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The countdown is on to Penn States first appearance in the Cotton Bowl since 1975.

Practices are ongoing in State College while head coach James Franklin and his staff continue to pound the pavement on the recruiting trail. The drills are all about improvement for the blue and white right now, and many young players are receiving more reps than they did during the regular season.

Its with that bit of background information that we kick off this weeks PennLive Penn State mailbag, and there is a lot to get to. Unsurprisingly, the majority of your questions this week focus on the movement at offensive coordinator now that Ricky Rahne is at Old Dominion and Franklin has a new hire to make. There is some variety in this edition, though, and remember: Questions (which are in the bold-face text below) can be submitted weekly to gpickel@pennlive.com or on Twitter by sending a message to @GregPickel.

Lets get to it.

@TCGIbson13 asks: Who is the most likely candidate for the OC position?

We posted a pretty long list of potential candidates back on Monday, and while one of those names becoming the pick won't shock me, that isn't exactly Franklin's style.

Think about it: No one thought Joe Moorhead would replace John Donovan before the 2016 season, and who saw Joe Lorig joining the staff as the new special teams coordinator?

Franklin has a good idea of who he wants for any potential opening on his staff and always has. An internal promotion doesnt make sense this time around, but a seemingly logical pick such as Mississippi States Andrew Breiner, Ohio States Mike Yurcich, or Minnesotas Kirk Ciarrocca might be too easy of a prediction to come true.

@DPeazy007 asks: Do you think any of the position coaches take a coordinator position with Rahne?

Rahne hired third-year PSU grad assistant Mark Dupuis to join his staff on Wednesday night, and other lower-level Lions staffers could join him with the Monarchs.

Im hardpressed to think that any of the current position coaches will join him, though. For starters, itd probably equal a pay decrease, and only tight ends coach Tyler Bowen would fit a hypothetical mold of an up-and-coming coach with play calling experience. Gerad Parker would too, I suppose, but have he and Rahne bonded quick enough to team up elsewhere? It seems unlikely.

Then, defensively, its a veteran staff that has had opportunities to move on to bigger jobs than ODU. Again, its not wise to rule anything out in this wild game of college football, but its hard to make a logical case for any of Brent Prys staff to head to Norfolk.

@OhioLions333 asks: Who will have a bigger role next year from the class of 2019 that didnt get much playing time this year?

Great question! There are so many options to choose from.

On offense, it seems smart to pick TJ Jones or John Dunmore. Both receivers redshirted but there are obviously opportunities to get on the field at that position in 2020. Then, theres Caedan Wallace, who is going to fight for a starting spot despite all the returning offensive line starters, and tight end Brenton Strange could work his way into the Nick Bowers role behind Pat Freiermuth.

Defensively, Lance Dixon looked ready to play special teams and some spot linebacker reps, but he was wisely redshirted. There should be a bigger role for him in the new year. The same goes for end Adisa Isaac, who did some nice things when out on the field in 2019.

Finally, the staff took time to point out corner Daequan Hardy during media availabilities during the fall. He should see immediate special teams work.

With Hardy the pick for that unit, lets go with Caedan Wallace on offense and Lance Dixon on defense.

@bpwpsu317 asks: How much money do you think Franklins contract is worth? How much for assistants, facilities? Thanks

Youre right: Penn State has not released those details yet.

The base salary should go up into the high $6 million dollar range if not $7 million as soon as 2020.

As for the added cash for assistants and facilities, well never learn how much that pot swelled thanks to this latest deal, but the word considerably should sum it up well. Well know more, too, when we see what caliber of offensive coordinator is hired.

Finally: No, there is no indication as to when the terms will be released.

@TJUtley asks: Who would be favored if Penn State played Wisconsin on a neutral field?

According to the power ratings over at The Action Network, the Badgers would be a 1.5-point favorite.

In this current environment, bettors might jump on Wisconsin because of PSUs current coordinator uncertainty. For that reason, I suspect the line might have the Lions as about a three-point underdog in a hypothetical neutral site matchup.

@dgreder22 asks: Its early but where do you see Penn States recruiting class landing next year? If a playoff birth happens next year, how do you see that affecting Penn States recruiting?

At this time last year, we thought Penn State would sign a top-five Class of 2020 if it could reel in Southern Columbia receiver Julian Fleming (Ohio State) and Maryland five-star end Bryan Bresee (Clemson). The Lions are still signing a strong class in, but not what it could have been.

