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Oregon and Ohio State already have produced one heck of a game this season. Now, the top-seeded Ducks (13-0) and No. 8 Buckeyes (11-2) are gearing up for a rematch more than 10 weeks later in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. Of course, both teams have had ample time for evolution since that 32-31 Oregon win Oct. 12. But they also have that game and players’ familiarity with each other, not to mention common opponents in the Big Ten. “Sometimes when you’re playing against a team maybe from another conference in the playoffs, there’s a little bit of an unknown — how can you expect this guy to play?” Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said Monday. “What am I really looking at when I look at the teams they’re playing? “This team’s not that way because we played them already, and they played in the conference. So there’s again a reference point as we move into this one. So our guys know what they’re up against, but they also know that they’ve evolved and we’ve evolved, and so two very different teams heading into this game. And the team who prepares the best is going to win.” Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who went on to become a Heisman Trophy finalist, passed for 341 yards and ran for a 27-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of the first meeting. Then, Atticus Sappington made the winning 19-yard field goal in the final two minutes. The then-No. 2 Buckeyes were the highest-ranked opponent Oregon beat during the regular season. After the Oregon fans’ field-storming celebration, Ducks coach Dan Lanning quipped: “Anyone have a heart-rate monitor?” Now, the questions include: Will they need one for this game? Or will it fail to provide the same thrills? Ohio State opened the playoffs with a 42-17 win over Tennessee on Saturday night. “I think you could probably argue that Ohio State’s best game was the game they just played,” Lanning said. “So it’s important at this point in the year that you’re playing really good football. Sometimes you don’t know that until you step on the field. “That’s your job as a coach to get you ready for those moments, get our players ready for those moments, but certainly hope that we put our best foot forward when we play in this Rose Bowl.” Lanning and the Ducks also played Washington twice last season, losing both by a field goal — 36-33 on Oct. 14 and 34-31 in the Pac-12 championship game Dec. 1. He isn’t about to tip his hand about what adjustments the Ducks might make or prepare for, but joked: “Yeah, we’re going to do the exact same thing, right, every play, first call.” “I won’t really get into the differences, but they’re a really good team,” Lanning said. “I don’t know if there’s a more talented team in the nation.” And by the time these two teams play again, 81 days will have passed from Round 1. Game plans figure to change, with plenty of tweaks on offense and defense along the way. “They’ve changed, and they’re much more multiple in what they do,” Day said of the Ducks. “So you combine all those things together, and you put the game plan in. And then you throw some things out. You add some things that you think might fit. “At the end of the day, you only have to pack what you need, and you’ve got to make sure that it’s clean and it’s a plan that the guys can go execute with a lot of confidence. That’s what we’re in the middle of right now.”AP News Summary at 2:04 p.m. EST
ORCHARD PARK — Cole Bishop’s eyes glanced the wrong way for less than a second. That’s all it took for Houston Texans receiver Nico Collins to run by for an easy 67-yard touchdown. Buffalo Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas gave Bishop an earful before Collins even crossed the goal line. It was Week 5 and Bishop’s first NFL start after being drafted in the second round in April. The day after Bishop was drafted, Bills general manager Brandon Beane made it known how excited the Bills were to have gotten Bishop, while simultaneously pumping the brakes on any ideas he was an immediate replacement for Jordan Poyer or Micah Hyde. Safety is among the most difficult positions to learn in the NFL and it’s even harder in Buffalo’s scheme. Rookie safeties almost never start for coach Sean McDermott, dating back to his days as a defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. The communication and disguising are more important than physical traits once the ball is snapped and a newcomer to the system can feel like they are drowning. Bishop had his struggles subbing for Taylor Rapp while he recovered from a concussion early in the season and he had a few in his second career start against the Detroit Lions in Week 15. But Bishop’s lightbulb appears to have turned on and it’s brightening with every start he gets. “I’m just