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Tag: CFB Playoffs
The JR Report's way too early CFB Playoff predictions
September 26, 2017 by Michael Macon, posted in college football
Even though the college football season is just four weeks complete, it is never too early to predict who will be the last four teams standing.
Here are the JR Report's predictions for the College Football Playoff.
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Photo via Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
There is no controversy when talking about the No. 1 team in college football, the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Clemson Tigers are a top-tier program and the defending champions, however, Alabama is just that dominant. Their defense is stout, their offense has playmakers in the backfield and Nick Saban is the greatest college football coach ever.
After slapping Vanderbilt into the earth, Alabama looks like a lock for the one seed once again.
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Photo via Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
In 2016, former Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson, along with a dominant defense, led Clemson to a surprise National Championship victory over Alabama.
Despite Watson's move to the NFL, the Tigers haven't taken any steps back.
The lack of a drop-off was apparent when Lamar Jackson's Louisville Cardinals received a rude awakening in a 42-21 rout.
Current Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant was never expected to replace Watson, but rather just do his best not to be a liability. But the kid can ball and is especially dangerous running the football averaging nearly five yards a carry.
With Florida State crippled under center, Clemson does not have a legitimate threat to the ACC title. Even though the Tigers suffered a scare against Boston College, a betting man should consider the Tigers a playoff lock barring a catastrophe.
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Oklahoma Sooners QB Baker Mayfield (Photo via Getty Images)
Just like Clemson, Oklahoma learned it is better to win ugly than lose pretty. They survived a late-game surge against Baylor to remain perfect on the season.
Baker Mayfield broke the 1,000-yard passing mark and has still not thrown an interception.
The Heisman hopeful leads a powerful Sooners offense which has amassed over 1,000 yards through the air and over 400 on the ground.
Defensively the Sooners are shaky. Baylor, still winless on the season (cough karma cough) torched the Sooners for 461 yards through the air and 41 points.
But still, Big 12 offenses can score with the best of them, so occasionally having a bad defensive night is expected.
Oklahoma State and TCU seem to be the Sooners' biggest threat but OU still has a clear path to the College Football Playoffs after dominating its out of conference slate.
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Photo via Associated Press
Iowa is not Baylor or Boston College bad, but still an unranked opponent Penn State was expected to handle. And like Oklahoma and Clemson, the Nittany Lions struggled mightily in an ugly victory.
Penn State has perhaps a Heisman winner on their roster in running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley is averaging an unholy eight yards per carry on 38 attempts. His 211 yards against Iowa furthers his cause to be at the award ceremony in New York.
Trace McSorley has been solid this season with nine touchdowns to only two interceptions.
Moreover, PSU's defense is elite, pitching two shutouts and still not allowing a team over 20 points.
The Big 10 Championship is probably the hardest to predict this year, but Penn State looks very likely to come out on top of the scrum and earn that coveted playoff spot.
Michael Macon is a contributing writer for The JR Report.
Tagged Alabama Crimson Tide, Baker Mayfield, CFB, CFB Playoffs, Clemson Tigers, college football, Deshaun Watson, featured, Kelly Bryant, Nick Saban, Nittany Lions, Oklahoma Sooners, OU, Penn State, PSU, Shaquon BarkelyLeave a comment
College football quick hits: AP top 25 preseason poll
August 25, 2017 August 25, 2017 by Nicholai Babis, posted in college football
Earlier this week, the first AP top 25 Poll of the college football season was released. While a lot of the poll went according to expectation, there are a couple surprises later in the rankings.
While Alabama dominated the rankings and Ohio State took what many believed to be the obvious second, there was some debate over who should take third place.
In the end, FSU took third and USC took fourth, much to the dismay of Trojans fans.
The Crimson Tide are looking to start and end the season at No.1, with a championship to boot, a feat not accomplished since 2004 when USC took the trophy.
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The SEC remains dominant, but by a less significant margin than in previous years—they sport six teams in the top 25, while the Big 12 and ACC have five apiece and the Big Ten and Pac-12 following them up with four. USF, the poster child of the AAC, is its sole representation.
Below are official AP Poll rankings with some commentary by The JR Report.
Photo via USA Today Sports
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Alabama (52 votes)
Alabama seems to be impenetrable, although their pass defense leaves something to be desired. Anyways, the Crimson Tide deserve the top spot.
Ohio State (3 votes)
There was little debate over who should be No. 2 in the rankings. Ohio State has shown that they deserve the ranking, and they're the favorite for the championships in many people's minds.
Florida State (4 votes)
This wasn't a surprising choice, but a good amount of projections had USC in the No. 3 slot. The Seminoles have an extremely strong-looking team, and they'll be tested in Week 1 against Alabama, where the Noles are a heavy underdog.
USC (2 votes)
USC fans are undoubtedly bitter, but the placement makes sense. It will be interesting to see how their season goes, because with a relatively easier schedule than the other three teams at the top, USC has little room for error.
No surprise Clemson isn't No. 1 coming off their championship win. In fact, the JR Report had Clemson a No. 6 behind Penn State. Clemson lost a ton of talent, including Deshaun Watson, and it will be interesting to see how well they can handle themselves after this.
If Penn State wasn't No. 5, they deserve this ranking at least. Fans believe they should've gotten a chance at the playoff last year, and now they have another chance. The Nittany Lions have an all-star offense, so it isn't hard to project them clinching a spot in the playoff.
Clearly, the AP Poll thinks that legendary coach Bob Stoops's retirement isn't as much a cause for concern as the JR Report does. While we have them at No. 9, the AP Poll is a little bit more generous. As it is, the offense led by quarterback Baker Mayfield is absolutely explosive.
Washington doesn't have the toughest schedule, but they deserve this ranking for now. Time will tell if they have the strength to be a serious late-season contender, but they'll most likely win the Pac-12.
It's an interesting decision to put Wisconsin in front of Auburn, Michigan, and Oklahoma State. They're a solid pick, and the AP Poll sees promise in incoming defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. Along with a tough offense and a not-too-strenuous schedule, it will be interesting to see where the Badgers end up.
The Cowboys have created the team that might be able to take down the Sooners for the first time in three years. Although the Cowboys have a dominant offense, all signs point to them having a rather mediocre defense.
Both the AP Poll and the JR Report have Michigan hovering just outside the top 10. The Wolverines lost 18 starters, enough to scare any team, but Jim Harbaugh is a stellar recruiter and next year's Michigan team will be exciting to watch.
The Tigers have an amazing running back duo and a reloaded defense. Is it enough to win the classic Iron Bowl? Auburn deserves a slightly higher rating—we have them at No. 10—but will quickly prove they deserve to be a top 10 team.
There's a lot of optimism surrounding the LSU offense, with incoming offensive coordinator Matt Canada and star running back Derrius Guice. The SEC has another powerhouse this year, and LSU might contend for the conference championship.
This is a surprisingly high ranking for Stanford. The JR Report had them at No. 17, on account of the quarterback worries and some unclear aspects of their incoming team. Their defense looks strong and should come out strong in the Pac-12.
This ranking is pretty close to accurate. The Dawgs return most of their defense, and return their all-star running duo, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. They'll be another strong contender in the SEC.
The JR Report had Louisville as No. 16 as well. Heisman winner Lamar Jackson is back to prove that he's still relevant, but the team's main concern is their lacking offensive line.
Yet another strong SEC coming into the year, the Gators are headed by untested quarterback Feleipe Franks. The Gators most likely will not retain a ranking in the top 20 for long, but they may just surprise us.
The Hurricanes are impressive on both sides of the ball, and their only concern is whether the quarterback replacement will be up to the task of keeping Miami relevant.
We had the Bulls at No. 18, so it seems we weren't far off from what the AP Poll had in mind. The Bulls have a ton of talent, a new coaching staff, an underrated quarterback star, and a thirst to prove themselves.
Photo via Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
The Wildcats have a quality quarterback and a potential to upset the big names in the Big-12 like Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
There was some ambiguity as to whether Virginia Tech would be ranked (we had them as "just missing" the top 25). The Hokies will have a tough run in a surprisingly strong ACC, but if they hold up on their end we could see them in the conference championship against FSU or Clemson.
Will Grier, the quarterback transfer from the University of Florida, is already turning heads in Morgantown. WVU is strong on the offensive side of the ball, but if they can't keep their defense up to snuff they won't be ranked for long.
The Longhorns have been disappointing lately, but it looks like Tom Herman has been turning it all around. We have them at No. 25, because it's really unclear as to whether it's all show or if we can expect great things in the next couple years.
Quarterback Luke Falk is shaping up to be a great quarterback, and the Cougars should make the game against Washington a good one. They have quality upset potential.
Tennessee has a lot of work to do if they want to climb in the rankings—not because they're not a good team, but because the competition in the SEC East is stiff this year. We'll see if they can challenge regional rivals Georgia and Florida.
Nicholai Babis is a lead contributor for The JR Report. For more news and JR Report updates follow him on twitter @nibabis.
Tagged Alabama Crimson Tide, CFB, CFB Playoffs, cfb recruiting, Clemson Tigers, college football, featured, Florida State Seminoles, NCAAF, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Penn State Nittany Lions, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies, Wisconsin BadgersLeave a comment
A case for the AAC and the 'Power Six' in college football
June 23, 2017 June 30, 2017 by Nicholai Babis, posted in college football, JR Report Featured, sports
Photo via The Associated Press
Recently, the American Athletic Conference has become more and more a part of the national conversation. The AAC commissioner sees this as a great thing, as he wants to be seen as a "Power Six" conference.
An unfortunate aspect of their consideration as a conference is that football will be the major deciding factor here, but of course, if the AAC is included in a new "Power 6" metric other sports will be included.
Traditionally there are five power conferences: the ACC, SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, and the Pac-12. Many college football fans and the programs of the AAC itself hope to rally behind the younger conference and establish it as a power conference.
The major problem is the balancing game that the AAC knows it's playing. If the teams get too good for the conference, they will likely jump ship to a P5 conference if given the chance. But if the teams do not continue to improve and generate more revenue, then the conference will never be considered as a new power conference.
Commissioner Mike Aresco is heading efforts to gain the conference more recognition. Photo via Cloe Poisson / Hartford Courant
Last year, the Big 12 considered adding some AAC teams to their ranks, but ultimately passed. Conference commissioner Mike Aresco was more than relieved—even though many perceived insult in the Big 12's decision—when he realized he wasn't losing his best teams.
With the AAC teams locked in (for now), their most important task is elevating themselves in the eyes of their peers and "earning" placement among the power conference teams. The two most important ways of achieving this, wins and money.
Is the AAC winning enough games?
The AAC makes a compelling case to be included among the power conferences when one looks at the recent upward trends of their teams' performances. As the AAC is comprised of younger teams with fewer resources, they cannot consistently have top 10 teams, but this will continue to change as the conference fields more and more impressive teams each year.
Houston upset Florida State in the 2015 Peach Bowl, shocking the college football world. Photo via The Associated Press
Let's consider 2015, a year in which signified the beginning of the AAC's possible breakthrough. Houston spent the entire year climbing in the rankings, first breaking through in Week 6 and continuing until it was ranked No. 8 in Week 15.
The Cougars beat all three of their P5 opponents: Vanderbilt, Louisville, and Florida State. They beat FSU in the Peach Bowl when FSU was ranked No. 9 in the nation and their only loss was against Connecticut.
Usually, around now the argument is made that they had an easy schedule and this isn't an accurate representation of a truly powerful team, but this was not the case in 2015.
Temple was ranked for the second half of the season, and ended their season at 10-4. They had an outstanding win against Penn State, as well as a narrow loss to Notre Dame.
Navy ended the year ranked at No. 18 after an 11-2 season with a great win against Pitt in the Military Bowl.
Memphis hovered around the middle of the rankings midseason in 2015 and got up to No. 15, ultimately ending the season at 9-4 and losing to Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl.
Was this a one-off year?
Did these teams drop off the face of the earth after 2015? No, and some other teams began performing just as well.
Memphis ended the season at 8-5 with a P5 win over Kansas.
Navy enjoyed a successful 9-5 season while hovering around the rankings and entering them for four of the weeks.
Temple had narrow losses to both Wake Forest and Penn State, ending the season at 10-4 having been ranked during the season at least once. Houston ended the season at 9-4 with wins over San Diego State, Louisville once again, and the Oklahoma Sooners.
USF quarterback Quinton Flowers led the charge for the Bulls in 2016, and has helped the program gain national recognition. Photo via Andy Jones / TBO Staff
The USF Bulls had a breakout season, going 11-2 with a high-profile win over South Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl. They ended the season ranked No. 19 in the AP Poll.
Tulsa also ended its season positively, with a 10-4 record and hopes of cracking the rankings in 2017.
Navy, Houston, Tulsa, USF, and Temple are all expected to have impressive seasons next year as well. In the last few years, five of these AAC teams have enjoyed being ranked at some point.
In 2016, seven of the Pac-12 teams were ranked at some point, with five of them ending the season ranked. The Big Ten hosted six ranked teams as well. The Big 12 only had four teams that held rankings in 2016, and TCU dropped out early and ended their season at 6-7.
It is clear that the AAC deserves consideration. They've been winning games against P5 opponents consistently and have been ranked. USF is already being predicted as an outlier for the New Year's Six bowls.
If the conference can continue this trend of winning—and there is no indication that they won't—we are doing them a disservice by continually discounting their achievements and refusing them higher status as a conference.
The AAC released their plan to become a "POW6R" conference earlier this year. Photo via TheAmerican.org
Is there enough money in the conference?
In a perfect world, the amount of money the teams could put into the industry wouldn't have to matter for consideration, and the article would end here. Unfortunately, revenue plays a considerable role in gaining access to the P5 group.
The AAC released a detailed and ambitious plan to become a P6 conference. The five-pillar plan includes several discussions on revenue, marketing, and more.
"Pillar 4" is entitled "Branding, Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations" and Pillar 5 is entitled "Revenue Generation." Read the plan for a more detailed view on how the conference will attain and maintain the finances and revenue of a P5 team.
In short, they have been making impressive steps in recent years with media partnerships, stadium renovations, and pumping more money into their football teams. They aren't there yet and they know it.
If they can take the steps outlined in the plan, then the AAC will look much better for consideration to be in the exclusive P5 group.
Two possible outcomes
The AAC starting to look more and more desperate, trying to sit with the cool P5 kids at lunch. There are two possible outcomes for the conference: gaining admittance to the P5 is the obvious favored choice as it has the teams, the potential, and the drive to do so.
The other outcome is detrimental to the AAC. The better teams in the AAC keep trying to gain admittance to the P5 conferences, and they start biting. The AAC loses its best teams and becomes much like the rest of the Group of Five conferences. It becomes another Mountain West or Sun Belt conference: they have one or two good teams, but won't ever be that much a part of the national conversation.
So whatever happens, the AAC has to act quickly. They clearly deserve the consideration, and these next few seasons are vital. If the teams can go above and beyond expectations, they may find themselves in a good position for bargaining their place among the big boys.
Tagged #AMERICANPOW6R, AAC, AAC Conference, ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, CFB, CFB Playoffs, college football, featured, football, FSU Seminoles, Houston Cougars, Memphis Tigers, Mike Aresco, Navy Midshippmen, P5, P6, Pac-12, power 5, Power6, SEC, Temple Owls, Tulsa, USF Bulls1 Comment
Predicting the winner of every power 5 college football conference, plus one
June 14, 2017 June 30, 2017 by Nicholai Babis, posted in college football, JR Report Featured
Photo via Ty Russell / SoonerSports.com
It's never too early to think about the winners of the Power Five conferences in College Football. In addition, the American Athletic Conference is turning some heads as a potentially powerful conference for next season. This year will prove to be an exciting year, as several of the potential winners aren't last year's champions.
As such, it should prove to be an exciting year, as several of the last season's winners are not expected to repeat.
Deondre Francois is set up for a standout season as the head of the Seminoles' offense. Photo via Wayne McGahee III
ACC: Florida State
Usually, the ACC is one of the toughest conferences to predict, but it often ends with the Clemson Tigers or Florida State Seminoles representing the Atlantic Division.
This year, however, Clemson will downgrade significantly at the quarterback position. With no clear replacement for quarterback Deshaun Watson, they won't pose any threat offensive threat to the Seminoles.
Quarterback Deondre Francois has developed significantly since starting on the team, and with the top-rated running back recruit in the nation Cam Akers and a crop of new receivers, the FSU offense will have the strength to take down any ACC team.
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At only 18 years old, Jalen Hurts surprised everyone with his level-headed approach to the QB position. Photo via AP Photo / Brynn Anderson
SEC: Alabama
The Crimson Tide return this year stronger than ever. With an outstanding recruiting class and developing quarterback Jalen Hurts, the Tide have already proved they're national championship material.
Alabama returns most of its defensive prowess as well, and the only teams in the SEC that even stand a chance against them are LSU, Georgia, and Florida.
J.T. Barrett announced that he would return for his senior season, and the Buckeye has something to prove before he goes pro. Photo via Art Foxall / UPI
Big Ten: Ohio State
The Big Ten, maybe the most competitive conference in the country, will end with Ohio State taking the crown narrowly with Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan all close behind.
That being said, the Buckeyes will be one of the best teams in all of college football. They put together one of the best defenses in the country and return Heisman-hopeful quarterback J.T. Barrett.
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Sam Darnold is a prime candidate for the next Heisman Trophy. Photo via Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images
PAC-12: USC
USC, a college football playoff favorite, is the heavy favorite in the PAC-12.
Quarterback Sam Darnold is one of the biggest reasons for the team's success after throwing for 3,086 yards and 31 touchdowns last season while not starting until the team's fourth game.
In addition to Heisman-contender Darnold, USC has the extremely talented five-star running back Stephen Carr to add a new dimension to the Trojan offense.
USC's main competition, Washington, will have a tough time catching the Trojans as the Huskies have a much tougher schedule and has to play Colorado, Washington State, Oregon, Stanford, and Utah.
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Legendary Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops announced his retirement recently, but will this be a barrier for the Sooners going into next season? Photo via USA Today Sports
BIG-12: Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield will once again have an outstanding season with their new and skilled recruiting class. As such, they'll take the BIG-12 throne once again.
One thing to cause them worry—and one thing that will probably be a barrier between them and anything beyond the conference title—is the fact that Bob Stoops retired last week.
Oklahoma's only real threat is offense-heavy Oklahoma State, and at the end of the day, the Sooners should have an easy time getting past their contender in the conference championship game.
Quinton Flowers impressed many last season with his dual-threat approach to the quarterback position. Photo via AP Photo
American: University of South Florida
The AAC has been one of the most exciting conferences to follow for the last few seasons. With breakout teams such as Houston, Navy, and Temple, the AAC is a surprisingly stacked conference.
Temple will lose 16 of its starters and is projected to fall behind in USF's division, leaving the Bulls an open trip to the conference championship.
Houston, Navy, and Tulsa will all battle for the AAC West title, with no clear favorite.
Quarterback Quinton Flowers has been gaining national attention for the last year or so as one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. Flowers chalked up 2,812 passing yards and 1,530 rushing yards during his junior season.
Under head coach Charlie Strong, the Bulls will continue to improve. Their roster remains strong from last year and they should find no serious conflict in their schedule besides games against Houston and Tulsa.
Tagged AAC, ACC, Alabama Crimson Tide, Big 10 Conference, Big 12, CFB, cfb championship, CFB Playoffs, cfb recruiting, Clemson Tigers, college football, featured, Florida State, football, FSU Seminoles, Ohio State, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners, P-5, Pac-12, Penn State, SEC, USC Trojans, USF Bulls2 Comments
What needs to happen for Ohio State to win national title
June 3, 2017 by Nicholai Babis, posted in college football
With the regular season rapidly approaching and Spring games over, the debate shifts towards next year's performance.
Ohio State is in everyone's thoughts as a potential contender for the national title, and here's what needs to happen for them to achieve it.
The Buckeyes finished out last season with an 11-2 record losing to the Clemson Tigers in the Fiesta Bowl.
The 31-0 loss was rather embarrassing, but OSU showed the country that they can still play at a high level.
They had impressive wins over Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma, as well as a narrow loss at Penn State.
OSU history
Urban Meyer has brought his team to impressive heights. He went undefeated in 2012 and 2013, as well as only losing a single game in the three seasons after.
The Buckeyes lost 12 players to the NFL Draft, but they didn't miss a stride in recruiting new talent. Photo via Ohio State's official athletic website
Meyer combines consistent recruiting with dedicated coaching, and the results are apparent. The Buckeyes went 11-1 last regular season even after losing 12 players to the NFL draft.
The recruiting slate—defense
The Buckeyes were able to recruit the second best recruiting class in the nation. What this means is that they nabbed five five-star recruits and fourteen four-star recruits.
The Buckeyes lost Marshon Lattimore to the Saints, Malik Hooker to the Colts, Gareon Conley to the Raiders, and Raekwon McMillan to the Dolphins. Hefty losses, but Meyer didn't lose sleep over finding replacements.
First among the recruits are two cornerbacks—Jeffrey Okudah, No. 1 cornerback in the nation, and Shaun Wade, the second highest ranked corner in the country.
They also recruited Amir Riep, Marcus Williamson, and Kendall Sheffield, all three four-star cornerbacks.
At safety, the Buckeyes grabbed Isaiah Pryor, a four-star safety out of Florida.
The Buckeyes also recruited what might turn into one of the best defensive-lines in the country. Last year, the Buckeyes ranked at sixth in total defense in the FBS, but in 2017 we will see this number go up because of the incoming class.
Baron Browning is the top-ranked OLB, and he'll be a great addition to the Buckeyes D-line. Photo via Scout.com
First is outside linebacker Baron Browning out of Texas, ranked first at his position. Weak defensive end Chase Young, the second ranked player at his position,.
Complimenting them on the line are four-star defensive tackles Haskell Garrett and Jerron Cage.
With this defensive class alone, OSU would be rated higher than most teams for recruiting, and I'm looking forward to seeing one of the absolute best defenses in the nation performing this season.
Does Barrett have what it takes?
In early January, we found out that J.T. Barrett would be returning to the Buckeyes through his Instagram, shown below:
I'm coming back for my senior year. Much love to Buckeye Nation and thank God for the blessings.
A post shared by JT Barrett (@jt_theqbiv) on Jan 4, 2017 at 12:32pm PST
"I'm Coming back for my senior year," Barrett said. "Much love to Buckeye Nation and thank God for the blessings."
There's no question that Barrett is a great quarterback, but does he have what it takes to bring home the title?
Last season, Barrett threw for 2,555 yards on 233 completions, with 24 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He also chalked up 845 rushing yards with nine rushing touchdowns—not a small feat, and a powerful statement for the dual-threat quarterback going into next season.
That being said, Barrett struggled with accuracy, completing only 61.5 percent of his passes.
His inconsistency showed through during games against Michigan State, Michigan and Clemson where he only threw for 86, 124 and 124 yards respectively.
Will his struggles prevent the Buckeyes from reaching a national championship once again?
Curtis Samuel signed a $6.4 million contract with the Carolina Panthers. Photo via twitter.com/panthers
While the Buckeyes lose receivers Curtis Samuel, Dontre Wilson, and Noah Brown to the NFL, the upcoming recruiting class holds promise.
None of the three players boast many yards (none more than 500 yards) receiving, and looking at Meyer's upcoming class, I feel confident that Barrett will have capable targets this season.
Wide Receivers and a new coach
First of all, the Buckeyes return three of their freshmen as receivers—Binjimen Victor, Austin Mack, and K.J. Hill. None of them got many playing time, even as the receiver corps consistently underachieved.
Now, they have a chance to prove themselves on the field. The Big Ten Network ranks OSU's receiving corps as the third best in the conference behind Penn State and Indiana, and this is without taking the new recruits into account.
Two impact players to watch are four-star wide receivers Trevon Grimes and Jaylen Harris. Grimes is ranked the fifth-best receiver in the nation, while Harris is ranked No. 30. Not bad for an incoming class.
And now for the wildcard, or maybe secret weapon is a more apt name: Johnnie Dixon.
Johnnie Dixon has had almost no playing time since 2014, but this is about to change now that he's finally healthy. Photo via Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer
Dixon —the fifth-ranked wide receiver in the nation in 2014—only caught six passes in the 2016 season because of injury. He has only participated in 14 total games across his three years at OSU.
Now, he's back and looking extremely promising. As an eligible junior, he was finally able to play in spring games, where he had six receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
Dixon didn't expect to be able to return to the team, but right after his spring game he posted on Instagram about his prospects:
All I ever wanted was a chance! Now here it is, make the best of it 🙏🏾 #GodWilling
A post shared by johnniedixon1 (@johnniedixon1) on Apr 14, 2017 at 1:10pm PDT
Dixon might prove to be the strongest receiver for Ohio State, and I'm predicting a breakout season from him.
And there's some icing on the cake: Kevin Wilson, the new offensive coordinator and tight ends coach for the Buckeyes, is one of the best OCs in the game, and he's ready to test his skills in Columbus.
Wilson has a history of success for offenses. He led the Oklahoma Sooners to a historic 11-2 season and Fiesta Bowl berth. As the head coach at Indiana he brought the program from a 1-11 record to a 6-6 record by the end of his tenure five years later.
Urban Meyer knows how good he is for offenses, and he might be just what the Buckeyes need to win the national title.
Why Ohio State will win the national title game
Ohio State is one of the favorites for the national title this year, along with Alabama. Clemson no longer has the ability to embarrass OSU, and the Buckeyes are by far the better team.
I don't see many FBS teams with the ability to beat OSU. They'll face a challenge against Penn State, Oklahoma, and Michigan, but I think they'll overcome those obstacles.
Add in the absolutely outstanding defensive recruiting class, and you have an all-around amazing team. Greg Schiano, now the sole defensive coordinator for the Buckeyes, led a great defensive program last year after being head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
If Barrett comes into his own—which he will, considering the strength of his incoming receiving corps—and works well with Kevin Wilson, the Buckeyes have a great chance of winning the title.
Tagged Big Ten, Big10, Buckeyes, CFB, cfb championship, CFB Playoffs, cfb recruiting, Clemson Tigers, FBS, Fiesta Bowl, JT Barrett, Kevin Wilson, nfl, NFL Draft, Ohio State, Ohio State Buckeyes, OSU, recruiting, Spring games, Urban MeyerLeave a comment
What needs to happen for USC to win national title
May 26, 2017 May 29, 2017 by Nicholai Babis, posted in college football, sports
Led by Sam Darnold, quarterback and Heisman contender, USC is one of the favorites to win the college football title. Here's what needs to happen for the Trojans to take home the title this upcoming season.
It seemed like USC was going to have one of the worst seasons in the program's history this past season. They lost 52-6 to Alabama in their season opener, and won only one of their first four games (Utah State).
The Trojans bounced back, though, and didn't lose a single game the rest of the season, finishing at 10-3.
Biggest obstacle: Schedule strength
If they're going to contend for a title, USC could definitely have issues with their schedule strength–it's just not hard enough. Being in the Pac-12 was useful last year as they were only challenged in a few of their games, allowing them to climb in the standings despite a rough start.
The Trojans have to stay on top of their game the whole season and beat (most likely) Washington in order to contend for the title.
Quarterback excellence, with a little help
Darnold has shown his stoicism and confidence throughout his tenure at USC, and fans know he'll only get better. Photo via Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images
USC is looking to dominate on offense next season. It starts with Darnold, who totaled 3086 yards on 246 completions, and threw for 31 touchdowns with only nine interceptions last season.
Here's a video from SB Nation on Twitter showcasing one of Darnold's many impressive passes.
SAM DARNOLD IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE pic.twitter.com/FM6NpJMFKP
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) January 3, 2017
Considering he didn't start until the team's fourth game and threw for over 3,000 yards, USC's offense looks rock solid. Darnold also threw for 453 yards in the Rose Bowl. Barring any abnormalities, he will continue to play well.
An outstanding O-line did play a huge role in his success last season, though, and the Trojans lost three of their best linemen to the draft. Zach Banner went to the Colts, Damien Mama to the Chiefs, and Chad Wheeler to the Giants.
One of USC's top priorities is to replace these guys. So far, it looks like they're doing a good job of it. The Trojans have four O-line players poised to take over: four-star offensive tackle Austin Jackson, four-star offensive tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker, and four-star center Brett Neilon.
If this new class can pick up where Banner, Mama, and Wheeler left off, Darnold will have all the help he needs. Also, if Darnold does slip up for some reason, four-star recruit Jack Sears will be right behind him.
Jones's run game will be an integral part of the Trojans offense next season. Photo via AP Photo / Gus Ruelas
The Trojans are returning an outstanding group of backs, and there's some new talent coming in, too.
Rising junior running back Ronald Jones II was the team's best option last year, running for 1,082 yards and 12 touchdowns. He hopes to retain the starter position this year in face of incoming five-star running back Stephen Carr.
Carr could challenge Jones as the team's top RB. Photo via Scout.com
A California native, Carr is the third ranked RB recruit in the nation. The two will make an imposing duo. Dominic Davis and Aca'Cedric Ware, who supplemented Jones well last year, are returning, too.
Outstanding recruiting class
Excluding the run game and the O-line, USC has an all around good recruit class.
The Trojans defense is shaping up to be much better than last year's, which was ranked No. 36 in total defense.
This season, they recruited five four-star players to strength their defense, including DTs Marlon Tuipulotu and Jay Tufele.
It Only Gets Better 💪🏾✌ #FightOn pic.twitter.com/XuszsJGymB
— Joseph Lewis IV (@jodyforthewin) January 28, 2017
The other big recruiting story besides Carr is five-star receiver Joseph Lewis IV. Lewis indicated his desire to play at USC in January on Twitter. If he clicks with Darnold, the Trojans will have some formidable offensive firepower.
Why USC will win the national title game
Many are projecting USC as an outside candidate for the playoffs this year, and their reasons are sound. USC's schedule isn't nearly as hard as some of the other contenders.
If the Trojans can dominate their conference, though, they should maintain a strong position in the rankings. If they beat Stanford, Texas, Notre Dame, and Colorado, they'll be hard to ignore.
Darnold is a top contender for the Heisman. Supplemented by some amazing running and receiving talent, he should be unstoppable.
While the Trojans aren't my top choice for the title, I wouldn't be surprised to see them win it. They will definitely make the playoffs over Washington this year.
Tagged Alabama Crimson Tide, CFB, CFB Playoffs, cfb recruiting, college football, featured, football, Heisman, Heisman Trophy, NCAA, NCAAF, recruiting, Sam Darnold, Trojans, University of Southern California, USC, USC TrojansLeave a comment
What needs to happen for Florida State to win national title
May 19, 2017 by Nicholai Babis, posted in college football, sports
FSU ended last season ranked eighth in the AP poll, but they're one of the top contenders for the college football title next season. Under the right circumstances, this year's FSU team is a recipe for success.
Overall, the Seminoles had a successful 2016 campaign, but there were some bumps in the road, with surprise losses to UNC and Louisville. The 'Noles bounced back and only suffered one more loss against powerhouse Clemson, and then edged Michigan in the Orange Bowl.
Throughout the season FSU had powerful players on both sides of the ball, but the big story is whether they'll be able to replace RB Dalvin Cook, who just got drafted by the Minnesota Vikings.
Top ranked running back recruit Cam Akers impressed all at the FSU spring game. Photo via AP Photo/Todd J. Van Emst
It looks like the Noles have an answer to the Dalvin Cook question in freshman running back Cam Akers, who was ranked the No. 1 RB in his class by 247 Sports.
To supplement Akers, FSU is also bringing in the No. 4 ranked running back Khalan Laborn and the No. 15 ranked RB Zaquandre White. Laborn is a five-star recruit out of Virginia, and is ranked No. 1 among all-purpose backs.
With this stacked RB recruiting class, it seems the Seminoles have solved the problem of Cook's departure for the long term. If Akers, Laborn, and White perform as well as they're ranked, FSU won't lose any sleep over running concerns.
Passing Prowess
Deondre Francois threw for over 3,000 yards in his debut season for the Seminoles. Photo via Wayne McGahee III
Any doubt that people had about Deondre Francois's passing game is all but gone.
In his first season as FSU's quarterback, he threw 235 completions for 3,350 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Francois has been working consistently to become a better team leader, and he thinks he's doing well. "I feel like I've gotten better this spring," he told ESPN in an interview. "I will never be pleased with myself internally, but as a team and as an offense, I am very pleased with how we've been doing."
One thing that Francois did struggle with was protection – he was sacked 37 times last season, and if changes aren't made to the O-line the 'Noles have a problem.
O-Line Issues
The main culprit for all these sacks is the rest of the offense. Francois was also tackled for a loss 86 times and was hurried 28 times, terrible numbers for a top-10 team.
The bottom line is, if Francois doesn't receive better protection, he's going to continue to get sacked, which will impair FSU's ability to reach the title game.
Offensive tackle Roderick Johnson leaves a gaping hole in the O-Line for the Noles. Photo via Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
All-American offensive tackle, Roderick Johnson, recently left for the draft, leaving yet another hole in the Seminole O-Line. For a line already plagued by injury, losing a player like Johnson is a recipe for mediocrity. If FSU is going to have a strong offensive line, their young players are going to have to step up.
Josh Ball, a 6'8″ 287 pound offensive tackle out of Virginia, might help the Noles answer some questions. He redshirted last season and comes into this season as a freshman. Redshirt freshman Jauan Williams, a four-star offensive tackle, and Baveon Johnson, a four-star center, also hope to supplement the struggling line.
Sense a trend here? It looks like FSU had a lot of talent in reserve last season. If this group of promising players pans out, FSU looks good for the post-season.
Top-Notch Recruiting, as Usual
Ranked as the sixth-best recruiting class in the nation, the Noles have an impressive group of young talent coming in on both sides of the ball. Besides the obvious with Akers at running back, the Seminoles have some quality offensive players for the upcoming season.
FSU's receiving corps added eighth-ranked wide receiver D.J. Matthews. He's joined by wide receiver Tamorrion Terry, and tight ends Tre' McKitty and Alexander Marshall.
It seems like FSU put more focus on the defense this year, though. Defensive end Joshua Kaindoh, a five-star recruit out of Florida, is the third-ranked WDE in the country and ranked ninth in the nation overall. He's joined by four-star cornerback Stanford Samuels and four-star safeties Cyrus Fagan and Hamsah Nasirildeen.
Five-star defensive tackle provides a backbone to the growing FSU defense. Photo via Miller Safrit/ESPN
The Seminoles also recruited five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, who is the No. 1 ranked defensive tackle in the nation.
Add four-star defensive tackle Ja'len Parks, and FSU looks strong on defense for the upcoming season.
Why Florida State will win the college football title game
FSU has played well consistently since 2012, and last season was no exception. This year they come back with a more mature quarterback and a stellar ground game, as well as a defense that'll be tough to beat.
The most important thing for the Seminoles to focus on right now is their opening game against Alabama. It could prove to be their toughest game of the year, and the Crimson Tide won't hold back.
It will be interesting to see the Hurts-Francois matchup, since so many people have compared them this offseason. FSU will also be going up against one of the best offenses and defenses in the nation.
Even with an opening day loss, the 'Noles won't completely lose their spot. It would be an important win for Francois's confidence and their ranking, though.
The new receivers will have to learn how to work with Francois as he develops, and his offensive line will need to make sure he has time to get rid of the ball.
If those two things happen, the Seminoles will be a hard team to beat, and will most likely make the title game.
Tagged CFB, cfb championship, CFB Playoffs, college football, Dalvin Cook, Deondre Francois, featured, Florida State, Florida State Seminoles, football, FSU, Heisman Trophy, NFL Draft, recruiting, Seminoles, sportsLeave a comment
College football playoff will now have big-name halftime show
In a move to depart from the typical marching-band style halftime show, the College Football playoff has decided to have a more commercial show, much like the Super Bowl.
The new halftime show will debut in 2018, according to the Associated Press. The concert will be at Centennial Olympic park, right down the street from Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz stadium, where the game will be held.
Expect a big name to headline this show.
ESPN and the CFB Playoff crew has an interactive experience with screens showing the game in tandem to the concert for those who need a break from the stands.
They are obviously hoping to recreate the NFL halftime show, and they definitely have the budget to do it.
Tagged CFB, cfb championship, CFB Playoffs, college football, ESPN, football, playoffs, sports3 Comments


