My husband and I (mid 50s) will be visiting for a couple of days two weeks from now. It will be my fifth time, his first. I will be 8 weeks out from ACL reconstruction surgery, so I should not walk as much as I normally would. 2-3 miles will be fine, and I can handle a flight or two of stairs, but I shouldn't spend too much time on my feet. My surgeon has okayed the trip as long as I avoid Times Square.
My ideas of things to do while sitting down are: see shows, eat food, ride ferries, sit outside listening to music, and sit in a comfortable place having a nice beverage. I would appreciate any advice about doing those things and any other ideas of things to do.
We're coming from the west coast, so we will be sleeping in and staying up late (we normally are up from 6am - 11pm, so what we would consider late is not really very late for a lot of people).
So far this is the itinerary:
Friday Arrive EWR at 8 am Take train to Penn Station Drop bags at Moxy times square Find food to eat 12:30 - 2:30 live piano at Bryant Park Hopefully room is ready by now, go back to hotel and rest 5:00pm dinner at Kochi 7:00pm Funny Girl 10 pm Find food and drinks
Saturday Eat bagels (Liberty Bagels is close) Take the St. George ferry from W 39th to Staten Island. Take the St. George ferry back up to Battery Park, see 9/11 memorial, eat at Eataly Take subway back to hotel Alternate idea: Take St George ferry to Staten Island, then Staten island ferry back to whitehall, then take east river ferry to East 34th. Fit lunch in somewhere. Rest at hotel, or find a nice park or something Eat dinner somewhere, probably in Hell's Kitchen, maybe Tradisyon? 8:00pm Hadestown 11pm more food and drink if needed
Sunday Need to be at the airport by 1:30 (flight leaves at 3:30 but we have brunch reservations at United's "secret" restaurant)
Any ideas, especially for places we could sit outdoors and hear live (but not too loud) music?
There's a ridiculous looking bar on the roof of our hotel called Magic Hour, should we check it out? It's not the sort of place we'd normally go but it's right there.
Thanks for any advice, and thanks for all the advice you've given other people. I've learned a lot from browsing this subreddit.

We're now in that sweet spot after A-Day and before Summer OVs/Camp Season where it makes sense to take note and reflect. Remember that camp season likely changes this board dramatically and we'll see a good # of decision (both to Alabama and elsewhere) throughout June and early July.
Rankings Note: Every comic is someone's first so here's how to read/interpret/understand the rankings listed below: Commits and Top Targets will show their 247 Composite Rank, their On3 Composite, and their Comp² Ranking, which is just the raw average of the 2 composite ranks, rounded down. This overview will just reflect the pre-summer top targets/names to know and not the full list. Summer camp season will drastically change this list (new big board in July/August)
# of 4/5* change each year but I like a little consistency so here's generally how I arbitrarily split it, based on the average year-over-year data:
5*: #1-#32
4*: #33-#350
3*: #351-#2000
​
QB (1 Needed/1 Commited)
Overview: Barring something crazy, a team's QB will be the most important player on the field 9 times out of 10. Bama's looked around for a potential 2nd option but is pretty content with their 5* QB of the Future already commited

Name	H.S.	Rank	Notes
Commits
1. 5* Julian Sayin	Carlsbad in Carlsbad, CA (SoCal)	247: #11 , On3: #14, Comp2: #12	One of the most "ready" prospects in the 2024 class, Julian is very skilled at every facet of QB play - might not be the highest ceiling from an NFL perspective but very likely the highest floor. Julian commited to Alabama somewhat out of the blue but has been locked in since and the Tide's primary leader on offense in this class. This is your QB of the Future.

RB (1-2 Needed/0 Commited)
Overview: Alabama has good RB depth heading into 2023 but could very likely lose both Jase and Roydell at the end of the year so 2 RBs again this cycle feels right. It's doubtful it'll have the star power of the Haynes/Young duo from '23 but I would not sleep on the 2024 targets.

Name	H.S.	Rank	Notes
Top Targets
1. 4* Kevin Riley	Tuscaloosa County in Northport, AL (Tuscaloosa area)	247: #97, On3: #102, Comp2: #99	A homegrown talent, Riley does it all, running with great balance, breaks contact and gets going in a hurry. Top 3 of Bama, Auburn, UGA - this should end up being an Iron Bowl battle that Alabama wins, though it does appear Riley might take his time. If Alabama pushes hard, he could be a summer commit.
2. 4* Daniel Hill	Meridian in Meridian, MS (E MS)	247: #196, On3: #194, Comp2: #195	One of the more unique RB prospects, Daniel Hill is a big bodied guy but plays a ton of receiver as well - not a comparison but could have a Najee Harris-esque roll. Alabama is battling South Carolina here, with the Cocks having some buzz after an early Bama lean. Bama is not done here but might need to press harder.
3. 4* Nate Frazier	Mater Dei in Santa Ana, CA (SoCal)	247: #76, On3: #74, Comp2: #75	One of the nation's top RB prospects with some of the best long speed, Nate Frazier will push for #1 back status in 2024. Frazier is pretty wide open currently, being highly desired by both the local west coast school and the SEC powerhouses. I'd have trouble projecting him anywhere yet but it would be really cool if it was Alabama.

WR (2-4 Needed/2 Commited)
Overview: Alabama has taken 10 non-transfer WRs over the past 2 cycles so while I think they'll take a normal # in 2024, I'd lean more towards 3 than 4 total, unless a 'best available' type wants in

Name	H.S.	Rank	Notes
Commits
1. 5* Perry Thompson	Foley in Foley, AL (Mobile area)	247: #27, On3: #29, Comp2: #28	A taller receiver, Perry thrives with straight-line speed and a suprising ability to weave through space - Thompson earned his offer last season in camp routing up 2023 5* DBs. As a high-ranking prospect, Perry is somewhat keeping his options open and will likely take visits but has repeatedly reaffirmed his commit - Alabama's steady pursuit should allow them to hold on.
2. 4* Rico Scott	Bishop McDevitt in Harrisburg, PA (Cent PA)	247: #372, On3: #289, Comp2: #330	A real smooth operator - plays RB and WR and is at his best going up the field. A bit of a suprise to some, Bama had seen him previously in camp and then watched his fall progress and saw what they needed to pull the trigger. I think we'll finish in the top 150-170
Top Targets
1. 4* Amari Jefferson	Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN	247: #270, On3: #288, Comp2: #279	My favorite realistic WR addition - his vertical and lateral speed POP off the screen, looks like a top 75 guy. Currently a Tennessee baseball commit, football is his likely future, as Alabama and Georgia battle it out. This will be a tough battle but one I very much hope the Tide wins.
2. 4* Aeryn Hampton	Carthage in Carthage, TX (E TX)	247: #116, On3: #126, Comp2: #121	More fast than quick, Aeryn runs like a RB, weaving through traffic and hitting the jets. Aeryn has been up-front about his love for Alabama and has narrowed his list to Bama and Texas, his former commitment. Aeryn has the green light to commit but seems like a guy who could go back and forth so unclear where this ends up.
3. 4* Cam Coleman	Central in Phenix City, AL (E AL)	247: #54, On3: #25, Comp2: #38	This guy's the real deal - big bodied but with slot speed and one of the best high-pointers in the class. Alabama's been trying to get him on campus and he's been uninterested, so the communication has been laid back. Cam and Perry Thompson kinda fill the same role so it's not a huge concern but Auburn is leading here and would give Hugh Freeze a real weapon.

TE (1-2 Needed/0 Commited)
Overview: I think *how* Tommy Rees constructed/called his ND offenses is a bit overblown in how his Bama offenses will look (you play with the talent you have) but Bama has been trying to find their Kyle Pitts/Brock Bowers/Michael Mayer for years now - really since OJ Howard/Irv Smith with a brief detour into Jahleel Billingsley. Alabama would like multiple bodies here if available but would really like a least one really good on in 2024

Name	H.S.	Rank	Notes
Top Targets
1. 4* Caleb Odom	Carrollton in Carrollton, GA (W GA)	247: #85, On3: #69, Comp2: #77	A true mismatch nightmare, Odom is a true receiving threat TE, big bodied with room to grow but a little slender currently. Caleb is kinda wide open at the moment but this feels like one where Bama should start to push, with UGA snagging two of their targets in Jaden Reddell and Colton Heinrich

OL (4-5 Needed/0 Commited)
Overview: Alabama brought in a big OL class in 2023, which is already living up to expectations behind the scenes. They'll try to repeat the process in 2024, as they continue to re-tool their OL room

Name	H.S.	Rank	Notes
Top Targets
1. 4* OT Daniel Calhoun	Walton in Marietta, GA (Atlanta Metro)	247: #86, On3: #106, Comp2: #96	A mammoth of a prospect, Calhoun has the look of a SEC lineman, able to play on the left or right side of the offensive line. Top 3 of Bama, UGA, and Texas but suprise suprise, this looks like another Bama/UGA battle. Feel better about Bama in this one but it's close and OVs will be big.
2. 4* IOL Casey Poe	Lindale in Lindale, TX (E TX)	247: #142, On3: #134, Comp2: #138	One of the most coveted interior prospects, Poe boasts both a mean streak as well as the ability to move the center, making him about as A1 as you can get for an interior OL prospect. Top 3 currently would be Alabama, Oklahoma, and UGA. Will be a tough battle but Alabama is the perceived leader heading into visits. Bama REALLY wants him.
3. 4* OL Jordan Seaton	IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL (Originally from Washington DC)	247: #41, On3: #42, Comp2: #41	Big, athletic frame who could end up playing inside or out - Seaton prefers OT but somecurrently leaning towards IOL. Ohio State was and is very involved but Bama/UGA feel like the primary players since making the move to IMG. I believe he visited for the A-Day game and it certainly seems like Bama will be an option until the end here.
4. 4* OT Marques Easley	Kankakee in Kankakee, IL (NE IL)	247: #263, On3: #240, Comp2: #251	A longer and leaner tackle prospect, Bama and UGA are again involved with Tennessee being the 3rd team in the mix, as well as the possible leader. Despite the Vols' early lead, this one can really go any direction after visits.
5. 4* OT Weston Davis	Beaumont United in Beaumont, TX (SE TX)	247: #180, On3: #124, Comp2: #152	A basketball-first prospect with high-upside as an OT, Davis has some interest in Bama but local programs like Texas A&M are getting some good recent buzz. Think it'll be paramount for Weston to camp.

DL (3-4 Needed/1 Commited)
Overview: Another unit Alabama's been trying to step-up, talent is a necessity in 2024

Name	H.S.	Rank	Notes
Commits
1. 4* DE Jeremiah Beamon	Parker in Birmingham, AL	247: #103, On3: #98, Comp2: #100	Alabama's most recent commitment, Jeremiah is a FORCE rushing the passer, a little undersized with plenty of room to grow before a potential reneissance. If that sounds like Quinnen Williams, it's because that's the comp he's been getting. Many thought he'd be a sooner or later kinda commit and he went ahead and stopped messing around.
Top Targets
1. 5* DE Eddrick Houston	Buford in Buford, GA (Atlanta Metro)	247: #15, On3: #15, Comp2: #15	High upside, athleticism, and flexibility - bit of a tweener for the Saban defense who could slim down to an Anfernee Jennings role and add some weight to try and emulate Jonathan Allen. Another prospect that I think comes down to Bama and UGA, I feel better about Bama's chances here than with Eddrick's Buford teammate, KJ Bolden.
2. 4* DT Terrance Hibler	Holmes County Central in Lexington, MS (Cent MS)	247: #281, On3: #368, Comp2: #324	A bit undersized, Terrance makes up for it with violence, punch, and pure 'want-to'. Alabama has made a great early impression, alongside local Miss State, and the Tide are in a great spot if they choose to push here.
3. 3* DE Utah Commit Isaia Faga	Central in Phenix City, AL (E AL)	247: #733, On3: #676, Comp2: #704	Alabama has seen some recent success with Pacific Island players but it's rare to have one so local. Isaia excels at getting through traffic and getting into the backfield. Isaia's uncle is the Utah DL coach, leading to the early commitment, but Alabama is interested in seeing him camp and who knows where it could go from there.

EDGE (1-2 Needed/1 Commited)
Overview: The highest star rating per capita, talent is hardly a problem here but we'd love to have more.

Name	H.S.	Rank	Notes
Commits
1. 4* Cayden Jones	Christ School in Arden, NC (W NC)	247: #147, On3: #171, Comp2: #159	Alabama has been looking more and more at hybrid LB types who could end up on the EDGE or off-ball (Jihaad Campell, Qua Russaw) - Cayden Jones is another, playing a ton off-ball and walking down to the edge and will likely project into a Terrell Lewis/Dallas Turner - type role. Since last year, Cayden had been up-front about wanting the green light to commit and jumped on it when he got the chance.
Top Targets
1. 5* Dylan Stewart	Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington DC	247: #10, On3: #9, Comp2: #9	Maybe the top pure Edge guy, Dylan reminds me of Keon Keeley from last cycle; similar build, bend and length. Visits to Alabama, Ohio State, Miami, South Carolina and UGA have put all 5 in contention, similar to Keeley. I'd give the Gamecocks and Hurricanes the edge going into the summer but Alabama is RIGHT there and another visit to campus could flip the script.
2. 4* Jordan Ross	Vestavia Hills in Birmingham, AL	247: #38, On3: #33, Comp2: #35	A high-end Edge, Jordan flashes natural talent that can only grow with development. A little undersized, Alabama has told him to gain weight and camp prior to a serious pursuit, giving UGA and Tennessee an early lead. This could change quickly this summer, as Jordan finds his way onto campus.
3. 5* Colin Simmons	Duncanville in Duncanville, TX (DFW Metro)	247: #4, On3: #3, Comp2: #3	One of the Nation's top athletes, Simmons effortlessly flies around off the edge. LSU and Texas are battling it out thus far but Alabama will continue to work here.

