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OT: Elevation movie

I am usually a sucker for these kinds of movies but dang the reviews on Prime have it 3 stars and IMDB rate it at 5.5. You would think that something with Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin would be a better movie. Just saying the trailer looks decent enough and the stars look good, I really wanted to watch it but that want has been tempered. And just because I started the thread to laugh at it, I will include some eye candy.




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Volleyball NCAA Tournament Match Notes: Nebraska vs. Penn State

Link: Full Match Notes (Huskers.com)

#3 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (33-2)
vs
#2 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (33-2)
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WHEN: Thursday, December 19th | 30 Mins Following 5:30 PM Louisville vs. Pittsburgh Match

WHERE: KFC Yum! Center (22,000) | Louisville, Kentucky

TV: ESPN (Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak, Katie George, Madison Fitzpatrick)

RADIO: Huskers Radio Network (John Baylor, Lauren (Cook) West)

HUSKERS
Record:
33-2 (19-1 Big Ten)
AVCA Rank: #3
Head Coach: John Cook (722-102, 25th year at NU | 883-175, 31st year overall)

NITTANY LIONS
Record:
33-2 (19-1 Big Ten)
AVCA Rank: #2
Head Coach: Katie Schumacher-Cawley (82-19, 3rd year PSU | 207-165, 12th year overall)

MATCH PREVIEW
The third-ranked Nebraska volleyball team will face No. 2 Penn State in the NCAA Semifinals on Thursday night at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The match will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first semifinal between No. 1 Pittsburgh and No. 4 Louisville, which begins at 5:30 p.m. (CT). Thursday's match will be televised on ESPN. Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak, Katie George and Madison Fitzpatrick will be on the call. The match will also be streamed on WatchESPN.

The Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast the Nebraska matches on their volleyball affiliate stations, on Huskers.com and on the Huskers app.

ABOUT THE HUSKERS
- Nebraska (33-2) advanced to the NCAA Semifinals for the second year in a row and seventh time in the last 10 years with a 3-0 sweep of No. 7 Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

- The Huskers will be playing at the KFC Yum! Center for the third time this season. Nebraska beat No. 9 Kentucky, 3-1 in the AVCA First Serve Showcase on Aug. 27 and No. 4 Louisville 3-0 on Sept. 22.

- Nebraska won its 36th all-time conference title and fifth Big Ten title with a 19-1 record in Big Ten play this season. The Huskers went back-to-back as Big Ten champions for the second time, also accomplishing the feat in 2016 and 2017

- The Huskers' 29 regular-season wins tied the 1983 school record for most wins in a regular season in the NCAA era.

- The Huskers' 33 wins this season are tied for the most victories by a Husker team since the 2000 national championship team went 34-0.

- Nebraska won 25 matches in a row after a Sept. 3 loss at SMU. Of those 25 wins, 20 were sweeps. NU's win streak ended on Nov. 29 in a 3-1 loss at No. 4 Penn State.

- Nebraska is 13-1 against ranked foes this season and 8-1 against Top 10 teams. The Huskers eight wins against top-10 teams ties the school record, as the 1995 national championship team also had eight victories against top-10 opponents.

- After the Sept. 3 loss at SMU, Nebraska won 27 straight sets on the road until the Nov. 29 loss at No. 4 Penn State.

- The Huskers rank 12th nationally with a team hitting percentage of .285.

- The Huskers rank fourth nationally and first in the Big Ten in opponent hitting percentage at .139. NU led the nation in opponent hitting percentage in 2022 and 2023.

- Nebraska ranks 11th nationally in kills per set (14.15)

- Nebraska enters Thursday's match with 1,499 all-time victories and is looking to become the first Division I volleyball program to reach 1,500 all-time wins

NEBRASKA'S NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES
- Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Semifinal for the 18th time in program history and for the seventh time in the past 10 seasons. The Huskers' 18 NCAA Semifinals rank second in NCAA history, and Nebraska's seven semifinal appearances in the last 10 seasons lead the nation

- Nebraska has made 13 NCAA Semifinals since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1998. The Huskers' 13 trips to the semifinals in the 64-team NCAA Tournament era leads the nation

- John Cook has led Nebraska to an NCAA Semifinal for the 12th time in his 25 seasons. He is one of only two coaches to make 12 NCAA Semifinals with one school

- Cook is 101-25 in his NCAA Tournament career, including a 93-20 record at Nebraska. He ranks second in all-time career NCAA Tournament victories and NCAA Tournament wins at one school.

