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Pakistan's investment-to-GDP ratio has been enervating. At a meager 13.1% in Fiscal Year 2024 — the lowest in the past 64 years — the country continues to grapple with economic incoherence. This underscores that, despite the much-celebrated “ stabilisation ” following the IMF’s programme, the current recovery is neither sustainable nor sufficient. Economic vulnerabilities remain high unless there is a comprehensive overhaul of the government’s mechanics at both the strategic (policy) and operational levels. Historically, Pakistan’s investment-to-GDP ratio has seen a troubling decline. The 1960s recorded the highest average at 18.7%, followed by the 1980s and 1990s at 18.5%. However, since 2011, the ratio has averaged just 15.2%, reflecting a concerning trend for economic durability as our GDP panorama has remained primarily consumption-driven. Additionally, a regional comparison reveals an even grimmer scenario. While South Asia averages 31.8%, countries like India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam report significantly higher ratios of 33.74%, 30.95%, and 32.75%, respectively. This disparity embodies the shortsightedness of Pakistan’s policy-makers in fostering global competitiveness vis-à-vis our neighbours. Investment is a bedrock for economic growth, fomenting the creation of capital assets like infrastructure, factories, and technology. A low investment ratio signals insufficient capital formation, which hinders long-term productivity and concurrent growth. Low investment also limits modernisation in industries and the adoption of advanced technologies, increasing dependence on imports and exposing the economy to global economic shocks, perennial current account deficits, and volatile exchange rates. Lack of fiscal discipline is another visceral problem in the economic milieu, causing trouble and leading to an informal economy, which in turn deteriorates investment in the economy It also reflects limited private sector participation, driven by an unfavourable business environment, regulatory barriers, high borrowing costs, and weak investor confidence. This is evident from banks' preference to invest in government securities rather than lending to consumers. As highlighted by PwC’s 2024 Banking Publication , credit to the private sector as a percentage of GDP is a mere 12% in Pakistan, compared to 50% in India, 38% in Bangladesh, and 47% in Sri Lanka. These figures, coupled with declining business confidence and a deteriorating ease of doing business, paint a dire picture for private sector investment. Bridging The Gender Gap In Pakistan's Climate Finance Lack of fiscal discipline is another visceral problem in the economic milieu, causing trouble and leading to an informal economy, which in turn deteriorates investment in the economy. The government is guilty of incessant current expenditure (an increase of around 30% YoY in Budget-25, with around 56% of the budget allocated to interest payments), sapping the revenue pool and forcing the FBR to heavily tax. Like other governmental machinery, the FBR also has a penchant for taking the easy way out is taxing the taxed , owing this myopia first to the lethargic post-colonial administration and second to the deepening of elitist pockets. There is hostility and a lack of trust between the State and its citizens, causing trouble both for the government in running its affairs and for individuals in thriving like those in business-friendly economies The lack of governance and fruitful policies in revenue mobilisation is obvious from the following instances: Per FBR’s report on 2023-24 performance, an analysis of the income tax collection indicates that withholding tax accounts for 29% of the FBR’s total collection and represents 60% of the income tax collected. Further, B-25 has set an exorbitant target of Rs12.9 trillion in tax revenue (couched within an enormous withholding-station ), representing a 40.2% growth from the previous period. Salaried individuals as well as non-salaried individuals/AOPs are to be taxed heavily under a kaleidoscopic mosaic of the normal tax regime, surcharge, and super tax—one of the most vibrant taxation tapestries worldwide. In other words, a person may end up working for six to seven months just to pay taxes. And not to mention, the exorbitant corporate tax rate of 29% (compared to the worldwide average of 23%), plus additional super tax and tax on dividend distribution. With a myopic taxation landscape and a lack of conducive business clime (obvious from WB’s Ease of Doing Business rankings and Business Ready Report ), the government is warding off corporatisation and dissuading urban high-income and upper-middle-income segments from remaining within the documented economy. Consequently, the informal economy is where savings thrive, as evident from high cash circulation; people prefer keeping savings in gold, real estate, or cash rather than channeling them into the formal economy. There is hostility