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USA Today
02-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
10 funniest, saddest and most unhinged Reddit college football fan expectations
College football is back, and that means it's time for all of us to be hurt again. Every year, fans enter the season with high expectations, and most of the time, they find themselves disappointed. But those expectations aren't always sky-high. Some of us out here are simply asking for the bare minimum. While the Georgias and Ohio States of the world have a national championship-or-bust mentality every year, most fanbases just want a product that doesn't entirely embarrass them. Unfortunately, that's often too much to ask. In a recent thread posted on Reddit, college football fans were asked for their season-long expectations for their teams, and answers ranged from delusional to pathetically low. Here are some of the funniest season-long expectations, according to r/CFB. 1. This Florida State fan is too embarrassed to say FSU is coming off a stunningly bad 2-10 season that featured just one FBS win, a five-point victory over Cal. Florida State hopes to bounce back this fall, but the fanbase is obviously pretty wary. 2. Washington State fan preaches to the choir The Cougs lost coach Jake Dickert, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer after an 11-win season last fall. But frankly, the vast majority of college football fanbases probably share this sentiment. 3. A Virginia Tech fan down bad Hey, Hokies, if it makes you feel better: Your 2025 season expectations are (roughly) the same as Alabama's! 4. Mississippi State fan just wants to get back to .500 You know, a late-December trip to Memphis doesn't sound all that bad, does it? 5. This Florida fan would take either extreme Billy Napier shored up his position with a late run last season, but this Gators fan would be happy to see either a CFP-caliber team or Napier's head on the chopping block. Real. 6. LSU fan thinks it's put up or shut up time for Brian Kelly Given the fact that his three predecessors each won national titles, the clock is ticking in Year 4 for Brian Kelly, and even a "birth" in the playoff may not be enough to satisfy this Tigers fan. 7. Wisconsin fan shooting for the moon What has Luke Fickell done to this once-proud fanbase? 8. Penn State fan thinks it's time for a title game appearance The Nittany Lions are a clear national championship contender entering the season, and it seems anything short of at least reaching the CFP title game would be a disappointment for a program that has struggled to get over the hump. 9. Iowa fan flying too close to the Sun Look, to be fair, South Dakota State transfer Mark Gronowski gives Iowa potentially its best quarterback in years, so this one isn't entirely irrational. But ask yourself, dear reader, are you willing to bank on a successful offense on a team coached by Kirk Ferentz? 10. Michigan still lives rent-free in this Ohio State fan's head after a national title Ohio State won its first national title under Ryan Day, but the Michigan loss still clearly bothers this fan quite a bit. Bonus Round: UMass! It's tough to be a Minuteman.
Canada News.Net
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
EU Eyes Sanctions And Visa Moves Over Georgia's Political Crackdown
As EU foreign ministers gather in Brussels on July 15 for their last official meeting before the summer break, Georgia is once again high up on the agenda due to the deteriorating political situation in the South Caucasus republic after the recent arrests of several opposition politicians. Just a brief discussion point among ministers last month, the situation in the country is now a major talking point -- and more decisive action may be taken this time after the previous adoption of symbolic measures against Tbilisi. In early 2025, Brussels imposedvisa requirementson Georgian diplomatic passport holders. It has also refrained from holding high-level political meetings and diverted EU funding from Georgias government to civil society. SEE ALSO: Georgian Leadership Sent Threatening, Insulting Letter To Trump Administration The most pressing issue this time is whether the bloc -- with the unanimous approval of all 27 member states -- manages to impose any sanctions. There have been attempts before, notably in January, when the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wanted to slap visa bans and asset freezes on 13 individuals linked to the Georgian Dream party for a crackdown on opposition protesters. Dissenting Voices In Bratislava And Budapest Back then, Hungary and Slovakia vetoed any such moves, and sanctions talks stalled in Brussels for a while. EU officials have in recent weeks also discussed the possibility of blacklisting a couple of people responsible for what an internal EU document seen by RFE/RL calls the instrumentalization of the justice system by the Georgian authorities. This would occur under the EU global human rights sanctions regime -- a sanctions framework similar to the US Magnitsky act that already includes more than 100 human rights abusers from various countries, such as China, Libya, Russia, and Sudan. SEE ALSO: Georgia Risks EU Sanctions; Ukraine Hits Roadblocks In NATO, EU Bids According to several EU officials familiar with the discussions more than 10 EU member states -- including France, the Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Sweden and the Baltic trio of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -- have been pushing for sanctions to be adopted by EU foreign ministers. Just like in January, Bratislava and Budapest have been resisting the move, arguing that any type of restrictive measure could worsen the situation and that dialogue with Tbilisi is a better approach. While not siding with Slovakia and Hungary, Greece has been arguing against taking any hasty decisions. Despite the obvious opposition, many diplomats RFE/RL has spoken to on condition of anonymity believe that there still is a chance of finding a consensus to blacklist at least a couple of Georgian judges, whom the EU deems responsible for the arrest of Georgian oppositionists. Its believed that sanctions-skeptic countries may accept this instead of targeting high-profile politicians. So, what other options are being discussed? A Radical Move The most obvious one is to suspend visa liberalization for Georgian citizens -- a move that only requires a qualified majority of 55 percent of member states representing 65 percent of the total EU population. Sweden is the latest country to push for this, arguing that it can be done temporarily if the situation continues to worsen after Georgian local elections in early October. This view is apparently also supported by the Baltic states, Denmark, France, and Poland. Others have expressed reservations, however -- notably Greece and Slovenia. SEE ALSO: 'Horrible Conditions' For Ukrainians Stuck At The Georgian-Russian Border They argue that such a radical move -- with the bloc never having suspended visa liberalization for an EU candidate country before -- should be taken as an absolute last resort. It has also been pointed out that such a step would likely have more of a negative impact on ordinary Georgian citizens rather than the countrys leadership. Another alternative proposal put forward by the European Commission is to impose national entry bans on certain individuals. A 'Softer Measure' This is regarded as a somewhat softer measure compared to imposing a blanket suspension of EU visa liberalization or broader sanctions. However, it would only be effective if several member states chose to adopt and coordinate this approach. Whether that will happen remains uncertain, as some countries -- such as Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, and Romania -- have stressed that it still is important to keep communication channels open with Tbilisi. The internal EU document also mentions the possibility of suspending Georgias candidate status, which the bloc unanimously bestowed on the country back in December 2023. The EU, however, has never before unilaterally reversed candidate status in its history (Iceland asked Brussels to remove its EU candidate status back in 2015). Once again, unanimity would be necessary to take this step. Finally, there is an option that could likely be achieved this week: a large group of countries, led by the Baltic trio, plans to ask the European External Action Service and the European Commission to conduct a thorough assessment of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement from 2016. The goal would be to explore the possibility of suspending parts of the agreement in the future, such as the free trade provisions it includes. Such a suspension would require only a qualified majority.