LB (2-3 Needed/1 Commited)
Overview: There's somewhat of a logjam of older player at the LB position so I would expect attrition after 2023, which will need to be replaced by incoming players.

Name	H.S.	Rank	Notes
Commits
1. 4* Sterling Dixon	Mobile Christian School in Mobile, AL	247: #188, On3: #164, Comp2: #176	Similar to Cayden Jones, Sterling is another hybrid type - beginning as an edge type with some off-ball experience, Sterling will transition to ILB this offseason for Mobile Christian and then at Alabama. A long-time commit, Sterling will take some visits but there's not a huge concern there.
Top Targets
1. 5* UGA Commit Demarcus Riddick	Chilton County in Clanton, AL (Cent AL)	247: #25, On3: #38, Comp2: #31	Demarcus is an excellent example of a modern LB and exactly what Alabama wants from the position: excellent weaving through traffic, sideline-to-sideline movement and can shade down to rush the passer. An early UGA commit, the strength of that commitment has wavered significantly and while there's still some work to do, the feeling is he could very likely flip to Alabama over the summer.
2. 5* Justin Williams	Oak Ridge in Conroe, TX (Houston area)	247: #13, On3: #12, Comp2: #12	Similarly archetypal LB prospect: a bit slight at the moment, he makes up for it with WR-level speed and burst, making him a real weapon against a high-powered offense. Oregon, Alabama, and UGA are the likely top 3 - Bama made a good impression this spring but needs to get him back on campus ASAP - feels like UGA could swoop in here if Riddick flips.
3. 4* Bradley Shaw	Hoover in Hoover, AL (Birmingham area)	247: #176, On3: #139, Comp2: #157	More of a traditional ILB, football IQ and sure tackling give him a Shaun Dion Hamilton feel. Alabama, Auburn, and UGA are the top 3 schools and this feels like Iron Bowl battle, where Alabama will win or lose based on how they push to reel him in.

DB (4-5 Needed/1 commited)
Overview: You gotta take a solid # of DBs every cycle but CB is one of the most important/most needed positions in 2024 after losses to the transfer portal.

Name	H.S.	Rank	Notes
Commits
1. 5* CB Jaylen Mbakwe	Clay-Chalkville in Pinson, AL (Birmingham area)	247: #19, On3: #17, Comp2: #18	A legitimate two-way player, Mbakwe, like Kool-Aid before him, could have been a 5* WR as well as DB but prefers defense. Jaylen is the defensive leader of the class and will be pretty instrumental in how the defensive class comes together.
Top Targets
1. 5* CB Charles Lester III	Riverview in Sarasota, FL (Cent FL)	247: #16, On3: #19, Comp2: #17	An all-around athlete with the ability to play multiple DB positions, CL3 could be commited or off the board at any moment. There's a clear interest in Alabama on his end but the Tide have yet to really push, leaving the door wide open for FSU. He OVs on June 3rd so it's likely that we'll have a better idea of where Bama goes after that.
2. 4* CB Jameer Grimsley	Tampa Catholic in Tampa, FL	247: #230, On3: #195, Comp2: #212	Somewhat of the prototypical Saban corner, with a long and lean build and a wingspan for days. Jameer has seen his recruitment skyrocket this spring and schools like Bama, FSU, and Penn State are pushing. Bama's got a great shot for this prospect who should continue to rise.
3. 4* S UGA Commit Peyton Woodward	St. John Bosco in Bellflower, CA (SoCal)	247: #69, On3: #70, Comp2: #69	Peyton shows good play speed and flows to the target in run defense; a good balanced safety. Peyton has not been shy about letting other programs try to flip him from the Dawgs and his family is full of Alabama fans, making the Tide a very possible flip option.
4. 4* CB Zabien Brown	Mater Dei in Santa Ana, CA (SoCal)	247: #57, On3: #56 , Comp2: #56	Zabien is a physical pass defender who excels at getting in passing lanes and making plays on the ball - not a specimen but a true competitor. As a Mater Dei kid, the axiom has been USC most often has first right of refusal so we'll see how the summer visits go and if Bama can/will make a push here.
5. 5* S KJ Bolden	Buford in Buford, GA (Atlanta Metro)	247: #8, On3: #5, Comp2: #6	Likely the top DB in the 2024 class, KJ is how they come; a true 5* safety. UGA has a healthy lead thus far but Bama (alongside others) will have a chance to fight back during summer OVs
6. 5* CB UGA Commit Ellis Robinson IV	IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL (Originally from CT)	247: #5, On3: #7, Comp2: #6	One of the stickiest DBs in the class, Ellis was the other 5* CB alongside Alabama freshman Desmond Ricks at IMG in 2023. Alabama led early but UGA got the momentum and the commitment. It's likely Ellis will take visits, including a potential OV to Alabama, but I would not predict a flip to Alabama at this time or in the future.

Hi I am going to try fishing again after not doing it for years. So many options for gear now I am a bit lost and confused.
I still have a 7 foot medium Mitchel rod from the 80's that I was going to use for now but my reel is broken and I need a new one.
I was hoping to spend around $100 on a decent spinning reel or maybe a bit more. I have come up with these options.
I am still not sure if I should be getting a 2500 or 3000 for size either.
​

• Daiwa Revros LT Spinning Reel

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/117074/daiwa-revros-lt-spinning-reel

• Penn Pursuit IV Spinning Reel

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/152277/penn-pursuit-iv-spinning-reel

• Shimano Sedona Spinning Reel

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/102027/shimano-sedona-spinning-reel

• PENN Fierce III Live Liner Reel - On Clearance

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/132301/penn-fierce-iii-live-liner-reel

• PENN Fierce IV Spinning Reel

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/160740/penn-fierce-iv-spinning-reel
Was hoping that someone with some experience could maybe suggest which one is best or suggest one that I have missed.
Thanks for any help you can provide.

I am genuinely curious. Does it save money? It certainly doesn’t prevent potholes. I live in Pennsylvania right near the Maryland line and their roads are always amazing. No potholes, no tar and chip, always cleared quickly when it snows. Not busting on PennDOT. Just genuinely curious why they go that route. They put tar in chips down on the road near me yesterday and it just made me think of how much I hate it. The roads are so unsafe for a couple days until all the loose ships get thrown off and the targets everywhere. Just wondering if anyone can explain the reasoning.

(about me) (23M) I recently graduated from Penn State and I'm going to be starting work in consulting mid July. My main background is in tech, and as for hobbies, I play a lot of video games/big music fan, but I also like to be active and get out as much as I can. Very friendly, I've had a very wide range of roommates, have no issue with guests, and just like to keep things fairly clean. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to chat or ask me whatever.
Looking for 1-2 roommates, I'm working out of Hudson Yards so I was mostly looking at upper east/west or pretty much anywhere affordable downtown, max budget for myself is ideally 2k. or if anyone is offering a room or a studio I'm open to that too. Move in no later than for the 2nd week of July. Preferably looking to live anywhere for at least 1 year.

"Tim McGraw" Hint: blond guitarist with yellow jacket and red shorts on occasions
He said the way my blue eyes shined
How are her eyes? Needing sleep? So worried for her, she needs to eat more warm food. When she went to Vegas she was panhandling with song and she got $21 or so with her mom after throwing trash on the fountain like Detti soaped the fountain with a bar and got quickly bailed, and after the first girl scolded the security guard after the littering event. But what she earned with her mom that night was for 1 buffet that night. Not for breakfast. How is her mom? How is her makeup supply? She smeared her guitar with kohl from her tears?
Put those Georgia stars to shame that night
What do you mean? No more singers or celebs from Georgia could come to Nashville then/anymore? Or they were blinded by the LED light? Or the constellations put on a veil?
I said, "That's a lie"
Do you really have blue eyes? Or sunflowers are coming? You uplifted the homeowners of Georgia/ I heard real estate was quite affordable there. But your penthouse is $15K a month - does that include Lisa's 1800GOTJUNK services?
Just a boy in a Chevy truck
How old? Legal to drive? Tall enough to drive that truck? No limb fractures? Eye health OK? Is he wearing his mascot costume, eg Banana SLUG? Sun Devil? Blue Devil? Cardinal?
That had a tendency of gettin' stuck
How? Elmer's glue? Gorilla glue? Uhu?
On back roads at night
Oh, did you have special car lights on like according to the DMV book? And where did the back roads lead to - the stones?
And I was right there beside him all summer long
Why do you expect me to be with my date 24 hours all summer long? How can one date practice swimming in the pool when I am singing a duet with Alicia Keys or Beyonce on my phone in the gym nearby? How can another date earn money for us by Uber Eats while I'm at the office for Uber? How can a third date play tennis while I bargain with the sports store salesman about getting Penn balls vs Onix balls? How can a fourth date record his song in the studio while I coordinate the concert venue? How can fifth date comfort a downcast kid - not her own - with a Happy Birthday song while the peer circle arrange the audiovisual equipment on stage called Rhino Co.?
And then the time we woke up to find that summer gone
"When September Ends" was a cool song? Are you Sleeping Beauty? Who fought the dragon and the thicket for you? Who woke up the castle crew for you? Did you eat pufish? Who almost found a cliffhanger for you? So... what are you going to do in the Fall (Sem.)?
But when you think Tim McGraw
So you had his EP like Goodbye, Norma Jean single in CD? Cool. On Autoloop? What do you like about his songs?
I hope you think my favorite song
Which one? What do you love about it?
The one we danced to all night long
How many hours of dancing? How many calories burned? Was it like with Ed Sheeran for Perfect? What did you wear? What did he wear? Where did you dance? How many stars were in the sky that night? What styles of dancing did you do? How was "Loki" and "...Wonderland strummer"?
The moon like a spotlight on the lake
Cool poetry. Who do you think is worthy of performing on stage? Of having the spotlight? By the way, which lake were you talking about? Do you want to get an MFA degree and upon the conferral, you can write/perform for Equine Therapy Ranches where kids with sadness may go?
When you think happiness
Do you like Gretchen Rubin's work? Do you like Pharell's song, which is on Wii? What do you think of the emoticon deodorant?
I hope you think that little black dress
Do you know Jomaire Studio's sister in a little black dress and black stilettos for weddings? What do you think about Meghan Markle in a little black dress at a baseball game? I liked the white belt a lot.
Think of my head on your chest
Got the ALS challenge? How long did you have to wait for it? I thank Coleman too for supporting the neighborhood around Galleria, which had a cafe and their version of Sparkletts.
And my old faded blue jeans
Can anyone help her get Wrangler jeans? Or Rock Republic trousers? Or jeggings eg from the pharmacy? Or Old Navy blue denims?
When you think Tim McGraw
How often do you think of his name/face? Why? Do you pray for him?
I hope you think of me
Do you like Phantom of the Opera? What do you think if her dress? What if there was a modern version for Jabbawockeesz?
September saw a month of tears
What kind of tears? Was it because of first day of school again?
And thankin' God that you weren't here
Oh, what were the advantages of him not being "there"?
To see me like that
Were you wearing makeup in September - and what brands if so? Did you lose much weight in the summer(s)?
But in a box beneath my bed
Is it from ULine? Was the bed from Ikea or from Sleep Number?
Is a letter that you never read
I remember I had letters foregarding different people, like one of the top human/child traffickers of China and one on a cover for a football player and some for a farmer and some for a colleague and I regret one which was like under hypnosis (I praised his enumeration of "Crayola") - which I sent to someone whom I wanted to say goodbye and I found him as a storekeeper who shooed me away, as a guy who hung around the doorway of my bedroom at 3 am or so, as a guy wanting to know how to get a Peruvian passport, as a guy who bragged abou eating cat dumpling, maybe trying to gain 9 lives (is that the canned cat food?).
From three summers back
Oh you met him at around university? Thanks for your loyalty.
It's hard not to find it all a little bittersweet
You like Dove dark chocolate like fortune cookies? The Ghirardelli dark cocoa squares? The dark chocolate bars by the checkouts of dollar stores? The dark chocolate at the airports? Do you like black coffee? Like Colombian coffee? Do you like Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You"?
And lookin' back on all of that, it's nice to believe
How often and how long do you go into nostalgia? Did you do Throwback Thursday posts?
When you think Tim McGraw
What do you share about Tim McGraw?
I hope you think my favorite song
What is your favorite song, if it's okay to ask?
The one we danced to all night long
Was it a country song? Fast? Duet? With banjos or fiddles? Any props when you danced?
The moon like a spotlight on the lake
What was the phase of the moon then?
When you think happiness
What three things minimum would you do today to be happy?
I hope you think that little black dress
How is your weight (I am concerned with your photos, and you look like a politician in a Christmas green dress in front of a mic, with empty row before her)? When did you buy that little black dress (the song's topic) for yourself? Waist size? Do you think Lululemon or Walgreens leggings would go well with it, like a ballerina?
Think of my head on your chest
Did you have to sanitize the Coleman? What was in it?
And my old faded blue jeans
What brand? When did you buy it? Was it fashionably torn?
When you think Tim McGraw
Someone said he has an MBA - would you be inspired to get an MBA degree as well?
I hope you think of me
What are your three hopes before the weekend? And when someone remembers you, what are the top three qualities of yours that people can publish/televise/discuss/promote action about you?
And I'm back for the first time since then
Where did you return? How?
I'm standin' on your street
What have you been wearing on that street? How long/what time have you been standing there?
And there's a letter left on your doorstep
Can you summarize the letter in a Tweet? What's the color of the envelope? Does it need the HMat?
And the first thing that you'll read is:
What is the first thing that you think of every morning? And every sunset?
"When you think Tim McGraw I hope you think my favorite song Someday you'll turn your radio on
What is your favorite radio show and your favorite radio channel? Your favorite song on the radio? Who is your favorite DJ? I hope it takes you back to that place"
What place? How does it look like?
When you think happiness I hope you think that little black dress Think of my head on your chest And my old faded blue jeans When you think Tim McGraw I hope you think of me
Oh, think of me Mmmm
He said the way my blue eyes shined Put those Georgia stars to shame that night I said, "That's a lie"
Whom do you accuse to be lying?