and a lack of trust between the State and its citizens, causing trouble both for the government in running its affairs and for individuals in thriving like those in business-friendly economies. Imran Khan's Global Leadership And Bridging Borders In South Asia To provide economic opportunities to more than 2.5 million young people entering the labor market annually, there is a need to double investment levels. Another impasse hampering investment is the plummeting development budget: a decrease of around 156% since FY16. Pakistan could not even spend 50% of the meagre Rs950 billion it allocated for the PSDP in FY 2023-24, as per the last quarterly report (2024) of the Ministry of Planning and Development. The state of planning is so dire that to complete the overall backlog of development projects, the country would need Rs10.7 trillion (more than 14 times the budget allocation of Rs727 billion in 2022-23). There is no silver bullet for Pakistan's current disposition. The only way to address Pakistan’s investment challenges is through a comprehensive reform agenda. The government must prioritise fiscal discipline by cutting current expenditures (this includes sequestration of SOEs bleeding resources, eliminating unfunded pensions, and curbing elitist rent-seeking) and implementing robust debt management strategies to create fiscal space for public sector development programmes (PSDP), which can have a multiplier effect on economic growth. These projects should be free from political maneuvering, be ‘development-based’ rather than purely ‘infrastructural,’ and contribute to the welfare, economic growth, or development of the people. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could also play a significant role by attracting private investment and fostering joint ventures between local and Chinese investors, particularly in export-oriented industries Tax reforms are critical—rather than overburdening the already taxed sectors, efforts should focus on bringing the undocumented economy into the tax net. Pakistan needs a fairer, more transparent, and simpler tax system that encourages compliance, fosters sustainable economic growth, and achieves fiscal sovereignty. Additionally, a national programme to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) should be launched to encourage entrepreneurship and safeguard social development indicators. Gender Gap In Climate Leadership: Why COP29 Must Elevate Women And Young Girls In Climate Action Political consensus is equally vital; political parties must recognise the gravity of the economic situation and make swift, informed decisions to enable meaningful reforms. Governance improvements are essential at both political and bureaucratic levels to ensure efficient decision-making and effective resource allocation. Pakistan must prioritise empowering the private sector to engage with interested investors in China, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar. Government-to-government transactions face complexities stemming from challenges such as limited capacity within ministries, weak audit practices, and legal complications. The government needs to offer a package of financial and regulatory incentives free from rent-seeking and ill-governance. Leveraging the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could also play a significant role by attracting private investment and fostering joint ventures between local and Chinese investors, particularly in export-oriented industries. Industry-centric strategies must be adopted to enhance value addition, improve production efficiency, promote technology adoption, and address specific investment needs. To sustain long-term growth, the government should prioritise the development of human capital through investments in education and vocational training, particularly in technology and high-growth sectors. Partnerships with international institutions to enhance skill-building programmes can bridge the gap between workforce capabilities and industry requirements. Lastly, creating a robust framework for public-private partnerships (PPPs) could accelerate infrastructure development and provide shared accountability, ensuring efficient use of resources. These measures, collectively, can pave the way for sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Pakistan. Without immediate and synchronised efforts from all stakeholders, Pakistan risks falling further behind in global competitiveness, with dire consequences for future generations. Pakistan faces a Rape Epidemic: Has Pakistan failed its women?Off the couch and into the fireCHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jonathon Brooks doesn’t know how he’ll feel once Sunday comes, once his long-awaited debut for the Carolina Panthers is here. Same goes for Jonathon’s brother, Jordon. Same goes for his mother, Jennifer Donovan, too. The same probably is true for the throngs of people in Hallettsville, Texas, who’ve been reading all the injury news and calling anyone and everyone