please help me, I lost my own pass and my sect will be furious.”
Instead he got a low, unexpected voice. A familiar one that could be likened to Antonio Birderas' role in “Debate with a Vampire”, except if he were a white peking duck raised in suburbia with a twinge of a farmboy accent.
"Shel, I need to get into that auction to obtain a crucial item," Grimstone's voice whispered clearly out of this petite, curvy redheaded lady’s bill, "you have to give me your pass."
The paladin did not outwardly act surprised. He had 100% picked up the fact this woman was hiding something--more than the obvious. He did not expect, however, that Grimestone would be involved.
Shel hummed shortly. With a coy smile, he slid a hand around the redhead’s waist, whispered, "I didn't know you were so proficient in glamour spells."
"I'm not," Grimstone said, his voice reverting back to that soft, playful feminine tone, "my wife is one of the gentlemen servers."
"Oh, how cute," Sheldrake teased, pulling away from the duck.
"She doesn't like to be… flashy," Grimstone explained, a little defensive, looking over his luscious figure and tight-fitting dress.
"I get it, I get it. Taking one for the team, hm?" the paladin smirked as he sized Grimstone’s disguise up, "give my compliments to the caster, though.” He blew a kiss from his fingertips, as if praising a delicious gourmet meal. “Great job. Succulent, divine, mouthwateringly juicy."
Grimstone scowled, crossing his arms. "Sheldrake, the pass."
"Sorry. I have business here, too," the paladin disagreed, "why don't you try those frat boys I recommended earlier?”
"I’ve already tried. You were my last resort. Trust me, this is for the greater good," Grimstone explained.
Sheldrake put his hand to his chin, pretending he was thinking deeply. Grimstone and him had an interesting work relationship; they’d helped each other on several occasions in the past, but also had been on opposite sides a few times, too. Finally, after much consideration, he said casually, "Yeah, no. I'm sure you'll find another way."
Grimstone’s tiny manicured fingers curled into tight fists. "Is there somewhere private we could discuss this more openly?" he pressed.
"Man, this is a borderline orgy sex party. I'm sure there’s a room we can get for a half an hour," Sheldrake replied, then gave an obnoxious wink. 
Grim rolled his eyes. “I don’t have time for this. People have been dipping out to the stairwell to smoke. We’ll talk there,” the disguised warlock suggested.
“Sure. Sure. I take it your high school prom wasn’t that exciting,” Sheldrake taunted. 
Grim sighed and nodded to a waiter nearby before taking Sheldrake’s arm in his. “Let’s walk, then. Hopefully no one’s there at the moment,” he said. Despite the voice coming from the redhead being so playful and demure, Sheldrake could tell Grimstone was using his “I'm taking charge of this operation” tone. 
Sheldrake would normally roll his eyes when Grim spoke to him so seriously, as if he were one of his many wild rugrats. However, he played along, swaying off side by side with this very attractive lady.
Once outside on the desolate stairwell, Grimstone exhaled heavily. "There is a magical person of interest I’m here to free, and it's of the utmost importance that I do.” He spoke in an unusual voice; neither his normal voice, or his disguise’s. Rather, a unique combination; feminine, but more husky. Kinda cute, actually.
"And you don't think what I'm doing here isn’t important, too?" Sheldrake replied, loosely crossing his arms.
"I really *do not* have time for this Shel. I’m handling a case where a school of children were transformed into inanimate objects, and I need to free this woman known as the Brunswick witch who specializes in these curses and can break it,," Grimstone explained. He glanced cautiously at the stairwell window.
"And I have an out of place artifact from a different universe I need to win--or steal, if I have to. I can't give you my pass," Sheldrake insisted. He was going to add a flirty comment, but quickly saw the short nod Grimstone gave in the window’s direction before looking back at him again. 
Sheldrake sighed. "You're really going to fight me in a building full of hunters?” He leaned close, booping his beak against Grimstone’s. “*Really*, my guy?”
"I need the pass, Shel. You leave me no choice," Grimstone lamented, rolling his hands up his arms as if drawing back sleeves. Sheldrake expected a punch, but was instead tackled around the waist like a damn linebacker instead. 
Sheldrake would’ve had the wind knocked out of him if he hit the ground like Grim intended. Instead, he wiggled his shoulder and pulled an arm free, grabbing his attacker. With expert ease, Sheldrake pinned Grim down on his back with one knee in a partial straddle. 
Brushing loose bangs from his eyes, he looked down to see if Grim had slipped out of his glamour in the brief scuffle. Rather, Grimstone’s disguise was shifting, brows becoming thicker, body filling out, patches of feathers turning black.
Grimstone was trying to copy and transform into Sheldrake. 
“Aw,” Sheldrake chortled at the struggling duck, “well, they do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
Grimstone gave a distinctively annoyed “ugh” before ripping an arm free and grabbing Shel by the throat; however, he didn’t squeeze or attempt to choke him. "And I do often tell you to go fuck yourself."
"That… trying to be a badass line doesn't quite work in your position, buddy," Sheldrake added as he fought to keep Grimstone's hand down.
"I just have to,” Grimstone's voice dipped back down to his own before changing into one eerily similar to Sheldrake’s, "keep you talking."
"Hol-lee shit. Well, the glamour spell might’ve been the missus, but you're totally doing that all on your own. How quaint! I can't believe you've been holding out on me. I thought you told me *all* the tricks you could do," Sheldrake replied. Grimstone went to grab something, anything from Sheldrake’s pocket. “Oh, no, you don't! Don't get handsy with me."
"You didn’t have a problem with it before," Grimstone snarked at the comment. He continued flailing and clawing until Sheldrake eased back to elbow him in the beak. Just enough leverage for the warlock to free his second hand, grip Shel’s shoulder tight.
Grimstone snarled, twisting one of his leg's around Shel's until they switched positions, the paladin now pinned beneath the demonic duck.
"How is it that we're both expertly trained in hand to hand combat, but whenever we fight, it’s like we’re stupid little kids slapping each other on the playground during recess?" Grimstone grunted. He continued searching desperately for some personal item on Sheldrake while also trying to hold the speckled duck down. Shel managed to punch him in the jaw before Grim hooked his arm around Sheldrake's to pin it back above the paladin’s head.
"I just assume,” Sheldrake grunted, arm freed and throttling Grim, "I assume we don't really want to kill each other, so we do all this bullshit ass grabbing--"
The stairwell door abruptly and loudly opened. Both ducks stopped fighting, looking up with eyes comically bugging from their shocked faces.
A paladin recruit in their early twenties stared back at them, blinking. “Um…” he gaped.
Two almost identical dudes, possibly, maybe twins, with one wearing a sexy dress, wrestling on the stairwell. 
“Look,” the recruit grumbled, raising a hand, "I'm not judging whatever fetish is going on here, but please do it somewhere more, uh, private? Some of us need to vape.” With a grumble, he left, shutting the door behind him.
"Well, shit," Sheldrake snorted. Grimstone sighed. The two relaxed and unwound, sitting side by side.
"We need to solve this. Now," Grimstone said firmly. Sheldrake watched as he stood, offering his hand to help the paladin up. "I don’t want to fight you, but I need to save those children."
Shel blinked then finally conceded with a big, exaggerated sigh. "Okay, okay.” He took Grim’s hand. “... Actually... I think I have an idea."
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The third floor of the hotel was unsettlingly quiet. There was a low murmur of voices coming from the auction room, barely audible outside the door.
"Grim! Grim!" the blonde duck whispered harshly as she walked up to Sheldrake. The male server uniform Magica wore was baggy when she was out of glamour. She fixed the bun in her hair as she said, "You have to be careful. I overheard a few disturbing things about the auction… I'm worried some of the items could hurt you. Maybe… maybe I should go instead."
"It's fine, it's fine. I know what I'm doing. Besides, I'm the only one who could get his voice right,” Sheldrake--Grimstone--replied. He smirked, a slight leer on his beak. “But how about a kiss for good luck anyway?"
Magica glanced around the hallway; with the coast clear, she leaned in to peck the corner of Grimstone’s beak. "Please, please, please do be careful," she pleaded.
Magica turned to leave, then stopped; turned back around quickly. She took Grimstone’s face in her hands and pulled him into a deep kiss. He could feel her tongue shyly stroke his for a second, hands affectionately squeezing his cheeks, caressing the corners of his beak. 
The light witch broke the kiss when she heard a noise from down the hall. Luckily, they were still alone.
"I'm getting this foreboding feeling off you, Grim,” Magica said dubiously, “you sure you're full up on luck?" She let his face go and stepped back, slipping into the form of a masculine Borzoi waiter. 
The “paladin” restrained an amused grin. "Really, I'm fine,” he reassured. “You do your job, and I'll do mine.” He winked, then entered the ballroom.
Magica took the stairwell at the end of the hall to the lobby downstairs, only to be greeted by Grimstone a second later. She looked up, eyes wide; it was Grimstone’s voice, undeniably, but he was still disguised as Sheldrake.
"Love, there’s been a change in plans," Grim stated.
With a blink and *poof*, Magica changed back to her normal form. "Who... what...? I thought I just spoke to you a second… You were that paladin, but... How?" She squeezed Grimstone’s shoulders, scanning his eyes and face closely.
"I’m disguised as the paladin I told you about, yes. He’s agreed to help us; we need to wait by the fire escape in case he needs emergency back-up should anything go wrong," Grimstone explained.
Slowly, color drained from Magica’s beak.