Computer Numerical Control (CNC) is generally responsible for the automation of machine tools. There are various tools such as drill presses, screw machines, lathes, etc. used for the varied purposes such as to cut metal components into the desired dimensions with a high degree of accuracy and detail. Moreover, CNC milling and turning have greatly helped to create patterns and add detail to the metal components that are not possible with merely manual efforts. Nevertheless, you might be thinking what is the difference between both of them?
CNC turning is highly skilled, intricate, and detailed method of creating custom parts and components. It is the process of manufacturing bars of material that further enhance our competitiveness by completing a part in one set-up. It relies upon computer-controlled machines but creates a different end product. In this process, the material is rotated at varying speeds and the cutting tool traverses the 2 axes of motion to produce cylindrical cuts with exact depths and diameters. In addition to this, it creates objects with round or tubular shapes created from larger pieces of material. For instance, drive shaft, custom couplings, tubing, and other applications too.
CNC milling includes a milling machine that provides a valuable resource to businesses and industries. The machines use G-codes or commands through computer software with each alphanumeric code having an assigned capacity performed by the machine. Each code entered into the program has a designated function performed by the machine. After the code enters the process, the mills turn along axes. CNC machine operators and controls utilizing the PC controls or manual replace are situated on the front of the machine.
Cnc milling machine: This type of CNC machines uses rotary cutters to remove material from a workpiece. The CNC milling machine moves the workpiece across milling tools in different directions and creates a variety of slots, holes, and shapes.
Lathe machine: Lathe machines are commonly retrofitted with CNC technology. A lathe machine spins the workpiece in a spindle because of this these machines are perfect for making the parts that have symmetry around some axis. Lathe machines have least ability to drive the cutting tool under G-code. CNC lathes have replaced the traditional production lathes such as multispindle due to its technological advancement. Lathe machines are used in many industries like electronics, automotive, aerospace, firearm manufacturing, etc. Products resulted from CNC lathe machine are crankshafts, gun barrels, musical instruments, cue sticks, etc.
CNC routers: It is a computer controlled cutting machine used for cutting different kinds of hard material such as aluminum, wood, steel, plastic, composites, foams, etc. It has replaced the old technology as tool paths are controlled by CNC instead of routing by hand. Hence, it produces high-quality work and improves productivity. A CNC router is used to produce various products such as wood panels, signboards, furniture, door carvings, musical instruments, etc. It also helps in thermoforming of plastic.
CNC plasma cutter: A CNC plasma cutter carries a plasma torch directed to the path via computer. A CNC plasma cutter requires a drive system that consists of motors, encoders, drive amplifiers, and cables to run. It is an excellent tool in order to quickly cut sheet metals, straps, pipes, bolts, metal plates, etc.
Therefore, by using CNC milling and turning, users can create patterns and add details to metals efficiently and effectively. It uses computer programs, codes, and commands to set up and run. Computer programming allows CNC milling and turning machines to make precise cuts and make a fine finished product.