they know in Charlotte to get the latest update on their hometown hero. There’s one person who the family has been wondering about, specifically, though. He’s been the subject of the question Jennifer, Jordon and Jonathon have asked more and more lately, as the Panthers’ contest with the Kansas City Chiefs at 1 p.m. Sunday in Bank of America Stadium approaches. What would Dad think? “It’s funny because Jordon and I, we say that a lot, too,” Donovan told The Charlotte Observer over the phone earlier this week. “We just really wonder what Skip would be saying. How would he be reacting?” “Honestly, I don’t know,” Jordon began. He then laughed. “I mean, well, I do know.” James “Skip” Brooks would be happy, the son said. “And I can only imagine how happy he’d be.” When Jonathon Brooks makes his NFL debut Sunday, he’ll be playing for a lot of people. The second-round draft pick, who has missed the first chunk of his rookie season recovering from an ACL tear he suffered Nov. 11 of last year, will be playing for his friends. He’ll be playing for his teammates. He’ll be playing for his mother, who helped raise her shy kid from a small southern Texas town who has a gift for finding the open field. He’ll be playing for his brother, who he used to ride bikes with and jump on trampolines with and played living room football with until the end zone couches couldn’t take anymore. He’ll also be playing for his father, who fueled his football dream, who died in 2022 but who Brooks is convinced has been watching over him since. “I feel like I play for a bigger reason,” Jonathon said. “I play for God, my family.” As he always has. Even when it wasn’t easy. The 3 touchdowns the Brooks family won’t forget Ask about Jonathon, and there are three trips to the end zone that stick out in the Brooks family’s collective memory. It’s not hard to see why. The first came when Jonathon was a freshman at Hallettsville High. Jordon, then a senior, remembers it well. It was the seventh week of the 2017 football season, and Jonathon, who’d been tearing it up at the JV level, had gotten called up to varsity. The offense was less than 5 yards away from the end zone. For years, Jordon had seen what others hadn’t. That’s what happens when you’re two of nine grandchildren, part of a big family that featured three uncles and five aunts on Dad’s side and three uncles on Mom’s. It’s also what happens when you’re the son of Skip. Skip Brooks was born and raised in Shiner, Texas, a slightly bigger town than neighboring Hallettsville that is known for its Shiner Bock beer. He was a football player back in the day and used to tease his kids that he was a great running back, too — that they’re lucky they didn’t have video to show how elusive he was. Skip loved his boys and loved pushing them in their shared passion for football. He coached them at times when they were running around in the community’s youth leagues. Jordon acknowledges that “I know he’s my brother and all” but “the way he could see the field was insane at a young age.” And that’s why when coach called a handoff-counter-right on that Friday night in the fall of 2017, Jordon knew what would happen: a touchdown. With no planned celebration, Jonathon just sprinted to his brother, who’d already jogged to his position as a blocker on the PAT team, and jumped up and celebrated with a shoulder bump. A newspaper photographer captured it mid-air; that’s one of Jennifer’s favorite pictures in her scrapbook, she said. “I almost wish they were closer in age and could have more time playing together because it was just really a lot of fun,” Jennifer said. “Everybody in town was super excited.” The second memorable touchdown came four years later, while Jonathon was at Texas. A lot had happened in those four years. He’d go on long road trips with his father and brother — from San Antonio to Florida to California — to play football and get people to see him play. As a sophomore, Jonathon was offered a scholarship to Texas. As a senior, he lived up to that billing, putting up stats that made eyes across the country pop: 3,530 yards and 62 touchdowns on 350 carries. Who is this guy, and where is Hallettsville? That second special touchdown came late in the fourth quarter in a game against Rice. The Longhorns were on the good side of a blowout. Brooks took a handoff from the shotgun, ran left and sliced through the defense for a 17-yard score. That score was the only one he got in the 2021 season, when he backed up Bijan Robinson, now with the Atlanta Falcons. It was also the only collegiate touchdown his father saw. Skip Brooks passed away March 28, 2022, during a spring practice of Jonathon’s sophomore year. Kidney disease ran in the family, and he was on and off dialysis for years. A few months after restarting dialysis in December 2021, he underwent surgery, and complications from that surgery formed a blood clot, which ultimately killed him. The loss of Skip was an incalculable one for a Shiner community who adored him and a devastating one for the