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In Tyreek Hill detainment, it’s impossible to forget Colin Kaepernick

It was 2018 and two Miami Dolphins players, Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson, kneeled before their game against Tennessee in what was the waning months of the protest movement started by Colin Kaepernick two years earlier. What Stills and Wilson did was particularly bold because there weren’t many players still protesting.

Stills was one of the quiet heroes of that time. When I interviewed him for a book about the movement, he spoke about the importance of protesting police violence against people of color.

‘I felt that if I did nothing, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself,’ he said. ‘I didn’t want to look back at my life and say, ‘You could have done something. But you didn’t. You were a coward.”

It’s hard to sometimes remember that time. It’s a historical blur. It’s been altered and memory holed and distorted by bad actors. In essence, it came down to this. Kaepernick used his power as an NFL quarterback to bring attention to police violence against people of color. He was brave and fiery. Eventually, it cost him his job. He hasn’t played in the NFL since. Later, the NFL was forced to apologize for how it treated Kaepernick and protesting players after the murder of George Floyd by a cop.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Fast-forward to now and the irony is thick. Kaepernick protested against police brutality, and recently one of the highest profile players in the NFL was detained by police who, according to video footage, abused their power, right in front of an NFL stadium, on an NFL Sunday. A stadium, in fact, where protests against police brutality took place.

The echoes of Kaepernick are all over the detainment of Tyreek Hill.

To say Kaepernick was right is obvious but it’s more than that. Of course he was right. But with the ugliness involving Hill he was glaringly right. You couldn’t write a movie script that would say a player protested police abuse and then later another NFL player was seen on recordings being abused. No one would buy that script because it would be absurd.

But this was always Kaepernick’s point. That this type of police overkill is common. He wasn’t the first to make this point. Many Black Americans have. Many Black athletes have. The WNBA did before Kaepernick. He was simply one of the most visible people to address the problem.

Go back to what Kaepernick originally said after his initial protest, and his words then are impactful now.

‘I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color,’ Kaepernick said. ‘To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.’

‘This is not something that I am going to run by anybody,’ he said. ‘I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. … If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right.’

Stills would go on to lead a remarkable life. He’d publicly chastise Dolphins owner Stephen Ross for saying he wanted to fight for equality while also supporting Donald Trump.

‘I think it’s important to understand people can disagree on things and still move forward,’ Stills said in 2019. ‘A lot of the things I’ve talked about are on the basic level of being a human being, being respectful, and really just caring about others, and trying to draw the line in the sand when it comes to hate and divisiveness and inciting violence. That’s where I draw the line. I’m trying to encourage other people to do the same.’

In 2020, Stills was involved in protests over the killing of Breonna Taylor by police. Stills’ action was a classic moment of good trouble.

Kaepernick is no longer physically in the NFL. But in many ways, he never left.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Politics

House Republicans lament Trump’s ‘terrible’ debate performance: ‘Let her get under his skin’

House Republicans are privately expressing frustration about former President Trump’s performance in his debate against Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday.

Several House GOP lawmakers granted anonymity to speak freely acknowledged Trump ‘missed’ opportunities to effectively attack Harris and tout his own record. A few said it was the prevailing sentiment within the House Republican Conference that Harris successfully baited him on multiple occasions — though most argued it would ultimately have little impact on Election Day.

‘It was terrible. I think you’re seeing that comment from everybody,’ one senior House Republican told Fox News Digital.

‘The thing that’s terrible is, he had so many opportunities to come after her and he didn’t. He got bogged down on the hook she was dragging through the water.’

Another House GOP lawmaker went even further, calling the debate a ‘dumpster fire’ for the former president.

‘It was one of the worst bloodlettings I’ve ever seen,’ the lawmaker said. ‘But the thing is, too, the optics itself — Trump standing next to Kamala Harris, he looks old. He didn’t look old against Biden…and that, you can’t fix.’

While most Republicans shrugged off the debate’s ultimate effect on the election, that lawmaker worried, ‘I think it’s gonna sway the people in the middle, who matter.’

A third Republican said Harris ‘certainly got under [Trump’s] skin’ and their fellow conference members agreed ‘she did well.’

GOP lawmakers who spoke with Fox News Digital argued Trump’s policies and record are far stronger than Harris’ and were dismayed that they weren’t a larger part of his performance.

‘While he made many [good] points, she was able to slide out of every one of those arguments,’ the third Republican said. ‘We need to stop treating her like she’s Joe Biden, someone who can’t get her thoughts out, and treat her more like Hillary Clinton.’

A fourth GOP lawmaker simply said when asked for their reaction to the debate, ‘I prefer not to answer questions about cats and dogs and immigrants.’