“What is it?” Grimstone asked, concerned.
"N-Nothing!” Magic squawked. How could she have been so easily deceived-- “I'll explain later. Let's go help your friend." She quickly disguised both herself and Grimstone as canine servers. "We'll just… act like we’re taking a smoke break in the back."
"Good, I was thinking the same.” Grimstone frowned and looked away. “And he's not my friend…” he trailed off.
"But we can trust him to help us, right?" Magica asked in her own voice.
"Eh, we can trust him, but not *trust* him," Grimstone said vaguely, “if you get what I mean.”
Magica rubbed her temples. "We're leaving this mission to a paladin *you don't fully trust*?"
"Oh, I don't know. I seem to remember doing the same thing a long time ago, and that worked out just fine," Grim said with a half smile, squeezing Magica’s shoulder.
"That's different! I was a lightbearer. I--" Magica was interrupted by the opening of a stairwell door above them.
Grim took Magica by the arm. "Let's go take that smoke break," he said quietly, guiding her down the hall.
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usafphantom2 · 3 years ago
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F-4C Wild Weasel arriving at Korat in September 1972
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F-4C Wild Weasel arriving at Korat in September 1972
F-4C Wild Weasel arriving at Korat in September 1972. Operations Linebacker and Linebacker II initiated the end of the Southeast Asia War. During those offensives, U.S. airpower stopped the North Vietnamese ground offensive and B-52s vigorously bombed previously untouched targets in North Vietnam. The Wild Weasels challenged North Vietnamese defenses that had been heavily built up over the course of three and a half years.
In the spring of 1972 the U.S. renewed large-scale bombing of North Vietnam in response to the communist Easter Offensive against South Vietnam. Since the end of Rolling Thunder in 1968, the North Vietnamese had developed their fighter forces and created an integrated defense system of mutually supporting early warning radar, AAA and SAM sites. By 1972 the North Vietnamese had more than 200 SA-2 launchers, extending their coverage into parts of South Vietnam.
To assist the 17th Wild Weasel Squadron, the USAF sent over part of the F-105G-equipped 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron -- together they totaled 28 F-105 Wild Weasel aircraft. In addition to these, the USAF introduced the F-4C Wild Weasel IV to combat during Linebacker.
Efforts to make the F-4C a Wild Weasel aircraft started in 1966, but developmental problems prevented it from being fielded until the spring of 1969. One F-4C Wild Weasel unit, the 67th TFS at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, sent six F-4C Wild Weasels to Korat, Thailand, in September 1972. Used in southern North Vietnam during Linebacker, the F-4C Wild Weasel aircrews effectively supported strikes around Hanoi during Linebacker II, flying 460 sorties in Southeast Asia without loss.
Wild Weasel is a code name given by the United States Armed Forces, specifically the US Air Force, to an aircraft, of any type, equipped with radar-seeking missiles and tasked with destroying the radars and SAM installations of enemy air defense systems
(U.S. Air Force photo)
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brookstonalmanac · 11 months ago
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Events 12.18 (after 1940)
1944 – World War II: XX Bomber Command responds to the Japanese Operation Ichi-Go offensive by dropping five hundred tons of incendiary bombs on a supply base in Hankow, China. 1944 – The Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in Korematsu v. United States supporting Franklin D. Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066 which cleared the way for the incarceration of nearly all 120,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were U.S. citizens, born and raised in the United States. 1957 – A violent F5 tornado wipes out the entire community of Sunfield, Illinois. 1958 – Project SCORE, the world's first communications satellite, is launched. 1966 – Saturn's moon Epimetheus is discovered by astronomer Richard Walker. 1972 – Vietnam War: President Richard Nixon announces that the United States will engage North Vietnam in Operation Linebacker II, a series of Christmas bombings, after peace talks collapsed with North Vietnam on the 13th. 1973 – Soviet Soyuz Programme: Soyuz 13, crewed by cosmonauts Valentin Lebedev and Pyotr Klimuk, is launched from Baikonur in the Soviet Union. 1977 – United Airlines Flight 2860 crashes near Kaysville, Utah, killing all three crew members on board. 1977 – SA de Transport Aérien Flight 730 crashes near Madeira Airport in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, killing 36. 1981 – First flight of the Russian heavy strategic bomber Tu-160, the world's largest combat aircraft, largest supersonic aircraft and largest variable-sweep wing aircraft built. 1995 – A Lockheed L-188 Electra crashes in Jamba, Cuando Cubango, Angola, killing 141 people. 1999 – NASA launches into orbit the Terra platform carrying five Earth Observation instruments, including ASTER, CERES, MISR, MODIS and MOPITT. 2002 – California gubernatorial recall: Then Governor of California Gray Davis announces that the state would face a record budget deficit of $35 billion, roughly double the figure reported during his reelection campaign one month earlier. 2005 – The Chadian Civil War begins when rebel groups, allegedly backed by neighbouring Sudan, launch an attack in Adré. 2006 – The first of a series of floods strikes Malaysia. The death toll of all flooding is at least 118, with over 400,000 people displaced. 2006 – United Arab Emirates holds its first-ever elections. 2015 – Kellingley Colliery, the last deep coal mine in Great Britain, closes. 2017 – Amtrak Cascades passenger train 501, derailed near DuPont, Washington, a city in United States near Olympia, Washington killing six people, and injuring 70 others. 2018 – List of bolides: A meteor exploded over the Bering Sea with a force over 10 times greater than the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945. 2019 – The United States House of Representatives impeaches Donald Trump for the first time. 2022 – Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, defeating title holders France 4–2 on penalties following a 3–3 draw after extra time.
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jakesmith-pats · 4 years ago
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Turmoil in Tampa
“The most important relationship a head coach has on his team is with the QB. He’s the one who runs the show on the field; he’s the ultimate extension of his coach. If there isn’t a high level of mutual trust between them, both coach and QB will be doomed.”-Bruce Arians- The self proclaimed QB Whisperer
What we are witnessing in Tampa is nothing short of a disaster. Bruce Arians has continually thrown Tom Brady under the bus with taking zero accountability (which he has been known to preach on). Seems as though Arians has been trying to get out in front of all this to make excuses to keep his job. News flash, your offensive scheme blows. There has never been an NFL offense that has had the “no risk it- no biscuit” & won a Super Bowl. The chucking & slinging the ball all over the field has never & will never work. Bruce Arians has been historic in his teams interceptions. In 1998 Peyton Manning threw league & career high 28 picks with the next 2 seasons at 15 a piece. He goes to Cleveland & his QB throws 21, 22, 18 picks. Takes over in Pittsburg in 07 with 14, 15, 14, 9, 15 even with Tomlin wanting a run first offense, Arians allowed for Big Ben to be sacked an astonishing 215 times in just 5 years. Which is an issue in Tampa in itself with there being so much interior rush pressure he can’t step into his throws. News flash if you want to throw deep you have to have protection or use play action. Brady is has been hit the 5th most in the league. Back to the topic in 2012 gets Andrew Luck (the best prospect since Manning) throws 18 picks 1 behind league leader Drew Brees also gets Luck sacked 41 times. Goes to Arizona 22 picks 41 sacks, 12 picks 28 sacks, 13 picks 25 sacks, 17 picks 40 sacks, 18 picks 52 sacks. Bruce then goes to Tampa where his QB throws a historic 30 picks against 47 sacks. The down the field attack DOES NOT WORK.
PLAY ACTION
Play action allows time for the QB to get extra protection by freezing the linebackers and gives the safety’s something extra to think about, allowing the receivers to find open spaces & take those shots down the field. Seems to me when they go play action Brady is able to find the open guy down field between Godwin & Gronk.
MOTION
Everyone & their mom knows you use pre snap motion to be able to determine if the coverage is man or zone. The Bucs lead the league in the lowest usage of pre snap motion. Arians has put Brady on blast for not reading the coverage correctly, hey Bruce it makes it a little easier if you use motion so your QB can get you in the right play. Arians has also said we make our reads after the snap of the ball. What? What kind of offense operates like that. Tom Brady has made his career by knowing what the defense is in and making calls to put his team in the best spots & mythically marching the ball down the field knowing where he is going with the ball before the ball is even snapped.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO AS A COACH
The thing that separates a good coach from a great coach is the ability to use their roster to its strength. The Patriots operated in a way that allowed for Brady to make presnap calls with routes, line protection, audibles all at Bradys will. With Arians its break the huddle and snap the ball. Literally. There is no looking at the defense making line calls from Brady or Jensen, audibles, hots, nothing. Why have one of the smartest players to ever play the game not use his best asset; his brain. Over the 20 years Tom was in New England I never saw him glaze over his wristband as long as he has to after the huddle breaks. That is a sign that Tom is not comfortable with the play call or he knows it won’t work. Arians & Byron Leftwich calling these plays has to have him thinking “why am I letting this paint drinker & former scrub QB call these plays”.
THERE IS NO SCHEME
There is no game plan each week. It’s the same offensive sets, same route concepts, same predictable play calling. Receivers just running around, not being able to read coverage. Every week I watch this team on offense I see the same plays & a massive inability to adjust during the game. Live & die by no risk it- no biscuit. It is gut wrenching football to watch with all that talent the Bucs have.
WHAT TOM NEEDS TO DO
During this bye week for the Bucs he needs to walk into Arians offense telling him to put down the booze & kit kats & tell him we need to run the offense that we ran in New England. After all why would you bring in Tom Brady and tell him “hey scrap what has made you the greatest of all time and try this”. When Manning went to Denver he walked in the coaches office & told them we are running the Tom Moore offense & guess what, it worked. Why would you ask a 43 year old QB to throw in 50 yards down the field once out of every 3 plays. Doesn’t seem like a good formula.
