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Matt Gaetz is now giving pep talks and holiday wishes on CameoORLANDO, Fla. — UCF coach Gus Malzahn is resigning after four seasons with the school. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the move, which will see Malzahn to leave to take the offensive coordinator job at Florida State. Malzahn previously worked with FSU coach Mike Norvell during their time at Tulsa under then-coach Todd Graham from 2007-08. The Knights ended a disappointing 4-8 season in which they lost eight of their last nine games, the longest losing streak since 2015. Malzahn, 59, was in the fourth year of a contract through 2028. His buyout, it is reported, would have been $13.75 million. He finished 27-25 at UCF but lost 16 of his last 22 games and was a dismal 4-14 in two seasons in the Big 12. After back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2021-22, the Knights went 6-7 in 2023 and 4-8 in 2024. This season started with high expectations as Malzahn made sweeping changes to the program. He retooled the strength and conditioning department and hired Ted Roof and Tim Harris Jr. as defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively. He also added nearly 50 new players to the roster, leaning heavily on the transfer market. UCF started by winning its first three games against New Hampshire, Sam Houston and a thrilling comeback at TCU, but offensive struggles saw the Knights tumble through a TBD-game losing streak to finish the season. Terry Mohajir hired Malzahn on Feb. 15, 2021, six days after he was hired to replace Danny White. The move came eight weeks after Malzahn had been fired at Auburn after eight seasons of coaching the Tigers. The two briefly worked together at Arkansas State in 2012 before Malzahn left for the Auburn job. “When he [Mohajir] offered the job, I was like, ‘I’m in.’ There wasn’t thinking about or talking about ...,” Malzahn said during his introductory press conference. “This will be one of the best programs in college football in a short time. This is a job that I plan on being here and building it.” UCF opened the 2021 season with non-conference wins over Boise State and Bethune-Cookman before traveling to Louisville on Sept. 17, where quarterback Dillon Gabriel suffered a fractured collarbone in the final minute of a 42-35 loss. Backup Mikey Keene would finish out the season as Gabriel announced his intention to transfer. The Knights would finish the season on the plus side by accepting a bid to join the Big 12 Conference in September and then by defeating Florida 29-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl. Malzahn struck transfer portal gold in the offseason when he signed former Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. Plumlee, a two-sport star with the Rebels, helped guide UCF to the American Athletic Conference Championship in its final season. However, Plumlee’s injury forced the Knights to go with Keene and freshman Thomas Castellanos. The team finished with losses to Tulane in the conference championship and Duke in the Military Bowl. Plumlee would return in 2023 as UCF transitioned to the Big 12 but would go down with a knee injury in the final minute of the Knights’ 18-16 win at Boise State on Sept. 9. He would miss the next four games as backup Timmy McClain took over the team. Even on his return, Plumlee couldn’t help UCF, on a five-game losing streak to open conference play. The Knights got their first Big 12 win at Cincinnati on Nov. 4 and upset No. 15 Oklahoma State the following week, but the team still needed a win over Houston in the regular-season finale to secure a bowl bid for the eighth straight season. From the moment Malzahn stepped on campus, he prioritized recruiting, particularly in Central Florida. “We’re going to recruit like our hair’s on fire,” Malzahn said at the time. “We’re going to go after the best players in America and we’re not backing down to anybody.” From 2007 to 2020, UCF signed 10 four-star high school and junior college prospects. Eight four-star prospects were in the three recruiting classes signed under Malzahn. The 2024 recruiting class earned a composite ranking of 39 from 247Sports, the highest-ranked class in school history. The 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 41 and has commitments from three four-star prospects. Malzahn has always leaned on the transfer market, signing 60 players over the past three seasons. Some have paid huge dividends, such as Javon Baker, Lee Hunter, Kobe Hudson, Tylan Grable, Bula Schmidt, Amari Kight, Marcellus Marshall, Trent Whittemore, Gage King, Ethan Barr, Deshawn Pace and Plumlee. Others haven’t been as successful, such as quarterback KJ Jefferson, who started the first five games of this season before being benched for poor performance. Jefferson’s struggles forced the Knights to play musical chairs at quarterback, with true freshman EJ Colson, redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown and redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk all seeing action at one point or another this season. This season’s struggles led to several players utilizing the NCAA’s redshirt rule after four games, including starting slot receiver Xavier Townsend and kicker Colton Boomer, who have also entered the transfer portal. Defensive end Kaven Call posted a letter to Malzahn on Twitter in which he accused the UCF coaching staff of recently kicking him off the team when he requested to be redshirted. