Tag: Washington

Big Ten drops updated version of beloved “Maps” commercial

It’s so beautiful.

With USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington set to join the Big Ten, an important question crossed everyone’s minds. That question was what would happen to the conference’s football commercial that literally mapped out every school and famous nearby landmarks. Surely, a conference as hungry for money would ignore the fans’ concerns, right?

It turns out the Big Ten’s higher-ups do have a shred of humanity in them as with the aforementioned four schools officially joining the conference, an updated version of the “Maps” commercial officially has dropped, and it’s absolutely beautiful:

It does not matter whether you root for Notre Dame or anyone else. This is the best commercial in college football, bar none. It hits all the right notes, and it makes those who live in the areas near the schools proud of where they’re from.

So major props to the Big Ten for actually giving the fans what they wanted for once. Hopefully, this new era of college football provides many more such examples.

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Big Ten officially adds four former Pac-12 powers

Big Ten officially adds four former Pac-12 powers

The Wisconsin Badgers officially have four new conference mates as of Aug. 2, 2024. The Big Ten officially announced the additions of Oregon, USC, UCLA and Washington, and welcomed them with a full day of programming on the Big Ten Network.

The conference now officially includes 18 member institutions. That means an official start to its new era in football, basketball and every other scholarship sport.

Related: Big Ten power rankings in CBS Sports’ latest 1-134 ranking for 2024 season

The immediate impact of the new-look conference includes the elimination of the East-West division model in football and the subsequent introduction of a new pool play format. Otherwise, the landscape just got more competitive with several more premier basketball and football brands now in the fold.

For fans of traditional Big Ten programs including Wisconsin and Iowa, there are now four new destinations to watch their favorite teams play. For the teams themselves, there are more roadblocks than ever on the way to a conference title.

The season officially kicks off at the end of August, with most conference play beginning during the final weekend of September.

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Dennis Allen on Saints’ responsibility to help Chase Young reach his potential

Dennis Allen says he and his coaching staff have a responsibility to help Chase Young reach his potential, but he sees a player who has ‘bought into everything’

There might not be a more exciting player at New Orleans Saints training camp than Chase Young. The former second overall draft pick has been ramping up in team drills after recovering from offseason neck surgery well ahead of schedule, and everyone around him is excited to see what he can do in 2024 — including his head coach Dennis Allen.

Allen spoke about Young’s strong start to training camp with Jonathan Jones for CBS Sports. But what’s interesting is that he’s putting less pressure on the player and more on Young’s head coach, defensive coordinator, and position coach.

“He’s got all the ability to play at an elite level in our league. And so now our job is to see how can we get him to perform that way more consistently. And that’s charged on me, that’s charged on Joe Woods, that’s charged on Todd Grantham. How do we get this guy to play at the level he’s capable of at a more consistent level?” Allen said.

But while he acknowledged the coaches must shoulder some of the responsibility, Allen spoke highly of what he’s seen of Young’s ability to self-motivate and buy into what they’re asking of him. He’s seen a player with a great combination of talent and enthusiasm, with a huge opportunity in front of him.

“Look, the great thing about,” Allen said, pausing to consider his words. “Everything he’s that done to this point, coming in here, he’s exceeded expectations in terms of his work ethic. In terms of coming in and doing everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s bought into everything. And when you see him out here you notice him when he’s on the field. He’s a disruptive force.”

Young came to the Saints this spring with questions about his effort level trailing him from San Francisco; the 49ers were disappointed in what he gave them after being acquired in a midseason trade with the Washington Commanders. But you have to wonder if the hesitance Young showed on the field last season, which isn’t happening now, was a result of the neck injury he sustained and played through last summer. Now he’s healthy and playing with only the restraints his coaches put on him.

“And so we’re excited about having him,” Allen continued. “I think he’s got an opportunity to have a great season and I think he’s going to be a big addition for us.”

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Big Ten Network announces hours of Oregon Ducks programming as conference welcome

The Big Ten Network has set out two hours of programming to be Duck-centric to welcome Oregon into the conference.

The Ducks officially become members of the Big Ten Conference on Aug. 1 and on the next day, the Big Ten Network welcomes Oregon with Duck-centric programming for a couple of hours.

On Wednesday, the network announced the programming lineup that will come as a welcoming party for the Ducks.

At noon PT, two hours of Oregon programming kick off with B1G Welcome: Oregon, giving fans an inside look at the Ducks. The B1G Moment: Women’s Track Triple Crown debuts at 12:30 pm PT and highlights the historic achievements of the 2017 women’s track team.

At 1 pm PT, B1G Trailblazers: Tinker Hatfield provides a sit-down with Hatfield, an Oregon legend, and tells the story of his time at Oregon and his legendary career at Nike.