Its again too early to tell, but PSU hosted a very strong group of underclassmen last weekend, and if it can turn some of those visitors, such as five-star Washington, D.C., quarterback Caleb Williams and Maryland four-star offensive lineman Landon Tengwall, into verbal commitments, then well again be talking about the program having a chance to sign one of the nations top-tier classes.

As for the CFP part of the inquiry, that would likely help the Class of 2022 and beyond more than the Class of 2021.

@mattmiller_2 asks: How much money would you throw at a quality offensive coordinator?

As much as it takes.

James Franklin is fond of saying that small increases in many areas can help take the Lions to the top, and thats true, and also applies to the coordinator positions.

Looking at how the market has already gone this offseason, its looking likely that something around $1 million will be the required base salary to lure a top option, and make no mistake: PSU wants one of those.

@bigknuterockne asks: Do you think Rahne leaving might open the door for Shorter to return? Do you think it will impact any players decision to stay or go?

I dont think so. I think the players had much more respect and appreciation for the job Rahne did than many fans do and did, and the ones that didnt probably were displeased with other things that would still cause them to leave if they were going to, with or without Rahne around.

As for Shorter specifically, his camp has been quiet publically but is surely weighing all of the options behind the scenes before making a decision. Its still difficult to see him coming back considering he entered the transfer portal a week before the regular season ended.

@AZSoup16 asks: How will Franklin get to 85 scholarships?

The same way they always do: Unexpected attrition.

You can bet that the Lions have been working under the assumption that Will Fries and Michal Menet would probably return, and they likely felt Pat Freiermuth would be back.

That said, they also know some guys we arent expecting will either head to the NFL early or hit the transfer portal. Id say its amazing that those numbers always work themselves out, but weve seen them do it with relative ease time and time again.

@a_redding7 asks: How soon will a new OC be named?

James Franklin has shown a tendency to want to wrap these decisions up quickly, but this is an important hire, and the December signing period is an obstacle he didnt deal with in the past.

My gut says if a hire isnt made by the Friday after Signing Day (Dec. 20), then one wont be made until early January once the team is back from the Cotton Bowl.

@mcsjudo asks: Will hiring of a new OC affect current recruiting class?

Nope. I expect Penn States offensive scheme to stay more or less the same, though the new guy will surely have some tweaks in mind. A good rule of thumb is that, if guys dont start leaving as soon as the coach does, then the program is probably safe.

@wirewalker630 asks: Where is Nick Tarburton. No one has ever answered that question.

Hes still on the roster, but I have no update otherwise.

WeAreToTheTop asks: Whatever happened to the phantom UVA return trip to Penn State that was to happen in 2013?

We are nearing the annual rite of passage at the bowl site: Asking Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour this very question. Stay tuned!

@pacatfan asks: Do you think this team will show up for the Cotton Bowl, or will they lack motivation as in last years bowl game?

This is a pretty hungry team, and unlike last year, some key decisions have already been made. The month of rest will do them good, and the young stars on this roster will stress how important a bowl win is after many of them tasted defeat for the duration of the offseason. I expect the Lions to come to play in the Cotton Bowl.

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Will Ricky Rahne leaving impact Penn State recruiting, and will the offense change? Cotton Bowl motivation, m - PennLive

With the regular season and another Big Ten Trophy in the trophy case at The Woody, Ohio State now turns its eyes towards preparing for the matchup in the desert against the reigning champs Clemson Tigers.

With the recent history against Clemson, its an intriguing matchup. Ohio State is 0-3 against the Tigers, and fans would love to get a sour taste out of their mouth after the 31-0 dominating game Clemson pitched against Ohio State in 2016. Could it be that this year will change the narrative against Clemson?

For the first time this year, Ohio State is an underdog in the Fiesta Bowl despite being the higher seed. In just a short week, it went from being the College Football Playoffs No. 1 team, to now nearly everyone picking the Tigers to beat the Buckeyes and move on to the national title game. While it may be disappointing to many, it could also be just the extra motivation that the team needs to elbow its own way to a national title.

But lets be clear here. While there are several players that were part of that 2016 team this one is very, very different. Whether it be coaches, players, or schemes, Ohio State is far different than when it got trounced in the desert last time out.

Some might remember that Urban Meyer was incredible as an underdog with a crazy and somewhat unbelievable 7-0 record. Could Day be just as great with Urban in that category? Day has this calm presence and has faced adversity this year.