DEFENSE
In 4 of the 5 loses the Bucs have had have been because they have played soft zone & only rushed 3 or 4 guys. Hey heres a great idea, lets sit back in soft zone against Drew Brees, Jared Goff & Nick Foles. Oh here is an even better idea, lets guard Tyreek Hill 1 on 1 with no safety help. I wonder if after they first quarter of that Chiefs game Arians wondered hmmm maybe we should double Hill & Kelce after 7 catches for 203 yards 2 TDs IN ONE QUARTER for Hill alone.
Everything is out of sync for the Bucs, offense, defense, coaching, it’s all the more evidence how much football is culture, coaching & executing.
TOM HAS PART OF THE BLAME
Shame on Tom for thinking he could make this work. To go down to Tampa where Arians has a reputation & offensive scheme that makes no sense. Shame on Tom for being so oblivious to the fact that he would be getting into an offense that is called by Byron Leftwich. Toms arm strength is still good, he still has a lot of velocity on the ball & still throws a tight spiral but the timing with his receivers & communication is very off. Mike Evans looks like he only knows how to run straight. He has no awareness on how to read a defense, get to the hot spot and sit in the correct spot; the guy just can’t figure out what he is supposed to run unless he is running a go. Gronk should have stayed retired, tho he has looked better than at the beginning of the year. The running backs are HORRIBLE. Tom has always had someone to come out of the backfield that can catch little flats, swings, screens, Texas routes etc. It’s pretty clear why no one wanted Fournette, RJ2 is so hit or miss but can’t catch passes either. The Bucs receivers & backs lead the league in drops. Tom has put the ball into tight windows all year, sometimes it comes down to being able to haul in those passes when you have tight 1 on 1 coverage. Toms glazed over look during these games I completely believe is because he knows this offense will not work unless he is the one running it how he wants to run it & unless Arians sobers up & realizes that then Tom will be trying to get Josh McDaniels down there to take over as the next head coach.
Tom Brady is #1 in the NFL in On Target Throws, Air Yards, Air Yards per play, & 2nd in Completed Air Yards. Tom Brady is playing at a high level but they don’t have everything together. They need to take the bye week, have a come to Jesus meeting & decide what they are going to be on offense & who is going to call the shots. I 100% believe if Tom runs the offense the Bucs can win a playoff game or 2. How they are looking now they are almost a sure lock for a first round exit.
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usafphantom2 · 3 years ago
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52nd TFW McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom II 63-7440 (Wild Weasel IV)
The first EF-4Cs entered service in June 1968 with the 4537th Fighter Weapons Squadron, an operational conversion and tactic development unit based at Nellis AFB in Nevada. At that time, this squadron was part of the 4525th Fighter Weapons Wing. The 4525th was redesignated the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing in October of 1969, and at the same time the 4537th FWS became the 66th FWS. Overseas deployment of the EF-4C Wild Weasel IV began in March of 1969 with the 80th TFS, 347th TFW at Yokota AB in Japan. However, these planes were transferred in March of 1971 to the 67th TFS, 18th TFW based at Kadena AFB on Okinawa. The 67th TFS relocated to Korat RTAFB in Thaliand in 1972-72 to take part in the Linebacker raids. The EF-4C was intended to detect and attack the Fan Song track-while- scan radar that was used to guide the SA-2 Guideline surface to air missiles. The primary armament of the EF-4C consisted of the Texas Instruments AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile, plus an array of cluster bombs and conventional iron bombs. The Shrike missile proved to be rather unreliable in service, since it had to be preset before takeoff in order to home in on a particular frequency. The EF-4C could not carry or launch the AGM-78 Standard anti-radiation missile. In December of 1969, EF-4Cs were issued to the 81st TFS of the 50th TFW, stationed at Hahn AFB in Germany. The The 81st TFS was transferred to the 86th TFW at Zweibrucken AB in January of 1972. In 1973, surviving EF-4Cs were retrofitted with the Itek AN/ALR-46 electronic countermeasures receiver which provided fast digital processing in a bandwidth ranging from 2 to 18 GHz. Antennae for this system were placed on the tailcone at the base of the vertical fin as well as on the lower fuselage immediately aft of the nose radar. It interfaced with a cockpit display and provided automatic control of jamming assets. In addition, an AN/ALR-53 long-range homing receiver was mounted which could guide aircraft toward surface threats. After being replaced by later, more capable versions of the Wild Weasel Phantom, many EF-4Cs were returned to F-4C status and then turned over to the Air National Guard. These ex-EF-4Cs were turned over to the 113th TFS of the 181st TFG and the 163rd TFS of the 122nd TFW, both with the Indiana Air National Guard, which received these planes in 1979. However, neither squadron was actually assigned the specialized Wild Weasel mission, and both squadrons flew their EF-4Cs in the conventional strike role. Both Indiana ANG squadrons exchanged their EF-4Cs for F-4Es in 1988.
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brookstonalmanac · 2 years ago
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Events 12.26
887 – Berengar I is elected as king of Italy by the lords of Lombardy. He is crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy at Pavia. 1481 – Battle of Westbroek: An army of 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers raised by David of Burgundy, Bishop of Utrecht, attacks an armed mob of people from nearby Utrecht who were trying to avenge the massacre of the inhabitants of Westbroek. 1704 – Second Battle of Anandpur: In the Second Battle of Anandpur, Aurangzeb's two generals, Wazir Khan and Zaberdast Khan executed two children of Guru Gobind Singh, Zorawar Singh aged eight and Fateh Singh aged five, by burying them alive into a wall. 1709 – The opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel premiered in Venice. 1776 – American Revolutionary War: In the Battle of Trenton, the Continental Army attacks and successfully defeats a garrison of Hessian forces. 1790 – Louis XVI of France gives his public assent to Civil Constitution of the Clergy during the French Revolution. 1793 – Second Battle of Wissembourg: France defeats Austria. 1799 – Henry Lee III's eulogy to George Washington in congress declares him as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen". 1805 – Austria and France sign the Treaty of Pressburg. 1806 – Battles of Pultusk and Golymin: Russian forces hold French forces under Napoleon. 1811 – A theater fire in Richmond, Virginia kills the Governor of Virginia George William Smith and the president of the First National Bank of Virginia Abraham B. Venable. 1825 – Advocates of liberalism in Russia rise up against Czar Nicholas I in the Decembrist revolt, but are later suppressed. 1860 – First Rules derby is held between Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C., the oldest football fixture in the world. 1861 – American Civil War: The Trent Affair: Confederate diplomatic envoys James Murray Mason and John Slidell are freed by the United States government, thus heading off a possible war between the United States and the United Kingdom. 1862 – American Civil War: The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou begins as General William Tecumseh Sherman begins landing his troops. 1862 – The largest mass-hanging in U.S. history took place in Mankato, Minnesota, where 38 Native Americans died. 1871 – Thespis, the first Gilbert and Sullivan collaboration, debuts. 1898 – Marie and Pierre Curie announce the isolation of radium. 1919 – Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox is sold to the New York Yankees by owner Harry Frazee, allegedly establishing the Curse of the Bambino superstition. 1941 – U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day in the United States. 1943 – World War II: German warship Scharnhorst is sunk off of Norway's North Cape after a battle against major Royal Navy forces. 1944 – World War II: George S. Patton's Third Army breaks the encirclement of surrounded U.S. forces at Bastogne, Belgium. 1948 – Cardinal József Mindszenty is arrested in Hungary and accused of treason and conspiracy. 1948 – The last Soviet troops withdraw from North Korea. 1963 – The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "I Saw Her Standing There" are released in the United States, marking the beginning of Beatlemania on an international level. 1966 – The first Kwanzaa is celebrated by Maulana Karenga, the chair of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach. 1968 – The Communist Party of the Philippines is established by Jose Maria Sison, breaking away from the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930. 1972 – Vietnam War: As part of Operation Linebacker II, 120 American B-52 Stratofortress bombers attacked Hanoi, including 78 launched from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the largest single combat launch in Strategic Air Command history. 1975 – Tu-144, the world's first commercial supersonic aircraft, surpassing Mach 2, goes into service. 1978 – The inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally begins. 1980 – Witnesses report the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, an incident called "Britain's Roswell". 1989 – United Express Flight 2415 crashes on approach to the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, Washington, killing all six people on board. 1991 – The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union meets and formally dissolves the Soviet Union, ending the Cold War. 1994 – Four Armed Islamic Group hijackers seize control of Air France Flight 8969. When the plane lands at Marseille, a French Gendarmerie assault team boards the aircraft and kills the hijackers. 1998 – Iraq announces its intention to fire upon U.S. and British warplanes that patrol the northern and southern no-fly zones. 1999 – The storm Lothar sweeps across Central Europe, killing 137 and causing US$1.3 billion in damage. 2003 – The 6.6 Mw  Bam earthquake shakes southeastern Iran with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving more than 26,000 dead and 30,000 injured. 2004 – The 9.1–9.3 Mw  Indian Ocean earthquake shakes northern Sumatra with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). One of the largest observed tsunamis, it affected coastal and partially mainland areas of Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia; death toll is estimated at 227,898. 2004 – Orange Revolution: The final run-off election in Ukraine is held under heavy international scrutiny. 2006 – Two earthquakes in Hengchun, Taiwan measuring 7.0 and 6.9 on the Richter scale kill two and disrupt telecommunications across Asia.[ 2012 – China opens the world's longest high-speed rail route, which links Beijing and Guangzhou. 2015 – During the December 2015 North American storm complex, a Tornado Outbreak occurs in the DFW Metroplex, with the most notable tornadoes being an EF2, EF3, and an EF4. About a dozen people died due to various reasons, 10 of which due to the EF4, which did substantial damage to the suburb of Rowlett.