family who loved him. That leads us to the third touchdown — and to the many more thereafter. Jonathon and Jordon, a few weeks after the death of their father, each got tattoos on their forearms that read the date March 28, 2022 in roman numerals with “Dad” emblazoned over it. Every time Jonathon stomps into paydirt now — and every time he will in the future — the shy, small-town Texas kid taps his forearm, as if he’s ringing Skip’s heavenly doorbell, and points to the sky. ‘To finally live out his dream’ You’re probably familiar with Jonathon Brooks from here. After waiting two seasons to be the premier back at Texas — behind talents Roschon Johnson and Robinson — he broke out like everyone figured he would as a redshirt sophomore. In 11 games that 2023 season, he finished with 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing, enough to solidify him as one of the best running backs in the country. That 11th game, against TCU, Brooks tore his right ACL. That meant no NFL scouting combine. No Senior Bowl appearances. But that didn’t stunt Brooks’ NFL stock. The Panthers selected Brooks in the second round of this year’s draft, making him the first running back taken off the board. And despite reports of his timeline being ready by training camp — that it was a complete tear, making the recovery process potentially less complicated — the Panthers’ brass made it clear that they were content taking their time with Brooks. That time almost came two weeks ago, when Brooks was activated to the 53-man roster. But on Sunday, that time will finally come: Panthers coach Dave Canales said that he “fully expects” Brooks to make his debut against the Chiefs — and it’s possible to expect him to get more touches than he otherwise might, with typical third-down back Miles Sanders still nursing an ankle injury from Week 10. It might not be a lot of touches, of course. Panther running backs not-named Chuba Hubbard have only earned 42 rushes through 10 games. But the most memorable moments for Jonathon haven’t come in the biggest seasons, after all. They’ve come in the smaller moments. They’ve all involved his family, too: as a freshman in high school celebrating with his older brother; as a freshman at Texas scoring the last touchdown Skip saw; as a player now, every time he hits the end zone and points to his father. To Brooks, family is everything. And everyone can tell. “It would be amazing,” Ja’Tavion Sanders said Monday. The jovial rookie tight end said this when he was asked how he might feel when Jonathon — his Texas Longhorn teammate and next-door locker buddy who considers himself an honorary member of the Brooks family — finally makes his NFL debut. He said it in earshot of Brooks, who could only smile and shake his head as Sanders bragged on him. “All the trials and tribulations, and then him putting all the work in just to get back to this point and to ultimately have his debut, to finally live out his dream that he’s worked so hard for, I’ll be so excited,” Sanders continued. “Hopefully I’m in when he gets that first carry so I’m blocking for him.” Jonathon’s mother feels the same. Jordon does as well. They, too, have thought about Skip a lot — whether that be while walking their two golden doodles, Nala and Nova, or while Jordon chips away at getting his commercial driver’s license. Skip, after all, was an 18-wheel truck driver and carried lumber and pipes across the country while always finding ways to prioritize one of his joys: watching his sons play football. As Sunday approaches, the question gets louder: How would Dad feel? “I wonder that,” Jennifer said. “Because he was kind of an introvert. He didn’t show a whole lot. Didn’t say a whole lot, sometimes even. But I do want to believe that he would have some tears. I do. Just proud. Just feeling really happy that his child has done this. And he pushed it and wanted it so bad for him. I think he would probably have some tears. He might wipe them real quick so nobody sees. But I think he would be feeling quite a lot.” Skip would have every right to. He has every right to. As does his son. ©2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos' usually stout defense has been rocked ever since losing second-year cornerback Riley Moss to an MCL injury against Las Vegas in Week 12. Without Moss there to capitalize on opponents shying away from star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the Broncos (9-6) have had to largely abandon their preferred man coverage in favor of zone strategies and the results haven't been pretty. They allowed 32 points to the Cleveland Browns when former teammate Jerry Jeudy caught nine passes for a career-best 235 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown. Only Jonathan Taylor's fumble at the goal line as he was about to score a 41-yard touchdown and give Indianapolis a 20-3 lead saved the Broncos in Week 15 and allowed Denver to seize momentum and get the victory. They couldn't stop Justin Herbert , who led the Los Angeles Chargers back from