A pair of teams vying to put a stamp on overachieving campaigns will meet as Georgia Tech squares off with Vanderbilt in the Birmingham Bowl on Friday in Birmingham, Ala. Georgia Tech (7-5) is appearing in back-to-back bowl games for the first time since an 18-year run from 1997-2014, and a win would give the Yellow Jackets consecutive bowl wins for the first time in 20 years. For a Georgia Tech program that endured a 14-32 stretch from 2019-22, this season has given Yellow Jacket fans a reason to believe a resurgence is near. After knocking off No. 10 Florida State in the season opener, Georgia Tech climbed into the AP Poll for the first time in nine years. Although it was a short stay in the rankings, head coach Brent Key's team piqued the nation's interest again in November, when it took down undefeated No. 4 Miami, 28-23. The Yellow Jackets had another chance to shake up the college football landscape against then-No. 7 Georgia, but blew a late 14-point lead en route to an eight-overtime defeat. Now with one more opportunity against the Southeastern Conference, Key thinks the bowl organizers nailed this one on the head. "We're excited to go over to Birmingham and play a really good opponent," Key said. "I think this is a really good matchup. When you look at bowl games, that's what you look for, the matchups. And I think they got this one right." Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King's 1,910 passing yards and 22 total touchdowns (11 passing, 11 rushing) have steadied the offense throughout the year, but the Yellow Jackets will be without their leading receiver, Eric Singleton Jr., who entered the transfer portal after the regular season and signed with Auburn on Monday. Starting defensive lineman Romello Height also transferred, meaning a next-man-up mentality will be in order for Key's squad. "One person is not going to make a difference as far as rotational depth," Key said. "We're going to continue to coach the guys that are here, and prepare them not only for this game but for the rest of their careers here at Georgia Tech." Singleton paced Georgia Tech with 754 receiving yards to go along with four total touchdowns, while Height tallied 2 1/2 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. It wouldn't have surprised many college football pundits had Vanderbilt missed the postseason for a sixth straight year. The Commodores (6-6) were predicted last by a wide margin in the SEC preseason poll coming off last year's winless conference slate. However, the program's historic season can now be punctuated with its first bowl win in 11 years, thanks to a shocking Oct. 5 victory over No. 1 Alabama, along with its first win all-time at Auburn. Led by head coach Clark Lea, the revamped Commodores see a similar program on Friday in Birmingham. "Georgia Tech is a team I've taken notes on as Brent has built that program up," Lea said. "What an incredible transformation they've had; so much respect for them. ... This is our 10th bowl game in 134 years, it's a chance for our first winning season since 2013. You're going to have two teams that play a physical brand of football, two head coaches that care deeply about the institutions we represent. "These are two teams that are going to fight for a win and I don't think it gets better than that." The Commodores are led by quarterback Diego Pavia, who had 2,133 passing yards and 17 touchdowns in the air, paired with 716 rushing yards and six scores on the ground. Pavia, a transfer from New Mexico State -- and New Mexico Military Institute at the juco level -- won a court ruling last week that granted him a seventh year of eligibility in 2025. --Field Level Media
49ers QB Brock Purdy resumes throwing but status for this week remains unknownThe team attended the 2024 Annual Conference of the Museum Association of the Caribbean [MAC] in Panama. A spokesperson said, “The National Museum of Bermuda [NMB] was strongly represented at the 2024 Annual Conference of the Museum Association of the Caribbean [MAC] in Panama City, Panama. Led by NMB Executive Director Elena Strong, and co-president of MAC, the team included NMB education committee chair and trustee Dr. Janet Ferguson, curator Dr. Deborah Atwood, curatorial assistant Chynna Trott, and curatorial intern and interim MAC secretariat Amani Simons. Together, they showcased the Museum’s initiatives, engaged with Caribbean and Circum-Caribbean museum colleagues, and contributed to key discussions on the future of museums in the region. “The conference, ‘The Future of Caribbean Museums: Communities, Co-creation, and Connections,’ was opened by Ms. Strong, who introduced the keynote speaker, Ana Elizabeth González, director of the Museo del Canal. González reflected on the Museo del Canal’s transformation into a dynamic space that preserves Panama’s history and cultural heritage and embraces a broader range of cultural and social narratives. She highlighted the Museo del Canal’s efforts to connect with local communities, foster civic engagement, and establish itself as a key cultural reference for the region, contributing to Panama’s cultural and historical future. “The Conference had over 200 attendees with 57 presenters representing 25 countries across the region. Over the course of three days, presenters shared insights, explored opportunities for co-creation, and fostered deeper regional collaboration.” Ms. Simons shared: “In my interim secretariat role and in attending the conference, I have been exposed to a new side of heritage and culture. Working with like-minded individuals from the Caribbean, Latin America, the US and Canada has enhanced my understanding of not just my own history but the Atlantic World as