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alfredohaylee-blog · 4 years ago
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Pried it open and pulled out a gun that was stored inside
The year also marked the beginning of Robinson's short stint with Hollywood, where he played 'himself' in a movie based on his life, The Jackie Robinson Story. Three more MVP titles were added to his list of accomplishments over the next three years. Brooklyn Dodgers defeated New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series.
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Yes Scouting I don't care if she pursues it or not but yes also Russian USS or USA 311
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Message from Philosopher Professor Doctor Field General Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins Terry Lee Hawkins jr HAWKINS UMBRELLA CORPORATION HAWKINS AQUATICS PHILOSOPHER PROFESSOR DOCTOR TERRY LEE KAUFFMAN HAWKINS THE HOLY HEAVENLY EMPEROR COATS ACTIVE IN TERRY LEE KAUFFMAN HAWKINS (via teremiah8403)WORDS WORDS poemswords - poemswords YES=Y LIKE Y=YES ( N=NO OR NODACHI) (via blaze8403)YIN & YANG ?DAI GENSUI TSU TER PHILOPROFESSU MADOSIER( ER IN EMPEROR AND BOOPER AND ( DOSSIER / DOSIER ( OSS OR OS ) DAI GENSUI TSU TERI MADOSIER GRAND MASTER GRAND MARTIAL MARSHAL FIELD DOCTOR GENERAL WAR OR WOR - RIGHT AND WRONG C=3 LIKE K=11=2 YAKAZA SOFT SEAT WAY WAR AND T IN TERRY AND H IN HAWKINS Terry Lee Hawkins Jr. · TAO OF TRUE RELIGION CIRCLE — RavenDove - yin yin / yang - D or L Dove or Love maybe L or D Lover or Dover pythagorean numerology ABC123 Kauffman-Hawkins-Hawk or Hopk -H__kins aw or op and Hopkins signed Booper or just Boop not Book.YORK PA - RESPONSIBLE RESPECTING EVERY SERIOUS PERSON ON NOW SERIOUS ISSUE BUT LISTEN ENTIRELY—OPERATIONS(TH OR AH)BOOP ( OOP=OO16=007 )—ENOCH PFL- COM04 TERRY HAWKINS - LEE ( RHEE )HIROHITO COULD SPELL BOOK AND BOOP - ER OR RE -KING MAGIC YEA A GOD KNOW MAGICK - MAGI ?—PKA-TERRY THE TERROR MO IN HOME LIKE HOME PLATE ATE MODUS OPERANDI Terry Lee Hawkins Jr.— - THREE ELEVEN PISCES- OP IN OPERATIONS AND HOPKINS - ( OPP OR OSS - NO HOP OR POP - NOT SPOT STOP POST POTS - TOPS ?)—TERRY LEE HAWKINS - HOPKINS - AND JAPANESE HOKINSU -ME SIR NAMED A CHILD - DATE 10/29/30/2019 T=20=2 E=5 R=18=9 R=18=9 Y=25=7 NOT G OR P—T=20=2 E=5 R=18=9 R=18=9 Y=25=7 NOT G OR P—LI LEE LEI OR RHEE - NAME LEE AMEN OR AMAN ? - THEY DIDNT GET IT PHONETIC LETTER WARTERKEY SIX ( ROMAN 9) [email protected] TJ - TERRY JUNIOR BIRTHDAY MARCH 11 USS OR USA ?CORRECT SELECTION THE GOD DELUSION - CHAPTER 7 - 3 MORE—XERXES ( SEX=GENDER ) XIEXIE ( I AND E VOWELS LETTER 9 & 5)OOP = 16= 7 OO7 / 2600 OR 1600 - 0016 (ACTIVE) JANIST OR JANISM ?Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins is feeling professional with professor Doctor Dai Gensuier Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins Terry Lee Hawkins Jr. · ALL PRO RAVENDOVE Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins was RavenDove - yin yin / yang RavenDove - yin yin / yang - COLD NUMB AND (LOVIEY DOVIEY) CALCULATED SPELL IT D or L Dove or Love maybe L or D Lover or Dover pythagorean numerology ABC123 Kauffman-Hawkins-Hawk or Hopk -H__kins aw or op and Hopkins signed Booper or just Boop not Book BUT LOKI OR BOOPER SAN with Blaze Pascal. with Terry Lee Hawkins ( male ) Peros Dragonus Kami Aisuru ikigami shinigami HAWKINS HOKINSU/HOKINZU — feeling professional with Terry Lee Hawkins Jr.Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins Terry Lee Hawkins JR ( male ) Peros Dragonus Kami Aisuru ikigami shinigamI TER OR TERRY / - HAWKINS - LETTERS IN SPELLING DAI GENSUMMASIER RANK NATO 50 STARS -DAI-GENSUIER Professor Doctor Dai Gensuier Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins Terry Lee Hawkins Jr. - Signed Boop not BookRank‎: ‎TEN ( CODELOVE-AI)-star Non-NATO rank‎: ‎O-16 NATO rank‎: ‎OF-15 Next lower rank‎: GENSUIER GENSUIER - AMONG R&R AND SECURITY DETAILRank‎: ‎NINE ( CODELOVE-AI)-star Non-NATO rank‎: ‎O-15 NATO rank‎: ‎OF-14 Next lower rank‎: DAI GENSUIA DAI GENSUIA Rank‎: ‎Eight -star Non-NATO rank‎: ‎O-14 NATO rank‎: ‎OF-13 Next lower rank‎: GENSUIA GENSUIA Rank‎: ‎Seven -star Non-NATO rank‎: ‎O-13 NATO rank‎: ‎OF-12 Next lower rank‎: ‎ DAI GENSUi DAI GENSUI Rank‎: ‎SIX -star Non-NATO rank‎: ‎O-12 NATO rank‎: ‎OF-11 Next lower rank‎: ‎Gensui Terry Lee Hawkins Jr.— - THREE ELEVEN PISCES- OP IN OPERATIONS AND HOPKINS - ( OPP OR OSS - NO HOP OR POP - NOT SPOT STOP POST POTS - TOPS ?)—TERRY LEE HAWKINS - HOPKINS - AND JAPANESE HOKINSU -ME SIR NAMED A CHILD - DATE 10/29/30/2019 T=20=2 E=5 R=18=9 R=18=9 Y=25=7 NOT G OR P—T=20=2 E=5 R=18=9 R=18=9 Y=25=7 NOT G OR P—LI LEE LEI OR RHEE - NAME LEE AMEN OR AMAN ? - THEY DIDNT GET IT PHONETIC LETTER WARTERKEY SIX ( ROMAN 9)[email protected] TJ - TERRY JUNIOR BIRTHDAY MARCH 11 USS OR USA ?CORRECT SELECTION THE GOD DELUSION - CHAPTER 7 - 3 MORE—XERXES ( SEX=GENDER ) XIEXIE ( I AND E VOWELS LETTER 9 & 5)OOP = 16= 7 OO7 / 2600 OR 1600 - 0016 (ACTIVE) JANIST OR JANISM ?Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins is feeling professional with professor Doctor Dai Gensuier Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins Terry Lee Hawkins Jr. · ALL PRO RAVENDOVE Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins was RavenDove - yin yin / yang RavenDove - yin yin / yang - COLD NUMB AND (LOVIEY DOVIEY) CALCULATED SPELL IT D or L Dove or Love maybe L or D Lover or Dover pythagorean numerology ABC123 Kauffman-Hawkins-Hawk or Hopk -H__kins aw or op and Hopkins signed Booper or just Boop not Book BUT LOKI OR BOOPER SAN with Blaze Pascal. with Terry Lee Hawkins ( male ) Peros Dragonus Kami Aisuru ikigami shinigami HAWKINS HOKINSU/HOKINZU — feeling professional with Terry Lee Hawkins Jr.Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins Terry Lee Hawkins JR ( male ) Peros Dragonus Kami Aisuru ikigami shinigamI GOD NAME LOKI -PROFESSIONAL HAWKINS ( KAUFFMAN) TERRY L(via blaze8403)Modus Operandi - GOD OVER MONEY THE LIVES OF MEN AND WOMEN ABOVE MONEY - IN GOD WE TO TRUST - USDA * (MURDA)HONESTY / DISHONESTY - SIDNEY / DISNEY(MONEY-YENOM)(BECK OR BECH ?)—TERRY CHRISTIAN CHRISTEN ANGELOUS LEE KAUFFMAN HAWKINSWORD WORDS poemswords reblogged poemswords YES=Y LIKE Y=YES ( N=NO OR NODACHI) (via blaze8403)YIN & YANG ?DAI GENSUI TSU TERI MADOSIER GRAND MASTER GRAND MARTIAL MARSHAL FIELD DOCTOR GENERAL WAR OR WOR - RIGHT AND WRONG C=3 LIKE K=11=2 YAKAZA SOFT SEAT WAY WAR AND T IN TERRY AND H IN HAWKINS Terry Lee Hawkins Jr. · TAO OF TRUE RELIGION CIRCLE — RavenDove - yin yin / yang - D or L Dove or Love maybe L or D Lover or Dover Pythagorean numerology ABC123 Kauffman-Hawkins-Hawk or Hopk -H__kins aw or op and Hopkins signed Booper or just Boop not Book.YORK PA - RESPONSIBLE RESPECTING EVERY SERIOUS PERSON ON NOW SERIOUS ISSUE BUT LISTEN ENTIRELY—OPERATIONS(TH OR AH)BOOP ( OOP=OO16=007 )—ENOCH PFL- COM04 TERRY HAWKINS - LEE ( RHEE )HIROHITO COULD SPELL BOOK AND BOOP - ER OR RE -KINGMAGIC YEA A GOD KNOW MAGICK - MAGI ?—PKA-TERRY THE TERROR MO IN HOME LIKE HOME PLATE ATE MODUS OPERANDI Terry Lee Hawkins Jr.— - THREE ELEVEN PISCES- OP IN OPERATIONS AND HOPKINS - ( OPP OR OSS - NO HOP OR POP - NOT SPOT STOP POST POTS - TOPS ?)