Latest news with #Moten
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Florida football LB RJ Moten earns NFL rookie minicamp invitation from Philadelphia
Former Florida football LB RJ Moten earns NFL rookie minicamp invitation from Philadelphia Florida football's senior linebacker did not hear his name called during the 2025 NFL draft, but RJ Moten still might make it into the professional ranks, thanks to an invitation to the Philadelphia Eagles' rookie minicamp. Moten is a legacy with the Gators through his dad, Ron Moten Sr., who played for the Gators from 1982-1986. Coincidentally — or not! — the elder was drafted in the sixth round by the same Eagles franchise, albeit almost 40 years ago. The younger Moten had already worked out with Philly during their local pro day before the draft. However, RJ was not always a linebacker. In fact, he arrived in Gainesville listed at safety following his first two collegiate seasons with the Michigan Wolverines. Then last season, he switched from the defensive backfield on the advice of defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. "I have always wanted to play linebacker, actually," Moten said last October. "I think I knew going into the next level, I was definitely going to move to linebacker, but it was just one day where coach Armstrong was, like, 'You're getting too big.' I think it was a time in the winter, I was, like, 230 at one point. He was, like, 'Okay, we're not going to put you in the post anymore in the SEC.' It was like, 'How do you feel about moving to linebacker?' "I think that was just God's way of telling me, 'Look, this is your opportunity. Just go run with it.'" At that point, the paths of the father and son merged. Hopefully, the story plays out the same and the younger Moten makes it to the professional gridiron. RJ Moten's career stats with Florida football After transferring from Michigan after the 2022 season, Moten played in 18 games for the Gators, totalling 31 tackles (14 solo) — which includes four tackles for a loss and a half-sack — along with a pass defender, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. He also made the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll for 2023-24, as well as the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, en route to his bachelor's degree in sociology, which he completed in the fall term of 2024. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Work stoppage, cost overruns delay office-to-housing conversion in Detroit
Cost overruns and a work stoppage have delayed completion of an office-to-housing conversion project at an 18-story downtown Detroit building. The development team behind the Residences @ 150 Bagley project, which is transforming the long-empty United Artists Theater office tower into 148 mixed-income apartments and commercial space, recently disclosed that the project's costs have risen by $8.5 million to $85.1 million and that it needs some financial assistance to close this gap. The building, located at 150 Bagley, dates to 1928 and is owned by the Ilitch organization, although the redevelopment is being handled by a local development team that includes developers Emmett Moten Jr. and Richard Hosey. According to a memo shared Wednesday with members of the Downtown Development Authority, the development project's contractor, a joint venture between the Christman Co. and Detroit-based The Brinker Group, issued a work stoppage in early December "due to a disagreement with the developer regarding increased costs and change orders." The matter was later settled in mediation with an agreement for increased construction costs, the memo said. The development team is now asking the DDA, the city of Detroit, the Invest Detroit Foundation and several other entities for assistance to help cover the new gap. The project is currently 86% complete, according to the DDA memo, and if the new money comes through, it could be completed by August. The redevelopment got started in spring 2022. Moten told DDA board members Wednesday afternoon that some of the delay stems from the pandemic, and some from having to source elevators from China rather than Texas. 'So the project got delayed … and the contractor got behind schedule because of these factors," the developer said via phone to the DDA members. But Moten also had some good news to share. He said that a small chain of southern comfort food restaurants, Kitchen and Kocktails, plans to lease space in 150 Bagley, once the building is ready to open. More: Final details laid out for Gilbert's next development in downtown Detroit The DDA plans to vote at its April 23 meeting on whether to give the developers an additional $1.1 million loan. A spokesperson for the Brinker/Christman joint venture issued a statement Wednesday night regarding the Residences @ 150 Bagley project: "Due to the overall nature of the work and age of the building, additional scope was required," the statement said. "Brinker/Christman suspended work to allow time for the owner to secure additional funding. We look forward to working collaboratively with the owner to complete this important project." Contact JC Reindl: 313-378-5460 or jcreindl@ Follow him on X @jcreindl This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Work stoppage, cost overruns delay reopening of Detroit building
Miami Herald
25-02-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Buzz on five key defensive battles heading into Miami Hurricanes spring practice