la stone fa stone my dudes. Here are the heats
​
Division I
Varsity 8+ (top 2 progress)

• Columbia, Brown, Cal, Dartmouth, Drexel, MIT
• Navy, NU, Yale, Stanford, Cornell, Santa Clara
• La Salle, BU, Princeton, Harvard, Wisconsin, UCSD
• Oregon St, GTown, Washington, Syracuse, Penn, Colgate

Second Varsity 8+ (top 2 progress)

• Drexel, Cornell, cal, Dartmouth, Columbia
• Oregon St, NU, Washington, Yale, Navy
• La Salle, BU, Harvard, Syracuse, Wisconsin, Santa Clara
• GTown, Penn, Princeton, Brown, Stanford, UCSD

Third Varsity 8+ (top 2 progress)

• NU, Princeton, Washington, Harvard, Cornell, Santa Clara
• Wisconsin, Syracuse, Yale, Dartmouth, Navy, UCSD
• Drexel, BU, Cal, Brown, Penn, Oregon St.

The Varsity 4+ (aka a bunch of guys who have been rowing an eight all year and now must be in a coxed four and it's anyone's game) (top 18 to semis)

• Princeton, UW, Gtown, Harvard, FIT, Dartmouth, Cal, NU, Brown, Cross, JU, Navy, Williams, Cuse, Oklahoma? (OKC U?), Wisconsin, Marietta, Penn, Drexel, Cornell, Catholic, Marist, BU, Stanford, USCGA, Fairfield, Colgate, Stetson, Temple, USD, Mass Maritime, Columbia

Lights
Varsity 8+ (top 3 to FA)

• Cornell, Pton, Penn, MIT
• Yale, Harvard, Navy, Dartmouth

Second Varsity 8+ (All to FA)

• Navy, Penn, Cornell, Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth

Varsity 4+ (All to A/B Semi)

• Navy, Harvard, Dartmouth, Marietta, Cornell, GTown, Princeton, Penn, Fairfield, Gordon

Division III
Varsity 8+ (top 3 to FA)

• Bates, Williams, Trinity, Adrian
• WPI, Wesleyan, Tufts, SLU

Second Varsity 8+ (All to FA)

• SLU, Tufts, Trinity, Williams, Bates, Wesleyan, WPI

I've never embarrassed myself more than completely not doing the light women. I'm so sorry. Here they are:
Light Women
Varsity 8+ (All to FA)

• Rad, Stanford, Princeton, BU, GTown, Wisco

Varsity 4+ (All to FA)

• Rad, Stanford, Princeton, BU, GTown, Wisco, MIT

Varsity 2x (All to FA)

• Gordon, Town, BU, Pton, Rad, Wisco, MIT

Live Results
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Jackie Jensen, "The Golden Boy", was a superstar athlete in the 1940s who seemed destined for greatness as the heir to Joe DiMaggio... only to be supplanted by a different golden boy, the great Mickey Mantle.
Jensen would eventually live up to the hype, but with the Red Sox -- but his career ended prematurely because, as baseball expanded to the west coast, his fear of flying made road games unbearable!
The Yankees between 1947 and 1964 were utterly dominant, winning 15 pennants and 10 World Series. And it wasn't just the major league team that was successful. The Yankees of this era were loaded up and down the system, from Rookie ball to their two Triple-A teams!
With such a loaded major league roster, the Yankees had many talented players stuck either on the end of the bench or in the minors who would eventually find an opportunity with other teams, including Bob Cerv, Vic Power, Gus Triandos, Lew Burdette, Jerry Lumpe, Bob Porterfield, and Bob Keegan, all named All-Stars with other teams after leaving the Yankees. Clint Courtney would be the 1952 A.L. Rookie of the Year runner-up after the Yankees traded him to the Browns, and Bill Virdon was the 1955 N.L. Rookie of the Year with the Cardinals (and then Yankee manager from 1974 to 1975!).
But the most talented player who just couldn't find the playing time in New York was Jack Eugene Jensen, born March 9, 1927, in San Francisco. His parents divorced when he was 5, and he grew up poor, his mother working six days a week, 12 hours a day. Jensen said the family moved 16 times between kindergarten and eighth grade -- "every time the rent came due."
After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Jensen went to the University of California in 1946 on the G.I. Bill. There he became one of the most famous college players in the country, leading Cal to the Rose Bowl. In 1947, he was the starting fullback as well as the team's top defensive back, and in 1948, he rushed for 1,000 yards and was an All-American.
He also was a tremendous two-way baseball player, pitching and hitting for the Golden Bears in 1947 as the won the very first College World Series, beating a Yale team that had George H.W. Bush playing first base. In 1949, he was an All-American in baseball, too.
His blond hair, good looks, and athletic accomplishments earned him the nickname "The Golden Boy."
Halfway through his junior year, Jensen left Berkeley to turn pro. Jensen would later say he couldn't risk playing a career-ending injury playing for free while teams -- baseball and football -- were trying to sign him to big-money contracts.

"There was a money tree growing in my backyard. Why shouldn't I pluck off the dollars when I wanted to?"

Jensen considered a number of offers, including from the Yankees, before signing a three-year, $75,000 contract with the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League. Jensen said he thought he'd face better competition in the Pacific Coast League, the top minor league of the era, than he would at the bottom of the Yankee farm system. He was right about it being more of a challenge -- he hit an unimpressive .261/.317/.394 in 510 plate appearances with the Oaks.
At the end of the year, the Oaks sold his contract (and that of Billy Martin, another Northern California kid) to the Yankees.
That same year, Jensen married his high school sweetheart, Zoe Ann Olsen, an Olympic diver. (By age 18, she had won 14 national diving championships and a silver medal in the 1948 Olympics.) "Together they looked like a Nordic god and goddess," Sports Illustrated reported. Nicknamed "the sweethearts of sports," they were the Dansby Swanson and Mallory Pugh of their era. More than 1,000 people attended their wedding.
Jensen would start the 1950 season not in the minors but in the Bronx. He joined the Yankees in a time of flux. They though they'd won the 1949 World Series, the Yankees knew they had to make some changes, with 35-year-old Joe DiMaggio nearing the end of his career. And their heir apparent was not Mickey Mantle -- at the time an 18-year-old shortstop playing in the Class C league, the equivalent of A-ball today -- but the 23-year-old Jensen.
But Jensen disappointed, hitting just .171/.247/.300 in 70 at-bats, and only starting in 13 games. Watching from the bench most of the season, Jensen would later lament the lost year of development, saying he'd have been better off playing every day in the Pacific Coast League.
The Yankees won the pennant for a second straight year, and in the World Series he once again was left on the bench. His only action was as a pinch runner in Game 3 as the Yankees swept the Phillies. That "Moonlight Graham" appearance would be his only taste of the post-season in an 11-year career.
The following year would be DiMaggio's last, and Mantle's first. Jensen began the year as the Yankees' starting left fielder and proved he belonged, hitting .296/.371/.509 through the end of July... and then, shockingly, was demoted to Triple-A and replaced with previously forgotten Yankee Bob Cerv.
I can see why they called up Cerv -- the University of Nebraska stand-out was tearing up Triple-A, leading the American Association in batting average (.349), home runs (26), triples (21), RBIs (101), and total bases (261) -- but why demote Jensen, who had a 140 OPS+ in the majors? Maybe the Yankees felt the brash 23-year-old needed to be taken down a peg. In any event, Cerv hit just .214/.333/.250 in August and was sent back to Triple-A, but Jensen also was left down there. He hit .263/.344/.469 and was recalled after the Triple-A season ended, only getting into three games (he went 3-for-9).
Mantle, too, had started the season with the Yankees, and after hitting .260/.341/.423 through the middle of July, was sent down to Triple-A. But he hit .361/.445/.651 in 166 at-bats, and unlike Jensen was back in the bigs by August 24. He would play pretty much every game the rest of the season, hitting .284/.370/.495 in 95 at-bats.
The torch had clearly been passed -- Jensen was no longer the heir apparent to DiMaggio. In the World Series that year, Mantle was the starting right fielder, and Jensen wasn't even on the post-season roster.
Jensen was so disappointed with how the Yankees had treated him in 1951 that he talked to the San Francisco 49ers about switching to pro football, but ultimately decided to stick with baseball.
Never shy about what he said to reporters, Jensen told The Sporting News on October 24, 1951:

"I felt so badly about the treatment that I received from the Yankees that, although I was in New York at the end of the season, I didn't feel like sticking around to even watch the club play in any of the World's Series games."
"I do not feel the Yankees were justified in sending me to the minor leagues. When I was shipped to Kansas City, I was doing as good a job as any Yankee outfielder and better than some of them. I was hitting .296, which was ten points better than Hank Bauer and 30 points better than Joe DiMaggio, Gene Woodling and Mickey Mantle. Yet Casey Stengel didn't give me the chance I felt I deserved."

Despite blasting his manager in the press, Jensen was still the property of the Yankees. That off-season, teams were circling, hoping to pry away the talented but disgruntled outfielder. There were newspaper reports of offers from the St. Louis Browns, the Detroit Tigers, the Philadelphia Athletics, the Washington Senators, the Cleveland Indians, and the Boston Red Sox -- with one rumor being Ted Williams to the Bronx in exchange for Jensen and several other players. (A Red Sox scout called the rumored deal "a lot of hogwash.")
Sportswriters spent the off-season speculating whether DiMaggio would retire, and if he did, whether Jensen or Mantle would take over as the center fielder, as there were still concerns that Mantle, who had hurt his knee in the 1951 World Series, wouldn't be fully recovered by the start of the season.
On Opening Day, April 16, 1952, it was Jackie Jensen in center and Mickey Mantle in right. Jensen went 0-for-5 with a GIDP; Mantle, 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and a stolen base! Seven games into the season, Jensen was 2-for-17 (.118) and found himself on the bench. He'd never play for the Yankees again. On May 3, the Golden Boy was traded to the Washington Senators along with Spec Shea, Jerry Snyder, and Archie Wilson in exchange for Irv Noren and Tom Upton.
In two years with the Senators, Jensen hit an impressive .276/.359/.407 (112 OPS+), but the team was terrible, and Jensen wasn't happy. Still just 26 years old, he later said he had almost quit after the 1953 season... particularly after a harrowing flight to Japan for a series of exhibition games with a squad of All-Stars that included Yankees Yogi Berra, Eddie Lopat, and Billy Martin. That experience gave Jensen a lifelong fear of flying, a phobia that became so intense eventually he could only fly with the help of sleeping pills... and a hypnotist!
He might have quit if not for the trade on December 9, 1953, that sent him to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Mickey McDermott and outfielder Tom Umphlett. He was homesick, he hated flying, and he now had two little kids at home. Red Sox general manager Joe Cronin convinced Jensen to come to the Red Sox, telling him that Fenway Park was tailor made for his swing. Cronin was right: Jensen was a career .279/.369/.460 hitter, but .298/.400/.514 at Fenway.
It was in Boston that Jensen finally lived up to the hype, becoming a two-time All-Star and winning the A.L. MVP Award in 1958 and a Gold Glove in 1959. During his seven seasons in Boston, he hit .282/.374/.478 in 4,519 plate appearances. In his MVP season, Jensen hit .286/.396/.535 (148 OPS+) with 31 doubles, 35 home runs, and a league-leading 122 RBIs. During his peak with the Red Sox, 1954 to 1959, Jensen's average season was .285/.378/.490 (127 OPS+) with 28 doubles, 26 home runs, 111 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, and 3.6 bWAR. During those six seasons, no one in the American League -- not Mickey Mantle, not Ted Williams, not Al Kaline -- had more runs batted in than Jackie Jensen.
Of course, Mantle was the far better player -- even in Jensen's MVP season, Mantle had more runs, hits, home runs, walks, and a 188 OPS+ -- but Jensen's 127 OPS+ between 1954 and 1959 would have been an upgrade over the aging Hank Bauer's 110 OPS+ in right or the left field merry-go-round of Norm Siebern (113 OPS+), Irv Noren (107 OPS+), Enos Slaughter (103 OPS+), and previously forgotten Yankee Hector Lopez (101 OPS+). Casey Stengel would later say the Jensen trade was the worst one the Yankees had made while he was manager.
Despite his success, Jensen was sometimes booed by the Boston fans, just as they sometimes booed Ted Williams. There even was an article in Sport magazine, "What Do They Want From Jackie Jensen?", taking Red Sox fans to task for their unreasonably high demands from the Golden Boy. In 1956, in a game at Fenway Park against the Yankees, the hometown fans were razzing Jensen so much that teammates had to restrain him from going into the stands after a fan. Later that same game, Williams misplayed a wind-blown fly ball from Mantle, and the fans booed lustily. The very next play, Williams made a leaping catch at the scoreboard to rob Yogi Berra of a double. But Williams, still furious, spit into the crowd. He was later fined $5,000.
And Jackie was unhappy to be away from home. He and Zoe Ann had bought a house near Lake Tahoe, where they could both ski and golf year-round, as well as hit the casinos. They also had a home in Oakland, and a restaurant there, and each year Jensen hosted a pro-am golf tournament. But the marriage was struggling. Zoe Ann, once nationally known for her Olympic exploits, was frustrated to be a stay-at-home mom in the shadow of her famous husband, and Jackie became angry if she engaged in her favorite outdoor hobbies, suspecting there were men around.
Jensen's fear of flying also had become even more intense. Sometimes he was so drugged up that he had to be carried on and off the plane, fueling rumors that he was a drunk. Other times he took trains or even drove while his teammates flew.
Once again Jensen was talking about retirement, and in Spring Training 1957, the Red Sox allowed him to train with the San Francisco Seals, Boston's Triple-A team, rather than having to go to Florida. But he was still miserable. That year, he told Sports Illustrated:

“In baseball you get to the point where you don’t think you have a family. It just looks like I’m not built for this life like some ballplayers. You are always away from home and you’re lonesome, and as soon as I can, I intend to get out.”

The 32-year-old Jensen announced his retirement after the 1959 season, and he spent 1960 home with Zoe Ann and their children and running his restaurant. But he returned in 1961. After hitting just .130 in April, Jensen took a train from Detroit home to Reno, determined to quit once again. After a week away, he rejoined the team and had six hits in his next 10 at-bats. By the end of the season he was at .263/.350/.392, and he quit again. This time for good.
After leaving baseball, Jensen invested in real estate and a golf course, but lost most of his money. He then got a job working for a Lake Tahoe casino, was a national spokesman for Camel cigarettes, Wonder Bread, and Gillette, and even tried selling cars. Ironically, Jackie found himself on the road almost as much as he had been as a ballplayer. In 1963, he and Zoe Ann divorced, remarried, and then divorced again.
In 1967, Jensen became a TV sportscaster, married his producer Katharine Cortesi, and eventually teamed up with Keith Jackson calling college football games for ABC, and was a college baseball coach, first at the University of Nevada-Reno and then at the University of California. He managed the Red Sox team in the New York Penn League in 1970. In 1977, Jackie and Katharine moved to Virginia and started a Christmas tree farm while he coached baseball at a military academy. About five years later, on July 14, 1982, he died of a heart attack at age 55.
You Don't Know Jack(ie):

• How good would Jackie Jensen have been as a Yankee? Maybe not great. He was a career .279/.369/.460 hitter, but just .238/.326/.398 at Yankee Stadium, which -- especially in that era -- was famously death on right-handed batters. Fenway Park was much more to his liking!
  
• Born in San Francisco in 1927, it's no surprise Jensen's favorite player as a kid was Joe DiMaggio, who made his debut with the San Francisco Seals when Jensen was a 5 years old. When Jensen made his major league debut, on April 18, 1950, DiMaggio went 3-for-6 with a triple in a 15-10 win over the Red Sox. Two weeks later, on May 3, Jensen made his first start, playing left field and batting second, and DiMaggio was in center and batting fourth.
  
• Jensen wore #36 at Cal. When he came up with the Yankees, he was first issued #40, then switched to #27, and finally to #25. (With the Senators, he wore #8, then #4; in Boston, he first wore #30 but primarily wore #4.) Currently, #40 is worn by Luis Severino. Other famous 40's include Chien-Ming Wang (2005-2009), Andy Hawkins (1989-1991), and Lindy McDaniel (1968-1973). #27 has been worn by Giancarlo Stanton since 2018; prior to him, it was worn by Austin Romine (2016-2017). It also was the number worn by Bob Wickman (1993-1996), Butch Wynegar (1982-1986), and Woodie Held (1954-1957). Gleyber Torres has worn #25 since 2018; it also was worn by Mark Teixeira (2009-2016), Jason Giambi (2002-2008), Joe Girardi (1996-1999), Jim Abbott (1993-1994), Tommy John (1979-1989), and Joe Pepitone (1962-1969).
  
• Jensen is one of six major leaguers to graduate from Oakland High School, but the only Yankee. Cal has sent 83 players to the majors, including twenty Yankees -- most notably, early 1990s pitcher Chuck Cary, 1930s infielder Lyn Lary, and 1990 A.L. ROY runner-up Kevin Maas.
  
• The Yankees during spring training in 1951 tinkered with the idea of using Jensen into a pitcher. Jensen had been a star pitcher at Cal, including pitching in the 1947 College World Series, and had pitched in a winter league that off-season. But he was bombed in a handful of spring training innings -- while crushing as a hitter -- and the Yankees decided to leave him in the outfield.
  
• College teammates said Jensen wasn't afraid of flying at Cal. His second wife Katharine said the phobia came from a near-miss experience on a flight early in his baseball career -- he looked out the window and saw another plane coming straight at him! The two planes managed to avoid each other, but he was never comfortable on a plane again.
  
• Billy Martin, who also had grown up in Northern California and was Jensen's teammate on both the Oakland Oaks and the Yankees, was merciless when it came to teasing Jensen about his fear of flying. In 1953, on a flight from Okinawa to Honshu to play a series of exhibition games in Japan, the plane ran into a bad storm and was bouncing pretty hard. Jensen, who wouldn't get on a plane without the help of tranquilizers, was blissfully sleeping through the turbulence. Martin found a lifejacket and put it on, then stood over Jensen and shouted "We're going down!"
  
• Arthur Ellen, a hypnotist that Jensen had used to try to cure his fear of flying, believed Jackie wasn't aerophobic at all. It was really a fear of losing his family. "Subconsciously, it developed as a good reason to leave the Red Sox and go home," the hypnotist said.
  
• Jensen is featured prominently in Norman Rockwell's famous 1957 painting, The Rookie. Jensen is the one seated on the bench tying his shoe in the middle of the painting. Standing behind him is Ted Williams, and sitting on the bench next to him is pitcher Frank Sullivan (#18). Wearing the catcher's mitt in the foreground is Sammy White, and the player with his hand over his mouth to the far right is Billy Goodman. Jensen, Sullivan, and White had gone to Rockwell's studio in Massachusetts to pose for the painting; the images of Williams and Goodman were based on photos. The shirtless player was one of Rockwell's assistants, and "the rookie" holding the suitcase was a local high school student!
  
• Boston sportswriters named Jensen the team's MVP in 1954, when he hit .276/.359/.472 with 25 home runs and 117 RBIs. I guess they were tired of giving the award to Ted Williams, who hit .345/.513/.635 that year, albeit in just 117 games as he had broken his collarbone in spring training. Williams didn't qualify for the batting title that year because he had only 386 at-bats... mostly due to his league-leading 136 walks. The rule was subsequently changed from at-bats to plate appearances.
  
• After Jensen was acquired by the Washington Senators, manager Bucky Harris -- who managed the Yankees when they won the 1947 World Series -- pulled him aside and told him he was the right fielder and he'd hit third. "No pep talk, no nothing, but he made it sound like I was the right fielder and third place hitter for a long time to come," Jensen later recalled. "It made me feel good." The 1950s Senators had a number of ex-Yankees and several of them told reporters that Harris was a much more low-key, hands-off manager than Casey Stengel, and Jensen agreed. "With Stengel it was always 'watch for that curve ball' or 'watch for that change up'," Jensen said. "Bucky leaves you on your own up there." But Jensen would later say Stengel was the smartest manager he'd ever had.
  
• Stengel obliquely mentioned Jensen in his famously long, rambling testimony before the Senate Anti-Trust and Monopoly Subcommittee on July 8, 1958. Asked about legislation that would exempt baseball from federal anti-trust laws, Stengel said about 7,000 words without really saying anything. The hearing was held the day after the All-Star Game -- the Stengel-managed A.L. All-Stars won, 4-3 -- and in the American League starting lineup were Jensen and two other ex-Yankees, Bob Cerv and Gus Triandos. Stengel was asked if the Yankees were going to continue to "monopolize" the World Series, and his confusing answer: "Well, I will tell you. I got a little concerned yesterday in the first three innings when I saw the three players I had gotten rid of [Jensen, Cerv, and Triandos] and I said when I lost nine what am I going to do? And when I had a couple of my players I thought so great of that did not do so good up to the sixth inning I was more confused but I finally had to go and call on a young man in Baltimore that we don't own and the Yankees don't own him and he is doing pretty well and I would actually have to to tell you that we are more the Greta Garbo-type now from success. We are being hated. I mean from the ownership and all we are being hated. Every sport that gets too great or one individual -- but if we made twenty-seven cents and it pays to have a winner at home why would you have a good winner in your park if you were an owner? That is the result of baseball. An owner gets most of the money at home, and it is up to him and his staff to do better or they ought to be discharged." After befuddling the committee with answers like that for 45 minutes, Stengel was excused and Mickey Mantle called upon. His opening statement: "My views are just about the same as Casey's."
  
• Casey Stengel later said Jensen plus Spec Shea, Jerry Snyder, and Archie Wilson to the Senators for Irv Noren and Tom Upton was the worst trade the Yankees made during his tenure. But in reality it was pretty much a wash for the Yankees. Jensen, in two seasons, would be worth 4.9 bWAR for the Senators before being traded. Shea, a right-handed pitcher who had been an All-Star with the Yankees as a rookie, pitched four years in Washington and was worth 2.9 bWAR. Snyder was a good-glove, no-hit infielder worth -0.1 bWAR in seven seasons with the Senators. (You must have a really good glove to last seven seasons with a 55 OPS+!) Wilson, at one point seen as a good prospect but now a 28-year-old minor league journeyman, only played 26 games in Washington before being traded. In exchange, the Yankees received the 27-year-old Irv Noren, an outfieldefirst baseman who played five years in New York and was an All-Star in 1954; he was worth 7.9 bWAR, making the trade essentially even by bWAR. (The other player the Yankees received, minor league infielder Tom Upton, never made it back to the bigs.) Prior to the 1957 season, Noren was traded to the Kansas City Athletics as part of a monster 13-player trade that included Clete Boyer, third baseman of the early 1960s dynasty!
  
• The two players Washington got from Boston for Jensen, Mickey McDermott and Tom Umphlett, were both future Yankees. McDermott was a left-handed pitcher whose father, Maurice McDermott, had played in the minors with Lou Gehrig. Mickey was just 25 years old at the time of the trade but had been in the majors for six seasons, going 48-34 with a 3.80 ERA (114 ERA+). In two years with the Senators, McDermott went 17-25 (but with a 3.58 ERA), then prior to the 1957 season was traded to the Yankees as part of a seven-player deal; he went 2-6 with a 4.24 ERA as a swingman, and closed out the Game 2 win in the 1956 World Series. After that one season in New York, he was part of the trade with the A's that brought back Clete Boyer.
  
• Umphlett, a 22-year-old infielder, was traded back to the Red Sox in 1955, and then the Red Sox traded him to the Yankees in 1962 for infielder Billy Gardner. He would spend 1962 and 1963 in Triple-A for the Yankees, then ended his career in the minors with the Minnesota Twins -- the team that had been the Senators until 1961.
  
• In 1956, the anthology television show Cavalcade of America had an episode called The Jackie Jensen Story. Jackie had a cameo as the adult version of himself, but the 30-minute episode was focused on Jackie's teenage years and the influence of his middle high school coach, a man named Ralph Kerchum who became a father figure. The coach was played by Ross Elliott, a Bronx native whose most memorable role might have been as the director in the Vitameatavegamin episode of I Love Lucy.
  
• Jensen's MVP in 1958 broke a string of four straight MVP awards for Yankees -- Yogi Berra in 1954 and 1955 followed by Mickey Mantle in 1956 and 1957. Nellie Fox of the White Sox won it in 1959, and then the Yankees won it four years in a row again -- Roger Maris in 1960 and 1961, Mantle in 1962, and Elston Howard in 1963. Then a long drought -- the next Yankee to win it would be Thurman Munson in 1976.
  