—TERRY LEE HAWKINS - HOPKINS - AND JAPANESE HOKINSU -ME SIR NAMED A CHILD - DATE 10/29/30/2019 T=20=2 E=5 R=18=9 R=18=9 Y=25=7 NOT G OR P—T=20=2 E=5 R=18=9 R=18=9 Y=25=7 NOT G OR P—LI LEE LEI OR RHEE - NAME LEE AMEN OR AMAN ? - THEY DIDNT GET IT PHONETIC LETTER WARTERKEY SIX ( ROMAN 9)[email protected] TJ - TERRY JUNIOR BIRTHDAY MARCH 11 USS OR USA ?CORRECT SELECTION THE GOD DELUSION - CHAPTER 7 - 3 MORE—XERXES ( SEX=GENDER ) XIEXIE ( I AND E VOWELS LETTER 9 & 5)OOP = 16= 7 OO7 / 2600 OR 1600 - 0016 (ACTIVE) JANIST OR JANISM ?Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins is feeling professional with Philosopher Professor Doctor Dai Gensuier Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins Terry Lee Hawkins Jr. · ALL PRO RAVENDOVE Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins was RavenDove - yin yin / yang RavenDove - yin yin / yang - COLD NUMB AND (LOVIEY DOVIEY) CALCULATED SPELL IT D or L Dove or Love maybe L or D Lover or Dover pythagorean numerology ABC123 Kauffman-Hawkins-Hawk or Hopk -H__kins aw or op and Hopkins signed Booper or just Boop not Book BUT LOKI OR BOOPER SAN with Blaze Pascal. with Terry Lee Hawkins ( male ) Peros Dragonus Kami Aisuru ikigami shinigami HAWKINS HOKINSU/HOKINZU — feeling professional with Terry Lee Hawkins Jr.Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins Terry Lee Hawkins JR ( male ) Peros Dragonus Kami Aisuru ikigami shinigamI TER OR TERRY / - HAWKINS - LETTERS IN SPELLING DAI GENSUI TSU TERI MADOSIER -DAI GENSUMMASIER RANK NATO 50 STARS -DAI-GENSUIER Professor Doctor Dai Gensuier Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins Terry Lee Hawkins Jr. - Signed Boop not BookRank‎: ‎TEN ( CODELOVE-AI)-star Non-NATO rank‎: ‎O-16 NATO rank‎: ‎OF-15 Next lower rank‎: GENSUIER GENSUIER - AMONG R&R AND SECURITY DETAIL Rank‎: ‎NINE ( CODELOVE-AI)-star Non-NATO rank‎: ‎O-15 NATO rank‎: ‎OF-14 Next lower rank‎: DAI GENSUIA DAI GENSUIA Rank‎: ‎Eight -star Non-NATO rank‎: ‎O-14 NATO rank‎: ‎OF-13 Next lower rank‎: GENSUIA GENSUIA Rank‎: ‎Seven -star Non-NATO rank‎: ‎O-13 NATO rank‎: ‎OF-12 Next lower rank‎: ‎ DAI GENSUi DAI GENSUI Rank‎: ‎SIX -star Non-NATO rank‎: ‎O-12 NATO rank‎: ‎OF-11 Next lower rank‎: ‎Gensui Terry Lee Hawkins Jr.— - THREE ELEVEN PISCES- OP IN OPERATIONS AND HOPKINS - ( OPP OR OSS - NO HOP OR POP - NOT SPOT STOP POST POTS - TOPS ?)—TERRY LEE HAWKINS - HOPKINS - AND JAPANESE HOKINSU -ME SIR NAMED A CHILD - DATE 10/29/30/2019 T=20=2 E=5 R=18=9 R=18=9 Y=25=7 NOT G OR P—T=20=2 E=5 R=18=9 R=18=9 Y=25=7 NOT G OR P—LI LEE LEI OR RHEE - NAME LEE AMEN OR AMAN ? - THEY DIDNT GET IT PHONETIC LETTER WARTERKEY SIX ( ROMAN 9)[email protected] TJ - TERRY JUNIOR BIRTHDAY MARCH 11 USS OR USA ?CORRECT SELECTION THE GOD DELUSION - CHAPTER 7 - 3 MORE—XERXES ( SEX=GENDER ) XIEXIE ( I AND E VOWELS LETTER 9 & 5)OOP = 16= 7 OO7 / 2600 OR 1600 - 0016 (ACTIVE) JANIST OR JANISM ?Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins is feeling professional with professor Doctor Dai Gensuier Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins Terry Lee Hawkins Jr. · ALL PRO RAVENDOVE Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins was RavenDove - yin yin / yang RavenDove - yin yin / yang - COLD NUMB AND (LOVIEY DOVIEY) CALCULATED SPELL IT D or L Dove or Love maybe L or D Lover or Dover Pythagorean numerology ABC123 Kauffman-Hawkins-Hawk or Hopk -H__kins aw or op and Hopkins signed Booper or just Boop not Book BUT LOKI OR BOOPER SAN with Blaze Pascal. with Terry Lee Hawkins ( male ) Peros Dragonus Kami Aisuru ikigami shinigami HAWKINS HOKINSU/HOKINZU — feeling professional with Terry Lee Hawkins Jr.Terry Lee Kauffman Hawkins Terry Lee Hawkins JR ( male ) Peros Dragonus Kami Aisuru ikigami shinigamI
GOD NAME LOKI -PROFESSIONAL-  HAWKINS ( KAUFFMAN) TERRY L (via teremiah8403)Source:teremiah8403
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pbwsports · 5 years ago
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Driveways, canyons, pools: NFL players create clever workouts
A farm. A field. A canyon. A pool. Even a driveway. As NFL players wait for a return to normalcy before the 2020 regular season begins, they have had to get creative with how and where they train.
The ripple effects of these unprecedented times -- nationwide social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic and an unknown timetable for a vaccine --have altered the professional sports landscape, and the NFL is no exception.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell authorized the reopening of all team facilities this week, in accordance with state and local regulations, although coaches and players who are not undergoing rehabilitation are prohibited from entering team buildings. While a handful of clubs took advantage of this allowance, states such as New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Washington and California are still imposing heavier restrictions that affect a dozen team facilities.
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These inconsistent regulations have also changed the responsibilities of NFL strength trainers, who have spent time remotely assessing the workout needs of players, including their access to resources, as well as acting as liaisons for online equipment purchases. NFL teams were permitted to provide each player with up to $1,500 worth of workout equipment. Nevertheless, players have had to find inventive ways to stay in shape.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins uses his parents' driveway as his outdoor gym. New York Giants wide receiver Golden Tate mowed a track into a steep canyon near his home. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver James Washington designed a training regimen on his Texas farm. New Orleans Saintslinebacker Demario Davis has his personal trainers living with him. Giants linebacker Blake Martinez became the beneficiary of a state-of-the-art gym. And Cleveland Browns punter Jamie Gillan grabbed some beers and built a "grubby" garage gym.
Even though players' locations, living situations and resources differ, there's a lesson shared by all: There are no excuses.
Big-money quarterback staying with parents
The playful jab is uttered without warning, hurled from the driver's side of a passing vehicle.
"Go Pack, go!"
And in that moment of lighthearted jest, Kirk Cousins can only ignore it. He knows the stop sign in front of the house makes him a sitting duck every morning.
Four times a week, starting promptly at 9 a.m., the Vikings quarterback gathers equipment from the garage and arranges it neatly on the long, curved pavement leading from his parents' house to the sidewalk. Resting on a wooden chair is his laptop, connected by videoconference to his longtime personal trainer, Chad Cook, who is 450 miles away in Atlanta. This is a glimpse into what constitutes the 2020 NFL offseason.
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"I like my privacy, so being out in the driveway, on display for the whole neighborhood to see is probably less than ideal. But desperate times call for desperate measures," Cousins said with a smile during a recent ESPN interview. "If it means a guy drives by in a truck and yells, 'Go Pack, go!' at me while we're working out, then so be it."
The manicured lawns of this Orlando, Florida, suburb serve as a backdrop to Cousins' regimen and his attempt at normalcy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
It's not a "home gym" by any means, Cousins concedes, but he insists he has everything he needs: a medicine ball, jump-rope, foam rollers, free weights and a football. And, the most essential tool of all: the laptop he uses to connect with Cook.