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Taylor Swift once raved about the sweet potato casserole served at a New York City restaurant and now that recipe pops up every now and again at Thanksgiving. The holidays encourage many of us to try new recipes. Social media right now is flooded with recipes for appetizers, side dishes and desserts. Anyone making that cornbread casserole from TikTok? While we might not get to share a Thanksgiving feast with Swift — is your name Blake Lively? — or other celebrities beloved by Kansas City, we can eat like them. So here’s the recipe for that casserole Swift loved so much, and favorite family side dish recipes from Donna Kelce and Eric Stonestreet. Enjoy. Travis Kelce's mother, Donna Kelce, seen here last year at her son's music festival, dined on a cheesesteak made by actor Bradley Cooper at QVC festivities in Las Vegas this week. (Emily Curiel/Kansas City Star/TNS) If we tried to guess how many holiday dinner rolls Travis Kelce and his brother, Jason Kelce, have scarfed over the years, would it be in the hundreds? Thousands? Their mom has spoken often about the batches of holiday crescent rolls she has baked over the years. Based on the recipe that won the 1969 Pillsbury Bake-Off, Pillsbury’s Magic Marshmallow Crescent Puffs , they’re now known as Mama Kelce’s Dinner Rolls. They blend the crescent roll pastry with marshmallows, cinnamon and sugar. Dinner roll or dessert? We bet they didn’t last long enough in front of Travis and Jason for that debate. Ingredients Rolls •1/4 cup granulated sugar •2 tablespoons Pillsbury Best all-purpose flour •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon •2 (8-ounce) cans refrigerated Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count) •16 large marshmallows •1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted Glaze •1/2 cup powdered sugar •1/2 teaspoon vanilla •2-3 teaspoons milk •1/4 cup chopped nuts Directions Make the rolls 1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 16 medium muffin cups with nonstick baking spray. 2. In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon. 3. Separate the dough into 16 triangles. For each roll, dip 1 marshmallow into melted butter; roll in the sugar mixture. Place marshmallow on the shortest side of a triangle. Roll up, starting at shortest side and rolling to opposite point. Completely cover the marshmallow with the dough; firmly pinch edges to seal. Dip 1 end in remaining butter; place butter side down in muffin cup. 4. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. 5. When done, remove from the oven and let the puffs cool in the pan for 1 minute. Remove rolls from muffin cups; place on cooling racks set over waxed paper. Make the glaze and assemble In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls. Sprinkle with nuts. Serve warm. Eric Stonestreet attends 'Eric Stonestreet visits The SiriusXM Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles' at SiriusXM Studios on Oct. 8, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM/TNS) Thanksgiving is one of the “Modern Family” star’s favorite holidays. Three years ago, as part of a campaign honoring hometown heroes , he shared one of his favorite recipe with McCormick Spices: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Butternut Squash . This recipe serves eight. Ingredients •1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved •1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into bite-size cubes •1 tablespoon olive oil •1/2 teaspoon garlic powder •1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves •1/2 teaspoon salt •1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper •5 slices bacon, chopped •1 shallot, finely chopped •1/2 cup dried cranberries •1/4 cup balsamic vinegar •1 teaspoon whole grain mustard •1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional) •1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese, (optional) Directions 1. Preheat oven to 475°F. Spray large shallow baking pan with no stick cooking spray; set aside. Place Brussels sprouts and squash in large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper; toss to coat evenly. Spread in single layer on prepared pan. 2. Roast 16 to 18 minutes or until tender and lightly browned, stirring halfway through cooking. 3. Meanwhile, cook bacon in medium skillet on medium heat about 6 minutes or until crispy. Remove using slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain. Add shallot to same skillet; cook and stir 2 minutes until softened and lightly browned. Stir in cranberries, vinegar and mustard until well blended. Transfer mixture to small bowl; set aside. 