Exploring five percolating battles and storylines to watch on defense when Miami Hurricanes spring practice begins next Monday: ▪ Starting cornerbacks: The Canes have upgraded significantly at the position, turning a weakness into what should be a strength. The competition for two starting boundary cornerbacks should be spirited and highly competitive. among O.J. Frederique and transfers Charles Brantley, Xavier Lucas, Emmanuel Karnley and Ethan O'Connor. Brantley is expected to be sidelined this spring while recovering from a leg injury sustained late last season at Michigan State. Frederique, coming off a freshman All American season, should be considered a front-runner for one of the jobs after allowing just a 61.8 passer rating in his coverage area last season, with 13 completions in 33 targets for 153 yards, an interceptions and two touchdowns. He struggled in the Syracuse game, as most Canes defenders did, but was elite virtually every other game. Brantley, if healthy, could be a favorite for the other job: Quarterbacks had a puny 16.6 passer rating when targeting Brantley: 14 receptions in 37 targets for 149 yards, three interceptions and no touchdowns permitted. That 16.6 was the best passer rating against in the country against all FBS cornerbacks targeted at least 20 times. But don't discount the 6-2 Lucas (70.1 passer rating against in his freshman season at Wisconsin); O'Connor (who had four interceptions and a sterling 62.7 passer rating in his coverage area as a Washington State freshman last season, but also three TDs allowed) and Karnley, whose skill set is tantalizing, though his metrics weren't very good for Arizona last season (103.6 passer rating against). Damari Brown, who missed most of last season with an injury, figures to get first crack at the slot/nickel job, with Jadais Richard challenging when he returns from his late-season knee injury. ▪ One starting defensive tackle job: Louisiana Tech transfer David Blay Jr. is the heavy favorite for one of the starting spots. Ahmad Moten and Justin Scott look like the top candidates for the other spot, if Akheem Mesidor plays defensive end instead of tackle as expected. Another transfer could be added if neither Moten nor Scott make a big impression on new coordinator Corey Hetherman and new defensive tackles coach Damione Lewis. Blay's pickup was critical. 'He's what you look for in an interior defensive lineman,' coach Mario Cristobal said. 'Tough, tough, tough, explosive, strong. A guy that really disrupts the pocket in the passing game and makes it really difficult to move in the running game.' PFF rated Scott and Moten 16th and 17th, respectively, among all 43 players who logged defensive snaps for UM last season. Moten played 254 snaps, Scott 101. Moten had a higher grade as a run defender. Cristobal made a point to publicly thank Mesidor for playing defensive tackle last season when the team needed him to fill that role. It sounds like he's moving back almost exclusively to end, with Cristobal speaking recently of 'being able to keep him outside, and let him do what he does. He's a special person. He's a special talent. He's as explosive and as strong as you can have for an edge-setter.' ▪ One or two starting safety jobs: Zechariah Poyser, an All American at Jacksonville State, seems a clear-front runner at one position, and Zaquan Patterson looks like a front-runner at the other. But don't rule out Dylan Day or Markeith Williams or, quite possibly, another transfer. There's also the option of using Wisconsin transfer Lucas at safety if he doesn't win a top-three cornerback rotation job, or using Richard at safety once he's back from his knee injury. Isaiah Taylor and freshmen Bryce Fitzgerald and Amari Wallace are the other scholarship safeties. Fitzgerald is the only 2025 class member who hasn't enrolled and won't be available for spring practice. Poyer was highly coveted in the transfer portal, but he must show that he can adapt to the enormous step up in competition. ▪ Middle linebacker starter: This is essentially a competition between Raul Aguirre, Jaylin Alderman and every middle linebacker who is or plans to consider entering the transfer portal. Aguirre made a strong case to be Francisco Mauigoa's successor last season. Among 43 players who logged snaps on defense last season, Aguirre was rated fourth best by PFF, and best among anyone who played at least 100 snaps. (He logged 125 defensive snaps.) Alderman started the opener at the Gators and two other games and played 215 defensive snaps, but his playing time sometimes varied widely game to game. He was a solid starter for Louisville in 2023, closing with 62 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks that year. He had a game-winning pick-six in the final seconds of a win against in 2021. The hope is that Aguirre or Alderman -- or both -- will seize the job and this doesn't need to be addressed in the portal. ▪ The battle for the No. 3 through 5 edge/backup defensive end jobs behind Rueben Bain and Mesidor: Malik Bryant (who was productive in 147 snaps last season) will have every chance to be the first defensive end off the bench and there's no shortage of talented younger players competing – Armondo Blount (47 defensive snaps last season), Booker Pickett (26 snaps), Cole McConathy (55), Marquise Lightfoot (5 snaps), Elias Rudolph (4) and freshmen Hayden Lowe, Herbert Scroggins and Mykah Newton. Pickett had three pressures in 18 pass rush snaps last season and Bryant had 10 in just 67. Blount, a second-year player, is a 'young guy [who] reclassed and now his body is really catching up,' Cristobal said. 'He's going to have a monster spring.' Here's my look at five Hurricanes storylines and battles on offense.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
From homegrown genre to an official museum, D.C. celebrates 50 years of go-go