- Nebraska is 134-37 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and postseason winning percentage (.784)

- NU has held its four NCAA Tournament opponents to a combined .066 hitting percentage, which leads the field

ROTATION RUNDOWN
- Outside hitter Harper Murray is the team leader in kills at 3.37 per set, and also in aces with 36. One of the top six-rotation players in the country, Murray adds 2.41 digs per set.

- Opposite hitter Merritt Beason is second on the team in kills at 2.83 per set, and the two-year captain also contributes 1.25 digs per set and 29 aces.

- Middle blocker Andi Jackson is averaging 2.57 kills per set with a .428 hitting percentage, which ranks ninth in the nation.

- Middle blocker Rebekah Allick adds 1.83 kills per set on .357 hitting with 1.40 blocks per set. Allick has moved into the top 10 in school history in career blocks at No. 6 with 405.

- Setter Bergen Reilly is averaging 11.09 assists per set, which ranks 10th in the nation. She also adds 2.85 digs per set and has 21 aces. Reilly has 16 double-doubles and was named Big Ten Setter of the Year for the second straight year.

- The 2024 Big Ten Libero of the Year, Lexi Rodriguez, leads the Husker back row with 3.91 digs per set. Rodriguez ranks No. 2 in school history in career digs with 1,882, needing nine more to break the school record of 1,890 set by Justine Wong-Orantes (2013-2016).

SCOUTING PENN STATE
- No. 2 Penn State is 33-2 overall and shared the Big Ten title with Nebraska with a 19-1 conference record

- The Nittany Lions won their regional final against Creighton, 3-2, on Sunday night to advance to the NCAA Semifinals for the first time since 2017.

- Under third-year head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, the Nittany Lions have won their most matches in a season since going 33-2 in 2017. Schumacher-Cawley was named Big Ten Coach of the Year

- Penn State has won 10 matches in a row since being swept at Wisconsin on Nov. 9.

- Jess Mruzik leads Penn State with 4.21 kills per set and 2.37 digs per set.

- Camryn Hannah adds 3.59 kills per set.

- Freshman setter Izzy Starck is averaging 10.89 assists per set in guiding Penn State to a .285 hitting percentage. Starck was named the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

SERIES HISTORY
- Nebraska is 28-12 all-time against Penn State and has won 14 of the past 16 meetings.

- Penn State snapped a seven-match losing streak to Nebraska with a 3-1 win on Nov. 29, 2024. In that match, the Huskers hit a season-low .154 and were out-killed 57-46.

- The teams have met 11 times in the NCAA Tournament, with NU holding an 8-3 record against PSU in the postseason

- The last NCAA Tournament meeting was Dec. 14, 2017 when the Huskers won 3-2 against the top-ranked Nittany Lions in an NCAA Semifinal. Nebraska went on to win the national title that season.

SERVE AND PASS
- Nebraska has allowed just 74 service aces this season, which leads the nation

- NU allowed 77 aces in the 2022 season and 80 aces in 2017. Last season, the Huskers were aced 104 times.

- The Huskers have served 146 aces and committed 183 errors so far this season. The ace-to-error ratio of 0.80 is NU's best in a full season since 2010 (0.86).

- Nebraska is on pace to record its fewest service errors in a season since 2011 (161).

BALANCED ATTACK
- Nebraska has seven different players averaging between 1.83 and 3.37 kills per set

- Six different players have led the Huskers in kills in a match this season

- Setter Bergen Reilly ranks 10th nationally averaging 11.09 assists per set

- Nebraska's attack has been one of the best in the nation this season. The Huskers rank 12th in hitting percentage (.285) and 11th in kills per set (14.15)

OT: Goodbye Mrs. Boxes

As many of you know, 11 years ago "Wannie" was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. I posted a prayer thread on this about that time asking for your guys support. You guys responded like Nebraskans always do. I appreciated it then and I again thank you once more.

Today, my love passed on to be with her Lord. She was 51. At the age of 14, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was not supposed to make it. 37 years later, the love of my life finally lost her battle with cancer.

I met Wannie through my friend and co-worker, Rhonda. She lived at my apartments and introduced Wannie to me. It was obvious that Wannie liked me right away, as I did her. When she left, I was mad that I didn't ask her out right then. I vowed to ask her out as soon as I saw her again.