4. Arrange roasted Brussels sprouts and squash on serving platter. Drizzle with cranberry balsamic glaze and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with cooked bacon, toasted pecans, and crumbled blue cheese, if desired. Serve immediately. Donna Kelce, left, mother of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce watched the game with pop superstar Taylor Swift, center, during the first-half on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. (Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/TNS) Swift gushed about the sweet potato casserole served at Del Frisco’s Grille in New York City, a dish crowned with a crunchy candied pecan and oatmeal crumble. “I’ve never enjoyed anything with the word casserole in it ever before, but it’s basically sweet potatoes with this brown sugary crust,” she told InStyle. ”Oh my God, it’s amazing.” The media rushed to find the recipe, which Parade has published this Thanksgiving season . “Similar to T. Swift herself, we think this recipe is a mastermind, especially if you’ve been asked to bring the sweet potato side dish to this year’s Thanksgiving feast. It seriously begs the question: who needs pumpkin pie?” the magazine writes. Ingredients •4 lbs sweet potatoes •1⁄3 cup oats •12 oz unsalted butter, divided •1⁄2 cup packed brown sugar •1⁄2 cup toasted pecans •1⁄2 cup granulated sugar •1 tsp kosher salt •2 tsp vanilla extract •4 large eggs, beaten Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. 1. Scrub sweet potatoes. Pierce each several times with a fork and wrap tightly in foil. Place on a sheet pan. Bake 90 minutes or until tender. Set aside until cool enough to handle. 2. Meanwhile, place oats in a food processor; process 1 minute. Add 4 oz butter, brown sugar and pecans; pulse five times to combine. Spread mixture on a baking sheet; bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven, crumble. Bake 5 minutes or until golden brown. 3. Melt remaining 8 oz butter. Remove skin from cooled sweet potatoes. In a large bowl, whisk sweet potatoes, melted butter, granulated sugar and remaining ingredients until slightly lumpy. Transfer to a greased baking dish, smoothing surface evenly. Top with oat mixture. Bake 12 minutes or until heated through. Make-ahead tips •Sweet potato filling can be made up to 2 days in advance. Prepare the sweet potato filling, cool, place in a casserole dish and keep refrigerated. •Oat-pecan crust can also be made up to 2 days ahead. Make the crust according to recipe directions, cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature. Sprinkle over the sweet potato filling just before baking. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Being Lazy Is Bad for Your Memory
NORMAN, Okla. — Freshman Jeremiah Fears finished with 20 points, Duke Miles scored 19 and Oklahoma cruised to an 84-56 victory over East Texas A&M on Thursday night. Fears used 7-for-10 shooting to turn in his best scoring effort thus far for the Sooners (4-0). He was 1 for 4 from 3-point range and 5 of 6 at the free-throw line, adding five assists and four rebounds. Miles hit 7 of 13 shots with three 3-pointers. Glenn Taylor Jr. came off the bench to sink four 3-pointers and scored 16 for Oklahoma. Scooter Williams Jr., Josh Taylor and reserve TJ Thomas all scored nine to pace the Lions (1-5). Miles had 14 points in the first half and Fears scored 11 to guide the Sooners to a 38-33 lead at intermission. Taylor buried all four of his shots from distance and scored 14 in the second half to help Oklahoma double up East Texas A&M 46-23 after the break. The Sooners shot 47.5% overall and made 10 of 32 from beyond the arc (31.3%). The went 18 for 22 at the foul line. The Lions shot 37.7% from the floor, hit 7 of 32 from distance (21.9%) and 9 of 17 foul shots. Oklahoma heads to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis, playing three games in three days. The Sooners open the event on Wednesday against Providence.None
Aidan O'Connell shows in loss to Chiefs that he is the Raiders' QB for the rest of season HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Aidan O'Connell might not be Mr. Right for the Raiders, but he is Mr. Right Now. Mark Anderson, The Associated Press Nov 30, 2024 2:37 PM Nov 30, 2024 3:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) calls a play at the line of scrimmage against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Aidan O'Connell might not be Mr. Right for the Raiders, but he is Mr. Right Now. He did enough in Friday's 19-17 loss at Kansas City to show that Las Vegas' quarterback job will be his for the rest of the season — barring, that is, another injury. O'Connell didn't look like a quarterback who hadn't played in nearly six weeks because of a broken thumb . Plus, the Raiders had a short week to prepare for the Chiefs, meaning O'Connell only went through a series of walk-through practices. Even so, he completed 23 of 35 passes for 340 yards, including touchdown passes of 33 yards to tight end Brock Bowers and 58 yards to wide receiver Tre Tucker. He didn't