The Big Ten Network is setting out blocks of time for Washington, USC and UCLA also on Aug. 2.

Fans can find the Big Ten Network on most television and streaming providers.

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The best public-access and private golf courses in Washington, ranked

Our hundreds of raters weigh in on the best public-access and private courses in Washington.

Looking to play the best golf courses in Washington? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.

Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.

* indicates new or returning to the rankings

Best public-access courses in Washington

Gamble Sands
Gamble Sands in Washington (Courtesy of Gamble Sands/Brian Oar)

1. Chambers Bay
University Place (T40m)

2. Gamble Sands
Brewster (T49m)

3. Wine Valley
Walla Walla (T134m)
Book your tee time at Wine Valley today

4. Gold Mountain (Olympic)
Bremerton (m)
Book your tee time at Gold Mountain today

5. Palouse Ridge
Pullman (m)

T6. Salish Cliffs
Shelton (m)

T6. Indian Canyon
Spokane (c)

8. Kalispel
Spokane (c)

9. White Horse*
Kingston (m)
Book your tee time at White Horse today

T10. Suncadia (Rope Rider)*
Cle Elum (m)
Book your tee time at Suncadia today

T10. Suncadia (Prospector)*
Cle Elum (m)
Book your tee time at Suncadia today

Best private courses in Washington

Aldarra in Washington (Courtesy of Aldarra)

1. Aldarra
Sammamish (T161m)

2. Sahalee (South/North)
Sammamish (T184m)

T3. Seattle GC
Seattle (c)

T3. Suncadia (Tumble Creek)
Roslyn (m)

5. Tacoma G&CC
Lakeland (c)

Robert Meachem’s 44-yard fumble recovery is the Saints Play of the Day

Robert Meachem’s 44-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown is the Saints Play of the Day. It’s one of the wildest plays you’ll see:

How’s this for a throwback? With just 44 days left until the start of the New Orleans Saints’ 2024 season, we’re highlighting Robert Meachem’s 44-yard touchdown as the Saints Play of the Day.

But it’s a little more complicated than Drew Brees throwing the football and Meachem carrying it into the end zone. You really need to see it for yourself, but here’s how the official NFL gamebook summarized the play:

(Shotgun) D.Brees pass short middle intended for J.Shockey INTERCEPTED by K.Moore at WAS 30. K.Moore to WAS 44 for 44 yards (R.Meachem). FUMBLES (R.Meachem), RECOVERED  by NO-R.Meachem at WAS 44. R.Meachem for 44 yards,  TOUCHDOWN.

The Replay Assistant challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was Upheld.

That’s right — Meachem made up for his quarterback’s mistake, and then some. Falling back under pressure while facing 3rd-and-26 in the final minute before halftime, trailing 17-10, Brees forced the ball to his tight end Jeremy Shockey to try and make a play. He took the snap out of shotgun at the Washington 48-yard line and backpedaled with multiple defenders in his face, ultimately throwing from New Orleans’ 41 while being shoved to the ground.

Several defenders crashed down on Shockey and safety Kareem Moore took the ball away. Then Meachem stepped in. Moore got to his feet and tried to work his way through traffic up to midfield, but Meachem stopped him, stripped the ball away, and sprinted down the sideline for what was arguably the play of the year.

Meachem came through again in the second half, catching a 54-yard touchdown pass from Brees that forced the game to overtime. A Garrett Hartley field goal in extra minutes put them ahead 33-30. The Saints returned to New Orleans with a tough win, having improved to 12-0, and they went on to win it all in Super Bowl XLIV.

You have to wonder how things may have gone differently if Meachem hadn’t made such a heady play. What if the Saints had lost in Washington and ceded homefield advantage throughout the playoffs to the Minnesota Vikings instead? Thankfully, we’re not in that timeline, so we don’t have to do more than wonder about it.

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Jedd Fisch touts Washington’s achievements, which he had nothing to do with

Jedd Fisch has to make his own history at Washington, but he is pointing to what Kalen DeBoer just did.

Let’s start with a simple question and answer: If you were Jedd Fisch at Big Ten media days, would you have boldly promoted the elite achievements of Washington football despite having no role in forging them? Yes, of course you would. Why wouldn’t a new coach look at the accomplishments of his predecessor and hold them up before the world? Why not remind everyone how great your school, your program, can be? Of course Fisch should have leaned heavily into Washington’s majestic 2023 college football season. UW Huskies Wire noted this at Big Ten media days:

From taking shots at Washington’s rivals to earning praise from one of his former players, Jedd Fisch and the Huskies were a big hit at their inaugural Big Ten media day.

