PEDESTRIAN.TV has teamed up with Samsung to help set your goals.

For most people, starting the day at 4.30am seems completely abhorrent. If it were me, Id need to set about twelve alarms and pre-emptively rig up a light, brighter than my teachers thought my future would be, to turn on at that time even just to crack an eyelid.

But thats the everyday experience for fitness queen and boxing guru Ellice Whichello, who rises at 4.30am and goes to bed by 8.30pm. Its all part of her balanced lifestyle, and its how she has grown her empire to the place it is now.

Until recently, Ellice was a trainer and ambassador for Hustle Boxing, a high-tempo boxing studio based out of Potts Point, as well as a qualified nutritionist and veritable Instagram queen with over 60K followers.

We caught up with Ellice to pick her brain and chat about how shes gotten to where she is now and how she stays on top.

It might be hard to believe, but Ellice wasnt always the boxing beast she is now. At the very beginning of her fitness journey, she experienced the same struggles and challenges that many of us face (though there was no word on whether she also experienced the extreme tomato-coloured sheen my face goes whenever I have to go faster than a walk).

I couldnt even make one kilometre without stopping, she said. But I started to get a little bit addicted to the feeling of feeling well.

So running became her forte, and cardio became a part of her regular routine. Then one day she came to a spinning class and realised that the spinning instructor hadnt shown up. Instead? The boxing instructor was there, and a seed was planted.

I fell in love with the idea of hitting something, she joked. Having grown up with older brothers, she was no stranger to embracing her more aggressive side in a healthy, channelled way.

And so, boxing became a huge part of her life.

With so much going on each day, keeping track of things is of paramount importance for Ellice. So how does she do it?

Having wearables that are easy to use makes a huge difference, she said. I love using the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 it looks quite nice whether youre in a dress or your gym gear, and thats important for me when Im in three different sets of gym gear a day.

But its the specifics that make all the difference. Wearables nowadays have a lot of scope for what they can track, and when youre someone who needs to maintain that measurement and tracking across all aspects of fitness, that scope is vital.

I really like to look at heart rate, said Ellice. As well, for me, the sleep tracking and the stress tracking are important. Being able to measure those things, because its all about exerting the right amount at the right time.

Look, between you and I, goal setting was never my forte. Unless my goal was sourcing snacks then it was hard to keep my focus on anything. But thats not a problem for Ellice, who taught herself to focus on the right things.

She said, If youre not thinking about your goal, youre putting your energy in the wrong place. When it comes to health and wellness, its something we tend to leave out when we get busy.

And its true we keep up with work and friends, and trying to sleep enough (let alone waking up at 4.30am), but we put off things like fitness. Ellice has a secret weapon for dealing with that, too.

Working in a time-efficient manner is key, she said. Prioritising my time is crucial. I deal with something right then and there instead of putting it off until later, so having tech that allows me to tap into phone calls, messages, even Instagram posts then and there before moving on, is super important.

Everything is kept in her Galaxy Note10 appointments, measurements and tracked fitness automatically transferred from her watch. As a self-confessed planner, its integral to the continued balance of her hectic lifestyle.

If theres one thing that people lack, and that Ellice has in spades, its motivation. While other people struggle to get themselves off the couch on their days off, Ellice is constantly striving for more, with the help of her two accountability partners.

Having a fitness buddy is not something to be overlooked, she said. I have two buddies. One would be Dan and the other would be my Samsung watch, so theres double the accountability for my fitness goals we set weekly challenges like step counts, I can see what hes doing, he can see what Im doing.

And its not because she wants to be better than other people, though she admits to being fiercely competitive.

Im super competitive with myself, not with other people, she said. I hate to think that Im not getting better at a skill, that Im not improving.

It comes down to ensuring that other people have that mentality of striving for better. Striving not only to improve on your yesterday, but to keep improving the day after that too, and remembering that you dont have to compete with anyone other than yourself.

So if that means getting up a little earlier each day, measuring your heart rate on a Galaxy Watch Active2, finding a fitness buddy or setting definitive goals to make sure youre hitting your targets (boxing or otherwise), give it a crack.

Rest assured, nobodys asking you to get up at 4.30am yet.