throw any interceptions. “Thought he competed,” coach Antonio Pierce said Saturday morning. “I thought for what we knew we were getting with Spags (Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) and that defense, that he stood in the pocket, made some tough throws, took some hits, took the shots down the field like we wanted. We had some opportunities to take shots down the field, he threw them. And I thought our skill guys did a hell of a job competing and making some really good plays for us.” O'Connell's performance would've shined even more if not for the Raiders' final offensive play. He led the Raiders from their 8-yard line to the Chiefs 32 with 15 seconds left. The plan was for O'Connell to take the snap and throw the ball away to run off a few more seconds, then send Daniel Carlson out for the potential winning field goal without giving Patrick Mahomes enough time to mount one of his signature comebacks. But rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball before O'Connell was expecting it, and the Chiefs recovered to secure another close, last-minute victory. The Raiders were called for illegal shift, which Kansas City declined. But there was some question about whether officials intended to call a false start instead. Though that infraction would have cost Las Vegas 5 yards, the pre-snap penalty still would've given Carlson a shot at the field goal. Pierce said his team heard an official's whistle before the snap, and that will be included in the Raiders' report to the NFL. “We do that every game,” Pierce said. “Typically, anywhere from three to five questions, and then we’ll get a letter within 24 to 36 hours, and we’ll read it and learn from it.” What’s working Bowers had another sensational game. He was targeted 14 times, catching 10 passes for 140 yards. For the season, he has 84 receptions for 884 yards and four TDs, making him a strong contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year. “We’re seeing double-teams and them really shifting their zone to him, and I don’t really think it matters,” Pierce said. “I think we've got a really special player on our hand.” What needs help The Raiders need to do better on first and second downs to set up more favorable third-down conversions. They have faced 47 third downs from 7 to 10 yards, tied with the Dallas Cowboys for fifth most. Las Vegas' conversion rate on those plays is 36.2%, which actually is favorable compared to the rest of the league, but the Raiders are still creating too many of those situations. Stock up Las Vegas made life difficult for Mahomes, sacking him five times. And it wasn't just Maxx Crosby bringing the heat. Four players had at least one-half sack, including K’Lavon Chaisson, who had 1 1/2. It was a season-high total for the Raiders, and they have taken down the opposing quarterback in 30 consecutive games, the third-longest active streak. Stock down Carlson is usually money, but he missed field goals from 56, 55 and 58 yards. Hardly chip shots, but he is capable of converting from those distances. He had made 30 of 38 field goals from 50-plus yards entering the game, with a career long of 57 yards. Injuries WR DJ Turner injured his knee in the second half. Key number 12 — The Raiders are one of three teams to fall behind double digits in each of their first 12 games of a season. The others were the 1986 Indianapolis Colts and 1972 New England Patriots. Next steps The Raiders visit Tampa Bay on Dec. 8. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Mark Anderson, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Chargers will be without top RB Dobbins and could lean on QB Herbert against Falcons Nov 30, 2024 1:44 PM Washington Commanders release 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes Nov 30, 2024 1:40 PM J.K. Dobbins and Alohi Gilman are placed on injured reserve by Chargers Nov 30, 2024 1:32 PMBUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Botafogo overcame playing with 10 men to win its first Copa Libertadores title after beating fellow Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro 3-1 in the final at Monumental de Nunez Stadium on Saturday. After just 30 seconds, midfielder Gregore, one of Botafogo's best players, hit the head of Fausto Vera with his foot and was given a straight red card. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Nvidia Says New Chip Remains on Track, Helping Soothe InvestorsPhiladelphia, surrounding counties, certify the 2024 election