There is a direct correlation between our mental and physical health. Stress, anxiety, and depression can have a direct effect on your immune system, sleep patterns, and much more. Those of us with depression can tell you that physical health is usually just put on the back burner. However, by paying attention to your body, you might be able to give yourself just enough of a boost to begin picking yourself back up again.
Yes, junk food is convenient. Yes, cooking requires some effort. It's not that hard though! All you have to do is wake up 15 minutes earlier in order to enjoy a healthy breakfast. That's it.
Processed foods contain a lot of sodium and sugar, causing us to feel spikes in energy and mood. We feel drowsy. Snack a little. Feel better. Then crash. You will notice that this doesn't happen when you opt for healthier snacks, rich in vitamins, fibre, and protein.
We can go on and on and on about the recipes you can choose. There's hundreds all over the internet, grouped by dietary restrictions, preferences, etc.
Do you feel hungry a lot? Ask yourself if you are getting enough protein. Do you feel drowsy? See if you are getting enough vitamins D and B12. As vegetarians, we usually have a bit of deficiency in these vitamins as well as iron.
A good way to keep track of your diet is logging the foods you eat. The app that I would recommend to do this is: My Fitness Pal. It gives you a goal caloric intake amount for the day as well as a recommended macronutrient amount. You can easily see if you have had too much sodium, fat, or sugar in one day.
Just to clarify, the goal is not to eat less but eat better.
I know that I have touched upon this one before. Living a sedentary lifestyle affects both your mental well-being as well as your physical health. I know there are a million reasons that you could give me about not adding activities to your day: you are tired, you have too much to do, you're too stressed, there's no time, etc etc.
Here's the thing. You don't have to work out for an hour a day for seven days a week. That's just not practical. Do whatever you can. However little it may be. Start with half an hour, three days a week. You can even split that into two 15 minute sessions. Go for a brief walk, ride a bicycle around your neighbourhood, join a sports team.
This movement allows you to have more energy, increases your mood, and allows you to unwind for a moment. Give it a try. What do you have to lose?
Many of us who have tried to lose weight find that we aren't losing as much as we would have thought. Sometimes, the culprit is water retention. If you don't drink enough water per day, your body will think it's being dehydrated and will store the water for future use.
Dehydration is another cause for feeling tired. Especially in the mornings. You have just spent roughly 7-8 in bed, without a drop of water. Yes, you are thirsty. It's such a simple solution that it almost sounds ridiculous, but drinking a glass of water in the morning will help you feel a bit more alert.
Above all else, make sure you give yourself some time to unwind. Do something that eases your mind. It could be something as simple as listening to music, reading a book, or taking a bath. In the pursuit of juggling a healthy lifestyle, your career, your family, and whatever else you have going on in your life, make sure you do this to avoid feeling burnt out. Take a break. Breathe for a moment. Then, tackle everything once again.
These little, tiny things may actually improve your mood over time, but it does take time. Understand that some days will be easier than others. Forgive yourself for not following through on everything and strive to do your best. I know that some of you may be thinking that this is stupid or that this will not help you. It does. Just have patience.
Above all, be the best that you can be!
This entry was posted in depression, Positive Thinking. Tagged body, depression, health, mind.


