Trae Young, Hawks hoping to win big in Vegas at the NBA Cup semifinalsKATY, Texas, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (the “Company” or “Academy”) (Nasdaq: ASO) announced today that its Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $700 million of its outstanding common stock. This new share repurchase program replaces the preceding share repurchase program, of which $423 million remained at the time this new program was approved, and is effective as of December 4, 2024, for a period of three years. The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors approved the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend with respect to the fiscal quarter ended November 2, 2024, of $0.11 per share of the Company's common stock. The dividend is payable on January 15, 2025, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 18, 2024. About Academy Sports + Outdoors Academy is a leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer in the United States. Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to 298 stores across 19 states. Academy’s mission is to provide “Fun for All” and Academy fulfills this mission with a localized merchandising strategy and value proposition that strongly connects with a broad range of consumers. Academy’s product assortment focuses on key categories of outdoor, apparel, sports & recreation and footwear through both leading national brands and a portfolio of private label brands. For more information, visit www.academy.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding the payment of the dividend, including the timing and amount thereof, share repurchases by the Company, the Company's expectations regarding its future performance, and the Company's future financial condition to support future dividend and share repurchase program growth, and are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions, or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to factors that are set forth in Academy's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement in this press release speaks only as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.Why TJX Companies (TJX) Is Among the Best Retail Stocks to Invest in
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Wireless Display Market: Projected Growth to USD 12.66B by 2031DALLAS — Delta and United became the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning back a significant share of travelers on a tight budget. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines , which recently filed for bankruptcy protection. Some travel-industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate that travelers on a budget will be left with fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on much better financial footing than Spirit, but they too are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic . Most industry experts think Frontier Airlines and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks , and that there is still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. People are also reading... Spirit Airlines lost more than $2.2 billion since the start of 2020. Frontier has not reported a full-year profit since 2019, though that slump might end this year. Allegiant Air’s parent company is still profitable, but less so than before the pandemic. Those kind of numbers led United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby to declare recently that low-cost carriers were using “a fundamentally flawed business model” and customers hate flying on them. Kirby’s touchdown dance might turn out to be premature, but many analysts are wary about the near-term prospects for budget airlines, which charge cheaper fares but more fees than the big airlines. A traveler speaks with a Spirit Airlines agent May 24 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ahead of Memorial Day in Atlanta. Low-cost airlines grew in the last two decades by undercutting big carriers on ticket prices, thanks in large part to lower costs, including hiring younger workers who were paid less than their counterparts at Delta Air Lines, United and American Airlines . Wages soared across the industry in the past two years, however, narrowing that cost advantage. The big airlines rolled out and refined their no-frills, “basic economy” tickets to compete directly with Spirit, Frontier and other budget carriers for the most price-sensitive travelers. The budget airlines became less efficient at using planes and people. As their growth slowed, they wound up with more of both than they needed. In 2019, Spirit planes were in the air an average of 12.3 hours every day. By this summer, the planes spent an average of two more hours each day sitting on the ground, where they don't make money. Spirit's costs per mile jumped 32% between 2019 and 2023. Another issue is that airlines added too many flights. Budget airlines and Southwest Airlines were among the worst offenders, but full-service airlines piled on. To make up for a drop in business travel, the big carriers added more flights on domestic leisure routes. The result: Too many seats on flights into popular tourist destinations such as Florida and Las Vegas, which drove down prices, especially for economy-class tickets. Rows of seats are shown Sept. 26 on a retrofitted Southwest Airlines jet at Love Field in Dallas. Low-cost airlines are responding by following the old adage that if you can't beat them, join them. That means going premium, following the rapidly growing household wealth among upper-income people. The top one-fifth of U.S. households by income added $35 trillion in wealth since 2019 and holds nearly nine times the wealth of the middle fifth, according to the Federal Reserve . Frontier Airlines organized its fares into four bundles in May, with buyers of higher-priced tickets getting extras such as priority boarding, more legroom and checked bags. The airline dropped ticket-change or cancellation fees except for the cheapest bundle. Spirit followed in August with similar changes, blocking middle seats and charging passengers more for the comfort of aisle and window seats. Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie received a $3.8 million retention bonus a week before the Florida-based carrier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Christie will retain the bonus if he remains with the company for another year. The airline's stock has dropped over 90% this year. It has faced challenges including a blocked $3.8 billion merger with JetBlue and failed talks with Frontier. The pandemic disrupted Spirit's operations and travel patterns, reducing its daily aircraft utilization and increasing costs. Demand has shifted to full-service airlines as higher-income travelers vacation more, while inflation impacts lower-income consumers. JetBlue Airways , which began flying more than 20 years ago as a low-cost carrier but with amenities, is digging out from years of steady losses. Under new CEO Joanna Geraghty, the first woman to lead a major U.S. airline, JetBlue is cutting unprofitable routes, bolstering core markets that include the Northeast and Florida, and delaying deliveries of $3 billion worth of new planes. Starting next year, Southwest Airlines will toss out a half-century tradition of “open seating” — passengers picking their own seat after boarding the plane. Executives say extensive surveying showed 80% of customers preferred an assigned seat, and that's especially true with coveted business travelers. More crowded planes also might be pushing passengers to spend more to escape a middle seat in the back of the plane. A Frontier Airlines jet takes off July 5, 2022, from Denver International Airport in Denver. In other parts of the world, budget carriers are doing just fine. They bounced back from the pandemic just like their more highbrow competitors. Some industry experts say low-cost carriers in Asia and Europe have always attracted a more diverse mix of passengers, while in the U.S., affluent and middle-class travelers look down their noses at low-cost carriers. Jamie Baker, an analyst for JPMorgan, says he has many college friends who work in London and fly Irish airline Ryanair all the time, but he hardly knows anyone who has ever been on a Spirit or Frontier plane. A small plane tows a banner April 13, 2016, over Flint Bishop International Airport as part of ceremonies marking Allegiant Air joining the airport. Delta CEO Ed Bastian is less dismissive of the “lower-end carriers” in the U.S. than United's Kirby. "I don’t see that segment ever disappearing,” Bastian said after Spirit’s bankruptcy filing. “I think there’s a market for it.” At the same time, he said the upscale moves by ultra-low-cost carriers are having no effect on his airline. Delta targets upscale travelers but also introduced basic-economy fares a decade ago, when discounters emerged as a growing threat to poach some of Delta's customers. “Just calling yourself a premium carrier and actually being a premium carrier are two totally different things,” Bastian said “It's not the size of the seat or how much room you have; it's the overall experience.” The most and least expensive U.S. airports to fly from in 2024 The most and least expensive U.S. airports to fly from in 2024 As frequent flyers know, air travel isn't cheap. With the summer months in full swing, demand for air travel is expected to reach record numbers in 2024 as airlines continue to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily for those who are looking for ways to save on travel , one way to cut costs on your next vacation may be in finding the right places to fly in and out of. FinanceBuzz looked at average domestic airfares from the 45 busiest airports in the U.S. to learn which airports are best for travelers on a budget, as well as which ones to avoid if you are trying to travel affordably. Overall, the national average airfare cost decreased by 3.1% from 2022 to 2023 when adjusted for inflation (which translates to a 0.9% increase in non-adjusted dollars). The last time inflation-adjusted airfare costs dropped year-over-year was during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it fell 18% between 2019 and 2020. Largely, this is good news for consumers who can spend less on airfare and have more room in their budget for hotels , restaurants, and other travel fees. In addition to earning rewards on airfare, most travel credit cards offer rewards for spending in these areas, which can offset overall vacation costs. 25-year look at U.S. airfare costs Based on Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the above chart shows inflation-adjusted average airline fares over the past 25 years. The least and most expensive airports to fly from For this report, we compared domestic airfares from the 45 busiest airports in the U.S. using data published by the U.S. Department of Transportation . Most expensive airports For the third year in a row, Dulles International Airport (IAD) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) have the two highest average fares in the country. Flights from Dulles cost $488.40 on average in 2023, while flights from San Francisco cost $444.59. Some silver lining for travelers who need to travel through Dulles: IAD is home to some of the best airport lounges in the country, including the recently-opened Capital One Lounge, available to Capital One Venture X or Venture Rewards credit card holders. With free food, drinks, and recharging stations, lounges can be one easy way to offset otherwise-expensive airport costs. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) has the third-highest average airfare in the country, with an average cost of $438.34. Last on our top-five list of the most expensive airports are Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). Average airfare from Charlotte cost $436.80 last year, while flights from Detroit had an average price tag of $427.05. Biggest jumps in affordability rankings Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) was the biggest affordability winner over the last year, dropping prices by more than $18 on average. SEA jumped from 36th most-affordable place last year to 28th place this year — an increase of eight spots. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Portland International Airport (PDX) experienced similar jumps, rising by seven spots each. RDU went from 24th place in 2022 to 17th in 2023, while PDX went from 42nd to 35th. Biggest drops in affordability ranking Two different airports fell by eight spots in our affordability rankings, tied for the biggest drop of the year. The average fare at Sacramento International Airport (SMF) rose by $18.66 year-over-year, which led SMF to go from 18th in last year's affordability rankings to 26th this year. Prices rose even more at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), going up by $19.64 on average from one year to the next. Consequently, STL fell from 21st to 29th place in terms of affordability. How to save when you fly As you plan your travel, you'll find costs can vary widely at a single airport. With a little research and smart planning, you can find a deal at any airport. Here are a few tips to save on airfare: Methodology We looked at 2023 airfare data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation in May 2024 to compare domestic airfares by origin city. This report calculated average fares based on domestic itinerary fares. "Itinerary fares" consist of round-trip fares, unless only a one-way ticket was purchased. In that case, the one-way fare was used. Fares are based on total ticket value, including the price charged by the airline plus any additional taxes and fees levied at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at booking and do not include fees for optional services like baggage fees. Averages also do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares. This stor y was produced by FinanceBuzz and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Least expensive airports Orlando International Airport (MCO) had the lowest airfare cost in the country at $265.58 on average. Home to iconic theme parks like Universal Studios, Sea World, and most notably, Walt Disney World, Orlando is one of America's top tourist destinations. This is welcome news for those bracing for expensive park tickets and food prices at the House of Mouse. Beyond saving with a Disney credit card on park-related purchases, visitors can also maximize savings by using a credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve which offers an annual travel credit, or even using a 0% APR credit card if you don't want to pay for your entire vacation at once. Another Florida-based airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), has the second-lowest average airfare cost in the country — tickets here are only about $5 more expensive than Orlando's. Just a few dollars behind FLL is Las Vegas's Harry Reid International (LAS), where fares cost $272.15 on average. LAS is also the last airport on our list where average airfare costs are less than $300. Oakland International Airport (OAK) has the fourth-lowest average airfare costs in the country at $303.79. And the fifth-least expensive airport, Chicago Midway International (MDW), comes in at $308.27. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!
Rise of Pump.fun, Challenges of Content Moderation, Return of Pudgy Penguin Toys S3With much of President Joe Biden’s student loan agenda tied up in court, the incoming Trump administration could have a significant impact on millions of borrowers. Related video above: Rossen Reports: These states have the highest student loan payments President-elect Donald Trump hasn’t made specific promises on student loans or other forms of college financial aid, but delivering student loan forgiveness isn’t a policy priority like it has been for Biden. Republicans have repeatedly challenged Biden’s efforts, and when his sweeping student loan forgiveness program was struck down by the Supreme Court last year, Trump said the proposal “would have been very unfair to the millions and millions of people who have paid their debt through hard work and diligence.” During his first term, Trump proposed ending a program that delivers student loan forgiveness to public sector workers after 10 years, and his administration tried to limit debt relief for borrowers who were misled by their colleges. Both efforts were unsuccessful, but the latter left many people waiting for years to find out if their debt relief claim would be granted. It’s possible for the Trump administration to unilaterally make some changes to the federal student loan system through a rulemaking process, but other actions — like abolishing the Department of Education, as Trump has promised to do — would require Congress to act. Here’s what student loan borrowers need to know about what’s at stake and what Trump could do: One of the first things Trump’s Department of Education may have to address is what to do with Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, repayment plan, which is currently on hold due to litigation. There are 8 million people enrolled in SAVE, and if it is struck down in court, they will have to move to a different repayment plan. A lawsuit brought by several Republican-led states argues that the president does not have the authority to implement the plan. A ruling by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is expected imminently. The Trump administration could decide to rescind the repayment plan, which was created by a regulatory process. It could also decide to stop defending the