Wisconsin faces its first losing season in 23 years and the end of a bowl streak when the Badgers host arch-rival Minnesota on Friday in the annual Big Ten battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. Minnesota (6-5, 4-4) lost to No. 4 Penn State 26-25. Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) lost its fourth straight, 44-25, at Nebraska in a game that was not as close as the score. "Well 1890 is the first time we played this football team coming up and this is what it's all about," Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said of the rivalry. "And you wouldn't want to have it any other way, being able to end the season with one of your biggest rivals. I know our guys will be ready to go, ready to play." Wisconsin has 22 consecutive winning seasons since going 5-7 under Barry Alvarez in 2001, the longest active streak among Power 4 teams. The Badgers also have played in a bowl game in each of the last 22 seasons, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and third-longest in FBS. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell is more concerned with the rivalry game than the winning season and bowl streaks. "I'm not downplaying it, I'm not saying it's not important, I'm not saying it's another thing that's on our plate," Fickell said Monday. "But when it gets down to this last week, it's about one thing, it's about the rivalry. It's about preparing to play in the most important game of the year." The Gophers have dropped their last two games after winning four in a row. Minnesota averages 26.6 points per game, while allowing 18.5, 15th-best in the country. Max Brosmer has completed 67 percent of his passes for 221 per game with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. Daniel Jackson is the top target with 69 catches for 802 yards and three scores, and Darius Taylor is the top rusher with 730 yards at 4.8 per carry with nine touchdowns. One week after leading Oregon after three quarters, the Wisconsin defense was shredded for 473 yards and five touchdowns by Nebraska. Braedyn Locke, who took over at quarterback when Tyler Van Dyke suffered an early season-ending knee injury, has thrown at least one interception in eight consecutive games. Locke has completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 180.6 yards per game, with 12 touchdowns and 10 picks. Tawee Walker is the leading rusher with 828 yards at 4.7 per carry with 10 touchdowns. He has failed to reach 60 yards in three of the last four games. Former Wisconsin and NFL standout JJ Watt posted on social media his assessment - and frustration - with the Badgers after the Nebraska game. "Losing happens, it's part of the game. Hearing announcers talk about how much tougher and more physical Nebraska & Iowa are while getting blown out ... that's the issue," Watt wrote on X. "We are Wisconsin. Physicality, running game, great O-Line and great defense. That is our identity." Wisconsin defeated the Gophers 28-14 last after Minnesota had won the previous two meetings. The Badgers have won 7 of the last 10 and lead the storied series 63-62-8. --Field Level MediaSchneider National stock hits all-time high at $32.25
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Rosen Law Firm Encourages Quanterix Corporation Investors to Inquire About Securities Class Action Investigation - QTRXVasko's 4 TDs power Coastal Carolina past Georgia State 48-27 to become bowl eligibleIt’s been a long road back to the highest levels of motorsport for Canadian driver Robert Wickens. Six years after he was paralyzed in a violent wreck, Wickens will again be behind the wheel against some of the best drivers in North America. Wickens, from Guelph, Ont., was named the newest driver for DXDT Racing earlier this week, moving the 35-year-old up to IMSA GTD competition for 2025, the highest class on the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series. His promotion was made possible by a new hand control braking system created by Bosch Electronics, with help from GM Motorsports and Corvette Racing/Pratt Miller. “It’s not going to be easy but I wanted to get to the highest levels of motorsport again because, frankly, that’s where I was when I was injured,” said Wickens, who crashed at Pocono Raceway in 2018 during IndyCar’s ABC Supply 500. “But not only that, I want to prove to myself and other generations of people with disabilities that you can really do anything. “Maybe you’re having a hard time getting back to your place of work after a life-altering accident and — whatever your discipline, it doesn’t even have to be athletics — but I know it’s possible as long as you align yourself with a strong support system.” For Wickens, that’s been his wife Karli Wickens, his family and, in his professional life, organizations like Bosch and GM. Wickens’s crash left him with a thoracic spinal fracture, a neck fracture, tibia and fibula fractures to both legs, fractures in both hands, a fractured right forearm, a fractured elbow, four fractured ribs, a pulmonary contusion, and an indeterminate spinal injury that combined to make him a paraplegic. As he has slowly recovered some movement in his legs, Wickens has eased back into motor racing. He drove the parade lap of the 2019 Honda Indy Toronto, competed in the IndyCar iRacing Challenge during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and then in January 2022 it was announced he would drive in the