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And then there were eight. The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff tournament was off and running last weekend and boy is there a lot to dive into after the first four games. First, let me say I'm all for a 12team playoff. In addition to opening up the field to more than a handful of teams each year, it allows for some fun regular season games between top teams that doesn't necessarily spell the end of national title hopes for the losers. However, the setup for seeding (not rankings) and what the most important criteria should be is being called into question after four first-round blowouts. Now, we have had PLENTY of blowouts in the old system(s) so we shouldn't be all that surprised that for the most part the outcomes were known early on last weekend. It's always going to be a possibility, especially in the first-round games. What's proven, at least to me, to be the most egregious error in the process of setting up the bracket is that four of the five automatic bids that go to the conference champs must be in the top four seeds, and thus receive a first-round bye. There is NO WAY Boise State and Arizona State should be seeded above Texas, Penn State or even Ohio State and Notre Dame. The proof is in the selection committee's final rankings of those teams — Boise State was No. 9 and Arizona State No. 12. But with Clemson "stealing" the ACC's auto bid by edging SMU on a last-second field goal after blowing a big early lead, the Sun Devils, winners of the Big 12, moved up to the No. 4 seed with Clemson the No. 12 seed after being ranked No. 16. ASU was No. 12 in the final CFP rankings. So No. 9 and No. 12 got byes. Allowing teams to leapfrog others simply because they were conference champs makes no sense. All conferences are not equal, as was proven by the ACC and Big 12 with their champs being ranked No. 12 and No. 16. That's like saying the champs of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC should all be No. 1 seeds in the NCAA basketball tournaments. Can you imagine a No. 5 seed winning the conference tournament and being a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tourney? It also severely impacts the paths of teams to make it to the title game. Just ask Oregon. The Ducks, as the only undefeated team, received the No. 1 seed. Because of the auto bids getting byes, Oregon will now face No. 8 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes, who lost at Oregon by a single point and before a regular-season ending loss to Michigan was probably looked at as just as likely to win the title as Oregon, would have been the No. 6 seed. Instead, two of the favorites to win the title are playing in the quarters. Make it make sense. Had we gone by the rankings themselves, we would have had first-round matchups that pitted No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Notre Dame; No. 11 Arizona State at No. 6 Ohio State; No. 10 SMU at No. 7 Tennessee; and No. 9 Boise State at No. 8 Indiana. Yes, Tennessee and Indiana would have had home games instead of going on the road where they really were not competitive. Texas at No. 3 and Penn State at No. 4 would have received the byes. If all the home teams would have won, we would be waiting to see Oregon vs. Indiana, Georgia vs. Tennessee, Texas vs. Ohio State and Penn State vs. Notre Dame. Those, to me, are more compelling games and probably more evenly matched across the board. Had that been the case, Indiana's coach wouldn't have complained so much about whatever case he thought he was making. That leads me to my next disappointment: Did Indiana really belong in the top 12 anyway. Or SMU for that matter. Oh no, here comes some SEC bias. Well, yeah, maybe a little. Are you going to tell me either of those teams are clearly better than say Alabama (No. 11), Ole Miss (No. 14) or South Carolina (15)? Or even No. 13 Miami for that matter. As I have said, not all conferences are equal — nor are conference schedules. Is it surprising Indiana went 11-1 when the Hoosiers played seven of the bottom 10 teams in the 18-team conference? Their best win was against 7-5 Michigan and their only game against a better opponent was a 3815 loss at Ohio State. Oh and wins over Florida International (4-8), Western Illinois (4-8) and Charlotte (5-7) don't help their cause. Not including Ohio State (11-2), the combined record of the Hoosiers' opponents was (51-81). Add in the Buckeyes and that makes the opponents 62-83. As for SMU, the overall record in the regular season of their opponents was 76-72. That includes the loss to 10-2 BYU. So wins came against teams 66-72. The best wins were against Duke and Louisville, who tied for fourth with two other teams at 5-3 in ACC play. While winning should be an important