learning,” Bishop told GNN Sports. “I’ve gotten a lot more reps (since earlier in the season). In practice, in games, every rep is just helping you feel more comfortable out there.” Is simply winning a game no longer enough for #Bills fans? How much goodwill can the #Sabres get back after a 13-game losing streak? And just how much coal did @billhoppe.bsky.social get in his stocking? fireside.fm/episode/sMvb... [image or embed] Bishop’s NFL beginnings were stunted when he injured his shoulder on the third day of training camp and his recovery extended almost the entire preseason. He was already battling veterans Damar Hamlin and Mike Edwards for a starting job and Hamlin seized it through his knowledge of the defense and injuries to prolonged Bishop and Edwards. When Hyde didn’t re-sign in the offseason and Poyer was released, not only did the Bills draft Bishop and re-sign Rapp, but they also added four veterans between free agency and the preseason. When Week 1 arrived, the Bills named Rapp and Hamlin, the two safeties with most experience in the defense as the starters, but even Rapp needed a full season in the system to get comfortable. “It took Po and I a full season to really get comfortable with all the adjustments we needed to make week-to-week,” Hyde said. “... Going on our second season is when we started to know the playbook like the back of our hand and we’ve been through and installed plenty of times. ... I don't know how he was in the beginning, but I know that now he's an intelligent football player and instinctive. So I'm eager to see him finish off this season.” When Bishop arrived in Buffalo, he quickly latched on to Edwards, who was signed on a one-year deal after spending four years with the Buccaneers and last year with the Chiefs. But after being a healthy scratch six times in the first nine weeks, Edwards requested his release and it was granted. When Hyde re-signed to the practice squad Dec. 5, Bishop immediately started seeking his advice. But whether it’s coaches or veterans, Bishop is constantly trying to pick up more information and feedback, which is why Hyde is strategic when he gives input so that Bishop isn’t overloaded. At 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, Bishop is a longer, heavier safety than they have used under McDermott. Bishop showed his explosiveness at the NFL scouting combine by running a 4.45-second 40-yard dash and recording a 39-inch vertical leap. But what Bishop adds to the defense is a safety who can play near the line of scrimmage and be an enforcer against the run. In three seasons at Utah, Bishop played 73% of his snaps near the line of scrimmage. If the Bills bring a safety into the box or blitz one, it’s typically Hamlin, who is roughly 10 pounds lighter. “He's already, to me, a freak athlete. Just how big he is and how well he can move,” Bills cornerback Taron Johnson said. “But what sets him apart, I think, is his mindset and how he's so coachable, always listening to the coaches and talking to the older guys, trying to see how they see things. And I feel like he's going to be a really good player.” Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said Bishop is improving with each rep. But for most of the season, Bishop wasn’t getting many. At least not during games. While Bishop was learning in practices and watching film, there is no way to simulate how to execute all of the information gleaned at the speed in which games are played in the NFL. For Bishop, that wasn’t an easy transition, especially for a player who was used to learning by doing in college. In Bishop’s first true action over 2 1⁄2 games, it seemed like the Bills were trying to bring him along slowly. He played in the box roughly 53% of the time as Buffalo preferred a two-high safety look. But against the New England Patriots, Bishop played in the box on 50 of 73 snaps. In Bishop’s three starts, the Bills have allowed 89.3 yards rushing on 3.7 yards per carry, compared to 125.5 yards on 4.8 yards per carry in the other 12 games. And it’s also easy to see Bishop becoming a better communicator on the field. On safety Cam Lewis’ interception, Bishop effectively communicated a Banjo coverage with linebacker Dorian Williams, where the outside defender takes the inside receiver, and without that communication, Lewis isn’t able to bait Patriots quarterback Drake Maye into throwing at Williams’ receiver. “When we get the game plan, I try to get all the fundamentals of it, all the details and just try and execute it,” Bishop said. “So whatever they’re asking, I just try to execute to the best of my ability.” NOTES: S Damar Hamlin (rib), DB Cam Lewis (shoulder), S Taylor Rapp (neck) and WR Curtis Samuel (rib) all wore red non-contact jerseys and were limited in Thursday’s practice. ... OL Tylan Grable did not practice for personal reasons.