Last night I rewatched the film Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas) which is one of my Christmas traditions. When I watch it I cannot stop. I don't look at my social media, I don't tweet. Although it recounts an incident that occurred over a century ago, I am drawn to it out of a feeling of camaraderie, and a hope that people of good will can, and maybe will someday put and end to the scourge of war. I guess one reason I have to put down everything else is that I cry through most of the film.
But I dare not, even in the age of a madman in the White House and warmongering dictators and despots wreaking havoc on the world, give up the hope of peace. I tend to watch it before or after reading Stanley Weintraub's book: Silent Night: the Story Of the World War One Christmas Truce.
It was a book that I refused to read until after I returned from Iraq in 2008. Of course as a military historian I knew of the Christmas Truce, but it was something that I tried to keep a distance from after September 11th, 2001. After my experience of Christmas on the Iraq – Syrian Border In 2007 I could no longer ignore it.
Christmas 1914 evokes the stubborn humanity within us, and suggests an unrealized potential to burst its seams and rewrite a century.
I say that my time in Iraq did that to me. I cannot forget the Masses that I celebrated on the border and my time with Americans, Iraqi Soldiers, and local Bedouin during those days.
The war was supposed to be over by Christmas, or so the planners had said. Instead after a series of massive battles that produced unprecedented number of casualties the war settled into a stalemate. As the sides exhausted themselves in a series of meeting engagements throwing the flower of their idealistic youth into the great maw of the front to be torn apart by massed artillery and machine gun fire the planners sought new ways to find military victory.
In December 1914 with neither side having the ability to force the issue and casualties already running over a million dead and wounded the armies dug in. Massive trench networks were constructed in the mud of France and Belgium as the artillery continued its impersonal work of destroying men, machines and the homeland of millions of civilians.
Despite the stalemate the high commands of the various nations continued to through their troops into meaningless attacks to gain a few yards of their opponent's trench networks. The attackers always suffered the worst as they went "over the top" and were cut down by well sited machine guns and networks of defensive redoubts.
As Christmas neared individual parties of British and German troops began to fraternize exchanging gifts and attempting despite the wishes of their commanders to maintain an attitude of live and let live. On Christmas Eve German troops began to decorate their trenches with Christmas trees and lights, carols were sung and Christmas greetings exchanged as the local truces became widespread and soldiers met in no man's land to talk and give each other gifts of cigarettes, alcohol, food and souvenirs. In some places the sides helped each other collect and bury their dead and some Chaplains even led Christmas services in which men of both sides worshipped.
The truce would not last as the high commands of each side issued strict orders against them and within days had moved the units that they believed most "infected" by the Christmas spirit to other locations and replaced them with units inculcated with the message of the inhumanity of their enemy. Such messages often included the religious understanding of this being a "holy war" against enemies of God and humanity. It is funny that though Muslims are frequently demonized for committing Jihad, that Christians have a terrible record when it comes to finding theological reasons to kill those that they believe, even other Christians to be the enemy.
This really wasn't surprising, after all for in the years leading up to the war many school children, especially in France and Germany had been propagandized. Churches and ministers cooperated in the carnage.
In the movie Joyeux Noel the British Padre who had cooperated in the Christmas truce is relieved by his Bishop and sent home. The Bishop then preaches to the newly arrived soldiers, those replacing the men who had found peace for a moment. The sermon is not a work of fiction, it is actually part of a sermon that actually was given in Westminster Abbey in 1915. It was a sentiment that fit the mood of the high command who sought to minimize the danger of peace without victory. It was a sermon, the likes of which were preached by ministers, preachers, priests and bishops throughout that terrible war. It is a sermon that many preachers, Christian, Jewish, Islamic and Hindu even today mimic with terrible consequences.
Eleven short years ago I was traveling up and down the western border of Iraq with Syria. I was visiting our Marines that were advising the Iraqi Army and Border Forces, conducting Christmas services for them and also visiting Iraqi soldiers as well as civilians. In a couple of instances Iraqi and Jordanian Christians working as interpreters came to the Eucharist services, for one it had been years since he had received the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Communion. While out and about visiting Iraqis we were hosted by Iraqi troops and well as Bedouin tribesmen and their families. The warmth and hospitality and faith of these wonderful people was amazing.
I think that for me that Christmas week was the one that will remain with me more than any and despite being in a war zone, it for me was a time of peace on earth and good will toward men. Some people cannot imagine how a career military officer could feel that way. In the movie the French company commander is confronted by his father after the truce, and after the military postal censors had reported the many incidents of fraternization with the enemy to the various high commands in France, Germany, and Great Britain.
Although he was out of the line in reserve, discussion arose about crossing into Niemandsland to share Christmas with the British. He refused. "Such a thing should not happen in wartime," Hitler argued. "Have you no German sense of honor left at all?" More than patriotic scruples were involved. Although a baptized Catholic, he rejected every vestige of religious observance while his unit marked the day in the cellar of the Messines monastery to which they had retired on the 23rd. "Adi" was distinctly odd. He received no mail or parcels, never spoke of family or friends, neither smoked nor drank, and often brooded alone in his dugout. In the ruins open to the sky, Corporal Frobenius, a Lutheran theology student also decorated with the Iron Cross, read the Christmas gospel to a joint congregation of Catholics and Protestants, but not to Corporal Hitler.
Hitler's Nihilism, racist nationalism, and unrepentant rejection of his religious heritage while gaining the support of the most religious Christians in the Reich would be part of his life until he took it in his Berlin Bunker In 1945, and it would be shared by all too many men since the First World War until the present.
Maybe someday we will begin to understand, until then, like so many others in so many wars before, I am still dreaming of home.
It was supposed to be the "War to end all war," or so thought President Woodrow Wilson and other American idealists. However, the war to end all war birthed a series of wars which far exceeded the losses of the First World War as ideological wars, exponentially more powerful weapons, and systematized mass murder and genocide birthed new horrors.
In the First World War there were over 22 million military casualties including over 8 million dead of which over 126,000 were Americans. Close to 20 million civilians also were casualties of the war.
President Woodrow Wilson established what we know now as Veteran's Day as Armistice Day in November 1919, a year after the guns went silent.
That initial proclamation was followed 45 years later by one of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower signed into law what we now know as Veteran's Day in 1954.
Because of that, I will remember all who served tomorrow as we observe Veterans Day, but I will not forget Armistice Day.
It is important not to forget the horrors and results of the First World War because both it and the Second World War, have faded from memory. Most people today cannot fathom killing on such a large scale, the overthrow of powerful nations and dynasties, the creation of new nations built from diverse, and often rival ethnic and religious groups such as Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, or the re-establishment of ancient nations such as Poland.
The cost in human lives alone is incomprehensible. In the short time that United States forces went into action in late 1917 on the western front and the armistice, 126,000 Americans were killed, 234,000 wounded, and 4,500 missing; 8.2% of the force of 4,355,000 the nation mobilized for war. More Americans were killed in the First World War than Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan combined.
But American losses were small in comparison with the European nations who had for over four years bled themselves dry. If one wonders why Europeans seem to have so little desire for involvement in war, one only needs to see how the concentrated killing of the First World War decimated the best and brightest of that generation. Out of the nearly 8.5 million Frenchmen mobilized lost 1,357,000 killed, 4,266,000 wounded and 537,000 missing, 6,160,000 casualties or 73.3% of its forces. The Russians also lost over 73% of 12 million, Romania 71% of 750,000, Germany 65% of 11 million, Serbia 47% of 707,000, tiny Montenegro 40% of 50,000, Italy 39.9% of 5.6 million, Great Britain 36% of almost 9 million, the Ottoman Empire 34% of 8.5 million. But the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary which began the war in response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand lost 90% of the 7.8 million men that it sent to war.
The human costs were horrifying. In all over over 65 million men served under arms in the war. Over 8.5 million were killed, over 21 million wounded, 7.75 million missing or prisoners or almost 37.5 million military casualties alone. That total would be roughly equivalent to every citizen of the 30 largest American cities being killed, wounded or missing.
Much of Europe was devastated and in the following months and years, mass numbers of refugees the dissolution of previously stable empires were displaced. A Civil War in Russia killed many more people and led to the establishment of the Soviet Union. Germany too was torn apart by civil war that left it bitterly divided and planted the seeds of Hitler's Nazi regime. Border conflicts between new states with deep seated ethnic hatreds broke out. A flu pandemic spread around the world killing millions more. Economic disasters culminating in the Great Depression and social instability led to the rise of totalitarian regimes which spawned another, even more costly World War and a 40 year Cold War. The bitter results of the First World War are still felt today as conflicts in the Middle East in part fueled by the decisions of Britain and France at the end of the war rage on.
The his epic war poem, In Flanders Fields, Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrea symbolized the cost of that war and the feelings of the warriors who endured its hell.
Yes there are always consequences to actions. This weekend as we remember what we Americans now call Veteran's Day, and the British refer to as Remembrance Day let us blood shed by so on the battlefields of Verdun, Gallipoli, Caporetto, Passchendaele, the Marne, the Argonne, Tannenberg, the Somme, Galicia, the Balkans, Flanders Fields, at sea and in the air.
Kennedy was right, that our appreciation is not just to utter words, but to live by them. Sadly, the current American President has no understanding of such nuances. He continued thump his chest and spit in the face of allies while, courting nations hostile to the very ideals of the United States. Likewise, the President, a man who never served in the military, and spent the Vietnam War avoiding service and dodging the draft while later comparing avoiding sexuality transmitted diseases to combat again dishonored the men who spilt their blood in the First World War. Donald Trump does not understand anything about history, war, courage, or honor. Sadly, he is all too representative of a generation that neither knows or cares about those things. He and others like him will be the ones that lead the world into another disaster.
I write in the hope of peace and an end to war.
Today has been a very difficult day that I cannot write about here at this time. Eventually I will write about it, but tonight I will re-post an older article about how I try to write history.
English historian and military theorist Colin Gray noted that "people matter most" when we deal with history, policy, or politics, but especially in the matter of war.
I think one of the sad things about history is that many authors, especially in military history, but other areas as well, seem to treat the participants as bit players in a series of events, rather than a prism from which to understand and view history.
I cannot tell you how many times I have had students, and even colleagues tell me that history is dry, boring and uninteresting to them. I will not condemn them, for certainly if it is that is case, it is not their fault, but rather those who write and teach history. If all history is, is arbitrary dates, lists of disconnected events and names of people, without any context to their lives, why should they care about it?
When I first began to study history I was much more concerned about events than people. However, over the past couple of years I have began to develop what I call my philosophy of history. That has come about through my study of the events leading to the American Civil War and in particular my study of the Battle of Gettysburg, but also in other historical events such as the Arab Revolt of 1917, and the French adventures in Indochina and Algeria.
In doing all of my research I have read a large number of books, articles and primary sources on these subjects and my personal library appears to be growing at an exponential rate. I have noticed that much of what I have read deals very little with the people involved, unless I am reading a biography, and even some of the biographies seem to be event heavy, and person light and sometimes it seems that the subjects of the biography are often one dimensional, and almost caricatures of who they really were. Some of the alleged biographies that I read would be better described as hagiography, to make the subjects appear saintlike, the type of writing used by religious writers to make saints a lot less human. There are others who go to the opposite extreme and do all they can to demonize their subject. In either case the method is less than honest, but for many people, profit and propaganda value mean more than truth. Of course either type of writing appeals to the masses who do not care about nuance, or for that matter truth.
My gut feeling says that such artificial divisions between history and biography do a disservice to the reader. I take a tremendous pleasure in writing, and I like to try to communicate and interpret facts, which is indeed the vocation of the historian, in a manner that makes them interesting. What I am finding is that when telling the stories of events we must also tell the stories of the people who make these events.
Without such a connection there is little to interest most readers. People tend to be interested in people because there is a connection. The human being is still the human being, no matter what age, country, culture, religion that they belong to. I learned a lot of this from reading the works of Barbara Tuchman who in her writings about events, never forgot importance of people, and refused to turn them in to one dimensional caricatures.
In my writing now I attempt to bring the prism of the biography into the events that I write about.
I had a fellow faculty member note that he liked what I wrote about Gettysburg because it was more than just the events, it was the personal connection he felt to the people.
People matter because they have so many layers. I guess one of the things that makes my writing approach a bit different is that while I am a historian, I am also trained in philosophy, pastoral care and psychology, all of which deal with existential matters.In the next few days you will be seeing some of my Gettysburg work, and hopefully as you read it you will notice that I attempt to find that nuance in the various men, on both sides of the conflict, who are part of the story.
I found that the complexities and contradictions of the subjects of history, the people help me understand the events more than anything. I think my epiphanies came in reading about the lives, as well at writings of men like T.E. Lawrence and Gouvereur Warren whose triumphs, struggles, weaknesses and injuries mirror my own. In learning about these men as people, in the context of what they accomplished helps me to understand their history and the era that they lived far more than simply recounting how they influenced a battle.
Likewise, I find that the lives, beliefs, motivations, relationships, and experiences of people to be paramount to understanding events. People are complex, multi-layers and often contradictory. All of my heroes all have feet of clay, which in a sense makes their stories even richer, and the events that they helped bring about more fascinating, because then I gain a holistic perspective and develop an empathy for them. Even good and honorable people who find themselves due to race, religion, or nationality fighting for an evil cause, or evil people fighting for a good cause. If you are trapped by ideological or religious certitude that may confuse or even offend you, but it is a part of the human condition. That my friends is history.
This is very important, because when we do this we discover the answers to the why questions, especially the why questions that are so very uncomfortable, are necessary if we want to discover truth.
I know that I can find connections in the strengths as well as their weaknesses of people that I admire. Thus when I see ordinary people taking part in events, for good or for evil,I can say that given the same set of circumstances that that could be me. Context matters, nuance matters, people matter. If we do not understand that, history becomes nothing more than a set of manipulated facts, devoid of context that can be used to buttress the most evil intentions.
I do plan on developing these thoughts over the coming weeks and months, but for now it will suffice to say that when I write about history, that people matter. That is why I write.
I think that it important to read, and read, and did I say read?
Since I write about a lot of topics and because I am a historian as well as a stand up theologian, I read a lot and I frequently quote from other people in anything that I write. Sometimes I find that those who have gone before me have said things I want to say much better than I could on my own. Thus I am not afraid or ashamed to give attribution to them, after all, it is only fair.
But today I want to share some of the books that I think are important for anyone seeking to understand our world. In a sense, this is a part of my Reading Rainbow.
Most of my picks deal with history, military, diplomacy, civil rights, politics, as well as baseball, and there are some novels on the list, most of which fall into the categories listed above.
Despite the fact that I am a priest I don't have many books on theology, religion, or faith on my list, but then the fact is that I don't see a lot, including many of the so called classics that hold up over time.
In the same manner I do not list any contemporary political biographies or autobiographies, nor books on current events. The fact is that none of them has yet stood the test of history.
So today here are just some of the books that I recommend from my reading rainbow.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.
Sorry, no descriptions or intros included, but trust me. They are all worth the read. Anyway, those are just some of my favorites on from my Reading Rainbow. Yes, there are plenty more, but that's all for now.