"[Every car will] see me doing my shuffles across the driveway, or my cariocas, or doing the jump-rope or different plank exercises, core work, medicine ball, lunges -- whatever it may be. And different people honk or wave, so it's kind of fun," said Cousins, who signed a two-year, $66 million extension with the Vikings in March.
Spotty Wi-Fi is a challenge when working out outdoors, but sheltering in place with his parents was by design: The nine-year veteran and his wife, Julie, now have plenty of reinforcements when it comes to taking care of their sons, Cooper, 2½, and Turner, 1.
"I kind of laugh when I talk about having two like I have 10," Cousins joked, "because compared to other guys in the league who have three, four, five, six kids, having two is not a big deal."
Dealing with this adversity has reaffirmed his commitment to his craft. It also taught him that the Public Broadcasting Service can be a football player's, as well as a father's, best friend: "'Daniel Tiger['s Neighborhood]' on PBS can be a lifesaver."
'Strict training mode' means living with trainers
The plan was to be in Nashville, Tennessee, for a month, but Demario Davis' offseason residence has become his permanent dwelling during the pandemic. His 7,500-square-foot house, purchased last offseason, is a saving grace of sorts, equipped with enough room for his wife, Tamela, and their four children under the age of 6.
And his two personal trainers.
Davis' trainers, Jose Tienda and Piankhi Gibson, typically work with him in two-to-three-week "strict training mode" spurts before heading back to their respective homes. They'll return to Nashville soon for another extended stay with Davis.
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As the 31-year-old enters his ninth NFL season -- and the final year of his contract -- he is determined not to lose ground to a youngster who might be aiming for his spot.
Mid-morning acupuncture and soft tissue work with Tienda give way to afternoon aqua training in a neighbor's pool with Gibson. Davis pauses for dinner and to help put the kids to bed. But before long, he's headed back for more body work. He crawls into bed around 12:30 or 1 a.m. on those rigorous training days.
With Louisiana still reeling from 35,316 confirmed COVID-19 cases (and 2,485 reported deaths) as of Thursday, Davis wasn't surprised Saints coach Sean Payton -- who was the first known NFL figure to test positive for the coronavirus -- announced there would not be virtual workouts, meetings or workout sessions at the team facility.
"The virtual offseason really wouldn't have fit the flow of how we operate down there," the veteran linebacker said of the Saints, who have one of the oldest rosters in the NFL. "We don't have a young team. ... He knew with our experience level, the strong leaders we have at each position, that we'd get it done as far as training."
While Davis is eager to play, he said he won't waste time guessing when the season will start.
"The pandemic don't know nothing about football season. The virus ain't just like, 'Oh, football season's coming, let me chill out,'" he said with a laugh. "So I'm going to train and stay in shape because that's just a philosophy of mine -- you stay ready at all times. But I think it's a discredit to people who are on the front lines working, and the people who are being affected by it, when we're just thinking about how fast we can get back to sports."
'Grubby little gym' becomes labor of love
The police officers approached without warning.
Jamie Gillan had been punting on a turf field almost an hour away from his Tremont, Ohio, residence, completely unaware of the state's shelter-in-place orders. With nonessential businesses closed, the Browns punter -- nicknamed "The Scottish Hammer" -- had used local fields to practice his kicking drills. That is, until he was no longer allowed.
"[The officers] were like, 'Yeah man, we want to let you punt. We love the Browns and everything, but it's just the rules,'" the Scotland-born special-teamer explained in his thick brogue.
Faced with the prospect of quarantining alone, Gillan chose to go be with family.
He made trips to the liquor store and the supermarket -- packing his truck with several bottles of bourbon for his father, "120 eggs and 16 racks of bacon" -- and then he and his German shepherd named Bear traveled seven hours to southern Maryland to stay with his parents and 19-year-old sister.
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The rural area around his parents' house affords him space to practice his booming kicks, and there's a "massive" field, owned by a friend, which Gillan uses, too. But the self-described "workout junkie" had to get creative with strength training. Soon his parents' garage became his gym.
Unable to buy equipment online because of limited inventory and "skyrocketing" prices, Gillan purchased old equipment from a local high school: barbells, bumper plates, 40-, 80- and 100-pound dumbbells and bands. He purchased rubber matting from a local tractor store.
He searched Facebook Marketplace for a squat rack, but he and his father, Colin, who is a former rugby player and member of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, came up with a better solution -- they would construct their own.
"We came back [from Lowe's], cracked open some beers and just started building it," Gillan said with a chuckle. Even with old, rusty weights, his "grubby little gym" was everything he needed.
Gillan said his resourcefulness was forged during four years playing at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a historically black university. During offseasons when he and his teammates didn't have access to the gym, their surroundings became their workout room. They bench-pressed and squatted logs, they did dips and pullups on metal bars at local parks, and Gillan hopped fences to punt on neighboring fields when access to their football field was prohibited.
"One thing I notice about a lot of historically black colleges is they're very underfunded," Gillan said, stressing that he and other student-athletes had to be creative. "Maybe it got me prepared for this weird period."
State-of-the-art amenities ease the transition
Blake Martinez's father, Marc, had a master plan: purchase a plot of land 15 minutes from the family home in Tucson, Arizona, and build a facility for his son to train and live. It didn't take long for the idea to become Martinez's reality.
The linebacker thanks his father every day for his ingenuity, as well as his construction company.
The 18,000-square-foot facility -- conceptualized and built last year -- "has everything a football player would need," said Martinez, a 2016 fourth-round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers who signed a three-year, $30 million free-agent contract with the Giants in March.
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The warehouse-looking steel structure contains "a miniature version of a college weight room," a full-length basketball court, a 30-by-15-yard turf field and an outdoor sand volleyball court. It also doubles as a residence, with three bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen on the second level for him, his wife, Kristy, and their young daughter.
"It kept getting better and better as it kept getting built," Martinez said. He works out for two hours in person with his longtime trainer, Glenn Howell, four times a week.
But familiarity with his new franchise is a luxury Martinez, 26, doesn't have.
With New York and New Jersey being one of the epicenters of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, Martinez doesn't know when he'll be able to travel to the facility or even meet members of the Giants organization for the first time.
"It's not like I've been on the team for a while and I know the guys already. So, it's been tough in that aspect, connecting with guys," he said.
Martinez said the pandemic has taught him "I literally have zero excuses not to show up the first day and make sure I'm 100 percent ready to go and help push all of the younger guys to that level if they haven't gotten there yet."
Making use of California canyons
Golden Tate's stunning San Diego views come at a price.
"I've just got to watch out for rattlesnakes," the Giants wide receiver said with a laugh.
When stay-at-home orders were issued in California in mid-March, Tate took advantage of his surroundings -- namely, the canyon his house is built on.
"It's not the best condition to be running in," admitted the 11-year NFL player, who mowed a 7-by-40-yard patch of grass on a steep incline. "But it'll suffice right now. It's better than doing nothing."
Team work makes the dream work! Uncle @tatethagreat & LoLo helping me get my daily catches in. Hope everyone has a great Friday! #FamilyFriday
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Tate, a married father of two small kids, purchased PowerBlock dumbbells and a Jugs machine from which he catches about 100 balls a day. He bikes at home on his Peloton and uses mountain bike trails for his aerobic conditioning. But finding a flat surface for route running has been a challenge. So, too, is self-discipline.
"Over my career, I'm so used to having someone -- an instructor or the guys around me -- push me. And right now, I'm forced to push myself," said Tate, who turns 32 on Aug. 2.
The veteran receiver played through the 2011 NFL lockout, but he said the coronavirus pandemic is unlike anything he has experienced.
"I feel bad for the first-, second-, third- and fourth-round guys who are expected to come in and help the team right away, but they're not having the same opportunity to grow as a player, not getting those reps on the field," he said.
"The offseason is when you have the time to really focus on the fundamentals of the game, the bigger picture and the details of the game. And it looks like right now we're going to show up for camp -- if we show up for camp -- in the middle of the fire of trying to figure out who's going to make the team and trying to get ready for a season. That can be overwhelming."
Strengths trainers turned investigators
With their players scattered across the country, NFL strength and conditioning coaches feel more like part-time sleuths and office managers than in-person trainers.
"We kind of went more into equipment sales and trying to be a liaison to help guys get set up and make sure they're doing the right thing," said Justus Galac, now in his seventh year as the New York Jets' head strength and conditioning coach. "What we found was, guys in the Southern states and more into the Midwest had more access than our guys in the Northeast and West Coast."
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Strength trainers have been tasked with identifying what their players need from a performance standpoint to achieve their fitness goals, regardless of where they live and what resources they have access to. "Even though they might have access to a Steak 'n Shake parking lot or they might be in a third floor of an apartment," said Justin Lovett, the Los Angeles Rams' new head strength and conditioning coach.
Lovett was hired in the midst of California's coronavirus shutdown, but unlike during the 2011 lockout year, when he was on the Denver Broncos' staff, communication is permitted and has proved paramount. But there have been challenges.
"The biggest problem with the rookie class is they don't have the money that some of the older guys do," Galac said. "Not saying millions of dollars, but able to go buy equipment, pay for a trainer to take care of them, buying more food that you may normally not have to buy because the facility provides it. All those little things are adding up for these guys. And the rookies, they have no idea. And it's not their fault."
This time of year is crucial for strength staffs, not only for getting players in shape but also for getting new players up to speed with their programs. "And we've lost that," Galac said.
