Category Archives: Progress

FAYETTEVILLE -- Quarterback Austin Allen has taken a major leap forward as he prepares for his second year as the starter, Arkansas Razorbacks offensive coordinator Dan Enos and Coach Bret Bielema contend.

Allen had an impressive first day in pads operating with the first-team offense on a bright, warm Saturday at the Razorbacks practice fields.

Bielema made comparisons to the progress of former three-year starter Brandon Allen, who has been around the program all week.

"B.A. was out there," Bielema said. "A lot of you guys witnessed the jump he made from Year 1 to Year 2 as a starter. ... I think that big jump started into his junior year, and I see the same thing with Austin. His velocity on the ball -- he threw about a 45-, 50-yard strike on a rope pretty good in Thursday's practice that I didn't really see until I watched film and today he made some really nice throws into tight windows."

On Thursday, Enos touted Allen's calmness and his attention to detail.

"The poise, the drops, the quick feet, the mechanics, quick decisions," Enos said. "This spring I've already used him a lot as an example to our young quarterbacks, 'Hey, look at Austin here. Look at Austin here. Look at the way he's doing this.' I don't remember doing that a lot last spring."

Coley crush

The first player to be removed from the field for using excessive force was no surprise, as safety DeAndre Coley got the boot from Bret Bielema after a play in skeleton drills.

The hyper-aggressive Coley lowered the boom on Hayden Johnson after the tight end caught a short out route from Austin Allen at the start of period 10.

Earlier in the practice, Coley jumped an Allen pass and nearly picked it off.

"Yeah, I needed him to make the pick," Bielema said of the earlier play. "He made a nice play over there on the sideline, but I'd rather have him come up with the football. And obviously ... he got a little aggressive. We've got to practice well with one another.

"The good thing is, he's a very aggressive player by nature, but we've gotta make sure we can all play this game together."

Matter of trust

Johnny Gibson, a redshirt junior who started the final five games last season at right guard, took reps with the second-team offensive line after being limited to individual drills the first two days of spring.

"We let Johnny Gibson work back into the lineup," Bret Bielema said. "He won't work with the ones any time this spring, but he looked really good when he was going in there with the twos."

Bielema said Gibson's demotion at the start of practice had to do with re-earning trust with the coaching staff after being put on scholarship before the Belk Bowl.

"Johnny obviously did some good things, but just a trust factor there that I have to get on the same page with him," Bielema said. "I gave him a scholarship. I expect him to do everything we're asking him to do on the field and off the field. He's got a chance to re-prove himself and he's doing a good job."

Jake Raulerson is working at first-team right guard. Zach Rogers split time at second-team center and right guard on Saturday.

Hog drills

It didn't take long for the Razorbacks to break into their first "Hog drill," the one-on-one match-ups between players of roughly equal stature.

Safety Santos Ramirez received plenty of accolades for his performance against a receiver. On the other side of the field, offensive lineman Deion Malone was hyped up after winning his rep at the end of the period.

Firearms issue

Bret Bielema said the state legislature's vote last week to prohibit firearms inside on-campus athletic venues "put a lot of people at ease, from ticket holders to players, to fans, to parents, to moms and wives."

Bielema said he intentionally kept a low profile on the issue.

"I thought we'd probably get to a point where we are, we just had to work through it," he said. "One of the greatest things I've ever learned in life is don't worry about what you can't control. Obviously they weren't calling me and asking for my opinion or my vote, so I just sat back and watched how things unfolded."

Rack 'em up

Fullback Kendrick Jackson and tight end Austin Cantrell both had two or three explosive lead blocks during a team period.

Jackson had probably the loudest hit during the "thud" periods available for viewing by the media, when he crashed into one defender and created a domino effect.

"Today he took out two guys in one play that he just kind of put his shoulder down and knew he could be physical and make a play, and I think the running backs see that and they like playing behind that," Bret Bielema said.

Recruiting

Bret Bielema gave an extended answer to a question last week about the importance of the current recruiting class.

"You guys that really follow it know this is a small class compared to last year's," Bielema said. "We still have an opportunity for one more in last year's class. But this year's class will be a lot of guys that are high on our list.

"Obviously, I can't talk specifics, but we have not received a commitment from anyone that hasn't been the No. 1 person on our board. It's going as solid as solid gets."

Bielema touted the strength of his current alignment of assistant coaches as well.

"This is the best recruiting staff I've ever had," he said. "They're very diligent, they understand it. My two new guys, even though they came out of the NFL, they're very tech savvy, they're very into recruiting, they've got great personalities."

Bielema was referring to defensive line coach John Scott Jr. and outside linebackers coach Chad Walker, who came from the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons, respectively.

He also touted the work of recruiting coordinator E.K. Franks and the holdover coaches from 2016.

"My old staff knows what the expectation level is. E.K. has done a nice job of doing a lot more things with Facetime," Bielema added.

New QB

Senior quarterback Austin Allen was complimentary of all the other quarterbacks on the roster last week. His first impressions of quarterback signee Daulton Hyatt were noteworthy.

"Yeah, he's a fiery guy," Allen said of the 6-4, 180-pounder from Attalla, Ala. "He might be a little bit laid back here or there, but he's a competitor. He's a little skinny right now, but he's picking up the offense pretty well.

"He came from the Spread offense, so he's got to learn how to take a snap under center. The way he works and the way he competes out there, I think he'll have a special career here."