• Going by bWAR, Mantle should have won it a third straight year in 1958 -- his 8.7 bWAR led the league, followed by Frank Lary at 6.7 and Al Kaline at 6.5. Jensen's 4.9 was 10th that year. Of course, they didn't have bWAR back then!
  
• Jackie won a Gold Glove in 1959; it was just the third year of the award's existence, or he might have won more. "Right field in Boston is a bitch, the sun field, and few play it well," Ted Williams said. "Jackie Jensen was the best I saw at it." Jensen was renowned for his throwing arm -- he twice led the league in assists, and twice led the league in double plays as an outfielder. One Yankee scout said he had the best arm he'd seen since previously forgotten Yankee Bob Meusel, usually said to have the best cannon in baseball history until Roberto Clemente came along.
  
• Jensen was well known for his brashness, especially compared to Mantle's aw shucks attitude. Mantle, asked if he thought he could beat out Jensen to replace DiMaggio in center field, humbly replied that there were three positions in the outfield and he hoped to win any one of them. Jensen, on the other hand, vowed he'd "out-run, out-hit, and out-throw" Mantle, an arrogant answer that didn't go over well with teammates. Joe DiMaggio, asked what he thought of the duel for his old job, quipped that Mantle was "out-quoting" Jensen.
  
• When Mantle was asked what he thought about Jensen's quote, he replied: "I don't know what to make of that guy." Jensen would later say he was misquoted, but reports of his cockiness would follow him throughout his Yankee years. Later in life, Jensen said people mistook his shyness and anxiety for arrogance and rudeness.
  
• According to Sports Illustrated, Jensen is the only player to have played in the East-West football game, the Rose Bowl, the World Series, and the Major League All-Star Game. I'll take their word for it!
  
• As a freshman at Cal, the first time Jensen touched the ball -- on a punt return -- he ran it back for a 56-yard touchdown. Cal quarterback Charles Erb said they'd never seen anything like it. "He was all over the field, dodging and leaping over guys. The rest of us just stood there on the sidelines with our mouths open. Finally somebody said, 'Who in the hell is that guy?' "
  
• Jensen is one of two "forgotten" Yankees in the College Football Hall of Fame -- the other is 1960s catcher Jake Gibbs. (Other Yankees in the College Football Hall of Fame include John Elway, who was in the Yankee minor league system before joining the Denver Broncos, and Deion Sanders, who was on the Yankees in 1989 and 1990.) Jensen also is a member of the Cal Hall of Fame, the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, and... ugh... the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
  
• Despite his speed -- Jensen led the league in triples in 1956 and in stolen bases in 1954, and was in the top five in stolen bases in six seasons -- Jackie also was prone to grounding into double plays, leading the league in 1954, 1956, and 1957. His 32 GIDPs in 1954 was the major league record until Boston's Jim Rice hit into 36 in 1984, which is still the single-season record. Rice also had 35 in 1985. Jensen's 32 is tied for third with four others. The most by a Yankee? Dave Winfield with 30 in 1983, which is tied for 14th.
  
• Jensen lost most of his baseball earnings through a series of bad investments. His ex-wife, former Olympian Zoe Ann, later became a blackjack dealer in Reno to pay the bills.
  
• Jensen had four appearances on the popular show Home Run Derby, and set a record for most home runs in one match when he defeated Ernie Banks, 14-11, in Episode 24. The 25 combined home runs also was a record. He took on Mickey Mantle in Episode 3, with Mantle winning, 9-2, then defeated Rocky Colavito, 3-2, in Episode 25. He rematched against Mantle in Episode 26, with Mantle winning again, 13-10. Jensen set another record in that contest when he became the only player to hit four home runs in a row, and then a fifth home run in a row. That episode was supposed to be the season one finale, but it turned out to be the last episode of the series: The show's host and producer, Mark Scott, died of a heart attack at age 45, shortly after the last episode aired, and two months later the show's 64-year-old director Benjamin Stoloff also died. Rather than replacing them, the show was cancelled.
  
• Jensen's last game came against the Yankees, on October 1st, 1961, at Yankee Stadium. He appeared as a pinch hitter and popped out to shortstop Tony Kubek. In the 4th inning of that game, Roger Maris hit his 61st home run, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record!
  
• Jackie and Zoe Ann had two sons, Jon and Jay, and a daughter, Jan. Jay's son, Tucker Jensen, was a pitcher in the Blue Jays farm system in 2011 and 2012.
  

In 1958, Jensen told Sports Illustrated that the biggest thrill of his career wasn't being an All-American or an All-Star, it wasn't winning an MVP or a World Series. "The biggest is having played in the same outfield with both DiMaggio and Williams."

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3. Jeremy Strong auditioned for the role of Roman Roy on Succession, but Jesse Armstrong, the show's creator, felt that Kieran Culkin was a "slam dunk."
4. Whitney Houston was cast as Sondra, the oldest daughter on The Cosby Show, but she didn't end up signing the contract because she wanted to pursue a singing career.
5. Penn Badgley screen-tested to play Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad, but the role went to Aaron Paul instead.
6. Nicola Coughlan auditioned to play Robin on Stranger Things, but Maya Hawke ended up with the role. Nicola said, "She was far better than I ever would have been."
7. Octavia Spencer auditioned to play Donna on Parks and Recreation, but the role ended up going to Retta.
8. Joshua Bassett was one of the final two choices for Harvey Kinkle in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, but the role ended up going to Ross Lynch.
9. Sandra Oh was originally called in to audition for Dr. Miranda Bailey on Grey's Anatomy, but she liked the part of Cristina more, so she asked if she could audition for that role instead.
10. Stephanie Beatriz screen-tested for Amy Santiago on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but Melissa Fumero was cast instead.
11. Rumer Willis was originally pitched to play Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl, but the casting director wanted to go with a lesser-known actor and cast Blake Lively instead.
12. Jennifer Lawrence also really wanted to play Serena van der Woodsen. She was 16 at the time she auditioned for the role.
13. Connie Britton was one of the network's choices to play Olivia Pope in Scandal, but creator Shonda Rhimes insisted Olivia should be played by a Black woman instead.
14. Taraji P. Henson was another famous person who went in to read for the role of Olivia Pope.
15. Noah Centineo read for several roles on Teen Wolf, and the casting director even told him, "You’re my choice! I want you to get it!"
16. Rob Lowe was originally offered the role of Derek Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy, but he turned down the role, and it went to Patrick Dempsey instead.
17. Darren Criss auditioned to play Finn Hudson on Glee, but the part went to Cory Monteith instead.
18. Iwan Rheon originally auditioned for Jon Snow on Game of Thrones and didn't get the role. He eventually got called in to play Ramsay Bolton in Season 3.
19. Keke Palmer screen-tested for the role of Iris on The Flash, but she didn't end up getting it because she looked "a little too young" compared to Grant Gustin.
20. Chris Rock was one of the many famous actors who was in talks to play George Costanza on Seinfeld.
21. Wesley Snipes was originally approached to play Lucious Lyons on Empire, but Taraji P. Henson said she'd only star on the show if Terrence Howard was cast instead.
22. Sonequa Martin-Green auditioned for the part of Michonne on The Walking Dead, but the role ended up going to Danai Gurira. However, the producers loved her so much that they created the role of Sasha for her.
23. Matt LeBlanc was offered the role of Phil Dunphy on Modern Family, but he felt like he wasn't the best fit. The role went to Ty Burrell instead.
24. Mahershala Ali auditioned for the role of "a merchant who got locked in a safe on Season 3" of Game of Thrones, aka Xaro Xhoan Daxos, and he said it was one of the "worst auditions" of his life.
25. Oliver Hudson was in the final running for Jack Pearson on This Is Us, but by the time he was scheduled to screen-test with Mandy Moore, Oliver went on an already-planned fishing trip instead.
26. Joshua Jackson was originally announced to play Owen Hunt on Grey's Anatomy, but just weeks before he was scheduled to shoot his first episode, the TV writers went on strike. By the time the strike ended, Joshua had already moved on to star on Fringe.
27. Betty White was actually supposed to play Blanche on The Golden Girls, but director Jay Sandrich felt that part was too similar to Betty's role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, so she played Rose instead.
28. Macaulay Culkin was pursued several times to play a role on The Big Bang Theory, but he couldn't see himself starring on a sitcom.
29. And finally, Courteney Cox was originally offered the role of Rachel on Friends, but she turned it down because she felt like she related to Monica more.

Link to article

Main hub thread with the full 131 rankings
On November 6, 1869, Rutgers and Princeton students walked on to a small plot of land on the Rutgers campus, and played the first college football game in history. Donning scarlet kerchiefs atop their heads, Rutgers won the inaugural game 6-4. Since then, they’ve played the 2nd most games in college football history (1395), with UPenn as #1. Rutgers come in as the 5th worst Power 5 team on this list, but are a key part of college football lore.

Best Seasons and Highlights

1. 2006: 11. Rutgers: 11-2 (34.140) 2. 2011: 27. Rutgers: 9-4 (13.550) 3. 1984: 24. Rutgers: 7-3 (13.361) 4. 2009: 32. Rutgers: 9-4 (12.500) 5. 2008: 33. Rutgers: 8-5 (11.785) 6. 2007: 39. Rutgers: 8-5 (5.395) 7. 2012: 45. Rutgers: 9-4 (4.594) 8. 2014: 51. Rutgers: 8-5 (1.148) 9. 1992: 38. Rutgers: 7-4 (0.211) 10. 2005: 48. Rutgers: 7-5 (-4.015) 11. 1986: 45. Rutgers: 5-5-1 (-4.274) 12. 1987: 47. Rutgers: 6-5 (-7.706) 13. 1994: 54. Rutgers: 5-5-1 (-8.479) 14. 1991: 55. Rutgers: 6-5 (-11.219) 15. 1988: 64. Rutgers: 5-6 (-12.265) 16. 2003: 71. Rutgers: 5-7 (-15.521) 17. 2020: 95. Rutgers: 3-6 (-21.380) 18. 2013: 85. Rutgers: 6-7 (-22.109) 19. 1993: 71. Rutgers: 4-7 (-22.250) 20. 2004: 81. Rutgers: 4-7 (-25.241) 21. 2021: 94. Rutgers: 5-8 (-25.926) 22. 1998: 77. Rutgers: 5-6 (-26.378) 23. 2010: 90. Rutgers: 4-8 (-27.299) 24. 1995: 74. Rutgers: 4-7 (-27.898) 25. 2015: 92. Rutgers: 4-8 (-28.074) 26. 2017: 101. Rutgers: 4-8 (-29.822) 27. 1989: 80. Rutgers: 2-7-2 (-29.988) 28. 2022: 110. Rutgers: 4-8 (-31.076) 29. 1985: 88. Rutgers: 2-8-1 (-36.757) 30. 1983: 91. Rutgers: 3-8 (-36.906) 31. 1990: 91. Rutgers: 3-8 (-39.458) 32. 2000: 95. Rutgers: 3-8 (-40.447) 33. 1996: 100. Rutgers: 2-9 (-47.826) 34. 2019: 120. Rutgers: 2-10 (-47.871) 35. 2016: 122. Rutgers: 2-10 (-48.409) 36. 2001: 106. Rutgers: 2-9 (-53.006) 37. 2018: 125. Rutgers: 1-11 (-56.731) 38. 1999: 111. Rutgers: 1-10 (-57.710) 39. 2002: 113. Rutgers: 1-11 (-58.394) 40. 1997: 112. Rutgers: 0-11 (-72.286) Overall Score: 9139 (86th) 

• 186-274-5 record
• 1 conference title
• 6-4 bowl record
• 1 consensus All-American
• 43 NFL players drafted

Greg Schiano was a lifesaver for the program, with 5 of the top 6 seasons on the list. No other coach has really found any success in the last 4 decades. Their first EVER bowl win wasn’t even until 2006, after over 130 years of playing football. They went on a spurt afterwards, winning 6 bowls in 9 years from 2006-14. Despite 1st Team All-American seasons from RB Ray Rice and P Adam Korsak, Rutgers’ only consensus AA is TE Marco Battaglia, who caught 69 passes for 894 yards and 10 TD in 1995, winning Big East OPOTY. Schiano’s produced a lot of tough NFL players, including Ray Rice, Devin/Jason McCourty, Logan Ryan, Mohamed Sanu, and Isiah Pacheco.