East Carolina wins 71-64 over StetsonHope Branham Trust Foundation Launches Groundbreaking Renewable Energy Initiative 12-26-2024 08:40 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Economical Click New Solar and Wind Power Projects Aim to Address Energy Poverty and Promote Sustainability Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/5b2051420b349facc1312cad25f8d18d.jpg Dallas, TX - The Hope Branham Trust Foundation [ https://hopebranhamfoundation.org/ ] is proud to announce the launch of a transformative renewable energy initiative designed to bring sustainable energy solutions to underserved communities. This ambitious project focuses on harnessing solar and wind power to provide reliable electricity access to regions where energy poverty remains a critical challenge. Millions of people around the world still lack access to consistent and affordable electricity, hindering their ability to thrive economically and socially. The Hope Branham Trust Foundation's new initiative addresses this issue head-on by investing in solar panels, wind turbines, and microgrid technology. These projects aim to empower communities with clean, renewable energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and fostering a more sustainable future. "Energy poverty is a barrier to progress in so many communities. With this initiative, we are not just lighting homes-we are powering opportunities," said Hope Branham, Founder and President of the Hope Branham Trust Foundation. "By leveraging renewable energy sources, we're not only protecting our planet but also enabling underserved communities to take charge of their development." The initiative will begin with pilot projects in select regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, where the foundation has identified communities most in need of energy solutions. Each project will be tailored to the specific needs of the area, with a focus on sustainability and community involvement. In addition to installing renewable energy systems, the foundation plans to offer training programs to local residents, ensuring the long-term maintenance and operation of the energy infrastructure. The Hope Branham Trust Foundation's commitment to this initiative aligns with its broader mission to empower underserved communities through health, education, and economic development. The foundation believes that access to clean energy is a fundamental right and a catalyst for achieving its goals in other critical areas. About Hope Branham Trust Foundation The Hope Branham Trust Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting underserved communities by addressing key challenges in health, education, economic development, and sustainability. With over 6 years of experience, the foundation's initiatives have transformed lives and fostered self-sufficiency across the globe. Media Contact Company Name: HOPE BRANHAM TRUST FOUNDATION Contact Person: Hope Branham Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=hope-branham-trust-foundation-launches-groundbreaking-renewable-energy-initiative ] Phone: 682.230.2542 Country: United States Website: https://hopebranhamfoundation.org/ This release was published on openPR.Strike viewers found themselves echoing the same sentiment as the latest instalment of the BBC programme. The ongoing series of the show draws inspiration from The Ink Black Heart novel, written by J. K. Rowling and published under her nom de plume Robert Galbraith. It presents us with Cormoran Strike delving deep into mysterious crimes. This season delves into the startling assassination of a cult YouTube cartoonist behind The Ink Black Heart. Before her untimely demise, she had encountered Robin and confided her troubles of being subjected to harassment by an individual she suspected to be the anonymous mastermind behind an unauthorised spin-off game but the question remains; who is the creator and are they her killer? As this episode unfolded, viewers were quick to share their musings on social media platforms, reports the Mirror . Social media posts from viewers varied, with one person stating: "So many names. I've totally lost track of who everyone is! #Strike," and another sharing their confused nature: " #strike I'm lost with this storyline." A third weighed in with: "#strike bbc1 #TheInkBlackHeart Can't say I'm really understanding what this current Strike series is all about, not being into gaming or reading comics. Good acting throughout, no foul language but the storyline is for youngsters, presumably." Nevertheless, there were those who lauded the series, bestowing it with labels such as "brilliant". "#Strike @BBCOne Loving the latest series #TheInkBlackHeart Amazing as always. Brilliant cast and great storyline," one fan expressed, while another chimed in: "Another great season of Strike. Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger have great chemistry. This season was definitely different from the rest, but the atmosphere and style were still quality. 