That person added as well, however, that Harris ‘had to present herself as a person with credibility and a policy agenda, she didn’t do that.’

They said it was Trump’s own ‘fault’ when asked if Harris successfully baited him, however.

Another Republican said they had not discussed the debate with GOP colleagues, explaining, ‘I think everybody’s just kind of bummed out.’

‘They set a trap, and he walked into it. He wasn’t helped, but there were so many easy things he could’ve said,’ the fifth lawmaker said. ‘You wanna talk about the border, the world on fire, inflation — that’s all he had to do. Instead, she poked and prodded until she got a reaction.’

A sixth GOP lawmaker simply smiled sheepishly, ‘I do think he missed some opportunities to highlight her record. And I’ll leave it at that.’

A seventh Republican who spoke with Fox News Digital at the end of the debate on Tuesday night said Harris was ‘doing a good job provoking [Trump].’

‘He’s right on policy but can’t keep a message,’ they complained.

The majority of House Republicans who spoke publicly praised Trump, though, with the top GOP leaders all declaring victory for the ex-president minutes after the debate.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement Tuesday night, ‘Tonight, President Donald Trump exposed Vice President Kamala Harris for the dangerous radical she has always been.’

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who helped Trump prepare for the debate, told reporters on Wednesday that the ex-president ‘did a great job.’

‘Look, the debate was about immigration and the economy. Those are the issues where President Trump dominates with voters,’ he said.

Trump himself posted on his Truth Social app just after the debate, ‘People are saying BIG WIN tonight!’

When reached for comment on this story, the Trump campaign pointed Fox News Digital to its statement on the debate from Tuesday night, which said in part, ‘President Trump delivered a masterful debate performance tonight, prosecuting Kamala Harris’ abysmal record of failure that has hurt Americans for the last 4 years.’

‘We saw President Trump lay out his bold vision of America and how he would continue to build upon the successes of his first term by supercharging the economy, securing the border, and stopping crime from ravaging communities across the country,’ the statement said.

‘Conversely, Kamala’s vision of America was a dark reminder of the oppressive, big government policies of Joe Biden that she wants to continue.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Stocks

Stock Market Today: Are Big Tech Growth Stocks Back in the Spotlight?

It was a massive turnaround day in the market on Wednesday—stocks sold off after the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data was released, but, after a couple of hours, rallied back to make up the losses and continue higher. The broader stock market indexes closed higher. The Nasdaq Composite ($COMPQ), S&P 500 ($SPX), and Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU) had a very wide range day, with the Nasdaq ahead of the pack closing higher by 2.17%.

On Wednesday, the Tech sector was the top performer, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services. The underperforming sectors were Energy, Consumer Staples, and Financials.

FIGURE 1. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11, MARKETCARPET. Tech stocks made a comeback today. Are investors rotating back to mega-cap tech stocks?Image source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Financials Pull Back

Financials are losing steam after their big run. Investors were stoked about this sector since interest rate cuts were a possibility. But there has been a sell-off in financial stocks, and yesterday’s largely negative comments from JP Morgan Chase (JPM), Goldman Sachs (GS), and Ally Financial (ALLY) worsened the situation. This spilled over into Wednesday morning’s trading. The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) fell to a low of $43.38, but, similar to the broader market indexes, it recovered and closed at $44.28. The sentiment shift isn’t obvious in XLF, but I will watch the chart closely because buying pressure could come back.

FIGURE 2. A PULLBACK IN FINANCIALS. Negative comments from banks hurt the Financial sector, but XLF recovered after a selloff. Will it maintain its uptrend?Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Technically, XLF’s chart doesn’t look terrible, but it’s not as great as it once was. XLF almost hit its 50-day simple moving average (SMA), bounced back, and closed at its 21-day EMA. It could continue to be shaky for some time.

The relative strength index (RSI) is at 51.76, but is declining. XLF could go either way here. The positive for the ETF is that interest rates will come down this year, which could boost financial stocks.

Financial stocks aside, could Wednesday’s move confirm a shift toward bullish sentiment?

The Broader Markets

The daily chart of the S&P 500 shows that the index closed above its 21-day EMA and market breadth conditions are improving. The percentage of S&P 500 stocks above their 50-day moving average is at 66.60 and the Advance-Decline Line is maintaining its uptrend.

FIGURE 3: TURNAROUND IN S&P 500. After selling off in the first few hours of the trading day, the S&P 500 recovered all its losses and continued to rise, ending with a strong finish.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

The StockCharts Market Factors widget (in your Dashboard data panels) shows that large-cap growth and momentum stocks were up the most today. In yesterday’s post, I discussed the SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG) and would like to revisit the chart.