While the conference championship game was too close in the first half for comfort, it tested Day and his staffs resolve, resiliency, and game-management on the biggest stage yet in his young coaching career. When its all said and done, all eyes will be eagerly awaiting the matchup in the desert in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl to see how he does.

Maybe hell show he can go from underdog to top dog?

Read more:
Can Ryan Day carry over the success with Ohio State in an underdog role? - Buckeyes Wire

The Justice Department inspector general on Monday released a long-awaited report that found FBI agents were not motivated by political bias in opening investigations into associates of the Trump campaign in 2016.

The report, however, sharply criticizes the FBI over its handling of applications to surveil former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, providing fodder for Trump and his Republican allies while at the same time undercutting a key GOP talking point that agents driven by bias improperly targeted then-candidate Trump.

The findings released by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz set the stage for a partisan showdown on Capitol Hill, where he is slated to testify publicly Wednesday to answer questions from a Senate panel about the inquiry into the FBIs Russia probe.

We did not find documentary or testimonial evidence that political bias or improper motivation influenced the decisions to open the four individual investigations, the report states, referring to investigations into four people on Trump's campaign: George PapadopoulosGeorge Demetrios PapadopoulosFive takeaways on Horowitz's testimony on Capitol Hill DOJ watchdog: Durham said 'preliminary' FBI Trump probe was justified Trump can't cry foul on FISA unless he's suddenly a civil libertarian MORE, Michael Flynn, Paul ManafortPaul John ManafortDOJ backs ex-Trump campaign aide Richard Gates's probation request Former FBI general counsel wants apology from Trump The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by AdvaMed - Democrats to release articles of impeachment today MORE and Page.

Horowitz further concluded that the FBI had an authorized purpose to launch an investigation to obtain information about, or to protect against, a national security threat or federal crime, even though the investigation also had the potential to impact constitutionally protected activity.

The report found that the FBI launched its investigation into the Trump campaign, dubbed Crossfire Hurricane, after it received information from a friendly foreign government on July 28, 2016, that Papadopoulos had suggested the campaign received an indication that Russia could assist in the election process by releasing damaging information on then-Democratic candidate Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonMore than 200,000 Wisconsin voters will be removed from the rolls Trump is threatening to boycott the debates here's how to make sure he shows up Trey Gowdy returns to Fox News as contributor MORE.

Horowitz did not find evidence that additional information was used as the basis to launch the investigation, but said the FBI and other intelligence agencies were already aware at the time of Russias efforts to interfere in the 2016 election.

But thenearly 500-page report was deeply critical of certain aspects of the FBIs handling of the investigation.

The inspector general outlined seven significant inaccuracies and omissions in its applicationto the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA court) to monitor Page, some of them related to the FBIs assertions or omissions regarding information they received from Christopher Steele, an ex-British intelligence agent who authored the notorious Trump-Russia dossier.

We found that members of the Crossfire Hurricane team failed to meet the basic obligation to ensure that the Carter Page FISA applications were scrupulously accurate, the report states.

Horowitz said the breakdown in the FISA process demonstrated a failure on the part of the managers and supervisors in the Crossfire Hurricane chain of command, including FBI senior officials.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a lengthy response included in the inspector generals report that the bureau accepted the investigations findings and would implement more than 40 corrective steps to address areas of concern outlined by Horowitz.

The bureau, which cooperated with the investigation, will modify its handling of FISA applications to enhance accuracy and completeness, Wray said, as well as reviewing its confidential human source program.

The FBI will also review and potentially discipline officials whose conduct was singled out in the report, Wray said.

Horowitzs report is the product of a nearly two-year inquiry centered on the FBIs actions in applying for and renewing a warrant to surveil Pageas part of the bureaus original investigation into Russian interference.

But it is far from the final word on the investigation into 2016 election interference and the Trump campaign. The response to the report quickly fell along partisan lines, and even some in theDepartment of Justice (DOJ) pushed back on one of its key findings.

Attorney General William BarrWilliam Pelham BarrJudge rejects DOJ effort to delay House lawsuit against Barr, Ross Holder rips into William Barr: 'He is unfit to lead the Justice Department' Five takeaways on Horowitz's testimony on Capitol Hill MORE said in a statement that the report showed the FBI launched an intrusive investigation of a U.S. presidential campaign on the thinnest of suspicions. Barr also said that, in his view, the FBI had an insufficient basis to justify steps taken in the investigation into the Trump campaign in 2016, putting him at odds with Horowitz.