In fact, the Jets' weight room underwent a face-lift this offseason, complete with a new floor, turf accents and equipment. "And nobody's using it," Galac said. "It's sitting empty. The players haven't even seen it yet."
Finding space and serenity in the countryside
James Washington misses football. And, occasionally, his farm.
The 26-acre property the Steelers wide receiver purchased near his hometown of Abilene, Texas, made it easy for him to comply with social distancing rules. It also afforded him space to work out and keep in shape by way of chores. Washington, who was an agribusiness major with a concentration in farm and ranch management at Oklahoma State, finds the countryside calming. He enjoys the views of passing cars, wheat fields and cattle pastures during his eight- to 12-mile rides on his recently purchased bicycle.
His workout setup, which included an assortment of resistance bands sent by the Steelers and his high school dumbbells retrieved from his parents' house, was complete with the arrival of a Jugs machine, which he kept in the barn and carried to a flat area in one of the pastures.
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However, staving off boredom is a challenge whenever he's in Pittsburgh, a more crowded city with fewer options for keeping busy.
"When I was in Texas, I'd work out, do my virtual [team] meetings and then I'd have to find something to do cause I can't just sit in the house," Washington said last week, after he, JuJu Smith-Schuster and fellow receiver Ryan Switzer worked out in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's home weight room. "Being on the farm really helped me a lot, because there was always something that could have been done."
Washington loves his farm so much his recent stay in Pittsburgh was short-lived. He returned to Texas on Wednesday to celebrate Memorial Day weekend with family and tend to his most recent purchase: cattle. The time away from the Steelers' facility has also given Washington time to think.
"It just doesn't feel right," he said. "Everybody feels like we should be at the facility, doing physical stuff, getting ready to go. ... Even if there's no fans, we still have to go out there and just go 110 percent, even if it would feel weird. Fans help make the game. It's really crazy to think about.
"Just being away from things, you really find out how much you miss the sport. It sucks. That's really what I figured out. That I love football." Source - ESPN
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thesportssoundoff · 5 years ago
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A Dumb Draft Exercise
It's a Friday night and we're all locked in so I decided to do something a touch different. I took the current NFL draft order and then looked up the last five NFL drafts (2015-2019) to see who was picked at spots. Using the teams as they stand after one long (and it feels it) week of free agency, I picked ONE player selected at that set position to try and do a retro draft. Each team picked ONE player picked over the last five years at that specific spot (so at 1 overall, you could only draft 1st overall). How different would your favorite team look? Welll.....
1. Cincinnati- QB Kyler Murray (2019)
The first round picks of the past five years consist of four QBs (Jameis Winston, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield and Murray) alongside premiere edge rusher Myles Garrett. As is often the case with top pick QBs tasked with saving bad franchises, each becomes less and less attractive as the years go by and they hit the ceiling of "damn good but not quite franchise saver" over and over. I went with Murray because while I think Goff is vastly underrated by most fans, Murray's got the ability and personality to drastically change an organization that feels like it's been hankering for a chance over the past five years. Murray was one of the NFL's brightest stars last year and figures to only improve, especially if you put him under the watchful gaze of an offensive guru (of sorts) in Zac Taylor.
2. Washington- DE Nick Bosa (2019)
Was REALLY torn with Carson Wentz and Nick Bosa for the Redskins. There's a lot of dead-ish weight here with Mitch Trubisky and Marcus Mariota and while Saquon may be the best player in theory, no team needs to take a running back in the top 5 (or in the first round at all). Assuming the Redskins are truly comfortable with Dwayne Haskins then taking Nick Bosa and pairing him up in the front four along with the likes of Montez Sweat, Matt Ionidis and Daron Payne would probably be a formidable ass crew.  Basically the Chase Young strategy.
3. Detroit- DE Joey Bosa (2016)
How about the Bosa Bros going back to back! One would assume tht if the Lions wanted a QB, they're GOING to have their pick of the proverbial litter on the back end. After all after Cincy, they'll have Tua, Herbert and Love at their disposal if taking a QB so amuses them. Instead operating under the belief that the Lions feel comfortable with Stafford for MAYBE one more year, it leaves us to choose from Joey Bosa, Solomon Thomas and Dante Fowler. Bosa is likely on his way to a multiple pro bowl career while Thomas may just grade out as average and Fowler is on his third team now. Easy choice if ya ask me.
4. NY Giants- WR Amari Cooper (2015)
The Giants would be picking from a variety of offensive players; two of which are current Dallas Cowboys. You have Amari Cooper, Zeke Elliott, Leonard Fournette on offense and then Denzel Ward at cornerback as pretty much your only other option. Give me Amari Cooper as he'd immediately step in and make an offense consisting of Daniel Jones, Barkley, Golden Tate and a two tight end threat of Evan Engram and Kaden Smith a pretty damn formidable one.
5. Miami- OLB Bradley Chubb (2018)
This WOULD be easy in theory. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey would've been a FINE choice here but the Dolphins have Xavien Howard and Byron Jones on the back end. With Jalen Ramsey out of the picture, you have an interesting linebacker in Devin White, a superb guard in Brandon Scherff and my selection Bradley Chubb. With so much locked in on the defense, Chubb (if healthy) steps in as an immediate premiere pass rusher. Barely edges out Brandon Scherff. BARELY.
6. LA Chargers- OG Quinton Nelson (2018)
Man! The Chargers would have their glut of talent to choose from if they so desired. Want an elite strong safety? Jamal Adams was picked 6th in 2018. Want a QB to groom and develop? Daniel Jones went here in 2019. If you want a flexible havoc inducing DL piece? Leonard Williams in 2015 went 6th overall. Ronnie Stanley is a pretty damn good tackle as well.  Quinton Nelson is a top 3 guard in just two seasons and figures to continue to improve. It's not a premiere position for a lot of people but Nelson bucks the trend.
7. Carolina- QB Josh Allen (2018)
Funny bit? We have two Josh Allens here as Josh Allen from Wyoming and Josh Allen from Kentucky both went 7th overall. Both would be tremendous picks given the Panthers needs (an elite edge or a QB). Deforest Buckner finally hit on his potential and got paid paid for it as well, fitting in interestingly here as a potential flexible front line piece. The Panthers just paid Teddy Bridgewater relatively big time money but if you have the chance to take a really athletic strong armed QB who has shown strides in two seasons, you should do it. Imagine Allen throwing it to the likes of DJ Moore and Christian McCaffery.
8. Arizona- RB Christian McCaffery (2017)
THIS one was hard given the lack of obvious options. Do you need more receiving options? If so TE TJ Hockenson was picked 8th. Christian McCaffery is probably the best player at this spot but again, running backs and top 10s and etc etc etc. Nuke Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk are on paper a superb trio of WRs and you also have Kenyan Drake at RB. Vic Beasley is a good pass rusher who has sort of lost his way as a player (hence the one year prove it deal). Give me McCaffery I guess. I think he'd do wonders in Kingbsury's offense and I suppose you can make he and Drake work together. That's why head coaches get paid.
9. Jacksonville- OT Mike McGlinchey (2018)
There's not a lot of obvious fits for a tanking team like the Jaguars. DT Ed Oliver would be intriguing but I have no idea how he fits in with the Jaguars defense. The likes of Leonard Floyd (recently released), Ereck Flowers (failed tackle turned kinda failed guard), John Ross (oft injured speedster) are other options. Lastly there's Mike McGlinchey who was starting at right tackle for the Super Bowl 49ers. The Jaguars have spent picks at both tackle spots but McGlinchey is better.
10. Cleveland- QB Patrick Mahomes (2017)
Fuck. Would the Browns even with Baker Mayfield flirt with taking Patrick Mahomes? Who cares. Mayfield can be traded. If you have the chance to grab the best QB in the NFL, you do it. Easy peasy.
11. NY Jets- CB Marshon Lattimore (2016)
This one came down to Lattimore or Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick can do so much across a secondary and his swiss army knife toolset was amplified in a Pittsburgh secondary that left to his devices where he could roam free and fuck shit up. On the other hand, Marshon Lattimore represents one of the NFL's rare commodities; a star shutdown cornerback. Plus with Marcus Maye and Jamal Adams tie up the safety spots pretty well.
12. Las Vegas- QB Deshaun Watson (2017)
The Raiders are openly flirtatious with moving on from Derek Carr. Deshaun Watson would step in and be a massive upgrade. There's also not much here either given how 90% of the players are DL and the Raiders have plenty of names and faces they like there. Maxx Crosby, Maliek Collins, John Hankins and Clelin Ferrell to name a few.
13. San Francisco f/IND- OG Laremy Tunsil (2016)
Take the 49ers OL with Joe Staley, Mike McGlinchey and Laken Tomlinson and then slide in Laremy Tunsil at RG. That's an absurd OL. There also weren't many options to really delve into either depending on how you feel about Da'Ron Payne and Vita Vea.
14. Tampa Bay- DE Marcus Davenport (2018)
Pick 14 over the past five years is a bit of a dry spell unfortunately. The best player on the list is DeVante Parker and the Bucs clearly have a collection of damn good WRs. Shaq Barrett and JPP are in place for 2020 but could the Bucs use Davenport as a third rusher and move him inside on pass rush downs. Not a lot of good ideas here unfortunately.
15. Denver- RB Melvin Gordon (2015)
Easy peasy! I mean Denver just signed him! That's a bit of a cheapie but let's keep with it. Gordon fitshere (and nobody else does).