plan in court. SAVE, which was launched last year, is meant to offer the most generous terms for low-income borrowers. Under the plan, some enrolled borrowers would see monthly payments as low as 5% of discretionary income. It also promises to cancel remaining student loan debt after making as few as 10 years of payments. Borrowers enrolled in SAVE are not currently required to make payments since the Department of Education put them in an interest-free forbearance due to the litigation. The department is expected to reopen two older income-driven repayment plans in December, giving borrowers the option to switch to a plan that might be more affordable than the standard, 10-year plan. Income-driven repayment plans calculate a borrower’s monthly payment based on their income and family size rather than the amount of debt they owe. In addition to lowering monthly payments, the plans promise to wipe away remaining student debt after a borrower makes a certain number of payments — usually 20 or 25 years’ worth. Project 2025, the conservative blueprint published by the Heritage Foundation, calls for creating one new income-driven repayment plan and eliminating all the others. The policy paper also favors eliminating any loan forgiveness provision in the repayment plan, but this would likely require an act of Congress. Trump has distanced himself from the 900-page playbook, but a CNN review found that at least 140 people who worked in the first Trump administration were involved in it. The Biden administration has canceled a record $175 billion of student loan debt for nearly 5 million people — largely through existing relief programs for public sector workers, disabled borrowers and people who were misled by their college. Under Biden, the Department of Education temporarily expanded eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, recounted past payments to correct administrative errors, cut red tape for disabled borrowers and chipped away at a backlog of relief applications left over from the previous Trump administration. Trump has not suggested that clawing back student loan forgiveness that was already granted is on his to-do list for his second term. It could be difficult both politically and logistically. Efforts to reverse student debt relief would be expected to face legal challenges. “If the new Trump administration attempts to reinstate discharged loans by reversing legal positions, they will be held accountable and spend much of the next four years tied up in court,” said Aaron Ament, president of the nonprofit National Student Legal Defense Network. There are some borrowers who may have been notified by the Department of Education that they have been granted debt relief, but they have yet to see the change made to their account balance. Even in that situation, there is a precedent that the forgiveness would still take effect under a new administration. “We don’t think that can be clawed back under the law. We don’t think it should be clawed back, of course, but we’re ready to defend those discharges,” said Eileen Connor, president and director of the Project on Predatory Student Lending, which represents borrowers defrauded by their colleges. Biden has made other efforts to create new programs to deliver student loan forgiveness, but none of them are currently in effect. His signature student loan forgiveness program, which would have delivered up to $20,000 of relief to millions of borrowers, was struck down by the Supreme Court last year. Since then, his Education Department has been working on implementing more targeted debt-relief programs through the regulatory process. But those proposals have not been finalized, and Trump’s new administration could decide not to move forward with implementing them. One proposal, which would cancel interest for some student loan borrowers, is already facing a Republican-led lawsuit. During Trump’s first term, he made some unsuccessful efforts to make it harder for some people to qualify for student loan forgiveness through two existing programs. His education secretary, Betsy DeVos, and many other Republicans argued against some debt relief because it transfers the cost to taxpayers, many of whom didn’t go to college. Public Service Loan Forgiveness program: PSLF was created during President George W. Bush’s administration in 2007. It cancels remaining student loan debt after a qualifying public sector worker makes 10 years’ worth of payments. During his first term, Trump called for phasing out PSLF. But since the program was created by Congress, it would have to be dissolved by Congress, and that move did not receive support in the past. Trump’s proposal would have eliminated the program for new borrowers only. Borrower defense to repayment : Trump’s first administration made attempts to limit the borrower defense to repayment program, which grants debt relief to people who were misled by their college. DeVos tried to change the rule so that eligible borrowers would receive partial relief instead of canceling the full amount of debt. She made it clear that she thought the rule was “bad policy” that put taxpayers on the hook for the cost of the debt relief without the right safeguards in place and made changes to limit its reach. The proposal was unsuccessful, but the department stopped processing borrower defense claims while fighting challenges in court. As a result, a backlog of more than 200,000 claims piled up. DeVos and the department were later found in contempt of court for continuing to collect on some of those loans while the rule was pending. The Biden administration has worked to chip away at that backlog. Trump has called for closing the Department of Education, which currently administers the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. First of all, Trump will need Congress to do away with the department, and it’s unclear if he will