a whole. My biggest takeaway from the conference was a quote that I heard during a presentation: ‘be the subject of history, not the object of it’. I identified with this because highlighting the everyday stories in history is just as important as the ones already being told.” The spokesperson said, “Ms. Strong organised a workshop at the conference facilitated by Dr. Ferguson, which brought together 20 museum leaders to creatively imagine what inter regional collaboration could look like. This interactive event allowed participants to share ideas on how museums can best serve their communities, with a focus on amplifying marginalised voices and fostering inclusive cultural spaces. “Dr. Ferguson was also a presenter, sharing the unique role museums play in fostering community engagement through innovative learning approaches. She highlighted NMB’s Adult Ambassadors programme, which uses facilitation methods, adult education pedagogies, participatory approaches, and dialogic learning to take museum tours to the next level. “In their presentation, Dr. Atwood and Ms. Trott shared insights into NMB’s transformation from a static repository of artifacts to a dynamic hub for community engagement, storytelling, and collaborative creation. They highlighted existing NMB projects that do this work such as ‘ ’, ‘ ’ and ‘ ’. “A highlight was the keynote speakers’ discussion for MAC’s AGM which focused on the post-COVID challenges facing museums globally. Dr. Oris Sanjur, Deputy Director of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute [STRI] in Panama, and Dr. Ariana A. Curtis, Curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and MAC Director, discussed issues such as resource disparities, the burnout of cultural workers, and the evolving demands on museums in the current cultural and political climate. Dr Sanjur, as the first female leader for STRI, emphasised the importance of resilience, empathetic leadership and fostering safe, healthy environments for both staff and visitors.” Reflecting on the conference, Ms. Strong shared: “Overall, the MAC conference underscored the vital role of museums in the Caribbean and Circum-Caribbean as centers of innovation, dialogue, and cultural resilience. The conversations, ideas, and collaborations developed during this event highlight the importance of these regions in shaping the future of museums worldwide. By continuing to strengthen connections across the Caribbean and beyond, museums in the Caribbean/Circum-Caribbean are positioned to lead the way in co-creating sustainable, inclusive cultural spaces that amplify diverse voices and reflect the dynamic histories of their communities. “While Bermuda is not geographically located in the Caribbean, we have so much in common with our southern museum colleagues. The conference was key for inspiration, networking, and professional development for the NMB team. Insights gained and relationships established will help guide NMB’s ongoing efforts to be a dynamic and inclusive space that serves our community and preserves Bermuda’s cultural heritage for future generations.” : , ,JAY – Have you ever wondered where Crash Road got its name? An article from the Kennebec Journal on December 19, 1963, discusses the “crash program” which led to the naming of Crash Road in Jay. Article can be found at Maine’s Paper and Heritage Museum in Livermore Falls. Leo Goddard/Franklin Journal It might make you think that the naming of the road was inspired by multiple crashes, deeming the road dangerous. However, though the road is winding and there have been multiple crashes taking place on the road, the name is misleading. The name of the road actually stems from a “crash” program that was created in order to get heavy machinery to the Androscoggin Mill for its construction in the 1960s. Before it was Crash Road, it was called North Livermore-Jay Road. It began with Alvin Record and Hugh J. Chisholm. Both had built and owned four pulp and paper mills between the two of them. Chisholm became president of the Otis Falls Pulp and Paper Company and after a couple of fires and other issues, Record sold his mills to Chisholm in 1897 . This was when the mills were consolidated into the International Paper Company. Then in the early 1960s, the International Paper Company was looking at two locations to expand a paper mill with modern technology, one being on the Androscoggin River in Jay and another being somewhere out of state. They picked Jay and quickly ran into the problem of transportation. There were no roads for the company to transport heavy machinery to the new mill location, namely a Yankee dryer, a large cylinder responsible for removing moisture from the paper after it has been formed . The State Highway Commission [SHC] was quick to choose the former North Livermore-Jay Road to make a general access road. They launched a “crash” program, a rapid plan of action to meet a closing deadline. They closed all other construction in nearby areas to focus on expanding the 4.26 mile road to fit the large equipment being transported. The front page of the State Highway Commission plans to expand Crash Road, formerly known as North Livermore-Jay Road in Livermore and Jay in 1964. Screenshot/Franklin Journal The road was built as fast as possible, becoming known as Crash Road, named after the “crash” program created in efforts to expand the road. The Androscoggin Mill was finished in 1965 and ceased operation in March of 2023 . Though the road is not named for causing car crashes, it is still a windy road with limited lighting so you should still use caution. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. 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