FIGURE 4. SPYG MADE A SIGNIFICANT UPSIDE MOVE. The ETF still has to break above the upper trendline to confirm an upside move. Momentum is picking up, and an uptrend could resume if it continues.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Wednesday’s significant upward move indicates that sentiment is shifting toward large-cap growth stocks. If the momentum continues, SPGY could break above the upper trendline. The RSI is also trending higher. Right now, the technical picture looks positive for large-cap growth stocks.

Closing Bell

This week, more macroeconomic data, including the Producer Price Index (PPI) and Michigan Consumer Sentiment, will be released. Will they move the needle in the opposite direction? That’s something to watch for in the next couple of days.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

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Business

Lawmakers push to revive low-income broadband subsidy as providers pivot

Internet service providers including Charter, Verizon and Comcast are shifting customers away from the Affordable Connectivity Program, an expired federal internet subsidy that helped low-income households pay for broadband, according to earnings calls and people familiar with the matter.

The $14.2 billion program, which went into effect in December 2021, served roughly 23 million households, two-thirds of which had either inconsistent or zero internet access prior to enrolling, according to a December survey from the Federal Communications Commission. It provided a discount of up to $30 per month for some qualifying households and up to $75 a month for households on eligible tribal land.

But it officially ended in June after Congress decided not to renew its funding.

Since the ACP lapsed, some Democratic and Republican lawmakers have been working to bring back the program.

But broadband companies have been focused on transitioning their customers to other affordable options to help them make up the expired discount, according to the companies’ earnings calls.

In the wake of the ACP’s expiration, broadband companies have reported losing some customers. But overall, they have weathered the storm better than expected, according to analysts’ notes and to executives’ comments in recent earnings reports.

“Generally speaking, the impact on the companies so far is less than feared,” said analyst Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson. “But that doesn’t take away from the families for whom this was important, and could now lose access to broadband.” 

And though broadband companies supported ACP’s renewal before it expired, since then they have done little to revive the program, given uncertainty over where the funding would come from, according to the people familiar with the matter, who were granted anonymity due to the private nature of these discussions.

Part of that uncertainty comes from the unknown future of party control in Congress given the November election.

“I know the difference between when industry really wants something to happen, and when they say, ‘Well, we support it, sure,’ but they don’t put money into advertising, they don’t put money into lobbyists, they don’t put money into doing the kind of studies that support the case,” New Street Research analyst Blair Levin told CNBC.

Charter and Comcast representatives declined to comment. Verizon did not respond to requests for comment.

Comcast owns NBCUniversal, the parent company of CNBC and NBC News.

Both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate and the House have brought forward bills that would spend between $6 billion and $7 billion to relaunch the ACP, at least temporarily.

“My hope is that we can get something done rather quickly, especially as kids are getting ready to go back to school,” said Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio, in August. He jointly proposed the House bill with Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill.

The ACP was originally funded as the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, a pandemic-era internet subsidy that quickly gained support when reliable access became a necessity in a world dominated by online school and work. 

Internet usage soared in 2020 and 2021. Even now, usage levels are well above pre-pandemic levels, according to broadband data provider Open Vault.

But as Covid grows more distant in public memory, convincing lawmakers to spend billions to extend these subsidies has become an uphill battle.

One key reason is election year timing.

For example, GOP Sen. JD Vance of Ohio was one of the lead supporters of the ACP. But after he was tapped to be Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s running mate, Vance quieted his advocacy.

In Congress, both the Republican House majority and Democratic control of the Senate could flip in November. This means Democratic leaders may choose to put other priorities ahead of the ACP, while they still control the Senate.

“This is going to be a really close election, so maybe they want to use floor time for judicial nominations,” Gigi Sohn, a consumer broadband advocate and lawyer whom President Joe Biden nominated to be an FCC commissioner, said in an interview with CNBC.

Still, Sohn believes bipartisan support for the ACP should make reauthorizing it a political slam dunk for Democrats.

“This is one of the things that absolutely perplexes me, because to me, this is the kind of thing you absolutely want to do in an election year.”

As the Sept. 30 government funding deadline inches closer, congressional leaders are heads-down on the scramble to pass a stopgap funding bill to avert a shutdown, pushing the ACP further down the priority list. After September, Congress is expected to be out on recess until after the election.

As some Capitol Hill lawmakers cling to the narrowing possibility of an ACP comeback, the private sector is reining in its hopes.

″[ISPs] are making their plans, they are telling Wall Street that this thing is dead and they’re just not putting effort into it,” Sohn said.