While most of the misconduct identified by the Inspector General was committed in 2016 and 2017 by a small group of now-former FBI officials, the malfeasance and misfeasance detailed in the Inspector Generals report reflects a clear abuse of the FISA process," Barr said.

The statement drew blowback from former FBI Director James ComeyJames Brien ComeyThe Hill's 12:30 Report Presented by UANI Judiciary Democrats approve articles of impeachment setting up House vote next week Huckabee teases Hannity appearance, says he'll explain why Trump is eligible for third term Five takeaways on Horowitz's testimony on Capitol Hill MORE and Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerTurf war derails bipartisan push on surprise medical bills Senate confirms Trump's nominee to lead FDA CEO group pushes Trump, Congress on paid family, medical leave MORE (D-N.Y.), who accused Barr of acting as a mouthpiece for Trump.

U.S. Attorney John DurhamJohn DurhamFive takeaways on Horowitz's testimony on Capitol Hill DOJ watchdog: Durham said 'preliminary' FBI Trump probe was justified Live coverage: DOJ inspector general testifies on Capitol Hill MORE, who is conducting his own probe into the origins of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election at the direction of Barr, added that his own findings do not comport with all of Horowitzs conclusions as to predication and how the FBI case was opened.

Trump weighed in during a roundtable Monday afternoon at the White House, calling the revelations a "disgrace" and an "embarrassment to our country" and claiming the report showed officials attempted an "overthrow of government."

This was an overthrow of government, this was an attempted overthrow and a lot of people were in on it and they got caught, they got caught red-handed, Trump said at the White House.

White House counselor Kellyanne ConwayKellyanne Elizabeth ConwayMLB removing marijuana from list of banned substances Grocery store behind viral reusable bag at impeachment hearing offers 'free briefcase' promotion Watchdog report finds FBI not motivated by political bias in Trump probe MORE, who served as the Trump campaign manager for the final months before Election Day, questioned Monday why the FBI did not provide a defensive briefing on its investigation at the time.

The report addresses that criticism. Former FBI official Bill Priestap said the bureau considered briefing the Trump campaign before launching Crossfire Hurricane, but decided against it out of concern that it could tip off any individual who was in fact working with the Russians and impede the investigation, according to the inspector generals report.

The Horowitz report was released during a Judiciary Committee hearing where lawmakers debated evidence collected during the ongoing impeachment inquiry into Trumps dealings with Ukraine. Some Democrats sought to tie the inspector generals findings to the need to investigate the administration.

Reps. Jerrold NadlerJerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerJudiciary members battle over whether GOP treated fairly in impeachment hearings Live coverage: House Judiciary to vote on impeachment after surprise delay House passes bill that would give legal status to thousands of undocumented farmworkers MORE (D-N.Y.) and Carolyn MaloneyCarolyn Bosher MaloneySupreme Court takes up fight over Trump financial records Congressional investigation finds Coast Guard leadership fell short on handling bullying Republicans push back on expanding paid family leave beyond federal workers MORE (D-N.Y.), the leaders of the House Judiciary and Oversight committees, respectively, said in a joint statement that the inspector generals findings validated the basis of former special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerJeffries blasts Trump for attack on Thunberg at impeachment hearing Live coverage: House Judiciary to vote on impeachment after surprise delay Trump says he'll release financial records before election, knocks Dems' efforts MOREs report.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocrats ask if they have reason to worry about UK result Trump scramble to rack up accomplishments gives conservatives heartburn Seven years after Sandy Hook, the politics of guns has changed MORE is a continuing threat to our elections and the sanctity of our democracy, the two lawmakers said.

Other Democrats declared that Horowitzs findings shredded any claims that the FBI had investigated Trump based on political bias.

It was never a witch hunt. It was the men and women of federal law enforcement doing their jobs, tweeted Sen. Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerTikTok chief cancels Capitol Hill meetings, inflaming tensions Watchdog report finds FBI not motivated by political bias in Trump probe Ex-Rep. Scott Taylor to seek old Virginia seat MORE (Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Trumps Republican allies were quick to harp on Horowitzs findings about the FBIs handling of the application to monitor Page, however, calling it a stunning abuse of power and portraying it as evidence of deep-rooted bias against the president.

"It is deeply disturbing. Some former FBI and DOJ officials are about to have some serious explaining to do," tweeted Rep. Mark MeadowsMark Randall MeadowsThe Hill's 12:30 Report Presented by UANI Sparks fly as House Judiciary debates impeachment articles Democrats object to Meadows passing note to Jordan from dais Meadows says he's advocating for Trump to add Alan Dershowitz to impeachment defense team MORE (R-N.C.).