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text:
The family name is reputed to have originated from a family of Huguenot refugees named von Toppherr, then Töpper, who were exiled from their home in Hesse-Cassell, Germany in 1522, because of their religious beliefs. Three brothers, Robert, Heinrich and Wilhelm left Hesse Cassel, settling in Sandwich, Sussex, Guernsey and Chichester respectively.
Heinrich Töpper anglicised his name to Henry Tupper, and settled in Guernsey in about 1551.
They were one of the families to profit from privateering activities during the 18th Century, and built a number of fine family houses in St Peter Port with the proceeds.
von Topherr
Töpper
Toupard
Ferdinand Brock Tupper (1795-1874), historian
Lieut-General Gaspard Le Marchant Tupper (1826-1906),
Jurat Henry Tupper (1809-1875)
Major-General John Tupper (1727-1795), Commandant of Royal Marines
Curtis, Spencer C, The Tupper Medal, Trans Soc Guern, 1929
Hart, Peter de B, Tuppers in Moscow, RGS, 1971
Hart, Peter de B, A Chance Meeting in Moscow and the Memorial of Caroline Tupper, RGS, 1999
Ingham, RM, A Set of Tupper Furniture, RGS, 1975
Le Lievre, Florence, Further News of the Tuppers, RGS, 1971
Marr, LJ, Guernsey People, Phillimore, 1984
Priaulx, TF, A Tragic Family, RGS, 1970
Priaulx, TF, Guernsey at Cape Breton, RGS, 1975 - story of Point Tupper, Cape Breton
Tupper, Martin Farquhar, Proverbial Philosophy, 1863 - Biographical Sketch of the author contains a short family history
Retrieved from "http://www.jerripedia.com/index.php/Tupper"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
DfE launches new matching and redundancy support service for apprentices
Billy Camden
Fri 31st Jul 2020, 15.50
A new service that allows employers to share their vacancies with redundant apprentices has been launched by the Department for Education.
The "vacancy sharing service" has been set up alongside a new online and telephone support service for apprentices who have lost their jobs during Covid-19 outbreak.
Apprenticeship vacancies can already be viewed via the government's Find An Apprenticeship website, but the new service, which can be accessed by clicking here, will see the DfE "share your [employer] details with [redundant] apprentices who are interested in your opportunity, so they can contact you directly".
Separately, a new 'Redundancy Support Service for Apprentices' is available for apprentices by calling 0800 015 0400.
Out-of-work apprentices are being advised to call that line to "get free advice, find new opportunities, and access local and national support services offering financial, health and wellbeing, legal and careers advice".
"You can also read our guidance for apprentices affected by redundancy. There's advice for finding alternative employment, plus information about financial support and talking to someone about how you're coping," the service adds.
The government has set an aim of helping apprentices to find alternative employment within 12 weeks of being made redundant.
Apprenticeships and skills minister Gillian Keegan said: "Covid-19 has had a big impact on business and the jobs market, and we know that some apprentices have lost their jobs or are facing redundancy as a result.
"We are taking unprecedented steps through our Plan for Jobs to protect, support and create jobs, with a clear focus on ensuring people have the right skills to get into work and progress. This includes creating more high quality apprenticeship opportunities to help get our economy moving.
"Our new Redundancy Support Service for Apprentices will make sure apprentices who have lost their jobs can get the help and support they need to get back on track and on the path to a new career."
The new service also advise employers that they could be eligible for incentive payments for hiring a new apprentice from tomorrow, as announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak in his summer statement.
From August 2020 until the 31 January 2021, businesses taking on new apprentices will be rewarded with £2,000 for a 16 to 24-year-old and £1,500 for a 25 year-old or over. Further detail of the incentives can be found here.
The incentives are hoped to go some way to reversing the substantial drop in apprenticeship start caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Data published by the DfE yesterday showed that apprenticeship starts for the month of May 2020 fell 60 per cent on the previous year.
And starts recorded from March 23 – when lockdown started – to the end of June showed a 52 per cent drop compared to the same period in 2019.