While broadband providers were generally supportive of the ACP, many in the industry believed the subsidy benefitted too wide a swath of U.S. households. In some instances customers used the benefit toward other products, such as mobile or pay TV.

For example, one in four New York households used the ACP, per a White House fact sheet released in February.

Starting from scratch with a new subsidy program, while also building digital literacy among low income consumers, could be a better alternative after the election, some people close to the companies say.

And disillusioned with the temporary model, industry players are more likely to lobby for permanent solutions like strengthening the Universal Service Fund, according to Sohn. But that comes with its own set of political obstacles, especially after a federal court found the USF to be unconstitutional.

With or without private sector resources, lawmakers assure they will not quit the push to bring the ACP back.

“What we’re focused on is the near-term problem,” Carey said. “Then we can build consensus to look at something for a longer-term plan.”

But dwindling support from industry partners casts doubt on the ACP’s future because companies are ultimately the ones who deliver the internet service and can help educate customers about the program.

“Industry is one voice in this because they are the structure providing this service,” Budzinski told CNBC. “It’s important that they be at the table.”

The ACP’s expiration has also cast a shadow over some businesses — namely the companies that had invested heavily in getting new and existing customers enrolled in the program.

Charter Communications CEO Chris Winfrey said in July that the ACP’s expiration impacted both losses and low income broadband connections after the company had “put a lot of effort into the ACP program.”

Charter was one of the ACP’s biggest industry proponents: It received roughly $910 million from the program from 2022 to February 2023, according to FCC data. Comcast and Verizon each received over $200 million from the program. 

When Congress decided not to renew ACP funding, these companies were forced to absorb the shock at a time when cable companies have already seen broadband customer growth stagnate due to heightened competition and a slowdown in home sales.

Charter and Comcast representatives declined to comment. Verizon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

During the second quarter, Charter reported a loss of 149,000 internet customers, while Comcast reported a decline of 120,000 broadband customers. While some of this could be attributed to the ACP, the companies expect the biggest impacts to be felt in the third quarter.

Since the ACP ended, companies have tried to help customers transition to low income or different internet plans, in some cases reverting back to plans they had before the subsidy.

Comcast said in July that it has been helping customers migrate to other broadband plans.

Charter has tried to retain its low-income consumer base by rolling out new savings deals like offering ACP customers a free unlimited mobile line for one year. Others like Verizon decided to just pencil in the financial hit of the customer loss, reporting a loss of 410,000 prepaid wireless subscribers in its second quarter earnings. 

The initial bottom-line pain of the ACP’s lapse so far appears to be milder than what some company leaders and analysts had initially expected. But the process is far from over.

“We’ve only seen the first chapter so far, in that we’ve only seen the impact on gross additions. But we haven’t yet seen the impact on bad debt and unpaid disconnects,” Moffett of MoffettNathanson told CNBC. “That will come in the third quarter.” 

CORRECTION (Sept. 11, 5:56 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated Gigi Sohn’s appointment to the FCC. She was nominated but withdrew before becoming a commissioner.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
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First and 10: Texas is back. Oklahoma is lost. What’s up with Oregon?

You’ve heard it before, but now it’s undeniable: Texas football is back. That, plus Oregon’s struggles and a Notre Dame revelation in this week’s First and 10.

1. Texas football was lost but now it’s found in the SEC

A quick refresher for those forgetting just how unbearably lost Texas football was not so long ago. 

The big, bad Longhorns, the most valuable television property in all of college sports, the kings of excess and the good life, actually complained to the Big 12 because rival Oklahoma — are you ready for this? — flipped the Hook ‘Em hand gesture and pointed down.

Mommy, the mean men are making fun of us again!

It’s enough to make every red-blooded college football fan puke.

I’m not sure what was more emasculating for once loud and proud Texas: that it complained, or that the Big 12 capitulated and started throwing flags on those flashing horns down.

Personal foul, Team Soft. 

Now here we are, and the thought of that nonsense — with the ugly end to the golden era of Mack Brown, and the failed versions of Texas Is Back under Charlie Strong and Tom Herman — is far in the rearview.

Texas, everyone, is roaring into the SEC in its first season in the best conference in college football. Oklahoma is limping behind, scrambling for answers.

“We are capable of anything,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday at his weekly press conference. “We are entitled to nothing.”

Welcome, Texas, to officially being back. 

It’s almost like the program with every possible advantage has been drawn into some strange football vortex with its entry into the SEC, the conference with every possible advantage. From annoying once-was demanding everything or else, to surging what-is taking anything it wants.