Michelin Pilot Challenge for Bryan Herta Autosport. He and co-driver Mark Wilkins won twice in the Michelin Pilot Challenge’s TCR category with three podiums in 2022. In 2023 the pairing didn’t win, but they reached the podium seven times to earn the TCR championship. All of Wickens’s post-accident cars have been fitted with hand controls. Those conventional systems rely on paddles around the steering wheel that activate pneumatics that then press the foot pedals. Hand controls like that are acceptable for regular road vehicles and even lower levels of motorsports but in the highest classes, like IMSA GTD where cars top out at more than 280 kilometres, the lag between the driver toggling the paddle and the car responding is unacceptably slow. That’s where the Bosch electronic system comes in, with the controls linked directly to the car’s braking system, removing the pneumatics as an intermediary. “When you hit the brakes to slow the car down for each corner that was always a big challenge for me where (with) the Bosch electronic system, the latency is milliseconds not tenths of a second,” said Wickens. “It’s basically as accurate as I would be if I was an able-bodied driver wanting to apply the brake. “Honestly, it’s just better in every facet imaginable. It’s just been a true blessing.” Advances in physical rehabilitation from spinal cord injuries as well as the ongoing development of vehicle technology has made Wickens’s return to competitive motorsport possible. “I’m very fortunate in the timing of my paralysis and my career,” Wickens said Wednesday from Tampa, Fla. “If this was even a decade ago we’d be having a very different conversation today.” The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship has four classes of vehicles: two sports prototype categories and two grand tourer classes. GTD is considered the highest of the four classes because each team must have at least a silver or bronze driver and more than one platinum-rated driver on a team is prohibited. “I want to win,” said Wickens. “I think the big thing for me on this journey back was I wanted to race again because I truly felt like I could still win. “I want to raise awareness for spinal cord injury and disability, not by just being a participant, but by being the guy. I want to win races, fight for podiums, win championships, every time I’m sitting in the car.” Wickens said he won’t just be a role model for people living with paralysis or other mobility disabilities, but the technology his car will employ in 2025 will likely become commercially available for use in road vehicles. “Motorsports and the automotive racing industry were founded to be a proving ground for everyday automotive vehicles,” he said. “From there you make road cars and road safety better. “Hopefully we can provide the technology and have regularly available components that can make any race car accessible for anyone that needs hand controls or any other form of disability.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. Follow jchidleyhill.bsky.social on Bluesky.
United States President-elect Donald Trump is bringing Silicon Valley’s influence to the forefront of his administration, by appointing tech Titans for prominent positions. Recently, Trump announced the appointment of a managing partner at Venture Capital (VC) firm Andreessen, Scott Kupor, for the Office of Personnel Management. This key agency oversees recruitment and provides resources for federal employees. Speaking on his appointment, Trump said, Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025 ) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts. Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here. Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and i nvest in Africa’s finest startups here . “Scott will bring much needed reform to our federal workforce”. Scott Kupor is an investing partner focused on growth-stage companies building in the bio and healthcare industries. He manages the firm’s investor relations team, and is responsible for the firm’s growth initiatives. He was the first employee at Andreessen Horowitz and managed the firm’s growth from $300 million in AUM to more than $40 billion. Prior to joining the firm, Scott worked as vice president and general manager of software-as-a-service at Hewlett Packard. Before that, he held numerous executive management positions at Opsware, including senior vice president of global field operations, vice president of financial planning and vice president of corporate development. In another high-profile appointment, Trump named Indian-American internet entrepreneur, Sririam Krishnan, as senior policy advisor for artificial intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Krishnan, a former general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, has an extensive tech background with roles at companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Twitter, Snap, and Yahoo. He also has a close working relationship with Musk, having temporarily managed Musk’s social media platform, X, following its acquisition in 2022. Trump’s administration has also seen the appointment of seasoned technology expert and former Uber executive Emil Michael, as undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Trump highlighted Michael’s background in his announcement, stating, “Emil has lived the American Dream by building several successful Tech companies. He will ensure