a double-digit third-quarter deficit for a 34-27 win last week that prevented the Broncos from ending their eight-year playoff drought. It also put more pressure on the Broncos to win Saturday at Cincinnati, where the Bengals (7-8) cling to hopes of catching the Broncos and denying Denver a wild-card berth. Moss returned to practice last week and the Broncos will determine this week whether he’s ready to return to the field or if it’s better to keep him out until their season finale against Kansas City. But all signs point to Moss being on the field to help thwart Cincy's offense led by Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. “It's great to have him back,” Surtain said after practice Tuesday. “I mean, you talk about a guy who was playing lights-out before the injury, but to see him back out there with confidence, out there practicing, getting his mojo back, it brings a lot of confidence to the team, as well. So, it's good to see him back out there in action, for sure.” Moss has enjoyed a breakout season in Denver with 71 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception in 12 starts. He played in 14 games as a rotation player his rookie season after recovering from core muscle surgery that relegated him to special teams and spot duty in 2023. “We were and have been super excited" about the third-round pick out of Iowa, coach Sean Payton said. "Obviously, the guy that plays opposite of Patrick is going to get a lot of business. All throughout training camp, he really rose to the occasion, battled, competed and throughout really a good portion of the season. “He’s a big reason why we were playing so well defensively,” Payton added. "The sooner the better when we can get him back in the lineup. Hopefully it can happen this weekend.” In Moss' dozen starts, the Broncos allowed 16.8 points per game. Without him, they've been allowing 26.3 points a game. Burrow and Chase pose a bigger challenge to the Broncos than Jeudy and Jameis Wiston did for Cleveland or Herbert and Ladd McConkey did for the Chargers. The medial collateral ligament is on the inside of the knee that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone. It’s one of four major ligaments that stabilize the knee and allow it to rotate. It typically takes a month to recover from an MCL sprain and the Broncos had their bye week earlier this month, meaning Moss might only have to miss three games. If the Broncos reach the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 in Hall of Famer Peyton Manning's last start, they'll likely need to have a healthy Moss opposite Surtain to have any realistic hopes of avoiding a one-and-done appearance. The Broncos got a scare when Surtain injured an ankle against Indianapolis two weeks ago and limped off the field in the closing minutes. However, he was a full-go at practice last week and had no issues against the Chargers. NOTES: The Broncos waived veteran CB Levi Wallace, who had been inactive the past two weeks after giving up several big plays to Jeudy on Dec. 2. Denver also designated RB Tyler Badie to return from a back injury he sustained against the Jets in Week 4. Payton said he hopes to sign Wallace to the practice squad if he clears waivers. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSenate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Judge in Trump criminal case delays sentencing indefinitely NEW YORK: The judge in Donald Trump ́s criminal hush money case ordered on Friday that sentencing be delayed indefinitely, a legal win for the president-elect as he prepares to return to the White House. Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts in May after a jury found he had fraudulently manipulated business records to cover up an alleged sexual encounter with a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. Prosecutors argued that concealing the alleged tryst was intended to help him win his first run for the White House. Trump, who had been scheduled to be sentenced on November 26, had fought against any effort to sentence him before his return to the presidency in January. “It is... ordered that the joint application for a stay of sentencing is granted to the extent that the November 26, 2024 date is adjourned,” said judge Juan Merchan in an order. Trump ́s legal team have cited a Supreme Court ruling giving presidents sweeping immunity for official acts. That landmark ruling saw the court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, decide that presidents have sweeping immunity from prosecution for a range of official acts committed while in office. Ahead of the election, Trump ́s lawyers moved to have the case thrown out in light of the Supreme Court decision, a move which prosecutors have firmly rejected. On Friday the judge granted Trump leave to seek to have the conviction thrown out, likely meaning several further hearings that could be delayed once Trump is sworn in. “The defendant ́s request for leave to file a motion to dismiss... is granted,” added Merchan ́s order. In