factor, should we also put stock in strength of schedule, impressive wins and/or bad losses. While I have seen varying strength of schedule calculations, it would appear that both Alabama and Ole Miss had a better SOS than Indiana and SMU and it wasn't close. Alabama and Ole Miss both defeated No. 2 Georgia. Indiana and SMU beat nobody in the final CFP top 25. Of course, Alabama lost on the road to Vanderbilt (the week after the Georgia win) and to Oklahoma (which appears to have sealed the Crimson Tide's fate with a third loss.) Ole Miss lost at home to Kentucky, then fell at LSU and at Florida. Those three losses were by a combined 13 points. In addition to drubbing Georgia at home, Ole Miss beat South Carolina (27-3) on the road. Maybe Lane Kiffin's Rebels are the team that has the best argument to have been in the field. While South Carolina and Miami had good seasons, neither had a signature win other than the Gamecocks edging Clemson in the last game of the season. Now, would Alabama or Ole Miss have fared better than Indiana and SMU in the openers? Maybe, maybe not. Were both Indiana and SMU getting in the tournament "feel good" stories? Sure. But did they deserve it as two of the top seven atlarge teams? Again, it goes back to what the mission of the CFP is and that is to get the five auto qualifiers in and the next seven best at-large teams. Look, the NCAA men's tournament is so fun because there are so many upsets and Cinderella is usually alive and well into the Sweet 16 and beyond. It's like we have that this year with Arizona State and Boise State making the quarters. But they didn't have to win in the postseason to do it. They were simply awarded the spot because of the agreed upon format. That needs to change. Steve Gress is the deputy editor for mid-Valley media. He can be reached at steve. gress@lee.net . Get local news delivered to your inbox!
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:24 p.m. EST
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Connor Hellebuyck made 33 saves, Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and two assists and the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets beat the Ottawa Senators 4-2 on Saturday night. Gabriel Vilardi gave Winnipeg a 3-2 lead on a power play midway through the third period, scoring off Ehlers’ one-touch pass. Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele each had a goal and an assist. The Jets have won three in a row and seven of eight to improve to 26-10-1. Down 2-0 early in the second, Winnipeg tied it with goals in a 2:15 span. Scheifele set up Connor with 7:14 left, and Ehlers sent Scheifele in alone for a backhander past Mads Sogaard with 4:59 to go. Tim Stutzle and Ridly Greig scored power-play goals for Ottawa. Sogaard made 19 saves. Takeaways Senators: The Senators have lost two in a row after winning six straight. Jets: After a slow start, Winnipeg’s top line took over with three goals. Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) and Kyle Connor (81) celebrate after Connor's goal against the Ottawa Senators during second-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. Credit: AP/JOHN WOODS Key stat Hellebuyck made 17 saves in the third period. Up next The Senators are at Minnesota on Sunday night. The Jets host Nashville on Monday night.Flightmares before Christmas: why December disruption is so painful
Drew Lock likely to start at QB for the Giants against the Colts on Sunday
If you’ve ever called a hospital only to be put on hold, you know the frustration. Imagine calling to schedule a doctor’s appointment and hearing, “All our agents are currently busy; please stay on the line.” Minutes tick by, and by the time you get connected, the experience is already a bit soured. It’s no surprise that about 60 per cent of patients don’t want to wait on hold for more than a minute. Healthcare needs a better way to engage, and AI may be the answer. Healthcare organisations invest a lot in customer service. For example, a top US healthcare organisation fields over 40 million inquiries a year, with questions about benefits, claims, provider details, and more. Yet, with healthcare demand constantly in flux, wait times pile up. That leaves patients stuck in the bottleneck, waiting longer than they’d like for simple answers. Enter AI. The rapid advancement of AI technologies has begun to reshape what was once thought impossible in various industries, including healthcare. AI-powered virtual assistants are now capable of managing routine inquiries, scheduling appointments, noting patient concerns, and providing basic medical information, thereby reducing the burden on human agents and allowing them to focus on more complex tasks. AI goes beyond enhancing call centre efficiency It goes beyond that. AI isn’t just going to enhance