WASHINGTON — In the nation's capital, where a plethora of cultural institutions dot the landscape, a new arrival pulses with a go-go beat. The Go-Go Museum & Café, the world's only collection dedicated to the celebration, study and preservation of all things go-go, opens Wednesday in its birthplace, Washington, D.C. For the uninitiated, the genre is a syncopated, drum-driven style of funk. Its distinctive sound is heavy on percussion instruments such as congas and cowbells, as well as brass horns. Go-go is often played live, where its exuberant rhythms soar. 'It is a powerful expression of joy,' said Natalie Hopkinson, the museum's chief curator, who wrote her Ph.D. dissertation about go-go. 'It is an art form.' While several bands played roles in early prototypes of the music, Chuck Brown, the 'Godfather of Go-Go,' is widely credited with creating the genre in the 1970s. During a club performance with his band, The Soul Searchers, Brown reportedly had the percussion section play continuously between songs. Meanwhile, he engaged the audience in lively call and response. That groove — which goes and goes — became go-go. A half-century later, go-go is still going. In 2020, it was designated the official music of Washington, D.C. Over the years, artists such as Brown, Rare Essence and Trouble Funk have appeared on NPR's 'Tiny Desk' concert series. Go-Go acts have also appeared at Pharrell Williams's Something in the Water festival in Virginia, at the Kennedy Center and beyond. 'If you go to New Orleans, you've got brass bands. Go to New York, and it's hip-hop. If you come to D.C., you're hearing go-go,' said Ronald 'Moe' Moten, the museum's founder and president. A promoter and peace activist, Moten grew up in a D.C. household that cranked go-go. 'My mother would listen to it all the time,' Moten recalled. 'It was just natural, part of the culture.' Now, the museum that reflects the soundtrack of his life and that of countless other fans is opening to the public on Wednesday; a ribbon-cutting was held last year. Nestled among businesses along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, the two-story structure houses a vibrant 8,000-square-foot space. The museum boasts more than a dozen interactive exhibits, a recording studio and a performance stage. Chef Angela Rose, a Food Network 'Chopped' finalist, has created a diaspora street food menu for the on-site café. Visitors can 'talk' to an AI hologram of go-go stars or tap a screen to learn about go-go's influence on hip-hop, complete with audio beats that have been sampled on rap songs. Elsewhere are artifacts and installations that spotlight go-go in cinema, fashion and photography. Another exhibit centers the LGBTQ community. There's a 'street art' exhibit complete with a digital spray can for signature graffiti 'tags.' Not surprisingly, the museum gives props to go-go pioneers, royalty and popular entertainers. Besides Brown (who died in 2012), they include Experience Unlimited, aka E.U. (who became nationally known after appearing in Spike Lee's 1988 film 'School Daze') and the all-woman band Be' La Dona, to name a few. Moreover, a museum timeline charts go-go's history. Despite its proud evolution, Moten says there have been 'ups and downs.' In the 1990s, reports of conflicts and violence in or around dance halls led to youth curfews. In 2019, noise complaints from a luxury apartment building about a D.C. retailer playing go-go prompted backlash and protests. A #DontMuteDC hashtag started by a Howard University student went viral. Moten and Hopkinson then led the 'Don't Mute D.C. go-go music and culture' petition, which received about 80,000 signatures. The movement drew musicians, advocates and supporters nationwide and globally, and led to a push for DC Law 23-71. It repealed the curfews and made the music 'official.' Mayor Muriel Bowser, who signed the measure, has championed go-go, and her administration provided the museum with fiscal support. 'Go-go is the heartbeat of D.C.,' Bowser told NBC News through a spokesperson. She termed the museum 'a living, breathing testament to the energy, creativity, and resilience of our community.' Bowser added that the site 'strengthens our creative economy by attracting visitors, supporting local artists, and fostering community engagement.' The museum is already planning to welcome schools and host community programming and events. Recently, the museum officially launched its countdown to a historic initiative called '50 Years of Go-Go,' designed to mark the genre's 50th anniversary in January 2026. The yearlong celebration will include a series of special events, pop-up exhibits and collaborations with museum partners. Moten hopes their mission will help foster the next generation of musicians and enthusiasts, and spark a go-go renaissance across the country and around the world. The greater legacy, he said, is bringing people of myriad backgrounds together. It's all about 'just embracing the music and showing love.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
From homegrown genre to an official museum, D.C. celebrates 50 years of go-go
A promoter and peace activist, Moten grew up in a D.C. household that cranked go-go. 'My mother would listen to it all the time,' Moten recalled. 'It was just natural, part of the culture.' Now, the museum that reflects the soundtrack of his life and that of countless other fans is opening to the public on Wednesday; a ribbon-cutting was held last year. Nestled among businesses along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, the two-story structure houses a vibrant 8,000-square-foot space. The museum boasts more than a dozen interactive exhibits, a recording studio and a performance stage. Chef Angela Rose, a Food Network 'Chopped' finalist, has created a diaspora street food menu for the on-site café. Visitors can 'talk' to an AI hologram of go-go stars or tap a screen to learn about go-go's influence on hip-hop, complete with audio beats that have been sampled on rap songs.