Top 5 Seasons

Worst Season: 1997 (0-11 overall, 0-7 Big East)
Do you know what this is? It’s the worst season by a Power 5 team in this series! Going back all the way to 1983, Rutgers’ 1997 season stands alone as the worst ever among Power 5 teams, ranking as the worst team in the nation that year. With a 76th ranked strength of schedule, they averaged just 17.4 PPG while giving up 45.1 PPG. There were just 2 one-possession losses all year—35-37 to 4-7 Army, and 48-55 in 2OT to Pitt. Blowout losses included 19-59 to Virginia Tech, 14-48 to 4-7 Texas, 7-36 to Navy, 0-48 to West Virginia, 3-50 to Syracuse, 23-51 to 5-6 Miami (FL), and worst of all, 7-49 to 3-8 Temple. Temple had gone just 8-58 the 6 years prior!! Incredibly, there were some decent players on this team. OL Shaun O’Hara became a 7 year starter for the New York Giants in the NFL, making 3 Pro Bowls and winning a Super Bowl in 2007. Freshman QB Mike McMahon ended up being one of the best QBs in school history: Despite throwing just 6 TD to 12 INT in his first year, he would go on to leave as Rutgers’ 2nd all time leading passer with 6608 yards, and was the first QB ever drafted out of Rutgers in the 5th round of 2001 NFL Draft. McMahon was a very talented player on some bad Rutgers’ teams, and if you put him under Schiano, he might’ve been considered the best QB in school history.
5. 2008 (8-5 overall, 5-2 Big East)
With All-American RB Ray Rice leaving for the NFL, senior QB Mike Teel was forced to step up and lead more of a passing offense in 2008. Things started VERY rough, and it looked like Rutgers may have been returning to their losing ways, with a 7-24 loss to Frenso State, 12-44 to North Carolina, and 21-23 to Navy. 3 games later, Rutgers was just 1-5 with their only win over FCS Morgan State. It turned out those initial teams they played all ended up having great years, and for the rest of the season, Rutgers was resurgent. They were one of the hottest teams in the country to end the year, winning 7 straight including 12-10 over 8-5 UConn, 54-34 over #17 Pitt, 29-23 in the bowl over Russell Wilson and NC State, and a combined 142-33 result vs USF/Army/Louisville. Teel finished his career as the Knights’ all-time greatest passer, throwing for 3418 yards 25 TD 13 INT, throwing for 447 yards and 7 TD vs Louisville. A big reason for Teel’s success was the 6’3 WR Kenny Britt, who was 3rd Team All-American with 1371 receiving yards, and finished 1st in Big East history with 3043. 8 starters were drafted from this team, including 1st rounders Britt, DB Devin McCourty, and OL Anthony Davis.
4. 2009 (9-4 overall, 3-4 Big East)
Uncertain about the season with the loss of QB Teel and WR Britt, new starters would step up on offense, and the defense was one of the best in the country, giving up just 15.5 PPG not including the first game against eventual 12-1 Cincinnati. Outside of the opening 15-47 loss to Cincy, Rutgers got off to a hot start, improving to 7-2 with a 31-0 win over #24 USF, in which the Bulls were held to just 7 first downs and 159 yards. A following 13-31 loss to Syracuse, who was 3-7 and 0-5 in the Big East, was one of the more surprising results of the season, as Rutgers managed just 130 yards against a defense that gave up 56 points to UConn a week later. Still, Rutgers would finish the season 9-4 with a win over UCF in the bowl, completing their 4th straight season with 8+ wins, something previously unthinkable for the program. QB Tom Savage stepped up in Teel’s absence, putting together a Freshman All-American season, throwing for 2211 yards 14 TD 7 INT, and showed future 1st round potential. The 5’8 Tim Brown stepped up in 6’3 Kenny Britt’s place, catching just 55 passes, but for 1150 yards and 9 TD, ranking 4th in the nation in yards per catch. WR Mohamed Sanu was a swiss army knife, putting up 639 receiving yards, 346 rushing yards, 66 punt return yards, 38 passing yards, and 9 total TD. OL Anthony Davis and DB Devin McCourty were 1st round picks after the season.
3. 1984 (7-3 overall, Independent)
Literally 1984. Rutgers had a VERY good run under coach Frank Burns the 11 years prior, going 78-43-1, and new coach Dick Anderson used the remaining talent for another great year. QB Eric Hochberg, who was literally painting #11 Penn State’s steps just a few years prior, travelled to Beaver Stadium as the starting QB for Rutgers, putting up a good fight in a 12-15 losing effort. 2 weeks later, Rutgers shut out Syracuse 19-0. You know what Syracuse proceeded to do just a week later? They beat #1 NEBRASKA. Rutgers was transitively the best team in college football for a moment. Rutgers’ defense continued to star throughout the year, giving up just 15.5 PPG, good news for an offense that averaged just 21.3. Aside from the Syracuse win, they beat 8-3-1 Army and #19 West Virginia. With the lack of bowls back then, finishing 7-3 as an Independent didn’t earn them a bid.
2. 2011 (9-4 overall, 4-3 Big East)
Schiano’s last season in his first stint with Rutgers. Chas Dodd vs Gary Nova at the QB position dominated the headlines all season, along with the inspiration brought to the team by the paralyzed Eric LeGrand. The defense played with their hair on fire all year long for the former defensive lineman, ranking 8th in the nation with just 18.3 PPG allowed. Wins included 38-26 over 10-4 Ohio, 34-10 over 6-7 Pitt, 20-3 over 10-3 Cincinnati, and 27-13 over Iowa State in the bowl. A few slip-ups saw them go just 4-3 in the Big East, with a 4th placed finish. Still, with inconsistent QB play all year, it’s a miracle this team won 9 games. Dodd, the returning starter from last season, threw for 1637 yards 10 TD 7 INT. The fresman Nova wasn’t any better, throwing for 1553 yards 11 TD 9 INT. Nova would take over in the following years, finishing as Rutgers’ 2nd all time leading passer and a 4ish-year starter. The team won 9 games because they were stupidly loaded at other positions. 9 starters were drafted over the next 3 years. Mohamed Sanu was 4th in the nation with 115 catches, going for 1206 yards and 7 TD. LB Khaseem Greene was 10th in the country in tackles with 141, also notching 14.5 total TFL. Greene would go on to finish 2nd in Big East history with 387 total tackles. Future Bill Belichick proteges Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon combined for 8 INTs in the secondary. Greg Schiano couldn’t avoid the calls to the NFL any longer, and left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coaching job after the season.
1. 2006 (11-2 overall, 5-2 Big East)
While many people talk about the crazy 2007 season for the many non-traditional powers that had a crack at the national title, people forget about 2006, where Rutgers was once on pace to become a national champion. The defense was among college football’s best, giving up 8.3 PPG in their first 6 games en route to a 6-0 start. 2 more wins set up the biggest game in Rutgers history—#15 Scarlet Knights hosting #3 unbeaten Louisville. Louisville seemed unstoppable with QB Brian Brohm and coach Bobby Petrino, beating #3 West Virginia just a week prior and pulverizing #17 Miami (FL) 31-7 earlier in the season. One of the most magical games in college football history ensued—you just had to be there at the time. Louisville took a 25-7 lead in the 2nd quarter only to see it slowly erased, capped off by a winning 28 yard FG from Jeremy Ito, to fittingly win 28-25 with the famous “Pandemonium in Piscataway!” call from commentators. The hype was short lived, as #7 Rutgers was dominated 30-11 by an upstart Cincinnati team the following week, who’d go on to win 33 games over the next 3 years. #13 Rutgers still had a chance to win the Big East at #15 West Virginia in the final week, but lost 39-41 in an exciting 3OT game. Most concerns of a “soft” schedule were alleviated when Rutgers dominated Kansas State 37-10 in the bowl.
They finished #12 in the nation, their highest ever finish. RB Ray Rice won the Big East POTY, rushing for 1794 yards and 20 TD. He’d go on to rush for 2000+ yards the next year as well. FB Brian Leonard won the Draddy Trophy, aka the “Academic Heisman”, rushing for 423 yards with 294 receiving yards, and paving the way for Rice. DL Ramel Meekins was a 2x National Defensive Player of the Week winner, and had 68 tackles 8 sacks 5.5 TFL. The defense was EXCELLENT at getting to the QB, with a whopping 6 players amassing 10+ total TFL for a defense that gave up just 14.3 PPG. This is easily Rutgers’ best ever year, and a fun season for all football fans.

5th Quarter

Agree with Rutgers’ rank on the list? What do you think/remember about the Schiano years? Are they headed back on the right track or it’s not going to work out the 2nd time with him? Why has Rutgers been so poor historically despite being the premier team in a state that loves football (at least, professionally)? And finally, now that we’ve seen 5 Power 5 teams on this list…who’s up next?
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Hi,
At the moment, I am living with a roommate, another fellow penn stater. And, I am moving out after a few months. I did not break the lease beyond their deadline, even now it's possible to break without any penalty.
But when I told my roommate three weeks ago, that I am moving out, he demanded that I pay him half of the lease penalty. Which I found extremely odd as that is something we never spoke about and I can not find a rationale behind it, but his POV is, by moving out, he is put in a problem, he is not, he has 3 months to find a roommate, or he can break the lease right now without any fee.
To add to the sequence of unfortunate events, he mentioned that he gets to decide whether I get my security deposit back or not.
As a graduate student, finances are tough for many folks, as we are aware. All these is just causing a bad energy around the apartment and he hardly ever communicates, if I ask him something, sometimes reply comes a week later if at all.
These just make me paranoid as to what ill-fated fortune awaits me. I was wondering if there is any university route to find a mediator /if/ things escalate. I am honestly a little fearful, as when he demanded the money, he was just yelling. We took it to the apartment lease office, and they don't care as they are not owed anything, which is also weird of course given there is two names on the lease, mine and his, so some accountability was expected.

I just recently got into both USC and UPenn this fall as a sophomore for their political science programs, and I am having a tough time deciding where to go. Though academics are the main reason why I chose to transfer, I am leaning towards USC because I think the schools vibe fits me better overall.
Though I know Penn has an advantage because it is an Ivy, I want to see if USC holds up to its standards for political science and international relations (considering that I like USC as a school better - the Greek life, living in so cal, the extreme school spirit, and its prestige in film which is something I'm interested in on the side). I am not really sure what I want out of a political science major, but I think I want to study law and possibly be a diplomat and therefore do some work in international public policy. If anyone has any insight into what makes USC's political science and IR program good or why it may be even better than Penn, it would be much appreciated!
(if this seems familiar I posted something similar before, I just wanted a more specific view)

I just recently got accepted to both USC and UPenn this fall as a sophomore for their political science programs, and I am having a tough time on deciding where to go. I have different social and financial incentives for both schools, but academics are the main reason why I chose to transfer.
Though I know Penn has an advantage because it is an Ivy, I want to see if USC holds up to its standards for political science and international relations (considering that I like USC as a school better - the Greek life, living in so cal, the extreme school spirit, and its prestige in film which is something I'm interested in on the side). I am not really sure what I want out of a political science major, but I think I want to study law and possibly be a diplomat and therefore do some work in international public policy. If anyone has any insight into what makes USC's political science and IR program good or why it simply cannot even compare to Penn, it would be much appreciated!
(if this seems familiar I posted something similar before, I just wanted a more specific view)