Meanwhile, there is bitter rival Oklahoma, which seemingly snuck into the SEC party on the tails of Texas (more on that later) — despite dominating Texas since the birth of the Big 12 in 1994.

Even with two losses in three games to the Sooners, Sarkisian is doing just about everything right. Recruiting at an elite level, developing NFL Draft picks and, more than anything, changing the longheld narrative of Texas football. 

Elite players, elite coaching. We all know where this is headed.

2. Meanwhile, what’s up with Oklahoma football?

For every action, there’s a corresponding reaction. Or in this case, bad football at Oklahoma. 

By the time it ended last weekend, Oklahoma had 252 total yards, punted eight times and averaged 5.2 yards per pass attempt in a four-point win over Houston. 

All of that ugly underscored a growing narrative that – fair or not, real or not — has taken hold. Texas is is new SEC darling, the Sooners are the team tagging along.

Even though Oklahoma and coach Brent Venables have won two of three games against Sarkisian and Texas, even though one of Texas’ two losses in last year’s breakout season was to the Sooners, there’s skepticism in and outside Norman. 

The same Oklahoma that couldn’t stop anyone in Venables’ first season lost twice by a combined eight points in the 2023 regular season to straighten the curves. That is, until Arizona thumped the Sooners in the Alamo Bowl, and until fans booed often last weekend during the uninspiring win over a rebuilding Houston team that was blown out by UNLV a week earlier.

If you think that’s a problem, let me introduce karma: In two weeks, after this weekend’s home game against Tulane, Oklahoma will play its first SEC game against white-hot Tennessee. 

It was Vols coach Josh Heupel, who won a national title in 2000 as a plucky quarterback at Oklahoma, who helped kickstart the Sooner’s two decades of dominance over Texas with a Heisman Trophy finalist season. And it was Heupel who was summarily fired as offensive coordinator after the 2014 season – a move that, to this day, still motivates him. 

CALM DOWN: Five biggest overreactions after Week 2

3. Texas is back, The Epilogue

Elite players win championships. It’s why Alabama, Clemson and Georgia have dominated the first decade of the College Football Playoff.

It’s why Texas truly is back.

Sarkisian’s first four recruiting classes at Texas were ranked 15th, fifth, third and sixth in the nation, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.     

“It’s an acquisition game,” Sarkisian said in July. “How many impact players can you acquire, and can you develop them and get them to work toward the same thing?” 

Especially at the most important position on the field. 

The current Texas quarterback (Quinn Ewers) was the No. 1 overall recruit in 2021 and is a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. His backup (Arch Manning) was the No. 1 overall recruit in 2023.

Alabama, Georgia and Clemson combined for six national titles since 2016, and produced a combined four first-round picks at quarterback over that span. Every quarterback from those championship teams is playing in the NFL: Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence and Stetson Bennett. 

Meanwhile at Oklahoma, the offense dried up once Lincoln Riley left for Southern California after the 2021 season. Even the last two seasons with Dillon Gabriel, while productive, haven’t been program-defining like the past (see: Hurts, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield).

Texas has taken the Oklahoma offensive model, added some beef and bravado on defense and sped past the Sooners.

4. Notre Dame and the lost intangibles

College football has quickly become talent vs. experience and chemistry. The current formula is a roster of high school recruits mixed with transfer portal additions built to win now.

But that road many times lacks core principles of championship teams: the organically-built intangibles of leadership and chemistry. Case in point: the Northern Illinois upset of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame has 12 players on its two-deep roster that are either true freshmen, or transfers from the portal. There’s one true freshman on the Northern Illinois two-deep. And a whole lot of organically-developed upperclassmen. 

It’s still about talent, but once emotion and motivation enter the picture, the dynamic of what should be a glorified scrimmage turns into a white-knuckle ride. It’s no different than the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, where a team full of one-and-dones is eliminated in the first round by a mid-major full of players – grown men – who have been with the program for years.

5. The Weekly Five: Southern California’s flex

Five teams that are better than we thought … maybe. 

1. USC: New DC D’Anton Lynn’s unit has given up 20 points in two games, and QB Miller Moss is the next in a long line of prolific Riley quarterbacks. 

2. Iowa State: Primed to roll in the next six weeks: Arkansas State, at Houston, Baylor, at West Virginia, Central Florida, Texas Tech. 

3. Vanderbilt: With a win over Georgia State, Commodores will be 3-0 for the first time since 2017.

4. Syracuse: Ohio State gave up on QB Kyle McCord, who has changed his fortunes with the Orange..

5. San Jose State: New coach Ken Niumatalolo isn’t all about the triple option anymore.

6. An NFL scout’s view of Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan

An NFL scout analyzes a draft eligible player. This week: Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan. (The scout requested anonymity to protect the team’s draft preparations.)