Hyatt, who is behind Allen and co-second teamers Ty Storey and Cole Kelley, is likely in line for a redshirt season in 2017.

Two rooms

Inside linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves and outside linebackers coach Chad Walker hold their group meetings in separate rooms.

"What that does is it gives us a chance to focus on our individual stuff," Hargreaves said. "A lot of people will have all four of them together and they've got to talk outside guys and inside guys.

"We can really focus in on the ins and outs of each position. We can get more in depth and spend more time on it."

Prospects

A group of seven prospects along with their family members were guests at the late morning workout, as was an entire youth baseball team.

"For us, these Saturday practices are huge to get guys on campus for unofficial visits," Bret Bielema said. "We had a lot of those guys on campus, in-state and out-of-state, so it was a really good day for us in recruiting as well."

Extra points

Junior Cole Hedlund received plenty of congratulations after booting a 48-yard field goal to wrap up the special teams period.

Among the ex-Hogs at Saturday's work were Mark Smith, Chris Gragg, Brandon Allen, Brooks Ellis and Dan Skipper.

The Razorbacks are scheduled for practice No. 4 of the spring Tuesday.

Sports on 04/02/2017

Excerpt from:

Progress of Allen impresses - WholeHogSports

Issues with the WWNLive website lead to the iPPV being largely inaccessible for the first half, but now the VOD is up (and anyone that ordered it live only has been given the VOD for free!) So, yesterday I recapped what I could, and I am, in light of the events, leaving all that untouched and picking up what I missed right now. As a result, the tag match recap will be joined in progress when we get to it. (Pun not intended, but welcome!)

On with the show!

Technical grappling early, Havoc hanging with the Technical Wizard and nearly pinning him for a finish at one point. Elbow strike and a small package nearly does it again and the pace picks up, suicide dive and a facewash. Sabre back in it with a northern lights suplex rolled into a guillotine choke but Jimmy gets the ropes!

Slugging it out now, Sabre gets an Indian deathlock and bridges back before applying a Jim Breaks Special for added wrist damage. Forearm for uppercut, cut off on a charge, Havoc plants him with a DVD, stomp comes up empty, some jockeying, ZSJ with a wheelbarrow Tiger suplex!

He keeps the clutch, transitions to a Stretch Plum before going for a crucifix pin that gets two. Off the ropes, thinking octopus hold, he's got it in but Havoc reverses to a Beach Break... NOT ENOUGH! Zack is busted wide open above the eye now and they go striking. charging blows, Jimmy gets a rolling elbow!

Charging knee strike, to the second, double stomp connects! Acid Rainmaker countered into a flying armbar but Havoc reverses to a pin! Sabre kicks out, omoplata, wrenching the other arm back but again Jimmy counters to a pin for two! Half nelson suplex, elbow, Acid Rainmaker ducked, backslide...

Zack Sabre, Jr. wins by pinfall with a bridging backslide pin.

Awesome opener. Love these two guys and they always make magic together.

Drake blindsides Spud during intros and lays a beating on him! Outside, to the woodshed, beating him unholy before he can even get his ring jacket off here. Back in the ring, Spud hanging on the ropes and James pulls him off to level him with an uppercut.

Snapmare to a shoot kick, standing on Spud's hand, back suplex, the abuse keeps coming. Drake spits in his face and Spud fires up! Right hands, kicks in the corner, James is able to get him around for another snapmare into a kick but you can't keep the little guy down now!

Tit for tat, Spud adds a dropkick that sends Drake outside! Suicide dive bowls him over! Back in the ring, step-up enzuigiri, a neckbreaker, up top for a diving elbow drop but Drake dumps him on his head with a counter suplex on a charge Folding powerbomb... SPUD LIVES!

James jawing at Spud, off the ropes, the Rockstar catches him with a tilt-a-whirl DDT! On a charge, Drake goes low, schoolboy roll through...

James Drake wins by pinfall with Mr. Mayhem.

Spud is two-for-two in very good work-from-underneath matches in Progress now! Drake isn't quite as vicious as Robinson was, but his size did a lot to make up for it. Great stuff.

Drake attacks Spud after the match, just for good measure.

Toni keeps forcing Jinny in the corner early and, naturally, Jinny takes offense and snaps off a flying headscissors into mounted punches! Storm has a big roundhouse kick and big double-hand chops in the corner, before the butt bumps begin. Jinny counters a charge with a flipping arm drag that sends Toni into the turnbuckles.

Stomps laid in, clubbing overhand strikes, Storm back in with forearms that daze Jinny in the corner. But the fashionista gets a reverse surfboard and kicks her freakin' head in! More stomps, a wicked elbow, choke in the corner and mocking the double-hand chops.

But Toni turns it around, knife-edge chops, Jinny cuts her off, charging knee, a second, snapmare into taunts. Kick, cover, no good. Disdainful stomp, another cover, Storm is hurting but she won't give it up yet, and Jinny heads outside to get a... garbage bag?

SHE'S MAKING TONI STORM WEAR THE GARBAGE BAG! Forearms laid in, just yelling at her unholy but Toni blocks one and fires forearms in return before Hulking the garbage bag off! German suplex, charging hip attack, bridging fisherman suplex... Jinny kicks out!

Powerbomb blocked, Jinny throws a series of kicks for a nearfall, heading up top but she gets cut off... MUSCLE BUSTER! NOPE! Looking for a powerbomb again, big slap, Rainmaker blocked, reverse neckbreaker connects! But Toni doesn't capitalize, instead going to the corner, and Jinny yanks her off...