I've always enjoyed the lore of the various races of Hyrule, especially when they start to dive into them more such as the huge update the Gerudo got in BotW. TotK offers a few interesting new things about the different races that I thought people who hadn't found them might want to know. I can't guarantee that I've personally found every new bit of lore there is out there, but I wanted to share what I've found.
Hylians:
There is not much about the Hylians, as they are sort of the generic human fantasy race a lot of the time, but there is some important stuff. Now we know that the Hylian royal family was originally formed by a union between a Hylian and a Zonai, meaning all descendants have a bit of Zonai in them. Also, because we know that only Rauru and Mineru were around as Zonai in these ancient times, this original kingdom was nearly all Hylian, and they wore Zonai-inspired armor and worked with Zonai constructs. The other major bit of Hylian lore from this game is more about the Gerudo, so I'll save that for when we get to them.
Sheikah:
This game states that the Sheikah are not actually their own race but are in fact a tribe of Hylians. They simply embrace technology more and are the Hylian's premiere researchers as a result. I'm personally a bit mixed on this, as while it explains how, starting from BotW, white hair and red eyes were not a universal trait of theirs, I also miss things like that. It also brings into question why they are so long-lived if they are simply Hylians. Perhaps their research has found ways to artificially extend their own lives. Some may even voluntarily undergo a mummification-like process at a certain age to become functionally immortal, as we see with Maz Koshia in BotW that even in his corpse-like state he is still very active.
Rito:
The Rito unfortunately did not get the huge boost in culture I feel they needed from BotW. That's not to say there is nothing new, but not much. The main thing we now know is of their legend of a time a "god" saved Rito Village. They tell a story of how one day a figure fell from the heavens around their village and the winds around them ceased. They called this figure a god, and tried to fly them back to the heavens only to find they could not go high enough on their own. Instead, they gathered materials to build ships that created a pathway skyward, allowing the god to return. Later, the winds returned to their village, and with them came a gift from the god: a massive skyship called the Stormwind Ark. It's never answered who this perceived god was, but given the themes of the game, it was likely a Zonai. This would also mean that the Rito were disconnected from the Hylians for awhile before the time of the Imprisoning War, as otherwise they would've known about the Zonai.
The other thing that's maybe of note is that they may have walked back something they introduced in BotW. In that game, they established that the Rito cannot really fly upwards, but can instead glide on their wings, relying on updrafts to soar. This made Revali so special, as he made his own updrafts. In this game, however, we see plenty of Rito able to fly straight up. Penn does it all the time, the children of Rito village do it to reach various houses, and Tulin will fly beside you as you climb. So maybe now they can just fly where they want. Though the Stormwind Ark legend does say they couldn't reach the heavens without their ships, so maybe there is some limit there.
Gorons:
The Gorons got a huge boost in lore in this game, though a lot of it is hidden behind side quests. Let's start with the thing most everyone will encounter: Gorondia. It is confirmed by Douma, a reporter in Goron City, that the Gorons originally lived deep underground before coming onto the surface. We have never really seen this era of Goron history in the games before. Even going back to the start of the timeline with Skyward Sword and the Minish Cap, the Gorons we see are wandering on the surface or trying to establish a new home. We do see very few Gorons in those games, so perhaps the rest were living underground during this time. Douma also says that Gorons will tell you they don't know what you're talking about if you ask them, seemingly framing this as them hiding information, when instead it genuinely seems like most don't know about Gorondia beyond the legend. A young Goron named Dugby wants to find Gorondia and believes he has when he discovers Minecart Land. And Yunobo seems surprised to find Gorondia within Death Mountain.
Now let's go to the other major bit of information here, in the side quest called "Moongazing Gorons." Here you talk to two old Gorons who want to see a picture of where they were born. That's right, we finally find out where Gorons come from in this game. Many suggested new Gorons just sprout off the backs of older Gorons or something. But no, it's official, they simply emerge from the ground. We still don't know why, but they do. Perhaps it's whatever would also lead to the creation of Stone Taluses, but more advanced. Maybe whatever magic infuses certain rocks can either lead to the more mindless Taluses or the more advanced Gorons. We also find out in this quest that Gorons are exceptionally long-lived. Fitting, considering they're rocks. But once you show the old Gorons the picture, they decide to visit the area once they're ready. One of them decides they'll be prepared in about 15 years. The other smiles and says he has always loved how quick the other one is, saying that they will instead need "another century."
Lastly, this isn't so much lore as something curious. One of the biggest talking points about the Gorons in BotW was why we could find some in Gerudo Town. This town only accepts women, and the Gorons seem to all identify as male. Yet two could be found in Gerudo Town, with one even questioning why he was allowed entry. Well, in TotK there's a traveling duo of a male Hylian and a Goron who you can run into at various points. One of these is at the gates of Gerudo Town, where they are denied entry and the male Goron angrily says a friend told him he was let in just fine. So why is this one not allowed when the others were? Who knows? Maybe it's because he's accompanied by a male Hylian? But the Gerudo guard clearly states both are not allowed. Interesting food for thought.
Zora:
According to one of Sidon's journal entries, all Zora possess some ability of control over water. Some are just stronger with it than others. His own ability is said to be exceptional, and we can see this in-game with him working to separate the sludge from the water at Mipha's Court and later supplying a water shield for Link. We also see the abilities of the other Zora as three of them take over the separation duty for Sidon while he journeys to the Water Temple. Sidon is also able to create a massive whirlpool just by swimming quickly enough in circles, which shows the scale of his abilities.
The other major thing we learn is that there are other Domains elsewhere in the world. It's unclear where, as this is the only one we can see in Hyrule. Perhaps they're deep underwater, or in another land. But Yona is said to be from a different Domain, possibly suggesting this marriage started as a political one.
Gerudo:
There is not too much we learn about the Gerudo considering how much we learned in BotW. We learn that Ganondorf was once their kind but we already knew this. And we see in a flashback that ancient Gerudo apparently had a means of controlling the Molduga. We also now know that Gerudo girls born outside of Gerudo Town are required by law at a certain age to return to Gerudo Town and engage in their culture until they are old enough to leave and start a family of their own.
But the main thing we learn is finally figuring out the mystery of the seven heroines and the lost eighth. It turns out, the seven heroines were Gerudo who fought to protect their village from an unknown threat, but they were fighting a losing battle. In their time of need, a Hylian male came to their aid, and with his help they vanquished the threat. However, their laws regarding men are strict, and even with his invaluable help, he was not permitted entry into their town, something they regretted to their dying days. This man was the "eighth heroine," and it's why their statue is separated from the rest. It is unknown who this was, but they could have been a past version of Link.
Koroks:
The Koroks get nothing. They lose. Good day, sir.
Seriously though, Koroks were given absolutely nothing here. You'd think with the focus on the ancient past we'd see some Kokiri, or maybe learn just how old the Deku Tree is. But no. The only thing I could say that's maybe a stretch is that we see them all freeze up when the Deku Tree is incapacitated, maybe suggesting his continued health is required for their existence. But even that is odd because every Korok outside the forest is perfectly fine during this time.

Tennessee adds another blue-chipper with the commitment of 2024 4* RB Peyton Lewis. Lewis announced his commitment surrounded by Tennessee staff, current commits, and future Vols during the '865 Live' recruiting event in Knoxville over the weekend (last year was called RockyTopalooza). This event was jam packed with other blue chip recruits and included a scavenger hunt, a putt putt golf contest, and a talent show. The Salem, VA native gives Heupel's staff their TWELFTH commitment in the 2024 class choosing Tennessee over Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Lewis was offered by the Vols in February 2023 and "always had aspirations of playing at Tennessee" so the commitment came just a few short months afterwards.
Tennessee anchors itself inside the Top 10 at #8 sandwiched between Florida State (#9) and Penn State (#7). See the other commitments below:

2024 Team Ranks: Nat'l #8 SEC #3

Rank	Team	Commits	5*	4*	3*	AVG Points	Total Points
1	Georgia	16	4	7	4	94.14	270.65
2	Michigan	17	1	10	6	91.34	250.12
3	Ohio State	13	2	9	2	93.05	238.14
4	Notre Dame	16	2	9	5	90.82	236.05
5	LSU	16	0	11	5	90.32	232.40
6	Oregon	14	0	11	3	91.01	224.58
7	Penn State	14	1	7	6	90.43	217.41
8	Tennessee	12	0	7	5	90.51	202.23
9	Florida State	11	2	5	4	90.45	192.35
10	South Carolina	9	1	7	1	92.95	183.60

2024 Commitments

Name	Position	Height	Weight	Class	Star	247Comp Rank	POS Rank	Rating	Commit Date
Jake Merklinger	QB	6-3	195	2024	4	65	8	0.9634	3/30/23
Jonathan Echols	ATH (TE)	6-4	230	2024	4	94	7	0.9525	7/4/22
JJ Harrell	WR	6-0	187	2024	4	143	20	0.9380	2/27/23
Kaleb Beasley	CB	6-0	179	2024	4	150	14	0.9351	10/21/22
Peyton Lewis	RB	6-1	190	2024	4	215	15	0.9208	5/27/23
Kellen Lindstrom	DL	6-5	235	2024	4	268	31	0.9117	5/5/23
Amari Jefferson	ATH (WR)	6-1	195	2024	4	270	23	0.9110	UT Baseball Commit
Marcus Goree Jr.	ATH (DB)	6-0.5	177	2024	4	416	37	0.8915	2/18/23
Gage Ginther	IOL	6-5.5	287	2024	3	604	37	0.8794	4/8/23
Edrees Farooq	S	5-11	180	2024	3	627	60	0.8778	4/16/23
Carson Gentle	DL	6-3	241	2024	3	804	81	0.8697	7/23/22​
Jesse Perry	OT	6-6	275	2024	3	851	69	0.8664	4/7/23
Jeremias Heard	DL	6-7	295	2024	3	NA	99	0.8552	4/21/23

2024 Top Targets

Name	Position	Height	Weight	Class	Star	247Comp Rank	Rating	Recent Notes
Williams Nwaneri	DL	6-5	250	2024	5	3	0.9971	247 Recruiting Director Steve Wiltfong said Vols were in "pole position" going into summer Official Visits. OV scheduled for 6/9/23. Primary competition: Oklahoma and Texas A&M
Mike Matthews	ATH	6-1	180	2024	5	9	0.9955	OV scheduled for 6/23. Primary competition: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, USC
Sammy Brown	LB	6-2	230	2024	5	14	0.9928	Vols "set the bar high" during Official Visit for '865 Live' event on 5/27. Primary competition: Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma
Eddrick Houston	Edge	6-3	255	2024	5	15	0.9907	Tennessee not yet scheduled for OV. Primary competition: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, USC
Ryan Wingo	WR	6-2	198	2024	5	21	0.9884	Tennessee not yet scheduled for OV but just visited for '865 Live' recruiting event. Primary competition: Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, Texas
Elijah Rushing	Edge	6-6	235	2024	5	22	0.9883	OV scheduled for 6/23. Primary competition: Arizona, Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA
Jerrick Gibson	RB	5-10	200	2024	4	35	0.9799	OV scheduled for 6/16. Primary competition: Georgia, Miami, Texas
Jordan Ross	Edge	6-5	215	2024	4	38	0.9774	OV scheduled for 6/23. Primary competition: Florida, Georgia, Texas
Kamarion Franklin	DL	6-5	265	2024	4	39	0.9770	OV scheduled for 6/16. Primary competition: LSU, Miami
Aaron Scott	CB	6-0	170	2024	4	56	0.9665	Tennessee in Top 12 on 4/9/23 but no OV scheduled.
Kameryn Fountain	Edge	6-5.5	237	2024	4	81	0.9567	UT CRYSTAL BALL PREDICTION - OV scheduled for 6/23. Primary competition: USC and USCJr
Demello Jones	S	6-1	176	2024	4	84	0.9563	UGA commit - OV scheduled for 6/23. Primary competition: Alabama and Georgia
Daniel Calhoun	OT	6-6.5	355	2024	4	86	0.9561	OV scheduled for 6/16. Primary competition: Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Texas
Tylen Singleton	LB	6-1	208	2024	4	123	0.9422	Tennessee not yet scheduled for OV. Primary competition: Arkansas, LSU, TCU, Texas A&M
Max Anderson	OT	6-5	305	2024	4	191	0.9276	MULTIPLE UT CRYSTAL BALL PREDICTIONS - OV scheduled for 6/9. Primary competition: Georgia and Oklahoma
Daniel Hill	ATH (LB/RB)	6-1	220	2024	4	196	0.9261	Tennessee not yet scheduled for OV but just visited for '865 Live' recruiting event. "Top-three" after visit. Primary competition: Alabama and USCJr
Boo Carter	ATH	5-10	184	2024	4	240	0.9151	UT CRYSTAL BALL PREDICTION - Tennessee not yet scheduled for OV but just visited for '865 Live' recruiting event. Primary competition: Ohio State
Edwin Spillman	LB	6-1	216	2024	4	251	0.9137	MULTIPLE UT CRYSTAL BALL PREDICTIONS - OV scheduled for 6/16. Brother of UT '23 commit Nate Spillman. Primary competition: FSU, Georgia, Ohio State
Amaris Wiliams	DL	6-3	260	2024	4	261	0.9130	OV scheduled for 6/23. Primary competition: Florida, NC State, North Carolina
Amari Jefferson	ATH	6-1	195	2024	4	270	0.9110	UT Baseball commit - OV scheduled for 6/23. Primary competition: Alabama and Georgia
Ronan O'Connell	OT	6-4.5	288	2024	3	539	0.8833	UT CRYSTAL BALL PREDICTION - OV scheduled for 6/23. Primary competition: Clemson and Wisconsin

Recruiting Notes

• The team rankings do not include Amari Jefferson as a UT football commit but I have included him here due to his baseball commitment to Tennessee. Jefferson has been taking football visits and it is clear that Tennessee will be a finalist.
• 2024 4* ATH Jonathan Echols has announced he is being recruited to play TE at Tennessee.
• '865 Live' Recruiting Event had some very big names in addition to some of the top targets above including...
  • 2024 5* Edge Dylan Stewart
  • 2024 4* DL Aydin Breland
  • 2024 4* Edge Brian Robinson
  • 2024 4* ATH Kamron Mikell (announced an OV for 11/18 vs. UGA)
  • 2025 5* OT Josh Petty

1. Stanford: Lukas Mattson. Cutting-edge, techy, ends up coming out at the tippity-top after years of waiting in the wings. Just crazy enough to be fun.
2. Yale: Jesse Armstrong (Creator and Showrunner). Cheating a bit here, but the one who actually steers things, elevates people you'd never have heard of otherwise to national importance by affiliation.
3. UChicago: Tom. Midwestern, businesslike, walks the edge of darkness. Likely to be a source of major power for years to come, ready to flex its long-earned muscles.
4. Penn: Jeryd Mencken. As long as Amy Wax is there.
5. Duke: Karolina. Hint of exoticism (the South/eastern Europe), knows how to hold it together and cast a brilliant image.
6. Harvard: Logan. Taken a fall, but still the one running everything even when out of the T5. You can say you're on top all you want, folks, the legacies of HLS and Logan Roy will live forever.
7. NYU: Karl/Frank. Businesslike, maybe could do something new, but once you're there, you know what you're about. Even if you don't get what you'll want, you'll likely graduate with a nice corporate job/golden parachute
8. Columbia: Frank/Karl. See above.
9. UVA: Gerri. Quiet, unobtrusive, and that's what makes it so dangerous. Understands power, knows to place itself in proximity to the source.
10. Northwestern: Shiv. Has allied itself to the midwest, knows it will never be as good as UoC, but that's alright as long as it at least gets to share in the power and proximity.
11. Berkeley: Sen. Gil Eavis. The Bernie Sanders parallels write themselves to give him the slot.
12. Michigan: Cousin Greg. Continuing the midwest thing, almost came this close to getting off the list, hanging on in a secure place. Fun on the surface, knows how to work the system underneath.
13. Cornell: Connor. "Oh yeah, he's still a thing." "Oh yeah, you're still on the list."
14. UCLA: Roman. At the end of the day, happy to be where it's at, content in what's coming next. A partier at heart who knows how to mellow out and is looking forward to what's coming.