Fox Sports
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Talk of power conferences taking over the College World Series was premature judging by 2025 field
Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Six conferences and an independent will be represented at the College World Series, and none of the teams were among the final eight in Omaha a year ago. In 2024, the SEC and ACC had four teams apiece in the CWS and all the talk was that college baseball would forevermore be dominated by the schools in those conferences that invest the most in the sport in scholarships, NIL and, starting soon, direct payments to players. Someone forgot to tell that to Murray State, among others. The CWS opens Friday with the Sun Belt Conference's Coastal Carolina (53-11) playing the Big 12's Arizona (44-19) in a rematch of the 2016 finals won by the Chanticleers. No. 8 national seed Oregon State (47-14-1), an independent until the Pac-12 ramps up again in 2026-27, meets the ACC's Louisville (40-22) in the second game. Saturday's games match the Big Ten's UCLA (47-16) against Missouri Valley Conference upstart Murray State (44-15) and an all-SEC battle between No. 3 Arkansas (48-13) and LSU (48-15). Chanticleers coach Kevin Schnall was Gary Gilmore's assistant in 2016, and he said he never believed a power conference takeover in baseball was inevitable. His team's 23-game win streak is the longest in history by a team entering a CWS. 'Why has Coastal been so successful for 25 years? Well, Gary Gilmore was able to teach us how to assemble a roster,' Schnall said. 'It's not about putting together just the best players. You have to put together the best team. Sometimes money doesn't always buy that.' The money is about to get bigger. The House v. NCAA settlement will mandate roster limits, likely 34 in baseball, and allow schools to award as many scholarships as there are roster spots. Most programs are not expected to max out scholarships in baseball, but many will at least double the longstanding limit of 11.7. Division I Baseball Committee chair Jay Artigues, athletic director at Southeastern Louisiana, said high-performing midmajors aren't necessarily at a disadvantage because of how they tend to build their rosters. The outlook for them is not doom and gloom, he said. 'The Arkansases, the LSUs and the Georgias of the world, they're going to have the premier 18-, 19-year-olds in the country, no question about it,' Artigues said. "They can't get old because their 18- and 19-year-olds are signing (pro contracts) after that third year. Now where a mid-major can compete against them is having a good 22- or 23-year-old. You put a good 22-, 23-year-old against a really good 18-year-old, it evens the field. 'I think the midmajors that are having success are all older. You look at what Southern Miss did this year, they're a fourth-, fifth-year team. That's why they're kicking the crap out of some P4 teams.' Louisville coach Dan McDonnell said he thought at least one more ACC team would join his in Omaha, but he can't help but be happy for Murray State to make it considering he played second base on the Citadel's 1990 CWS team. It was his greatest baseball experience, he said, and as far as he's concerned the more players who can experience the CWS, the better. American Baseball Coaches Association executive director Craig Keilitz said the diversity of this year's CWS field is good for the sport. 'I'm probably surprised as a lot of people as this proliferation of money has followed its way down, to say it might not be possible,' he said. 'But I think it's absolutely remarkable. I think it's going to be interesting. I think it's going to be highly watched and followed. I don't think we could have scripted it any better.' MLB prospects Four projected first-round picks in the Major League Baseball amateur draft will be playing in Omaha: LSU left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson (1), Oregon State shortstop Aiva Arquette (3), Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill (16) and Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy (23). 75 years in Omaha The CWS is celebrating its 75th anniversary in Omaha, which landed what then was a lightly attended tournament in 1950 partly because city leaders promised to cover any cost overruns. The CWS blossomed in the 1980s with the start of ESPN's national coverage and moved from a dilapidated Rosenblatt Stadium to the 24,000-seat Charles Schwab Field in 2011. 'Omaha' long has been a rallying cry for teams hoping to play for the national championship. The city and NCAA have a contract that keeps the event in Omaha at least through 2035. ___ AP college sports: recommended