that our Military has the most technologically sophisticated weapons in the World, while saving A LOT of money for our Taxpayers.” Tech industry leaders have praised Trump’s appointments, with former Meta executive David Marcus calling them “remarkable picks” and Box CEO Aaron Levie describing them as “very strong.” In a twist of event during which several tech leaders often clashed with Trump, many of these Silicon Valley executives have now shown their support for the president-elect. Major tech leaders which include Meta, and OpenAl’s Sam Altman, have donated $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural committee, and many Silicon Valley leaders have made visits to His residence in Palm Beach, Florida, in recent weeks. The appointment of tech leaders to key positions in Trump’s administration signals a strong shift toward incorporating Silicon Valley’s influence into government operations. By selecting prominent figures from major tech companies, Trump is emphasizing a more business-oriented and innovation-driven approach to governance. These appointments suggest that the administration will prioritize government efficiency, cutting regulations, and leveraging technology to improve federal operations. Additionally, his close ties with Billionaire Tech Entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has become one of his closest advisors, could lead to stronger collaboration between the government and tech giants, potentially reshaping policies related to Al, cryptocurrency, and other emerging technologies. These appointments also reflect a more business-friendly environment, which could attract further support from the tech industry, shifting the administration’s stance from its earlier, more adversarial approach. Overall, the selection of Silicon Valley executive positions m Trump’s administration to drive tech-driven reforms, streamline government processes, and foster closer connections between the private sector and public policy.Troy scores 21 points in less than 2 minutes in the fourth quarter to beat Southern Miss 52-20Fears for Gaza hospitals as fuel and aid run low
Six more activists, including two Canadian citizens, based overseas are wanted on bounties set at 1 million Hong Kong dollars, Hong Kong police announced on Tuesday. The six activists are wanted for national security offenses, including secession, subversion, and collusion with foreign forces. The Hong Kong government's continued crackdown on political dissent following the 2019 anti-government, pro-democracy protests have included jailing outspoken activists while others fled abroad. Dad makes friend dig own grave and kill himself after raping his daughter, six Terry Bradshaw given FOX NFL retirement view after Michael Strahan interruption This fresh round of warrants is part of the Hong Kong government's ongoing efforts to target and silence vocal critics based overseas, critics say. Those arrested include Tony Chung, the former leader of the now-defunct pro-independence group Studentlocalism. Activists like Carmen Lau from the UK, a former district councilor and current activist with the Hong Kong Democracy Council, and Chloe Cheung, an activist with the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong, have had warrants issued against them. Previously, the government had issued two warrants and bounties for well-known activists like Ted Hui and Nathan Law, both former lawmakers. With Tuesday's arrest warrants, the total number of wanted activists climbs to 19. "The Hong Kong government's latest round of arrest warrants and bounties against six Hong Kong activists is a cowardly act of intimidation that aims to silence Hong Kong people," Maya Wang, associate China director at Human Rights Watch, told The Associated Press. The six arrest warrants live in the UK and Canada and the group includes two Canadian citizens, Wang said. "We call on the U.K. and Canadian governments to act immediately to push back against the Hong Kong government's attempts to threaten Hong Kongers living in their countries," she said. Others on the list include Chung Kim-wah, a former senior member of the independent polling organization Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, Joseph Tay, co-founder of Canada-based NGO HongKonger Station, and YouTuber Victor Ho. On Tuesday, the government also issued orders to cancel the passports of seven "absconders," which includes former lawmakers Hui and Dennis Kwok. They are wanted under Hong Kong's domestic national security law, Article 23. This law prohibits these "absconders" from dealing with funds in Hong Kong as well as activities related to joint ventures and property, AP reported.Though the Carolina Panthers don't play the Dallas Cowboys until Sunday, they have already earned one notable achievement this week. For the first time in exactly two years , the Panthers are favored to win an NFL game. That's right: the Panthers, who are 2.5-point favorites against Dallas, have previously been underdogs in every single one of their past 33 matchups. The last time they were favored was Week 15 of the 2022 season, when they played the Pittsburgh Steelers and promptly lost 24-16. With the Cowboys decimated by injuries while the Panthers have been markedly more competitive in recent weeks, this seems a good time for that streak to end. Carolina has taken one-possession losses in each of its past three contests , all to playoff-level