“Washington football has beaten Oregon the last three times we played,” Fisch said at the podium, unafraid to take a jab at the Huskies’ bitter rivals. “Washington has beaten Texas the last two times we played. Washington has beaten USC the last two times we played.”

Fisch wasn’t wrong to do this, but it remains that while Washington was a hugely successful program last year, everything is beginning again with a very different assemblage of coaches and players and a lot of uncertainty.

USC visits Washington in early November. It will be fascinating to see where the two teams will be by then.

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Washington might be the most interesting Big Ten football team in 2024

No team has a story quite like Washington in 2024.

USC is a fascinating team to watch in the new Big Ten college football landscape this season. The Trojans try to thrive in a new conference against a rough schedule without Caleb Williams. For better or worse, it doesn’t figure to be a boring year around here. The one Big Ten team which might be more interesting to watch than USC in 2024 is Washington.

Think about it: The Huskies went 14-0 last season before falling to Michigan in the national championship game. Washington became the first Pac-12 team to make the playoff since UW previously pulled off the feat in 2016. The Huskies beat Dan Lanning and Oregon twice. They beat Texas in a big-boy playoff semifinal. They accomplished quite a lot … but virtually all of the players who forged that feat are gone.

Washington has a new head coach, a new quarterback, a new offensive line, new receivers, new everything. No Kalen DeBoer, no Michael Penix, no Rome Odunze. A large NFL draft contingent is gone. Washington was the second-best team in America last year, but now the Huskies are starting over. Their story will be riveting, regardless of the final outcome.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

Countdown to Kickoff: Khaleke Hudson is Saints Player of Day 47

Countdown to Kickoff: Khaleke Hudson is the Saints Player of Day 47. The veteran linebacker could help the Saints replace what they lost in free agency:

Just 47 days stand between right now and when the New Orleans Saints open up the 2024 regular season against the Carolina Panthers. With that, Khaleke Hudson is the Saints Player of the Day 47 in our countdown.

Here’s what to know about Hudson, a newcomer to the Saints who fittingly wears the No. 47 jersey:

  • Name (Age): Khaleke Hudson (26)
  • Position: Linebacker
  • Height, weight: 6-foot, 220 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 7.58
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $1,152,500
  • College: Michigan
  • Drafted: Round 5 in 2020 (Washington Commanders)
  • NFL experience: 5 years

2024 will mark the first year in which Hudson has played for a team in his NFL career not named the Washington Commanders. Hudson is expected to add depth and some value on special teams, something that’s obviously an asset after he factored in on 73% of Washington’s special teams snaps in 2023. The Saints lost special teams linebackers like Zack Baun and Ty Summers in free agency so he could help out in that phase.

He did see more time on the defensive side of the ball in 2023, though, playing in 17 games (8 starts) with 74 tackles (44 solo), five tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, two passes defensed and two quarterback hits.

His versatility that he brings to the table for an NFL team goes back to his college career at Michigan where he played the “Viper” position for the Wolverines. The position is described as one in which the player functions as a hybrid between the linebacker and the safety role.

At Michigan, he saw action in 52 contests with 37 starts, earning second team All-Big 10 honors twice (2017, 2019).

Hudson was signed by the Saints in April as an unrestricted free agent to a one-year deal. How he is able to capitalize on this opportunity in New Orleans and if he can grow a larger role at linebacker over time will be something to keep an eye on.

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Alligator sighting in Washington State prompts investigation

The 10-foot gator was last seen in Snohomish County, headed toward a river. Several questions remain unanswered.

**UPDATE: As reported Saturday afternoon by KIRO 7, the reptile in question turned out to be an exotic tegu lizard that recently escaped from its owner.

Alligators are not native to Washington State and could not establish a population in the region because of its cool climate. But somewhere in Snohomish County, a very large gator is on the prowl.

“Granite Falls Deputies are investigating the sighting of a 10’ alligator near the 9400 block of Ray Grade Rd.,” the Snohomish County Sheriff announced late Friday via X. “The reptile was last seen south of Ray Grade Rd. toward the Pilchuck River.”

A grainy image shows the alligator in dense vegetation.

KIRO 7 reported that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is aware of the sighting but, at this point, does not plan to try to locate or capture the reptile.

“There aren’t any houses near where the gator was spotted so deputies are hopeful there won’t be any interactions with humans,” KIRO 7 reported.

It’s not clear who previously owned the gator or how long it has survived in the wild.

American alligators are native to the southeastern United States and thrive in hot, steamy regions such as the Florida Everglades.

Sightings in Washington State are extremely rare, but in 2016 several reported sightings on Lake Meridian prompted Kent city officials to post warning signs along the shore.

–Generic image atop this post is courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service