text:
Q: Finding the Green's Function for BVP I am trying to solve for the Green's Function of the ODE
$$y''(x)-(1+x^2)y(x) = f(x), \hspace{.5cm} -\infty < x < \infty$$
with boundary conditions $y \to 0$ as $\left| x \right| \to \infty$. All methods I've used in the past to solve problems like these involved finding the solution to the homogeneous problem, but there doesn't appear to be a solution in terms of elementary functions. If we're just considering the homogeneous problem, I found the series solution $$y(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} a_nx^n,$$
where the coefficients satisfy $$a_{n+2} = \frac{a_n + a_{n-2}}{(n+2)(n+1)}, $$
and $a_0, a_1$ are arbitrary. From this, I was able to find
\begin{align*}
a_{2n} &= \frac{(2n-1)!!}{(2n)!}, \hspace{.2cm} n > 0 \\
\end{align*}
which can be verified via induction. I haven't had the same luck with $a_{2n-1}$ though. Even if I were able to solve for these coefficients, would my series solution be useful in finding the Green's function? I'm not sure how applying the boundary conditions would reduce the complexity of the problem. Thanks in advance.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Early sunday morning we set off to Watsonville, unsure of the activities that we would be participating in that day. We soon found out that on the "Farmworker Reality Tour" we were to explore a strawberry farm, a farmworker labor camp, and we would be fortunate enough to be invited into the home of a woman with a passionate story of perseverance.
At each of the three destinations, we would hear two testimonies of people who work in the fields as migrant farmworkers. Some of the speakers were documented residents, others were here in the United States in search of a better life "without papers", but all of them face daily labor injustices from their employers.
While keeping in mind the Human Agenda mantra of "[seeking] a community where we are all involved in care work, meaningful labor with reduced hours and a living wage, life- long learning, participatory democracy, and free time," we learned of the hardships that people face, when they are not protected by labor laws, and the heavy role that the environment can play in these injustices.
With the California drought being so horrendous, particularly in the summers, it's not surprising that this crisis would drastically affect Californian residents. The fact that "eighty-eight percent of the nation's strawberries are grown in California", means that the pressure caused by the demand of these crops, is high. The toll that this plays on hard-working farm workers, is an infraction of human rights.
While it is the land that refuses to produce crops, because of the drought, it is the migrant workers that are held responsible for the lack of produce. Since most workers only have a verbal contract, their employers neglect to pay them an equal or fair wage. So, when the crops are minimal, migrant workers are paid less than their agreed upon wage, if they are paid at all.
Another problem that migrant farmworkers face, are the various pesticides that are illegally applied to the crops. Unregulated pesticides affect the health and well-being of the workers that are exposed. These hazardous chemicals have been known to cause cancers, reproductive and developmental harm, and damage to the nervous system within the unsuspecting workers.
Because employers refuse to follow the legal regulations surrounding the use of pesticides, they often get into the water supply and contaminate local groundwater. According to CPR (Californians for Pesticide Reform) "Over 90% of agricultural pesticides used in the state are prone to drifting away from where they're applied and onto nearby homes, schools, and communities". The environmental concerns that are being indirectly caused, by the disregard of human rights, need to be addressed. In fact, this problem falls under the jurisdiction of law AB 685, which protect the human right to water.
Our first principle tells us to always pursue the "The inherent worth and dignity of every person". This entitles each person to a fair and equal wage, and the opportunity to support their families through the efforts of hard work. This also means that we should do more than just be aware of the wrongdoings being done around us. As members of the community in which this injustice takes place, we must stand for the rights of those who cannot stand up for themselves. We must do more than just be aware of the wrongdoings being done around us. The environmental concerns that are being caused indirectly, from the infractions of these human rights, need to be directly addressed by upholding the laws already put in place.