The report is also critical of the FBI over its handling of information from Steele, an ex-FBI informant who has been a flashpoint in Republican criticism of the FBI.

Steele was hired by research firm Fusion GPS to compile the dossier, which includes salacious and unverified allegations about Trump and his ties to Moscow andwas funded in part by Democrats. Republicans have hammered the FBI for not adequately disclosing Steeles link to Democrats in the application for the Page warrant.

The inspector general report states that [t]he fact that the FBI believed Steele had been retained to conduct political opposition research did not require the FBI, under either DOJ or FBI policy, to ignore his reporting, noting that the bureau often receives information from drug traffickers, felons and others who could have biases.

But the report says that when the FBI received informationthat raised significant questions about the reliability of Steeles data, the bureau did not reassess his reporting used in the FISA application nor did it advise relevant officials of the new information.

We also found that the FBI did not aggressively seek to obtain certain potentially important information from Steele. For example, the FBI did not press Steele for information about the actual funding source for his election reporting work, the report states.

Updated at 4:53 p.m.

Read more:
Watchdog report finds FBI not motivated by political bias in Trump probe | TheHill - The Hill

At the end of his first season as a Renault driver, Daniel Ricciardo has highlighted the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix as one of his worst weekends with the team. But speaking on F1s official podcast, Beyond The Grid, supported by Bose, Ricciardo reveals that a mid-race revelation at the Red Bull Ring fulled his motivation to turn his season around.

Ricciardo endured a miserable Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring the home race of the squad hed dramatically departed 11 months previously qualifying and finishing 12th as McLarens Lando Norris put in a star turn in the midfield to take P6, ahead of Red Bulls Pierre Gasly.

READ MORE: Renault avoided 'punch in the guts' by securing fifth in standings, says Ricciardo

And Ricciardo admits in the latest instalment of Beyond The Grid that his result in Austria was a wake-up call that he needed to fight to get back to the front of the pack.

I was driving around in Austria and I was actually saying, This isnt fun this race is not fun for me right now

Daniel Ricciardo

Austria was one of our worst weekends of the year, Ricciardo tells Beyond The Grid host Tom Clarkson. Towards the end of the race, I was out of the points, and even with a Safety Car, our race wasnt changing much, so I had a bit of time to think inside the helmet which you can do!

I was driving around and I was actually saying, This isnt fun this race is not fun for me right now. But instead of being like, This isnt fun, I want to quit and walk away because this sucks, it was like, I dont belong here and I dont want to be running around 14th, I want to get back to the front and I believe I can and I believe we can be better.

It fuelled my motivation. I was frustrated and angry but it fuelled a lot of positivity... because it just made me want to get back the front quicker, and that hunger was more apparent than ever during that race. It was a good thing.

Ricciardo put his words into actions, too, with his and Renaults performances much improved in the second half of the season, with a high point being his fourth-placed finish at Monza.

Check out the latest episode of Beyond The Grid below or on your favourite podcast app, as Ricciardo talks Renaults 2020 and 2021 prospects, his burgeoning life in LA and reveals the sensational real reason he left Red Bull.

To make sure you never miss an episode, subscribe to Beyond The Grid via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast app and you'll have a new episode delivered to your device every Wednesday.

Go here to see the original:
Daniel Ricciardo on Austria turning point, relationship with Max, leaving Red Bull & more - Formula 1

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge's Carson Taylor gets his hand raised after winning the 120 pound state championship last season.

Every time the cards have been stacked against him, Fort Dodge senior Carson Taylor has used that as motivation to get to where he wanted to be.

As a freshman Taylor didnt make the varsity lineup and that propelled him into a work ethic that eventually led to the top of the state podium.

Not being on varsity my freshman year and then making it my sophomore year made me work even harder, Taylor said. My work ethic got even higher after my sophomore year and I just kept grinding.

After a fifth place finish at state as a sophomore, Taylor had a strong regular season run and entered the state tournament as the fifth seed. That was all Taylor needed to push even harder to earn state glory. Once inside Wells Fargo Arena he moved through the fourth, first and third seeds to claim the 120 pound state championship.

Going into the state tournament being the fifth seed was a big motivator, Taylor said. I knew I was better than that and knew it was going to be a dog-fight, but I kept my mind right.

(At state) its a lot more mental. You have to keep your composure and keep calm when youre down. You have to keep going and cant quit.