call centre efficiency, it is going to redefine what the future of customer service looks like in various industries including banking, healthcare, insurance and retail. With AI, call centres aren’t what they used to be. These virtual assistants don’t sound robotic or scripted; they’re trained to engage like human agents but eliminate wait times and minimise errors. AI’s personalisation is also a big plus. It remembers patients, offers reminders, and even suggests resources for chronic conditions. In short, AI aims to make every interaction smoother, more helpful, and tailored to each patient’s needs. Beyond call centres, AI’s integration into healthcare customer service extends to various digital platforms, creating a seamless, omnichannel experience. Patients can receive appointment reminders via text messages or access lab results through secure mobile apps, reducing the need to navigate complex phone systems. Today, AI-driven customer service is extremely important for healthcare providers. Notably, 82 per cent of patients consider quality customer service as the most important factor when choosing care. Additionally, AI has been shown to improve customer engagement by 72 per cent in healthcare settings, which makes the adoption of AI a top priority for healthcare providers. A global case study for the use of AI in healthcare is Renew Physical Therapy. With five California clinics, it struggled with last-minute cancellations, impacting revenue and staff efficiency. After implementing Penciled’s AI assistant, Whitney, they saw results in just one week. Whitney filled 17 open slots, generating $1,657 in additional revenue and saving nearly nine hours of administrative work. This seamless integration not only streamlined operations but also strengthened patient engagement. Ultimately, AI is not here to replace human interaction but to enhance it. It’s about building stronger patient-provider relationships and redefining what customer service can look like. The future of customer service is undeniably AI-powered, and the healthcare sector is no exception. As technology rapidly evolves, businesses that fail to embrace AI risk losing ground to competitors who use it to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences. Early adopters of AI, especially in healthcare , are positioning themselves as leaders in both efficiency and patient satisfaction. Adopting AI isn’t just about keeping up. It’s about maximising growth potential and exploring new avenues for innovation. In an increasingly competitive landscape, AI is more than an advantage; it’s a strategic necessity that allows businesses to thrive and set new standards for service. By automating repetitive tasks and anticipating patient needs, AI allows human agents to focus on providing empathetic support during critical moments. The question now isn’t whether AI will transform healthcare customer service; it’s how swiftly providers will adopt these technologies to meet the growing demand for accessible, efficient, and personalised care. The writer is the CEO and co-founder at ClusterLab.Brian Hogan’s whole life changed in the blink of an eye after a single punch attack from a stranger on a night out left the then 32-year-old blind and in a wheelchair. Now, 15 years later, he will ring in the New Year in a new house of his own. It has been a long road, and one in which Brian was, in his own words, ‘rescued’ from a nursing home, where he spent three years. But thanks to Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Ireland, he moved into assisted living housing in Ennis, Co. Clare , where his rehabilitation continued, before he finally got the keys to his own home in Ennis through Anvers Housing , a partner organisation of ABI Ireland, this year. Now living independently for the first time – with help from carers and assistive technology – he feels ‘ecstatic’ and ambitious about the future. ‘I’m a very, very driven person,’ he said. ‘I’ve always been interested in wanting to do as much for myself as I can, and to get more and more independent. ‘Before my assault, I was fiercely independent, living in my own home and working full-time as a senior quantity surveyor, working in the UK, and then when you get a knockback, from a stranger, you find yourself needing full-time care. ‘Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, they rescued me out of a nursing home, set me up, gave me goals and milestones to reach. ‘Even something as simple as learning to get dressed myself in the morning, those little small steps. Each time I achieved something, I felt more independent. They saw it, and they would encourage me.’ He said that with charity’s help, over the course of 11 years, he had gone from walking one length of a 25-metre corridor, to two lengths, to 250 metres, as he got mentally and physically stronger. ‘I was always wanting to do more,’ he said. ‘Then I got my new home. The benefit is not just for me. My parents see their son, and my siblings see their brother, winning his life back, being his old self again. The smile is back on my face and that is priceless.’ It was while heading home from a club in the UK on a Saturday night in July 2009, when he was just 32 years old, that a single punch ended one way of life and began another for Brian. He was out with a group of people, and they decided to go back to his house for a nightcap. One man, a stranger to the group, started chatting with one of the girls and she invited him back to Brian’s home for a drink. ‘When I politely told him he wouldn’t be joining us, he punched me hard in the face – and that was it,’ he said. He was knocked unconscious when his head hit the ground but quickly came round. Believing he would be OK, he didn’t seek immediate medical attention and went home, not realising his brain was bleeding. When friends found him the following morning, covered in vomit and unconscious in his bed, they knew something was seriously wrong and called an ambulance. A scan revealed a massive brain bleed, which had built up in pressure overnight. After five hours in surgery, he was put into an induced coma for three months, to allow his condition to stabilise, while his family kept vigil at his bedside. He spent a year in a rehabilitation centre in the UK, where he learned how to walk and talk again. With the help of his family, he moved to a nursing home in Limerick. While closer to his childhood home, it wasn’t the right place for a man in his 30s. Speaking from his new home, he now wants to do more to raise awareness about how much ABI Ireland does for people, and also help people learn more about brain injury, and how easily it can happen. ‘If I had been more careful, and gone into hospital on the night I was assaulted, rather than going home and further compounding it [the injury], life could have been better for me now,’ he explained. ‘Also, being careful about who you socialise with. Making sure you are associating with someone who is going to look out for you.’ He added: ‘Where there’s life, there’s hope, and Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, they’ve kept that light of hope burning in my heart. They have really spurred me on.’ To learn more about the work of ABI Ireland and to find out how to help, visit the website at ABIIreland.ie .Prayagraj: Inspired by the Digital Maha Kumbh initiative, the 13 akharas are adopting digital tools to streamline their management while preserving their rich religious heritage. By creating comprehensive databases, the akharas are stepping into the digital age, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and innovation in their operations. Mahant Jamuna Puri, secretary of Shri Panchayati Akhara Maha Nirvana, explained that both computers and traditional ledgers are now in use, greatly simplifying akhara audits. "The database helps maintain records required for income tax filing, which are then shared with our chartered accountant," he added. Someshwaranand Brahmachari, general secretary of Shri Panch Agni Akhara, also shared insights into the practical benefits of this digital transition. "During Maha Kumbh audits, information was previously compiled manually from ledgers. Now, with technology, we gather all necessary data efficiently. Our akhara also runs Sanskrit schools , and we use this database to track everything from student numbers to the income and expenditure of these schools." The 13 akharas of Sanatan Dharma are not only key promoters of spirituality, devotion, and sadhana but also lead numerous global initiatives through their acharyas. Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Arun Giri Ji of Awahan Akhara claims that, in addition to religious efforts, saints are also working toward the betterment of humanity. One such initiative is a global tree-planting campaign aimed at environmental protection, for which Acharya Arun Giri Ji is also creating a database. This digital approach enhances efficiency, fosters transparency, and aids in effective management, saving valuable time and resources. Vaishnav akharas have expressed their intention to create their own databases, though technical challenges have delayed the implementation. Shri Mahant Ram Ji Das of All India Shri Panch Nirmohi Ani Akhara explains that unlike the akharas of the Sanyasi sect, Vaishnav akharas do not operate their own trusts, and thus, do not require audits. However, he acknowledges that in today's digital age, Vaishnav akharas will also need to establish databases for their respective institutions in order to keep pace with modern developments.
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