a separate 2020 election interference case, Special Counsel Jack Smith moved to vacate deadlines, delaying the case indefinitely -- but not yet dropping it outright. The move was in line with long-standing Department of Justice policy not to prosecute sitting US presidents. The Manhattan prosecutor previously acknowledged in correspondence with the court that “these are unprecedented circumstances” and called for the competing interests of the jury ́s verdict and Trump ́s election to be balanced. Trump ́s former attorney general Bill Barr previously said that both the New York case as well as others around the country had been “plainly brought for political purposes (and) have now been extensively aired and rejected in the court of public opinion.” Trump has repeatedly derided the hush money case as a witch hunt, saying it “should be rightfully terminated.” Alongside the New York case, brought by state-level prosecutors, Trump faces two active federal cases: one related to his effort to overturn the 2020 election and the other connected to classified documents he allegedly mishandled after leaving office.IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe Lobbies for Role in Mahama’s Proposed Anti-Corruption Initiative
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Luke Kromenhoek threw for 209 yards and tossed three touchdown passes as Florida State halted a six-game losing streak and routed Charleston Southern 41-7 on Saturday. Kromenhoek completed 13 of 20 passes in his first college start, including a 71-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Khi Douglas, as the Seminoles (2-9) won for the first time since Sept. 21. The true freshman also connected with Amaree Williams for a 4-yard TD and Hykeem Williams for a 10-yard TD. Florida State had the nation’s lowest scoring offense at 13.3 points. The Seminoles hadn’t scored more than 21 points or surpassed the 300-yard mark in 2024. But Florida State overwhelmed FCS Charleston Southern (1-11), accumulating 415 offensive yards. Kaleb Jackson completed 22 of 32 passes for 218 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown pass to Landon Sauers, and an interception for the Buccaneers. The takeaway Charleston Southern: While the Buccaneers found some success through the air, they couldn’t sustain drives and managed just 57 rushing yards on 29 carries. Florida State: The Seminoles picked up a season-best 176 rushing yards, scoring 17 points in the second quarter and 14 points in the third quarter to take control. Up next Charleston Southern’s season is over. Florida State plays host to Florida on Nov. 30. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25
Take Rich Rodriguez’s resume. Now take his name off the top. Just look at the list of accomplishments – 190 wins, 14 bowl appearances for his teams, including a trio of New Year’s Six bowls, three power-conference stints, an offense consistently sitting at or near the top of the national rankings. Don’t lie. Looking at it just as a blind resume, you’re at least intrigued. You’re likely interested. Some of you may be begging West Virginia University brass to hire this guy. But for some of you, that name makes you stop dead. Suffice it to say that reaction to Rodriguez’s return to WVU has been ... mixed ... among the fanbase. Some folks are over the moon that the guy who engineered some of the Mountaineers’ greatest seasons is back for an encore. Others want nothing to do with him, saying they don’t want a retread or they’re still angry about the way he left for Michigan in 2007. But here’s the truth: WVU was not going to find another coach with that type of background for this job. At three of his four Football Bowl Subdivision stops, he won far more than he lost. That Michigan stint was just an ill fit. A West Virginia guy walking into the blueblood surroundings of Ann Arbor went together as well as sardines and strawberry jam. Otherwise, in many seasons Rodriguez coached, his teams were playing for conference titles, if not winning them. As for that breakup in 2007? The people on the WVU side of that feud are long gone. Three people have been WVU’s president since then. Three people have been WVU’s athletic director since then. The folks who are there now – President Gordon Gee and AD Wren Baker – are good with Rodriguez and, obviously, he’s good with them. There’s another big reason why Rodriguez is back in old gold and blue, one that Baker mentioned when he talked to the media about the coaching search last week. “There are great coaches who aren’t capable of this, who aren’t comfortable living in a fishbowl,” he said. “If you’re the football coach at West Virginia University, you are the most recognizable person in this state. You’re never going to stop and get gas, you’re never going to walk into a convenience store, you’re never going to go into the grocery store and buy anything where people don’t know who you are. You can feel the eyes following you. “For some people, they can handle the pressure on game