A repeated-measures mixed-design was used in examining the effects of cooperative learning study teams on exam performance for 378 undergraduate students enrolled in one of 10 large sections of an introductory educational psychology course over a two-semester period. Students were assigned to 5-member cooperative groups based on previous exam achievement (low, average, high). Bonuses (20% of exam score) were offered to groups who improved their mean exam performance to a pre-established criterion in the cooperative-group phase. Results yielded an overall effect size of 0.42 for cooperative study versus individual study. Students who had obtained low and average scores on the preceding exam improved significantly during cooperative study, but the previously high achievers decreased somewhat.


text:
WFIA is an AM radio station on 900 kHz in Louisville, Kentucky. WFIA is owned by Word Media Group through its subsidiary Word Broadcasting Network, Inc. WFIA broadcasts with a daytime power of 930 watts and a nighttime power of 162 watts and carries Christian programming.

History

WKYW
WKYW began broadcasting on March 24, 1947, with a 25-minute preview of programs before initiating full service the next day. The station's original power was 1,000 watts, broadcast from the transmitter site off River Road; because of its location near the Ohio River, the transmitter building was raised on aluminum pontoons. The daytime-only outlet claimed several firsts: its off-air hours were silenced by a mattress company, and one Christmas it recorded its entire programming on tape so all of its employees—save for an engineer—could take the holiday off. In its programming, WKYW emphasized music, with a minimum of talk. WKYW was also noteworthy by the mid-1960s for the use of a helicopter to report traffic conditions.

WFIA
In 1965, the Polaris Corporation, owners of WKYW, opted to relaunch the station as a religious outlet: WFIA (With Faith In America), effective September 5. Along with the change in call letters, the station ceased to accept beer, wine and tobacco commercials. The traffic helicopter moved over to WAVE.

In 1975, WFIA spawned its first FM sister station, WFIA-FM 103.9. That station remained co-owned in the 1980s as WXLN, a contemporary Christian outlet, while WFIA's programming shifted to religious talk and teaching. WFIA-WXLN was sold in 1989 to Jim Kincer for $2.1 million. This started a decade in which the station changed hands multiple times; when the FM station prepared for a secular flip, its longform religious programming migrated to WFIA. Neon Communications split WFIA and the FM outlet, by that time known as WQLL, by selling them separately in 1994; the buyer for WFIA, paying $500,000, was Regent Broadcasting. Regent was acquired by Jacor in 1996; under Jacor ownership, Ohio River flooding briefly forced WFIA and its riverside transmitter off the air in March 1997, and the University of Louisville allowed the station to temporarily broadcast from an unused tower.

When Jacor was merged into Clear Channel Communications three years later, the company was required to divest 18 radio stations, including WFIA, which was sold to Blue Chip Broadcasting. The ownership carousel ended when Salem Communications acquired WFIA for $1.75 million in 2001.