Jinny wins by pinfall with her feet on the ropes.

Man, the Progress women's division is something special right now. Really good match, can't wait for Natural Progression Series IV finals.

My feed goes live with Callihan going ham on Travis Banks, so I'm just gonna start recapping the match here! Strickland in on Cooper, pummeling him with kicks and dropping him with an Ace Crusher. Kicks for everybody and all four men are laid out on the mat!

JML back in it first, laying the Power Trip out in the corners and setting Banks up for a Swerve Stomp-assisted powerbomb. Sami has the Stretch Muffler on and TK's trying to break it with kicks! They succeed and run wild on Shane, flying knee connects...

South Pacific Power Trip win by pinfall with an assisted DDT on Shane Strickland.

Well, what I saw of that was very fun!

Jim Smallman uses his between match comments to speak to the memory of Kris Travis, who sadly passed away a year ago.

Trent needs this to hurry up and get over with because he has to be at WWE Axxess, because 2017 pro wrestling.

Feeling out to start, Seven a bit tentative and Riddle gets on him with a waistlock takedown. Trent struggling, forcing a break, and things soon go to strikes. Bro forcing him in the corner, catches him with an exploder suplex, goes for the hight jump senton but Seven has the knees up!

Charging overhand chop, Trent gets some Fromunda on his hand but Matt blocks it and knocks him off the apron with a triangle knee that sets up the baseball slide slap. Strike for strike and the Progress tag champ puts his hand into the ringpost!

A low suicide dive wipes Riddle out and Seven tries to follow it off the top but Bro meets him and plants him with an avalanche fisherman buster! Shotgun knees, but Trent fires up, waistlock, standing swtich, German suplex, he pops up, gives one to Riddle, Bro pops up! Another German suplex from Matt and both men are wiped out!

Blocking lariats with boots, Seven connects with a backfist, Seven Stars blocked with a kick, another backfist, Dragon suplex, Riddle pops up, Pele kick, bridging German suplex... NOT ENOUGH! Forearms and kicks, springboard knee ducked, SPINNING PILEDRIVER! BRO LIVES!

In the corner, setting him up, thinking avalanche piledriver but Bro slips out and hits a folding powerbomb! Scoop, jumping Tombstone... NO GOOD! Trent is firing forearms, Riddle returns with kicks, Seven with the backfist, Seven Stars... NOPE! Powerbomb escaped, knee strike, jumping Tombstone... OUT AT ONE! BROMISSION LOCKED IN! IT'S OVER!

Matt Riddle wins by submission with the Bromission, retaining the Progress Atlas Division Championship.

Shock of shocks, Bro is three-for-three on awesome matches this week. Little bit of a slow start but once we got to bomb trading it was really good.

Trent goes to take a bow post-match but just flips the crowd off instead.

A WWE-recognized title is being defended on iPPV. What a world.

Bit of stalling early as both men marinate in the atmosphere of the crowd, but soon enough Tyler's going after the leg. Andrews trying to go hold-for hold and he gets some reversals in and forces Bate outside for a moment. Grappling intensifies, but eventually, inevitably, we get flips.

Lucha evasions like mad here, it's wild. Champ sends challenger out with a boot and Andrews responds by sliding back in for a tope con giro! Arm drags on arm drags, Mark backed in the corner and Bop claims a victim! Snapmare to a vicious kick, Tyler steps on one and hand and applies a Jim Breaks Special to the other before tying him up on the mat with an arm-trap cloverleaf.

Standing senton atomico gets two, lifting European uppercuts beget chops from Andrews but Bate takes his leg out from under him. Looking for the Tyler Driver, Mark blocks, Bate stays with it, tries again, Frankensteiner reversal! Northern lights suplex, too long setting up the moonsault, schoolboy nearfall!

Tyler cuts a springboard off with an uppercut, off the ropes, he eats an enzugiri, SHIRANUI ON THE APRON! Moonsault senton gets two and Bate takes Andrews' head off with a lariat and follows it with a deadlift delayed sheerdrop brainbuster... NOPE! Slugging it out from their knees now, to their feet, Mark comes out ahead.

Charging strikes, Andrews with an enzuigiri, Bang connects, Tyler counters a guillotine with a Cozy Crush Dynamite! Underhooks, Mark forces him in the corner to break, eats a huge knee but snaps off a jumping Frankensteiner! Bate blocks a handspring and deadlifts him into the airplane spin!

Andrews counters out with a poison Frankensteiner! TYLER HITS A SHOOTING STAR PRESS! ANDREWS WITH ONE IN RETURN! COP KILLER! BATE KICKS OUT! Nobody home on the shooting star press! Bate hits a superkick, suplex lift, STUNDOG MILLIONAIRE! Rolling Koppo Kick, underhooks...

Tyler Bate wins by pinfall with the Tyler Driver '97, retaining the WWE United Kingdom Championship.

Holy hell. Bit of a meandering start, not sure we needed all the mat grappling from Mark Andrews, but once it got going, my word. Good stuff.

In hard and dirty, fighting for position and forcing referee Joel Allen to separate them repeatedly. Dunne clawing the beard and face to grind Haskins down. but Mark has hamstring kicks and a snap scoop powerslam in return. Pete heads outide and Haskins dives on the other two British Strong Style men!