16. Atlanta- LB Tremaine Edmunds (2018)
Edmunds with Deion Jones? Sign me up! The only other option that makes sense here is Marlon Humphrey at corner which would be an equally fine pick.
17. Dallas- S Derwin James (2018)
Given that Arik Armstead and John Allen would be 3-technique types in this defense, it makes sense we would ONCE again look at the safety market! Yay! The Cowboys scheme in 2018 apparently didn't like Derwin James as much as the media thought they did but this is a brand new scheme and a new way to play. Derwin James would edge out Keanu Neal (who BTW when healthy is an amazing safety) by virtue of being more of the chess piece the Cowboys need.
18. Miami f/PIT- C Ryan Kelly (2017)
Again there's a glut of corners here but the Dolphins have their fair share. As such, turn your attention over to a glut of centers---who they also just signed a guy for. Ryan Kelly is a pro bowl center though and you can make exceptions for that.
19. Las Vegas f/CHI- LB Leighton Vander-Esch (2018)
One of the better linebackers in the NFL prior to his neck injury, LVE was a friggin' elite athlete who could still redefine what NFL linebackers look like. His defensive coordinator is there as well (as the DL coach) and I bet Gruden would love his leadership and his ability as an off ball linebacker. This one is easy enough.
20. Jacksonville f/LAR- TE Noah Fant (2019)
The Jaguars are in the midst of a rebuild of sorts but unfortunately there's no immediate building block pieces at 20. It came down to Frank Ragnow (a versatile OL with upside) or Noah Fant and I opted for tight end Noah Fant since Minshew could use a reliable safety blanket. Assuming Fant can control his drops of course.
21. Philadelphia- WR Will Fuller (2016)
The Eagles could REALLY use some targets for Carson Wentz. Last year in clutch games they were relying on JJ Arceaga-Whiteside and Boston Scott for targets outside of their tight ends. Wouldn't have a problem going with FS Darnell Savage either who also went at 21.
22. Minnesota f/BUF- DE Bud Dupree (2015)
I don't know if the Vikings NEED an edge but even if they don't, there's really no options here. Josh Doctson was a flop in Washington, Charles Harris was a flop in Miami, Rashaan Evans plays the same spot as their glut of damn good linebackers and Andre Dillard is an unproven tackle for Philly to this point. Hit or miss here.
23. New England- Isaiah Wynn (2018)
I mean they drafted him here. Easy enough. Although would they take TE Evan Engram all things being equal?
24. New Orleans- WR DJ Moore (2018)
The Saints did grab Emmanuel Sanders but DJ Moore, Sanders and Michael Thomas is a whole different world of WR depth. There's also pretty much nobody else here worthy of snagging either.
25. Minnesota- WR Marquise Brown (2019)
HOLLYWOOD! The Vikings just traded away Stefon Diggs and could use an infusion of playmaker at their WR spot to help assist their TE room, Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen. Marquise Brown would give Kirk Cousins a souped up version of Jamison Crowder; a WR-3 he relied heavily on in Washington.
26. Miami f/HOU- DE Montez Sweat (2019)
So the Dolphins have signed a lot of DE and we also gave them Bradley Chubb earlier BUT Montez Sweat is going to terrorize the NFL for the next 5-10 years and so he and Chubb combined? That's big time pass rush. Also, again, not much to really select from here either.
27. Seattle- CB Byron Jones (2015)
If you drew up a make and model for a Seahawks DB? It looks like Byron Jones. Byron just got paid big time money by Miami It's Byron vs Tre White and Byron fits the mold a bit better. Could also see Seattle liking Kenny Clark. Lots of good defensive players at 27.
28. Baltimore- OG Laken Tomlinson (2015)
Let Tomlinson battle it out with the interior OL the Ravens have currently. There's really not much here, it's either Tomlinson or DT Jerry Tillery.
29. Tennessee- TE David Njoku (2017)
Funny story, the 2016 1st round pick here was forfeited via deflategate. With just four names to choose from (and not really much to talk about either way), the Titans take David Njoku. Njoku has struggled with his role in Cleveland and the Titans do have some solid tight ends already in place but Njoku would be a pretty nice flier. Most of the guys here at 29 are just not good unless you're a Taven Bryan truther.
30. Green Bay- LB TJ Watt (2017)
And Cowboys fans across the globe shudder in horror. Yes, the Packers have two really good DEs in the Smith brothers. There's nobody else here who comes remotely close to the pure value TJ Watt has. Let him rush from the left side and rack up the sacks. You can figure it out somehow I figure. Let Preston Smith play 3-tech or something!
31. San Francisco- LB Reuben Foster (2017)
On one hand, the less said about Foster the better. On the other, there's really nobody else here who would come close. Unless you're a Germaine Ifedi fan?
32. Kansas City- DT Malcolm Brown (2015)
For any other team in any other league, this is Lamar Jackson. The Chiefs are really set at QB for the next 10-15 years so we'll have to take a pass. Instead Malcolm Brown is pretty much the only other really good value play. Big thumpy 1-tech/nose tackles are usually found later on in the draft but Brown is a good one and the Chiefs truthfully don't need much else either.
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bongaboi · 5 years ago
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Texas: 2019 Alamo Bowl Champions
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AUSTIN — Sam Ehlinger didn’t say those cursed words. Tom Herman didn’t mock an opposing player. Bevo didn’t attempt to maim another mascot.
This time, Texas took its bowl win in stride.
The Longhorns (8-5) reveled on New Year’s Eve, of course, after a stunning 38-10 demolition of 11th-ranked Utah (11-3) in the Alamo Bowl. But their words and reactions were more measured Tuesday night at an Alamodome brimming with burnt-orange gear.
“I think it taught a lot of the young guys that when you play together, you play mistake-free, you have fun, and then you lock in … that our talent can take us pretty far,” Ehlinger said Tuesday night. “Then once you add in mistake-free football, watch out.”
The junior quarterback added, with a self-aware smirk: “And so I think that it’s a great — I don’t know how to word this — but I’m not going to do this again. I’ll leave it at that.”
Is the way Texas won on the final day of 2019 the blueprint for the future? That’s yet to be determined with new offensive (Mike Yurcich) and defensive (Chris Ash) coordinators joining the staff and more changes likely to come.
Still, there’s reason to believe Texas won’t squander its bowl momentum — real or imagined — this time. It won’t have to deal with the same senior exodus, though losing offensive studs Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay and the respected voice and presence of defensive end Malcolm Roach will require an adjustment.
Texas will be flush with talent again in 2020, as it is every year. The material is always there on the Forty Acres, waiting to be shaped into a contender. But Herman admitted the coaches, himself included, failed in their duty to grow and develop these players in 2019, the main point cited in his staff shakeup.
Against Utah, many of those highly recruited players looked ready to move from “prospect” to “contributor.”
“You look at their guys, man for man, talent-wise,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said, “that’s got to be one of the best, if not the best, 7-5 — now 8-5 — teams in the country.”
Other Longhorns, like Alamo Bowl defensive MVP Joseph Ossai, seem poised to leap from “talented but inconsistent” to “certified game-changer.”
The sophomore linebacker could be a critical piece for Ash as a versatile pass-rushing menace who can play in the more traditional spot or attack off the edge. He was nigh unstoppable against Utah, swimming through and bowling over defenders to drag down quarterback Tyler Huntley three times to go with another three tackles for loss.
The defensive dominance of Ossai and his teammates was a welcome palette cleanser for Texas. The best news for Herman and Ash: 12 of the 14 players who recorded multiple tackles will return in 2020, barring any potential transfers. And that doesn’t include freshman corner Chris Adimora, who came up big with a first-down saving tackle and a breakup of a potential touchdown pass on Utah’s final first-half drive.
“What was going on out there was just us having fun, and us having confidence in the defense, the defensive scheme,” Ossai said. “We bought in 100 percent and went out there and executed. I think that was the key thing tonight, executing. We’ve done a poor job — I myself have done a poor job in the past of executing, and today I feel like we executed at a high level and the result was pleasing.”
Ehlinger never has operated at the college level without center Zach Shackelford, Duvernay and Johnson.
That means freshman slot receiver Jake Smith and 6-foot-4 sophomore Brennan Eagles will be thrust into more prominent roles, and that 6-6 converted tight end Malcolm Epps will need to grow more comfortable as a wideout. Junior tight end Cade Brewer, if healthy, could become Ehlinger’s new safety valve, and 6-2 freshman wideout Marcus Washington will have a chance to fight for more reps.
Ehlinger, now with three bowl wins and 33 starts under his belt, will have to nurture all of those players and aid in their growth. A backfield stocked with sophomore Keaontay Ingram, freshman Roschon Johnson and ballyhooed 2020 signee Bijan Robinson should alleviate some of the pressure, though the buck will stop with Ehlinger.
Texas again will have its mettle tested early with a Sept. 12 trip to Baton Rouge. Taking down possible defending national champion LSU in Week 2 would put not just the Big 12, but the entire country on notice.
That’s looking too deep into the future, though. Herman and his new coordinators have their work cut out for them, but what happened on New Year’s Eve in San Antonio at least served as a beacon of hope after a dispiriting regular season.
“Those guys, we had our ups and downs with that crew throughout the season,” Herman said. “But I think not just the four hours tonight, but throughout the bowl preparation, I think the light bulb went on as to what it takes to win at a championship level, and I’m excited to carry over those lessons into the offseason.”
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