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COLUMBUS, Ohio—As homeowners in Cuyahoga County and elsewhere around Ohio are increasingly worried about property tax hikes as their home values jump, they’re looking to the state legislature for help. But property tax relief isn’t going to happen during the Ohio General Assembly’s lame-duck session this year, other than a few possible tweaks, legislative leaders predict. Home values have risen significantly in many areas of Ohio and the nation in recent years, thanks to higher mortgage interest rates, inflation, and other factors. The latest wave of county residential property reappraisals (conducted every six years) resulted in taxable home values rising an average of 32% in Cuyahoga County this year , as well as 41% in Franklin County and 32% in Hamilton County last year . Lawmakers and other public officials across the country have also been grappling with the same problem as well, proposing a wide variety of solutions with mixed success. Stories by Jeremy Pelzer Here’s how Matt Huffman won the contentious battle for Ohio House speaker Matt Huffman wins GOP vote to become presumptive Ohio House speaker: Capitol Letter Matt Huffman is poised to become next Ohio House speaker after winning GOP caucus vote Ohio law already limits how much property taxes will increase as a result, and the effect on each homeowner’s tax bill can vary significantly. However, many homeowners have told lawmakers they’re concerned about how much more they’ll have to pay going forward. In response, state lawmakers have introduced more than a dozen bills during the current two-year legislative session aimed at helping Ohioans with their property taxes. But it remains to be seen exactly which of those bills will pass before the session ends next month; those that don’t will have to be re-introduced next year from scratch. The bills under consideration – many of which have bipartisan support – include, among others: Senate Bill 271 and House Bill 645 , each of which would authorize a state income-tax credit or rebate of up to $1,000 to homeowners and renters whose property taxes (or rent from property taxes) exceed 5% of their income. This so-called property tax “circuit breaker” would only be offered to Ohioans with an annual household income of $60,000 and a home value under a certain median amount ($438,300 as of 2022). Senate Bill 308 , which would mitigate property-tax increases in the 68% of Ohio school districts that have emergency or substitute tax levies in place. Senate Bill 244 , which would allow local governments to create “residential stability zones” where qualified residents can apply for a tax exemption equal to the percentage increase of their assessed value. The exemptions would last indefinitely for homeowners 60 years or older and for six years for applicants younger than that. House Bill 187 , which would temporarily expand Ohio’s homestead exemption, which allows elderly and disabled homeowners to reduce their property taxes. The bill would raise the annual income eligibility limit from $36,100 to $75,000, and it would increase the amount of the exemption (which varies based on income level). House Bill 263 , which would freeze property taxes for homeowners who are older than 70, have a maximum annual income of $70,000 (a limit that would rise over time with inflation), have a home with an appraised value of $1 million or less, and have lived in that home for at least a decade House Joint Resolution 6 , which would put a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot to limit property-tax increases to 4% per year. However, House Speaker Jason Stephens told reporters earlier this month that the only property-tax measures he thinks will pass in the current lame-duck session are comparatively minor changes, such as requiring additional hearings in order to put new property-tax levies on the local ballot. “Any major sweeping property tax legislation is going to take a lot of conversation,” said Stephens, a Lawrence County Republican. “And we’ve had a lot of conversation this past two years.” READ MORE: Cuyahoga property values increasing average 32%, but that doesn’t mean bills will surge too Stephens, a former county auditor, noted that any reduction in property taxes would mean less money for the school districts and local governments that rely on the money – unless, of course, the state legislature appropriates money to make up the difference, he added. House Minority Leader Allison Russo, a Democrat from suburban Columbus, has blamed Statehouse Republicans for not doing enough to address the issue of property tax increases, saying they’ve wrongly put money instead toward things like income tax cuts and expanding publicly funded school vouchers for private schools. She also said back in September that HB187, the homestead exemption expansion bill, didn’t have the votes to pass because of the “unintended consequences” that it would have for local schools and governments. Another factor is that lawmakers are still waiting on a joint House-Senate property tax reform study committee to issue their final report, which is due Dec. 31. State Rep. Bill Roemer, the Richfield Republican co-chairing that committee, told WCMH-TV that the goal is for that report to be released after Thanksgiving. Roemer said he expects most of the big proposals regarding property-tax reform will be put into next year’s state budget, which usually passes the legislature in late June. Lame-duck session is a time when lawmakers push through a wide array of bills without much time for additional discussion, and re-introducing many of these property tax measures next