“Tall, long and strong. He’s not a burner, but he does just about everything else at a high, high level. We’re so consumed with getting guys who can run well to stretch defenses that we overlook what the position is all about. It’s gaining separation and making difficult and routine catches. You’re talking about a guy who is all of 6-feet-5, with a large catch radius and terrific body control.’

7. Power Play: Tennessee moving up

This week’s College Football Playoff Poll (the 12-team bracket ranking and first four out) — and one big thing.

1. Georgia: Kentucky quit in last week’s loss to South Carolina, and now gets the king.

2. Ohio State: A lot of hype for an offense that has played two truly pitiful defenses (Akron, Western Michigan).

3. Miami: The defense – eight sacks, five turnovers forced, third-down conversion rate of 18.1%.  

4. Oklahoma State: Don’t ignore a bad Tulsa team with Big 12 opener against Utah on horizon.

5. Texas: The Georgia game on Oct. 19 can’t get here soon enough.

6. Ole Miss: QB Jaxson Dart is averaging a whopping 14.7 yards per attempt. 

7. USC: Two weeks to prepare for the first Big Ten game at Michigan.

8. Tennessee: If you’re not a believer in QB Nico Iamaleava and the Vols, check your pulse.

9. Alabama: Some things never change: Tide has 14 pass breakups, 13 QB pressures and five sacks. 

10. Penn State: The Bowling Green struggle – an anomaly or an indicator?

11. Missouri: After two gimme putts, time to see if Mizzou is for real against Boston College.

12. Oregon: Ducks have 17 penalties, and only five other Power Four conference teams have more.

13. LSU: Same as it was – LSU is 107th in the nation in average yards per play (6.18), and 95th in third-down conversions (40.9%). 

14. Utah: QB Cam Rising has seven touchdowns, no interceptions, 11.9 yards per attempt.   

15. Clemson: Was way too early to file away QB Cade Klubnick and OC Garrett Riley.

16. Kansas State: Time to crank up dynamic QB Avery Johnson.

8. Mailbag: What’s up with Oregon?

Matt: Gently, please. Should I be worried about my Ducks? — Mindy Baker, Seattle. 

Mindy: One is an anomaly, and two is … time to wonder what in the world is going on with a team full of talent on both sides of the ball that just can’t seem to play complementary football.

After games against Idaho and Boise State, Oregon is 84th in the nation in scoring defense (24 ppg) and 72nd in scoring offense (30.5 ppg). The problem this season is the very area where Dan Lanning made the greatest impact in his first two seasons: the lines of scrimmage.

The Ducks aren’t winning consistently at the point of attack on either side and are significantly worse on the offensive line. It’s not just missed assignments, it’s penalties (false starts and holding), bad snaps, poor technique from offensive tackles in pass sets and a lack of intensity from the middle three.

9. The numbers game: Introducing Jahvaree Ritzie

5. NFL scouts call it a money year – a final season when players reach their ceiling, knowing they’re playing for NFL money. College coaches call it development. Some players simply take longer to reach their potential. 

Welcome to the argument, North Carolina DT Jahvaree Ritzie, who had eight career starts and 2½ career sacks in three previous seasons as a cog in the middle of the defensive line.

Now he leads the nation in sacks (five) as an interior lineman, no less. The obvious grand (and ridiculous) statement is Ritzie is on pace for 30 sacks.

The North Carolina single-season record for sacks is 16, set by Lawrence Taylor in 1980. If UNC plays 13 games (12 games plus a bowl game), Ritzie needs to average a sack a game to tie Taylor’s record. 

10. The last word: Ryan Williams, Cam Coleman lead freshman receiving class

In this quarterback-heavy sport, we often become fixated on the most important position on the field and ignore the rest of the offense.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the ridiculously talented freshmen receiving class. 

After two weeks, blue-chip recruits Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), Cam Coleman (Auburn), Ryan Williams (Alabama) and Bryant Wesco Jr. (Clemson) have combined for 25 catches and eight touchdowns. 

More impressive is the combined average yards per catch of 26.7, and big plays of 84, 76, 70, 55 and 51 yards. They also have four combined plays of at least 41 yards. 

We’re two games into the season, and this group already is must-see.

Matt Hayes is the national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at MattHayesCFB.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Caitlin Clark hints at political beliefs for the first time

Caitlin Clark hinted at her political beliefs for the first time by ‘liking’ ​​Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris on social media Tuesday night. 