10/10 series. #TheInkBlackHeart #Strike." A third viewer wrote: "Could you drop 4 more i really dont want to wait another 2 years #Strike #TheInkBlackHeart," and a fourth added: "Every case ends with each season of Strike but the romantic intrigue just keeps intriguing. And I'm drowning in it. Help!" For many fans, the highlight of the show is the blossoming romance between Cormoran and Robin. Speaking about their on-screen relationship, actress Holliday Grainger revealed: "Their relationship is so complicated and there's a real fear of stepping over the line and there being a sense of no return. "It's written so well in the book, the breakdown of thoughts Robin has, of not knowing if he's going to regret it in the morning, if he's drunk a bit too much, or if this is not the right thing for him, and what it would mean for their business. It's only afterwards that she's like, 'Oh, that could have been something, maybe I was overthinking it.'" She added: "That moment makes her realise how she feels towards him properly for the first time, I think. But in that moment there's also fear of rejection, and of losing what they have, which is friendship. Robin has very few close friends, which is a big element." *Strike airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
LA Smart Blinds Unveils Eco-Friendly Exterior Solar Shades for PatiosAP News Summary at 2:04 p.m. EST
A cafe in Melbourne known as Frank's where Holly Bowles worked has posted a heartfelt tribute to social media after the 19-year-old died from consuming methanol-laced drinks in Laos. Ms Bowles died in Bangkok Hospital on Friday, just a day after her best friend Bianca Jones, 19, who she was travelling with also died from methanol poisoning. The pair's deaths were confirmed by their families. The teens were consuming drinks at the Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, about 130km from the Laos capital Vientiane when they fell victims to the suspected mass poisoning. Frank's, the Melbourne cafe where Ms Bowles is understood to have started work during her school years about 2.5 years ago, said the team had been sitting in a "soul - crushing limbo" since being made aware of the poisoning incident. "Our Holly....," the cafe began their post on Facebook. "Holly started at Frank’s working on weekends during her school years 2.5 years ago and upon completion of her year 12 this time last year, she started to work with us a lot more regularly. She was a staple of the Frank’s team for the first half of this year while she saved up for a trip of a life time with her best mate. "Holly was the best of us. She was sweet, incredibly kind, reliable, funny, diligent, hardworking and extremely capable. Believe me when I say that I couldn’t fault her." The Frank's team posted pictures of Ms Bowles in which she can be seen smiling and posing for selfies alongside her co-workers and noting down food orders from customers. Several people gathered in the comments section of Frank's post to also remember Ms Bowles and Ms Jones for the "two beautiful young happy girls" they were. "Holly had served me and my family many times as a customer. So lovely and nice. Nothing was ever too much trouble for her to do. She always made me and my daughter and son feel so welcome there. Just can’t believe the news," a Frank's customer commented on the post. "This has hit me really hard. Two beautiful happy young girls just starting their lives taken away so cruelly and unnecessarily. I’m pretty sure Holly served us a couple of times and I remember her sweet nature," another said. "As a patron of Franks she always had a smile and made you feel very welcome. As a mum to another young member of your crew I can’t imagine how her family must feel," a third person wrote. Frank's extended their hospitality to both the Bowles and Jones families, writing: "If there’s anything that we can do to help at this time, or any time in the future, you’re all now family to us so just say the word and we’ll make it happen, whatever it is." "I want you to know that we loved and adored your Holly with all our hearts and we’ll miss her so, so much," the post read. "Finally, to Holly. I’m just so thankful you walked through our door with a resume, kid. I’ll never forget you mate." Frank's is understood to have closed the cafe for Saturday, November 23, a day after Ms Bowles' passing. Ms Bowles is the sixth person to die as a result of the mass poisoning incident. The owner and manager of the Laos hostel where the young girls had been drinking has been detained by local police for questioning. Local law enforcement told the Associated Press that a “number of people” had been detained, but no charges had yet been laid.HOUSTON — Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell will miss the remainder of the season after dislocating a knee and tearing an ACL in a loss to Kansas City on Saturday. Coach DeMeco Ryans revealed the details of his injury Monday before announcing that Dell would have season-ending surgery for a second straight year. He fractured his fibula in Week 13 against the Broncos as a rookie last season and had surgery on it the following day. “He dislocated the knee, he tore the ACL, other things there he’ll have to get repaired," Ryans said. “So he’ll be out for the year.” Ryans didn't have a date for Dell's surgery for this injury, but said it would be soon. Dell was injured on a 30-yard touchdown catch in Houston’s 27-19 loss