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How This Boxing Queen Smashes Goal Setting, Fitness Tracking & Motivation Out Of The Park - Pedestrian TV

Table Tennis Robot Forpheus Equipped with Joint Research Technology to Be Exhibited at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2020

OMRON Corporation ofKyotoand Square Enix Co., Ltd. (hereinafter Square Enix) ofTokyoannounced onDecember 13the commencement of joint research on artificial intelligence (AI) that helps motivate humans for FORPHEUS, an innovative table tennis robot tutor that harnesses OMRONs state-of-the-art technology. Through this joint research, the two companies aim to develop an AI algorithm that generates motivational feedback from vital data and other kinds of information, thereby establishing technology that brings out the ability to stimulate dramatic human growth.

Based on the philosophy of founder Kazuma Tateisi, To the machine, the work of the machine; to man, the thrill of further creation, OMRON aims to shape a future that achieves harmony between humans and machines, with the latter bringing out the abilities and creativity of the former through the core technology Sensing & Control + Think. In 2013, the table tennis robot Forpheus was developed in order to introduce harmony between humans and machines by the core technology Sensing & Control + Think in an easy-to-understand manner. Since then, OMRON has evolved its core technology every year to bring out human abilities. Featuring cutting-edge AI, robotics, and sensing & control technologies, the latest 5th-generation FORPHEUS possesses playing skills high enough to maintain a rally with professional players. The robots excellent coaching skills promote the growth of human players by optimizing returns and providing players with personalized tips based on a thorough understanding of each individual person.

Read More: Beyond RPA And Cognitive Document Automation: Intelligent Automation At Scale

Under the framework of this joint research, the two companies aim to develop AI that can realize personalized coaching to enhance each players motivation to play better by combining OMRONs proprietary sensing technology for reading human emotions and ability and Square Enixs AI technology (Meta-AI*) for differentiating how a game unfolds for each player to stimulate an emotional response in them, which the company has fostered through the development of electronic games. As humans communicate with machines equipped with this AI while they play table tennis together, it is hoped that a new relationship between humans and machines machines drawing the best performance out of humans will be made a reality.

The Advanced Technology Division (ATD) at Square Enix has been leading development of Meta-AI technologies, a new mechanic that can automatically learn from a users emotions and then produce unique content based on the data. In the near future, it is expected that a digital game will be playable not only on a display screen but also in real space. Square Enixs Meta-AI will have an important role in realizing the potential of real space play in the future and the companys partnership with the FORPHEUS project will allow Square Enix to advance its technology and contribute to this real-world opportunity.

Read More: AiThority Interview with Adi Kuruganti, GM, Community Cloud and SVP, Products B2B Commerce at Salesforce

Meanwhile, OMRON plans to apply the fruits of this joint technology development to focus on business domains such as factory automation (FA), healthcare and social solutions. One industrial sector in which such technologies may be applied is factory automation, where machines can better motivate operators by offering appropriate support in a way that matches operators skill levels. OMRON believes that this joint research of FORPHEUS will advance its drive to solve social issues to achieve harmony between humans and machines.

OMRON will exhibit its latest generation of FORPHEUS at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) (R) 2020, which will be held inLas Vegas, Nevada, the U.S., onJanuary 7-10, 2020.

*In games, Meta-AI observes the characters, environment and players all together over time, and then uses the information to adapt the general strategies for enemies, non-player characters, terrain, weather and more in the game.

About this joint research Duration: FromDecember 2019toMarch 2020 Objective: Development of an algorithm for motivation-controlling AI for use in a table tennis robot tutor Division of roles: OMRON: Development of a concept and architecture for the table tennis robot, verification of effects, and study of algorithm improvement techniques Square Enix: Development of a concept, designing of architecture for the motivation-controlling AI, setting of evaluation indicators, provision of advice/support for development, and study of algorithm improvement techniques

Read More: Deloitte Announces Flagship Enterprise Safe Passage Program Powered by AWS for SAP Customers

Originally posted here:
OMRON and Square Enix Research on "AI That Helps Motivate Humans" - AiThority

'That gave them motivation and we weren't in the same mental space' - Mike Ross' warning to Leinster ahead of Saints return

Independent.ie

It was one of those unspoken statements that made Leinster realise it would be different this time.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/leinster-rugby/that-gave-them-motivation-and-we-werent-in-the-same-mental-space-mike-ross-warning-to-leinster-ahead-of-saints-return-38784692.html

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/article30215907.ece/0bd03/AUTOCROP/h342/NWS_2014-04-25_SPO_004_31450186_I3.JPG

It was one of those unspoken statements that made Leinster realise it would be different this time.