Swift announced her support for Harris in the upcoming presidential election by posting her thoughts on Instagram minutes after the conclusion of the debate between Harris and former President Donald Trump. 

‘​​I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,’ Swift, who also endorsed President Joe Biden and Harris in 2020, wrote. ‘I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.’ 

Over eight million people, including Clark, have liked Swift’s post. 

The WNBA is well-known for its players’ activism, with many publicly supporting Democratic candidates in past and current elections. However, Clark has not publicly discussed her political beliefs. The Rookie of the Year favorite is, however, an outspoken ‘Swiftie.’ Videos of the WNBA star singing along to Swift’s music during warm-ups have been widely shared on social media. Iowa Basketball posted a video last season of Clark passionately singing the words to ‘Enchanted,’ which she said was her favorite song by Swift. 

Clark’s home state of Iowa and Indiana, where she plays for the Fever, voted for Trump in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.

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Sports

WNBA players call out commish for downplaying racism they’re facing

The WNBA players union and several players are calling out commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not taking a stronger stand against racism and hate speech many have experienced this season, especially on social media.

The issue has become more acute with the arrival of rookies Caitlin Clark, who is white and Angel Reese, who is Black – with a number of fans and commenters taking sides along racial lines.

In an interview Monday on CNBC, Engelbert was asked by host Tyler Mathisen about the ‘darker … more menacing’ tone of the social media discussion.

Engelbert’s answer focused more on the additional visibility the two rookies have given the WNBA.

‘The one thing I know about sports, you need rivalry,’ Engelbert said. ‘That’s what makes people watch. They want to watch games of consequence between rivals. They don’t want everybody being nice to one another.’

Women’s National Basketball Players Association executive director Terri Jackson criticized the commissioner for not taking on the topics of racism, misogyny and harassment more forcefully.

‘This is not about rivalries or iconic personalities fueling a business model,’ Jackson said in a statement issued Tuesday night. ‘This kind of toxic fandom should never be tolerated or left unchecked. It demands immediate action, and frankly, should have been addressed long ago.’

Engelbert did clarify her comments in a social media post later Tuesday. ‘To be clear, there is absolutely no place for hate or racism of any kind in the WNBA or anywhere else,’ she posted on X.

Before that, however, several WNBA players voiced disappointment with the commissioner’s earlier remarks.

‘It’s pretty clear, there’s a difference between rivalries and racism,’ Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum said, according to ESPN.

‘It’s taken a darker turn in terms of the types of comments and the vitriol that’s coming through to the players, and it’s not OK,’ Aces forward Alysha Clark said. ‘I wish (Engelbert) would have just said that. ‘It’s not OK.’ ‘

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Politics

What the Taylor Swift endorsement of Kamala Harris means for the November election

Democrats believe Taylor Swift’s recent endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris could encourage more young voters to turn out in November, but recent polling indicates the pop star’s support might not greatly affect voter decisions at the ballot box.

Swift, an outspoken critic of former President Trump, endorsed Harris after the presidential debate Tuesday. In an Instagram post that she signed ‘childless cat lady,’ the pop icon said Harris ‘fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.’ 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom told Fox News Digital from the debate spin room the endorsement ‘matters.’

‘Some advice to Donald Trump. Don’t disparage that endorsement at your own peril,’ he said. ‘She is a cultural icon. Something big has happened in the world in terms of the energy, environment she’s associated with. The optimism she’s associated with. That was a big deal.’

One Democratic strategist told Fox News Digital that Swift’s support could encourage more voters to turn out at the polls.

‘It absolutely will impact young voter turnout. And Trump knows it,’ said Jessica Tarlov, a Democratic strategist and Fox News contributor. ‘What’s important about how she did it is that she explained her thinking and how past experience — the AI-generated images of her — have impacted her personally and her decision.

‘This isn’t the Taylor Swift of 2018, wondering whether she should wade into politics. This is 2024 Taylor Swift, who knows who she is and isn’t afraid of backlash for saying what she believes.’

A Suffolk University/USA Today poll from May reported that about 83% of respondents say that a Swift endorsement would ‘not at all’ influence their decision on who to vote for in November. 

Recent polls suggest Harris leads Trump among young voters, traditionally Swift’s main support base.

According to a recent New York Times/Siena survey, Harris leads Trump by 10 percentage points among voters aged 18-29.

‘As a first-time voter this November, my peers and I will not be voting for Kamala Harris because Taylor Swift and her cats told us to do so,’ Brilyn Hollyhand, RNC Youth Advisory Council Chairman and a Generation Z voter, told Fox about the endorsement.