Dunne with a diving moonsault but Mark avoids him and throws a suicide dive! He sets Peter up on the apron, walks all the way up the entranceway and runs back down it to clobber him with a knee strike! A second try but the Bruiserweight has a forearm to cut him off.

Back in the rings, evasions, roll-through Sharpshooter in full effect! Joel ejects Bate and Seven! Peter spikes Haskins with a rope-hung DDT in all the confusion! Romero Special grapevines in, he gets Marks left hand and goes to bite the fingers but is blocked, and so simply stomps the knees hard.

Champ with a vicious falling forearm, now just toying with Haskins. Wrenching his nose unholy before stomping the injured neck! Slugging it out, Mark Haskins is back in it! Rock Bottom backbreaker into a Falcon Arrow... NOT ENOUGH! Pasting Dunne in the corner but Peter wants more, clasping hands behind his back!

Dunne walking through the shots, forearms and stiff kicks, he throws one forearm in return and knocks Mark down! Haskins has a similar one in return, though, and both men are running low. Springboard right into a forearm, Bitter End... countered with a DDT! Half and half, reversals, briding Fujiwara armbar applied but Dunne gets the ropes!

Sitdown striking, slap for slap, charges, Haskins with a tilt-a-whirl takedown but Peter drops him with a Tombstone! He keeps it held, hits the piledriver again... MARK HASKINS LIVES! Pumphandle applied, Bitter End... SMALL PACKAGE COUNTER! PEDIGREE... NOPE!

Struggle in the corner, Mark Haskins flip piledriver! Roll-through Death Valley Driver... NOT ENOUGH! The bridging Fujiwara's back on! Peter counters and bites the fingers! SUPERKICK! Roundhouse ducked, Bitter End connects this time... NO GOOD!

Dunne has a crazy crossface variation in...

Pete Dunne wins by submission with a modified arm-trap crossface, retaining the Progress Championship.

Awesome match. The determination of Mark Haskins through that finishing sequence, my word.

Jim Smallman thanks the crowd to send us out.

Technical issues with the live broadcast aside, Progress made excellent work of their US debut. Not much storyline movement, but all the matches delivered, and hey, Zack Sabre, Jr. wore all three of his titles to the ring. Dude is running out of torso!

And a special shout-out to Lenny Leonard and Excalibur on commentary, who really did their research in a big way and made sure it wasn't just a good show, but an easy watch.

Check it out on VOD now on WWNLive, or wait for the show to go up on Demand Progress after the offices reopen in about two weeks.

See the original post here:

Progress: Orlando recap & review: Coming to America - Cageside Seats (blog)

Darrel Rowland The Columbus Dispatch @darreldrowland

After just 10 weeks with President Donald Trump on the job, here's what's already happened, Vice President Mike Pence told Reynoldsburg listeners on Saturday:

"ISIS is on the run."

"Manufacturing companies havent been this optimistic in more than 20 years."

"People in this country havent been this confident about our economy since the year 2000."

The war on coal is over ...President Trump is going to put coal miners back to work.

"Thanks to our new president, its been a great week for American jobs.On Monday, Ford Motor Company announced it would invest $1.2 billion right here in America to protect and create nearly 4,000 jobs."

Thoughsome of Pence's proclamations are supported by surveys and others are simply opinion, the last claim seemed more in line with an assertion made on April Fools' Day.

Ford did indeedsaylast week that it will plow $1.2 billion into Michigan facilities, which will create or retain 130 jobs at one of the three plants involved. But as pointed out by several fact-checkers,the Ford announcement was a direct result of negotiations back in 2015 with the United Auto Workers which, of course, had nothing to do with Trump.

Pence's 23-minute talk on the spotless factory floor ofDynalab, anelectronic manufacturing-services company on Lancaster Road, came before acrowd of a couple of hundred that barely took up half of the available space. The gathering was not open to the public

Noting the "terrorist-inspired" car-and-knife attack in November on the Ohio State University campus, the former Indiana governor said, "I just want to assure all of you here in this community, under President Donald Trumps leadership, America is standing strong and taking the fight to the terrorists on our terms, on their soil."

In his third weekend in a row acting as Trump's cheerleader in chief, Pence pushed for the confirmation of Trump's Supreme Court nominee, while condemning Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and other "obstruction Democrats" for their plan to filibuster the nomination this week in the Senate.

The vice president said, "For the sake of our Supreme Court, for the sake of our country, for the sake of our Constitution, we will overcome the obstructionists. And the United States Senate will confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch one way or the other."

The latter phrase seemed to indicate the White House again is voicing support for use of the "nuclear option" in which the 52-member GOP majority would overturn recent Senate rules requiring at least 60 votes in favor of a Supreme Court nominee.

Here's what else is on the way, per Pence whose grandiosity at times sounded like his boss':

"Thanks to President Trump, were going to have jobs and growth and prosperity like never before."

"We're going to give our nation the best roads, the best bridges, the best highways and airports that America has ever had."

"Were going to work with these great leaders in the Congress to pass the biggest tax cut since the days of Ronald Reagan."

"We will repeal and replace Obamacare and give the American people the world-class health care they deserve."

That final promise seemed surprising, coming just eight days after a scheduled vote on a replacement for the 2010 Affordable Care Act was canceled after Trump, Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan couldn't wrangle enough votes. Trump has singled out Rep. Jim Jordan in recent tweets for the role the Urbana Republican played in sinking the Obamacare alternative through the ultraconservative Freedom Caucus he helped found.