session would allow for more discussion on them. However, there are several unknowns about how they might fare next session, including what the property tax reform committee might recommend, what incoming lawmakers, Senate President-elect Rob McColley, a Northwest Ohio Republican, will think of them, and what Gov. Mike DeWine will include in his budget proposal early next year. Two-thirds of local property tax levies send the money raised to local schools, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation . The remainder are imposed to raise funds for roads, parks, libraries, and local governments, among other things. Counties and other local governments, of course, could decide on their own to roll back their property tax levies, though so far most have been reluctant to forego the revenue – one exception to that being the city of North Olmsted . Jeremy Pelzer covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.Botafogo won the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history with a 3-1 victory over fellow Brazilians Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. Botafogo played almost the entire match with ten men after Gregore was sent off in the first minute but they showed impressive spirit and resilience to secure victory at River Plate's Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. Midfielder Gregore was shown a red card after a wild, high challenge on Fauto Vera, forcing Botafogo to adjust their game plan, but Atletico failed to press home their numerical advantage. Veteran forward Hulk had an effort from outside the box saved by John but the team from Belo Horizonte created little pressure. Sensing the game might not be the rearguard action they might have expected, Botafogo began to show more attacking intent and they were rewarded in the 35th minute. Marlon Freitas's shot from the edge of the box ricocheted around a crowded box before the ball fell to Luiz Henrique, who fired home from close range. To their credit, Botafogo didn't retreat to defend their slim advantage and they were able to double their lead in the 44th minute. Atletico defender Guilherme Arana attempted to shepherd the ball back to goalkeeper Everson but Luiz Henrique snuck between the pair and went down under challenge from the keeper. After a VAR review, a penalty was awarded and Alex Telles confidently smashed home the spot kick to give Botafogo an unlikely 2-0 lead at the break. Atletico, who won the Libertadores in 2013, made a triple substitution at the interval and it paid off swiftly with Eduardo Vargas heading in from a corner. Inevitably, there was late pressure from Atletico, but Botafogo made sure of the victory when Junior Santos finished off a counter-attack deep in stoppage time. With the win, Botafogo earns the final of 32 places in next year's FIFA Club World Cup to be held in the United States. sev/jsIt was the 24-year-old’s first Champions Cup game — though he did feature in last season’s Challenge Cup — and overall, the initial experience of playing in club rugby’s top tournament wasn’t exactly a good one as Ulster shipped 61 points, 40 being brought up by the midway point and before he could get into the action off the bench. “It kind of stays with you and is a bit of an itch, so hopefully this weekend I can fix that,” Izuchukwu admits, though the subject matter which still lingers around the foreground is his first Ireland cap against Fiji on November 23. Indeed, the actual cap comes with its own tale given the ‘Izzy’ treatment. He and fellow debutant Gus McCarthy were both presented with their caps after the win over the Fijians and the idea was that they kept the items, complete with golden thread and a tassel, on their persons for the evening. First cappers and all that. But not the London-born and Tullamore-raised Izuchukwu. “I was supposed to wear it out that night for the function, but I gave it to my mum and she took it, so I got a lot of stick over that, but it’s safe in Tullamore anyway,” he says with a broad smile. He could be forgiven for breaking protocol as it had been an emotional day for the player who, this time last year, was largely seen at Ulster as a bench option — 13 of his then 17 appearances had been as a replacement — and was still to be found turning out in Ballynahinch colours for AIL action. Last month’s penultimate Saturday was also special for the Izuchukwu clan; Cormac’s mother Catriona, his two brothers and sister were all in the stands at the Aviva Stadium. “I didn’t know (where they were), not until after,” he says. “Whenever they start singing anthems and stuff, it kind of really hits you, you can feel the power of the crowd and the lads beside you.” And in terms of wondering where they might be, he adds: “I was starting, so I was quite caught up in it and I was crazy nervous, and I was thinking of kick-off and that when it goes, you’re into the game, so I was just thinking of kick-off and that was it. “My family are not massively into rugby, and I think I’m the only one who played rugby in my family, so it was really special, unbelievable. “My