‘I think when you look at it, it’s not actually making any difference. This is all vibes and no policy,’ he said. ‘I think no amount of pop stars or viral memes that she’s trying to do are going to make Gen Z vote for her when she has no plans to fix the nation she’s broken.’

Trump told ‘Fox & Friends’ on Wednesday he wasn’t surprised by the endorsement and is ‘not a Taylor Swift fan.’

‘It was just a question of time. She couldn’t […] possibly endorse Biden. You look at Biden, you couldn’t possibly endorse him,’ Trump said.

‘But she’s a very liberal person. She seems to always endorse a Democrat. And she’ll probably pay a price for it […] in the marketplace.’

While an endorsement might not make or break a decision, a Monmouth University poll released in February found that 68% of respondents are OK with Swift encouraging her fans to vote this cycle.

Following the endorsement, the Harris-Walz campaign released friendship bracelets for purchase on its website that appear similar to those worn by fans during Swift’s ‘Eras’ tour.

Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

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Politics

Trump touts European ‘strongman’ as close ally during presidential debate: Who is Viktor Orban?

Former President Trump touted his foreign policy credentials during Tuesday night’s presidential debate, name-checking the strong relationships he built with leaders of rival nations and allies alike during his term, most notably Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the ‘strongman’ of Europe.

‘He’s a tough person, smart prime minister of Hungary,’ Trump said, adding that Orban insisted ‘you need Trump back as president’ because ‘they were afraid of him.’ 

‘China was afraid, and I don’t like to use the word afraid, but I’m just quoting him,’ Trump said. ‘China was afraid of him. He said Russia was afraid of him.’

‘Look, Viktor Orban said it: He said the most respected, most feared person is Donald Trump. We had no problems when Trump was president,’ Trump added.

Trump also responded to Vice President Harris’ claim that he ‘admires dictators, wants to be a dictator on day one’ and he ‘exchanged love letters with Kim Jong Un’ by noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin had endorsed her last week and said he hoped she wins ‘because what he’s gotten away with is absolutely incredible.’

Trump said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would never have happened during his time in office, noting that he knew Putin ‘very well.’

Trump then blasted Biden for how he hurt the XL pipeline and handed Russia a win with ‘the biggest pipeline in the world’ running into Germany and Europe as a whole.

Trump has repeatedly compared his foreign policy record to that of the Biden administration, roping in Harris as part of that policy, and noted the more interventionist approach he took, using force as deterrence against Iran and meeting with Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to ensure stability in regions faced with uncertainty.

Trump and Orban enjoyed a rosy relationship during the Trump administration, often pictured together smiling and shaking hands in sharp contrast to the more demure meetings between Orban and Biden.

Orban made headlines over the summer when he prematurely ditched a high-level NATO summit in Washington, D.C., to meet with Trump in Florida at a time when Biden faced questions about his fitness for office and in seeking a second term. Orban was seeking a cease-fire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, having met separately with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

‘We continued the peace mission in Mar-a-Lago,’ Orban wrote on his official social media account on X after the meeting. ‘President @realDonaldTrump has proved during his presidency that he is a man of peace. He will do it again!’

‘It was an honour to visit President @realDonaldTrump at Mar-a-Lago today,’ he wrote in a separate post that labeled the visit ‘Peace mission 5.0.’ ‘We discussed ways to make peace. The good news of the day: he’s going to solve it!’

Orban, who assumed the role of president of the European Union as part of a six-month rotational leadership scheme, joked at the time that Hungary would ‘make Europe great again’ and warned that ‘the next American president will not be the same president who is today.’

He told other leaders at the formal NATO dinner that allies who still thought Biden could win the upcoming presidential election ‘were like people on the Titanic playing violins as the ship went down,’ the Financial Times reported.

During a visit to the U.S. in March, Orban visited with Trump, not Biden, when trying to court potential foreign policy in the U.S. He also spoke at a panel with the leader of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

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Stocks

Pinpoint Strong Sectors BEFORE The Masses Notice

In this exclusive StockCharts TV video, Joe discusses why he is a bottom-up technical analyst. He explains the difference between top-down and bottom-up analysis and uses this to show the strongest sectors rotating to the upside right now; this approach will help give advance notice of which areas to focus on before they become obvious to the masses. He also discusses market volatility and why it is looking rather concerning. Finally, he goes through the symbol requests that came through this week, including META, TSLA, and more.

This video was originally published on September 11, 2024. Click this link to watch on StockCharts TV.

Archived videos from Joe are available at this link. Send symbol requests to stocktalk@stockcharts.com; you can also submit a request in the comments section below the video on YouTube. Symbol Requests can be sent in throughout the week prior to the next show.

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