Saturday. He was coming across the back of the end zone and made the spectacular catch on a pass from C.J. Stroud before colliding with Houston teammate Jared Wayne on the way to the ground. Dell immediately grabbed at his knee and Wayne signaled for team trainers, who spent several minutes working on the wide receiver while teammates waited anxiously. Dell was eventually placed on a stretcher and driven in a covered medical cart off the field, and then he was taken to the hospital. He stayed in the hospital overnight before flying back to Houston on Sunday. Stroud, who is so close to Dell that he considers him a brother, cried the entire time the receiver was down on the field and for a while after he was taken away. “It was just not easy for me to sit there and be emotional,” Stroud said Monday. “But it’s something that we all go through in life and it’s easy to be a fake tough guy. It’s easy to go through life acting like everything doesn’t affect you, but deep down we all know we’re going through something.” Some criticized Stroud for crying. But he believes a display of emotion such as that was important to remind people of the human aspect of this game and the toll it can take on players. “It’s good for young men and women out there, kids who are brought up — and I was taught this too as a kid, not from my parents but just from the world, don’t let anybody see you emotional,” he said. “Don’t let anybody see you down and yeah there’s some truth to that in in certain aspects, but there’s also life and I think it was good for people to see me in that light and knowing that there is still a human factor to me and I’m a normal person.” CLEVELAND — Two days before recording another milestone, resume-building sack on Sunday at Cincinnati, Myles Garrett delivered a jarring hit — on the Browns. In this case, any roughness could be deemed necessary. Garrett piled on to what has been a painful and puzzling season in Cleveland by saying he doesn't have any interest in going through another rebuild and wants to know exactly what the organization's offseason plans are to fix things. If that wasn't enough, Garrett indicated for the first time that he would consider leaving the Browns if his vision doesn't mesh with the team's ambitions. “It’s a possibility,” he said of playing elsewhere. "But I want to be a Cleveland Brown. I want to play my career here.” It's unclear how Garrett's comments were received by owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who have plenty to consider as the Browns (3-12) head into the final two weeks of a season that began with playoff expectations and could be followed by upheaval. The Browns haven't been this bad since going 0-16 in 2017. Aaron Rodgers is still contemplating his playing future. The star quarterback knows if he returns to the field, it might be out of hands whether it's with the New York Jets. The 41-year-old Rodgers said last week that he'll take some time after this season, his 20th in the NFL, to determine what he wants to do next. On Monday, he suggested a decision on whether he'll return with the Jets could be made for him the day after the team's regular-season finale. “I think there’s a world where they just say, ‘Hey, thank you, we’re going to go in another direction’ on Jan. 6,” Rodgers said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “That’s a possibility,” he added. "I think there’s also a possibility we’re going to wait and see who the new staff is.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!S&P/TSX composite up almost 150 at closing, U.S. markets also higher
In-person shopping makes comeback amid record-spending holiday season
Arron Nyamayaro A gospel musician Ronald “Shekede” Ngulube claiming that his song was copied by Denzel Tadiwa Maveve. Ronald told H-Metro that he recorded that song in 2016 and Denzel went on to copy the lyrics as well as the instrumental of the song featuring Madam Boss. The song Mweya weDzinza Get Away, was released by Denzel on December 24. Ronald claims another man of cloth Jerdan Paradise also copied the same song without his consent. His spirited efforts to ask them to pull down the song from their social media platforms have been in vain. “I am yet to know their motive of copying my song ‘Mweya weDzinza’ word for word without my permission,” said Ronald. “If it was a Biblical verse, I would not mind their interpretation but the two decided to record everything of the song I released in 2016. “I even took the song to a local radio station library that same year. “I failed to record a video of the song due to Covid-19 effects but Denzel and Jerden Paradise decided to reap where they did not sow. “Madam Boss went on to claim that I had engaged her over working on the song together and posted such falsehoods on her social media page. “I never talked to her and I do not even have her contact numbers,” said Ronald. Contacted for comment, Denzel could neither deny nor confirm copying the song referring all questions to Ronald. “Ask Ronald about it,” said Denzel refusing to answer further questions. Ronald, of Heartfelt International Church choir, is popularly known as “Shekede” in musical circles and he released his latest project ‘Jesu Anotida’ recently.