On December 22, 2016, Salem announced that it would hand operation of its Louisville radio stations, including WFIA, to Word Broadcasting Network (also known as Word Media Group) under a time brokerage agreement. Programming of WFIA was changed to a simulcast of Word's Contemporary Christian station WJIE-FM, and the station carried the WJIE call letters for 10 months in 2017 before reverting to WFIA in October. On February 10, 2020, Word Broadcasting announced that it would take advantage of the option in its agreement to acquire the stations from Salem for $4 million; the sale was completed on May 25, 2022.

Translator
WFIA's signal is repeated over translator station W297BV on 107.3 MHz, also at Louisville.

References

External links

FIA
Radio stations established in 1947
1947 establishments in Kentucky
FIA

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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text:
John Sherrod (September 10, 1924 – July 10, 2004) was an American meteorologist and information scientist.

Biography
John Sherrod was born on September 10, 1924 in Kane, Pennsylvania.

Sherrod received a B.S. in mathematics from Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., in 1947 and then a B.S. and M.S. in meteorology from Pennsylvania State College, where he remained as instructor and research meteorologist until 1952.

He then worked at the Library of Congress as head of the Snow, Ice, and Permafrost (SIPRE) Bibliography Project in the former Technical Information Division. He was promoted in April 1956 to acting chief of the Science Division, and was appointed chief a year later.

In March 1963 Sherrod was appointed chief of the Information Services and Systems Branch, Division of Technical Information (renamed Science and Technology in 1958) at the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission which was later merged in the US Department of Energy .As Deputy Director of Technical Information at the US Department of Energy, he was instrumental in establishing the Nuclear Energy Information System (INIS).

Sherrod was appointed Director of the National Agricultural Library (NAL) in 1968.  During his tenure as there from  1968 to 1973,  he led the development of the International Agricultural  System (AGRIS) under the aegis of the United Nations.

Following his government career,  Sherrod worked for many years as a senior consultant to Aspen Systems Corporation in Rockville, MD., He also taught graduate information science courses at Drexel and Rutgers Universities, and authored and edited   publications on scientific and technical information.

Sherrod served in the US Navy during World War II, retiring as a Lt. Commander.

Sherrod was elected President of the American Society for Information Science in 1970,

Sherrod died on 10 July 2004 in Pittsboro, North Carolina; he is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

References

1924 births
2004 deaths
Information scientists
Librarians at the Library of Congress
United States Department of Agriculture officials
Allegheny College alumni
Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences alumni
Drexel University faculty
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
20th-century American naval officers
Scientists from Pennsylvania


text:
Last updated 1 year ago
From the incredible Edinburgh Castle and the eye-opening Balmoral Castle to the astonishing Stirling Castle, the fortifications of Scotland are absolutely mind-blowing places to discover. While first-time visitors may just want to hit the highlights, for those who wish to delve deeper into this list other unique sites to explore shouldn't be missed such as such as Rothesay Castle, Craigmillar Castle and Dumbarton Castle. With so many fascinating places to explore it's not necessarily easy to select the very best castles of Scotland, but we've painstakingly contemplated, deliberated and meditated over this list and come up with our top recommendations as well as a few others worth exploring if you have more time.
What are the top 10 Castles in Scotland?
1. Dunrobin Castle
One of Scotland's oldest continuously inhabited houses, Dunrobin Castle is the largest in the Northern Highlands as well as one of the most picturesque. The oldest sections of the castle still standing were probably built in the late 1300s and Pictish stones can also still be found on the site. The castle was remodelled at the beginning of the 18th century giving it the structure that we see today. Resembling a French chateau, Dunrobin is the closest Scotland comes to 'fairytale architecture'. The castle is open to the public between April and October and many of the 189 rooms are accessible, as are the exquisite 1,379-acre gardens, designed in the French formal style and modelled on the Palace of Versailles.
2. Caerlaverock Castle
Set in the heart of the picturesque Scottish countryside, Caerlaverock is an impressive a medieval fortress which stands out for its unique triangular design and picturesque location, ensuring it ranks among Scotland's most remarkable castles. With its triangular shape and imposing moat, it conjures up images of battles yonder. And there were many; due to its strategic position near the English border, Caerlaverock was the site of on-going warfare between the two crowns. Visitors can gain a lesson in siege warfare as well as viewing fascinating reconstructions of medieval siege engines. For the kids there even a castle-themed adventure park to provide extra entertainment!
3. Edinburgh Castle
A royal residence, a vital stronghold and an iconic structure, Edinburgh Castle is probably the most famous castle in Scotland. It initially became a royal castle in the Middle Ages and has since been the site of many significant events in royal and military history. Today, visitors can explore the history of this iconic fortress through a series of guided tours and exhibitions. Amongst its many attractions are the Scottish National War Memorial and National War Museum, the Mons Meg and the Great Hall. Royal exhibitions include The Honours of Scotland jewels which, along with Scotland's coronation stone, the Stone of Destiny, can be found in the castle's Crown Room. Edinburgh Castle is also home to the oldest building in the city, the 12th-century St Margaret's Chapel.
4. Glamis Castle
A stunning medieval fortification set in the beautiful Scottish countryside, Glamis has a fascinating history as well as a strong connection to the British royal family. The castle traces its roots back to the 14th century and was extensively renovated in the 17th and 18th centuries taking on the trappings of a French chateau and leaving much of what can be seen by visitors today. Glamis is steeped in history, with a number of fascinating stories, myths and legends associated with it mostly notably that it's said to have provided inspiration for the setting in Shakespeare's Macbeth. The connection with the current royal family is more recent, with Glamis being the childhood home of Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Indeed it was here that Princess Margaret was born in 1930. As well as the castle itself, visitors can wander the scenic ornamental gardens and there's a nature trail within the grounds, providing an opportunity to see the true beauty of the Scottish countryside.
5. Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle is an iconic royal palace and stronghold, seen to represent Scottish independence and a focal point for many of the most important events in Scotland's history. It was the site of royal deaths, the subject of a tug of war during the Wars of Scottish Independence and even the scene of an assassination. During the Wars of Scottish Independence, the castle was fought over by some of the most famous figures in Scottish and English history, including William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. The current incarnation mostly dates from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Some of the highlights include the King's Old Building, the Great Hall and the Royal Palace. Visitors can tour with an audio guide or with a tour guide and there are a range of exhibitions to see.
6. Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle has been the official Highlands home of the British royal family since the reign of Queen Victoria. Having fallen in love with the Highlands after their first visit in 1842, it was in fact Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who built Balmoral Castle between 1853 and 1856. Today, parts of Balmoral Castle and its grounds are open to the public, with audio guides available detailing the workings of the estate and its history. There are also a series of exhibitions at Balmoral Castle related to the royal family.
7. Tantallon Castle
The dramatic cliff-top ruins of Tantallon Castle are quite a sight and this once-powerful fortress is a popular draw with those who delight in picturesque history. Originally the imposing medieval stronghold of the influential Douglas Earls the castle served that purpose for around three centuries. Indeed, Tantallon would survive numerous sieges and bore the scars of battle well but ultimately met its fate when it was utterly devastated by the army of Oliver Cromwell in 1651.
8. Craigmillar Castle
Craigmillar Castle was built from the fourteenth century and is now a pretty and well-preserved medieval ruin. Visitors to Craigmillar can explore several aspects of the fourteenth century structure, including an impressive tower. There is also a maze of medieval tunnels which are fascinating to discover. In terms of the history of the castle itself, once of the most famed aspect was that it played host to Mary Queen of Scots when she was recovering from an illness. It is also the namesake of a pact between several noblemen to murder her husband, Lord Darnley.
9. Bothwell Castle
Bothwell Castle is a stunning ruined medieval stronghold near Glasgow and one of the most celebrated of its kind. It was subjected to several sieges through the centuries and was captured on several occasions. The most famous of these attacks occurred in 1301 when Edward I laid siege to Bothwell with a force of almost seven thousand men. In 1362, Bothwell passed to the aristocratic Black Douglas family by marriage and they rebuilt it. Whilst not adhering to the structure of the Morays, the new castle was still formidable and parts of it - notably its chapel - can still be seen.
10. Hailes Castle
The pretty ruins of Hailes Castle date back to the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, making it one of the oldest of its kind in Scotland. Free to enter at all reasonable times, it can be fun to explore the castle ruins and in particular view its two vaulted pit-prisons. It is also said that Mary Queen of Scots stayed here on several occasions.
Full list of the very best Scottish Castles
As well as the best known castles in Scotland, there's a host of other amazing places to explore. From sites such as Tantallon Castle to fascinating locations such as Lochleven Castle, if you have the time to visit these incredible places you'll find you have a wealth of things to see and do. Our advice? Don't ignore them, because the full list of fortifications in Scotland can be among the very best to visit! That's why we've gone beyond the top ten and brought you a selection of these hidden gems below.
Crichton Castle is a distinctive fourteenth century castle. Read More
Dirleton Castle
Dirleton Castle was an imposing medieval fortress and noble residence, which is now a picturesque ruin not far from Edinburgh. Read More
Doune Castle in Perthshire, central Scotland is a 14th century military stronghold built by Robert Stewart, Regent Albany and includes one of the best-preserved great halls in the whole of Scotland. Read More
Dumbarton Castle served as a wartime prison, a royal shelter and a defence against both foreign and local threats. Read More
Dunstaffnage Castle is a medieval stronghold once captured by Robert the Bruce. Read More
Lochleven Castle
Lochleven Castle was a medieval stronghold most renowned for being the prison of Mary Queen of Scots. Read More
Rothesay Castle
Rothesay Castle is a distinctive medieval ruin with strong links to the royal Stewart dynasty. Read More
We're constantly expanding this list of Scottish castles and if you do notice any omissions then please feel free to contact us with further information and our editorial team will look to expand this collection further.
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