After returning to Fort Dodge Senior High as a state champion, Taylor wasnt about to sit back, heading right to work, knowing what the feeling was like to have the championship medal placed around his neck.

It was pretty cool when people would congratulate me after winning the state title, Taylor said. I want to do that again because that feeling was amazing.

Ive just been working hard and working out to keep pushing myself to get better and make a return to state.

The currently second-ranked Class 3A 126 pounder, has decided to continue to wrestle in college and will keep his education, and wrestling careeer going at Grand View.

The Vikings are tied with Adams State and Central State for the most national team titles (eight) in NAIA history. Grand View has won eight-straight, which is the second-largest consecutive championship streak for any wrestling program at any level (Iowa won nine Division I crowns from 1978-86).

They (Grand View) started talking to me early, Taylor said. I went on my visit and liked the campus and the coaches. I met with a couple of wrestlers and liked the environment. That was another big thing for me.

I was also looking at Buena Vista and possibly walking on at Iowa State. But decided Grand View was a good fit and pretty close to home.

With his future decided, Taylor is still focused on his remaining season as a Dodger, with a tight knit group that has built a special bond and is looking to bring home the schools sixth straight top-three medal.

I love being a Dodger with all the home grown wrestlers that have been working hard together since we were young, Taylor said. We are like brothers and are close together. Being a Dodger is being part of a family.

I grew up with most of these guys and we feel comfortable around each other. It just feels natural to be a part of the Dodger team.

Taylor is off to another hot-start, winning six straight matches, five by fall. This past weekend he claimed the Independence 126 pound championship. Taylor is 88-15 in his career.

The Dodger wrestling family isnt just in the wrestling room, it extends into the community and with younger wrestlers waiting for their turn to wear the red and black, Taylors story is one to live by.

I would tell the younger wrestlers to just keep working at it and never quit, Taylor said. You might not be the best right now, but you just have to keep working.

You have to believe in yourself and put in a lot of work.

Vacation destination:

Yosemite, California.

People I would like to have dinner with: Avery Thompson, Austin Lee, Brooks Cowell.

It would surprise people that I: play video games.

My sports role model:

John Cena.

My everyday role model: my dad.

I cant go a day without: Cereal (Fruity Pebbles or Capn Crunch).

Superstition: when Im downstairs and go upstairs, I turn the lights out and run up fast because I think something is chasing me.

Most heated rivalry:

Southeast Polk.

Favorite road trip: Fargo.

What are you listening to right now? Eminem.

Favorites

Team: Iowa Hawkeyes.

Class: Carpentry.

Movie: Sandlot.

Book: The Outsiders.

Phone app: YouTube.

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THE TIP: The Fort Dodge girls will square off with Waukee at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, with the boys to follow at ...

The Fort Dodge girls bowling team got back in the win column as the Dodgers competed against Southeast Polk on ...

HARRISONBURG, Va. In two playoff victories, No. 6 Northern Iowa has allowed a total of 13 points. The ...

Read more:
Motivated to succeed: Timeout with Carson Taylor | News, Sports, Jobs - Fort Dodge Messenger

Winter is here and the motivation to workout seems to have fizzled out. Getting out of the warm, cosy blanket into the chilly, windy morning seems like a nightmare to a lot of people. However, here are some fitness motivation tips that one can try out this winter to hit the gym every day:

Everyone has their own reasons to work out - lose weight, stay fit and healthy or to maintain their shape. One can write it down on a piece of paper and hang it in someplace where their eyes will land first thing in the morning. This will help drive it into the brain even though the body says no. Also, exercising helps battle winter blues better since studies show that the bodys serotonin and other happy hormoneshelp induce a natural state of calm.

Also Read:Splitsvilla 12: Here Is Arshiya Arshis Inspirational Fitness Mantra

Working out alone can be boring and sad. One also tends to give up easily. But finding a work out buddy is a good idea as a company always makes things better. Besides, cancelling on a friend is more difficult than deciding to not go by oneself.

Also Read:Ananya Panday: The Fitness Mantra That The Actress Swears By

If the cold weather is too demotivating, then staying inside the house and working out is also a good alternative. There are a number of exercises that one can perform inside. There are a number of free workout videos on YouTube as well as apps which help plan out the workout time and postures like a pro.

Also Read:Sunny Leone: Fitness Mantra, Workout Routine & Diet

A little bribe always fools the body, especially during the winter season. Starting the work out is actually a greater evil than persevering. Hence, one can coax their mind into thinking that they will stay there for five minutes and if the feeling does not get better then they can leave. But once, inside the gym and into the work out session for five minutes, barely anyone ever wants to leave.