Our first date was the date I officially joined the Navy. We met at my favorite Chinese restaurant. She wore a little red dress. I thanked her for the date, gave her a hug and a peck and walked across the street to the Navy recruiting station, got on the bus and headed for the airport on my way to boot camp.

While I was at boot camp in Orlando, she was the one who kept writing me. She sent me a package of about ten full-sized candy bars which I was supposed to share with everyone. I greedily ate every last one of them. Haha!

After boot camp, we dated some more while I was on leave. Even though it was only a week, I knew by the way she carried herself and handled adversity that she was the right one for me. So, I asked her to marry me over the phone from my "A" school in Meridian, Mississippi. Of course she said yes and we were married close to a year later.

While I was deployed she finished up her degree back home in Texas. She would later go on to have a career in teaching. She also was a Stephen Minister in our church, bringing the church to shut ins and those that were in the hospital.

If you met Wannie, then you made a friend. She was kind, thoughtful and respectful of all. Even through her years of suffering, she was always thinking of others.

Goodbye Wannie. Until we meet again, my love.

3 observations I want to compare in 5 years.

1.) Teams that build from the portal every year. How do they compare yr to yr?
2.) Teams that develop from within. Are they more competitive from yr to yr?
3.) Teams that are instantly competitive with a new coaches that bring half their teams with them. Are they still playing at the high level or are they back to where they were before the hire?

OT: Buddies, Apple Watch narked on him…😂

Good friend was arrested for DUI the other night. For the life of me couldn’t comprehend it, as this dude is one of the most responsible, drinkers (and person in general) you could find. Come to find out he was out with some old college friends, and ran into a gal he’s had a thing for, for a long time. Apparently she’d been separated from her friends and asked him if he could give her a lift home…sooo…yea

Anyway, as he’s heading to her place, he dropped his phone and while reaching down to pick it up, he drifted and sideswiped one of those big rolloff dumpsters that was sitting on the road by a construction site. He got out, said it was an old beat up dumpster and couldn’t distinguish what damage he had caused or had already existed, on the other hand, the entire side of his car was pretty F’d up. The construction site was deserted (2 AM) so he got back in his car in proceeded to drop the gal off. About five minutes after he left his house, a cop lights him up. He ultimately blew a .096 and was taken into custody.

As it turns out his Apple Watch had sensed the collision, notified the authorities, and gave them all his emergency contact info.

Now, let me say, there’s absolutely no excuse for driving after you’ve been drinking, but I known no one that hasn’t done it at least once in their life. Way too easy these days to just grab an Uber. But if I had an Apple Watch, I would definitely disable the crash detection feature. Just seems creepy.

Was also disappointed in him that he didn’t follow the advice I tell everyone. If a cop pulls you over, and you have been drinking, even if you’re sure you’re under the limit, do not partake in any roadside sobriety test. Instead, say “upon the advice of my attorney, I respectfully decline”. No matter how much they badger you, just keep repeating that line, and make them draw blood. If you’re slightly over, like my buddy, there’s a good chance, by the time they get you to the station, run you through the booking process, and draw blood, you could very well drop below the legal limit.


Last of all, I am not making light/advocating for driving while intoxicated. Easiest way to avoid this is simply have a sober friend drive you home, or take an Uber. It’s an expensive and possibly deadly mistake.





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Volleyball transfers

Transfers for volleyball might be more nuts than football.

I don't expect much activity for Nebraska, maybe bring in an Opp and supposedly Grace Lopez from Miami is interested. But really not expecting a whole lot of movement.

But some teams in our conference it is total chaos. Hudson, Chicoine and Myers, three starters are transferring from Purdue. Ohio State is losing Sellman to Penn State and Egan to Wisconsin, Ohio State also lost Murphy and Brandewine. Also budding star OH at USC Jadyn Livings is transferring. That is going to just gut those programs, young starting talent leaving.

Football Per reports, UCF DC Addison Williams is set to be NU's DBs coach

According to multiple reports, Nebraska is set to hire Addison Williams as its DBs coach.

Williams spent the past four seasons at UCF under Gus Malzahn. Williams was the DC since 2023 and also held the roles of associate head coach and DBs coach.

Volleyball Four Huskers Earn AVCA All-America Honors

Andi Jackson and Lexi Rodriguez are named First Team All-Americans, while Bergen Reilly and Harper Murray each earn Second Team honors.


2024 AVCA Division I Women's All-America Teams
The AVCA is proud to announce its 43rd annual All-America teams for NCAA Division I women’s volleyball.