eldest brother had flown back from England, and it was his 30th birthday as well, so that was even more special.” He thought he had a try only for it to be scrubbed out due to Mack Hansen’s assist being deemed forward, but he is eager to switch towards “Ulster mode” and the rather more pressing matter of wearing the provincial shirt again this weekend in the Champions Cup against more formidable French opposition in Bordeaux Bègles. “I’ve been lucky with Ireland selections in the past,” he notes of previous squad call-ups ahead of the first cap. “There have been injuries, and I’ve had a couple of good games just before the selection period,” Izuchukwu says of maybe making the cut for the Six Nations squad before moving on from all this with a “whatever happens, happens” approach. “I can’t wait for this weekend and getting stuck into Bordeaux, have my best performance and, hopefully, that helps the team. “It hurts a lot,” he says, referencing last Sunday in Toulouse. “You want to be up there with the best in the world, and it’s hard. I myself wasn’t up to it last weekend, I felt like I didn’t have enough good moments. “As a team, we really hate losing and it’s not a good environment to be around whenever we lose and everyone wants to change (that), and you can only change that by winning, so this weekend we’re going to get stuck in and hopefully do what we can.” And Ulster need something to advance their cause in a fiendishly challenging Pool One — as well as Toulouse and Bordeaux, Leicester Tigers are also there — which could well come down to Ulster and Exeter Chiefs battling it out to make the Challenge Cup and avoid finishing bottom. There is no denying that Ulster have it all to do, particularly after surrendering so much at champions Toulouse. “Obviously, there’s a lot to fix and they (Toulouse) had certain players like (Antoine) Dupont and players doing certain things, but Bordeaux have a whole new set of players who can do a whole other set of things, so it’s going to be a case of just take our medicine and hopefully move in the right direction,” he explains. “They’re (Bordeaux) very similar to Toulouse in that they have a lot of X-factor players who can turn it on from anywhere. “Their backline is really special, they’ve got power and speed, same as Toulouse, but it’s just a case of can we handle that and, as forwards, spread the field and take care of the challenges,” adds Izuchukwu. “I can’t wait for it and to get stuck in and hopefully have a good game and do something special for the fans as when you’re back here, it’s a whole different feeling.” In a way, it’s all been a bit of a blur. He toured South Africa with the senior Ireland squad last summer and now has his cap — though, of course, the actual item is in Tullamore — while also having cemented his place in Richie Murphy’s squad since the back end of last season to now be playing Champions Cup rugby. “I’m still hitting my milestones,” he says. “My first (Champions Cup) game that was special, and this is my first home game this week, and that’s another challenge for me, that’s something I haven’t experienced before, a home (Champions Cup) game here, so I can’t wait for that. “I’m still having the moments so, hopefully, they keep coming. “I’ve surprised myself with how fast it’s gone, I think every player believes they are good enough but, for me, it’s how quick and fast it’s come. It’s been a bit of a surprise how fast it’s gone.” Leaving national camp behind brings its own issues as he gets back up to speed with Ulster’s moves and calls while working on what Murphy wants and ensuring that the work-ons he has been given by Ireland are also getting attention. He says: “When you go away, you can learn so much and bring that back with you, but there are also lads here who are so good, lads like Al (O’Connor) and Waz (Andrew Warwick) who have so many caps and experience, so when you come back, you still learn loads. “And coming back in here and switching focus back to Ulster mode, I suppose, it’s been special, the last couple of weeks have kind of been buzzing with new things coming towards me and I’ve really enjoyed them and tried to embrace them as much as I could. “So, back in, and the lads are pretty amped up. You can only keep going forward.” Seems like a reasonable plan.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — What's stoking the Denver Broncos' surprising surge is the growing connection between rookie quarterback Bo Nix and veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton. Whenever the Broncos (7-5) need a clutch catch, a key flag or a timely touchdown, Sutton is usually the one delivering it like he did Sunday when he caught eight passes on 10 targets for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns that sparked the Broncos' come-from-behind 29-19 win at Las Vegas. “Courtland played tremendous,” coach Sean Payton said. Again. “He’s just reliable,” Nix said. “He's just always there when you need him.” Sutton's size (6-foot-4 and 216 pounds) and experience (he's in his seventh NFL season) make