days; they can’t handle that,” Baker continued. “You can’t ever get away from it. And so I’ve spent a lot of time talking about that and trying to make sure that whoever we bring in understands that. Until you experience it, you don’t fully comprehend what it is.” There may be no person on this planet that understands both the good and the bad that comes with being WVU’s football coach better than Rich Rodriguez. He has been called both hero and villain, champion and traitor. Pat McAfee, Rodriguez’s former punter turned sports media sensation, has mentioned over the last couple of days that he and Rodriguez both still think about that 13-9 loss to Pitt in 2007, the one that knocked WVU out of the national championship game. McAfee said Rodriguez looks at his return to Morgantown as a road to redemption, an opportunity to right a wrong. Are there some concerns with a Rich Rod redux? Sure. He hasn’t experienced the new frontiers of college football like name, image and likeness, revenue sharing and the transfer portal at Jacksonville State like he will at WVU. There might be a learning curve. And his departures from WVU, Michigan and Arizona have been, to put it mildly, messy. Does WVU want to invite the possibility of another tumultuous tenure, or have the pitfalls of Rodriguez’s career humbled him in the sense that he knows he can’t falter like that again? Here’s what we do know. His team will score plenty of points. It’ll gain a lot of yards. It’ll play hard to the echo of the whistle. It’ll be tough. All those things should help WVU’s fanbase emerge from the funk it has sat in for the last few years of ho-hum, average performances. Fans need a jolt. WVU needed someone to give it to them. They made a pretty long list, and Rodriguez rose to the top. WVU also needed someone who could win at West Virginia, who understood West Virginia, who embraced West Virginia. It needed someone who didn’t have to learn all those things on the job. That was a list of one, and he’ll stand before the crowd on the floor of the Coliseum today.United, Apple rolling out new way to track lost luggage with AirTags
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Customs Dissolves Joint Border Patrol Team In New Enforcement StrategySometimes trying to ice the kicker backfires, and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights found that out the hard way in a 38-31 loss to Illinois on Saturday. With Rutgers clinging to a one-point lead and 14 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, Illinois lined up for a potential game-winning 58-yard field-goal attempt into the wind. Just as Illinois snapped the ball, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano called a timeout in an effort to ice Illinois kicker David Olano. The kick, which did not count because of the timeout, badly missed. Upon seeing how poorly the field-goal attempt went, Illinois decided to put its offense back on the field for a 4th-and-13 play. It not only worked, but it resulted in a game-winning touchdown with four seconds to play in regulation. Have a look. PAT BRYANT HOUSE CALL He scores on fourth down with 4 second left for @Illinifootball !!️ #B1GFootball on Peacock pic.twitter.com/7VmxZztAqw That is quarterback Luke Altmeyer finding Pat Bryant for a 40-yard touchdown to win the game. Bryant finished the game with 197 yards on seven catches. That win lifts Illinois to an 8-3 record and gives the Illini eight wins in a season for just the fourth time since the 2000 season . You should still expect your defense to be able to make a stop on 4th-and-13, but Schiano is probably going to have a lot of regret after that outcome. A 58-yard kick is difficult under any circumstances, especially for a college kicker into the wind (as this kick was). Sometimes you just have to trust that they might miss it and not try to overthink it.
On Jan. 2, Jack Foley will pack up his things and head to the Palouse to begin his college football career. Last week, the Mountain View wide receiver signed his letter of intent to play at Washington State while putting an end to a turbulent seven months of wondering what his football career would look like. “It was a blessing,” Foley said. “To finally be able to sign it, completely close off my recruitment and be so 100% sure that I want to go somewhere and be part of a program. “It was an interesting year, interesting season and offseason,” Foley added. “But the Lord has blessed me with some abilities to play this game and I trusted his process and it all worked out.” Foley, who played for Mountain View while attending Trinity Lutheran in Bend, will graduate early to jumpstart his college career. He boasts one of the best careers on the gridiron in Mountain View history as a two-time Class 5A first-team all-state wide receiver. This past fall, he finished with 1,082 yards on 52 receptions while scoring 16 touchdowns for a Cougar team that went undefeated during the regular season, won the Intermountain Conference and reached the 5A title game for the