The 2024 list includes 42 players—14 on the first, second, and third teams—from 25 schools. Pittsburgh leads the way with three first-team selections and four members on the first three teams, followed by Nebraska with two first-teamers and four total members. Creighton and Stanford each placed three players on the first three teams. There are an additional 55 players on honorable mention.


Lexi Rodriguez of Nebraska and Emma Grome of Kentucky become four-time All-Americans, and Rodriguez and Stanford’s Kami Miner both are making their third appearance on the first team. Third-team selection Naya Shime of SMU is the Mustangs’ first player to make one of the first three All-America teams.

The 2024 All-America selections were made by the AVCA Division I All-America Committee: Matt Ulmer, Oregon (chair); Branden Higa; Christy Johnson-Lynch, Iowa State; Kim Lambert, Delaware; Kelli Miller Phillips, Ball State; Rob Neilson, Utah State, Eve Rackham, Tennessee; Caitlin Schweihofer, Rutgers; Jackie Simpson Kirr, Clemson; JT Wenger, UT Arlington; and Leanne Williamson, South Dakota.

=========================

Freshman of the Year
Izzy Starck, Penn State (S)

Player of the Year
Announced Friday, December 20

Coach of the Year
Announced Thursday, December 19

Assistant Coach of the Year
Announced Thursday, December 19

==========================

AVCA FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONYEAR
Olivia BabcockPittsburghRSSO
Brooklyn DeLeyeKentuckyOHSO
Rachel FairbanksPittsburghSSR
Sarah FranklinWisconsinOHSR
Andi JacksonNebraskaMBSO
Kennedy MartinFloridaRSSO
Kami MinerStanfordSSR
Jess MruzikPenn StateOHGR
Melanie ParraTCUOHSR
Lexi RodriguezNebraskaLSR
Elia RubinStanfordOHJR
Elena ScottLouisvilleLSR
Torrey StaffordPittsburghOHSO
Kendra WaitCreightonSSR

AVCA SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONYEAR
Nina CajicTennesseeOHGR
Raven ColvinPurdueMBSR
Mimi ColyerOregonOHJR
Anna DeBeerLouisvilleOHGR
Sami FrancisStanfordMBSR
Emma GromeKentuckySSR
Eva HudsonPurdueOHJR
Bre KelleyPittsburghMBJR
Logan LednickyTexas A&MRSJR
Harper MurrayNebraskaOHSO
Bergen ReillyNebraskaSSO
Norah SisCreightonOHSR
Madisen SkinnerTexasOHSR
Izzy StarckPenn StateSFR

AVCA THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONYEAR
Lexie AlmodovarDaytonOHSR
Charlie FuerbringerWisconsinSFR
Flormarie Heredia ColonMiami (FL)OHJR
Audrey KoenigFlorida StateOHSR
Khori LouisFlorida StateMBSR
Ava MartinCreightonOHJR
Onye OfoegbuOregonMBSR
Alexis SheltonOklahomaOHJR
Naya ShimeSouthern MethodistRSGR
Raina TerryIllinoisOHGR
Mia TuanigaUSCSSR
Camryn TurnerKansasSSR
Argentina UngArizona StateSGR
Mychael VernonMissouriOHGR