"Obamacare is going to continue to explode, putting a great weight on millions of Americans," Pence said. "But the president and I have faith. We have faith that Congress is going to step and do the right thing.

"Even as we speak, Im told the members of Congress are forging ahead working to craft legislation that will usher in the end of Obamacare."

drowland@dispatch.com

@darreldrowland

Link:

Much like his boss, Pence touts US progress - The Columbus Dispatch

New York Times

Climate Progress, With or Without Trump New York Times President Trump's unfortunate and misguided rollback of environmental protections has led to a depressing and widespread belief that the United States can no longer meet its commitment under the Paris climate change agreement. But here's the good news: ... ICYMI: Trump's Energy ProgressThe White House (blog) Trump's Energy ProgressWall Street Journal (subscription) Trump wants to roll back progress against climate change. He's going to fail.Washington Post Hockessin Community news all 2,866 news articles »

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Climate Progress, With or Without Trump - New York Times

LSU edge rusher Sci Martin is "out" for spring, coach Ed Orgeron said, and junior Arden Key is "making progress" in his return.

Martin suffered an injury during the Tigers' first scrimmage at Tigers Stadium on March 18. Martin, a McDonogh 35 graduate, played in five games as a true freshman last season.

He spent the first week of spring practice rotating with Andre Anthony in replacing Key at the buck, a hybrid edge-rushing position in Dave Aranda's 3-4 defense. Martin's absence leaves Anthony and Ray Thornton, moved from F-linebacker to buck, in manning the spot.

+2

D.J. Chark likes root beer.

Key is not participating in spring for what the team has called "personal reasons," and Isaiah Washington, also at buck, is academically ineligible for the rest of spring. Orgeron said Saturday that Key is on track to rejoin the team. He's expected to return over the summer, the coach said earlier this spring.

"He's making progress," Orgeron said.

LSU conducted its 10th practice of a 15-practice spring Saturday, scrimmaging in Tiger Stadium. It's been a bruising first half of spring ball.

Running back Derrius Guice and D.J. Chark have both twisted their ankles, but Guice has returned. Chark did not scrimmage Saturday, as he was "questionable," Orgeron said. Reserve tight end Jamal Pettigrew suffered an ankle injury, as well, Orgeron said earlier this spring.

Coaches hoped sophomore lineman Donavaughn Campbell would be at full strength for spring after December shoulder surgery, but he's been limited. Defensive lineman Christian LaCouture has been limited, too, with scar tissue in his surgically repaired knee.

Orgeron said Saturday that LaCouture has not scrimmaged this spring.

The Tigers are missing two projected starters on the offensive line, Toby Weathersby and Will Clapp, while both recover from shoulder procedures. Weathersby is expected to miss all of spring practice. Clapp returned in a limited role this week.

Danny Etling calls it his pitchers mound, and he wants it pointed at his target.

QB battle update

Senior Danny Etling remains LSU's first-team quarterback, but there's still a possibility that could change, Orgeron said.

"I think its still open now, and I dont think anybody has taken the bull by the horns, to be honest with you," Orgeron said of the quarterback battle between Etling, third-year sophomore Justin McMillan, redshirt freshman Lindsey Scott and freshman Lowell Narcisse.

"They take two steps forward and one step back," he continued. "Theyre still going to go into (preseason) camp and see whats going on in camp. Obviously, Danny is the first-team quarterback. Nobody has beaten him out yet. That doesnt mean that wont happen."

Etling led all passers with 97 yards on 5-of-13 passing. McMillan threw for 62 yards on 5-of-7. Scott went 3-for-7 for 40 yards, and Narcisse was 1-for-2 for 5 yards.

"Justin McMillan has done some good things. Lindsey has done some good things," Orgeron said. "Lowell is still learning, but Lowell may be the most talented one of all of them. And obviously, were going to give Myles Brennan a chance. But we've still got a ways to go in that quarterback battle."

Scrimmage notes

Guice led all rushers in Saturday's 90-play scrimmage, Orgeron said.

The Tigers split about 80 snaps between the first and second teams. Third-teamers got about 10 snaps, Orgeron said. Guice ran for 72 yards on nine carries, the coach said. Reporters are not allowed into scrimmages.

Stephen Sullivan led all receivers with 75 yards on three catches, and Drake Davis caught two passes for 62 yards, Orgeron said.

Follow Ross Dellenger on Twitter, @RossDellenger.

Read the rest here:

LSU edge rusher Sci Martin 'out' for spring; Arden Key 'making progress' - The Advocate

WWN returns today at 8PM Eastern with Mercury Rising 2017: Evolve vs. Progress in Orlando, Florida, courtesy of the fine folks at the World Wrestling Network & FloSlam. If you need a primer on what's going down tonight, feel free to check out my preview here, as well as my recaps of Evolve 80 here and Evolve 81 here, but be sure to come back to this thread to chat about it with the finest pro wrestling community on the internet while you watch, whether it's through the website, Roku channel, or whatever other device you may be tuning in on.

Here's a run-down of the card for tonight, and we'll update with basic results here, too:

Keith Lee over Austin Theory, Gatekeeper Blaster, and Jason Kincaid by pinfall with Ground Zero on Blaster.

LuFisto (c) over Toni Storm by pinfall with the Burning Hammer, retaining the Shine Championship.