Also Read:Bhumi Pednekar: The Sonchiriya Actor Reveals Her Fitness Mantra

Sounds too good to be true? The bed can actually be an effective place to work on both cardiovascular as well as strength exercises. It is said that the bed can assist in the development of ones proprioception which is nothing but the feedback loop between the body and the bed. The bed as a tool can help one work on their balance which in turn helps improve overall strength and create better symmetry in the hip area.

Also Read:Sania Mirza's Rigorous Workout Routine Is A Fitness Motivation To All

See the original post:
Fitness motivation to make working out in the cold, chilly winter easier - Republic World - Republic World

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

The Boston Red Sox "aren't motivated at the moment" to move outfielder Andrew Benintendi, even to help facilitate a trade of pitcher David Price, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Jayson Stark.

Benintendi is eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason and is under club control through 2022.

A first-round pick in 2015,Benintendi finished runner-up for the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year award. One year later, he helped the Red Sox win a franchise-record 108 games en route to the 2018 World Series title.

The 25-year-old endured a down yearat least by his lofty standardsin 2019, though.

Benintendi hit .266 with 13 home runs, 40 doubles, five triples and 68 RBI in 138 games. Meanwhile, the Red Sox missed the postseason for the first time since 2015 while going 84-78.

Following a disappointing season, Boston is attempting to shed enough salary to get below the$208 million competitive balance tax threshold, according toMark Feinsandof MLB.com. Feinsand noted the team's current CBT payroll is roughly $225 million.

Moving Benintendi by himself would do little to help accomplish that goal, asSpotracprojects the outfielder to make a relatively modest $4.9 million in 2020. Including the rising star, though, could entice a team to take on the salary of a Price (three years, $96 million) or Nathan Eovaldi (three years, $51 million).

"That's not going to happen," a source told Feinsand of Boston potentially usingBenintendi as an asset to move other contracts.

Per Feinsand,Boston's ownership has not made it an "absolute mandate" that the club slash payroll.

Continue reading here:
Red Sox Trade Rumors: Boston Not Motivated to Move Andrew Benintendi - Bleacher Report

It was obvious that like his players, White Castle High coach Aaron Meyer, had put everything he had into the Class 1A title game.

Meyers hoarse voice cracked multiple times with emotion as he addressed the media after Oak Grove opened the final day of the Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Prep Classic with a 55-12 victory over White Castle.

These kids I love them. They played their hearts out week in and week out. Day in and day out they practiced, Meyer said. Theyre special and I just hope somebody noticed.

The final game was not the ultimate validation the Bulldogs dreamed about. Instead of bringing home a title trophy to match the one White Castles 2010 team won, this WCHS got caught up in a physical matchup in which fourth-seeded Oak Grove (11-3) had a size advantage with 15 players who weighed 235 pounds or better.

That differential and an 21-0 first-quarter deficit put Meyers team in a hole their speed and desire could not overcome. Marcus Williams, who ran for a game-high 177 yards on 10 carries with two touchdowns, was the title-game MVP for the Bulldogs (9-4).

Ron Craten, who rushed for 159 yards on 23 carries with two TDs, was the title-game MVP for Oak Grove. He also played a key role in the first play that set the tone in the game played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

White Castle muffed the opening kickoff and Craten recovered at the WCHS 15. Two plays later, he scored and the Tigers had a 7-0 lead. OGHS drove 89 yards in 12 plays, and Craten scored on another short TD.

An interception of a pass by Williams, a running back who was in the grasp of a defender, set up a third OGHS touchdown in the first 11 minutes of the game.

The disappointing loss in the 2018 title game weighed heavily Oak Grove and provided plenty of incentive as the Tigers won their first LHSAA title since 2001.

The last six weeks of football that weve played has been as consistent of an effort as I have ever been a part of coaching, OGHS coach Ryan Gregory said. We played a great game against a great opponent. This is what this team deserves is to finish it off the way we did.

Williams pushed momentum toward WCHS with a 60-yard TD run with 10:23 left in the first half. But Oak Grove countered with a 10-play, 72-yard scoring drive. Bert Hale, OGHS 325-pound defensive lineman, returned an interception 46 yards for another TD.

The Bulldogs Williams came back with a 65-yard TD run. But by halftime the score was 41-12.