Cooley: Kendall. "I'm the Eldest Boy!"

A new era is under way in Green Bay, and there's a lot to cover about this offseason. First, let's set the stage.
Key Signings:
KR Keisean Nixon- the return dynamo who renewed my will to live after watching Amari Rodgers play football. Signed again on a 1 year deal worth up to $4m. And he figures to have a larger role on defense this season. This was one of the biggest wishes for packer fans this offseason, as it finally shows a dedication to building the ST unit.
S Rudy Ford- he had himself a nice 2022 and got re-signed for his efforts. It's a one year deal, and he will compete for the starting safety spot as of now.
CB Corey Ballentine- a reserve CB who I will always have a soft spot for due to his tragic draft night story. Ballentine has been re-signed and will compete for snaps in an unsettled secondary.
S Dallin Leavitt- a Rich Bisaccia re-signing. Leavitt was a quiet killer last season as a special teams ace, and he returns in that role this season.
OT Yosh Nijman- a developmental prospect that has blossomed into an serviceable swing tackle, I thought Nijman would get more on the open market than his RFA tender price. He will be back with the Pack in a LT2 and RT2 role for 2023.
Key Departures:
DT Dean Lowry- Lowry gave the Pack his best and we appreciate him, but his ceiling was evident and achieved. Devonte Wyatt was drafted as a high upside replacement. Lowry signed with the Vikings on a 2 year deal.
WR Allen Lazard- Aaron Rodgers's latest security blanket, Lazard is rejoining Rodgers on a 4y, 44m deal with the New York Jets. A quiet, consistent performer for the Packers throughout his tenure, Lazard will continue to be a sure-handed possession receiver in New York, transforming the slot position previously occupied by Elijah Moore into more of a big slot. He will also continue to mug people in the run game.
TE Robert Tonyan- Bobby Tonyan heads south to Chicago to be TE2 behind Cole Kmet. Packer fans love Tonyan for bringing pride back to the position in GB, and I honestly feel bad for him. He likely missed on his chance for a big pay day after tearing his ACL in 2021 and having a down year coming back. Now he's pushing 30, but he still provides excellent hands for the position and a great work ethic. Godspeed, buddy.
DL Jarran Reed- the big man returns to Seattle this season on a 2 year deal. Reed was just about what we expected in Green Bay- not great, not bad. He was a placeholder in a spot that Wyatt hopefully can take over.
Free Agents yet to be signed:
WR Randall Cobb, S Adrian Amos, TE Marcedes Lewis, K Mason Crosby
All members of the old guard. Cobb recently had surgery, and is a contender to rejoin Rodgers in NY. Amos had a down year, but could still have some left in the tank. I'm guessing he has an offer from GB and is weighing his options. Lewis also could be weighing his options between retirement, the Jets, or sailing into the sunset where it all began for him in Jacksonville. Mason Crosbys wife seemed to confirm on social media recently that the Packers have little interest in re-signing their all time leading scorer. Crosby made some clutch kicks for us over the years, and if this is the end, the Silver Fox will never have to buy a beer in Titletown again.
2022 season review: Record: 8-9 Oh man. 2022 was the year it all came crashing down. Green Bay tried to keep its veteran core together for a few years, appeasing Rodgers and navigating the salary cap reasonably well. But they never achieved that brass ring. Minus Davante Adams and working with a broken thumb, Rodgers struggled the most he has since his inaugural season as a starter. It's now time to address Rodgers in this post; I could write an entire entry solely on Rodgers and this past season, but I'll leave it at this: Aaron is my favorite football player of all time. He led the Packers to their greatest stretch of sustained excellence since Vince Lombardi roamed the sidelines, often with depleted rosters around him. In my opinion, hes the most talented QB to play the game. It seems a majority of Packer fans were ready to move on from the man and soured on him this offseason. Personally, I think he will be an MVP contender in NY next year and still love him. But it was time. The Jordan Love era needs to happen, if only for the front office itself needing to justify their faith in the Love pick. Rodgers and the Packers were operating on different timelines the past few years, stuck somewhere between going all in and resetting. The front office has put all their chips in on Jordan Love.
The defense was expected to be a top 5 unit, but regressed heavily. Joe Barry was under scrutiny all year long, seemingly incapable of putting his plethora of first rounders in positions to succeed. A late season push did just enough to save his job (apparently).
Favorite win: Dallas Most frustrating loss: Detroit, week 18
Rodgers's exit also raises an interesting thought: will we see the True Matt LaFleur Offense this season? Offensive deficiencies have been blamed on Lafleur himself or Rodgers's hesitancy at transitioning from a traditional west coast offense to a Shanahan-esque, motion based attack. The answer will be uncovered this year, with Jordan Love having 3 years of experience in the scheme and a first round pedigree. As a Love truther in the pre draft season who hated the pick for the Packers, I am fascinated. This pick will make or break Gute's and Lafleur's tenure.
Aside from the quarterback situation, there are lingering questions concerning LaFleur's ability to lead the team in general. The Packers have consistently laid an egg in one game every season of his tenure and have come up short in the playoffs, with some head scratching decisions rearing their head in crunch time of big games (the end of the Bucs NFC championship the most glaring). I also have questions on his staff hirings/retentions. LaFleur hired 2 dogshit ST coordinators before making the obvious choice of Basaccia. He also chose to retain Joe Barry, noted football terrorist, as defensive coordinator. I've read rumblings that Gute has more say over the staff than the head coach, which is unconfirmed but concerning. I don't mean to dump on LaFleur in this piece, only to emphasize how big of a year this is for him. I think his scheme is sound and the guys play hard for him. With Rodgers gone, I think we see less RPOs and inside zone handoffs to AJ Dillon out of shotgun. The offense will have more identity. But if there are 2 more years without the playoffs in Green Bay, the Cheeseheads will advocate for a new coach.
2023 Draft:
Positions of need: S, TE, WR, DT
Round 1, Pick 13: Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa With the world expecting Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Gute stuck true to his type and drafted athletic freak LVN out of Iowa. Van Ness profiles as a Rashan Gary clone, with a high RAS score and unrefined repertoire of pass rush moves. If he works out like Gary, this is a massive hit. In the pre draft process, the only guy who could have realistically been there for GB that I had above Van Ness was Peter Skoronski. He wasn't there, and there was no doubt in my mind Gute was going for LVN afterwards. He'll rotate with Gary and Preston Smith this year, and will kick inside on certain packages. He makes Smith expendable in the future.
Round 2, Pick 42: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State Musgrave has the size and athleticism to be a game changer at tight end. His tape was short but encouraging. His biggest questions are durability and how he will develop, given his late breakout and immediate injury afterwards. My comparison to his playstyle was Travis Kelce, and if he can approach even 70% of Kelce's production in a season, this is a great pick. The biggest hole on the roster was TE, and I have a feeling Gute got the top one on his board.
Round 2, Pick 50: Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State The process of this pick was nerve wracking. I was one of many fans pounding the table for Brian Branch, the S out of Alabama. When Gute traded down instead, I was telling friends I hoped he took Jayden Reed, and that's what happened. Reed is smaller receiver who plays bigger than his size on contested catches. He carried the Michigan State offense last year after Kenneth Walker jumped to the NFL. My comparison for him is Tyler Lockett. In Green Bay, Reed will take over the slot role, and I expect him to see around 60% of offensive snaps.
Round 3, Pick 78: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State Another tight end added to a barren room. The former Jackrabbit is similar to Musgrave in a lot of ways- big, athletic, and a willing albeit unrefined blocker. Kraft's addition along with Musgraves could push the Packers into more 22 personal this season, something LaFleur wants to run but hasnt had the personnel for, and I would not be surprised to see him outsnap Musgrave if he develops quickly. I'm really hoping this is the pick that breaks Green Bays 3rd round curse (seriously look it up its so bad).
Round 4, Pick 116: Colby Wooden, Edge, Auburn A former 4 star recruit at Auburn, Wooden collected 17 sacks as a 3 year starter in the SEC and showed inside/outside versatility. He shows an ability to rush with speed and power, but is inconsistent in his pad level and technique. He anchors well in the run game and showed great gap discipline. I don't see him getting many snaps this year, but if he does I think he takes Kingsley Engabare's role on run downs.
Round 5, Pick 149: Sean Clifford, QB, Penn State A perplexing pick until I saw this man somehow has a 9 RAS. Clifford is an experienced college starter who plays with a clear understanding of his role and a passion for the game. My issues with him were accuracy, arm strength, pocket presence, and decision making. You know, playing quarterback. I did not give Clifford a draftable grade and would have preferred Jaren Hall or Max Duggan. But this is really nit picking over a 5th round pick who was drafted to be a career backup. If the staff sees something in him, I'll give it a chance.
Round 5, Pick 159: Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia A 6'1, 206 lb vertical threat, Wicks was inconsistent in his career at Virginia. If he replicated his 2021 production last year, he might have found himself as a day 2 pick. Alas, a new offense and drops led to his availability at this spot. Wicks has a good release package and the ability to stack DBs and get vertical. His tendencies as a body catcher led to drops last year, and he doesn't provide much after the catch. With his profile, he'll be a WR4/5, but could be a special teams ace very early in his career.
Round 6, Pick 179: Karl Brooks, DL, Bowling Green A bit of a tweener, Brooks is a high motor, high effort pass rusher. He flashes great technique and seems to rush with a plan. He can get washed out in the run game, and will need to commit one way or another to defensive end or defensive tackle. He graded very high from PFF, so that's something. To get on the field, he'll have to show more consistency and ability when anchoring down in the run game.
Round 6, Pick 207: Anders Carlson, K, Auburn Apparently, Mason Crosby's replacement. Anders is the brother of Las Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson, who's pretty damn good. There is a connection with Basaccia there, who's known Anders since high school. I wasn't encouraged by his stats at Auburn, but I'm not going to pretend to be an expert in scouting kickers. If Basaccia says he's that dude, then that dude he is.
Round 7, Pick 232: Carrington Valentine, CB, Kentucky Valentine is a WR convert with a long, slender frame. He is at his best in press man, where he has a variety of ways to get hands on the receiver and reroute him. Unfortunately for Vallentine, Joe Barry hates press man and will kill my family if I suggest it again. Valentine's frame can lead him to get bullied by bigger WRs at times, but he is physical at the catch point. He also brings experience as a productive kick returner, something that could be helpful in the future or even this season if the staff wants to keep Nixon fresh for defensive snaps.
Round 7, Pick 235: Lew Nichols, RB, Central Michigan A big back with some intriguing traits, Nichols enjoyed a very productive 2021 before injuries hampered his 2022. Nichols has good vision, contact balance, and power as a north-south runner. He was productive catching out of the backfield, but wasn't asked to run many routes beyond that. His biggest hurdles in the NFL are going to be elusiveness and speed. He lacks both, but should be a decent backup. For the Packers, they used their RB3 less than maybe any team in the league last year. This will be the Jones&Dillon show again in 2023.
Round 7, Pick 242: Anthony Johnson Jr, S, Iowa State Johnson Jr is a converted cornerback who plays with rare physicality for someone of that description. He did his best work in the box or in the slot at Iowa State, and that may be where the Pack will try to get him some snaps this year. He can be over aggressive in his pursuits at times and take bad angles, but that is coachable. Given the state of the safety room, the 7th round rookie may find himself starting some games this season.
Round 7, Pick 256: Grant DuBose, WR, Charlotte DuBose comes from UNC Charlotte, where there apparently is a football team, and he was 2nd team all C-USA last season. DuBose has excellent size at 6'2, and I love his agility on in-breaking routes crossing the face of safeties. He has experience both outside and in the slot, and is an interesting addition to the WR battle at the bottom of the roster, which is going to be highly competitive. It may come down to how good he can be on special teams. Coaches and teammates rave about his work ethic and love of football, and he worked at Walmart while keeping himself in shape during the Covid year. I'm optimistic he can carve out a role for himself and make the team.
Overall, Gutekunst drafted for need at times in this draft, but still stuck to picking guys that fit his type: big, athletic, and versatile. My biggest shock was not taking a safety until the 7th round, but I think it just never lined up with his board. There was an obvious effort to surround Love with talented pass catchers, which is a breath of fresh air from this team. I was surprised that they didn't take a single offensive linemen, given this is almost certainly Bakh's last year in the green and gold and question marks surrounding some of our young guys, but we drafted 3 linemen last year and the staff may have high hopes for Zach Tom to be the next left tackle. The franchise has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to scouting and developing OL.
All told, 2023 is the most excited I've been for a Packer season in a few years. There are so many unknown variables surrounding the team, from Jordan Loves development to LaFleur's offense to Joe Barry's pending glue eating scandal. Media pundits have them ranked somewhere between 20 & 26 in the league hierarchy heading into the year. Personally, I'm a little higher on the Pack, and they will shoot up these rankings if Jordan Love delivers. There's a lot on Love's shoulders. This is the season we've been waiting for with baited breath for 3 years, the post-Rodgers era, and now it's here, for better or worse.