opponents. Quarterback Bryce Young, the top overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has finally begun to show signs of living up to his hype while Chuba Hubbard has been a revelation in the backfield this season. For the first time in several seasons, it seems as if there may be hope for the future in Carolina. If the Panthers win and cover the spread on Sunday, it will be the first time they've done so as favorites since September of 2021 against the Houston Texans . The Panthers won that Week 3 matchup 24-9, improving them to 3-0 on the season. That may have been the last time they were considered a competitive franchise. Attention regarding football in North Carolina this week is mostly centered around legendary coach Bill Belichick's surprising move to Chapel Hill. But it could be the Panthers who are slowly climbing out of the darkness.HARRY REDKNAPP has ruled himself out of a shock return to football with Frank Lampard at Coventry City. The former gaffer, 77, managed some of the country’s top teams following a glittering playing career. Advertisement 2 Harry Redknapp has ruled out a return to football at Coventry City Credit: Rex 2 Nephew Frank Lampard oversaw a 1-1 draw against Cardiff in his first game as manager Credit: PA Redknapp took charge of sides including Tottenham, West Ham and Southampton. But his last role in the dugout came in 2017 with Birmingham. Redknapp’s legacy continues with son Jamie, who played for clubs like Liverpool and Spurs before heading into punditry. While nephew Lampard is now a boss after winning three titles and a Champions League at Chelsea . Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Fan brawl Moment huge brawl breaks out in West Ham vs Arsenal with punches thrown The former England midfielder, who has twice managed his old side as well as Derby and Everton, has now landed a new role at Coventry. Lampard’s first match after replacing Mark Robins came in a 2-2 draw against Cardiff on Saturday. And the tactician is hopeful of rebuilding his managerial career after picking up just one win during his last interim spell at Stamford Bridge. However, Redknapp reckons there’s one thing Lampard must do if he is to succeed in the Championship. Advertisement Most read in Football Gossip MONEY TALKS Ex-Rangers star yielding 'several concrete enquiries' from Premier League clubs IN THE HAT Full list of teams in Scottish Cup fourth round draw as Prem big guns enter Exclusive SOLD FIRM Scott Brown's stunning new £2m mansion used to belong to Rangers supremo FAB FINISH Rangers loan flop scores stunner as he and unsung Scotland star take down Barca FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS The gaffer has already brought long-time assistants Joe Edwards and Chris Jones with him to Coventry. But uncle Harry reckons Lampard also needs to hire a “wise old head” for added experience. Inside Frank Lampard's superstitious routine as new Coventry boss' success could depend on Chelsea legend's DOG Frank Lampard's managerial career stats Derby, May 2018-July 2019: P57 W24 D17 L16 Chelsea, July 2019-Jan 2021: P84 W44 D17 L23 Everton, Jan 2022-Jan 2023: P44 W12 D8 L24 Chelsea (interim), Apr 2023-May 2023: P11 W1 D2 L8 Coventry, Nov 2024-Present: P1 W0 D1 L0 However, it won’t be Redknapp himself, who has categorically ruled out taking a role at the club. Advertisement He told SunSport: “If I could offer one piece of advice to Frank Lampard on his return to management with Coventry it would be to get a wise, old head on his staff. “Not me, I’ve had it, but someone that is a little bit more experienced than him, that he can talk to. “When I went to Portsmouth as manager, I brought in Jim Smith. I was an experienced manager myself by then but he was still brilliant for me to have around. “Frank has got a difficult job on at Coventry and to have an older man on the team to sound out would be a huge benefit. But fair play to Frank for coming back into the game. He has got so much to offer. Advertisement “His football knowledge is immense and his reputation as a player, and the way he carried himself as a player, will hopefully rub off on the squad. “It’s about getting the right job. For example, people are waiting for Wayne Rooney to fail in every job. “But he has gone to Plymouth and although it is a big club, they don’t have money. Read more on the Scottish Sun SIP SIP HOORAY Exact time Coca-Cola truck arrives in Scotland tomorrow for Xmas tour FESTIVE CHEER Scots Xmas market tops London's Winter Wonderland as 'most stunning' in UK “They just about stayed up last season. Wayne’s up against it from the start. Yet I have sat down with him and spoken about football and he has the makings of a terrific manager. Advertisement “You just need the right club at the right time.” Harry Redknapp's managerial career stats Bournemouth, Oct 1983-June 1992: P457 W180 D107 L170 West Ham, Aug 1994-May 2001: P327 W121 D85 L121 Portsmouth, March 2002-Nov 2004: P116 W54 D26 L36 Southampton, Dec 2004-Dec 2005: P49 W13 D21 L15 Portsmouth, Dec 2005-Oct 2008: P128 W54 D29 L45 Tottenham, Oct 2008-June 2012: P198 W98 D50 L50 QPR, Nov 2012-Feb 2015: P105 W36 D26 L43 Jordan, March 2016: P2 W1 D0 L1 Birmingham, April 2017-Sept 2017: P13 W4 D1 L8 Trophies: Associate Members’ Cup (Bournemouth) Uefa Intertoto Cup (West Ham) First Division, FA Cup (Portsmouth) Championship play-offs (QPR)
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