All Ego Ethan Page over Jimmy Havoc by pinfall with Spinning Dwayne (Evolve 1, Progress 0)

South Pacific Power Trip (TK Cooper & Travis Banks) over Doom Patrol (Chris Dickinson & Jaka) by pinfall with the assisted DDT on Dickinson. (Evolve 1, Progress 1)

Pete Dunne (c) over ACH by submission, retaining the Progress Championship. (Evolve 1, Progress 2)

Zack Sabre, Jr. (c) over Mark Haskins by submission with the leg-trap Ode to Jim Breaks, retaining the Evolve World Championship. (Evolve 2, Progress 2)

Fred Yehi vs. Jon Davis vs. Matt Riddle vs. Parrow vs. Timothy Thatcher vs. Hot Sauce Tracy Williams (WWN Championship Battle of the Champions Elimination Match)

Timothy Thatcher eliminates Parrow by submission with a sleeper hold.

"Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams eliminates Timothy Thatcher by submission with a crossface.

Catch Point eliminate Jon Davis with tandem submissions!

"Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams eliminates Fred Yehi with a schoolboy pin.

Matt Riddle wins the WWN Championship, last eliminating "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams by submission with the Bromission.

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WWN Supershow Mercury Rising 2017: Evolve vs. Progress live results: WWN Championship Eliminator, Sabre ... - Cageside Seats (blog)

Jacob Kemp , Prep Sports Reporter Published 5:47 p.m. CT April 1, 2017 | Updated 12 hours ago

Forrest County Agricultural High School football coach Jeff Stockstill speaks to his players during practice on Friday.(Photo: Susan Broadbridge/Hattiesburg American)Buy Photo

With spring football practice on the horizon, Pine Belt football teams are anxious to get back on the gridiron in preparation for the 2017 football season.

But there might be no one as excited as new Forrest County AHS head football coach Jeff Stockstill.

Stockstill, who spent three seasons with Raleigh, was hired by FCAHS in Februaryand has been busy prepping his team ever since. Between fitting in weight room sessions and trying to ingrain his playbook into the minds of his players, Stockstill has been busy, but also impressed with his team so far.

"They've been getting after it," he said. "We've been hitting the weight room, going out during school, hitting the hallways recruiting some guys to come out there with us and that sort of thing. It's been good so far."

Not being able to practice after school or strap on the football pads until after Easter hasn't deterred the Aggies. In fact, Stockstill says the majority of his playbook is already implemented. But according to the first-year coach, the biggest progression has been the little things.

"Two more weeks and we're going to hit the field," Stockstill said. "I'm excited, the guys are excited. For the most part we run a lot of different formations but just the same plays so it hasn't been too bad. The guys ran a little more spread last year and this year we're going to be that Wing-T team that Forrest County has been known for."

While the Aggie coach has been impressed with his team's worth ethic, he still hasn't gotten a good gauge of who or what his team is yet and likely won't until the team can go full contact in practice.

"I think that's when we will get a good sense of who we want to play where," he said. "Pads change the game. Everybody looks good running around with shorts and t-shirts on. So, when you put the pads on that's when the kids start to separate themselves. We'll find out who's out there that wants it and who's out there because his friends are out there."

However, Stockstill's goal remains to give the Aggies back their swagger and confidence that has waned in past years due to lack of success.

"They've been hearing it from me for about three weeks now," he said. "How many games did you guys loselast year where you either blew the lead or the score was close and you couldn't finish a ball game.We want to get the most out of each player. In my experience you have to get the most out of what you have. We're coaching effort and desire. How bad do you want it?"

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FCAHS' Stockstill making progress ahead of spring practice - Hattiesburg American

TORRINGTON, Wyo. Returning Eastern Wyoming College students, as well as community members, will find a new addition to the EWC campus when the fall semester begins in August.

EWC President Richard Patterson hosted a media tour March 31 to update progress on the $23 million project.

Well have so much more to offer our students, Patterson said during the tour. The community and the legislature have been very supportive of this project, providing the funding that includes a county bond issue.

It will be an asset for many years, providing educational opportunities for not only the youth in our county and Wyoming, but those from other states.

Standing in the open floor plan spacefor the cosmetology department are site superintendents and far right, Dusty Nash, project superintendent for FCI Constructors LLC. It will also include a barber chairfor the first barber school in Wyoming. Private rooms are to the right for waxing, facials, and other services.

Tami Afdahl, left, EWC director of college relations, and Ron Laher, EWC vice president of administrative services, stand in the entrance to the new Career and Technical Education Center on Friday, March 31, at the conclusion of a media tour. The building will be completed in June, in time to prepare it for fall semester students.

Eastern Wyoming College President Rick Patterson follows Tami Afdahl, EWC director of college relations, up the main staircase in the Career and Technical Education Center during a media tour on March 27. The 69,000 square foot building also will house Community Connections, for community educationofferings and an auditorium.

EWC personnel and project supervisors pose on the main staircase of the new Eastern Wyoming College Career and Technical Education Center Friday afternoon, March 31. Far left on thebottom step is EWC Vice President for Administrative Services Ron Laher. EWC President Rick Patterson, in black, and without a hard hat, is near the top.

Dusty Nash, project superintendent for FCI Constructors of Wyoming LLC, demonstrates a feature included in each of the 72 student welding booths, as well as in the three instructor's booths. The booths are distributed in threeshops on the main floor of thenew Career and Technical Education Center.