him an ideal target and safety valve for the rookie QB whose confidence is growing by the week. “He’s smart. He’s savvy. He makes plays when the ball’s in the air,” Nix said. “You can trust him. When it’s up in the air, it’s his or nobody’s. It’s not going to be a pick.” Nix's first touchdown toss to Sutton was an 18-yarder that allowed the QB to break Marlin Briscoe's 1968 Denver rookie record of 14 TD passes, and the two connected again with 5:30 left to make it a two-score game. The Broncos trailed 13-9 at halftime and Nix said they knew they had to get the ball into Sutton's hands more in the second half after he had caught the only pass thrown his way in the first half (for 17 yards). “Didn’t target him (much) in the first half,” Nix said. “We come out and say, ‘Look, Courtland, this is your half.’ We take over the game. He goes for two touchdowns. That just kind of speaks for what he means to our team.” Sutton has been on a tear after since he wasn't targeted a single time in Denver's 33-10 win at New Orleans on Oct. 17. (Payton mentioned as recently as last week what an anomaly that game was because there was a heavy diet of plays for Sutton that just didn't pan out for various reasons.) In his six games before that goose egg, Sutton had 21 catches on 49 targets for 277 yards and a touchdown. In the five games since, he's caught 36 of the 48 balls thrown his way for 467 yards and three TDs. Plus, he threw a touchdown pass to Nix on a “Philly Special” at Baltimore in Week 9. “I think we're just scratching the surface,” Sutton said. Thanks in part to the chemistry between Nix and Sutton, the Broncos are in position for the seventh and final playoff spot entering December. What’s working The passing game, thanks to the Nix-Sutton connection. What needs help The running game. Javonte Williams had just 2 yards on eight carries and Audric Estime ran three times for 15 yards against the Raiders' run-heavy fronts and a steady diet of blitzes. Jaleel McLaughlin saved the day with seven carries for 44 yards. Stock up OLB Nik Bonitto. His 10 sacks make him the first Denver defender with double-digit sacks since 2018, when Von Miller did it. Stock down Once again, the Broncos' special teams, with the exception of K Wil Lutz, who hasn't missed a field goal attempt or extra point since his protection unit cratered at Kansas City three weeks ago and allowed the Chiefs to block what would have been the game-winning kick as time expired. On Sunday, the Raiders had a successful fake punt and a 59-yard kickoff return. Injuries Payton isn't saying much about the injuries to DE Zach Allen (heel) and CB Riley Moss (knee) except that to him they're not serious setbacks for either player. Key number 2 — The Broncos are two games above .500 for the first time since starting the 2021 season with three wins. Next steps The Broncos host Cleveland (3-8) on Monday night ahead of their bye week. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Arnie Stapleton, The Associated PressSocial media firms raise 'serious concerns' over Australian U-16 ban
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NoneThe decentralized Twitter/X alternative social network Bluesky has updated its impersonation policy to fend off fake accounts from the platform in hopes of driving confidence among users that "the accounts they interact with are authentic." It detailed the several changes in a six-part announcement post made through the Bluesky Safety account. Bluesky said its is now more "aggressive" and will remove accounts indulged in impersonation and handle-squatting. It is also working with high-profile accounts on the platform to help them set up their verified domain handles. Bluesky's verification problem was in a third-party analysis, revealing that about 44% of the top 100 most followed accounts have at least one doppelganger account. Following user feedback wanting more ways to verify their identity, the social network is exploring ways to "enhance account verification" and will share updates in the future. The social network started as an invite-only platform but got an after it . As a result, Bluesky has piled up a backlog of moderation reports. It has now quadrupled the size of its moderation team to quickly process impersonation reports. Bluesky will allow parody, satire, and fan accounts. Still, the updated policy now requires such accounts to clearly label themselves in both the display name and bio to alert other users that the account isn't official. This is similar to how YouTube last year regarding fan accounts, taking a toll on accounts that try to impersonate others. Bluesky will attach an impersonation label for accounts that fail to convey their intention in any of these places. Identity churning is another thing that's on Bluesky's radar this time. It's the process of changing an account's identity to mislead users. For instance, if someone creates an impersonation account to attract followers and then switches to a different identity to keep that account. Bluesky said it will remove such accounts from its platform.