Matt O'Connor's men travelled to Franklin's Gardens in December 2013 and humiliated Northampton Saints with a performance for the ages.

The comparison between the back-to-back series' of 2013 and 2019 are eerily similar.

The afterglow of their 40-7 domination carried through into the next week when the Saints came marching straight into the Aviva Stadium with redemption in mind.

Leinster were looking lively, moving the ball into space at will, until a smart set play put Tom Collins away, the wing's chip causing Rob Kearney to impede his line of running, giving away a penalty for obstruction.

This was back in the days when you took what you got, a penalty in this case, and moved on.

This time, there was no debate, no hesitation. Stephen Myler went to the corner in what was clearly a pre-planned scenario, a statement of intent.

Dylan Hartley connected with Christian Day at the 5-metre lineout, Courtney Lawes, Salesi Ma'afu, Tom Wood and Lawes again all drove it up the guts.

Scrum-half Lee Dickson didn't dawdle, fizzing a pass to Luther Burrell and his immediate dispatch to George North caught Luke Fitzgerald out of position.

It also caught Leinster cold in a moment that altered the image of the tie, Northampton having the character to build it into an 18-9 shock, Jamie Elliot's breakaway try putting a seal on a barely conceivable turnaround.

It could all be traced back to that decision to go for broke and Mike Ross knew what it meant.

"It was throwing down the gauntlet wasn't it? We didn't deal with it too well," said the retired Leinster and Ireland tight-head Mike Ross.

"As much as you talk about not being complacent, what happened the week before is there in the back of your mind.

"We knew they must have been frustrated, devastated, angry from what we did to them in front of their supporters.

"That gave them motivation and we weren't in the same mental space as they were."

In fact, captain Dylan Hartley continued the obsessive pursuit of seven points rather than three by insisting on the corner flag whenever the home side transgressed within striking distance.

There was also the unsurprising bating of the boys in Blue by Hartley at scrum time.

"Come on boys, let's go through them," called out the captain.

"We always used to love playing against Dylan. There was a queue of lads lining up to hit him," shared Ross.

"It was just the way he played the game, talking at the scrum as much for the opposition to hear as his teammates."

The controversial England hooker retired this year, leaving behind a career-long trail of indiscretions and achievements.

Whatever else can be said of Hartley, he led from the front as a big, bruising battler. On that evening in 2013, he was the perfect man for the job.

"I felt we restored a bit of faith in the shirt, in the club, the way we conducted ourselves," Hartley reacted then.

"We were physical, played for 80 minutes, defended for our lives, showed it meant something for us.

"The week has been very long. It is a long week, especially when you lose by 40 points."

Leinster have been put on notice.

Saturday, December 14th 2013: Leinster 9 Northampton Saints 18

LEINSTER: Rob Kearney; Dave Kearney (Zane Kirchner 60), Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy (Jimmy Gopperth 78), Luke Fitzgerald; Ian Madigan, Eoin Reddan; Jack McGrath (Michael Bent 56), Sean Cronin, Mike Ross (Martin Moore 60), Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy (Leo Cullen 72), Rhys Ruddock (Kevin McLaughlin 56), Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip (capt).

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: Ken Pisi; Jamie Elliott, George North, Luther Burrell, Tom Collins; Stephen Myler, Lee Dickson (Kan Fotuali'i 52); Alex Waller (Ethan Waller 70), Dylan Hartley (capt, Mikey Haywood 72)), Salesi Ma'afu (Tom Mercey 52), Courtney Lawes (Phil Dowson 72), Christian Day, Calum Clark, Tom Wood, Samu Manoa (Sam Dickinson 67).

Referee: J Garces, France.

Online Editors

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'That gave them motivation and we weren't in the same mental space' - Mike Ross' warning to Leinster ahead of Saints return - Independent.ie

Opinion

Cath Duhig picks up the Federation of Athletics Murcia Region Master Athlete of the Year award. Picture: Neil Featherby

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However, goals achieved or not, January 1 will be the first day of a new year with new goals and expectations for which that in itself is usually enough inspiration or is it motivation?

With that subject in mind, I had lunch with an old friend earlier this week before going to a presentation at one of my old schools where his dad was a teacher and whereby we not only discussed old school days, we also got on to talking about what is the actual difference between inspiration and motivation.