The main floor hallway serves as a supply depot during construction, but will be a hub of activity when 2017 fall semester classes begin. Facing north, to the left will be the Commons andCommunity Connections, and to the right will be cosmetology and the welding department.

The main floor hallway serves as a supply depot during construction, but will be a hub of activity when 2017 fall semester classes begin. Facing north, to the left will be the Commons andCommunity Connections, and to the right will be cosmetology and the welding department.

A room full of pipes and mechanical elements backs up the welding department in the new Career and Technical Education Center on the Eastern Wyoming College campus in Torrington, Wyo.

Hosting the media tour of the new Career and Technical Education Center on Friday, March 31, was Eastern Wyoming College President Rick Patterson, far left, and site project superintends and supervisors.

This double-sided fireplace will be the main feature of the second floor where the health technology department is located, as well as cosmetology classrooms.

Standing in the open floor plan spacefor the cosmetology department are site superintendents and far right, Dusty Nash, project superintendent for FCI Constructors LLC. It will also include a barber chairfor the first barber school in Wyoming. Private rooms are to the right for waxing, facials, and other services.

Tami Afdahl, left, EWC director of college relations, and Ron Laher, EWC vice president of administrative services, stand in the entrance to the new Career and Technical Education Center on Friday, March 31, at the conclusion of a media tour. The building will be completed in June, in time to prepare it for fall semester students.

Eastern Wyoming College President Rick Patterson follows Tami Afdahl, EWC director of college relations, up the main staircase in the Career and Technical Education Center during a media tour on March 27. The 69,000 square foot building also will house Community Connections, for community educationofferings and an auditorium.

EWC personnel and project supervisors pose on the main staircase of the new Eastern Wyoming College Career and Technical Education Center Friday afternoon, March 31. Far left on thebottom step is EWC Vice President for Administrative Services Ron Laher. EWC President Rick Patterson, in black, and without a hard hat, is near the top.

Dusty Nash, project superintendent for FCI Constructors of Wyoming LLC, demonstrates a feature included in each of the 72 student welding booths, as well as in the three instructor's booths. The booths are distributed in threeshops on the main floor of thenew Career and Technical Education Center.

The main floor hallway serves as a supply depot during construction, but will be a hub of activity when 2017 fall semester classes begin. Facing north, to the left will be the Commons andCommunity Connections, and to the right will be cosmetology and the welding department.

The main floor hallway serves as a supply depot during construction, but will be a hub of activity when 2017 fall semester classes begin. Facing north, to the left will be the Commons andCommunity Connections, and to the right will be cosmetology and the welding department.

A room full of pipes and mechanical elements backs up the welding department in the new Career and Technical Education Center on the Eastern Wyoming College campus in Torrington, Wyo.

Hosting the media tour of the new Career and Technical Education Center on Friday, March 31, was Eastern Wyoming College President Rick Patterson, far left, and site project superintends and supervisors.

This double-sided fireplace will be the main feature of the second floor where the health technology department is located, as well as cosmetology classrooms.

The 69,000-square foot Career & Technical Education Center houses Community Connections, cosmetology, health technology and welding programs, including classrooms, an auditorium, computer centers and a student commons area. The new building allows for increased enrollment in each of the programs.

Cosmetology is in the front of the building on the ground floor. Included in the open floor plan will be a barber chair for the first barber training program in Wyoming. Private rooms are available for skin treatments, tanning and provide the potential to offer massage in the future. One cosmetology classroom is on the ground floor next to the service area, and two are on the second floor.

Health technology students will find a new lab setting on the second floor that includes hospital room environments.

There are head wall units just like those in hospitals, Patterson said during a stop on the tour. The restroom and shower are like those in hospitals, too.

We now have two great training rooms for our CNA (certified nursing assistant) students. It is set up like our regular nursing program on the Douglas (Wyoming) campus.

He added that a local nursing program is not out of the question in the future.

The welding program covers the north half of the ground floor. It offers individual welding booths for as many as 72 students, and includes three special training booths for instructors. These units are larger, making it possible for a student and instructor to move freely. The booths are divided into three shops. Also available is a separate machine tooling training room. Four classrooms and space for certification testing by American Welding Society welding inspectors are included in the layout.

Dusty Nash, project superintendent for FCI Constructors of Wyoming LLC, the lead contractor on the entire project, said the metal booths in the welding department were fabricated at a Gering business, and that one of those involved in manufacturing them is a former EWC welding student.

Community Connections is a combination of community education offerings, as well as the workforce office. Located on the ground floor, it includes classrooms, a computer center and a meeting room.

Construction should be complete by June. The welding department will be the first to move, and furnishing the rest of the departments will begin.

According to Ron Laher, EWC vice president of administrative services, $250,000 has been designated for new furnishings. This is in addition to current items that will be moved.

The project is funded with a $20 million appropriation from the Wyoming Legislature and a $3.1 million in general obligation bonds approved by Goshen County voters in November 2014. In addition to major contractors, 33 subcontractors, including several local businesses, have been involved.

According to Tami Afdahl, director of college relations, the public will have an opportunity to visit the complex during a dedication ceremony in August.

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Progress continues on Eastern Wyoming Community College career and tech center - Scottsbluff Star Herald

House Republicans insist they arent leaving for dead their effort to repeal ObamaCare.

But days after failing to move the American Health Care Act forward, there are no discernible signs of progress in bridging the differences within the Republican conference that led to an embarrassing retreat last week.