second-consecutive year. After a junior season in which he caught 38 passes and scored 14 touchdowns, Foley became one of the top receiver prospects in the Northwest and was destined to play big-time college football. But this past May, Foley fractured his spine while at a recruiting camp. Four surgeons in Bend told him that continuing his football career was not safe. His recruitment cooled after that. The college coaches that were trying to convince him to join their programs began reaching out to wish him luck with his recovery and to let them know if anything changed. “It was unfortunate but it’s a business,” Foley said. “These coaches and programs put in a lot of time and effort into a kid, and for them not to be able to play football in the future, it is a difficult decision for a coach. It was challenging. It was a test of my faith as well. I just trust the Lord’s plan that he had for me and it all ended up working out.” After getting the OK from doctors in Los Angeles and going through a rehabilitation process, Foley was back on the field for his final season. He started posting his highlights from the season on social media and began reaching back out to coaches to let them know that he was back. A couple games into the season, the recruiting process began to pick up again. For a brief time, Foley was committed to play in the ACC at Wake Forest. But once Washington State offered him a scholarship, he could not turn down the chance to play for a competitive team in a pass-happy offense while being closer to his family. “I think they are building something special and I want to be a part of it,” Foley said of WSU. “I have an amazing support system from family, friends, girlfriend, teammates. Being only eight hours away and having those guys be able to support me closer to home, make it easier for my family to come to games, played a big part in it.” Between the 5A and 4A classifications, 10 additional Central Oregon players landed on the state’s first and second teams. Mountain View junior Cody Calvert was a two-way all-stater, named to the first team as both an offensive and defensive lineman. Junior running back Angel Valenzuela and senior wideout Jordan Best landed on the 5A second team. Summit had a pair of first-teamers, with junior Max Shepherd selected as 5A’s top kicker. Senior Marco Larsen was a first-team linebacker and second-team offensive lineman. Senior defensive lineman Alex Nevarov and senior defensive back Culter Hobin landed on the second-team defense for the Storm. Crook County had three players named to the 4A all-state teams. Senior Garrett Stefanek was a first-team linebacker and second-team offensive lineman. Senior Gabe Love was a first-team punter and a second-team kicker. Senior Preston Duke landed on the second-team offensive line.President-elect Donald Trump's plan to pardon the Jan. 6 rioters might enrage Trump's political opponents — as well as Trump's own supporters, who were led to believe he would go further than what he appears to be planning, a conservative analyst told CNN's Jake Tapper on Thursday. In his TIME Magazine interview this week, Trump suggested he would pardon most of the people who stormed the Capitol — but said he would review each case individually, leaving open the possibility that only nonviolent offenders will see pardons. That would exclude most people who were jailed for long periods of time. "So in his interview with TIME Magazine, President-elect Trump said one of his first acts in office will be to pardon January 6th criminals, saying, quote, 'I'll be looking at J6 early on, maybe the first nine minutes,' meaning the first nine minutes of his administration," said Tapper. "He also said, quote, 'I'm going to do case by case and if they were nonviolent, I think they've been greatly punished. I'm going to look, if there's some that really were out of control.'" ALSO READ: A dark mystery from America's past could save us from Trump's tyranny Tapper turned to analyst Jonah Goldberg. "Trump's reaffirming what he said he would do during the campaign, and the American people elected him. But what's your reaction that this is, you know, a priority in the first nine minutes of his presidency?" "Look, I mean, these guys were the Trump Tabernacle Choir at his rallies, right? The January 6th guys," said Goldberg. "But there are a lot of caveats to this, right? He is — there are a lot of people who think everybody's going to get a pardon. And he's saying if they were nonviolent, if they were excessive, they would go case by case." "I think it has the potential of pissing off a lot of people who think no one should get a pardon, and pissing off a lot of people who think everyone should get a pardon," Goldberg added. "So it's more fraught for him than I think people are appreciating." Watch the video below or at the link here . - YouTube www.youtube.comAngel Reese and Caitlin Clark showdown ticket prices revealed as WNBA duo reach record-breaking levels
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