My friend is very clever and can leave me standing by miles when it comes to such debates, but also amusingly knows that I will always bite on the bait if I have a slight difference of an opinion.

Nevertheless and having known each other since childhood, he has always made it known that he thinks that I am a very focused and driven person be it in sport or business and suggested during our meaningful chat that my drive as he calls it comes from being inspired at an early age when at school.

I agreed, but also said I was more motivated as opposed to being inspired by events of what had happened back then, along with of course other life changing events as I got older.

Whilst I am not proud of it now and as pointed out by my friend, much of my early school years saw me in one scrape or another and whereas when most of my class mates were reading through their school books, I would invariably have a sports book tucked inside mine before getting caught time and again only to be told that I was wasting my time thinking I would be a footballer or indeed good at any other sport.

"You must have been a nightmare to teach, but let's not forget what was probably the defining moment when one of your teachers said you will never ever run a marathon," he said.

It all goes back to when the 1968 Mexico City Olympics Games were taking place and my teacher at the time who was obviously a huge athletics fan would start each day talking so very excitedly about all the sporting events going on in another part of the world.

Whereas my ability to retain attention and focus nowadays might be pretty good, back then it was not the best when it came to classroom lessons. However, this huge passion for athletics and the Olympics which he displayed, really did make me sit up and hang on to his every word.

Two events which I can so vividly remember him talking about were the high jump when Dick Fosberry brought his own style to high jumping with his gold medal winning jumps since referred to as the Fosberry Flop, and the story and the history behind the marathon. He said that only a few people are blessed with enough talent to be able to run such a distance and that the likelihood is that no one in our school would ever be able to do so.

MORE: Love running? Join the Run Anglia Facebook group here

I was absolutely enthralled by it all and put my hand up and said: "I am going to run a marathon."

He just looked at me and said: "I don't think you will."

Hardly encouragement for any young influential child you might think, but those words have stayed with me ever since that day and whilst on the surface you would have to say, his comments were not exactly inspiring, for me they very much triggered something.

Rather than using the word inspired, I would prefer to say that is what very much motivated me to always knowing that one day I would indeed run marathons and I suppose you could say prove him wrong.

Needless to say, there was no point trying to have the last word with my friend so I let him finish with "he inspired you and motivated you. It was the story of the marathon that inspired you and him saying you won't be able to run one which motivated you further."

"Absolutely," I just said and left it there.

At the end of the day, we all need inspiration and motivation if we want to succeed.

I have always tried to encourage people to be the best they can be at anything they want to do and not let anyone tell them otherwise just like my old teacher. I have also at times tried to inspire or is it motivate people into doing things by way of perhaps suggesting they can't or won't do it i.e. what we now call reverse psychology.

As we go through life, lots of things happen to all of us which makes us what we are and why we need to try and achieve things and whereas inspiration certainly does come from the driving forces within us, for most of us, we all at times need a little extra motivation too.

Going into 2020, even though I am well beyond being a competitive athlete, I still have at least one big challenge for next year and whilst I know exactly what the driving forces will be for me, I also know exactly where to go looking during those moments when I might just need a bit of a kick up the back side to give me that extra motivation to keep going.

Fifty-one years on and those words from my old teacher still motivate me. Or is it inspire?

Finally, I have to say a very big well done to former West Norfolk race walker Cath Duhig who now lives out in Spain and has just won the award for being the Federation of Athletics Murcia Region Master Athlete of the year and to her husband and former top Norfolk athlete Peter Duhig who recently celebrated his 70th birthday by running in the Valencia 10k with all his family. They have both for many years epitomised the words inspire and motivate, that I do know.

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Neil Featherby: What's the difference between inspiration and motivation for runners? | Norwich City FC and Norfolk and Suffolk sport - Eastern Daily...

Alabama will play Michigan in the Citrus Bowl on New Years Day and Nick Saban did participated in a teleconference to talk about the matchup.

A quick rundown of his thoughts entering the game in Orlando.

-- Its an honor to play in the Citrus Bowl, Saban said. Its a challenge they look forward to.

-- Our team is disappointed with how the season ended, Saban said, and its an opportunity to get back to the Alabama standard hes mentioned all year.

-- This is about the future, so this game is about establishing that, Saban said.

-- On the topic of players skipping the game for the draft, Saban said guys will make individual decisions based on their situation and circumstances. They will focus on coaching everyone who wants to play. This has been a situation Alabama hasnt faced, but well see how it goes.