AVCA HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICANS

NAMESCHOOLPOSITIONYEAR
Caylen AlexanderHawaiiOHJR
Yadhira AnchanteMarquetteSGR
Maria Clara AndradeSouth FloridaOHJR
Ally BatenhorstUSCOHGR
Milan BaylessColgateOHSO
Bianca BertolinoGeorgia TechOHSR
Maddy BilinovicCreightonLSR
Kamryn ChaneyPrincetonOHSO
Syd ColeNorthern ColoradoSGR
Ifenna Cos-OkpallaTexas A&MMBJR
Kaylee CoxWestern KentuckyOHSR
Cara CresseLouisvilleMBJR
Celia CullenSouthern MethodistSGR
Geli CyrArizona StateOHSR
Macy DaufeldtDrakeOHJR
Alexa EdwardsPacificOHGR
Skye EkesMercerOHSR
Kira FallertNorthern IowaOHSR
Brianna FordTexas-ArlingtonRSGR
Elena GiacominiQuinnipiacRSGR
Kamryn GibadloUtahOHSO
Elise GoetzingerCreightonMBSR
Camryn HannahPenn StateOHGR
Julia HansonMinnesotaOHJR
Tori HesterTroyOHSR
Cicily HidalgoSoutheastern LouisianaOHSR
Lauryn HoveyBowling GreenRSJR
Tsvetelina IlievaBinghamtonOHSR
Jordan IliffMissouriRSSR
Madolyn IsringhausenTennessee TechOHSR
Claire JeterArizona StateMBGR
Malaya JonesColorado StateRSSR
Shelby KentFlorida Gulf CoastOHSR
Caroline KerrTennesseeSSO
Patrycja LagidaChicago StateOHSO
Cheridyn LeveretteUCLAOHJR
Claire LittleBYUOHSO
Grace LopezMiami (OH)OHSO
Charitie LuperLouisvilleOHSR
Dylan MaberryHigh PointOHGR
Elise McGheeBaylorOHSR
Rya McKinnonHowardOHJR
Michelle OhwobeteOregonOHSR
Toyosi OnabanjoKansasMBSR
Kylee OwensPrairie View A&MOHJR
Panna RatkaiPurdue-Fort WayneOHSO
Amanda RiceNorth Carolina StateRSSR
Maya SandsMissouriLJR
Melani ShaffmasterMinnesotaSSR
Mary ShrollArizona StateLGR
Taylor TrammellPenn StateMBSR
Nia WashingtonMississippiOHJR
Kaya WeaverTexas-El PasoMBJR
Riley WhitesidesSouth CarolinaOHGR
Sylvie ZgoncSouth Dakota StateOHSO

Football 2024 FBS Coaching Changes

Changes began this weekend as East Carolina and Southern Miss have both dismissed their head coaches to start the latest carousel in FBS football

COACHSCHOOLCONFERENCENEW COACH
Shawn ClarkAppalachian StateSun BeltDowell Loggains
Mike NeuBall StateMACMike Uremovich
Gus MalzahnCentral FloridaBig 12Scott Frost
Jim McElwainCentral MichiganMACMatt Drinkall
Biff PoggiCharlotteAACTim Albin
Mike HoustonEast CarolinaAACBlake Harrell
Tom HermanFlorida AtlanticAACZach Kittley
Mike MacIntyreFlorida InternationalCUSAWillie Simmons
Tim Skipper (interim)Fresno StateMountain West/Pac-12Matt Entz
Rich RodriguezJacksonville StateCUSA--
Brian BohannonKennesaw StateCUSAJerry Mack
Charles HuffMarshallSun BeltTony Gibson
Don BrownMassachusettsIndependent (MAC)Joe Harasymiak
Bronco MendenhallNew MexicoMountain West--
Mack BrownNorth CarolinaACCBill Belichick
Tim AlbinOhioMAC--
Ryan WaltersPurdueBig TenBarry Odom
Mike BloomgrenRiceAACScott Abell
K.C. KeelerSam Houston StateCUSA--
Will HallSouthern MississippiSun BeltCharles Huff
Stan DraytonTempleAACK.C. Keeler
Kevin WilsonTulsaAACTre Lamb
Barry OdomUNLVMountain WestDan Mullen
Nate Dreiling (interim)Utah StateMountain West/Pac-12Bronco Mendenhall
Dave ClawsonWake ForestACCJake Dickert
Jake DickertWashington StatePac-12--
Neal BrownWest VirginiaBig 12Rich Rodriguez

Football Bowl game presser schedule (Thursday + Friday)

A day late putting this out there (that's my bad), but here is the media info we were given for the next two days:

THURSDAY
Pinstripe Bowl zoom press conference feat. Nebraska and Boston College coordinators + players (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. CT)

>> Boston College: Offensive coordinator Will Lawing, defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, wide receiver Lewis Bond and defensive back K.P. Price (11am - 12pm)
>> Nebraska: OC Dana Holgorsen, DC John Butler, QB Dylan Raiola and DL Ty Robinson (12pm - 1pm)


FRIDAY
Nebraska press conference at Hawks Championship Center

>> Matt Rhule + 3-4 players after practice (time TBD, likely beginning around 11am or 11:15am CT)


Still TBD on media schedule for bowl week

Getting harder to watch the NFL product IMO

So many BAD teams ... very few good ones ... if your team does NOT have one of the elite handful of QBs, you really can't realistically talk about the Super Bowl ... maybe if you are like my Niners and find one of the top 10 QBs, you can load up a roster and make a run or two, but then still end up losing to Mahomes twice ... where again, the rules protect and favor the top QBs so much it's almost impossible to beat them in playoff scenarios.
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