have the support from enough lawmakers to do so. Trump’s first administration proposed merging the Education and Labor departments, but the idea didn’t go anywhere despite Republicans having control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate at the time. It’s possible that some programs and funding could be retained and shifted to other agencies, which is where they were housed before the department was created in 1979. If that happens, Project 2025 recommends moving the federal student loan portfolio to the Department of Treasury.MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans on Sunday voted in the second round of the country's presidential election , with the conservative governing party and a left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff following level-headed campaigns widely seen as emblematic of the country's strong democracy. As polls closed Sunday evening, turnout stood at 89.4% — around the same as during the first round last month in which the two moderate coalitions both failed to win an outright majority. Voting in Uruguay is compulsory. Depending on how tight the vote turns out to be, electoral officials may not call the race for days — as happened in the contentious 2019 runoff that brought center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou to office and ended 15 years of rule by Uruguay’s left-leaning Broad Front by a razor-thin margin. Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate who won nearly 27% in the first round of voting on Oct. 27, has campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government." Other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party that came in third place last month — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, who took 44% of the vote in the general election, is promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay that draws on the memory of stability and economic growth under his Broad Front coalition, which presided over pioneering social reforms that won widespread international acclaim from 2005-2020, including the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and sale of marijuana . With inflation easing and the economy expected to expand by some 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, surveys show that Uruguayans remain largely satisfied with the administration of Lacalle Pou, who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term. But persistent complaints about sluggish growth, stagnant wages and an upsurge in violent crime could just as easily add the small South American nation to a long list of places this year where frustrated voters have punished incumbents in elections around the world. With most polls showing a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, analysts say the vote may hinge on a small group of undecided voters — roughly 10% of registered voters in the nation of 3.4 million people. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation,” said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates’ lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power in neighboring Argentina and the United States. “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy," said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn't exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over the current government's struggle to stem the rise in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor’s pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. "We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to former President José “Pepe” Mujica , an ex-Marxist guerilla who became a global icon for helping transform Uruguay into one of the region's most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations. “He's my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children's,” Yeny Varone, a nurse at a polling station, said of Orsi. “In the future they'll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer , turned up at his local polling station before balloting even began, praising Orsi's humility and Uruguay’s famous stability. “This is no small feat,” he said of Uruguay's “citizenry that respects formal institutions.” Orsi planned no dramatic changes, and, despite his call for a revitalized left-wing, his platform continues the Broad Front's traditional mix of market-friendly policies and welfare programs. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay's unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital's upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi described Sunday's democratic exercise as “an incredible experience" as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.
Michigan upsets No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 for Wolverines' 4th straight win over bitter rivalInhale. Hold. Exhale. Hold. Breathe. It will all be what it will be. If you’ve felt panicked or confused in the last few days, it’s understandable. The constant churn of Nebraska football news since Sunday has been like drinking from a fire hose. Defensive coordinator Tony White is heading to Florida State as its defensive coordinator. Defensive backs coach John Butler will serve as the interim. Interim offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen is staying, signing a two-year extension for $1.2 million. Nebraska has hired a new wide receivers coach, Daikiel Shorts. Defensive line coach Terrance Knighton appears to be on the move. Several players, including Jimari Butler, have declared their intention to enter the transfer portal when it opens on Monday. Nebraska signed 20 high school prospects in conjunction with Wednesday’s signing day. Phew. Again, breathe. It’s a lot. It’s not all bad. It’s not all good, either, but it’s not all bad. Such is life in college football in December. Thoughts on the state of Nebraska football: White — a two-time Broyles Award finalist — leaving for another job was anticipated. He had plenty of calls in the last offseason to the point where he received a king’s ransom of a raise to be Nebraska’s defensive coordinator for 2024. The act of him leaving is not a surprise. But the job he left for, Florida State’s defensive coordinator, did raise some eyebrows — as many expected him to be a head coaching candidate once again. “Obviously I was disappointed,” Rhule said. “I liked coaching with Tony, I liked being around him. I thought he had a great effect. But he’s gotta go do what he’s gotta do.” Rhule continued later: “Did I want Tony to leave? No. But it’s OK. Coaches are going to leave. If we have good players and we have good coaches, people are going to come try to get them. If no one’s trying to take our players and no one’s trying to take our coaches, that means we’re in trouble.” While the title appears to be the same — defensive coordinator to defensive coordinator — this is not a lateral move. For one, Rhule said Wednesday that part of White’s move was for “family reasons.” For two, it likely comes with a bigger paycheck. White’s salary has not been publicly disclosed since the hire has not yet been announced by Florida State, but his predecessor, Adam Fuller, made $2 million in 2024 before he was fired last week. At Nebraska, White made $1.6 million in 2024. Of note, there’s no state income tax in Florida. Nebraska’s progressive income tax rate for White’s tax bracket is 6.54%. As far as other finances are concerned... Florida State football had an NIL team budget of around $12 million in 2024, according to an August report from the Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, with almost $2 million allocated for the defensive line. Nebraska’s NIL budget for football “is not even 10” million, Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen reportedly said at the 1890 annual member appreciation event last April. Yes, it is true that Florida State had an abysmal season — which is the entire reason why White has a job there now. But what about the season before that? When Florida State went undefeated in the regular season and was mindbogglingly left out of the four-team College Football Playoff. Yes, Florida State did go 2-10 this season. That did happen. But I still think the Florida State gig is a better job — even with the university in an active lawsuit against the ACC. With Mike Norvell making sweeping changes after the disappointing season, I doubt he remains on the hot seat. And even if he does? White’s a good candidate to take the reins. You can be mad at White for bolting. But that doesn’t change the fact that Nebraska needs a new defensive coordinator. (And a new defensive line coach, most likely.) Who’s it going to be? In the interim, at least, it will be defensive backs coach John Butler. Butler joined the staff over the summer after the untimely departure of Evan Cooper. Butler was previously with the Buffalo Bills and was Penn State’s defensive coordinator in 2013. Rhule did say that Butler is a candidate for the job. But, Rhule isn’t going to put a timetable on this hire. Nor is he going to try to make a big splash with a big name. He wants to 1.) Get it right, and 2.) Keep the defense the same. “I want to do this defense,” Rhule said. “Whoever that is, I don’t want to make that decision for the short term — where we all feel good about it.” Nothing here would surprise me. Promoting Butler would make sense. Hiring from the outside would make sense — especially since Rhule brought in an outside guy in the last two coordinator hires he’s made: White and Dana Holgorsen. One shred of good news from Monday was that Nebraska and offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen opted to continue things. Not just for a few more weeks, this time, but rather two years to the tune of $1.2 million. “I was ecstatic when Dana decided to stick around,” Rhule said. “He decided that he saw enough here in his time here to know that ... we can get this thing offensively to where we want to get it to.” There are good pieces here, that’s for sure. Quarterback Dylan Raiola is, of course, the straw that stirs the drink, but seeing the overall rise of play from most everyone on offense the last three weeks was quite the sight. Will be interesting to see how that develops with more time. One big change that Holgorsen wanted was to bring in one of his guys — Daikeil Shorts, a receiver who played for Holgo at West Virginia and then coached receivers on his staff at Houston. But that was the only change Holgorsen requested, Rhule said. Everything else, offensively at least, is expected to stay the same — Donovan Raiola as offensive line coach, Glenn Thomas at quarterbacks, EJ Barthel at running backs and Marcus Satterfield at tight ends. Yes. As of now, Satterfield will remain on staff as the tight ends coach. “That was Dana’s call,” Rhule said. “... Satt wants to be here and he’s done a great job in recruiting and I think he’ll continue to help us.” Yes. It’s been a lot of guys. Is it frustrating seeing guys like Jimari Butler and James Williams and Mikai Gbayor and Princewill Umanmielen in the portal? Yes. But that’s the name of the game these days. I warn you, there will be more. Not trying to fearmonger or anything, but it’s a numbers game at this point. Nebraska remains over the limit. And, Nebraska will be active in the portal, too. Lots of coming and going in the weeks to come. Nebraska’s lone All-Big Ten team selection was Ty Robinson, making the third team. I feel like that was a slight. Not necessarily a snub, but a slight. Hard to imagine nine more guys at his position in this league that are better than him. But, on a positive note for Robinson, he accepted his invitation to the Senior Bowl. Expect his draft stock to rise. Get local news delivered to your inbox!BNP leader suspended for assaulting driver, journo