Some say they want to begin working with Democrats to reform the healthcare law instead of trying to find votes from conservatives who want to see a repeal of ObamaCares insurer regulations and requirements.

I want to get this right. I am all for negotiating with people who want to get to a solution that can get signed into law, but engaging in a partisan-only exercise, I think we just demonstrated, is not going to work to make this reform sustainable and durable, Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.), a co-chairman of the centrist Tuesday Group, told CNN Wednesday.

Rep. Mark AmodeiMark AmodeiGOP revival of healthcare repeal makes little progress Sharron Angle to challenge GOP rep in Nevada House GOP group calls for action on climate change MORE (R-Nev.), another centrist no vote on last weeks bill, said he does not oppose revisiting repeal of former President Obamas healthcare law, but not if its just kind of the same thing warmed up.

Just, hey, weve all had a come-to-Jesus thing, and were going to try it again? he said. There needs to be some substantive change.

Amodei says he wants a real hearing process with witnesses, which was missing from the speedy path of the bill from introduction to the planned vote last week.

Conservatives, however, are showing little interest in moving toward the Tuesday Group.

Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.), a Freedom Caucus member, said he is happy to revisit healthcare but only if the same changes demanded by conservatives last week are added to the bill.

The Freedom Caucus wants repeal of ObamaCare insurance regulations that they say drive up premiums. But moderates are wary of repealing those protections, and it is in doubt whether they even could be repealed under Senate rules.

Those regulations include ObamaCares essential health benefits, which require insurance plans to cover services like mental health and prescription drugs, and community rating, which prevents insurers from charging sick people higher rates.

We all want to get to yes. Once we get a package that reduces prices and premiums, thats it, Brat said. Theres no mystery to what weve got to get done. The current bill has prices going up, and weve got to get prices to go down, and its that simple.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, said Wednesday there are no plans for a full-scale meeting between his conservative caucus and the centrist Tuesday Group.

Meadows said he has been having one-on-one conversations with lawmakers, including Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.), another co-chairman of the Tuesday Group.

He insisted it is too early to tell if there has been any progress.

To suggest that the healthcare debate is over is premature, he said Wednesday.

Yet the lack of meetings between the two groups that would need to bridge the GOPs divide and the different messages from its various members suggests little hope of progress.

The White House also does not appear overly interested in returning to the healthcare fight.

While Meadows said he has spoken to White House officials, he said its more a House-driven initiative than a White House-driven initiative.

Theyve taken the position that this is ... theyve finished their negotiations; its incumbent upon us, he said.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a longtime lawmaker close to leadership, suggested that if Republicans really have a chance at a quick turnaround on ObamaCare repeal, the Easter recess will be shortened. He said that is a real possibility.

To me, the tell-tale sign will be if either we see something next week or all the sudden they reduce the Easter break, which I think is a real possibility because I think people want to get something done if its at all possible, he said.

Aside from Coles comments, however, there was little talk of reducing or eliminating the Easter recess.

Members of both wings of the party said there is a widespread reluctance on the part of lawmakers to give up on Republican promises to repeal ObamaCare that have existed since the dawn of the law itself. But some also acknowledged the difficulty in getting anything done.

Rep. Dan Donovan (R-N.Y.), a moderate who opposed last weeks bill, said he does not want to give up on the healthcare issue.

We cant just ignore the fact that our healthcare system needs to be repaired and we made a promise to the American people wed repair it, he said. I was just a believer that the proposal last week wasnt the solution.

The rest is here:

GOP revival of healthcare repeal makes little progress - The Hill

Progress Software, a 36-year-old software company, is pushing into machine learning and connected device technologies with its $30 million acquisition of DataRPM, a privately held firm based in Redwood City, CA.

The deal is the first acquisition made by new Progress CEO Yogesh Gupta, who took the helm in October.

Bedford, MA-based Progress (NASDAQ: PRGS) offers a variety of software products and services designed to simplify the development, deployment, and management of business applications.

One of Progresss strengths has been software that connects and integrates data from various programs, Gupta told Xconomy in an interview last fall. But the emergence of the Internet of Things is bringing an explosion of data from a variety of new sources.

To me, thats sort of an interesting thing for us to take a look at and say, Hey, how do you deal with the new data sources needed to build the business applications of tomorrow? Gupta (pictured above) said in November. The amount of data increases so much that human beings cant keep up with it. The only way to deal with it is to have machines deal with it through machine learning and data analytics technologies, he said.

Thats where DataRPM comes in. The company provides machine learning tools that aim to predict when industrial machines will fail, which can help businesses save money. DataRPMs customers include Jaguar, Samsung, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, according to a Progress press release.

Under Gupta, Progress is now positioning itself as a provider of technologies for building cognitive-first business applications.

Our customers and partners already use many of the key product capabilities from Progress necessary for this approachfront-end application development tooling, mobility, back-end application services, and data connectivity, Gupta said in a prepared statement. With the acquisition of DataRPM, we now have leading predictive analytics capabilities to round out our cognitive apps platform.

The deal includes $28.3 million in cash, and DataRPMs founders will receive $1.7 million worth of restricted Progress stock, the company said.

DataRPM was founded in 2012 and had raised at least $6 million from investors, according to SEC filings.

Jeff Engel is a senior editor at Xconomy. Email: jengel@xconomy.com

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Progress Buys DataRPM for $30M to Build Cognitive Business ... - Xconomy