-- Saban said those conversations will be had and will let you know when any such decisions are made.

-- On Sabans reevaluation of bowl games in the playoff era: He said its important because of the next game. The questions about playing vs. the NFL draft speak to the difference in players view of bowl games. He noted some can improve their draft stock with a big game.

-- Saban hopes players approach this game with something to prove in a non-playoff bowl situation. Theres a high standard around here and this is an opportunity to fix some of the disappointment.

-- The message to players related to disappointment: We want to get back to playing to the standard, Saban said.

-- Saban said he has a lot of respect for Jim Harbaugh, but he doesnt know him all that well.

-- On the 2010 Capital One Bowl: It was the first step in the right direction after a disappointing season. They played and prepped well for that 49-7 win over Michigan State and it set the table for what we did that next season. They won the next to national championships.

Read more:
Rundown of Nick Saban thoughts on playing Michigan, non-playoff bowl motivation - AL.com

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Todays Penn State football news is headlined by yet another article about who the Lions next offensive coordinator could be, plus some early Cotton Bowl thoughts.

Statecollege.coms Mike Poorman is the latest reporter to chime in with thoughts about who head coach James Franklin might pick, and he suggests that past practices could lead to another internal promotion.

The Joe Moorhead Coaching Tree says it could be Tyler Bowen, Poorman writes.

Those who know Bowen say that his influence on the Penn State running game the past two years has been substantial. That vision may need to be 2020 next season, especially if KJ Hamler departs for the NFL and the Penn State staff is intent on figuring out how to maximize the four-headed back named Ricky Journey Cain Ford.

Bowen played under Franklin at Maryland and was previously the offensive coordinator at Fordham before later becoming the Lions tight ends coach. Poorman also wonders if a co-coordinator situation could involve Bowen and running backs coach JaJuan Seider.

Check out the full reasoning at the link below.

In other news, ESPNs early Cotton Bowl prediction is out about two weeks and change before Penn State battles No. 17 Memphis at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Tex. It includes a few good nuggets to know about the Tigers and also looks at the motivation angle in play for each side.

This is Memphis first New Years Six appearance in program history, so thats incentive enough, Sam Khan Jr. writes.

As for Penn State, Franklin says his team is happy to play in the Cotton Bowl, even though it was no secret that some players and fans were hoping to go to the Rose Bowl. The Cotton is still a prestigious New Years Six game, but will a different destination and a Group of 5 opponent impact the Nittany Lions enthusiasm?

Lancaster Online says Penn State big spending on Franklin shows Penn States priorities are out of whack, and 247Sports reports that Memphis will also be without its defensive coordinator, along with its head coach, in the Cotton Bowl. Both are now at Florida State.

Elsewhere, Roar Lions Roar previews a big recruiting weekend that is on deck, Penn State lost three-star line commit Devin Willock on Thursday night, and Micah Parsons has been recognized as an All-American again.

Those stories and more highlight Fridays headline roundup.

Penn State Footballs Next Offensive Coordinator? The JoeMo RPO Coaching Tree Says it may be Tyler Bowen: Poorman [Statecollege.com]

Penn States Micah Parsons earns more All-American team nods: Pickel [PennLive]

Cotton Bowl preview: Khan Jr. [ESPN]

The Penn State blitz podcast: Cotton Bowl talk, offensive coordinator thoughts, and more: Pickel [PennLive]

Big spending on coach James Franklin shows Penn States priorities are out of whack: Lancaster Online

Latest mock draft has Penn State end Yetur Gross-Matos headed to the AFC south: Associated Press

Adam Fuller will follow Norvell to Florida State: Fowler [247Sports]

Will Ricky Rahne leaving impact Penn State recruiting, and will the offense change? Cotton Bowl motivation, more: Mailbag: Pickel [PennLive]

For the Future (12.12.19): In-Home Visits & Upcoming Official Visit Weekend: Stanley [Roar Lions Roar]

Lions lose 3-star Devin Willock from Class of 2020: Pickel [PennLive]

FREE Nittany Lions news! Sign up now to receive our Penn State Today newsletter in your email inbox every morning. No charge.

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Could Penn State promote from within to replace Ricky Rahne? Assessing the Lions bowl motivation, and more - PennLive

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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.

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Daniel Ricciardo on Austria turning point, relationship with Max, leaving Red Bull & more - Formula 1