It was hard for Williams and other players, including quarterback Javier Batiste, to explain what happened Saturday. Batiste offered, Ive played football since seventh grade and this is the best season Ive ever had. I had to become a leader. It made me a better man.

Asked about his teams emotional post-game huddle, Meyer offered, Sometimes you have to hug tighter and love harder.

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Oak Grove uses its size, motivational for 2018 title-game loss to oust White Castle in 1A final - The Advocate

Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett is trying different ways to motivate his players during their struggles, and this week it was showing the team some highlights of some of the very best plays over the last couple of seasons.

Right tackle Lael Collins said it was plays from both sides of the ball and it was an attempt from Garrett to try and get his players to understand they have the players to make exceptional plays.

It was like a highlight reel, right tackle Lael Collins said via Todd Archer of ESPN. They were all fantastic plays. Everything went well on them, offense and defense. So it just shows the type of team we have, the players we have. Its just putting it all together so that you see what it looks like when we do it the right way.

This isnt the first time that Garrett has tried this motivational tactic. Earlier in the season when the Cowboys had lost three games in a row, Garrett showed them a highlight tape.

After watching the tape during the week, the team responded by beating the Philadelphia Eagles 37-20 in one of their most impressive games of the season.

I think hes just trying to convey that theres a way in which we need to play, tight end Jason Witten said. We havent played to the level that we expect, and I think it was just a reminder of, this is how we play. A lot of that is like, whether you know football or not, look at these guys and how theyre playing. It was a good reminder to start the week with this is who we are.'

The hope for the Cowboys is that they will respond the same way when they play the Los Angeles Rams at home on Sunday afternoon.

Excerpt from:
Jason Garrett makes highlight reel to motivate the Cowboys - ClutchPoints

Alex Bainbridge, Autoura

"Fundamentally, entrepreneurs build services for consumers or clients. But after that, entrepreneurs build services that will create an exit at some point."

Quote from Alex Bainbridge, CEO and chief technology officer at Autoura, in an article on PhocusWire this week on how an entrepreneur views Expedia Group changes.

Each Friday, PhocusWire dissects and debates an industry trend or new development covered on our site that week.

Everyone is chasing startups - well the good ones, with strong management and momentum, at least.

The past couple of years have seen significant funding available for good startups with solid teams who often now have a choice in where to go for investment.

There are stories out there of startups that have managed to get their businesses to a certain stage of growth and had several venture capital firms approaching them.

Then theres corporate funding, with the industry seeing the creation of a significant number of accelerators from the likes of JetBlue and Marriott, alongside the now-defunct Travelport incubator.

What all of these established travel brands have in common when it comes to nurturing new businesses is the idea of bringing innovation into their own organizations.

When Travelport Labs was running its program back in 2016, the company said that part of the strategy was to get existing employees to think like entrepreneurs.

Similarly, a year later, when Marriott TestBed was on its second influx of startups, those leading the program were clear that innovation needed to be brought in from the outside.

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Around the same the time, Guy Kedar, head of innovation at marketing service MEC and leading an industry event's startup judging panel, commented: "We can only do so much by doing closed innovation.

And its not just about the startups or their ideas. How often have we heard about acqui-hires in startup land?

When a Booking Holdings or similar comes knocking, theyre looking at the company and its metrics but the management team being a good fit is said to be just as key.

Alex Bainbridge, in his vision for Expedia Groups turnaround, recalls Todd Henrich of Booking Holdings and a presentation about looking for entrepreneurs.

Phocuswire (or Tnooz, at the time) reported on that same session and Henrich went on to discuss Bookings acquisition of FareHarbor.

He said that 99.9% of the time it is about the management team, highlighting how the FareHarbor team were prepared to up sticks and move to Amsterdam.

Henrich also touched on the travel giant's strategy, noting that while companies can build in-house, they may not have the necessary expertise, so it takes a lot of time and money compared to an acquisition that is strong in tech and has the momentum.

None of this means that Expedia Groups strategy to get more from its own platform was wrong (and, lets not forget that Hotels.com and Expedia Affiliate Network did run theHotel Jumpstart accelerator).

But perhaps the wider in-house focus, was not just, as Bainbridge says, self-reinforcing in terms of startups developing to fit with an acquirer, but also self-perpetuating because its harder to be critical of your own work.

By welcoming innovation from the outside, companies not only get a different way of thinking but often an important non-travel perspective that questions why things have always been done that way.

PhocusWire's regular editorials

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Sounding Off: Startups and established brands have hidden motivations - PhocusWire